The Color Renovation

Sara and I are in Frankenmuth, Michigan, today for the next Workshop of a Lifetime. As you know, my life for the past few weeks has been full of mostly workshops and wedding plans, but yesterday I had something else on my mind.

 We arrived yesterday, a little earlier in the day because we had to be checked into the hotel and hooked up to the Internet by 4 p.m. (MT) for an exciting webinar we had with our leaders (managers and above). I’ve never done a webinar quite like this one—we had four people participating, and all four of us were calling in from different locations! I was a little nervous, but it went off pretty well considering it involves technology...gotta love it and hate it at the same time!

I’m hoping that the announcement is met with as much enthusiasm as I feel! We announced what we’re calling a “Color Renovation,” which is an update of our color line. We’re adding a few colors, bringing back a few In Colors, and bidding farewell to some of our existing colors. While I will admit that I’ll be missing a few of the “retiring” colors, I am already in love with so many of the new ones!

We’ll still be color-coordinating our products (and offering even more color coordination than before, actually), but our colors are organized into four different collections instead of families. Every time I look at our new color line, I smile—it has such a fresh, vibrant feel! If you’re a demonstrator, you’ll find all the details on our Demonstrator Web Site; if you’re one of our customers, your demonstrator can tell you what it’s all about!

Now I’m off to today’s workshop with Jodi. . . more on that later!

Comments

[Donna Bagwell]

Shelli,

I am so excited about the Color Renovation! A thoughtful change like this helps to keep Stampin' Up! fresh. Although change is sometimes difficult to accept, it is necessary to stay competitive and current in today's market. I must admit I will miss the beautiful Handsome Hunter, but color preferences have changed - just look at home decor and fashion colors! Way to go Stampin' Up! You've done a great job with this Color Renovation change.

[Sam Slimak]

While I like the new additions, and the "come backs", I have to say I'm NOT excited about losing quite a few of my favorite colors. No Apricot Appeal? That's one of my "go to" colors! No Green Galore? Another one of my "go to" colors! No Barely Banana? And NO light purple?

I haven't even sat down and assessed what else is being retired, so at this point, I have to join those that are sad.

[Cindy]

Thank you for doing this! I know there are some colours I am going to miss but honestly, we needed this! I think the new colours coordinate so much better! This is a great company and I love being part of it!

[Alyssa Riglioni]

I love the new color renovation!!! I am not at all sad to see a lot of the old colors go. I love the colors that you kept, the in-colors that you brought back, and the new colors you introduced. I will miss my close to cocoa ink pad, but I'm sure that the espresso will easily take its place!!! I am so excited to introduce the new color palettes to my customers, and I can't wait to get the new color coach!!!

[Cindy Nagel]

I think the colors are great! And remember just because you are a demo doesn't mean you have to buy every new color and paper right now! Take it slow and get a few new colors every quarter. Change is hard but it is also what keeps us from becoming stagnant!

[Amy]

I guess I am one of the few not loving this. I find it hard to keep going in a business. It is hard enough keeping up with stamp sets, let alone having to invest in new colors to run your business. My pads and other accessories were something core that I always had to rely on. Not trying to be a negative Nellie. Just wanted to share that many are very bummed.

[Christine Wojciechowski]

I just wanted to say I think the Color Renovation was a very good decision. It will be an additional investment for demonstrators but I think in the long run we will benefit from it. The new color collections are beautiful.

[Debbie]

I am so totally excited about the color renovation and am sharing that excitement with all who read and listen! I know some look at the down side of spending extra money, but who says you have to have it ALL...no one. You can still be a competitive demo not buying everything. A very wise upline of mine, Jackie Bolhuis taught a class at Convention 08 about being profitable in this business. I don't HAVE to have every new stamp set, just the ones that I know will sell and make up my money...our stamp sets sell themselves! Now the colors I will have to have myself, but I can do it a little at a time. I'm glad I listened when were were told NOT to get rid of our in-colors!!

Thanks to Shelli & the Stampin' Up! team!

[Tanya Boser]

Absolutely ADORE the new color palette and the new plan to KEEP our colors fresh. And it seems that they thought very carefully about how and when this was announced. With almost 3 full months to accustom ourselves to the new idea, we have plenty of time to either deplete our existing stock of the retiring colors, or stock up on the ones we can't live without, and so can our customers! This was done in the most positive and diplomatic fashion possible. Kudos to SU!

[Andrea]

I too am so excited about the color renovation. I don't even use 2/3's of the colors leaving...and actually never have. I was so happy when I heard that the In Colors are staying two years too. Woo Hoo!!!!

[Jessi]

Thank you SO much for the Color Renovation. To be honest with you, I was really getting bored with the color choices I had. This is so exciting to me that I can barely contain my excitement! I hope that my customers will be thrilled. I think it's a welcome change in this neck of the woods!

[Mary Ellen Harrison]

WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the change! The new colors are just gorgeous! The palettes are fresh and luscious with great intensity. I can't wait to order those 5 new colors that I don't own. OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW! Great job SU!!!!

[Diane Dimich]

My only issue with the color changes- is that we have to wait to get our hands on some of them! I laughed today when i was stamping a card and a friend ask me to look for a color in my scrap box and I found some River Rock and Baja Breeze!!!! I will be able to play with a few colors before we can order. I am going to go through the box because I bet I can find some Pink Pirouette too!

Thanks for the new colors- can't wait to get my hands on them-

[Alison]

I'm just sick about the color changes. While I understand the need to stay fresh and interesting to demonstrators and customers alike, I CANNOT believe so very many colors are going away forever. All those blues...And why is the Earth Elements family gone? These changes pretty much make my entire "inventory" of supplies null and void. In our hard economic times, which demonstrators are doing so well as to justify spending the time and money (no small task) to replace the old with new? And what are we supposed to do with it all?!?!?
Even if I gradually add the new colors, I feel like I'm wasting what I have. Did SU take any kind of survey about this before barreling ahead? Did I miss that? What about our input as to what colors we love now before throwing them aside?
I'm going to have to seriously consider whether I can afford to remain a demonstrator. Maybe SU is saying a "fond farewell" to many of us along with the unwanted colors...

[Shari]

I too have had some reservations about this change, especially the retirement of 31 colors. I am a lavender person and all of my favorites are gone. But having said that, I am looking forward in two ways - one getting to know the new colors and blending them with the old colors still available. Two, I have all of the colors - paper, ink, reinkers and pens - and I plan to put them to work making cards for our Military heros and using them in my ministry at church. I also am new as a demonstrator, but have been stamping with SU for 12 years, and our products are the best in the market. As many of us have financial situations that we are dealing with, we will have to go slow and easy, but if we are patient, things will work out. Thank you Shelli for giving us an opportunity to be artists with the best products in the world. Blessings and joy to all!

[Tandra Boyer]

Of COURSE the Color Renovation is gonna rock everyones world, either good or bad. It is affecting demos aross the board.
For me, Im letting it rock mine GOOD!!
I have been tired of the old stale colors.
Ive been a demo for 11 yrs, am NOT a big seller, and it will take me a while to get all the cool new colors, but it was SO needed.
Fresh fresh fresh!!!
I cannot wait to get them in my hot little stampy hands!!!!
I believe this will recharge me and my workshops, since I have felt as stale as the old colors!! lol

OH! The color combos Im thinking of already!!!
GASP!!
And Espresso!! FINALLY!!!!!

Thankyou SU! <3

[Sally]

I am very disappointed. I just spent $100 of dollars to start out and now I have to buy even more. I am just not sure if it's worth it. I love change; however, when I see that over half of my stamp sets I have to say goodbye to because it's not in my best interest to use retired stuff as a demonstrator, I just don't know what to do. I guess I have mixed feelings about the whole thing.

[Rebecca Liggin]

I'm not sure if this blog is actually read by anyone at SU but if it is I have a serious question about this color change. I've been with SU for close to 10 years now, and been through many changes and seen many promises made by SU broken. Every change that has been made has made it harder for demostrators who are not full time demo's to stay in business. I'm a Senior Supervisor with an active downline but with each and every change I lose more and more business it makes it harder for me to maintain. So please let me know, is SU really trying to gradually get rid of "hobby" demo or those who aren't full time with the business? I am very concerned and the comment Shelli made in the webcast concerning what she thought of those who didn't like the colors "To bad, so sad" seems to be the attitude of SU in general. I love my business and I love stamping and the friends I've made through Stampin Up! I would hate to loose it but I'm worried and I feel like there are many demos in the same situation as I am. Thanks for at least thinking about what I've said.

[Jo Eades]

I love the new colour collections and can't wait until we can actually get our hands on the new core colour and new In Colours.

I think it's fantastic that the In Colours will now be available for 2 years. In the past that has been a problem for a few of my customers.

My only gripe, and it's a small one is the number of pads we will eventually get is 50, 2 more than will fit in the ink caddy. I don't want to have to use my extender for just 2 pads, All those empty slots would make me think some were missing, LOL! :) Maybe the number could be tweaked over the years so that all the inks fit into the caddy without the extender *hint hint*

[Sharon Steinwand]

Wow! The new color collections look so inviting - one thing this pushes me to do is get very busy and use so much that I've been collecting (hoarding).If I knew this was coming a year ago, I may have invested differently- but, it's exciting and I just have to have some of those colors!And just maybe some sales with customers who NEED to stock up on colors they love and will see vanishing. Keep smiling everyone- we'll grow to love it!I just have my fingers crossed that the new catalogue will see Canadian prices just a bit lower.

[Jennifer Reynard]

Absolutely love this move to retire the "older and tired" colours. There are so many nice colours to choose from in our present world, it would be a shame to stick to the same old, same old. Love the opportunity to try new things!
Bravo!

[Alanna]

Shelli,
I do first of all want to say that this renovation is wonderful, rejuvenating and appreciated. Thank-you! Although it was exciting and I knew to have faith in what guides you and SU to make the decisions that you do, I do have to admit there was an initial, 'I wish a couple colors were staying' and 'I wish Kiwi Kiss was coming back' Then,I printed the chart, realized how beautiful our color pallet is and this brought me to the realization of the commitment, time and effort that has gone into this well-executed decision ...and that left me to also realize that we have yet to see the next set of in-colors and from there the colors that will continually revolve through the in-colors door always bringing something fresh, exciting and reliable that I know will be wonderful compliments to our color collections. Bravo for being committed to making tough decisions that as with any renovation will be worth it in the long haul. We do know that you do have yours and our long term interest and investment at heart.

Now.... speaking of what's at heart and knowing that you do take even the smallest of decisions truly to heart and that you individually and as a company want your demonstrators to feel successful, I know that this has been a tough week for you. So above all the stress that some people are feeling and expressing right now, what's in my heart for you and your family is sincere wishes for you to be able to rest easy, know that even a short time from now most will be thrilled with this decision and that in the days to come even though it seems like some are having such a hard time, that I hope you can put those worries aside and spend a truly happy, worry free time with your family this weekend at your daughter's wedding. We'll all be fine! Enjoy this new beginning with your Daughter and the new family she is about to be welcomed by. There are welcome new beginnings all around, we just have to reach out and embrace them, I know I will with this one!

Have a fabulous weekend!
~Alanna

[Elaine Wright]

What is with the negativity amoung some of the demonstrators? I must have missed the part where it was said that we had to buy ALL the ink pads, markers and a whole pack of every new color. I never heard we had to break our bank to reinvest in ink and paper! I have been a demo for 3 years and didn't have every color yet. You can actually do a lot of workshops with only 8 or 10 colors while you are adding a new color every month or so.

As far as the color renovation goes, I'm excited about it. I love all the new colors and there are only 2 retiring colors I'm going to miss. Change is good but sometimes it is hard. That is just life. I'm sorry you have to deal with all the "Negative Nancy's who are ready to jump ship. There are far more of us excited about it and recognize the good in the change. Thanks for all you do for the demos. Stampin' Up! is truly a wonderful company to be associated with!

[Debbie Koch]

Dear Shelli,
I don't know that you have time to read these posts, but I'd like you to know that IMHO the color renovation is fabulous! I believe these colors will coordinate better with each other and the palette is fresh and modern! If anything, this change has been long overdue. And I am very glad to hear that there will be minor color changes every 3-5 years to keep things updated! Great ideas! Thanks for being courageous and taking the necessary steps which you know will be met with some criticism and some praise to help keep this business thriving and to meet our customers' needs and desires.

[Colleen]

I am not a demo, but a long term senior citizen customer on a fixed income. During the past few years, my health insurance and living costs have skyrocketed which has correspondingly caused my stamp budget to shrink to almost nothing. However, I have scrimped by eating soup for several months, buying only the basic necessities, saved every spare cent and asked family to help at Christmas and my birthday to fullfill my dream of having all the colors of inkpads and re-inkers. I finally managed to complete my sets during sale-a bration and just received my order last week.

There is no way to describe how betrayed I feel that half my collection is no longer "current" and matching papers and embellishments will no longer be available. I have sent an e-mail to my demo to see if maybe these items can be returned. If not, I will attempt to sell these purchases and along with my entire SU collection (I managed to collect over 400 sets through the years).

This was a great sacrifice for me and I can't believe SU would wait until immediately after their biggest sales event of the year to announce this change. I feel like I and many customers have been knifed in the back. I just do not have the words to convey how this makes me feel about a company I have loved for years. This was my last SU purchase - ever. But then, I do not feel like SU could care in the slightest - their actions speak for them.