It has come to our attention over the
past few weeks that there are rumours being spread in the Scrapbook Industry
about the recent acquisition of Scrapbook
Factory Shop by Scrapbook
Studio, involving The Wholesaler.
Scrapbook
Studio JBay started as an independent Studio in February 2009,
teaching classes from a very small studio in Jeffreys Bay. The business
expanded and moved to a business premises in Jeffreys Bay, September 2009.
When Scrapbook
Studio started, no suppliers in the industry wanted to supply
the shop, due to loyalties to other stores. Scrapbook
Studio, as a home based Studio,
could not purchase from The Wholesaler. This was very frustrating. Other retail
stores were kind enough to supply us with selected items distributed by The
Wholesaler, at a fixed price, which we could then Retail to our clients at
Recommended Retail Prices.
When we acquired a business premises,
we could open an account at The Wholesaler and buy directly from them. Very
soon we were approached by Home Based stores who could not buy from The
Wholesaler. Remembering where we came from, we started assisting them. We had
an understanding with all the Home Based Stores that we supplied Wholesaler
products to, that if they sold the products for less than the RRP, we would
stop supplying them.
When Scrapbook
Factory Shop became available for purchase, Scrapbook Studio made the decision to
purchase the online business. The website had to be redesigned. This happened
over December 2013. Most suppliers were closed for the December Holidays. We
approached The Wholesaler, who have had a very good relationship with both Scrapbook Studio and Scrapbook Factory Shop over the years,
and asked if we could copy the stock from their website. The Wholesaler has a
professional, up to date Website, with current stock and products readily
available. They already had a system in place where clients could order stock
from their website and have it delivered to the Scrapbook Store of their
choice.
Another attraction for Scrapbook Studio in acquiring Scrapbook Factory Shop, was the access to
Hobby X. Because several Distributors in South Africa refused to supply to Scrapbook Studio, Scrapbook Studio had to directly import
several of the stock they carry. Scrapbook Studio also supplies small home
based stores with these imported products.
Scrapbook
Factory Shop rented a warehouse in close vicinity to The
Wholesaler and appointed staff to run the operation and pack and send the
orders. Logistically it made sense to not send the stock all the way to
Jeffreys Bay and then to the client, but to distribute directly from Gauteng.
If the purchase of Scrapbook Factory Shop by Scrapbook Studio has in any way lead the SA
Scrapbooking Retailers to believe that there is any other relationship, apart
from a Distributor/Retailer relationship between said shops and The Wholesaler,
then now is the time to set the record straight.
Scrapbook
Studio comes from very humble beginnings, and was born out of a
passion for Scrapbooking. There was a gap in the market not being filled and Scrapbook Studio started filling it. Scrapbook Studio knows what it feels like to
be a small home based store/Studio teaching others to love this wonderful
hobby. Scrapbook Factory Shop's
agreement to Home Based Stores/Teachers is available to anyone who qualifies.
All stores/teachers that we supply, sign an agreement to Retail the products at
recommended retail prices.
There are alliances between several
Distributors in South Africa and Retailers. We are not in the business of
trying to ruin those alliances. We understand that The Wholesaler will not
distribute to Home Based Stores and Teachers and we respect their viewpoint. We
do feel, however, that there are legitimate Home Based businesses and Teachers
who have a following, who would also love to supply their market with some of
the products The Wholesaler distributes.
In closing – it is so sad that this
wonderful industry is always clouded with nastiness. We just do our thing. We
have always loved Scrapbooking. We have sponsored prizes at various Conventions
over the years – we did it for the love of Scrapbooking and remembering how
amazing it feels to get a gift in that Goodie bag! We have supported
Scrapbooking South Africa since we opened our doors and we will continue to do
so, regardless of the efforts of others to bring us down.
Scrapbook
Studio will continue to host Events, present classes and sell
great products in store and online. Scrapbook
Factory Shop will continue to supply the public and Home Based
Stores/ Teachers online with selected products and bring you the best of
Scrapbooking at the Expo’s
We would like to invite anyone who
has a question about our businesses, to please contact us directly and not
create false rumours that damage the industry
