May be introduced to CTMH soon

It has been an interesting month in the scrapbooking world.  Last month we all got the news about Creative Memories went into receivership after 26 years of operation in US. 

Of course there were alot of mixed emotions from various customers and consultants throughout Australia.  I was more pissed off because I only paid for the renewal of my yearly membership on the same day as the receivership taken place. Not sure if I should blame the ex-consultant for not emailing sooner or the company for delaying in sending the email to all of their consultants. After failing into talking to the consultant involved and my bank, I didn't get the refund back. It wasn't the money the problem, it was more the principle of the business outcome failing to to do the right thing for all concerned.  

I decided not to buy anymore of their products online during their liquidation sales, incase the refund policy of no more stock available didn't happened. But I will have to find somewhere like eBay to buy album refills for two coversets.

Anyway...... there seems to be good news I wish to share. Just read an email from the CM administrators today that the Australia based CM (and possibly NZ too) company has been sold to Close to My Heart company, based in US. It's another craft company that caters for all papercrafters interests. For further details go to: http://www.closetomyheart.com/ They also have a facebook page

I don't know how long this company has been in operation but I am guessing it would be around a decade by now. When I had a look at CTMH website they are going to expand their business opportunities to Australia and New Zealand from July 2013. It might be a good business opportunities for ex-CM consultants and their customers to try something new... now. Even I might consider thinking about joining up as a consultant myself as I have a variety of craft talents up my sleeve.  I would love to teach other paper crafters at workshops from home. It's been my dream for afew years now.

But I am still feeling abit fickle about business opportunities for myself to do something I love. Only because I heard through the grapevine about other craft shop based businesses aren't going so well anymore. At present time it seems to be only the online businesses to be going more successful. Is it because shoppers don't want to go visiting stores anymore?? If that is the case how do you learn new ideas if your creative mojo runs out.

I had a look at their ideas book online and it seems to sell a better range of scrapbooking and other papercrafting supplies to cater for all papercrafters.  The pricing of their products seem to be abit cheaper than CM was but I am not sure of the currency exchange rate between US and Australia at present time.