Hello Fellow Stampers ~
Well my goodness! I've taken more of a break this past week than I had planned. It is quite busy around here now, as we are gearing up more and more for the remodel at Mike's house and trying to consolidate 2 households of goods -- and we both have 2 VERY full households of "stuff!" I think I may need to pass my "stuff" on to the "understuffed!" LOL I will be sharing as we begin the demolition of the basement and the rebuild of the brand new DDS Studios home!! I'm very excited about this -- and am looking forward to this part of the move for sure!!
I've been putting off a little bit making the BIG announcements and news that came out last week for demonstrators. I was a little bit taken aback by how many demonstrators made the decision to make these announcements public before they really should have been. And with the release of the official "Retiring List" this afternoon; along with the fact that the Demonstrators now have the brand new 2019-2010 Annual Catalog in their hands, it's going to be a BIG week of many announcements - so please bear with me, and stay right here as I try to bring it all to you . . . the next several days we will talk about all that is "going" and all that is "coming."
Let's start first with some . . . Bad News . . .
You have indeed heard correctly!! Stampin' Up! is discontinuing the Stampin' Trimmer - and it will no longer be available for purchase (along with ALL the accessories) once supplies have been depleted. Here's is what Stampin' Up! shared with us:
We have decided to retire the Stampin’ Trimmer as of June 3, 2019, including all accessories—replacement cutting blades, scoring blades, and cutting mats. We’ve experienced challenges with our supplier and are taking the opportunity to research and explore a replacement option for this product, which will not be the same as the current Stampin’ Trimmer. There will be a gap in time between when the current Stampin’ Trimmer retires and when a new product becomes available, but we do not currently have an estimated timeframe. Once we feel confident in the new offering, we will communicate more details with you about the new product.
While the replacement cutting blades will also retire with the trimmer and will not be featured in the annual catalog, we have ordered what would normally be six months of inventory based on recent historical patterns to help demonstrators and customers during this transition away from our current trimmer. But please know that this news could cause faster inventory depletion. When the retiring list goes live on April 15, the order limit for the blades will increase from three to six (and the limit will remain at six until they’re no longer available). And from now until September, we will receive intermittent shipments from the supplier. Throughout these months, we anticipate times when the blades will not be orderable (and not offered as a backorder). During those downtimes, you will have the option to enter an email address to receive notification when the blades are available again.
Please take careful note of the wording I've highlighted in purple. Cutting blades for our Trimmer's will be available off-and-on until September (or when supplies are simply no longer available); and you can begin stocking up today by ordering SIX sets at a time. (Limit 6). I've already stocked my supplies for my Trimmer. I encourage you to do the same. It could be some time until we see what new Stampin' Trimmer will look like or be available.
And the Bad News Keeps Comin!! . . .
Yes!! You are seeing that correctly!! The relationship between Stampin' Up! and Sissix has been severed and the Big Shot will no longer be available once current supplies are gone! This has MANY impacts to those of us who have a Big Shot; AND to those who have been on the fence about getting one!!
First, let me again share what Stampin'Up! shared with us last week . . .
We are making some big changes to our die-cutting and embossing product line that will give us a better opportunity to support the long-term vision we have for the line. While we’ve worked with our current supplier for many years, we’ve had the opportunity to reassess this relationship. After extensive research, demonstrator feedback, and evaluation, we’ve decided to move in a new direction and we’re optimistic about this new course.
Innovation requires risk, and in our pursuit of a better overall die-cutting and embossing product line, we’re experiencing more significant challenges than we originally planned for, including some transition issues like the die inventory problems we experienced beginning in March .
The challenges we are facing moving forward are not insurmountable, but they are taking time to resolve. Because of these setbacks, we will not offer a die-cutting & embossing machine in the 2019–2020 annual catalog.
However, we will offer new dies and embossing folders in the 2019–2020 annual catalog. Since we’re using a new supplier, the dies and folders will be manufactured differently; this means the way you use the new style of dies and folders will be a little different than how you used the old style. Both the new-style and old-style dies and embossing folders can work with any die-cutting & embossing machine (in some cases, adaptations like shims may be required because the gap between rollers on machines may vary slightly between manufacturers). You may have noticed we’re not referring to these products using names you’re familiar with. Another change required in this transition is to the terminology we use to refer to die-cutting and embossing products.
One of the significant factors in this decision is that instead of working with a supplier who works with a manufacturer, we are moving to a direct-to-manufacturer relationship. This means that we will work directly with the factories who manufacture our dies and folders instead of working with another company who then works with different factories. This gives us greater control and potential in the manufacturing process. Here’s one example of how that will work: having a direct-to-manufacturer relationship will better allow us to implement die and folder ideas we gather from you, our power users. When we gather feedback and ideas from you, we will now be able to work directly with the factories making the products to implement those innovative ideas.
Now let me clear about several things that I have learned from other sources over this past week, including Demonstrator Support. First, there is no question that Stampin' Up! wanted certain capabilities with their dies, embossing folders, etc., and Sissix was not willing to support those desires/needs. Secondly, I have come to understand from another source who is quite tapped into the industry that there are currently multiple lawsuits from Sissix against numerous stamping companies regarding patent infringement issues, and counter-lawsuits by those same companies. None were named to me, but I'm sure if one wanted to do their Google research, they could find plenty on this current issue.
What this means . . . this means several things. 1) SU! could find itself ensnared in this debacle as it attempts to move forward with a "direct to manufacturer" relationship on creating and manufacturing dies and embossing folders for its product line; 2) it will most certainly be quite some time until we see any kind of SU! die cutting/embossing machine.
Unlike some Demonstrators out there who are trying to put a "positive" spin on these activities, I want to be as honest with you as I possibly can. I do not perceive anything new being available to us before late 2020 (or longer), depending on what SU! is trying to design, and what patent issues they run up against in that process.
Next, Sissix created the Big Shot exclusively for Stampin' Up!, with the Stampin' Up! logo on it. Any "Big Shot" on the open market is slightly different and does not have the SU! Logo on it. The "sister" to the Big Shot, is called the Big Kick! (also created and designed by Sissix) and is available in local craft stores (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Jo-Ann Fabrics, etc.). They are very similar, but not identical.
Because both machines are created by Sissix, the accessories are also similar. The cutting plates, magnetic platform, Big Shot Die Brush, etc., are all available on the open market, just under different names. For example . . . you will need to know that the Cutting Plates are already gone and sold out at Stampin' Up! There are not going to be any more (even for backorders that had occurred). However, you can find the "standard cutting pads" very easily on the internet [just search for Sissix Big Kick cutting pads]:
Here is a set on Amazon for $9 and you can see them HERE. One fun note, regular Sissix cutting pads also come in colors!
So, this means you should be able to find any and all accessories out on the open market to support your Big Shot in these coming months and years. We will cross our fingers and hope that SU! comes up with something fantastic to replace the Big Shot. In the meantime, if you have been wanting a Big Shot, NOW is the time to make your purchase - along with ALL your supporting accessories - Magnetic Platform, Precision Base Plate, Big Shot Die Brush and the new Embossing Mats. Do it BEFORE supplies are gone (like they already are on the cutting plates).
The Good News!
There is always a silver lining - and so don't despair. Get your Big Shot today if you haven't yet!! And know that you can get the accessories for it out in the general crafting world.
Secondly, embossing folders and dies are NOT going away for Stampin' Up! we have lots of exciting new things coming in the new catalog - and all will be well with our crafting world!! Die cutting and embossing are here to stay! You will be able to continue using your Big Shot (or whatever you currently own) with all the new dies and folders that Stampin' Up! releases in the future.
A direct relationship with a manufacturer is always a plus! Taking out the middle man means better communication, more innovation, and better supplier/customer relationships and inventory. So I look forward to this new chapter for Stampin' Up! being extremely successful.
Look over all your Die Cutting options beginning on page 214 of your current Annual Catalog!! And please do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions.
We'll be back later with the 2019 Retiring Product List!! So much to come!!
Hugs, . . .
