|
VJarvis
PeaNut
PeaNut 160078 - 7/30/2004
Posts: 431 Layouts: 0
Loc: Southeastern Idaho
 |  Posted: 1/16/2009 12:59:08 PM
Fiskars announced via the Fiskateers blog on Tuesday that after their CHA-Winter introductions they will no longer be introducing any new consumable products such as paper, stickers, and rub-ons. Instead, the company will return to its roots manufacturing durable goods - tools such as scissors, stamps and gardening implements.
The announcement says that the Heidi Grace, Cloud 9, Ink by Steph, Li’l Davis, and Kimberly Poloson lines will continue, but that they will only contain non-consumable products in the future.
Why the drastic change in direction? According to the blog announcement, the company wants to get back to what it does best:
Fiskars has taken the time to reflect on the numerous awards and accolades they have received over the years in the area of tool design, and has decided that it’s time to get back to its roots and do the thing that it does best: design and produce innovative, awesome, award-winning crafting and garden tools.
Argh -- no wonder I've seen Heidi's stuff in the fabric stores...oh well, another series of great companies go the way of the world... | |
|
bAbYbEcKy
Swartz, Party of 5
PeaNut 37247 - 5/1/2002
Posts: 7856 Layouts: 486
Loc: Vancouver-ish, WA
Count: 30 |  Posted: 1/16/2009 1:01:25 PM
yeah, I'm so sad since I LOVE Heidi Grace |
|
|
wezee812
AncestralPea
PeaNut 34854 - 4/2/2002
Posts: 4442 Layouts: 6
Loc: under a pile of scraps | Posted: 1/16/2009 1:05:07 PM
Cr@P! I love Heidi. Now what? |
|
|
simplyparticular
AncestralPea
PeaNut 16715 - 6/11/2001
Posts: 4942 Layouts: 56
Loc: WNY
 | |
caspad
peas&crackers
PeaNut 3602 - 4/3/2000
Posts: 13130 Layouts: 363
Loc: Massachusetts
 | Posted: 1/16/2009 1:33:10 PM
Why the drastic change in direction? According to the blog announcement, the company wants to get back to what it does best
Fiskars has been a tools company for decades.
In the last 3-5 years they started acquiring some small independent paper/scrapbook companies at the height of the market.
Seems like a good business decision to expand into new channels. They already have the distribution channels into the craft and specialty markets.
But with the decline in scrapping and the decline in consumer spending, they probably had to make some cuts.
Getting rid of lines/production that isn't as profitable is a good business decision.
Even if it's beloved, if it doesn't make money, how long do you keep limping along hoping for things to change? |
|
|
irwlauriejill
PeaNut
PeaNut 97759 - 7/23/2003
Posts: 453 Layouts: 1
Loc: Wisconsin
 | |
HeyAnne
Enjoying Today
PeaNut 1847 - 11/14/1999
Posts: 5526 Layouts: 317
Loc: CT, USA
 | Posted: 1/16/2009 2:45:20 PM
I am all for making smart buisness choices and will be happy to see what they come up with in the tool area.
I will still miss Heidi Grace though --- one of my favorite companies. |
Felt Flower Collections at: www.carefreeglimmer.etsy.com
Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?
- Gimli | |
|
|
coleland
AncestralPea
PeaNut 27682 - 1/18/2002
Posts: 4609 Layouts: 140
Count: 2 | Posted: 1/16/2009 2:50:15 PM
I don't understand... will Heidi Grace/Cloud 9/Lil Davis not find a new distributor? Why would they just give up their lines? | |
|
SDeven
the Enabling Pea
PeaNut 65852 - 1/30/2003
Posts: 19122 Layouts: 308
Loc: Nashville TN
Count: 1 | Posted: 1/16/2009 3:07:20 PM
Fiskars has been a tools company for decades.
Started in Finland in 1649.
Can't really say I blame them but it is a sad thing for those people who hooked the design boats to the Fiskars ship. I hope the individual designers can also "go back to their roots" of being successful small businesses with unique products.
Bigger isn't always better. This industry was built on individuality and it feels like it's headed back that way. |
---Sarah
"No stranger has ever cost me more money than SDeven." ---Mirabelleswalker
LOVE LETTERS BLOG
| |
|
|
SpiderGirl
Pub aRAKnid
PeaNut 172999 - 10/17/2004
Posts: 8418 Layouts: 286
Loc: My Secret Identity: Angela Daniels
| Posted: 1/16/2009 3:40:39 PM
I am not surprised really, we're seeing a tightening of belts with the scrapbooking industry across the board but this hobby is as old as paper (well maybe not quite that old) and has gone through many different incarnations & trends. Fiskars did say they would be continuing to use the Heidi Grace designs (and they also have Cloud 9, L'il Davis, Stephanie Poloson and Ink by Steph) with non-consumables in the same way they have been up until now. Some examples are- special designer acrylic stamps, scrapbook albums and, my personal favorite, the special edition scissors where they have the designs on the actual blades of the scissors. I have more pairs of those than I care to admit.
Like you, I will miss the papers and stickers (I am a long time Heidi Grace Designs fan) but since working with Fiskars for the past year (and being a Fiskateer for the past 3), I can see where Fiskars is really first and foremost a tool company so I can see where this makes is a logical move. And truth be told, my personal buying habits have been trending more toward things I can re-use over and over (like tools). My budget is getting tighter and I already have enough paper to last me a lifetime so this move matches my current spending habits so I’m guessing a lot of crafters are feeling the same way and companies like Fiskars will have to adjust with us. You can always chime in on the Fiskateer board if you have suggestions, ideas or comments about this decision at fiskateers.com. This announcement was first shared on our blog over there.
-Angela Daniels
Lead Fiskateer |
|
|
momof3b1g
PeaFixture
PeaNut 101810 - 8/15/2003
Posts: 3328 Layouts: 2
Loc: CRAZY TOWN
| |
RnKMom
Prima 'n' Stickles Pea
PeaNut 80424 - 4/8/2003
Posts: 6514 Layouts: 6
Loc: Southern California | Posted: 1/16/2009 5:29:10 PM
Drastic change? Fiskars has been making scissors and various tools for a long, looooooooooooooooongggg time. Going back to roots and doing what you do best is often a good thing. 
|
~Patricia~
If I have to use all this paper before I die, I'll live forever!
| |
|
|
aJerseyGirl
PeaFixture
PeaNut 246022 - 1/29/2006
Posts: 3952 Layouts: 52
Loc: New Jersey
Count: 2 | Posted: 1/16/2009 7:25:28 PM
Actually, these days, I really like playing with new innovative tools. I've got enough paper and stickers (not that I'm planning to stop buying), but there's not too many companies that focus on the tools. I'm looking forward to seeing what they come out with in the future. | |
|
butterfly843
PeaNut
PeaNut 161550 - 8/7/2004
Posts: 225 Layouts: 0
Loc: NY
| Posted: 1/16/2009 11:30:17 PM
I love Heidi grace products, hope someone else picks up her papers. |
|
|
