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THE STORY
CONTINUES!!
Updated 8/6/06
The history of Cool Scrapbook Stuff:
My now ex-husband and I used to
own a copy shop (like a Kinko’s). In 1998, I began a small scrapbook
paper department inside of the copy shop in Poway, California, just
outside of San Diego. I found
that our customers LOVED my paper selection! They couldn't get enough of
the papers and they begged me to carry more. I started an online business
and the name “Cool Scrapbook Stuff” was born!
In June of 1999, I decided to expand
the scrapbooking to be its own portion of the store dedicated to just scrapbook
supplies. The department grew and grew and became too large for the
available space. In January 2001, after my ex and I divorced, he decided to
put the copy shop up for sale. I
realized it was time for my store to be out on its own. I began looking
around the area for a new location.
Cool Scrapbook Stuff opened on Poway
Road in Poway on June 2nd, 2001. It was too small for our success and we
quickly found a new location.
2002:
We moved to our new location in
the beginning of March 2002. It
was difficult, to say the least… the bathroom was not done, the walls
weren’t painted, and the carpet was totally torn up. We had packed
everything up and put it in a corner of the new store and covered it with
tarps to keep the paint off. The night before we were supposed to open, the
“For Lease” sign was still on the building, most of the
products were still in boxes, and we still did not have electricity!!
BUT
STILL the customers were THRILLED on opening day! The new store was amazing. It was open and airy and full of
light!
The
new store was MUCH easier to find and get to. The parking was great on
evenings and weekends.
2003:
This was our first full year at
our new location… and we LOVED it! We continued to concentrate on
company goals:
Ø to provide
you with the best selection of products in San
Diego,
Ø give you
outstanding service,
Ø and still
keep our great prices!
We still considered ourselves a
“Work In Progress” and you would often find that we had moved
products around to prominently display our newest items. Often you would
walk in and find that all of an item had been completely moved to a
different part of the store. If my employees ever told you that the thought
an item WAS “Right here…” – it probably JUST was! J
2004:
That year “roared in like a
lion”. I went to Dallas for our
industry’s biggest trade show that January and bought TONS of
products. I literally doubled the inventory in the store!
The newest feature was that I
added an extensive line of rubber stamps and rubber stamp pads. This has been a continually growing area
of our store.
And, as I’ve stated in the
past, we still considered ourselves a “Work In Progress.” So, I
rearranged the store time and time again to try and better serve you. BUT,
we needed the space to put all of the new products!!! You would be AMAZED
at how much we could fit in our store (I know the staff was constantly
amazed!), but it just wasn’t enough.
That led to our biggest news of
the year. On Sunday, October 31st, we closed the store for one
week and on November
6, 2004, we opened
at our brand new location!
It was only 0.1 miles from the old location (you can see one
building from the other!), but it is MORE
THAN THREE TIMES THE SIZE of the last location! It took a LOT of effort
to move everything and get it set up in one short week, but we worked
literally night and day and did it! On our grand re-opening day, there were
more than 100 people in line! We filled the entire parking lot!
2005:
Was amazing! Customers absolutely
LOVED our layout and were happy for the amount of parking, plus our great
neighbors: Michael’s and Jo-Ann’s! Three great stores in one
large parking lot! We saw unprecedented growth!
All of our products are organized
by topics. So, if you are looking for a “birthday” item,
you’ll find them all in the same location. Unlike other stores you
will not have to hunt all over the store because the paper is in one place
but the stickers are in another and the embellishments are in yet a third
location! It makes it SO easy to find products! And customers LOVE it!
The new store is HUGE! We are one
of the largest scrapbook stores in the San
Diego area!
·
our building is 3,600 square feet of actual
retail space (not including our 1,200 square feet of storage space,
separate Mens & Women’s restrooms, and kitchen)
·
hundreds of colors of cardstock
·
thousands of styles of 12x12 decorative paper
and vellum
·
hundreds of rubber stamps
·
over 800 different colors/styles of scrapbooks
always in stock
·
a HUGE
collection of magazines and idea books
·
a class/crop room that comfortably
seats 24
·
plus, we are one of the few locations in San
Diego where you can find
8½”x11” decorative paper!
·
and tons more!
In all of 2005, there wasn’t
a single day that we didn’t put new product out on the floor! We have
the best selection of scrapbook supplies in the county!
2006:
The CSS collection of products
won't be found anywhere else. Along with your favorites, I shop for new and
rare products that you will love to use in your scrapbooks, plus I work
very hard to get all of the HOTTEST items. My products come from over 200 manufacturers
to provide you with the widest variety possible. Our customers constantly comment that we
have the best paper selection they have ever seen.
Additionally, I don't believe in
over-charging the customers. I am rewarded by hearing how much people enjoy
the selection and prices. But most important to me is our customer service.
All of our employees are friendly and helpful and will do whatever we can
to assist you! Read more about what sets us apart!
The Future:
We will continue…
Ø
to order new and exciting products, while stocking many
old favorites,
Ø
to hire and train a friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful
staff,
Ø
to keep prices low,
Ø
to work hard to keep the store and products fresh.
We never sit still, and neither do
our products. We continually strive to re-merchandise our items to better
serve you.
If
you would like to be given more updates on new products and specials,
please sign up for our email list and we’ll notify you once or twice a
month (we do NOT sell any information!). But also, don’t forget to
check our “Calendar” tab for classes and crops info.
Please
join us at our store. We are open late on weeknights and both Saturday and
Sundays for your convenience! We look forward to meeting you!
Gena
Barney, Owner
and the staff of Cool Scrapbook Stuff
 See or Sign up for our Newsletter
Contact or Find Us
See Pictures of the Grand Re-Opening 11/2004
See our Classes,
Crops, and Holidays schedule
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