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Just so you understand, this is PURE speculation, just for fun!!!
Let's see. I think they make the catalog WAY ahead of time, so sales might not always be the criteria. At least not for first year stamps.
So ... I think ... they have pretty sets aimed at smaller audiences, and only keep them for a year or two. Like Lighthouses, certain animal stamps, stuff like that. You might just get a different lighthouse set next time, there's always beach stuff of one style or another, right?
And they have the extremely versatile sets that get kept because they are so popular.
I do not believe it's random. I don't believe that any company would ever want their actions to be described as "random"!
Maybe they contract with different artists and have long meetings looking over proposals.... I bet it could be fun to be at that end of the business.
Neat to think about, huh...
__________________ Kathy Wrose "Fun must be always." - Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks "It was fun." - Kirk, Star Trek: Generations
I know that they retired the Retro Alphabet (and matching numbers) last year after only one year in the catalog. There were a lot of surprised/annoyed demos and customers, and at some point there was mention that it was a copyright issue. I don't know if it was copyright infringement, or they were only allowed to make it for a certain amount of time. . . maybe they have agreements with the artists that they'll sell them a certain amount of time?
Sometimes I think they're just updating their look. Last year they retired Sun, Moon & Stars and replaced it with another celestial set, same with Asian Art and Oriental Paintings -- though I think I liked the old sets better.
I did notice last year that a lot of the sets that were retiring were sort of cutesy/country. A lot of the newer sets seem a little funkier, more retro-hip if that makes sense. Just my .02.
As a graphic designer, I've always thought that working in the design and Production end of the Stampin' Up! would be so cool. I've wondered if they have a staff there that designs the stamp sets, or if they contract that out. How fun would it be to come up with all of the samples for the catalogs, see them published, and get paid!
I would love to be involved in the decision making of what comes and what goes (you know to be on the inner circle). The only thing would be that it would be hard to retire your own "old favorites".
As a graphic designer, I've always thought that working in the design and Production end of the Stampin' Up! would be so cool. I've wondered if they have a staff there that designs the stamp sets, or if they contract that out. How fun would it be to come up with all of the samples for the catalogs, see them published, and get paid!
Some things are in-house, and some art is contracted out. And yes, there is a room at SU where the walls are lined with stamps, inks, and accessories, and there are people (Shelli's daughter Sarah is one) who's job is to sit and stamp all the samples for the catalog and other printed material out there.
Retirement is based on two things, most of the time:
Sales. Are sales dipping with a set? They take that as a sign that it is time to go.
Needs updating: Sometimes they retire a set, that, while popular, could use a little freshening up and tweaking (more up to date drawing, different phrases, etc...) and replace it with a similar set. Button Bear and My Favorite Teddy Bear are good examples of this practice.
Please make sure if you have suggestions for a stamp set, that you send SU these ideas. I can tell you that they carefully weigh our opinion and do listen.
While it is too late to add something to July's new catalog, there is always next year!
And if you want to work for Stampin Up, I believe they usually have openings, you can look on their website for a list of job openings. You might have to move to Utah, though!
__________________
Milette
The dreamers of the day are dangerous people,For they dream their dreams with open eyes,And make them come true.- D.H. Lawrence
I would add "Trends" to the list of reasons to retire. As a trend phases out, they'll retire the sets that apply to that trend.
Right now, the Collage Alphabet is SO popular that they extended it's availability through June. If they put that set in the new catalog, it will probably mean that another alpha will retire.
__________________ "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works," Hebrews 10:24
I think Kathy and I are on the same page, I order it and it is gone!!!
__________________ Kyloe
The lesson from Charlie Brown: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
I'm a demo and it is almost painful to order stamps at this point in the year. I went out on a limb and ordered a few stamps that I love enough for scrapbooking and I'm just hoping they don't retire!
What criteria is used to decide to retire a set?
