CHA Armchair Attendee Week, Day 4: My Advice to Manufacturers (a.k.a. My Thoughts on the Perfect Product Line)

Finally getting this post up...apologies for the extended delay! 

My advice is in the form of my perfect product line, explained in words and with examples of products from this show.

My perfect product line...

1. Has A Theme (But Isn't Too Theme-y)
I like knowing what to use a line for. I also like being able to grab any line and being able to use it for an everyday layout. I want clean and graphic or retro/vintage designs. I also want lots of basic and everyday kinds of prints.

This paper from Simple Stories' Urban Traveler collection is definitely travel-themed on one side, but offers a fun basic stripe on the other side. It's clean and graphic on one side and retro/vintage on the other side:

2. Considers Journaling Needs 
This is my biggest pet peeve in this industry. Sure, we have lots of journaling cards at our disposal, but give me lines, give me grids, and give them to me in 12 x 12 so that I can either use them instead of cardstock as a background and journal right on the layout or cut them up appropriately for my journaling needs. Give me more than one of those pieces of paper in your line so I don't have to reach for another manufacturer's product once I've used that one piece of paper but still have the other eleven left from your line. I don't always want to journal on a journaling card. In fact, I tend to journal in 12-inch long journaling strips of various widths. Hey, there's an idea, how about one of those patterned paper strip papers with 12-inch long grid and lined patterns in varying widths? Then I could get maybe 7-8 layouts' worth of journaling out of that one piece of paper!

Crate Paper's Party Day collection hits the nail on the head for me in this category. This collection includes several papers that would be great for journaling, including Tag and Accent Cutouts:

plus this grid paper:

and this masking tape paper:

and this label paper:

and this calendar/grid paper:

3. Is Trendy, But Doesn't Throw Out Tradition
I'm a little cautious sometimes. I'm not usually a trend-starter, but once I get my feet wet I can embrace a new trend and give it my own twist. What makes me happy is mixing the old with the new. Combine staple patterns and products with trends in unique ways. 

Webster's Pages Sweet Notes Mini Bags by Allison Kreft are new. Woodgrain and stripes are not. This gives me a confidence level that makes me want to try this new product:

4. Keeps Cardmakers in Mind
I want greeting options, and lots of them! Pebbles' Basics collection includes these sticker sheets with multiple greeting options available in twelve different colors across six sets. I am so excited about these!

5. Includes Alphas for Everyone
Sometimes you want uppercase. Sometimes you want lowercase. Sometimes you want script. Sometimes you want a clean font. Sometimes you want one color. Sometimes you want to mix and match colors. American Crafts' Amy Tangerine Yes, Please collection understands this fairly well:

Here we've got a serif font with uppercase and lowercase letters, and it comes in several colors:

Here we've got a sans serif font with uppercase letters, and it comes in a couple of different colors/patterns:

Here we've got a script font with both uppercase and lowercase letters, again, available in several colors:

Here's another sans serif uppercase letter set, this time a multicolored set:

And...if you feel like it...alpha stamps (again, sans serif uppercase):

6. Offers a Diverse Mix of Flat and 3-Dimensional Embellishments
Most companies are doing this now, and if they aren't, they should! Sure, a pop dot can do a lot to add dimension, but sometimes I don't want to have to think that through. I love having choices.

My Mind's Eye consistently does a great job of this, as you can see here in their Collectable Unforgettable collection (selected embellishments below):

Layered Stickers (3-D):

 
 Label Stickers (flat):

Chipboard (3-D):

Tiny Word Stickers (flat):

  Pins (3-D):

 

Decorative Brads (3-D):

7. Add In Something Fun, Something That Makes Me Smile
When asked, I describe my style as bright colors against neutral backgrounds, clean and simple, with a touch of whimsy. Sure, I can create my own whimsy, but how about you give me a little bit of a leg up?

October Afternoon's Travel Girl collection has lots of whimsical designs:

So, there you have it: My Perfect Product Line
Combine all of these pieces into one line and...sold...to one Vivian Masket. :)

I'd love to hear from you - what's essential in your perfect product line?