Thank you to everyone for the anniversary well-wishes! It warms my heart to know that Scrap Your Trip has been able to help you with your scrapbooks.
I especially want to thank Mary Lynn for the comment she left on the blog. It is so humbling to know that we were able to help in her brother’s recovery. I often say to my staff, "We don’t sell paper and stickers. We are helping people preserve the most precious moments of their lives."
I loved reading about your journey! I feel like I’ve been right
there with you along the way. I lost my corporate job in 2003. Right at
that time my brother was in a horrible motorcycle accident and lay in a
coma for several months clinging to life. When he awoke, he had no
memory at all and had to relearn everything. I created a scrapbook to
help teach him about his life, his family and places he had been. Each
day before our visit at the hospital, he would look at the scrapbook to
refresh his memory on who we were. He had been a nuclear engineer
serving in the Navy and living in several places. I live in Atlanta but
we grew up in Indiana. I stumbled upon Scrap Your Trip to find all the
papers and stickers that I needed to put together his book.
It was such an important part of his recovery that each of my other
siblings and parents have asked me to do a book for them. (My parents
have a winter home just south of Orlando so we dealt with the
hurricanes too) I think I’ll be contributing to your business for a
long time! Thank you so much for sharing and for providing such a great
resource for all of us!
MaryLynn
I am so happy that my journey (and my sharing it with you) has been inspirational. Helping to inspire people is one of the reasons I do what I do.
I have been offered the wonderful opportunity to share my story at a conference in Los Angeles on October 7th called "Inspiration 2020" put on by Bill Walsh and PowerTeam International. It’s going to be a great conference! Click here to learn more:
www.Inspiration2020.com. Maybe I will see you there!
I have extended our anniversary sale until Sunday, September 26. It’s the least I can do for my wonderful customers! (*smile*)
Just type coupon code ANNIV8 at checkout. (One coupon code per order. Cannot be used on previous orders. Cannot be combined with other coupon offers.) Maybe you will be one of the 8 lucky customers that will get their order for FREE (you’ll know on Wednesday).
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
See you on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/ScrapYourTrip
As always, thanks for your business,
Julie Swatek, President
Scrap Your Trip®
www.ScrapYourTrip.com
‘cuz life is a trip worth scrappin’®
CustomerCare@ScrapYourTrip.com
1-866-955-0005
http://blog.scrapyourtrip.com
www.facebook.com/scrapyourtrip
www.facebook.com/julieswatek
www.twitter.com/julieswatek
September 24th, 2010
September 2002
I am 5 ½ months pregnant with my son, Logan. I have five months left at my corporate job that I have had for the past five years. The merger is done and the majority of the Orlando division will be gone by next March.
All of my co-workers have been furiously trying to find new jobs. I am showing and no one is going to hire me when I am obviously pregnant.
So, I decided to try something else. My online scrapbooking store, Scrap Your Trip, is almost done.
I am a fourth generation entrepreneur. Starting a business is normal to me…something I saw often growing up. I always knew I’d have my own business too, just didn’t know what I was passionate enough about to work a gazillion hours to make it work.
When I walked into a scrapbooking store when my 3-year old daughter, Lauren was born, I knew I found it.
I send an email to everyone I know and announce the “grand opening” of my website. And I wait. And within two days, I have my first order. I am at work, sitting in my office and I scream out loud, I am so excited. People come running in because I am pregnant and they think something is wrong.
“I got an order!"
August 2004
The fourth hurricane in six weeks has gone through Orlando and my office is flooded. Lots of orders are ruined because they were in boxes on the floor waiting to be mailed.
I have been trying to sell Scrap Your Trip for months. I think the lady I’ve been talking to is going to buy it. $27,500. That barely covers the cost of the inventory I have.
I can’t believe I’ve worked for almost two years and not made any money. Lost money, actually, if you count what I should have made if I had gotten another job.
September 2004
I have just finished listening to “Stomping the Search Engines” by Brad Fallon and StomperNet. He sure seems to know what he is talking about when it comes to selling online. He’s been in business for only five months and had more revenue last month than I have done all together over the past two years. I sure hope there is something to this Google SEO thing.
October 2004
It worked!! I tripled the number of orders this month!
December 2004
It’s getting really crowded in here. There are five of us working in a bedroom in my house. Just signed a lease on office space. EEEK! Hope I made the right choice!
June 2005
Time to move already?!? This place seemed so big when we moved in!
January 2006
Just bought a machine to make our own die cuts. It was $3,000! Sure hope this works! I really think we can do just as good of a job, if not better, than the other people who make die cuts.
February 2007
Just moved again. From one suite into three. That should hold us for a LONG time!
March 2007
Oh my gosh! The Post Office is making a box just for us! Made just for scrapbooking paper, so it doesn’t get bent. This is unbelievable! The only other company they have done this for is the new shoebox they just made for eBay.
June 2008
Just signed the lease on a laser die cutting machine. The $3,000 machine just can’t keep up with us anymore. This one is $20,000. And I was nervous about the $3,000 one!
October 2008
I sure hope everyone likes our paper! It’s kind of scary to head in this direction, but I really think we can make papers that are unique.
June 2009
Finally finished the expansion. Knocked down walls all over the place to take over the suite next to us. Four suites? That should hold us for a while. (Hey, haven’t I said this before?)
July 2009
Our fifth and sixth laser machines just got delivered. Holy smokes!!
August 2009
Wow!!! I just found out that Scrap Your Trip was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing, privately held companies in America! Number 1727. I am in shock.
December 2009
The economy is really affecting us. I have cut everyone’s hours. I hope I don’t have to lay anyone off. (I didn’t.)
March 2010
Just debuted our very first Scrap Your Trip designed paper collection. I am SO excited!
August 2010
Just approved the master for our Scrap Your Trip stickers. My team did an AMAZING job!
September 2010
Scrap Your Trip made the Inc. 5000 list again! Number 1370. I still can’t believe we made it once, but TWICE? I am so amazed at what has happened to my “little” scrapbooking company.
September 22, 2010
I am SO incredibly grateful for everything that Scrap Your Trip has brought into my life. Someone told me a long time ago that the business could only grow as much as I could grow personally.
It’s been the most challenging, most exciting thing I’ve ever done. I “found myself” through this business. It has brought many rewarding relationships into my life, including my best friend and the love of my life.
I have been able to help a lot of people in a lot of ways…raising money for charity…lots of stable jobs for my employees…making scrapbooking supplies to help people showcase their most precious memories…showing people, especially women, that they have NO IDEA what they are capable of.
This turned out to be a loooong email, but thank you for going on this journey with me, both in reading about it today and over the past eight years.
On behalf of the entire team at Scrap Your Trip, we thank you for your business and allowing us into your lives. We look forward to many more years together!
To show my appreciation and gratitude, I am offering a 20% coupon on your entire order of $59 or more (excluding clearance items) through Friday, September 24th. Just type coupon code ANNIV8 at checkout. (One coupon code per order. Cannot be used on previous orders.) AND we are also choosing 8 lucky customers that will get their order for FREE this week.
Lastly, if you didn’t catch it earlier, I would have never made it without what I learned from StomperNet. Over 100 of us have broken through the $1 million in revenue mark with what we learned from them. And I am one of two “Stompers” to be named to the Inc. list this year.
Their 10th conference, “Live 10,” is being held in Vegas on October 8, 9 and 10. “Live 10” on 10/10/10. (*smile*)
You can join for 30 days for $1.00 and get a free ticket to attend Live 10.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to do business online, this is the best group to learn from. Click here to check it out:
https://stompernet.infusionsoft.com/go/SN30-1/swatekj
Starting this company was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Maybe starting a company could one of the best things that ever happened to you too.
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
See you on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/ScrapYourTrip
With Immense gratitude,
Julie Swatek, President
Scrap Your Trip®
www.ScrapYourTrip.com
‘cuz life is a trip worth scrappin’®
CustomerCare@ScrapYourTrip.com
1-866-955-0005
http://blog.scrapyourtrip.com
www.facebook.com/scrapyourtrip
www.facebook.com/julieswatek
www.twitter.com/julieswatek
September 22nd, 2010
SHE GOT THE PART!!!!!
Her teachers were supposed to send an email with the cast list after school. I didn’t get it until after 8:00 Friday night. I was going bonkers by the time I got it!
I opened the email and saw "Annie" There was a very brief moment of disappointment, because there went my vacation.
But it was so quickly replaced with overwhelming joy and pride. She got the part! Out of the whole school, she got the part!
I called her to tell her. As soon as she answered, she said, "Did you get the e-mail yet?"
"You got it!!!"
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" She was just squealing with delight (*smile*)
I texted her Dad to let him know that she got the part. He said he was really excited and very happy for her.
And then the surprise of my life came across my phone…"You can have them for Thanksgiving if it means she gets to do both."
What an amazing turn of events! Thanks Tony! (*smile*)
Now, ready to see some gorgeous layouts?
This week we have SO many layouts to show you featuring SO many great collections – so let’s get started!
We’ve tried to find “different” looks using the same collections to keep giving you great ideas on how to use these papers and create something very different (if you want too) each time.
My Mind’s Eye is perfect for this and has the most beautiful collections this week with the more feminine “Market Street” and masculine “Portabella Road.”
"Market Street" Collection
"Market Street" Collection
"Portabella Road" Collection
"Portabella Road" Collection
"Portabella Road" Collection
We have Jillibean’s “Atomic Soup” – great for Science fairs and school projects and “Pasta Fagioli” with its vivid, fun colors! Be sure to notice the twine that is used and what a great little touch it adds (they call it “Bean Stalks – cute, huh?)
"Atomic Soup" Collection
"Atomic Soup" Collection
"Atomic Soup" Collection
"Pasta Fagioli" Collection
"Pasta Fagioli" Collection
"Pasta Fagioli" Collection
Everyone’s back in school now! Bella Boulevard’s “Midterm” gives us all another great option for designing school memories for our children spanning pre-school to college.
"Midterm" Collection
"Midterm" Collection
SYT designers decided that we needed a collection that was “near and dear” to our hearts so we present to you, “Oh Crop!” This is our scrapbooking collection – YAY!
"Oh Crop" Collection
“Moonshine Crew” by Reminisce is a fun option for all of you “ahead of the game” (or still doing last year’s Halloween’s layouts, like me *smile*).
"Moonshine Crew" Collection
"Moonshine Crew" Collection
"Moonshine Crew" Collection
Finally, this week we have “North Pole” and “Snow Much Fun” by 3 Bugs In a Rug. The penguins in “Snow Much Fun” are really adorable and these more simple layouts really do feature the pictures nicely.
"North Pole" Collection
"Snow Much Fun" Collection
The SYT Designers have been hard at work, as always – they have brought to you the following AMAZING designs: Halloween, Fall, Beach, Golf, Sports, Baseball, Family, China, Christmas, Snow, Winter, Football, Baby, Moving, Girlfriends, and Cooking.
Click here to see all the new items:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/9152010.html
We also have 260 overstock items on sale at 25% off. Click here to see:
http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/9152010sale.html
This week we are giving out a free gift with every order $59 or more between 09/15/10 and 09/17/10.
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
See you on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/ScrapYourTrip
As always, thanks for your business.
Julie Swatek, President
Scrap Your Trip®
www.ScrapYourTrip.com
‘cuz life is a trip worth scrappin’®
CustomerCare@ScrapYourTrip.com
1-866-955-0005
http://blog.scrapyourtrip.com
www.facebook.com/scrapyourtrip
www.facebook.com/julieswatek
www.twitter.com/julieswatek
September 15th, 2010
“The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There’ll be sun!”
Lauren has been walking around singing this song for days. Her school is putting on a production of “Annie” and she tried out for the lead role of Annie on Tuesday.
She has a pretty singing voice and good vocal range, so she made it to callbacks yesterday.
There is just one problem. The production is the weekend before Thanksgiving. The weekend we were leaving on a weeklong vacation to the Bahamas for Thanksgiving with my boyfriend’s family. There are 12 of us going – four families in total.
They texted me from school to ask the dates we were going to be gone. When Lauren found out they were the same, she told her babysitter that she didn’t want to go to the Bahamas and made a few comments that “It really stinks!” but put on a smile and made the best of it. She was going to work on the set and costume design and the dance teacher told her she’d give her a bigger role in the performance for the after-school dance class she was taking.
When I talked to her, she said she was happy and that she heard that if you got the part of Annie, then you had “no life” for the next few months because of practice every night after school.
I told her that if she got the chance to be Annie, that was much more important than vacation and that we would leave for the Bahamas after her performances. She kept saying that she was excited to work on the set, but when we kept asking, she finally admitted that she really wanted the part.
I emailed her teachers and told them that if she were chosen for the lead, then we would gladly change our vacation plans.
I really want her to get the part. How exciting to have the lead in the entire school production at 10 years old. And it’s “Annie!”
But I also don’t want to miss the majority of our vacation. I already have to bring the kids home the day before Thanksgiving because they are at their Dad’s this year.
And as soon as I have that thought, the next one that follows is “I suck!”
It’s a struggle between what I want for her and what I want for me. Because mostly what I want for me is that she gets what she wants. But there is a small part of me that is being selfish and wants what I want and that makes me feel like the worst mother on the planet.
We find out after school today if she got the part. If she’s Annie…we stay. If not, she helps make amazing costumes and sets and we go.
And I will be thrilled with the outcome, whichever one it is. (*smile*)
Now, onto scrapbooking supplies!
We have some gorgeous new collections this week! Check out Wednesday’s blog post for lots of layout ideas.
Collections include:
- "Pyrus"by BasicGrey
- “Paisley Road,” “So Cute” and “Fairy Flora” by Prima
- “BlackBird” by My Mind’s Eye
- “Southwest” by SYT
- “Maple Grove” by We R Memory Keepers
Click here to see all the new items:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/9082010.html
We also have 319 overstock items on sale at 25% off. Click here to see:
http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/9082010sale.html
Today is the last day to have a chance to get your order for FREE!! All orders over $75 placed today will be entered into a drawing: three winners will get the entire amount of your order (including shipping) refunded AND three winners will get 50% of your order refunded (including shipping)! The winners will be announced next Wednesday.
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
See you on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/ScrapYourTrip
As always, thanks for your business.
Julie Swatek, President
Scrap Your Trip®
www.ScrapYourTrip.com
‘cuz life is a trip worth scrappin’®
CustomerCare@ScrapYourTrip.com
1-866-955-0005
http://blog.scrapyourtrip.com
www.facebook.com/scrapyourtrip
www.facebook.com/julieswatek
www.twitter.com/julieswatek
September 10th, 2010
"Mommy, did you drop my on my head when I was a baby?"
This was the question my 7-year old son Logan asked me a few weeks ago.
"No, honey, I didn’t drop you on your head when you were a baby! What would make you ask me that?"
"Then why can’t I say my "R’s"?"
This broke my heart. Logan has had trouble with the "R" sound his whole life. We kept thinking he would outgrow it, but this question from him (about something that was obviously bothering him) sent us straight to the speech therapist.
Well, I am happy to say that it’s only the second week and he said "red russian roulette racecar" as clear as a bell when I called him at Dad’s to say goodnight tonight.
Yay, Logan!
This was a reminder to me that often times we have NO idea what is going through our children’s head. (*smile*)
We received LOTS of great feedback about the layouts we’ve been posting for our new scrapbooking supplies so we are going to give you what you asked for again….more layouts for our new collections this week. Keep the feedback coming! We want to make shopping at Scrap Your Trip a wonderful experience and appreciate all you share with us to make that happen.
Let’s start with Basic Grey’s, “Pyrus.” Below are two layouts using this beautiful, fall collection.
"Pyrus" Collection
"Pyrus" Collection
Next we have, “Paisley Road,” “So Cute” and “Fairy Flora” by Prima. We have two layouts for each of the collections so that you can see how the same collection can be used and yield very different looks.
"Paisley Road" Collection
"Paisley Road" Collection
"So Cute" Collection
"So Cute" Collection
"Fairy Flora" Collection
"Fairy Flora" Collection
We’re really excited about the layout ideas for “BlackBird” by My Mind’s Eye because we have the instructions available on how to create these layouts on our site. We know that many of you would like the instructions for all of the layouts and we are working on how to make this happen but for now, if you “click” into the “Brand Spankin’ New” section and click on the layout image, you will find the link to the instructions on that page. Simply, click on the link and print!
"Black Bird" Collection
"Black Bird" Collection
Many of you have made requests for the Great Southwest so SYT has designed a “Southwest” collection. Below is a layout that Tiffany created using this collection.
"Southwest" Collection
Finally, we have “Maple Grove” by We R Memory Keepers.
"Maple Grove" Collection
"Maple Grove" Collection
This week’s diecuts include: Summer, Fall, Halloween, Christmas, Road Trip, Disney, Scrapbooking, Romance, Kids, Dance, Canada, Caribbean, France, Africa and Japan. We also have new custom items for you to choose from: Custom Festival Laser Die Cut, Custom Handprint 12 x 12 Paper and Custom Anniversary 12 x 12 Paper.
Click here to see all the new items:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/9082010.html
We also have 319 overstock items on sale at 25% off. Click here to see:
http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/9082010sale.html
Our promo this week is “back by popular demand” with a little “extra something.” This week we will have SIX winners! All orders over $75 between 09/08/10 and 09/10/10 will be entered into a drawing: three winners will get the entire amount of your order (including shipping) refunded AND three winners will get 50% of your order refunded (including shipping)! The winners will be announced next Wednesday.
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
See you on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/ScrapYourTrip
As always, thanks for your business.
Julie Swatek, President
Scrap Your Trip®
www.ScrapYourTrip.com
‘cuz life is a trip worth scrappin’®
CustomerCare@ScrapYourTrip.com
1-866-955-0005
http://blog.scrapyourtrip.com
www.facebook.com/scrapyourtrip
www.facebook.com/julieswatek
www.twitter.com/julieswatek
September 7th, 2010
Apparently, 5th grade is the year you learn how to do things for yourself. First, Lauren had to have a laptop for school this year. It’s pretty cool to be able to email and Skype chat with her.
She started taking showers in the morning, instead of at night before bed. I wake her up at 6:30 and she gets in the shower…gets herself dressed…and makes herself breakfast. Yesterday morning, she even made lunches for her and Logan…made hot tea for both of us…and put the backpacks in the car.
"You didn’t have to anything this morning, Mommy, except get yourself ready!"
Holy smokes! It’s so exciting to watch her grow up but so sad at the same time.
Now, if I could just get Logan to brush his teeth without me hounding him! A mom can only dream (*smile*)
Did you get a chance to see all the layouts we posted on the blog on Wednesday? Hope they gave you some great ideas for this week’s new products.
Collections include:
- “Jack and Jill,” “Road Trip,” and “Annalee” by Prima
- “School Spirit” and “Snowy Day” by Crate Paper
- "Heebie Jeebies" and “FunFetti” byWe R Memory Keepers
Click here to see all the new items:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/9012010.html
We also have 270 overstock items on sale at 25% off. Click here to see:
http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/9012010sale.html
Our promo this week has several levels to it, the more you “need” (*smile*) the more you save!
Ladies, this is perfect for those of you whose motto it is, “it’s not what you spend, it’s what you SAVE!” (*smile*)
Order $55, receive 10% off of your order (use promo code: 10off)
Order $65, receive 15% off of your order (use promo code: 15off)
Order $75, receive 20% off of your order (use promo code: 20off)
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options:
www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
See you on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/ScrapYourTrip
As always, thanks for your business.
Julie Swatek, President
Scrap Your Trip®
www.ScrapYourTrip.com
‘cuz life is a trip worth scrappin’®
CustomerCare@ScrapYourTrip.com
1-866-955-0005
http://blog.scrapyourtrip.com
www.facebook.com/scrapyourtrip
www.facebook.com/julieswatek
www.twitter.com/julieswatek
September 2nd, 2010
We’re sticking with (what seems to be) a favorite promo, all orders over $75 between 09/29/10 and 10/01/10 will be entered into a drawing and three lucky winners will get the entire amount of your order (including shipping) refunded. The winners will be announced next Wednesday.
And speaking of winners, congrats to the ones from last week! We’ve refunded the entire amount of your order!
Lisa M. Federspiel