How is Close to my Heart doing in this economy?

With the uncertainty of our economy today and the many changes that are occurring in our industry, you might wonder how Close to my Heart is doing. Jeanette Lynton, CTMH’s founder and CEO, posted a great message on her blog yesterday that I wanted to share with all of you. I have always been proud to be part of such an amazing company, and the fact that we are 100% debt free in an economy like this, makes me even prouder.

Creativity Now and Always

by Jeanette Lynton

Within the past month, paper crafters have heard and seen some hard
news—well-known industry names have announced bankruptcy or removed
their scrapbooking lines. It may leave many wondering what the future is
for our beloved pursuit of memory keeping and creativity. As the CEO
and Founder of Close To My Heart, I have many thoughts on the topic and
wanted to share a few with you.

First off, preserving our memories is NOT a fad. It’s one of the most
important things we do in our journey here on earth, and it’s as key as
breathing and as sustainable as family. In the past few years, we have
seen scrapbooking come into the spotlight and many flocked to set up
shop and design products to capitalize on it. While we at Close To My
Heart have welcomed the focus on scrapbooking over the past few years,
we know that even when the hubbub fades, the core and relevance
underneath the hype remains. I have been in the industry for nearly 30
years—LONG before it was “trendy”—and plan to be in this essential
industry for decades to come.

Because Close To My Heart will be here for the long-term, we have run
our business differently than many others. We are not leveraged to the
hilt or financed by outside investors. I have always believed in
organic, cash-based growth, and the simple provident rule of spending
less than I earn. It’s a principle I’ve applied to business and it’s
ensured that Close To My Heart operates profitably. We have been
profitable month after month, year after year. Our credit rating is
excellent, and this protects our commitment to delivering a wealth of
diverse, beautiful products at competitive prices while providing secure
commission checks for our Consultants, employees, and vendors.

Second, yes, the industry is changing. I welcome and embrace that! In my
30 years in business, I have seen many changes and they almost always
yield fresh directions, new products, and a new crop of crafters. Change
always brings opportunity! I have long said that as long as little
girls are born with hands, they will want to create. I am grateful to be
a part of such an important contribution to society and know that this
will continue.

Ultimately, I invite everyone—whether you are an existing Consultant or
customer, a past purchaser, or even if you have never purchased a Close
To My Heart product—to get to know us again for the first time. Close To
My Heart is strong. Papercrafting, memory keeping, and creativity are
more important than ever before and we provide unique, diverse products
for every style and ability of crafter. Close To My Heart is committed
to scrapbooking, and if it’s a passion you share, then YOU ARE WELCOME
HERE.

If you would like more information on Close to my Heart’s products, hostess program, Consultant benefits, etc. Feel free to contact me. I would love to share all of the wonderful opportunities with you.