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I have been a hobby demo for about 2 years now ("hobby demo" means I usually meet the sales minimum with my own purchases). I do love all of the SU! products. But I don't personally shy away from other products, but I have to be careful how I spend my money (too many of my purchases from early on have ended up in my 7 yr old daughter's stamping box!!).
I am into the matching/coordinating aspect of SU!, so I find that I don't buy different inks or paper (unless I am looking for a specific texture element).
I do look at the stamp aisle every time I enter JoAnn's or Michael's (craft stores), and I check online sites, too, looking for images to match an idea for a project.
I became a demo to support my "habit" so I generally use SU only for cards, etc. The exception is for scrapping, if I see something (usually military or boy oriented) I'll get it, but it isn't real common, partially because I can't afford to spend a lot on my scrapping. HTH!
I do tend to buy generally only SU products. Now if I see something that grabs me then I do have to grab it back and purchase it - which is very rare.
Paula
As a demo, I did only buy SU. On a rare occasion I would buy something that SU didn't sell at the scrapbook store to use in my books or on my cards. I am retiring from SU at the end of the month and have already started looking into other stamp company images and what the newest embellishments are available out there. In fact, Saturday I am attending a Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo and can't wait to see what the latest/greatest is because I think I feel more free to buy now that I don't have to support my business.
__________________ Michelle Thomas Craft Well, Wrap Often, Stamp Much!! I FiNallY DiD iT - TAC AnGeL #2645
When I decided to become a demo, I found myself starting to avoid purchasing other products because I wanted my limited stamping money to go toward my sales quotas and items that I can actually demo in a workshop! That said, I still plan to order Tombow monoadhesive refills from Viking for my personal use, and save the SU! stuff (same thing, just different packaging) for demonstrations. I also pick up the occasional cute single stamp from the dollar store or the $1 bin at Michael's. For the most part, though, I will only buy elsewhere if SU! doesn't offer it.
__________________ Rachel Proud SU! demo and Sci-Fi Geek!
My Stampin' Up! blog "I'm a time traveler -- I point and laugh at archaeologists." 10th Doctor, "Silence in the Library"
This may sound wierd but I am relieved to be narrowed down to one vendor. In the scrapbooking world there are so many different vendors, styles, and products. I was overwhelmed and I did not use everthing I purchased. Now I use what I buy (mainly because I need to show others how to use it). I do buy other products (mainly KI Memories-luv that stuff), but like the other poster said --I use other products for scrapbooks (with my SU) but not usually for my cards.
I hope this helps.
I just recently became a hobby demo. I'm going to try to limit my purchases to SU mainly so I can meet the minimum. I really do like all of SU products but when I see other items in a store where I can hold it and look at it that tempts me. I'm trying to just stay away from Craft/Scrap/Stamp stores for now. In the past I've always used an assortment of companys products.
Thanks for all the posts...the reason that I asked is because people are always trying to get me to order from creative memories and I simply do not like anything except there cutters and once you have them you have them...I am a stay at home mom and I signed you to support my hobby and I love su so why purchase stuff that I know that I am not going to use...there is so much in the catalog that I need/want I just have to order it a little at a time...I don't want to waste my $ on stuff that I will not use, but on the other hand people are kind and order from me so I feel obligated sometimes to order from them when they are taking up orders...just wanted to see if there is anyone in the same situation.
I've drastically reduced the amount of money I spend on non-TAC stamping stuff. With this year's catalog it's been as easy decision to make since our accessories are so diverse. But I do buy occasional other stuff when it's too cool to resist.
__________________ Debra ---artist * teacher * designer Say yes. Be generous. Speak up. Love more. Trust yourself. Slow down. ---Patti Digh
I, ummmm, want it all! :p I love my SU stuff, but I occasionally see another stamp that I "need." And I'm even worse about patterned papers like Basic Grey. The truth is that I could *probably* come close to a profit rather than a net loss IF I limited myself only to SU merchandise. It's all of the other impulse stuff that kills--like a Rollabind. . . and a melting pot. . . and a Crop In Style XXL. . . and those Dyzintec acrylic ink pad storage boxes. . . :( The only one that I really haven't used, though, is my melting pot. What WAS I thinking??? Oh yeah--it was the rage on one of my stamping lists for a few days. . . I could save a ton of money by staying offline so that I didn't know what I was missing!
I have found myself caring less if I get to stamping or craft stores, now that I'm a demo, and just a hobby demo to support my habit.
I do sometimes see advanced techniques I like, and have bought some other ink pads because of that - like the Brilliance pads. If SU! carried them, I'd get them from them.
I only get non-SU! stamps for something very specific when SU! doesn't have what I need.
__________________ Kathy Wrose "Fun must be always." - Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks "It was fun." - Kirk, Star Trek: Generations
I've posted this before, but I love my story, so here goes!! (LOL). I became a hobby demo (with a few sales to friends) to LIMIT my spending. I now buy only SU. There's plenty in the catty to keep me busy. I spend the minimum required, get the hostess benefits and know exactly how much I'm spending every year. I think I figured out that, with the discount and the tax and shipping, it comes to something like $22 a week plus the cost of the starter kit. My DH and I decided that we could afford that.
Best stamping and money decision I've ever made. I've unsubscribed from all the other stores, and when I buy something I know it will coordinate AND I will have a dozen uses for it because there are so many cool samples of SU stuff. Frankly, I was out of control -- magazines at 15 a pop, stamps, papers I never used, inks that didn't match anything, every cool new idea that just sits there, etc.
Little by little, I'm selling off my non su collection of stuff (which is paying for my starter kit), and I'm producing much nicer cards and stuff.
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
I have struggled with this for 3 years now. I have been a demo for that long but a stamper for about 8 years. I definitely miss stamps from other companies but I find that if I can't use it in my workshops it just sits on the shelf and takes up space. Unfortunately, I'm finding that I have almost all of the gadgets from the SU catalog and I'm out of room for more stamps. Could I be out of things to buy? [gasp!]
I do wish that SU sold the twinkling H2o's and Brilliance inks as well as more embossing powders.
Hey all demos....
