Announcement - The Crop Shop Retirement - June 2019

When I started my scrapbooking business back in 2005, I had just started a new position at my day job that I didn't choose or particularly like.  I needed a creative outlet and something fun to distract me from the not fun job.  That was the year I signed up with I Remember When (IRW).  My time with IRW was magical; I made top sales a few times and was selected as one of twelve of the the 2nd and final year of Founders Keys (lead consultants).  I made some new friends and fun memories.  IRW taught me how to become a scrapbooking vendor and to run my business.  Four years later, Xyron closed IRW's doors, but I had commitments to vend at events on the weekends through year end, so I kept them and decided to see where things went....

Ten years later, I have a fantastic, challenging, but fun day job; I have an amazing craft room and lots of scrapbooking, mixed media, and art journaling friends.  I have a solid steady business.  I also have an almost 2 year old grandson that I want to spend as much time with as possible as well as wanting to spend more time outdoors with my husband as we used to do.  I have the beginnings of a doTERRA essential oil business that I'd like to grow and want to explore my yoga and mediation practices more deeply.  I want to see how I can leverage the connection of mind, body, and spirit in my personal life to help others in my day job.  So, all the reasons I started my scrapbooking business 14 years ago no longer apply.

So, I am announcing here today, that I will be closing The Crop Shop immediately following Just Scrappin's June 2019 weekend in Rocky Hill, CT.  This has not been an easy decision for me to make as this business has been a part of my life for 13+ years, but I feel in my heart that it is the right decision for me right now.  I know some of you will be happy for me for following my priorities and desires and dreams and others may be sad, or even angry and I'm sorry for that.  At the end of the day, I have to do and go where my heart tells me I need to go next.  It has been a fun ride and I am grateful for all the people I have met along the way, some of whom I would call dear friends.

So what does this mean for you?  In the short term, nothing.  I will be vending at all the events on my calendar as planned, however, I will not be ordering any of the new products coming out of the January Creativation trade conference.  All the crop coordinators have been notified, including my Just Scrappin biz partner, Siewleng Hiraldo.  While I am retiring in 2019, she will continue with Just Scrappin into 2020 and beyond.  More to come on that from her down the road.

I still love scrapbooking, art journaling, and mixed media, so you will likely still see me at events (just fewer of them), but as an attendee rather than a vendor.  It has been a pleasure to serve you and I'm looking forward to seeing you at a future event!