This is a tough blog post to write. Today, Meridith and I announced that Lizzie Anne Designs will be closing it’s doors.
This really has been such an amazing journey. When we first decided to start a stamp design company, little did we know how many FRIENDS we’d be making along the way. I’ll never forget the first time we exhibited at CHA. We were in the new exhibitors section downstairs in the Anaheim Convention Center. We were running a bit behind our first day and when we finally got to our booth (about 10 minutes late) there was a LINE OF STORE OWNERS waiting to talk to us. We were absolutely shocked, and extremely excited. I was horrified to discover I had made a major spelling error on our order form, ha ha. But they ordered from us anyways. This was the beginning for us.
Also at that same CHA show, a few people showed up at our booth, calling themselves the Splitcoaststampers crew. We had never heard of Splitcoaststampers. I’m pretty sure it was Julie Ebersol who handed us her business card and told us to check out the site for advertising opportunities. The discovery of this fabulous website and it’s community opened up a whole new outlet, and got us “out there” to thousands of stampers and customers. SCS helped to put Lizzie Anne on the map, and we are forever grateful for that opportunity.
I don’t even know where to start talking about all the FRIENDSHIPS we’ve made over the past five years. First there were the wonderful people at SCS – Daven, Beate, Lori, Jennifer B. Then all the customers who found us through Splitcoaststampers, and the extremely talented ladies who ended up designing cards for us as Design Team members. We will never forget the day that we got an email from Lauren Meader asking “if we had any design team openings.” I called Meridith and said, “What’s a design team?!!!” I’m pretty sure Jeanne Streiff was next, followed by MANY, MANY talented women. We have always been AMAZED by the way the members of our Design Team can take the designs we create and turn them into something we couldn’t have even imagined. I can’t tell you how many times Meridith and I have called each other and said, “Did you see what she did with that stamp image?!” So much fun.
Last but not least, our wonderful customers and Lizzie Anne Fans, many of whom we got to know and hear from on a regular basis. And the store owners who took a chance on our little company and chose to carry our products. And owners of other stamp companies that we have come to know and love through the industry, and our fabulous manufacturer – Robert from American Art Stamps. Thank you all!
Sadly, due to circumstances beyond our control and the effects of the economic downturn, we really had to evaluate the amount of time Lizzie Anne was taking away from other design opportunities, and decide if we could keep going. Sadly, the answer was no. Meridith and I have always been graphic designers first and foremost. We have absolutely LOVED owning a stamp design company, but it seems the time has come for us to concentrate more on our freelance opportunities. My web design company, Pixel Remodel, which I started with a good friend of mine here in Seattle , has been taking off and keeping me very busy. This is where I will now be devoting my design time.
I WILL STILL BE CRAFTING. I have always been cardmaker, crafter, and scrapbooker. This will not change. In fact, I might have more time to devote to my craft now. ;) There are a lot of great companies out there whose products I am anxious to try. A little secret – I have always been a bit jealous of my own design team and what they do. Had I not started a stamp company, I could see myself in this role. I don’t see this as the end of the road for me. So if you follow my blog, feel free to check in and see what I’m up to. I'll be posting my creations as usual!
Again, thank you so much for supporting Lizzie Anne. All our remaining inventory is 40% off -- and we do need to sell it all, so go and grab some LAD goodness before it’s gone!
