Thursday, May 6, 2010

Update on Retiring Colors!

This is an update on the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Website on the retiring colors! The moral of the story is, if there is a color out there that you want to have stock up NOW!

With our recent Color Renovation announcement, we have experienced a spike--much greater than anticipated--in demand for some of our retiring colors. You may have noticed in the backorder report that a significant number of colors in both card stock and re-inkers have gone into backorder status, and we recognize the frustration this may have caused you.

You may be asking yourself: didn't Stampin' Up! anticipate increased demand on retiring colors? The quick answer is yes, we did. The long answer is a bit more complicated. We based our forecasts for these retiring colors on historical sales information for previous color transitions, as well as current buying behaviors. Obviously, even with the most careful planning, the response to a transition of this nature can surprise everyone--including you in your own business and personal purchases!

For re-inkers in retiring colors, as we run out, they will be placed on backorder status and those orders will be filled as quickly as we receive the product. We will continue to do this to the best of our ability through May, and then the re-inkers will be available while supplies last in June.

Card stock presents a bit larger problem, as the process of ordering and producing new paper from the paper mills is very involved, and we can't order significant quantities at this point in time without putting the production of the new colors in jeopardy (and we know you want those!). To help us be able to provide you with the card stock in the retiring colors for as long as possible, we will be substituting textured paper for some of the smooth colors--including card stock in 8-1/2" x 11" as well as 12" x 12"--where the smooth is no longer available. You will notice these colors go on backorder, and we will be filling as many of those as possible with textured card stock. Because the demand for each color varies, we are unable to provide a list of what colors of card stock will be substituted with textured, or at what point that will happen. However, if you receive a package of card stock that is textured instead of smooth, there will be a sticker on the package indicating that change. There will be no change in item code or price for these substitutions.

We realize that this is an extraordinary situation, and that this solution may not be ideal for everyone. However, we hope this will help you get the retiring colors you and your customers want for as long as possible. Please keep in mind that an instance may arise where we are unable to fill orders on a specific product, and it will become unavailable before the end of May, but those cases should be minimal, and we will communicate those situations as they may arise.

Our main goal is to serve you and your customers the best that we can, and appreciate your patience as we work through this situation.

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