Creative Memories News

Creative Memories Reopens

Press Release | 11/22/2014

"So excited to get the coversets with pages again! Looking forward to getting back on track with the scrapbooking products that I love!" – Teri-Lyn S.

Caleb Hayhoe, Chairman of Flowerdale Group Ltd., is the new owner of the thriving Creative Memories® Japan business, as well as both Creative Memories® and Ahni & Zoe™ brands, patents, artwork, products and manufacturing equipment in North America. The new company is under the name CM Group Holdings, Inc. or more simply, CM.

Mr. Hayhoe says, “I am delighted to be part of the rebirth of Creative Memories with the talented teams in St. Cloud, Tokyo and Hong Kong. The enthusiastic response to CM has been incredible and humbling. We are seeing sign-ups around the clock and our new factory is humming. Most of all though, I'm pleased that thousands and thousands of families will be able to continue to preserve their precious memories with the highest quality, photo-safe products in the world.”

Exceptional quality is a brand hallmark CM customers can count on. In addition to the proprietary manufacturing and testing equipment, the operations team has an average tenure of more than 14 years and more than 100 years of experience.

The team is proud to offer both Creative Memories classics and Ahni & Zoe’s award-winning albums. A&Z fans are happy to have the quick and easy albums back with their fresh and modern designs.

Ahni and Zoe to Close

Press Release | 8/5/2014

Anhi & Zoe, which is how Creative Memories emerged from bankruptcy, did not have enough orders during the first six months of 2014 to keep the company going. Consultant contracts will be terminated September 3 and the last day to order on websites is August 21. By September 30 all final orders will be shipped and consultant support will end.

Creative Memories Co-Founder Steps Down

Npros.com | 2/25/2014

“All of us at Ahni & Zoe are sad to say goodbye to Rhonda,” Ahni & Zoe CEO Chris Veit said in a statement. “She had a long and passionate career with Creative Memories and we wish her and her family the very best ... We will be forever thankful for Rhonda’s contribution, advocacy and the integrity she brought to our company and our consultants.”

Creative Memories Reorganization Plan to be Approved

Npros.com | 11/11/2013

Creative Memories Layoffs Continue

Npros.com | 11/5/2013

The company has come up with a plan to emerge from bankruptcy that includes rebranding itself with a new name -- Ahni & Zoe by Creative Memories -- and a smaller product line, both of which would need to be approved by creditors and bankruptcy court.

This is the second time in 5 years that Creative Memories has been in bankruptcy.

No Further Layoffs at Creative Memories

Npros.com | 6/12/2013

This is the second time in five years that Creative Memories has filed for bankruptcy. During better days, it employed more than 1,200 people at its St. Cloud, MN headquarters.

Creative Memories to Lay Off More Employees in June

Npros.com | 4/24/2013

The company said it expects the layoffs to be permanent but that it does not anticipate completely closing operations.

Creative Memories Files Chapter 11 and Lays Off 70

Npros.com | 4/17/2013

The company expects its reorganization process will take about six months, after which it will emerge from bankruptcy if given court approval. Founded in 1987, Creative Memories had more than 55,000 sales consultants by 2008, dropping to around 20,000 consultants today.

Marnie Beltz, Creative Memories' spokesperson, released a statement reading in part, “We believe this action will allow us to make the changes necessary to return the company to long-term success in the direct-selling marketplace. We plan to emerge as a more nimble business, focused on a strategic set of core offerings that help families tell their stories and celebrate their lives through photos.”

Creative Memories Offers Special Opportunity for New Consultants

Press Release | 1/11/2012

As a Creative Memories Consultant, anyone can choose your own hours and work from home, all while earning an income, free products and trips. The more parties held, the more money made and more gifts are possible to earn. There also are career advancement opportunities, including six levels of leadership. Becoming a Leader can boost earning. Our Leaders earn commissions based on their team sales, and they’re eligible additional performance bonuses.

Consultants hold parties that offer the best paper and digital scrapbooking photo album products from Creative Memories. Anyone can keep their business successful with monthly specials to excite buyers, along with fun and enticing selling incentives. Consultants also receive access to a Consultant-only website and can opt to use special marketing tools to help expand their businesses.

No previous sales experience is necessary to become a Consultant. The Consultant Kit is the only step needed to start having parties today. And starting now is better than ever: new Consultants also will receive the January-February Kit Bonus, including new Shine scrapbooking products. A second starting option also is available. The Consultant Mini Kit is available for just $99 and is full of products valued at more than $180.

Creative Memories Shows Appreciation With Sale

Press Release | 7/25/2011

As a way to thank its passionate fans and Consultants for helping it earn the win, Creative Memories is holding one of its biggest sales ever, with more than 150 items discounted: http://www.creativememories.com/Content/Promos/FANTasticSale.aspx

From July 22-28, some great deals will be offered: Hardcover StoryBooks are $10 off; 12x12 Coversets, Scrapbook Pages and Page Protectors and Additions (supplemental scrapbooking papers, stickers and titles) are all 20 percent off; Makers are 25 percent off; and Paper Packs are 40 percent off.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/mULr9c or the Creative Memories fan page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/creativememoriesofficalpage. Customers should act fast as limited quantities are available for the sale. While Creative Memories anticipates quantities lasting the full seven days, it will pull products as the sale inventory is depleted.

The little brand that could

In an online story published Thursday, July 22, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal described Creative Memories as a giant killer for its first-round defeat of Target Corp., and then for its subsequent victories over Arctic Cat, Wheaties, Mall of America and Dairy Queen. More than 77,000 votes were cast in the championship round against the Mayo Clinic, with Creative Memories taking 60 percent of the vote.

Ed Stych, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal’s web producer who wrote about the June 10 to July 19 contest, said he came to the realization that memories – and the way Creative Memories Consultants help others celebrate their lives – was at the root of Creative Memories’ victory. “Target, Cheerios, Post-it Notes and Best Buy don’t stand a chance when the competition is memories. Isn’t creating that kind of passion what branding is all about?”

Creative Memories is dedicated to preserving the past, enriching the present and inspiring hope for the future. As a leader in the memory celebration industry, Creative Memories specializes in selling premium-quality photo-safe albums, scrapbooking supplies, digital photo books and software. Based in St. Cloud, Minn., Creative Memories markets its products through more than 40,000 independent sales Consultants worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.creativememories.com.

Creative Memories Names Royal Wedding Contest Winner

Press Release | 4/29/2011

Elizabeth Thomander of Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia, is the lucky winner of a trip for two to London during the April 29 British Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton to Prince William. She plans on taking her 13-year-old daughter Lauren as her guest. This trip, which will take place April 27-May 1, is especially fitting for Thomander, who has followed the Royal Family for years. Part of Thomander’s winning package includes joining O’Dell for a spot of tea while in London. O’Dell, whose love of scrapbooking and photo albums has led to a partnership with Creative Memories, will be covering the wedding for Entertainment Tonight.

To enter, contestants were asked to submit their favorite photo on the Creative Memories Home Office Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/creativememoriesofficalpage) that best illustrates what happiness means to them. Submissions were received from April 1-15, and the top 100 vote-getters were considered for the grand prize. Thomander’s winning photo of her two young sons standing near water’s edge at dusk having a brotherly chat while holding hands was chosen by O’Dell and the Creative Memories Home Office staff based on its personality, creativity and originality.

During the contest, the Creative Memories Home Office Facebook page received nearly 100,000 visits. The grand-prize winner wasn’t the only one to win something from the contest; Creative Memories prize packages ranging from $50-$170 were also given out to 15 runners up.

Creative Memories Hosts Photo Contest

Press Release | 4/6/2011

The grand-prize winner will receive a trip for two to London during the British Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton to Prince William, which will take place on April 29, 2011. The winner also will have a spot of tea with O’Dell, whose love of scrapbooking and photo albums has led to a partnership with Creative Memories. O’Dell will be covering the wedding for Entertainment Tonight.

In addition to having her own product line, The Nancy O’Dell Collection by Creative Memories, O’Dell is partnering with Creative Memories on its Album of Hope Movement. The goal is to rally every parent (and every aunt, uncle and grandparent, too!) to raise the next generation of happy, healthy, confident kids.

“I’m so excited about this movement to inspire kids and this once-in-a-lifetime Happily Ever After opportunity,” O’Dell says. “Show the world what makes you happy, what makes you smile. Upload your photo now, and we could have a spot of tea in London during the royal wedding.”

Contestants in the Happily Ever After Photo Contest are asked to submit their favorite photo on the Creative Memories Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/creativememoriesofficalpage

Submissions will be received from April 1-15; during this time contestants can share the link with their family and friends to encourage them to vote for their photo.

The Creative Memories Home Office staff and O’Dell will choose a winner from the top 100 vote-getters based on personality, creativity and originality. The winner will be notified April 18.

The Happily Ever After Photo Contest is open to all U.S. and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec), 18 years or older. The grand-prize winner and their guest must be able to travel April 27-May 1 and must have a current, valid passport. Contestants who can’t make the trip still are eligible to win one of 15 prize packages featuring products from the Nancy O’Dell Collection by Creative Memories.

For complete details and to enter the contest, visit the Creative Memories fan page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/creativememoriesofficalpage.

Creative Memories And AirArts Ready For Talking Tags

Press Release | 3/30/2011

The mobile application for TalkingTag™ Memory Labels is available on leading smartphones including iPhone, Android and Blackberry. The TalkingTag™ app can be downloaded from talkingtag.mobi or from iPhone and Android phone app stores. The iPhone app is free through April, and the Android app is $0.99 through April.

Once you have downloaded the app, follow the simple steps to record your message, which can be up to one minute long. Then apply the TalkingTag™ Memory Label (sometimes referred to as two-dimensional barcode) to your photo book, scrapbook photo album or any other gift. The recording can be played back any time – even after a few years – to relive the occasion, or the message can be shared by sending the photo album or gift to others.

“Creative Memories’ partnership with AirArts and the launch of TalkingTag™ Memory Labels gives people the ability to share across time and distance by connecting the physical offline world with the online world,” says Pui-Ang Hong, vice president for digital business development at Creative Memories.

“For the first time, this product opens up a new dimension in the memory-celebration industry through the use of voice communications,” says Ven Chava, AirArts CEO. “It is no longer the case of digital versus physical mediums – it is both – capturing the essence of emotions that come with natural voice and touch that comes with the use of physical objects.”

Creative Memories Releases Talking Tag

Press Release | 3/3/2011

Creative Memories today announced the launch of TalkingTag™ Memory Labels, an innovative new way to add personalized voice recordings to albums, gifts, cards and more.

http://www.creativememories.com/Content/Promos/TalkingTag2.aspx

For people who’ve dreamed about having conversations with far-away relatives through their photo books, photo cards, photo panels or photo albums, the time has come to stop dreaming.

With Creative Memories TalkingTag™ Memory Labels you can voice record up to one minute using smart phone technology (iPhone, Android and Blackberry). Simply download the smart phone application to your phone by searching for “TalkingTag” on your phone’s app store; additional charges may apply. Follow the easy steps to record your message, apply the sticker to your photo book, scrapbook photo album or any other type of gift, and send it on its way to the happy recipient. Once they receive it, download the app and scan the TalkingTag Memory Label with their smart phone, they'll feel like you're right next to them.

That’s it. It’s nice and simple, and your words will be saved online for your loved ones to enjoy anytime with their own smart phone.

Creative Memories to Launch New Book

Press Release | 10/18/2010

Following the birth of her first child, O’Dell chronicled the experience in “Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Told Me When I Was Pregnant,” a warm and humorous book that explored the realities of pregnancy and new motherhood. Now Nancy looks at another aspect of parenting that’s especially close to her heart in her second book, “Full of Love”.

Written in conjunction with Creative Memories, “Full of Love” explores the power of the family photo album to create confident, secure, happy kids.

O’Dell is distinctly qualified to talk about the value of family scrapbooking, which she learned from her mother and grandmother. It’s a skill she has pursued throughout her life and continues to share with her own children today.

Illustrated with sample album pages and filled with how-to tips, “Full of Love” draws on Nancy’s own experiences, the advice of renowned child psychologist Dr. Kenneth Condrell and the expertise of acclaimed photographer Ulrica Wihlborg.

Creative Memories Changes Website

Press Release | 9/3/2010

The Project Center is divided into two sections; Traditional Scrapbooking and Digital Scrapbooking. Our free traditional scrapbooking project ideas can now be searched by category, holiday/theme, as “seen in catalog”, and by tools used for making the project. Also, our “New” scrapbooking projects have their own dedicated section.

On the Digital Scrapbooking side of the project center, projects are now organized like they are on the traditional side; by theme, by palette, by type, and as “seen in catalog”. Our weekly digital scrapbooking freebies or free digital scrapbooking downloads are still available and now have their own dedicated button once you click into the digital scrapbooking section.

Creative Memories Partners With Provo Craft

Press Release | 8/4/2010

Creative Memories pioneered modern scrapbooking nearly 25 years ago and Provo Craft revolutionized the paper crafting industry with the 2006 launch of the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter, a portable machine that uses cartridges to cut paper, vinyl, chipboard, and fabric into thousands of shapes and fonts.

“We’ve worked together to create two exclusive new cartridges that marry the Creative Memories style with Cricut convenience”, says Eve Miller, Product Marketing Manager at Creative Memories. “This partnership provides a new source of art and design that will help our customers be even more creative.”

The new cartridges feature the Reminisce Accents and the Cheerful Seasons designs and fonts. Together, the pair of cartridges provide hundreds of unique designs in a variety of sizes. The cartridges are available for purchase from Creative Memories Consultants and on www.creativememories.com.

The new cartridges are compatible with the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter., Cricut Create, Cricut Expression, Gypsy™ Handheld Design Studio, and Cricut Cake. “Launching new content is always exciting,” says Matt Wilburn, Chief Marketing Officer at Provo Craft. “We get to see what incredibly creative people do with it and it absolutely inspires us.”

Creative Memories Slims Work Force

Press Release | 5/17/2010

Veit, who took over as the company’s leader last month after its last president resigned, made the announcement to employees Tuesday.

Cuts came mostly in St. Cloud at its Eighth Avenue and Clearwater Road offices. Some Yellow Springs, Ohio, workers were affected. Leaders eliminated jobs in operations, information technology and other support workers, Veit said. That represents 6 percent of its companywide work force, he said. It has 365-370 employees in St. Cloud, about 480 worldwide, he said.

Veit said sales suffered in the last two months of 2009 as well as the first four months of this year — more than he and his team anticipated. But he’s not blaming the economy. The key to its success is its 45,000 direct sales consultants scattered around the world, Veit said. While he doesn’t blame them for sales declines, he says Creative Memories needs to equip its direct sellers with good compensation, ample resources to sell its products, as well as new products to sell. In his words, Creative Memories needs to “reignite the basics.”

He acknowledged the industry shift to online scrapbooking has hurt the business. But that’s just a part of it, he said. As chief of the company, Veit brings a vision to focus on direct sales.

Creative Memories will roll out new products and tools for consultants in August. He declined to go into specifics. In the next six to nine months, it should be able to measure whether its efforts to build its direct sales team are working.

This is the second layoff in the last year at the company, which filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2008. It emerged from bankruptcy protection in February last year, then two months later cut 10 percent of its work force at both the Eighth Avenue and Clearwater Road facilities and dissolved its custom art framing division.

Last month, Global President and Chief Executive Officer Asha Morgan Moran resigned for undisclosed reasons. She had worked at the company since 1999. She was the last of the Morgan family members at Creative Memories and its parent The Antioch Co., started by her grandfather in 1926. Current and former workers at Creative Memories and Antioch are still trying to recover at least $50 million in retirement money, which was lost during the bankruptcy. One unresolved lawsuit contends that Asha Morgan Moran, as well as other former leaders and advisers, profited from the firm’s demise.

The company ran into problems when an Antioch policy locked in stock value when employees left. Simultaneously, sales were suffering from a shift to more online scrapbooking. About 800 of Antioch’s 1,150 workers resigned or were terminated between 2004 and 2007, creating stock payout obligations of about $190 million.

Creative Memories Leader Asha Morgan Resigns

Npros.com | 4/14/2010

With facilities in St. Cloud and Yellow Springs, Creative Memories became a large, world renowned direct-sales supplier of scrapbooking materials in a short time. The Antioch Company for many years produced bookplates, which made the Creative Memories division a solid investment for them in the 1980s.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2008 however, amid overleveraging and the rise of digital photography and subsequent attempts at avoiding financial ruin. While The Antioch Company recovered somewhat from the setback in 2009, employees and former employees lost nearly $80 million in retirement monies, many of whom have filed lawsuits against the leaders of the company, who they allege benefitted from the situation.

The new leader, Chris Veit, formerly Chief Operating Officer, was chosen by the board of directors; which contains a majority of the company’s senior lending banks. Mr. Veit has been with the company for approximately one year.

Asha Morgan declined an offer of a different position within the company, opting to relax with her family for awhile before deciding upon future plans.

Creative Memories closing Canton SD Framing Plant

St. Cloud Times | 4/8/2008

The closure will affect 67 employees at the plant. The plant’s last operation day is June 2.

About 24 Canton employees will be offered relocation expenses to move to the St. Cloud plant for manufacturing and call center positions, said Asha Morgan Moran, Creative Memories Global president.

Creative Memories in the Shelbyville News

Shelbyville News | 1/28/2008

'In recent years, scrapbooking has exploded into a billion dollar industry. Creative Memories, a home-based retailer of scrapbooking supplies that was founded in 1987 posted sales of $425 million in 2004 and has continued to grow rapidly. Entire stores now exist just to satisfy the needs of the large number of people who enjoy the hobby.

It is estimated that one in three households in the United States has someone involved in scrapbooking. Using pictures, colorful papers and graphics along with actual memorabilia, pages are created and put into scrapbooks that tell stories about families and important events in their lives.'

Creative Memories Cuts 19 Positions

St Cloud Times | 4/13/2007

The layoffs cover all departments and stem from a companywide reorganization announced in late 2005. A digital revolution in the industry has caused the company to move beyond its traditional scrapbooking roots to offer custom framing, Storybooks and other digital products.

"You need a different type of talent to drive digital," said Chandra Attiken, vice president of human resources.

The company has seen a slight decline in sales, particularly in its traditional scrapbooking products, President Asha Morgan Moran said.

But its new product lines have posted solid sales. Sales of Storybooks have recorded double-digit growth each month since launching in November, Morgan Moran said. Its Power Palette line, aimed at more elegant scrapbooking, brought in $12 million in sales between August and December, Morgan Moran said.

"Our focus must be to align our products and services with the changing needs of our customers to maintain our leadership role in the scrapbooking industry," Morgan Moran said. "That also means that we need to take a look at ourselves and make changes to our organization that will support our long-term success."

Creative Memories Adds Jobs in St Cloud

WCCO.com | 8/23/2006

Creative Memories had laid off 33 people in May as it restructures. But now 13 jobs will be added at its base St. Cloud as the company looks to expand digital scrapbooking.

Creative Memories Marketing Push Behind Adobe Awards

Lets Go Digital | 6/13/2006

...Scrapbooking is a method for preserving a legacy of written history in the form of photographs, printed media, and memorabillia contained in decorated albums, or scrapbooks. Historically, scrapbooking was a tradition similar to storytelling, but with a visual and tactile, rather than oral, focus. An example of a modern scrapbook layoutScrapbooking as a hobby has taken off in recent years largely due to multi-level marketing enterprises such as Creative Memories. It is now a multi-billion dollar industry with a large number of companies creating scrapbooking products. Across the world, "scrappers" or "scrapbookers" get together and scrapbook at each other's homes, local scrapbook stores, scrapbooking conventions, retreat centers, and even on cruises. Scrappers share tips and ideas as well as enjoying a social outlet. The term "crop" was coined to describe these events, a reference to cropping, or trimming, printed photographs. This hobby has surpassed golf in popularity: one in four households has someone playing golf; one in three has someone involved in scrapbooking.

Creative Memories Launches PicFolio

Business Wire | 4/27/2006

Photo-preserving innovations make album completion fast and simple

Thousands of busy parents would love to create a keepsake photo collection for their new graduates but simply don't know where to begin. With Creative Memories' new PicFolio(TM) Album line, help has arrived.

As a keepsake gift or memory album that can be shared at graduation parties, the new PicFolio Albums ensure that school-day memories can last a lifetime. The albums, like all of our products, are designed to meet Creative Memories' photo-safety, engineering and quality requirements. They are bleed-resistant, fade-resistant and have a lifetime guarantee. The slip-in Story Sleeves make photo storage a snap to meet any deadline or to accommodate any skill level.

Photo preservation is a task that becomes increasingly overwhelming with every graduation, birthday and milestone event. In fact, a March 2006 national consumer survey(1) revealed more than half of all Americans struggle to find the time to organize and preserve their photos. The survey, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation and Creative Memories, also revealed what happens to America's photos when there is no time to preserve them. About 60 percent of respondents said they most commonly store their photos in boxes, or even the sleeves they came in from the developer.

Creative Memories Hosts Memoranza

Manteca Bulletin | 4/25/2006

Scrapbookers gathering for workshop this Saturday

Up to 90 participants will celebrate National Scrapbook Day in Manteca this upcoming Saturday at the Creative Memories workshop dubbed “Memoranza”.

“Memoranza is an international representation of our mission to preserve the past, enrich the present and inspire hope for the future,” says Susan Iida-Pederson, vice president for corporate relations in St. Cloud, Minnesota. “It will continue to grow and inspire story-sharing and album-making all over the world.” Carol Smith, Candy Haskell, Jeana Pamplin, and Helen Hankal-Jackson; all Creative Memories consultants will host the Manteca event in the youth room at Calvary Community Church at 815 E. Lathrop Road. The workshop will take place on Saturday, April 29, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and costs $30 per person.

Creative Memories on KUTV

KUTV Salt Lake City | 4/21/2006

Personal photographs are no longer just for the family photo album. In this Fresh Idea Michelle King shows us a creative new way to display your favorite memories.

Scrapbooking is no stranger to the state of Utah, but a local company is helping people preserve and re-produce some of their photo collections.

“Scrapbooking to me is my artwork. It’s kind of how I express myself,” said Tiffany Bills, President of My Reflections.

“Scrapbooking to me is my artwork. It’s kind of how I express myself,” said Tiffany Bills, President of My Reflections.

Everyone has memories to preserve but there is a way to have beautiful scrapbook art in your home whether you have a knack for it or not.