Do’s and Don’ts For Cold Calling A Digital Scrapbook Store Owner

Are you looking for an opportunity to sell your digital scrapbook designs in a different store than the one you are currently in? Sometimes a "cold call" to a store owner is in order. But do you know what it takes to get noticed?

As a store owner, I have been approached many times and in many different ways about whether I am taking on new designers. In all honesty, some inquiries are impossible to answer because the person did not even leave their contact info. Sometimes you only have ONE chance to make a good impression so here are some possible do's and don'ts when asking if any designer positions are open.

Most store owners want more than
"Do you take new designers?"

How to up your game:
1. DO the legwork or research to find a store email for the owner. If there is only a contact form on the site, that is a possibility but I would recommend trying to find an email. Some possible methods are

• Contact a designer who is selling there that you already have a relationship with
• Place an order (even a freebie) to see the email that order confirmations come from
• Check the from address on newsletter mailings from the store. Hopefully this is a store that you already LOVE and are connected with.

2. DON'T use Facebook/Twitter messages (public or private) or post blog comments to ask about designer openings. First, they don't always deliver to the store owner.  (The dreaded "other" folder on Facebook) Second, they are a terrible way of communicating. I keep copies of all designer correspondence in my email - I don't want to have to go over to Facebook to track someone or something down

3. DO prepare some samples for the store own to look at. Make it EASY for us to get a look at the quality and originality of your designs. I personally like to see three complete products to make a judgment about whether a designer is a good match. Include links to zip files where the store owner can download and review your products.

4. DON'T provide a coupon code for the owner to grab her choice of products from your store. I personally do not want to go register at a new store and go through the checkout process to have a look at someone's work. The onus is on YOU to show off your favorite work.

5. DO provide links to your entire web presence - each of the stores where you currently sell, all of your social media links and your blog. Many store owners are looking for a designer who is actively involved in contributing to the digital scrapbook community and doing more than just dropping off products and expecting the big money to roll in.

6. DON'T spam every store you can find on the web looking for a new spot to sell. A good fit for a store and designer is a two way street. Make sure you know a little bit about the store by looking at who sells there, the types of products they offer and the types of things they post on their blog, forum, social media, etc. If you specialize in grunge and messy art, don't apply to a store where everything is neat, sweet and coordinated.

7. DO share a little bit about yourself and why you are interested in having a spot in the store. I especially like hearing from designers who KNOW what CUDigitals is about and mention specifics about why they would like to join our team.

8. DON'T hesitate to follow up if you have not heard back in 3-5 business days. Emails DO disappear and end up in spam fodlers. This is a regular part of doing business online and it follows recommended job hunting techniques in the real world: submit your resume and then follow up a few days later to help get noticed.

Here is an example of an email you could send to your dream store.

Dear __________, (find out the owner's name, if possible - or change this to Good Morning etc)
My name is Christine Smith and I sell digital scrapbook kits under the design name KikiLaRoo's Super Scraps. I'm writing today to find out if you have any designer openings at SuperCoolDigiStore.com.  I have been a fan of your site for a while and really appreciate the quality of the kits in your store and the wonderful array of challenges and events in your forum. As an active and motivated designer, I think I could bring a lot to your design team in addition to my products. I have been designing digital downloads since 2009 and especially enjoy teaching new scrappers how to get through their photo backlog by creating simple page designs that are accessible to all skill levels. 

I invite you to review some of my products and have a look at my current stores and blog.
{{add your links here: downloads, stores - YOUR designs ~ not the top of the store, blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, ScrapStacks, galleries ETC }} 

If you have any additional questions about my products or other aspects of my work, I would be happy to discuss them with you.  

I look forward to hearing from you ~ You can reach me at youremail@host.com
Thanks for your time!
Christine Smith

Next, if you are NOT accepted and receive a somewhat generic rejection letter, go ahead and take a BIG leap and reply to that email. I know, this is stressful but getting feedback on your work is a GREAT way to move forward. You may say something like the following - 

Thanks for letting me know you don't have a spot for me. I appreciate your taking the time to look at my designs. Because I am serious about this business, I would really welcome one or two comments on how I could improve my work. I truly value your opinion! Thank you so much~

There have been times when I have had to say no to a designer whose stuff looked INCREDIBLE in previews but had considerable quality issues or even copyright issues. When I explained the issue, they were thankful to get some direction and info about their designs.

If a store owner takes the time to give you feedback (and not all will), really study and think about what was said. They see the sales reports and KNOW what sells. 

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Would YOU like a fresh pair of eyes to review your work before submission to a new store? Or do you just want to get a feel for where you could improve your designs as well as the marketing aspects of your business?



I am now available to assess your design business with an eye toward increasing your visibility and profitability. I have worked in this industry since 2006 as a profitable designer as well as an established and respected store owner and am available for personal consultations of your designs, store(s) and web presence. I know that profit margins can be thin in this business so my consultation rate is kept extremely low. For a small investment of $29, I will review your stores, 10 of your digital downloads, all your social media, newsletter and your blog. I will provide you with a report of the things you excel at and the areas where you could focus your energy in order to improve. (You do not need to sell CU products in order for me to help you.) I truly love this industry and enjoy seeing others improve and succeed. I believe that better designs and better presentation benefit ALL who participate in this fantastic hobby and business. Let me help you  by giving you specific feedback that you can apply right away to improve your designs and web presence!

If you would like to schedule a consultation, please EMAIL me and I will find a time slot for you. If you are friends with a designer who is getting started or needing feedback, please share this post with her!