Q:: Alice, the first publication of TDS is less than a year ago. How would you review the time until today?
Alice::
I released the 1st publication on June 10th 2008. At that time I was still a full fledge designer, hoping that I can do both things at the same time. But I underestimated the amount of work and time involved in gathering good material and resources. I had so many ideas for TDS and I realized that I need to build a strong team that can cover all and not only some aspects of the paper. The difficult part is to find every two weeks different subjects of interests and entertaining stories, while ensuring and maintaining the same format of the publication as a standard. The response to TDS publication was astounding and a nice surprise to me. I was hoping to work my way through slowly and learn the new trade step by step, but I was wrong! The out pouring of interest didn't allow me to slack one bit and required me to fully concentrate on TDS.
When one of my current team member approached me and offered her services, I was so thankful. She took a huge load of work of me, so I could really concentrate on improving and creating new ideas for TDS. I have currently a great team whom I can't wait to explore their creativity.
Q:: From today's point of view what would you have done differently?
Alice::
With what I know today, definitely change my way of management of TDS! [laugh] Until December of last year, my husband and daughter hardly ever see me except behind the desk in front of my computer! The best way to talk to me was via email. I was overwhelmed with work and fortunately with good responses and feedbacks for the publication. I tried to answer every email the moment it arrived, forgetting at times to sleep.
What I am trying to change now is manage my time more efficiently, meaning I set specific targets for specific projects. I have to tell myself that people can accept to receive their email reply the next day when they send it to me at 3am in the morning (laugh). I have since learned a lot more html to manage the website myself and divided the team into a few division and each has a project coordinator to fully concentrate on giving the best materials for TDS. I set time for work and family and since January 01, I exercise
every morning when I wake up. It helps that I maintain a certain rhythm to stay focus on my daily objective.
Q:: What motivates you to take such a time consuming occupation?
Alice::
I love to involve myself in creative things. When I was a digital scrapbook designer, I couldn't find the right platform to advertise my work. I'd probably burnt my husband's ears telling him about what I would do differently until one day he was so fed up with me that he said, "Why don't you create a platform and tell your people all that instead of me." and I did! It gives me pleasure to highlight great kits and layouts from scrappers. I created different ways to allow designers and stores to advertise their products in an attractive way, the way I would have want it done for myself. I realized it fulfills me more than designing kits and gives me the opportunity to go back to designing photo book albums, which was the reason why I went into designing in the first place. Designing the structure of TDS site is similar to structuring my photo books so yeah... I'm back to doing something I really enjoy. The best motivation for me is to see the completed publication online and having people commenting how TDS has helped boost their sales.
Q:: What is in store in 2009 for TDS. Is there anything new or changes that you are working on?
Alice::
There are 2 main objectives this year [smile]. We will continue to improve and expand on articles to meet readers' requests. Secondly, I want to improve on the navigation of the paper. It will be implemented gradually to avoid disruption of our bi-monthly publication. There will be more reviews and services to provide a better communication between consumers and designers. It will be an interesting year. I don't want to say so much to spoil the surprise but something major will happen within a few months time. I'm excited and would love to say more but I won't just yet. [laugh]
Q:: TDS is a subscription free publication. Will this remain unchange in 2009?
Alice::
It takes a lot of time and effort to find good advertisers. In 2008, we managed to be selective and still remain profitable. If we can continue this path, TDS will be available as a free publication. This remains our goal for 2009. Readers should have access to this platform free, especially in areas where digital scrapbooking in not as popular. We want to be able to help introduce this industry all over the world.
Q:: How do you view this industry in wake of the financial turbulences. Is there an opportunity for the industry?
Alice::
It is certainly something to watch out for. I feel this industry will remain strong. We are the memory makers, documenting the lives of our loved ones for today and future generations. It is an undying passion. People certainly are staying indoor more often and this could be good for the digital industry. It's definitely cheaper to stay at home and create some nice layouts using a single kit purchased from an online store. Scrappers would be more selective choosing the kits for their layouts but I think the money spent on these purchases is a lot lower than what they would otherwise spend outside. A cappuccino in Starbuck could buy you a full kit and more. [laugh]. From the information I gather, scrappers save but when they buy, they will buy a whole lot for the month.
Q:: Your subscribers have given you an insight in the industry. How would you view the future of digital scrapbooking. What are major trends?
Alice::
Realistic and Less is Beautiful to me are permanent trends in the industry. It's so popular with everyone. I see hybrid in the picture a lot. I would love to see more art work coming out of these combination. On a more futuristic probability, I can see digital scrappers expending their skills into creating truly presentation of their lives in flash formatted art form when software become readily available to us.
Q:: How would you see TDS is 5 years and what shall we wait for?
Alice::
That's a long way to go especially when you are in this industry! [laugh] My vision is to see TDS printed and sold in the newsstands all over the world in the language of the region. [laugh] I see people buying it off the rack and sit down browsing through the pages sipping coffee. I like TDS to be a part of their creative life.
Q:: What are your new year's resolutions for TDS?
Alice::
Establish a great team. We are just beginning to improve on our team support. We also want to expand our publication to a wider area of interest and bringing TDS to a new level.
