Integrity in the Scrapbooking Industry... or is it all 'just business'?

Someone brought up something in yesterday's comment section that I think really warrants further thought if not discussion. What I got from the comments (and it wouldn't be the first time that I've been a little off in my assessments) is that the importance of integrity within the ranks of the scrapbooking 'powers-that-be' appears to be an after thought rather than a founding business principal. There are companies, stores, and possibly magazine editors who do believe in giving everyone a fair shake, but on the otherside of the fence are just as many that are more focused on the money side of the industry and only address integrity when it is called into question.

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Prima Marketing:
I mentioned the Prima Marketing impropriety scandal in the last entry. In a nutshell, Prima contracted with a store to sell necessary items for a big contest and not only allowed the owner to enter, but granted her the 1st place prize. Prima's fix to the uproar was to 1) deny any intentional impropriety, and 2) insure that for the next contest, the entry requirements and restrictions would be much more clear. Is this a case of a lessened priority being put on integrity (on the parts of both the store owner and Prima)? I suppose that Prima assumed that their popularity and foothold in the industry would be sufficient enough to ride any wave of controversy and still walk away smelling like a rose.

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Bug Buzz:
The Cricut/Provocraft fiasco of 2006 was another example of questionable integrity if you ask some of the LSS owners. Some retailers allege they were told that the machine would only be shipped to them, while others allege they were promised to get their machines ahead of any big box manufacturer. What happened was what usually happens in business, the company with the most money to spend (i.e., 2000 machines versus 6 machines) reserves the power to dictate the instore date from the supplier. Delivery logistics was just the springboard for all of the other problems that errupted when Provocraft released that portable electronic die cutter, so I can't bring myself to say that flawed integrity was a primary player here. If anything, the whole situation was borne of a combination of unrealistic retailer expectations, overzealous sales/marketing representatives and a profit-seeking interests on the part of all involved parties. The Cricut fiasco was, in another nutshell, the resultant sum of all of it's parts.

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Making Memories Idol:
Most recently, the integrity issue has been brought to the surface in the Making Memories Idol contest that is currently running. There has been much speculation as to the fairness of the voting, particularly when the contestants who are well known scrappers are allowed to enter. The main point of contention seems to be that even witholding the names of the contestants isn't enough when you're dealing with an individual who is so prevalent in the industry that pictures of their friends and family, when coupled with their individual style, can be used to easily identify the scrapbooker. Suddenly, in the middle of the contest, it is decided that the next rounds offerings will be nameless AND utilizing stock photos in an attempt to level the voting field. This obvious attempt to interject some form of integrity standards into the contest was welcomed, albeit a little too late in the game to make a real difference. If this tactic had've been employed from the start, perhaps it would have slightly better than a snowball's chance in hell at succeeding, once the contestants are narrowed down, it's pretty easy to discern the work of at least one of the contestants, particularly if his/her style was signature.

Alas, even this noble attempt to make things right has been thwarted because the word is out that one of the contestants has taken it upon herself to mass email people to offer hints as to which of the layouts belongs to her! THAT is another blog entry in and of itself!

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HOF/ MASTERS:
How many times have we heard about people being 'personally' invited to drop an entry for HOF or MM Masters? The speculation for this years contest was ear-splitting, and when much of it turned out to carry a degree of truth, the screaming only got louder. I see a severe lack of integrity and a blatant disregard for the public when contests like this preselect winners but have them enter as if they are a regular contestant. What ever happened to excluding contests to friends, family, affiliates and associate? Would it be accepted easier if these companies just handed the shoe-ins their 'crowns' and held the calls for the rest of the 'nobodies'? Do they owe us our unruffled feelings?

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Publication and Design Team Calls:
Magazines aren't immune to questionable ethics scandals by any means. How is it that with hundreds of layout entries received for every call, the magazines seem to always publish the layouts of some of the same faces, over and over again. And I'm not talking about the inhouse staff either. You will never convince me that those few people are the only talented scrapbookers out there! You won't even convince me that those are the only talented scrapbookers out there who are submitting work! It has been said, time and time again that knowing someone on the inside is key, and I now believe it wholeheartedly. At first glance, it would appear that the magazines are more interested in sticking with their tried and true 'formula for success' than they are in really listening to the primary complaint from it's readers; "New faces, Different Skillsets"! How much better is it to present your mag as a fair and balance representation of the diversity of the scrapbooking arena than to present a magazine that isn't only what the editors consider "HOF worthy"? If the demographic for scrapbookers is so multifaceted and varied, then why is it so distasteful or risky to present a magazine that embraces that? Why are clear and concise prerequisites mentioned in their page calls? How many people would they turn away if they requested layouts that follow their selection criteria or layouts from people with prior publishing experience?

The store Design Team Cal (online)l selection process is an integrity timebomb. Yes, it is initially in the better interest of a store owner to hire talent that can inspire the people who visit his/her site to create, preferable with products purchased from that particular store. But does that necessarily mean that that person has to be a 'known'/well DT-ed scrapper? Particularly one that only popped up for the call and will most likely only commit the bare minimum of effort to the store because of his/her other obligations? If the skill set of scrappers who are members of that store's message board are varied (particularly if it's a new site), then why not present a variance in the skillsets of your Design Team members?

The first site that I became a member of had a very top heavy DT. Their work, was beautiful, it was darned near perfect in execution and brilliantly designed. It was also so intimidating to me as a newby that I ran head-first into a scrapblock that lasted months. Their work that was intimidating, their nonchalant attitude was disconcerting as well. But they were uber published for the most part, so it was all good, right? Wrong! Much of the team had no concern for helping others hone their skill, and they even went so far as to not announce Pub calls and DT calls until they were tooting about winning a spot...that got old fast.

The means by which the new teams are chose is also a big part of the problem. It has become common practice to allow the current DT members to have a hand in the selection process for the new team. Is there any doubt that favortism is always waiting in the eaves? What about the owners who allow themselves to be courted by some of the applicants until it becomes pretty obvious (to everyone else) that they are shoe-ins? Much of the time the judging isn't blind and there have even been instances of voting collusion amongst members to ensure that DT favorites/friends get on the team. Is that 'just business'?

Then there is the Manufacturer Design/Creative Team selection process. It's almost commonplace for the advertisments for these calls to invite scrapbookers of all talent levels to apply. Just as it's almost commoplace for only scrapbookers of a certain accomplishment/skill level to be selected the majority of the time. Is it a lack of integrity that allows the manufacturers withhold the known selection criteria from prospective entrants? Is there really anything wrong with leading scrapbookers into false hope just to increase your sales (after all...it is free will, right?)?

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I think that integrity does play a very big role in the industry, I've only touched on the topic from the 'toe in the door' stand point. There is still the whole ugly 'how you treat the people you hire' and idea stream manipulation ball of wax that I haven't touched. I don't doubt for a minute that the drive to succeed has allowed many to underestimate the importance of integrity in this industry and the significance of the impact when it falls by the wayside. Many reputations have been tarnished and many more will suffer similar fates until something is done to reiterate the importance. Until all of the scrapbookers form a collective voice that demands ethical business dealings, the problem will continue to fester. 1 person won't matter, 10 people won't matter, heck, 100 people won't matter!

The fact that I stopped subscribing to any scrapbooking magazines (or even buying them) won't do a thing to change the way they select their layouts for publishing.
The fact that I haven't purchased a scrapbook related item in 4 months won't stop the infulx of new product everytime somebody sneezes.

It has to come from the top and trickle down. The industry, as a collective, has to hold themselves to a higher standard and demand the same of anyone that they interact with. It was the industry that turned this craft into a cut throat, by any means necessary melee and the more scrapbookers are exposed to unprinipaled business practices, the more they adopt an acceptance of those behaviours which can only lead to a lot more negativity and questionable behaviour.

We have already gotten to the point where it means more to win a contest than to win a contest on the merits of your talent. It's now more impressive to be able to list 10 or 15 Design Teams on your resume than it is to list 3 or 4 teams that you dedicated yourself to. It's no longer common practice to work your way up because there is a much speculated glass ceiling that only certain people are allowed to breech. How much further are we willing to go?