It's a tough time to be a CMC

CM is not providing clear facts about the future of the company, citing the bankruptcy process as the reason for this. Some CMCs are more than happy to follow CM's advice to proceed with "business as usual" and trust CM - relying only on information from CM. I am not one of those CMCs. I feel better prepared armed with facts and information - especially when it comes to running my business.

Information coming from CM is not all in one spot. It's all over the place - including many emails answering questions from different CMCs. Much information is available to the public due to the nature of the bankruptcy process. With so many sources for information it's tough to get a firm grasp on what's happening - and that doesn't even take into account the speculation and rumors - some sound very feasible & some – well, not so much. Thankfully I have a great network of like minded CMCs and others that share information, allowing us to get a clearer picture of what is happening now - and what CM will look like in the future. I'm happy to pass that info on here to you and feel like it's my job as a CM Consultant to keep you as best informed as I can - hence the title "Consultant." :) I know there are CMCs out there telling customers nothing, I know there are CMCs telling customers how excited they are for the "New CM". I've always been a huge supporter of all CMCs - no matter what type of business they choose to have. However, I draw the line when a CMC chastises other CMCs for sharing information on their FB page, blog or any other outlet because they personally choose to remain "positive” and see anything other than the official talking points from CM as negative.  A fact is a fact and just because you don't like it doesn't mean it is negative.

I will spare you the drama - perhaps for another day - but I will tell you now that the intolerance towards those that choose to arm themselves with facts is getting very ugly as is the attitude from many CMCs towards decorative scrapbooking. Just when I thought us CMCs had shaken that awful stereotype of being judgmental and controlling.

Perhaps it's due to the nature of what we do as CMCs – for many (most, in my opinion) it's so much more than just selling things. We help others preserve their photos - their memories. For many of us, it's never really been about the sales...luckily those came when we used and shared some of our favorite products. So many CMCs have an emotional connection to Creative Memories but CM is a business - it's bottom line is money. Shoot, the CEO is from Bank of America - his job was to bring CM out of the first bankruptcy. He did that and CM landed right into another. CM is struggling to stay afloat and when times are tough hard decisions need to be made. As a CMC, and a customer, I am hoping for the best for CM but will plan just in case that doesn't happen and I suggest you do the same.