scrapbook shopping

What many suspected was going to happen – happened. Today, the “TWO PEAS IN A BUCKET“* online scrapbooking store announced it’s closure.

*Please keep in mind that the links and images in this blog post from the Two Peas site will cease to work once they shutter everything for good.

Why is this such a big deal, you ask? Well, Two Peas was a leading store, had been in business for 15 years, provided first-class scrapbooking resources to their members, and hosted one of the most active message board forums ANYWHERE. I mean, not just scrapbooking forums but on ANY topic.

The Two Peas site is down at the moment but I believe they had over 400,000 members. Just amazing. The Two Peas scrapbook message board was responsible for introducing scrapbooking to many women and introducing online scrapbook shopping and forums to many scrapbookers. They were a major force in the industry, without a doubt.

For a great synopsis of the Two Peas business story, check out Nancy’s great article HERE at ScrapbookUpdate.com. Then come back here, K? We need to discuss this!!

It appears from posts on social media that the news of this closure took many by surprise, even ‘scrapbook celebrities’ and those affiliated with Two Peas in some way. Ali Edwards posted on Facebook, “Whoa. Just read that Two Peas is closing.” Lisa Truesdale said, “I’m reeling.” Also on Facebook, Kerri Bradford posted, “Oh my gosh. Two Peas is closing??? So sad. I remember when it was first starting out. Kristina used to be part of the PC Design Team when I was on it back in 1999. Ohhhh, sadness. It’s the end of an era” and “You just never think that some place like that will end.”

I was a very active “Pea” on the message boards for over 6 years so this does have some impact on me. I visit the Two Peas “General Scrappin'” and “NSBR” message boards many times a week. I’ve learned so much and had such great fellowship and friendship there over the years. I’ll really miss Two Peas.

I have to admit that I posted less frequently over the last 15 months because of some things that happened in 2013. I explained that big ol’ mess in THIS post from March 2013, if you should care to read all about it ;)

Not only did Two Peas’ apparent lack of care for their customers keep me away somewhat, but I also joined another scrapbook message board at that time and it became my main online home.

But I still popped in to the Two Peas boards almost daily and lurked even when I didn’t post as often. I have another blog post I’m working on to say my goodbyes to Two Peas so I’ll just leave my own perspective at this for now.

I know all good things must come to an end at some point and, even though rumors of Two Peas’ demise have been rampant this year, it still came as quite a shock to get this e-mail from them today:

The Peas are reacting with shock, sadness, frustration, and anger. While most are very sad to hear of the closure, they’re wondering what happens now to the “lifetime” access they had to paid Two Peas online classes. The site has been up and down all day, probably due to the mad rush to try and download class content before it disappears for good.

There are also Peas downloading fonts, gallery posts, bookmarked threads, etc. that they had been building up over the years and now will go *poof* in a matter of days.

Many are shocked and saddened that – with today’s announcement of their upcoming store closure – Two Peas has blocked any further posting to their forums. They can be read but no further posts can be added, thus leaving thousands of Peas at loose ends.

They would’ve liked the chance to say their goodbyes, exchange contact information, thank Two Peas, ask questions, and communicate about where they might hang out in the future. {Facebook groups and forums have already been created for Two Peas “refugees”}.

On the one hand, I understand the frustration with the message boards being closed off to posting with absolutely zero notice. On the other, I can see that it’s probably impossible to keep them open and would cause servers to be overwhelmed and go down worse than they have been. Note: Peas can directly “PM” or mail each other via Two Peas so that’s an option.

So, that’s the sad tale of Two Peas closing :(

I can’t say that I’m surprised – the writing’s been on the wall for some time now – but I’m still sad. I don’t think it’s “the end of the scrapbooking industy” as some are speculating. Scrapbooking is here to stay, no doubt about it. I think Two Peas had (and still has, if anyone wanted to take them over) a host of EXCELLENT resources and infrastructure in place to make a highly successful scrapbooking business. I’m baffled as to why Two Peas would throw all of that away, why the company wasn’t sold or offered for sale (to my knowledge), etc. Perhaps more information will be revealed eventually to explain all of that, I don’t know.

Either way, it’s a sad day here in Scrapbook Land :(

Please share your thoughts in Comments below. Were you a “Pea”, did you shop there, or buy classes? Were you surprised by today’s news or had you seen it coming? I’d love to hear from you.