ScrapStation in a scrap to capture nostalgia market

The scrapbooking craze has hit Port Orchard. But is a town of 7,900 residents big enough for two scrapbooking stores?

Anna Boman will find out.

Boman, along with hers sisters Linda Haas and Oleta Kirsch, opened the AL&O ScrapStation last October at 509 Bay Street, turning her hobby into a business.

Now with another scrapbooking store having opened two weeks ago just down the street, Boman is curious to see what will happen.

“We’ll have to see,” Boman said. “We didn’t know anything about them, and they didn’t know anything about us. We’ll have to see how it goes.”

While both stores offer a lot of the same products and service, Boman said there are distinct differences in the two stores.

The ScrapStation does offer a layaway program and has a membership program.

“The scrapbooking industry can get expensive when you get started,” Boman said. “It’s a brand new hobby and there’s a lot of different things involved, so we have layaway and a lot of stores don’t do that.”

The Silver Streak Charter Membership program costs $50 a year and provides two free crops and six rubber stamp rentals along with a 10 percent discount on purchases and a embroidered tote bag.

Customers will also find that the group will put together a scrapbook for those who don’t have the time, although the final touches have to be put on by the individual, Boman said.

“Scrapbooking is a wonderful hobby to get your children into,” Boman said. “It’s your family history and to retain those memories is what’s important.”

Boman carries the World Win line of card stock and has a huge selection to choose from.

“That’s something we found out from our customers. They love the different colors we offer,” she said, “because they can’t find the different colors like this.”

The ScrapStation offers all the needed supplies to get started scrapping, from stickers, die cuts, eyelets and different cutting systems.

“If it’s out there, we try to find it,” Boman said.

Along with the supplies, the Scrap-Station also offers classes ranging from beginners classes, color blocking, quilling, eyelets and shadow boxes.

“We do a lot of one-on-one with people,” Boman said. “We feel it’s important to teach them the basics, and we don’t charge for that service. We know they are stores out there that do and we just don’t do that.”

That was something that Nancy Moss enjoyed. Moss was making her first foray into scrapping.

“The people, the whole thing about this is the helpfulness,” Moss said. “Any question you asked they had an answer and they took the time. There was no rushing and just the friendliness and wonderful conversation, it was just wonderful. I’m really looking forward to coming back.”

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