Firstly, as a designer myself, I see offering freebies as a way to get your work known and to draw people to your blog/store in the hope that they will then buy from you. Also, as a scrapper myself, I know that freebies are wonderful to collect!

Secondly, from the other side of the argument, and also as a designer....there are so many freebies on offer all over the internet that there really is no need for anyone to BUY kits! I put in many, many hours designing kits and yet have sold so few (about 15 in the last five months!). Is this because people are not willing to pay for something when they can go elsewhere and collect freebies? Probably! I get compliments on my kits and layouts all the time, and yet people will take the freebies related to the kit (a quickpage, a sampler, etc) and not feel that they then need to have the kit as well. It's really a Catch 22 situation and I don't really know what the solution is.

Although I would love to be selling more kits, I have to be realistic about this....there are so many fantastic designers out there that competition is really tough. There are so many freebies on offer that scrappers don't HAVE to buy anything unless they really love it!

In the end, I am happy to share with other scrappers...and if they then feel they'd like to buy from me I'm delighted. If they just want my freebies then I am also delighted that they liked my stuff enough to use it.

Maybe the designer in question is selling a lot already and doesn't feel like she has to promote her work on DSD?????

1 - There are too many designers and stores to even bother trying to compete with any of them.

2 - There are so many freebies available, that I too find myself not wanting to purchase anything...why should I?

3 - This way I don't have to mess with tax papers!

4 - I can share my freebies with people from all over the world on my blog....people that will talk to me and leave me positive feedback, possibly even become friends.

5 - Digital resource artists are letting me use their brushes, etc. because I am never going to sell my kits....most of them don't let you do anything if it's for commercial use....as long as I give them a link back on my blog.

6 - I don't have to worry about supporting a store's bottom line.

7 - I don't have to worry about whether my stuff is being marketed properly in order to sell.....if you don't like it you just won't download it!

8 - I feel I have more freedom of creativity.

9 - The market is just too saturated already.

10 - I know I've made the right decision because I am much happier this way.

So Vicky, I would just drop it because that designer is just happier with her nose in the air. She is obviously happier with the way she is already doing things and can't be bothered with the opportunity to drag in more business....her loss, eh?

We love you and this site....that's all that really matters in the end!

Netta

I'll think remove the shop and go only make freebies,in the netherlands were a came from,digital scrappen is behind with other countries.

Don't worry be a happy scrapper

Than I started to design myself. And I have more fun in all the love people send me, than the few $$ I would get for a kit !!

I started with scrapping as a hobby, and I think it is still a hobby. I also say this on my site!! The only thing I say to the people is : RESPECT MY WORK !! And everybody knows what that means!!

Sharing gives me more satisfaction...

One thing I'd like to add about offering freebies on my blog.....it REALLY bugs me that 600 people can take your freebie but only 50 or 60 will leave a little "thank you". I don't offer freebies to get thanks and compliments, but it would be so nice if more than 10 -15% of scrappers would just take a few seconds while the file is downloading to type "tyvm"!!!!

Maybe I should start a poll on the subject????