Hall of fame

Owner of Glasgow’s Scrapbook Village honored by an industry magazine

By Raed Battah, rbattah@bgdailynews.com — 270-783-3246

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

GLASGOW Bonnie Wilcome has discovered the fountain of youth perhaps with a little help from the more than 350 children she has helped as a foster parent.

And from her business, Scrapbook Village in Glasgow, shes helping people, their pets and their loved ones live forever and drawing pilgrims from across the country.

They come from all over, Wilcome said recently from a small table in her stores kitchen area. I have people come in from Oklahoma, Indiana, Michigan and Florida.

I have a lot of repeat customers, she added. God has really blessed me.

The Glasgow business was recognized by a leading trade magazine for innovative business practices, including unique promotions and customer relations and dedication to the community around it, according to a release from the magazines editorial director, Bill Gardner.

It is a great honor, Gardner said. We are the only organization that does any kind of award for the independent retailer. We dont recognize a lot of people. We go over the nominations very carefully and select the businesses that represent the really, really outstanding independent retailers.

Gardners employer, Primedias Craftrends magazine, inducted Wilcome and Scrapbook Village into its Independent Retailer Hall of Fame in its January 2005 issue. Scrapbook Village was recognized as the best of the best in every facet of what makes a small business special, including marketing, promotions, store set-up, classes, product selection, employee relations and more, the release from Craftrends said.

Gardner said the scrapbook and crafts industry is dependent on people like Wilcome.

This industry relies on the independent retailer, he said. They are really the driving force of the industry. We couldnt survive without stores like hers.

Wilcome strives to accommodate her customers by learning as much as she can, Gardner said.

Id been impressed with her because she recognizes the need for education and shes willing to take courses that will help her better serve her customers, he said. Its very clear that she does what it takes to keep the customers and keep them coming back. She even has customers that offer to volunteer in her store. Thats the mark of a really good retailer.

Rick Horn of the Kentucky Small Business Development Center helped Wilcome and her husband, Mike, set up their business.

Originally I started working with her at the inception with cash flow projections and a business plan, Horn said. I met with them on different financing methods. I wanted to make sure she covered all the bases.

Horn admitted he wasnt convinced at first that Wilcomes concept would survive in Glasgow.

I wasnt sure if she could pull off the destination/location area that she was in, but it obviously hasnt been a factor, he said. You can see that youre just as likely to see a car in the parking lot with plates from Washington state.

Horn said Wilcome has a great business sense.

She uses a number of different ways to get to the outside customer, he said. And she has all this in-house marketing. She has a special going every month.

Shes just got it down, Horn added. Shes a natural.

Horn said people could learn from Wilcomes methods.

People should watch for her interactions with customer, he said. When were talking about a business in a small town like this, youve got to be open, youve got to be vibrant.

Its not a 9-to-5 business, Horn insisted. Youll see her there at all hours. Theyre there all night. Theyre open when they need to be open. You dont have to be open 24 hours, but you have to be aware of your customers needs.

Ramona Fancher of Center was browsing one of dozens of racks with themed embellishments like adhesive stickers and letters, borders, buttons and ribbons. She admitted to being hooked on scrapbooking.

I wasnt going to get into it but I went to one party and got hooked, she said. Its kind of addicting. Once you start you cant get out of it. You can spend an hour on one page.

Ive been doing it now for about six years, she added. My first book was on my grandson, and Im fixing to do one on my retirement from Kentucky Banking Centers in Horse Cave. Ive been there since 1960.

Wilcomes store draws the attention of many area customers.

We both just moved to the community, said June Lamb from Scottsville. First place we found was the church, then the womens organization and then here. The variety in her store is just overwhelming. But the most impressive thing was the service.

Lamb is relatively new to cropping.

Im a novice, she explained. Everybody I know is into this. Im thinking about taking classes in cropping. I just started a genealogy book and am trying to organize my mothers box of family photos.

Lamb learned about scrapbooking the same way most people do, through her peers. Her friend, Mary Lay, has been involved with scrapbooking for some time.

Ive been cropping about three years, said Lay, who also lives in the Scottsville area. This is one of the awesomest places you can go to. And Ive been to a lot of stores from here to Texas. Ive made all kinds of books from weddings, family, Christmas. Im doing a genealogy book now based on my family tree.

Scrapbooking by its nature is a deeply personal craft. People collect photos and pieces of their history and arrange the items in the books with embellishments and ornamentation. Some customers bring their children and their suitcases.

We came just for the store to spend the day and the night, said Jill Combs of Bardstown, sitting down for a plate of fish sticks she prepared in the stores kitchen. Ive been scrapping for three years and have put six books together. Ive done one for each year of my childrens life. Right now Im working on a heritage album for my family. And Ive done wedding books before for friends.

Combs said a recent project included generations of pictures and history.

My grandmother had over 100 pictures and my family asked me to make a scrapbook, she said. There were over 200 years of pictures. I presented it to the family on Christmas. Its about 70 pages long. It took two hours to look through it. Now we will have it in the family for generations.

Combs was traveling with her best friend, Angie Miller.

This is the best store, said Miller, also of Bardstown, who was cropping a book about her dog. Its just like home here. Its not like a store where you just go in and buy something. She allows you to use all her tools, so if youre short a tool, you dont have to buy one.

Kindness and generosity are Wilcomes unstated mission principles. Her business goes beyond pictures and photo albums, according to her staff.

I think shes enhanced peoples lives, store employee Bonnie Cheely said. I think ever since the time I walked in the door, she could sense when I was going through a hard time at home.

Cheely has been getting used to life without her dear friend.

My dad passed away on my birthday in 2003, she explained. I want to do a book on his life, but right now, its still just too emotional.

Working with Wilcome and the other customers gives Cheely strength.

She sees this as an outreach, as a ministry to help people. Its just remembering, Cheely said. Whether its an event or people.

Wilcomes only full-time worker, Tina Brown, agreed.

I lost my mom three years ago and if I need to talk, shes there, Brown said. Shes just enriching peoples lives. Shes here for everybody and she always has the right words. I dont deal with things like that real well, but shes very strong.

Strength helped Wilcome and her husband provide care to hundreds of foster children that have passed through their home. The couple even adopted some of the children, in addition to having some of their own.

Wilcome will accept her award from Craftrends magazine at the Craft & Hobby Association Trade Show on Monday.

Scrapbook Village is at 4108 E. Scottsville Road. For more information, visit the Web site at www.scrapbookvillage.net or call (270) 678-7171.

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