Scrapblog, a startup that lets you build rich Flash-based online scrapbooks, has closed a $4 million funding round led by Disney’s Steamboat Ventures and Longworth Venture Partners. The round brings Scrapblog’s total funding to $7.5 million.
Scrapblog offers an online editor that allows users to decorate their scrapbook with text, images, colorful themes, and other embellishments, which can then be shared on the web or printed out. The company was first introduced back in 2006, briefly went offline, and relaunched in March 2007. Now it has grown to nearly 2 million registered users who have created over 4 million scrapblog pages. The site has partnerships with major media sites including Disney, Discovery, Photobucket, and ABC.
The site generates revenue through scrapbook printing, sponsored promotions, and a recently launched virtual goods market called the Scrapblog Marketplace. The marketplace allows users to purchase designs from leading artists to decorate their scrapbooks, and has been likened to an “iTunes for Scrapbooking” – a strange description, but one that certainly appears to the niche scrapbooking demographic.
I love the story behind this company. There is someone stubborn behind the wheel that wouldn’t let it stay offline and now it’s mushroomed into a solid site that incorporates Itunes etc. I’m going to e-mail this to Mama Fish!!
Both me and my Mom have started using this! We’ll let you know what we think! Congrats again guys!
Maybe I’m missing something, but how does it plugin to iTunes?
I don’t think it does, at least I couldn’t find it on their site…
Congrats to the entire ScrapBlog team!
What is the target demographic? Are they trying to move outside the 40-60 year old women? What is the breakdown in demographics of the 2 million users they have now?
This is pretty cool. I am a little curious as to how strong their income revenue streams are. I’m also surprised as to how much money they already have. However, I love seeing the dedication and determination of the people behind this company who refuse to keep their dreams from not being realized. I hope to hear more about them in the future.
Danny P @ http://www.schoolshift.com
Danny, I really like you site? Do you contact schools to get the info or is it student run?
I would be interested to see how the plan to monetize the site. As it stand for a some one who is a novice and would like to create simple media presentation there is a lot of other options, seems this would better suited at students and schools to create interesting elementary-middle-high school projects with out having to have photoshop flash or office, but I really don’t see my Mom using this, which is what it seems they are looking to go after.
It is interesting to observe companies that are raising big cash in a down market. However, I don’t know how strong their income revenue streams are. With the money they raised, I am sure they will develop better methods to make money from the business. Congrats to the founders for making their dreams come true. Can’t wait to hear more about this company
Danny P @ http://www.schoolshift.com
I remember hearing something about VC being down tremendously. Glad to hear they got some before the faucet dried up! By the way, the site rocks!
Congrats Carlos & team.
Look here – http://www.virt...arketplace.html – for a recent story on how Scrapblog are adding to their monetization. They also have a range of great printing service integrations.
I have yet to use their printing service yet… Has anyone used it yet?
I have, it works great. I had some trouble uploading but after that it was fine.
Thats so awesome… congratulations guys
You guys should check out heekya.com-its offline now, but it will be so much better!
I thought that name sounded familiar, http://www.tech...-nine-startups/
Looks like it is not the same thing.
@Evan. Yeah let’s compare ‘offline’ vapor ware to a product that’s already out there. Idiot.
Evan is right. Heekya.com will be much cooler. Rob, you are the idiot!
I disagree. Let’s see what they can put out before we discuss any further.
It seems that there are a lot of sites that are trying to do this. I hope that other sites can provide some competition, I love scrap-booking, and I’m excited to bring it online.
Yea, I was wondering if mixbook.com took more funding when I first saw this.
I love mixbook.com! I think the key for any of these sites looking to bring these together is the ability to plug into the picasa’s, iphoto’s, flickr’s, etc of the world. Basically, make it easy and KISS.
This looks cool! Congratulations guys
Wow this looks so cool. Can I use it yet? Amazing work guys…
It is great to see TC covering companies like this. Scrapbooking isn’t a big hobby in the tech centers, but I did a consulting project for a company in the analog segment of this space and was amazed to learn it is a $3B+ industry. That makes it roughly 2X the size of the social networking space by revenue. Not as sexy as the social graph, but WAY more profitable.
WOW! I bet they are all women too! (or mostly). Its good to see that companies are still able to get funds out there-now if someone would just start hiring on a massive scale!
Yeah, I found that number pretty staggering (and hard to believe). And then I remembered my mother..
3 Billion dollar industry?! Wow. This seems like a good place to start with online scrapbooking. Does anyone else have any other ideas?
This is pretty cool. I am surprised they have received so much in venture capital funding in such a short period of time (considering they were close to shutting down). I am also interested in how successful their plan to monetize the site actually is. Great story of sticky it through the rough patches I hope they keep up the good work!
wwwmschoolshift.com
That is a really cool site Danny. I hope it goes well for you.
Someone who does not like what you say, so they spit on you, this makes you quit speaking. Do you value your Free Speach? What would you do or withstand to protect it,?
Hey guys, thanks for all the great feedback!
To clarify, we never went “offline” in the sense that we were closing our doors. We’ve never been “close to shutting down”. Quite the contrary. I think there’s a bit of a miscommunication here. The offline time was only for about 24 hours while we migrated to the new version.
Thx again!!!
Seems like a cool idea. Do you have a MySpace/Facebook application yet?
Alright Miami folk!
I love the story behind this company. I’m just interested to see how they make money from it.
Well done guys.
Very well implemented. I wish you the best of luck
I think your line about “Partners” is a bit overrated. They had some short stint sponsors like Ugly Betty, but nothing for a long time now.
Dear Entrepreneurs!
We developed a breakthrough technology.
Then I develped a proposal.
To submit this confidential proposal ,I emaild to many companies(marketing,engineering,customer relation department)and I coould not get any reply.
I need to ask you “How you make some company to read and analyse your proposal “.
Please guide me.
thanks
Scrapbooking is no longer a $3 billion a year industry. It’s lost a lot of customers. ScrapBlog is taking advantage of the trend to do scrapbooking digitally now – which has been a disruptive technology to the traditional “paper and scissors” side of the industry.
Everything looks cool except for them having to work with Steamboat — not a quality VC if you ask me.
Scrapbooking is the largest craft category according to the trade association, CHA (http://www.craftandhobby.org/); “National Scrapbooking Day has emerged as a way of celebrating the number one, top-selling category of the 39 craft segments in the $31.7* billion dollar U.S. craft and hobby industry”. We have been publishing craft content offline since 1995, and just launched a website on general crafting from painting to beading to scrapbooking at http://www.favecrafts.com
Oh I’m SO a ScrapBlog enthusiast! Never used it, but it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. Love the American Girl-style header. bingo!