Scrapbooking Industry Statistics

Scrapbooking Industry Statistics Reveal a Growing Phenomenon

Did you know that Mark Twain was an avid scrapbooker? Although scrapbooking has been around for centuries, the hobby continues to grow in popularity. Some people attribute the increased interest in scrapbooking to a renewed passion for genealogy, while others say it’s a natural outlet for people who are interested in photography and graphic design to express their creativity. The widespread available of digital cameras may also play a part in promoting scrapbooking, since Americans now take more than 30 billion photos per year.

For evidence of the increased interest in scrapbooking, consider the following facts.

• Over 25 million people in the United States alone consider themselves to be scrapbookers.
• Almost 30% of all U.S. households have at least one family member who scrapbooks.
• Scrapbooking is the fastest growing sector of the craft and hobby industry and now considered to be the third most popular craft in the nation. From 2002 to 2004, sales of scrapbooking products increased by over 27% across the United States.
• As of 2003, there were over 4,000 independent scrapbook stores in the United States. Most major craft stores, such as Hobby Lobby and Michaels Crafts, also have extensive selections of scrapbooking supplies.

The Typical Scrapbooker

Although many different types of people have discovered the joy of scrapbooking, EK Success reports scrapbookers are:

• 98% female
• 85% Caucasian
• 63% married with children living at home

Most scrapbooking industry statistics group scrapbookers into one of three categories:

• Casual: The casual scrapbooker is generally introduced to the hobby by a friend or relative. Most people in this category work full time, spend a minimal amount of time scrapbooking, and participate in other hobbies such as rubber stamping or home decorating.
• Hobbyist: Hobbyists make up 41% of the scrapbooking population. The hobbyist scrapbooker is typically a homemaker with young children who scrapbooks to preserve her family’s memories. She generally spends between five and 20 hours per month scrapbooking and is likely to have a space in her home devoted to the craft.
• Dedicated: Although this group is relatively small, dedicated scrapbookers are the lifeblood of the industry. Identifying themselves as “scrapbooking addicts,” they are committed to exploring new products and techniques. Among dedicated scrapbookers, 10% are involved in some form of a scrapbooking-related business.

Digital photography may have contributed to an increased interest in scrapbooking.

The 2004 Scrapbooking in America survey reports the percentage of scrapbookers by geographical region within the United States:

• Pacific: 26.4%
• Mountain: 31.2%
• West South Central: 25.4%
• West North Central: 27.5%
• East South Central: 25.6%
• East North Central: 24.1%
• New England: 21.4%
• South Atlantic: 22.5%
• Middle Atlantic: 21.0%

Generally, the most popular topics for scrapbooking are pages detailing childhood events and family vacations. However, this does not mean that there is no place in the hobby for young, single, or childless scrapbookers. In fact, one of the winners of the prestigious CK Hall of Fame contest for 2007 was a male teenager! Although he doesn’t fit the mold of the “typical” scrapbooker, Mitchell Kraft wowed the judges with his unique sense of style.

A Passionate Lifestyle

Scrapbookers, regardless of their gender, age, or race, tend to be very passionate about their hobby. Consider the following scrapbooking industry statistics:

• The average scrapbooker spends almost three hours per week working on layouts and other related projects.
• Over a six month period, most scrapbookers will work on three different albums.
• The average scrapbooker owns nearly $2,000 in tools and supplies.
• In a typical month, at least 75% of scrapbookers read Creating Keepsakes, Simple Scrapbooks, or other popular scrapbooking magazines.
• Over 75% of scrapbookers have a space in their home devoted to the hobby.