An Open Letter to Stampington
Damnit, Stampington, when someone is paying top dollar for a magazine, they expect correct information all around. One typo every now and then, sure. Multiple typos with incorrect information on one page? Not acceptable especially for a $15 magazine.
For many years, I would run to the newsstand or local rubber stamp shop every time a new publication from Stampington hit the shelves. I would pour over the pages of their magazines (Somerset Studio, Art Journaling, Where Women Create, Artful Blogging, you name it, I probably bought it at some point.) I spent hundreds of dollars on a yearly basis on their publications. Then one day I stopped.
Something about it didn't excite me like it used to. The magazines were full of typos and seemed sloppily thrown together. The ads increased (ads for their other publications took up a lot of the magazine.) Putting down $15 for a magazine that didn't make my heart go pitter patter made me sad.
I won't go into other issues like friends having their art stolen from other artists, published under someone else's name, emailing and calling Stampington and not being credited for their work. That's not the worst of it. Years ago, I sent in artwork, paid for return postage and had my art given to another artist. They have asked me to send in my journals since then, not knowing any of the new editors and wary of how they have treated art in the past, I have since refused.
As artists, we want better. As paying customers, we deserve better. Until this happens, I'll continue to keep my dollars in my wallet when it comes to Stampington. This is a publication that used to make me very happy and now it breaks my heart that I pass it by on a regular basis.
Update:
Friday Evening, I received the following from Stampington:
Hello Kelly,
I am reaching out to you to let you know that we saw your open invitation to us regarding the misspelling of your website. I would like to apologize on behalf of Stampington & Company. We definitely welcome constructive criticism and we will work harder so that these issues won't occur in the future. We feel terrible, and we do not take errors like this lightly.
You have our sincere apologizes,
--
Best,
Evelyn Mateos
Editor
Comments
Storytime: I actually won a giveaway by them last year, and they sent some really cool art supplies.
They also sent three of their magazines - Somerset Apprentice, Somerset Studio and Art Journaling. I was most excited about the magazines, for the reasons you listed. It's been so long since I've gotten Art Journaling, because like you said, it's pricey. I've never gotten the Somersets before.
I kept the Art Journaling magazine intact. Somerset Apprentice is now my mousepad and Somerset Studio is what I use for glue-sticking collage elements.
Wanna know why? The things they publish are literally the same things people were doing 10 years ago. I can see why it stopped making your heart pitter-patter - it's the same stuff recycled, over and over and over again. Even the Art Journaling magazine was mostly the same stuff I'd seen 5 years ago, with a couple that were fresher. That's the only reason it hasn't been repurposed.
People have moved well beyond what was popular so long ago. Artists have grown and changed and broken into new territory. Why isn't that being shown?
And holy crap, the ads. It felt like they were half the magazine.
I imagine it's tough for them, because we can all go to the internet for most of what they publish. I guess it's a safe business strategy? To just repeat what worked before, for people that haven't been exposed to that style yet?
It's just that I'd rather plop that money down on Uppercase Magazine, which actually does feature new and fresh artists.
That typo was inexcusable. It's your WEBSITE. And sending your art to someone else?? Also, inexcusable. I imagine that's the scariest part of writing for a magazine - hoping you get your art back. You're not wrong on any of this. Like I said, I hope the reaction isn't retaliation, and instead, they listen.
It also annoyed me that I used to be paid to write articles for them (to accompany my work) and then all of a sudden they wanted my work and 200-500 words for free! Once someone wrote a “how-to” article to go with my work!
I just keep rereading my old issues, lol.
I find I'm not as excited by Stampington magazines anymore either, it just all feels the same.