Effective December 1, 2014  -  Store Size Limits
 
GCU has grown by leaps and bounds since 2007!  So have artists’ storefronts, especially those of artists who have been with us since the early days.  Although we herald the prolific growth the time has arrived to establish Store Size Limits.
 
The optimal store size is 10,000 submissions.  Artists will receive a warning alert when their store size has reached 10,000 submissions.  
 
The maximum store size 15,000 submissions.  Artists will receive an error alert when their store size has reached the maximum limit of 15,000 submissions.  At that time edits to existing cards will be permitted however NO new submissions will be permitted.  
  
In mid-January you will notice a new “Store Size” field on your admin page in the right margin.  This is where the store size limit alerts will be posted.  It displays the following for example:
 
Total Approved:  1,310  (this is approved public & private cards)
Total Submissions:  2,017  (this is ALL submissions and is the number used for store size limits)
 
Important note, deleting existing cards from your store will NOT make room for new cards to be added.
 
As you reflect on store size and your submissions please keep these considerations in mind …
It is not ideal to amass a store with non-occasion cards or “more of the same” cards, this is discouraged.  It is wise for artists to evaluate their collections and marketability of future submissions.  There is some validity that the more cards you have the higher chances of visibility and sales you will have – however each and every card you submit should speak to an occasion, stand strongly in its category and have great marketability & purpose.
 
There are a handful of GCU artists that have already surpassed the maximum store size limit.  Those artists have been “grandfathered in” to maintain their existing store and have been approved to open a second store as an extension.  GCU has already contacted these artists.  Opening a second store solely because you've reached the store size limit is not permitted and will need to be reviewed by GCU for express permission granted on an exception basis.  
 
Please let us know if you have any questions.  

Quote from Mary__137064 on Dec 29^th, 2014, 4:04pm:

 
Bright, just sign up to read the Community Blog regularly. Corrie posts almost weekly latest trends and great info to keep your designs new and fresh. When a trend returns, it's always with some tweaks, so old designs still might need some updating to be desirable to shoppers looking for that trend.
 
Speaking for myself as a greeting card artist, it is my responsibility to research and know what the latest trends are, not to expect GCU to tell me.

I doubt I'll hit the 10,000 card limit in my lifetime   and Pinterest, as Mindy said, is definitely a great source for what is trending and also for inspiration... as well as the tips from GCU.
Thanks for the store update Mindy.  
 
Happy New Year to you!  

Great question, Betsy. I'll probably never hit that number in either of my stores, but good to know just in case  

Thanks, Mindy.  Of course I do my own research, but I wondered what GCU might be leaning toward a certain range or other.  No problem, I will find what I need when I need it.  
 
Have a wonderful New Year!
 
Bright

Thank you for the updates Mindy  
 
I don't know that I will ever reach that many either and would like to know about the two stores combined as well.
 
Thank you for the continued support and color tip.  Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Opening a second store solely because you've reached the store size limit is not permitted and will need to be reviewed by GCU for express permission granted on an exception basis.  
 
 This is from Mindy's orginal post, cut and pasted
 

Quote from Betsy_145102 on Dec 30^th, 2014, 6:16am:

 
Hi Betsy,
Yes, these would be considered separate.
 
Happy New Year!  

Quote from Sherry_222657 on Dec 30^th, 2014, 10:45am:

 
Good questions.  
 
We do not encourage artists to delete cards based on changing trends especially if those cards prove to be successful.  
 
To avoid a long technical explanation, there is a lot of data that is created and stored with each submission.  No matter the status (pending, declined, deleted, etc.) this data is retained for many reasons.  At some point we may develop a system to age, identify and purge unnecessary data.  This is nowhere in the near future.
 
We feel the maximum store size limit of 15,000 is significant and affords artist much in the way of creativity and growth.
 
Artists who have reached the maximum can request a second store as an extension.  As shared this will be reviewed and granted on an exception basis determined by overall store marketability and sales history.
 
There is no intention to penalize artists who have a high decline rate of submissions however there should be some ramifications or modified behavior in future submissions to improve the rate of approvals.  Artists regardless of store size should always use great care and consideration with each submission.
 
Hope this answers your questions!

Thank you for this info. I am glad we will still be able to edit 'old cards' as I have learned so much from the GCU Community Blog on how to improve marketability.
I do have a question though. Once we reach the 15,000 limit, our cards will not be shown in the "New Cards" Category, and front door sales may drop for the designers that have been here the longest and have reached the limit.  
**Is there any chance perhaps to get an "Older Cards" Category on the Main GCU Front Page, put in with the "New Cards, Best Sellers, Most Favorited Cards and Staff Picks".  
Thank you GCU Team for all your hard work!!  

Hi Doreen, yes, you are right, however ... the remaining store will not be able to make new cards, thus will not show up in the new card area, which I'm sure a lot of older or even newer customers come in and look thru the new card section first, cards from already limited stores will not show up, thus less sales. ( I do advertise a lot on many sites, which I'm sure brings in my many sales, but I'm also sure some of my sales come thru via the New Card section, as a lot of my new cards have sold right away. So I thought it would be advantageous for those cards to be seen on the front page as well.  

Quote from SunAtNight_145914 on Jan 1^st, 2015, 9:35am:

 
I do see your point that since submissions are "limited" each one means more to artists.  Although the review team is receptive to communications with artists I will share that since reviews are based on the Submission Guidelines there really is no loophole or wiggle room.  
 
If you plan to "sell" your submission to the review team you should ...
a) make sure the submission meets the guidelines and is strong enough to pass the review process on its own merits  
b) do any selling or explaining in the Notes to Reviewers field at the time of submission, not pleading your case in an email after the fact
 
This is a good time to remind artists of the Series Concept Review process.  Even more important now for artists with Store Size limits in mind by reviewing a single concept design before the balance of the series is created / submitted:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/forum/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1377212908

I found this discussion when trying to understand the new figures about my store.  DId anyone answer Sherry's two questions?  It doesn't seem to make sense to me.
 
Chris

Thanks for the update!  

Quote from Beverly_133630 on Apr 15^th, 2015, 1:25pm:

 
Yes, stock card creations do count as submissions in your store.

Quote from Teresa_349610 on Feb 27^th, 2016, 9:05pm:

 
Hi Teresa, please look for an email from me today.