Porch Swing Publishing President Lisa Bearnson and Vice President of Design Don Lambson have led their company from its genesis as a scrapbooking magazine to its present place as a leader in an industry dedicated to the preservation of memories.
In the three years since the company was founded, its net annual sales have increased more than 3,500 percent, and pre-tax income has grown by more than 1,300 percent. In addition to the Creating Keepsakes magazine, the company also hosts "More Than Memories," a weekly television series shown on the Public Broadcasting Station, and the Creating Keepsakes Hour on QVC, a home shopping station.After graduating from Brigham Young University with a degree in public relations, Bearnson went on to become editor in chief of WordPerfect Magazine. Since Creating Keepsakes was founded, Bearnson has written "Joy of Scrapbooking," now in its fourth printing. She is the monthly host of the Creating Keepsakes Hour, which generates $400,000 per hour in sales. Bearnson also serves as a national spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson, 3M and Kodak.
Lambson graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in graphic arts. He worked as a graphic designer before going to work for WordPerfect Magazine as the assistant art director in 1991. He left in 1996 to form Creating Keepsakes with Bearnson.
The company's plans for the future include expanding its presence on television, the Internet and in publications. Beginning this year, Creating Keepsakes will expand from 6 issues to 10 issues per year, in addition to five special interest publications. The company's newly formed book division will launch two new titles, "Mom's Little Book of Photo Tips" by Lisa Bearnson and "Great Lettering Ideas" by Becky Higgins.
Creating Keepsakes also plans to formalize a partnership with Fiskars and other international manufacturers to expand scrapbooking throughout Europe and Asia.