Stampin’ Up! to no longer carry the Big Shot. Stampin’ Up! announced last week that they will no longer carry the Big Shot and it’s plates. They are developing a new, improved die-cutting machine. Here is what they announced to us demonstrators:

Die-Cutting and Embossing Product Line Changes
We are making some big changes to our die-cutting and embossing product line that will give us a better opportunity to support the long-term vision we have for the line. While we’ve worked with our current supplier for many years, we’ve had the opportunity to reassess this relationship. After extensive research, demonstrator feedback, and evaluation, we’ve decided to move in a new direction and we’re optimistic about this new course.
Innovation requires risk, and in our pursuit of a better overall die-cutting and embossing product line, we’re experiencing more significant challenges than we originally planned for, including some transition issues like the die inventory problems we experienced beginning in March .
The challenges we are facing moving forward are not insurmountable, but they are taking time to resolve. Because of these setbacks, we will not offer a die-cutting & embossing machine in the 2019–2020 annual catalog. We know this will create some challenges for you, and for that, we apologize. We want to make sure that what we offer supports demonstrators by being high quality, thoroughly considered, and dependable product; we want to take the time to get it right for you and your customers rather than rush something to market. Our product development department is moving with responsible haste to work through this issue, and we will share more information as things are finalized.
However, we will offer new dies and embossing folders in the 2019–2020 annual catalog. Since we’re using a new supplier, the dies and folders will be manufactured differently; this means the way you use the new style of dies and folders will be a little different than how you used the old style. Both the new-style and old-style dies and embossing folders can work with any die-cutting & embossing machine (in some cases, adaptations like shims may be required because the gap between rollers on machines may vary slightly between manufacturers). You may have noticed we’re not referring to these products using names you’re familiar with. Another change required in this transition is to the terminology we use to refer to die-cutting and embossing products.
One of the significant factors in this decision is that instead of working with a supplier who works with a manufacturer, we are moving to a direct-to-manufacturer relationship. This means that we will work directly with the factories who manufacture our dies and folders instead of working with another company who then works with different factories. This gives us greater control and potential in the manufacturing process. Here’s one example of how that will work: having a direct-to-manufacturer relationship will better allow us to implement die and folder ideas we gather from you, our power users. When we gather feedback and ideas from you, we will now be able to work directly with the factories making the products to implement those innovative ideas.
So while the current situation isn’t ideal, we are setting the foundation for greater die-cutting and embossing opportunity in the future.

Don’t get upset that Stampin’ Up! is going to no longer carry the Big Shot. There are still a wonderful selection of dies in the new catalog and the current dies will work in the new machine when it comes. One of the changes in the new dies is that the inside edge of the die fits right up to the edge of the stamped image instead of leaving a narrow white border. When the image is cut, there will be a narrow border around it. This is a benefit in that we won’t have to guess where to place the die to get an even border around the image.