An open letter to you. An open letter to Silhouette America. It's me essentially begging you to help me. This is two years of me hinting...asking...begging Silhouette America to consider making a larger Silhouette CAMEO cutting machine.
I shared a photo on Silhouette School's Facebook page last week and some of you thought I knew something I wasn't saying. The only thing I know is there are currently no plans for a larger machine...but I reeeeeaaally want to change that. And I need your help.
If you've followed me for any length of time you know I'm not affiliated with Silhouette America at all. I pride myself with remaining independent - more stuff gets done that way and I have more freedom to say exactly what I think. Yet they still let me take over their booth at trade shows :)
But you work in this little niche of an industry long enough and you make friends...and sometimes frienemies. I can tell you that Silhouette America will be the first to admit they don't always like what I have to say (hello, Curio), but that means they are listening. I like to think it almost might give them a little push to be better for you and me...since we're both customers. I'm happy to say they're listening to this squeaky little wheel as I squeak on for two years now about needing a bigger cutting machine. The part I need your help with is coming, I promise.
Here's what I know....
- I know you want to cut 15" rolls of vinyl and HTV and stencil material with your Silhouette machines without cutting it down
- I know you want to make wider cuts without having to piece them together
- I know you want a larger machine that runs on Silhouette Studio, not one that you have to learn a whole new (inferior) software for
- I know you bought your machine to make stuff for your kids and some how one friend asked if you'd make a shirt for her kid and now you've turned your Silhouette CAMEO into the core of your side hustle (or more) and you're quickly outgrowing your 12" cutter
- I know the Graphtec 20" CE-50 Lite is trying to be the bigger CAMEO, but it's really only attractive if you don't own a MAC or if are okay with learning a new software or if have a $900-$1200 budget. In my honest opinion it's definitely not a replacement for a bigger Silhouette CAMEO
Then last week I just shamelessly put it all out there and emailed literally everyone I know at Silhouette with the subject line "At the risk of overstepping" and a classic "Hi Guys" (but I really didn't think it'd go too far)...because really, who am I? It was my last ditch effort to make this happen.
You know what they said...they said, "We forwarded this to the Director of Product Planning and the COO." And you know what they said? They said...Melissa we want to have a meeting with you next month specifically to discuss this and see what you know about "customer wants and needs." What what!!!
In all seriousness, you guys, I have one shot. I now need to convince them I'm not the only one who
Now I need you...I need you to back me up so when I go in there and sit around a table with a bunch of Silhouette America execs I can give them an accurate portrayal of
If you're having trouble filling out the survey below (you should have a scroll bar on the right side to answer all the questions), you can click here to open it in a new browser window.
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Seriously, this really should be a no brainer for Silhouette America. I say this because the market is being overtaken by Cricut -Every craft store you go to is filled with Cricut products and VERY few Silhouette products. Cricut came out with the Maker and many Silhouette owners were tempted to cross over to the Cricut side. It’s like the Cricut company listens to their customers and it won’t be long before they do finally wise up and completely change their software. Silhouette is superior really, only because of its fabulous software. If they created a 15 inch cutting machine, they would not only put their company back on top, but they will make many of their very loyal customers super happy we stuck by their side.
ReplyDeleteMelissa-When you go into that meeting, don’t be nervous, just be your lovely self. You are speaking for all of us, you have the facts, so just go in and present them with confidence. If Silhouette is as smart as I think they are, they will listen to every word you say. Because truthfully, you have sold more machines and accessories than anybody. If you like a product, we buy it. It’s that simple. I have so much stuff (and much of it I probably don’t need, though I do love it) but Melissa said it’s fabulous, so I and thousands of others have bought it!
Thank you for speaking up for all of us!- Robin Beck
I took the survey! with Nintendo Labo coming out sure would like larger cut options.
ReplyDeletefilled in the survey, i'm just getting into the craft cutting, looking at a larger version some day if the need calls for it. along with a 2nd machine for speed.
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa & company :) I love how you are able to meet with the powers that be at Silhouette. And thank you for adding the input of all of us Silhouette users! Maybe, just maybe you could suggest that they up the pressure/pounds per, into the Silhouette machines. It gets really frustrating at times to have to 6 times into a thicker material. Just sayin' :)
ReplyDeleteWithin the last three weeks, I have posted a comment/request on FB to Silhouette American asking for them to consider a larger cutter. Thank you, Melissa, for standing in the gap for us.
ReplyDeleteThere wasn't a submit button on the survey. What else should I do to submit it? Or will you get it anyway?
ReplyDeleteCan we see results?
ReplyDeleteDone. :)
ReplyDeleteOnly other thing I'd like to add: new version of Cameo which cuts thicker substraits, such as acrylic felt, marine vinyl, marine glitter vinyl.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI did the survey, but just want to say, I got my first cutting machine 5+ years ago, a silhouette cameo 2. Since then I have also gotten a Cricut air, and was Graciously, gifted both a Cricut imagine and a silhouette curio. They are all set up and able to be used, but my “go to” is my silhouette cameo. I love the software, the machine, the reliable cut. Cricut is ok. The imagine is harder because of being so old but fun that it can print and cut by itself (hint hint) I really want that feature. The curio I have yet to master. I used it once or tried and went running crying back to my cameo. I can not figure out the mat system.
ReplyDeleteWay to go Melissa! Get us that larger machine from Silhouette - we know you can do it!!!
ReplyDeleteHey, Melissa! Did anything ever come of this? Thanks for speaking out for all of us who really want a bigger machine, but don't have the budget, nor the desire to re-learn a new software! I have been trying to figure out what to do about this for years!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely not a quick process or a decision they are taking lightly - but we had a great conversation and I am hopeful :)
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