Hewlett-Packard already dominates the imaging and printing market, but the Palo Alto firm is pushing to build a bigger customer base. And that includes markets where technology has traditionally not played a key role -- such as quilters and scrapbookmakers. Last week, the world"s leading seller of printers introduced a Web site, www.hp.com/go/scrapbooking, where scrapbook enthusiasts can get tips and share insights into the craft. In October, the Palo Alto firm unveiled a similar site, www.hp.com/go/quilting, for makers of quilts.
HP offers specialized software that offers more options for quilters and scrapbook makers, such as creating designs on a PC and printing them on fabric. It"s part of a strategy to tap arts and crafts communities, which HP is employing to encourage use of its digital imaging products, such as printers, digital cameras and scanners, according to Mark Mahan, a scrapbooking program manager for HP, who is based in Vancouver, Wash. Though smaller than the corporate and general consumer markets, arts and crafts represents a sizable market.