American Quilt Retailer After Market Issue

INSIDE

EXCITING NEW PRODUCTS ••• FACES OF THE QUILT INDUSTRY ••• SNAPSHOT OF EVENTS AND CLASSES

Something is in the air at FreeSpirit Fabrics­!

Check out Valori Wells’ new Murmur collection.

SPECIAL DIGITAL ISSUE FALL QUILT MARKET 2018

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Contents

A m e ri c an Q ui l t Ret ailer • Qu ilt Market Fall 201 8

6

40

28

2 From the Editor 4 On the Cover 6 E is for Education Schoolhouse Series, Demo Alley and Take and Teach all offer opportunites to expand your horizons.

14 Visual Merchandising for the Holidays Marketing experts Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender share tips for making your store stand out in the holiday rush.

18 10 Trends

18

Highlights from the show include trends and new products.

28 Moving Forward Long-time Quilts, Inc. staff member and the voice of Quilt Market, Bob Ruggiero shares a few thoughts as Market comes to a close.

34 Social Media for the Holiday Season Tips for being in the right places at the right time to get customers in the door.

38 Who’s Who Every aisle you walk, every corner you turn, you’ll find a creative person there. We’ve captured just a sampling of those wonderful personalities.

40 What’s Happening Watch the many videos we took and see the array of ideas we walked away with from Quilt Market.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER americanquiltretailer.com

from the EDITOR ys, Canton, First Monday Trade Da

TX

Change things up. See things from a different perspective. These are phrases I try to weave into my daily life. So as we planned our annual trip to Houston for International Quilt Market, we challenged our usual path there. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of a different route? After Googling potential routes, we settled on a route that went through Joplin, Missouri, and Paris, Texas. We kept an open mind as to what we might find along the way and, of course, we weren’t disappointed in our #AQRAdventures.

An early highlight was a quilt shop just off the freeway. See the photo below right for an aha moment from this shop. We love how traveling backroads offers landscape views that are often unexpected—such as the spillway from Eufaula Lake in Oklahoma, showing the excessive rain the area had recently received.

High on the list of treasures for this trip was First Monday Trade Days, an area of over 100 acres in Canton, Texas. A U-turn and two hours later we were wellversed in what this monthly event was all about (a flea market purported to have been continuously run since the 1850s). From boutique stores to handmade items to antiques to DIY projects galore, it was all there. While searching the aisles, we loved the conversation we had with Jack, where history meets practicality and creativeness. This young man’s entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in producing handcrafted axes. And after talking with Dwane and Janet Shropshire, we were scheming ideas about how to teach a stenciling class in my retreat center with trendy products from Chalk Couture. We could have stayed all day but setting up our booth at Quilt Market was calling.

In this issue you’ll see what transpired during Quilt Market—days packed with classes, inspiration, and great conversations with so many of you. Then as quickly as it began, it’s over and another Quilt Market is in the books. On the way home we took yet another first-time path and landed in Rogers, Arkansas, at Fork & Crust, a small indie pie shop. A cute setting, charming décor, and mouthwatering pies completely ruined every chance I had for coming home weighing less (but worth every bite of coconut creme pie). We hope you’ll enjoy seeing the highlights of what our team found exciting at Quilt Market…right down to the last crumb in the bottom of the box!

Yours truly,

HEIDI KAISAND

Blue Top Quilt Shop, Lamar, MO: Use S hooks to display patterns right on the bolts used in a shop sample.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

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See Alex Anderson at the International Quilt Market!

T

his year’s International Quilt Market will be offering amazing classes, events and opportunities to every attending dealer from November 3 to 5!

Come learn firsthand from Alex Anderson herself, starting pre-show in the Schoolhouse Series on November 2nd, in the class “How Low Can YOU Go?”! In their class, Alex and Kay Brooks will discuss how competing with mass merchant discount coupons and online discounters by lowering your margins will not create consumer loyalty. Watch and learn as they show independent retailers how to sell Features and Benefits instead of Price!

Alex will also be teaching with Ricky Brooks in their Teach and Take Class: “Online Sales Making You Sweat? We have your Fix!” on November 3rd! This class will cover how retailers like you can compete with online retailers with an “experience” atmosphere and exclusive products!

Also coming to the International Quilt Market is the latest product to be introduced to the groundbreaking Quilters Select™ brand!

Come See the Quilters Select Free Fuse In Action!

TM

Adding to the amazing Quilters SelectTM brand is Quilters SelectTM Free Fuse! This brand-new product is a semi-permanent, fusible powder that creates a fusible bond between most fabrics, battings and textiles. Quilters SelectTM Free Fuse is made of the same ingredients that make Quilters SelectTM fusible products work so well, which means it eliminates the need for basting by pins, sprays and hand! Come to the International Quilt Festival to see the Quilters SelectTM Free Fuse in action, and learn how you can take the stress out of fusing and basting projects for your customers! www.QuiltersSelect.com

On the Cover FALL QUILT MARKET 2018

INSIDE

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Heidi Kaisand

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Elizabeth Tisinger Beese

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Kristi Loeffelholz Edwards

EXCITING NEW PRODUCTS ••• FACES OF THE QUILT INDUSTRY ••• SNAPSHOT OF EVENTS AND CLASSES

EDITOR Jill Abeloe Mead COPY EDITOR Nancy Dietz

BUSINESS MANAGER Debra Bausman

TECHNICAL EDITOR Lisa Flyr

Something is in the air at FreeSpirit Fabrics!

Check out Valori Wells’ new Murmur collection.

SPECIAL DIGITAL ISSUE FALL QUILT MARKET 2018

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE To subscribe, change an address, renew your subscription or ask a question visit AmericanQuiltRetailer.com or email info@AmericanQuiltRetailer.com.

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER P.O. Box 205 • Conrad, IA • 50621 641-751-3395 ©2018 American Quilt Retailer (ISSN 1079 4824) is published bimonthly by American Quilt Retailer, Inc. Advertising rates available upon request at ads@americanquiltretailer.com. See “Permission to Reprint” for Free-to-Use Pattern. Subscriptions are $45 for one year in United States ($90 for Canada and $165 for international); $75 for two years in United States ($180 for Canada and $330 international); back issues are available for $10 each plus shipping.

There’s something aflutter at FreeSpirit … It’s Valori Wells and her new collection, Murmur. Each year, Valori and her children plant over 300 sunflowers, which attract seven different species of hummingbirds. The flutter and hum of delicate wings whispers to her, Good Morning. The energy and grace of these magnificent birds fluttering amongst the sunflowers is translated into Murmur.

Valori, an artistic craftsperson, created hand-carved wood blocks (see this video) for hand-stamping her original collection inspiration, shown above right. From this artisanal process came bright and powerful colors with movement that emulate these birds of flight. Pictured above left, is Chatter, a New York Beauty paper-pieced pattern featuring all 24 SKUs of FreeSpirit Murmur by Valori Wells. Chatter Quilt Pattern (available April 2019), contact: lawry@stitchinpost.com. Murmur collection by Valori Wells for FreeSpirit Fabrics, delivers May 2019 (freespiritfabrics.com).

In this demonstration at Quilt Market, watch how Valori uses VIDEO her hand-carved wood blocks to get her design onto fabric.

All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

American Quilt Retailer always tries to relay accurate and useful information to the best of its ability. However, all of the articles are meant to help guide you to become a better-informed businessperson by seeking out professional answers for your own individual business needs. American Quilt Retailer holds no responsibility for any financial consequences and only hopes you’ll find generous financial gains from the information presented.

The next print issue of American Quilt Retailer will mail to subscribers approximately December 7, 2018.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

Top right and at left bottom: Available precuts include a 24-piece fat quarter bundle, 40-piece Design Roll (21/2"wide strips) and 42-piece 5" and 10" Charms. For a limited time, buy two FreeSpirit Murmur Design Rolls and get one free when you purchase the complete collection. Murmur Design Rolls will deliver mid-March so you can dress up your shop with the beautiful, strip-friendly Daphne’s Garden Quilt by Valori Wells. Use the quilt to presell your bolted Murmur by Valori Wells or promote a Daphne’s Garden Quilt Class using the FreeSpirit Murmur Design Rolls.

Offer valid until January 2, 2019.

Call 866-907-3305 for details and to order.

YOUR MOVE.

Save 10% on your next purchase AQR1018

www.habanddash.com

One-time use only.

Made in America, Stitched by All.

FALL MARKET 2018 • EDUCATION

E is for Education Before and during the show, there are ample opportunities for International Quilt Market attendees to learn about new products, techniques, and get marketing ideas.

SCHOOLHOUSE SERIES On the day prior to the Quilt Market show floor opening, attendees have an opportunity to attend their choice of over 250 educational sessions.

«

Bill Kerr of Modern Quilt Studio presented a schoolhouse session on using what he calls “worker bee fabrics,” such as the collections they design for Contempo Studio.

«

The premiere schoolhouse event packs the auditorium with Schoolhouse attendees.

Northcott Fabrics showcased the 10th anniversary of their Stonehenge fabrics (see page 27 for details on promotional plans).

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» Jennifer Keltner of Martingale Publishing and Lissa Alexander of Moda kick off the reSTORE event for 2019 with “30 Smart Tips in 30 Minutes.” Grab their handout NOW! 6 |

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

MODERN FABRICS FOR TODAYS QUILTER

“Abstract Garden was inspired by my love for gardens, even though I have a hard time keeping anything alive! I prefer abstract, geometric designs to realism so you won’t even find an actual floral print in any of the designs, yet they evoke things you might find in a “real” garden: Raised Beds, Trellis, Blooming Roses, Picket Fences, Tracks, and Seeds.” ~Christa Watson

BENARTEX, LLC. 132 WEST 36TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10018 • 212.840.3250

benartex.com

«

Mother-and-daughter design duo Sherri McConnell and Chelsi Stratton of A Quilting Life showed quilts made from their Walkabout collection for Moda Fabrics. Many of Sherri’s patterns include instructions for the mini versions in the same pattern.

«

Deanna Springer of Nancy Zieman Productions demonstrated The Ultimate Quilt ‘n Stitch Presser Foot from Clover Needlecraft.

» American Quilt Retailer publisher Heidi Kaisand and shop owner Roseann Kermes presented two Schoolhouse sessions, Store Samples 101 and Strong Employee Relations Prepare You for Challenges and Changes. Advertisers in American Quilt Retailer helped us gift 400 bags of product and discounts to GET Market attendees. Click on each THIS class name to download FREE handouts.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

CUTS TWICE

AS LONG*

Have fun & share #OLFACREATES

TA K E & T E A C H Mini-classes provide hands-on seminars and demonstrations by Quilt Market Exhibitors. The focus is on specific techniques and applied use of new products, including learning new skills and marketing ideas.

«

Crafts of all kinds are hot, including macramé. Alicia Carr for Clover Needlecraft showed how using rope and knots you and your customers could make a plant hanger for any room in the home.

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Jackie Kunkel (Island Batik) answers all your questions about how to use and stitch the popular laser-cut appliqué shapes in her quick class.

« Margaret Brewster Willingham and Nan Baker for Island Batik and Eye of the Beholder showcased a 4 inch Mini-Star of Light pattern from their book Christmas RAPPing (Reverse Appliqué and Paper Piecing) while they demonstrated how to get perfect appliqué points.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

All Eyes on You by Sue Harvey

Moonlight Plume

DEMO ALLEY Debuting a year ago at International Quilt Market, Demo Alley was an area devoted to product and technique demonstrations by designers and manufacturers.

Holiday Open House Kristin Poor of Poorhouse Quilt Designs demonstrated how to turn holiday fabrics into holiday profits.

Hand Piecing Perfection Karie Jewell of Two Kwik Quilters demonstrates tips and tricks for English Paper Pieicng.

Perfect your Appliqué.

Sue Pelland of Sue Pelland Designs showcased buttonhole stitch appliqué with Mistyfuse during her demonstration.

Sparkle and Shine Kim Christopherson of Kimberbell Designs shows how to use her Appliqué Glitter Sheets for sewing and embroidery projects.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

Inspire a New Quiltmaking Journey Discover a wealth of antique-inspired blocks and quilts to lead your customers along Hope’s Journey.

Through a dozen chapters, author Betsy Chutchian shares 28 timeless block patterns, 11 beautiful small quilt patterns, and four spectacular puzzle-piece-style sampler-quilt settings that will guide quilters toward their journey’s end.

EXPERT ADVICE

Visual Merchandising for the HOLIDAYS Learn how to maximize your visual merchandising this holiday season.

L

B Y Rich Kizer & Georganne Bender

Let’s assume that you have already hired and trained stellar seasonal employees, and have

discussed ways to attract, engage and connect with shoppers this holiday season. On the sales floor it’s all about the customer experience; an experience that determines how long they stay, what they buy, and what they say about your store after they leave.

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No matter its size or footprint, your store has a decompression zone, lake front property (space on the sales floor that sells better than other areas of the store), and a cash wrap. Let’s take a look at visual merchandising tricks of the trade you can use to set impressive displays and sell more product.

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

Fixturing

The fixturing you choose adds flavor to your sales floor, but keep in mind that a fixture’s job is to house merchandise; you aren’t supposed to see it – good fixtures make the merchandise the star.You need basic fixturing like wall units and shelving to maximize dollars per square foot, and specialty fixturing to feature important items.

Remember that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires a minimum of 3 feet in between fixtures. If customers can’t shop comfortably they aren’t likely to stay very long.

Sight Lines

Shoppers make value judgments about store within the first 10 seconds of contact. They don’t realize they’re doing it, but they are mentally cataloging whether or not they want to spend time in that space.You want them to be intrigued and anxious to enter so begin by placing shorter fixtures near the front and taller fixtures towards the rear of the store. This sight line allows shoppers standing near the front to see through your sales floor, drawing them to the various areas of the store.

Speed Bump Displays

Place this important fixture front and center so it’s the first thing shoppers see as they enter the store. Load it with irresistible products displayed on a small fixture (stacking tables make great speed bumps) that can hold an assortment of product and is low enough to allow customers shop it easily and see into the store. Use your speed bumps to feature new and trendy items, and to tell product stories.

Keep it Simple

Shoppers passing by a display need to be able to understand its message within five seconds or less. It’s easy to go overboard, thinking “I can add this and this and this!” Add too much and all you are doing is making the display harder to shop.

Sometimes the simplest displays make the greatest impact.

Play with Color

We are naturally drawn to color so use it to your advantage wherever you can. Group bright or contrasting colors together on wall unites and freestanding displays to attract shoppers and to tell a story.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER americanquiltretailer.com

EXPERT ADVICE

Go Vertical

Any time you display product vertically, you expose the customer to a greater variety of the assortment at any eye level. And since we are naturally inclined to read from left to right,Vertical Merchandising encourages purchases because customers will see your entire selection of merchandise wherever they look. Going vertical makes every level buy level.

Download this article by Bob Negen to inspire a lastminute promo in your store.

The 12 Days of Christmas Try this simple but effective holiday promotion.

B Y Bob Negen

A

A countdown-to-Christmas will have you singing a happysales promotion increased customer traffic. tune about

As Deb Lutrell, owner of Stitchin’ Heaven in Mineola, Texas, says, “It’s a great way to keep my customers engaged, and it generates December revenue we wouldn’t have without it.” It’s simple to execute, you can have lots of fun with it, your customers will get a kick out of it, it drives sales and you can do it this year!

The Basics

For a 12 Days of Christmas promotion, you send a series of 12 e-mails to your customers, one each morning of the 12 days leading up to Christmas.

Each day one item (or possibly two) is featured at a deep, deep discount.

Cathy McKillip, owner of Wish Upon A Quilt in Raleigh, N.C., says that, like everyone else, her customers are busy during the holidays. “They want an excuse to come into their

GET THIS

Visual Curve Merchandising involves the use of slanted shelves or waterfall brackets to increase the customer’s strike zone— the amount of product the customer sees in just one glance.

Without realizing it, the visual curve forces the shopper to look up and down at the product as well as forward.

Aromacology

Remember that old retail adage: “If it smells, it sells”? Turns out it’s true: Researchers have found that a pleasant-smelling environment has a positive effect on shopping behavior. We all respond to good scents, maybe because they have the power to evoke memory. Who hasn’t gotten a whiff of something familiar and been instantly transported to another place in time?

Aromacology is the science of scent and its effect on our minds and moods. Grapefruit, for example, will give shoppers a burst of energy, vanilla will calm them when the store is hectic, pine inspires positive feelings, and cinnamon is said to attract money. So put out the potpourri, or better yet, purchase a diffuser. ScentAir has every fragrance you can imagine and unobtrusive diffusers you can tuck away anywhere on the sales floor.

Merchandising your sales floor this holiday season can’t be left to just anyone; you have to know what you’re doing to do it well. Have fun with your displays and your customers will, too!

Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender are consumer anthropologists, speakers, authors and consultants.

A team since 1990, Kizer & Bender (kizerandbender.com) have helped thousands of companies in the service, travel, hospitality, funeral, restaurant, and retail industries grow their business. Kizer & Bender are experts on generational diversity, store design, visual merchandising, marketing and promotion, and everything retail.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

It’s the promotion’s job to get people in the store—it’s your job to sell them more once they are there.

Why It Works

This promotion works because This promotion works because most people know the old English song, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” the one with your true love giving you five golden rings and assorted other gifts. The familiar story is the glue that holds the promotion together. Human beings relate to stories, whether told around a fire, written in a great book or sung at the holidays.

Building the promotion around the story gives you an excuse to send e-mails every day in the final two weeks leading up to Christmas, without appearing to bombard your customers with promotional offers.

The story gives you the chance to be fun and interesting at a time when most retailers are sending e-mails that feel pushy and pitchy.

The Promotion Details

What to Offer

Offer one item, maybe two, a day but offer it at a discount that’s deep enough to entice people into your store. The discount depends on the item and your cost, but 20 to 75 percent is a good range.

Remember, the object of the promotion is to get people into your store, and it’s only one item.

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Throw ’em a Curve

favorite quilt shop to de-stress.

That deep discount gives them a great reason to come in and give themselves a treat.”

Once they are in your shop, your great assortment, your beautiful displays and, most importantly, your wonderful, helpful, highly trained staff will make sure your customers are leaving with much more than the one deeply discounted item, the traffic generator.

AMERICAN QUILT

RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

Boroboro… meaning something that is tattered, ragged or repaired. Born out of necessity, these mended and patchedtogether textiles are now highly collectible works of art representing an important part of Japanese history.

Using scraps of leftover, indigo-dyed cottons, Boros celebrate the beauty of the ordinary with layers of fabrics stitched together by hand for utilitarian purposes.

ron Boro Ap

Ask your Moda Sales Rep for more

info and to place an Order for Boro

Yardage, Precuts, and Finished Product.

FEBRUARY DELIVERY

Boro M

esseng er Tote

Boro Findings (Twill Tape & Webbing) © 2018 moda fabrics • all rights reserved

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER americanquiltretailer.com

10Trends

FALL MARKET 2018 • WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S HOT

Get a quick glimpse at a few of the products and trends we saw during Fall Quilt Market.

Watch for more in the regular December 2018 issue of American Quilt Retailer magazine.

ENGLISH PAPER PIECING » With EPP (English Paper Piecing) still on the top of quilters’ to-do lists, we loved seeing how Brimfield Awakening came to the show with equally stunning projects after their debut last year.

« Natalie and Trevor Bird bring their books and patterns for quilts and small patchwork sewn items all the way from Australia. You’ll find The Birdhouse features handwork including appliqué, stitchery and English paper piecing—all trending at Market.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

HAND EMBROIDERY « Gail Pan Designs features whimsical patterns, including this embroidery piece. The framing adds a nice finish to the project. »

Learn new stitches then display your finished piece right in its embroidery hoop in this updated take on embroidery stitch samplers from Kiriki Press.

»

Helen Stubbings of Hugs ‘n Kisses introduced her preprinted fabric panel and embroidery patterns for 365 Days of Stitches.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

N E X T- G E N Q U I LT I N G

Two programs aimed at engaging children in sewing activities jumped out at us. At left, Jeannette Kitlan introduced Hello Sewing World, an online resource center for adults wanting to be inspired to teach kids to sew. And, above, Quilt Cadets from Latifah Saafir Studios offers patterns and badges to reward young sewers.

ALL FOR SMALL » Laura Heine of Fiberworks never disappoints with a new collage pattern and this year she fell right into the trend of smaller pieces in these projects, part of her new Teeny Tiny series.

»

Small piecing (not neccessarily miniature) was seen in many booths. Here, we show the size in relationship to a hand in one of Pam Buda’s projects from Heartspun Quilts.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

Fish Hope

by Hoodie Crescent for Paintbrush Studio Fabrics

TM

Hoodie’s signature style comes alive in this understated collection.

Hand-sketched fish swim with bubbles and lines on textured backgrounds, and you’ll also find plenty of movement in the coordinates: both schools of fish and a pebble sketch print. The palette has a retro feel to it that quilters will love.

To view the color cards for all our new releases, or for more information, please visit our website, www.pbsfabrics.com.

To place an order, contact your local sales rep or our office via Heather Hedges at heather@pbsfabrics.com or 816-421-2000, ext. 104

COME SEE US AT QUILT MARKET BOOTH 640-641!

FAT QUARTER STACKS • COLOR CARDS • EXCLUSIVE DIY KITS • DEMO ALLEY • AND MORE!

COOL CHARACTERS

»

Quiltoni offered patterns for lots of pixelated characters. For quilters who like to design their own, check out her Designing Block Quilts book.

« Famous characters from movies to the comics were seen across the convention floor, including Harry Potter from Camelot Fabrics.

POP-UP SHOPS « Shop owners are tactile people and everyone loves to get their hands on fabric to see how it feels and looks.

At this Market we saw the addition of Pop-up Stores within many of the fabric company booths. At left is the Paintbrush Studio Popup Shop that partnered with textile artist MJ Kinman to sell bundles of solids for The Birthstone Collection.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

FRUIT

THE COLOR BLUE

Violet Craft has designed her next fabric collection from Robert Kaufman, Betty’s Luncheonette with an assortment of fruit and prints.

Fabric is available in March 2019.

»

« An apple a day, keeps the ...quilters quilting. By the amount of fruit we saw it must be true! Barbara Persing was inspired by her local orchard to create patterns featuring fruit.

»

The all shades of blue trend revealed itself in multiple places includiing Island Batik’s Icicle collection from Tamarinis.

« Blank Quilting’s take on the coastal theme, Sea Glass by A.J.’s Watercolor Studio, captures the colors of sea glass that’s been smoothed by ocean waves and currents.

A panel print features seaside motifs that can be used as is or cut apart.

Coordinates include sea grass, shells, sea turtles, seahorses and stripe.

Free pattern available on company website when collection ships.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER americanquiltretailer.com

SUCCULENTS »

Michael Miller was one of many companies to be following in the succulent trend. Whether it be the soft color theme or actual cactus and plant shapes in designs, the Southwest landscape was seen.

KITCHEN KITSCH »

Every quilter eats so it should be no surprise that a kitchen theme was present.

Even the annual Row by Row Experience is getting onboard with the 2019 slogan of Taste the Experience.

»

Putting the kitchen theme to fabric included panels featuring recipes from Haerae Design Studio.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

FALL MARKET 2018 • THE SHOW FLOOR

Moving Forward Bob Ruggiero, Vice President of Communications at Quilts, Inc., shares insight into the quilting industry.

As I write this, I am sitting in the Press Room at the George R. Brown Convention Center (temps are still in the 80s!) in Houston, Texas. It is the “changeover day” from our trade show, International Quilt Market, to our public show, the International Quilt Festival. Festival regularly attracts more than 55,000 attendees from nearly 40 countries, and is the largest quilt show in the United States.

Each of those two shows, of course, has a different feel, a different flavor and purpose, and a different base of exhibitors and attendees. But I’ve been struck at how much crossover I’ve seen in recent years. If you’re reading this, then you are very interested in not only the overall health of the quilting industry, but in introducing new people not just to the creative side, but the business side.

«

New Exhibitor booth award: Poppie Cotton (left to right: Lori Woods, Jina Barney)

« Notions & Tools booth award: Buttons Galore & More (Lisa Hagenman)

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

Turn down the lights and watch these fabrics glow!

Sew cool!

GLOW in the

DARK

Pearlescent

The soft, soft glow of pearls in fabrics? Yes!

BENARTEX, LLC. 132 WEST 36TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10018 • 212.840.3250

Metallic Silver Nothing sparkles like pure silver, brushed until it shines!

Metallic Gold Glowing, as gold should be.

Sew luminous. Sew rich.

benartex.com

That’s why I was excited to hear such a positive reaction to the announcement of a new standalone conference that will take place concurrently with next fall’s Quilt Market here in Houston. Threads of Success is geared specifically toward those who want to break into our industry or are new to it. It will take place October 26–28, 2019, in the same building I am in right now.

We’ll have classes, lectures, and networking events. Plus, a mentorship program where students will learn directly from leaders in the quilt world (and beyond) about a wide variety

of real-world topics. And—on the last day—special access to the Quilt Market show floor where they’ll see firsthand the workings of the industry’s only trade show and the epicenter of All Things Quilting. And the chance to ask questions. Lots and lots of questions.

I hear a lot about quilters who are passionate about their art form and start a business – but don’t always have the tools and knowledge to do so, at least at in the beginning.

And then things don’t always go as dreamed or imagined in their heads. Just because

you know a lot about quilting doesn’t automatically translate into knowledge about running a quilt-based business.

We hope that Threads of Success will teach people how to turn that creative fire into a marketable and feasible business. I hear so many stories of people who started out in our business, but didn’t know who to ask or how to ask or what to ask to get things off the ground. It is that need that led us to start this whole project.

Merchandising booth award: Fabric FunHouse (Talisa Hendry)

Sneak Peek booth award: 3 Wishes (left to right: Marsha Walling, Kristen Supulski)

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

I have been with Quilts, Inc. for nearly 22 years. And during that time, I’ve seen a roller coaster of opinions and theories about our industry.

“Quilting is dead!” “Quilting is back!” “Quilting is hotter than ever!”

“Quilting is finished!” There are many today who for a variety of reasons are taking the dimmer view of the future.

But before you go and order the funeral flowers or start picking out processional hymns, you should know a couple of things: We’ve been through this rodeo before (sorry…I am from Texas!). And what I’ve heard on the show floor just in the past few days from both exhibitors and attendees has infused me with a positive outlook for what’s coming down the road.

« Single Booth award: Patterns by Elizabeth Hartman (left to right: Elizabeth Hartman, Megan Callahan)

» Creativity: Joy Studio (Riley Blake) (left to right: Sydney McKinney, J. Wecker Frisch) 31 |

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER americanquiltretailer.com

There is a steady but growing buzz about the future and new directions of quilting from new faces with new ideas – who may not even start out in quilting but find their way to it through sewing, knitting, dressmaking, or home dec projects. And as a company, we must adapt to the changing needs of our customers as well. Quilts, Inc. President and CEO Karey Bresenhan outlined some of these developments in a recent letter.

Which brings me back to Threads of Success. I hope that in next year’s American Quilt Retailer’s fall Market wrap-up issue, Heidi Kaisand and her crack team of caffeine-fueled reporters and photographers will be able to deliver even better news, introduce more exciting products, and relate insightful interviews with those who are in the industry for both Day 1 and Day 15,000.

Finally, 2019 will be special for another couple of reasons. Next fall, we’ll celebrate the 40th anniversary of Quilt Market and the 45th anniversary of Quilt Festival. I’m not saying that we’ve started blowing up balloons and putting on party hats just yet. But…I’m thinking I’ll need a couple of helium canisters pretty soon!

For more information on Threads of Success or to sign up to receive announcements and news, visit quilts.com/threadsofsuccess.

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Multiple Booths award: Riley Blake (left to right: Maddie Heeb, Cindy Cloward, Holly Draney)

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Double Booth award: Tilda (left to right, Tone Finnanger, Quilt Market VP of Shows and Show Director Ruth Polanco

and the winners are Single Booth: Patterns by Elizabeth Hartman Double Booth: Tilda New Exhibitor: Poppie Cotton Multiple Booths: Riley Blake Notions & Tools: Buttons Galore & More Sneak Peek: 3 Wishes Merchandising: Fabric FunHouse Creativity: Joy Studio (Riley Blake)

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

EXPERT ADVICE

Social Marketing for the Holiday Season B Y Rich Kizer & Georganne Bender

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There are so many things to do to get ready for Holiday 2018 and one of those things is having a holiday plan for your social medias.

Social media marketing builds word of mouth, still the number one thing that brings new customers to your store.You need a plan to engage with followers and entice them to visit your store. Here are some things to consider: 1. Facebook and Instagram are mandatory.

Facebook has always been mandatory to connect with customers, now Instagram is as well. Make it easy on yourself by connecting your Facebook page to your Instagram account so you can update followers on both social medias at the same time. It’s okay to recycle content because people check different social medias at different times so they are not likely to see everything you post on each one.

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2. Give your profile photos a holiday twist.

The photos you choose to represent your store need to stand out on a busy news feed. Choose ones that are easily identifiable and add a holiday theme.

3. Listen. Interact. React. Sell.

Remember, people need a reason to visit your social medias; if all you do is sell, sell, sell they’ll quickly tune you out. Follow this formula for best results: Listen: You need to keep up in real time. Studies show that most people are on social medias in the morning and early evening, so 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM are good times to check in.

Listening online means reading what people are talking about and responding frequently and accordingly.

Interact: If you see something interesting, get in on the conversation. Commenting on someone else’s post is one of the best ways to get your store noticed. Interact with followers, plus your trade associations, International Quilt Market,

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

look who’s coming to QUILT MARKET stop by our booths 622-623.

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see and feel their latest collections in full bloom, color and texture!

CURIO

by Felice Regina

by Betsy Olmsted

by Natalie Barnes

by Heather Ross

NEW cork fabric with metallic gold

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Jacqueline de Jong

featuring Romance

WINDHAMFABRICS.COM

see you November 3-5, 2018!

ANTHOLOGYFABRICS.COM

vendors and products you enjoy, even if they’re not store related. The goal here is exposure.

React: Answer fan posts, comments and tweets in a timely manner – the sooner the better. Smart phones allow you to post from anywhere.

Sell: Plug your products and services subtly. Instead of item and price, show that item in use, maybe a quilt displayed on a bed. Add people and maybe even pets to your photos for added interest.

7. Use the Facebook Events tab.

The Events tab allows you to organize and promote all of your holiday happenings.You can easily invite followers and encourage them to invite their friends.You can see who coming, who’s not and who is interested.

8. Facebook ads

Facebook Ads allow you to zero in on the exact people you want to target. It’s easy and you choose the budget. Learn more here: http://www.facebook.com/advertising

4. What to say

Talk about product and services that make great holiday gifts.

Add photos and pepper your posts with the words Christmas, Hanukkah and Holiday. Gift cards are always a favorite holiday gift, so promote them weekly.

9. Use holiday hashtags to expand your audience.

Placing a holiday related hashtag (#), i.e. #Christmas, #holiday, #gifts, #coupons or #Santa at the end of your posts will help you connect with an audience that reaches far beyond your current followers. Hashtags and Instagram go hand in hand.

5. Make a list of great holiday gifts.

Create a list of “Top 10 Holiday Gifts”. Post your list on all of your social medias and on your website. Add them to your email blasts and have copies available in-store, too.

6. Give incentives to those who visit your page.

Offer coupons and deals that are only available via your social medias. Encourage sign-up in-store and promote your social media only offers via your website, email blasts, and newsletters.

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10. Back up your social media marketing in your store.

Hang signs throughout your store and in your windows that encourage customers to like and follow you. Maybe even award small incentives if they check-in while in the store.

The marketing you do on social medias to promote your store during the holidays will translate to other times of the year as well. Build momentum now and carry it through to 2018 and beyond!

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

FALL MARKET 2018 • CELEBRATIONS

Who’s Who

One aspect of Market is getting to rub elbows with industry celebrities and to meet them in more casual settings.

« The fun-loving and friendly smile of Eleanor Burns has brightened our industry and gotten people quilting for 40 years with her Quilt in A Day patterns.

Here we see her celebrating the span of those years in a Schoolhouse class.

Congratulations, Eleanor! A new volume, Forty Fabulous Years, is packed with her innovative techniques and easy-to-follow instructions for 17 different blocks. Each block is significant to Eleanor’s life.

» One of the biggest benefits of attending Market is making a personal connection with the fabrics we’ll be selling in our stores. Here, booth attendees learn more about the More is More collection by Paula Nadelstern, who is marking 20 years of fabric design for Benartex.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

« Forty years of business deserves a celebration! RJR Fabrics booth was festooned with fabric balloons to honor the occasion.

Adapt the idea for an event on your shop; cover inflated balloons with fabric strips and swatches that have been dipped in Mod Podge.

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It was literally a circus at Moda/United Notions customer appreciation celebration. From live little monkeys to the bearded lady, jugglers, ring masters and stilt walkers, it was the greatest show on earth for one brief evening. Popcorn, cotton candy and other sweet treats were in great supply and demand. A traditional Cakewalk rewarded winners with (of course) Layer Cakes.

» Meeting other industry people and socializing is a big part of Quilt Market. Wine Down, an event immediately following the close of the show on Sunday, is where attendees could mix and mingle.

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER americanquiltretailer.com

FALL MARKET 2018 • ON THE SHOWFLOOR

What’s Happening

From one end of the George R. Brown Convention Center to the other, our editors looked for exciting things to share with you.

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Walking the show floor offers inspiration for displays at every turn. Alexander Henry delighted us with their colorful and retro-style holiday display.

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First-time exhibitor Brooklyn Haberdashery had a wide assortment of notions that caught our fancy.

Watch the video for a personal tour of just a few of their unique items.

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VIDEO

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

Problem solved! Designer Sue O’very and Famore Cutlery have created a turning tool to navigate turning fabric inside out when sewn.

Watch Sue demo how easy it is!

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Whimsy and color reign in the Sew Hometown 2019 Calendar and Block of the Month from Inspiring Stitches.

Kick off your new year’s BOM with a skill-builder pattern making three to five blocks each month. Great gift for quilters of all skill levels.

The premiere issue of Celebrations in Quilting and Other Creative Endeavors by designer Patrick Lose features easy appliqué and quick piecing for seasonal projects, decor and gifts. Not on newsstands, the 64-page quarterly publication is available from distributors or from patricklose.com.

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Can you imagine the delight in a little girl’s eyes when putting on the glow-in-the-dark dress, above left? She’d truly feel like a fairy. Or imagine the VIDEO ease of finding your bag in the dark! Listen in as we learn more from Lewis & Irene.

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VIDEO

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

PRESENTED BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

, Education begins January 17 Show floor opens January 19-21

! w o N r e Regist

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Tools to make machine quilting easier are always welcome! Swan Sheridan of Swan Amity Studios introduces us to her quilting gloves in this VIDEO quick segment.

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The whole crew at Art Gallery Fabrics pitched in on the show floor to tear fabric strips for this eye-catching background. Strips are hung from a metal rod at the top of the booth; each strip is knotted a time or two to add texture and weight to the background. Framed patchwork pieces stand out on the fabric background.

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Wool continued to be present at Quilt Market, adding texture and color to many projects. Beautiful bag and notebook cover kits from Aster and Anne were just one example. Embellish the gray wool bags flat then sew with just a couple simple seams.

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The designers at Pine Tree Country Quilts show us how they used QT Fabrics Evolution collection in their table runner pattern for VIDEO stunning results. Watch here!

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AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

We Believe in Helping Quilters

ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS

“

Quilting allows me to give back to my community and help other wounded Veterans.

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Staff Sgt. Daniel Burgess never imagined he would be a longarm quilter but after losing a leg while serving in Afghanistan, his future changed dramatically. After his injury, Daniel dreamed of finding a way to give back to others and support his family. His Statler by Gammill has allowed him to find new purpose in a completely different arena and be a blessing to other people. Not only is Daniel now running a successful business, One Foot Quilting, he is also giving back by supplying quilts to organizations that assist Veterans. Whether you want to own your own business, quilt for charities, or make others smile with your creations, Gammill can empower you with the tools you need to achieve your dreams.

GAMMILL. COM

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Sampler quilts filled with many motifs were trending.

Kimberbell’s combination of piecing, applique, and threedimensional features topped our picks.

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Booth displays, such as Frond Design Studio, inspired us both in the fabrics but also thinking outside of the box for the presentation as well.

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Visualizing how fabric will look in projects is often a challenge for quilters. This presentation from Marcus Fabrics will translate well into your next shop display.

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With the availability of so many fabric panels in the marketplace, techniques like chenilling are gaining traction for new looks in home decor.

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018

We are Your

Business Partner AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER provides independent retailers with tools to help you succeed.

SOCIAL

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Managing Y ou Media Inves r Social tment

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rity in your mark eting strategy, but staying up-t o-date on all of your channels can be daunting.

Coming up with a monthly content plan, creating that content, scheduling posts and responding to customers who are engaging onlin e is a itself. Some busin full-time job in ess owners hand role on their own at the begin le this ning, but

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Hiring a socia l media strate gist to take on these tasks can be well wort h the investment.

A social medi a strategist’s job is to design methods for brands to achieve their marketing goals; manage, create and publish origi nal content on multiple social platforms; monitor all com pany social media accounts to respo nd to engagement and keep cont ent up-to-date ;

and complete routine hous ekeeping tasks Social media . is worth inves ting in. It will allow you to gain bette insights abou r t your customers and their experience, mon itor your repu tation and form relati onships with your customers to keep them com ing back.

But if you aren’ t ready to hire a social media strategist, here are some tips and tools you can use to develop your own strategy.

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VOL. 24 • ISSUE 139

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tions Batik Founda Numerous great books have been written about how “I created onal for my seas successful person, including “How Successful People Think” to become a as a base color

by John Maxwell, “The Success ired by the Principles” by Jack Canfield and “The 7 Habits of Highly lines, insp my Successful People” by Stephen Covey. of part as Here I have collated highlights from my favorite titles. wheel I use Before outlining the eight things that ess. This successful people do that I believe unsuccessful people design proc won’t, let’s start with a question and a story.

Blenders, of Basics, First, ask yourself: Am I willing to do the tough jobs? collection You want to know how to get ahead.You rs batik offe trals want to know how to get more customers. Do what and Neu others aren’t willing to do—it’s that simple. plement not only com A few weeks before my teenage son started his first real job after high school, we shared a long tone-on-tones that d Batik, but car ride. I knew he was excited to start this new job. solids and te for Islan I asked him if he was interested in hearing l line I crea of colors y seasona ntial palette a few tips to make him successful. (He was trapped s the esse in the car with his mom, what could heever say?) h needs!” ther, embodie stas toge ter’s quil ices) t shop and t, Design Serv every quil e (Senior Vice

- Kathy Engl

apri l 2018

Subscriptions • US 1 year (6 issues) $45 • 2 years (12 issues) $75 • Canada 1 year (6 issues) $90 • International 1 year (6 issues) $165

Presiden

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760 .60 2.06

How To Subscribe: • Visit americanquiltretailer.com and subscribe online • Call 641-751-3395 • Mail check to address below.

BUILDING & NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS From the quilt shop staff members, to your customers, to your family and community, there are tips and techniques for building relationships that help you run a successful business.

INSPIRATION & CREATIVITY Shop owners are required to provide inspiration to customers every day, yet they need that inspiration, too! AQR can provide that with ideas for events, classes, retreats and marketing ideas.

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FEBRUARY 2018

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BUSINESS GROWTH & SUSTAINABILITY Build your store for longterm success by learning strategies that work from experts. Explore opportunities to generate revenue to keep business on track.

RESOURCES Shop owners have busy schedules and multiple responsibilities. AQR wants to be a one-stop location for information on techniques, products, trends, and opportunities for you to run your business with ease.

BEHIND THE SCENES Every shop owner knows that many things have to happen before fabric and patterns ever reach the sales floor.

Let AQR help you better understand distribution channels and help you work with your vendors.

ON THE SALES FLOOR Train your staff to learn how to handle customers, upsell products, and build your customer base. And, AQR will guide you to better visuals and displays for selling your products.

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER

101 N. Main St. • PO Box 205 • Conrad, IA 50621 • 641-751-3395 info@americanquiltretailer.com • www.americanquiltretailer.com

VIDEO

GET THIS

The color and pattern in the Appliqué After Hours booth grabs your attention quickly.

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French sisters and designers Véronique and Bénédicte introduced their 14 Days a Week preprinted velvet bag kits.

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The online shopping space is changing rapidly and Like Sew Websites introduced the gamechanging concept of a Marketplace with their customers. Grab the presentation here.

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Fix the biggest challenge your customers have­—a perfect 1/4” seam allowance—with this new tool from Guidelines4Quilting.

AMERICAN QUILT RETAILER Quilt Market Fall 2018