Jan 7, 2010

New year! New look! New column! New resolution!

Happy New Year! I enjoy this time of year getting to regroup, start fresh and move forward! Issue 91 of American Quilt Retailer was mailed on January 6. As you can see, we have a new look for our cover and inside graphics. We also have two new columnists — the nationally known retail experts Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender. Kizer and Bender are professional speakers, retail strategists, authors and consultants specializing in customer diversity, marketing, promotion and everything else retail-business related. Their blog “Retail Adventures” is visited by tens of thousands each month. Be sure to put it in your bookmarks! (Yesterday’s “Retail Adventures” is highly entertaining!) In this issue Kizer and Bender talk about branding your business. The column is packed with good thoughts — I know I learned a lot myself!

The pattern for this issue is called “Patience, The Sittin’ Chicken.” She’s the lovely, hand-dyed wool, stuffed hen with yarn tail feathers shown nesting on the new cover. The pattern also includes simple directions for turning her into a quilt block. It should be versatile for you and your customers. This shop profile is on Blue Bamboo in Plymouth, Minn., a business that started online and now has a brick and mortar location as well. Brick and mortar stores and Internet only stores have many things they can learn from each other. Be sure to read OnDisplay by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts. Other topics covered — employee manuals, understanding threads, holding demos, shop hoppers on the highways and free motion quilting.

Jim Salinas in Just Ask Jim has a list of tips, or shall we say simple resolutions for you. Give one or two of them a try. And speaking of resolutions — I have one, too! I’m going to try to blog more often. They say most resolutions are broken in the first fews days of the new year, well since I am just starting on my resolution with this post, I’ve not broken it yet! There is so much potential with all the new social networking possibilities, but it does take time to learn the ropes and make the best use of what’s available. My new postings may be shorter, but hopefully still helpful! The economy is looking up, even as the temperatures surge downwards. So hopefully 2010 will be a good year for all!