American Quilt Retailer

Contributors

Beth Ferrier Beth Ferrier
beth@applewd.com
Beth Ferrier is owner of Applewood Farm Publications, Inc., based in Saginaw, Michigan. In the last 15 years she has written and self-published six books, 20 patterns and various block-of-the-month and mystery projects. She has a special gift for teaching and conducts classes, lectures and workshops at guilds and shops around the world. Now a well-known TV personality, she is a frequent guest on Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson and Kaye Wood’s Quilting Friends. Beth’s fun-loving sense of humor and understanding of the human soul shine in each of her Totally Off-Grain columns.

Joanna Figueroa Joanna Figueroa
www.figtreequilts.com, www.figtreequilts.typepad.com
Joanna Figueroa is a designer for Moda Fabrics, a frequent teacher and speaker, and the owner of Fig Tree & Co., a quilt and sewing pattern company. She works to communicate her signature Fresh Vintage™ palette and design sense through her patterns, fabric collections and publications. She draws on inspiration from favorite finds from flea markets, vintage textiles and antique illustrations to find those “forgotten” colors of the past which she then combines with today’s clean, fresh and vibrant design aesthetic to create a look uniquely hers. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area in a Tudor cottage with her husband and business partner Eric, their three children Ben, Zack and Ella, Emma, the blind beagle, and a brand new beagle puppy, Lucy.

Pat Forke Pat Forke
quilt@quakertownonline.com
Pat Forke has owned Quakertown Quilts in Friendswood, Texas, for over 17 years. During that time, Quakertown has expanded from 900 square feet to 5,000 square feet and branched out into the wholesale, design and mail order/Internet business. Pat’s prior life included teaching business classes at both the high school and college level, as well as working in both public relations and human resources for Exxon Corp. Recently Pat earned a master’s degree in accounting, and took several continuing education classes in computer and business-related subjects.

Pat is a firm believer in the value of life-long education. For that reason, she relies on American Quilt Retailer and other opportunities in the industry for education. She said she feels there is not enough opportunity for small business owners to network and learn from other business owners. Pat welcomes the opportunity to write for American Quilt Retailer. This not only helps other shop owners, but also affords her the opportunity to learn by investigating various topics and books.

Brandi Frey Brandi Frey
brandi@clothworkstextiles.com
Brandi Frey is the Marketing Coordinator at Clothworks™ Textiles and a professional longarm quilter. She has a passion for quilting and enjoys being able to surround herself with quilting, both professionally and in her personal life. Brandi lives on a small, six-acre farm with chickens and sheep in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Jim Fuquay Jim Fuquay
Jim Fuquay is a journalist with early experience in trade publications and 29 years of experience as a business reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He’s covered just about every beat — health care, finance, transportation, real estate and technology. Jim writes a regular column for American Quilt Retailer with up-to-date business information that “you need to know,” and he serves as a valuable editorial consultant to the entire staff at American Quilt Retailer.

Susan Fuquay Susan Fuquay
sfuquay@americanquiltretailer.com
Susan Fuquay is the owner, publisher, editor, and art director of American Quilt Retailer. With a background in art and design and years of additional experience in retailing, trade magazine publishing and quilting, she started American Quilt Retailer almost 15 years ago. She recognized a need to communicate retailing knowledge, industry news and product information to quilt retailers. Since those early days, American Quilt Retailer has grown from a small newsletter into a four-color magazine that suits the needs of the independent quilt shop owner.

“I’ve always seen my role in the industry as a communicator of sound retailing ideas and current trends from the experts to quilt shop owners. I don’t have all the answers or expertise needed to run a quilt shop, but I love finding the experts and communicating to our readers the information they need to know in order to be successful business owners.”

Linda Griepentrog Linda Griepentrog
gwizdesigns@aol.com
Linda is the owner of G Wiz Creative Services and enjoys writing, editing, designing, and lots of other sewing fun. Her love of creative sewing began at the age of five when she manufactured (and sold) Barbie clothes. She has taught all aspects of sewing, quilting, machine embroidery, and weaving. She has vast experience in the industry, including positions with a major sewing machine company, as a sewing product development manager for Harry & David, an advertising/education manager for Yours Truly, and as editor of Sew News magazine. Linda currently writes for several sewing, quilting, and craft magazines, and leads fabric shopping tours for the American Sewing Guild. In addition, she manages the Guidelines program for the Sewing & Craft Alliance. Linda is the author of four books — on topics of needle felting, inkjet fabric printing, machine embroidery quilting, and machine embroidery on wild and wacky surfaces like wood, metal and vinyl. Linda enjoys “getting paid to play,” in her home office in Tualatin, Oregon (a suburb of Portland). Along with her husband Keith, she can be found exploring fabric and home improvement stores around the world when on vacation.

Roseann Kermes Roseann Kermes
www.rosebuds-cottage.com, rosebudscottage.typepad.com, rbcottage@qwest.net
Roseann Meehan Kermes is the owner of Rosebud’s Cottage. She began her quilting career as a teacher at a local quilt shop, focusing on soft projects and small quilts. As a designer, her patterns were sold to quilt shops and distributors in the quilting industry. Her projects are also featured in Better Homes and Gardens® publications and other craft magazines. She’s currently a contributor to American Patchwork and Quilting®. Roseann opened her retail store thirteen years ago, following the closing of the store where she worked. In 2004, her store was chosen as one of the top ten shops for Quilt Sampler® magazine. She grew up under scrap quilts — her mom was one of the founding mothers of Minnesota Quilters, Inc. In addition to working with fabric and wool, Roseann also enjoys other forms of creative expression, such as paper crafts, decorative painting, and altered art. With a camera always in her pocket, she takes lots of photos and shares them with others on her blog. Her motto ... there’s inspiration everywhere!

Rich Kizer and Georganne BenderRich Kizer and Georganne Bender
www.kizerandbender.com, info@kizerandbender.com, www.kizerandbender.blogspot.com, twitter.com/kizerandbender
Professional speakers, retail strategists, authors and consultants, Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender are nationally recognized experts on customer diversity, marketing and promotion and everything that affects and interacts with consumers in the retail environment.

Each year, Kizer and Bender speak to thousands through their “Retail Adventures in the REAL World™” keynotes and seminars. Their unique consumer insights are widely featured in the media, including the ABC National News special report, “How Stores Hook You.”

Kizer and Bender’s book, Champagne Strategies on a Beer Budget!, has helped thousands of retailers improve their bottom line, and their “Retail Adventures™” Blog is visited by tens of thousands of readers each month. Kizer and Bender have been named two of the Most Influential People in Retail Today; and their popular column, “Georganne & Rich on the Road,” was twice honored with the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) Award of Excellence.

Ann Logue Ann Logue
www.annlogue.com
After spending twelve years using her MBA and CFA in financial analysis, Ann Logue is now a full-time freelance writer. She has authored three books, including Socially Responsible Investing for Dummies (Wiley 2009). She writes for trade publications covering everything from college alumni departments to scrap metal yards, so quilt retailing fits right in. She sews, but not very much!

Deb Luttrell Deb Luttrell
www.stitchinheaven.com, info@stitchinheaven.com
Deb Luttrell is the proud owner of Stitchin’ Heaven, Inc — a multifaceted organization with customers worldwide. Prior to becoming “quilt shop owner extraordinaire” she worked for a major advertising company for over 20 years. Stitchin’ Heaven was born in Quitman, Texas. Quitman boasts a population of 2,030 and Deb opened in just 1,000 square feet of space with 600 bolts of fabric. Currently the “click and brick” location is 7,200 square feet with over 6,000 bolts of fabric. In addition, Deb runs one of the largest block-of-the-month departments in the country offering over 30 different BOM style programs each month.

Recently Deb added a travel division to the company — Stitchin’ Heaven Travel — offering quilting and motorcoach cruises and trips designed exclusively for the quilt enthusiast. She also provides a consulting service for other shop owners through her “Boot Camp for Shop Owners.” This is a three-day seminar focused extensively on business issues and opportunities for shop owners. She offers several cooperative programs where shop owners are invited to participate in order to grow their businesses.

Deb believes that competition is a good thing and that it perpetuates our business. She encourages shop owners to share and support, not only each other, but also our many valuable vendors. Her shop has 25 full-time employees and four department managers.

Jim Salinas Jim Salinas
Jim Salinas is a sales representative for Moda Fabrics with more than 37 valuable years of experience in the fabric industry. He lives in New Braunfels, Texas, when he’s not traveling the roads of Texas in his car.

Jim spent the early portion of his career with Hancock Fabrics as a store manager and then as a district manager in Arizona for 17 years. As district manager, he was responsible for the retail operation of 18 stores. After leaving Hancock to join Cloth World, Jim eventually became vice president of merchandising. When Jo Ann’s purchased Cloth World, Jim joined Michael’s Arts and Crafts as their director of fabric merchandising. His 26-year chain store career ended as the executive vice president at House of Fabrics.

Jim says, “It is my opinion that the quilt shops of today are the fabric stores of tomorrow. I believe that the future of home sewing lies with the independent retailer. I believe that sharing the knowledge I have accumulated over my career will help independent shop owners run higher volume and more profitable businesses.”

Mimi Shimp Mimi Shimp
mshimp@gmail.com
Mimi Shimp has been in the quilting business for over 20 years, operating her former business, Quiltime, from her home in Las Vegas for 15 years. She has self-published four books, too many patterns to count, invented Triangle Paper for Quilters, traveled to many locations to teach others, had designs published in numerous magazines, and was commissioned in 2003 to design and make the Las Vegas Centennial Quilt. Whew! What did she do before quilting? She was an elementary and pre-school teacher who dabbled in every craft known to mankind until she learned quilting in 1981.

Her quilting journey took a new road in the summer of 2007 when she moved to Nashville, Tennessee and took the position of Product Manager of Quilting and Sewing at the Wm. Wright Company, now know as Simplicity Creative Group. She says the best part of her new job is being involved in developing new and innovative products that will inspire a new generation of quilters to continue this art form. She continues to educate, design, and write, and is thrilled about an upcoming exhibit of her quilts at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts from July 22-October 3, 2010.

Ashley Smith Ashley Smith
imagine@thepossibilities.net
Ashley Smith is Director of Marketing for Possibilities and Great American Quilt Factory, in Denver, Colorado. Prior to this, Ashley received her Masters in Social Work, and worked in various therapeutic settings with teenagers. She has been with Possibilities professionally for more than 10 years, and held various positions before that time. (Ashley’s mom, Nancy Smith, is one of the company owners. Summer jobs in high school usually had Ashley working in shipping/receiving, the retail store, or the design studio.) This has given her a unique perspective into what is involved in maintaining a successful quilt store, publishing company, and design studio.

Ashley has a firm belief that an educated customer is a life-long customer. She also strives to bring a younger perspective to an industry that is only just now gaining interest with other people in her age group. “I love shopping trade shows, craft fairs, craft-based Internet sites, and quilt stores across the country. By using products that are already available, then adding a slight twist through marketing that will appeal to people in my demographic, we can make quilting and sewing a fun, hip, and useful craft that younger people will want to get involved with.” By combining education, inspiration, and age-appropriate marketing tactics, Ashley believes that quilting and sewing can find an extended life with new customers.

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