American Quilt Retailer enjoyed seeing the latest Kimberbell product at Market. Listen in. If you’d like to see more videos like this, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, too!
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American Quilt Retailer enjoyed having designer Patrick Lose share information about the Patrick Lose fabrics showcased at Fall Market Listen in. If you’d like to see more videos like this, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, too!
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American Quilt Retailer enjoyed hearing about Kari Carr of New Leaf Stitches newest fabrics from Hoffman. Listen in. If you’d like to see more videos like this, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, too!
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American Quilt Retailer enjoyed seeing how to use a pounce from Full Line Stencil. Listen in. If you’d like to see more videos like this, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, too!
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American Quilt Retailer enjoyed having designer Alex Anderson share information about the Quilters Select products. Listen in. If you’d like to see more videos like this, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, too!
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American Quilt Retailer enjoyed having designer Margaret Brewster Willingham share information about her Eye of the Beholder techniques. Listen in. If you’d like to see more videos like this, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, too!
In this second video, Margaret shares a demo book you can use to share technique steps to your customer.
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American Quilt Retailer enjoyed having designer Roseann Kermes and Olfa manager Yvonne Busdeker demonstrate many of the OLFA products. Listen in. If you’d like to see more videos like this, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, too!
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If you like to travel and you like to sew (which of course you do!) then consider attending a trip hosted by the American Sewing Guild to experience both in Hong Kong.
Sew News editor Linda Griepentrog and writer Pauline Richards will be leading the way for the week-long trip from November 27 to December 8, showing you the region’s fabrics and providing a multitude of learning opportunities. This is Linda’s 21st trip to the region and she truly knows every alley way and every bargain.
The trip will include stops to Stanley Market, Western Market, a night market, Pottinger street and the Lanes, Jade Market, Victoria, Peak, Mountain Folkcraft, Repulse Bay, and Sham Shui Po. If you’re on the fence wondering if Hong Kong is for you, click on the links to see everything these creative districts have to offer.
Not only do you get to experience a completely new garment district, but order minimums are much smaller compared to U.S. companies.
The trip departs on November 27 from San Francisco with a non-stop flight to Hong Kong. The cost is $3,999 for ASG members and includes airfare, the hotel, bus transportation, and many of the sights and meals planned on the trip. Find out more details here.
By becoming a member of the American Sewing Guild, you get access to resources provided by your local chapter and an annual national conference. And like American Quilt Retailer, Sew News is a magazine you can subscribe to stay on top of all things happening in the creative world.
If you’re looking for more information to guide you in owning a retail business, subscribe to American Quilt Retailer today. Already a subscriber? No worries—join our Facebook group for insights and dialogue from industry specialists like you.
Fil-Tec has rebranded their online store from Bobbin Central to Hab+Dash.
This decision was made to better showcase Fil-Tec’s wide variety of products including backing, batting, sewing accessories, displays and more.
Fil-Tec started 15 years ago with the invention of the magnetic core bobbin. Since then the company has created new bobbins including the Glide and the Magna-Glide. They’ve also expanded their reach, and are known as a top company for embroidery, quilting, industrial thread, wire and cable, high temperature, and wicks.
With the expansion of the company’s products meant out with the old and in with the new; instead of a website that was centralized on bobbins—all the company was known for when it started—the rebrand was designed to showcase everything Fil-Tec has to offer. Hence the name Hab+Dash, a play on the word haberdashery (defined as a shop known for selling thread and notions to sewers).
Most of what Fil-Tec’s online presence has been known for will remain the same. This means the online store will continue to be completely wholesale and the same rewards program will apply.
Fil-Tec takes pride in being a supplier to many top companies including La-Z-Boy®, Boeing®, Cintas®, Johnson & Johnson, L.L. Bean and Lands’ End. Their product can be found not only on your sewing machine in your craft room, but in the furniture of your home, the clothes that you wear, the wires that provide your internet, and the heating materials in your furnace.
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Good training gives your employees the tools to maximize their talents to better your business. Poor training sets your employees up for failure; nothing is worse than when a customer knows more about a product than the person getting paid to have that same knowledge (and more).
If you don’t already have a new hire orientation, that is the first thing you need to put on the top of your to-do list. The orientation should take place on the sales floor and cover all aspects of the business. The orientation should allow time for the new employee to put into practice what they’re learning. After giving them a task for an hour, go over how they’re doing and provide feedback. A simple complement can go a long way for a new employee’s confidence.
The next part of a training program should include giving your new employee a “buddy.” This buddy is another employee the new employee can go to for questions they may not feel comfortable asking the boss. Plus this buddy can give the new employee some company during their first lunch break and help them feel at home in their new role.
An often overlooked part of a training program is continuous training; never assume your veteran employees know everything or are doing everything correctly. Try to incentivize continuous training by paying for courses or purchasing books and videos for your employees. You can even go as far as giving bonuses or promotions for each level of continuing education your employees receive.
Last but not least, hold “jog” sessions that jog your employees memory about certain products or specials. A jog session can be given any time there is down time in a day and should be conducted at least once a week. These sessions will keep your employees on their A-game and ready for any question they may receive that day.
Not only will you benefit from solid training, but your employees will appreciate it as well. Providing a good foundation in a business begins with the people who make the team.
If you’re looking for more information to guide you in owning a retail business, subscribe to American Quilt Retailer today. Already a subscriber? No worries—join our Facebook group for insights and dialogue from industry specialists like you.
