Posted on

Upcoming Events

Holiday event

The holidays are busy but there’s always time for holiday spirit. Check out the below event plus something to look forward to in 2023.

Ho-Ho-Holiday Hang Out

Join Santa (Heidi Kaisand) and her elves this Thursday at 10 a.m. CST for a Ho-Ho-Holiday Hang Out. On top of holiday jingles Beth Montpas will motivate you to close 2022 on a high note and look forward to the New Year. Note the event is free but registration is mandatory.

Save The Date

Registration is live for Creative Retailer LIVE Spring 2023! The event takes place Tuesday, May 2 to Thursday, May 4 in Pawhuska, OK at Pioneer Woman Mercantile.

This unique retailer retreat features Heidi Kaisand and Creative Retailer® staff at Ree Drummond’s restaurant, bakery, and store in the heart of Osage County, Oklahoma. Stay tuned for agenda and lodging details but in the meantime, email events@creativeretailer.com with any questions.


If you’re looking for more information to guide you in owning a retail business, subscribe to Creative Retailer today. Already a subscriber? No worries—join our Facebook group for insights and dialogue from industry specialists like you. And don’t forget, you can always purchase single issues if you prefer that instead.

Posted on 1 Comment

How to Host an Online Workshop

virtual workshop

Work from home pivoted how work is done. One benefit is that meetings can now be done virtually. And this applies to events and workshops too! Read on for details on how to host a virtual workshop.

Before the Workshop

So you have a topic in mind, the time blocked off, and the research completed. Now it’s time to create a registration page. Luckily you can customize the workshop page in Zoom to match your branding.

In the registration description you can include event details, instructions on what attendees need to prepare, or even prompt them with questions to think about and ask during the event.

Next you’ll want to configure Zoom to your preferences. This means including a waiting room, polls, breakout rooms, and more.

Last but not least, be sure to promote the event via your social media channels.

Holding the Workshop

Now it’s time to hold your workshop. To start, provide instructions to attendees about what to do in case their connection drops. It also helps if you have a co-host to allow attendees in who may be running late.

To drive engagement throughout your session, include interactive elements. The best way to do this is to include polls throughout your session. Of course, something as simple as a gif or providing a 5 minute break works as well.

At the end of the workshop, send a feedback form so each event can get better than the last. Of course you can do some of this too by asking yourself what did you do well, what can you do better, what questions you couldn’t answer, etc.

And to follow up, a simple thank you email is sufficient, including any material attendees requested.


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. And don’t forget, you can always purchase single issues if you prefer that instead.

Posted on

“In the MKNG” Joins Bethel Woods Center Lineup

Screen Shot 2018-05-28 at 2.31.06 PMA new festival called “In the MKNG,” (think of the term in the making) joins the Bethel Woods Center festival lineup.

“In the MKNG” will take place September 29-30 in the notorious Hudson Valley at the same site that Woodstock happened so many decades ago. Although the inaugural festival is not expecting as many attendees, the festival nods to the same principles that once attracted so many visitors.

The festival will showcase DIY, creativity, and imagination and is hosted by the creative giant AFCI, or the Association for Creative Industries. The festival will include live music, food trucks, demonstrations, workshops, and more.

Research has shown that the demographic of those who refer to themselves as creatives is not subject to a single group. Rather, the type of creator is as diverse as the word itself. “In the MKNG” was started as an event for the creative universe to provide inspiration and education for them all.

Bethel Woods strategic location places it just two and a half hours from New York City and three hours from Philadelphia, attracting some of the nations largest creative populations.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a non-profit who’s mission is to “inspire, educate, and empower individuals through the arts and humanities.” They accomplish this mission on their 800-acre Hudson Valley campus that was once the same location as the historic Woodstock festival.

The campus also includes an amphitheater and a year long list of festivals that inspire creativity across generations and demographics. The non-profit also makes it a goal to preserve the historic site and inspire future generations to also positively contribute to the world around them.

If you’re looking to become a vendor for the 10,000 plus attendees, apply at www.inthemkng.com, or email sales@inthemkng.com. 


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.