Tag: Festival

Posted on by — Leave a comment

“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.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Winter Window Display

Continuing the theme of Heidi’s iDiscover chat—scheduled for next week on the topic of store design—is the often-overlooked window display. Believe it or not, window displays are still a vital element to retail merchandising. Outlined are tips to get you into the holiday spirit to spice up your window display; and maybe even attract some new customers during your town’s annual holiday festival.

ornaments
This window display does a great job at varying height and keeping the product featured at a minimum. Plus, the simple design reflects the company’s brand.

 

  1. Plan one month in advance. Many winter open houses are already less than one month away, but no worries, the sooner you start planning the easier (and more polished) your window display will look. This means sketching your idea, gathering supplies, and having a plan B if your craft doesn’t exactly pan out.
  2. Clean your window before you begin. Just because you don’t think anyone else will notice those dead flies sitting in the sill doesn’t mean you shouldn’t clean your window! I know taking the old display down and storing it for next year is  a daunting task, but a clean window is the foundation for a stunning display.
  3. Have a focal piece. Preferably one of your more-pricey products, but try to keep the number of products in your display to a minimum. Be sure this piece is kept at eye level to grab your customers’ attention.
  4. Layer. Multiple layers of height will add more to your display than you realize, even if your design-style is simple and sleek. And don’t focus on blocking the view into your store, this just gives customers a peek into what they’re missing out on.
  5. Forget the “Sale Sale Sale!” signs. One sign should be plenty to get your sale across. Instead, focus on being consistent with your theme. Plus, the more crafting you get to do, the more fun you’ll have getting this project out of the way. Maybe a customer will even ask how created what you did (aka the ultimate compliment for a crafter)!
Bear
The time spent on this bold window display is evident; don’t be afraid to go big—just start planning now.

The holidays provide plenty of inspiration for what to include in your display, the hard part is deciding on how to narrow that down. Don’t be afraid to be daring; this is your business’s chance to show off just how awesome you really are! Think of your store’s window as the pitch to get customers inside.

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.