News Archives - Page 22 of 22 - American Quilt Retailer

Posted on January 25, 2019January 23, 2019 by AQR Piece by Piece

How you know it’s time for expansion

Are you wondering if it’s time to grow your business? Check out these six signs to see if expansion is the best option for you.

You’re bored. Do the days feel like you’re stuck in a rut? Maybe it’s time for a challenge, and one challenge that will get you off the hamster wheel is seeing if expanding is the best option for you.
You’re overworked. You gotta make money to spend money, and if you’re doing work that could be delegated to someone else, think about hiring someone part time. With that extra time you could find more ways to make money.
You’re in high demand. Do you have to schedule orders weeks in advance? Are you having to turn customers away because you’re out of stock? This is a tell-tale sign to find ways to partner to make sure everyone leaves your store happy.
You’re profitable. If you’re making a profit in the hundreds (or even thousands) consistently, you are ready to expand. If your profits aren’t trending, then wait a while until they do. Read this article from Forbes to find out more.
You have opportunities. Has someone contacted you for a larger than usual order? Are people wanting to partner? Jump on that opportunity before it goes away (after all you never know when it will come again).
You have ideas. The best entrepreneurs act on market trends. Do your research first, but if you’re sure something is going to take off find a way to make a profit off it.

Expanding is exciting and can open doors for your business you never imagined. If you’ve been thinking about it, maybe it’s time to take the next step.

This article was inspired by The Small Business blog.

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Posted on January 23, 2019January 23, 2019 by AQR Piece by Piece

Rethinking Burnout

Perhaps you read the title to this blog post and thought “burnout doesn’t apply to me, I’m really happy where I am in my life.”

Maybe work is going great, and your relationships are too. You’re sticking to your New Year’s Resolution and you’re looking forward to the future.

But first let’s ask the question, what even is burnout?

A quick Google search shows that burnout is defined as “a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.”

Reading this description may not seem like burnout is present in your life, but what does your to-do list look like right now? Are there tasks on it that you keep putting off?

You can make the argument that these tasks don’t need to be done right away, that they’re more work for little reward, and a million other excuses as to why you’re not getting to them.

The biggest misconception about burnout is that it doesn’t target just corporate executives and high-powered politicians, but burnout lies in the nuances of everyday activities, the same everyday activities that weigh you down.

Maybe to address this you’ve taken a vacation three months ago but have fallen back into the rut. Maybe you take time each day to do a self care routine, but the to-do list stays the same. Maybe you’ve figured out that those things may be fixing other things in your life, but burnout isn’t one of them.

Unfortunately I don’t have a solution to the problem of burnout. At the least, I do hope this article helps you to target the burnout in your life and inspires you to take steps to address it.

If this topic was interesting to you, check out this article from BuzzFeed News.

Posted on January 9, 2019January 20, 2019 by AQR Piece by Piece

Top Trends for 2019

You may have read about this in our digital issue, but the best way to track what’s trending in 2019 is by taking note of what’s popular at quilt market.

American Quilt Retailer did just that and narrowed the list down for you! Check out the top ten must haves your store should stock up on for 2019.

English paper piecing. Popular in Britain, this trend is making it’s way across the pond to gain popularity in the U.S. EPP is appealing for a variety of reasons, including increased creativity and easy to do on the go.
Hand embroidery. You may want to stock up on extra embroidery hoops as this trend doubles as wall decor.
Kitchen. Kitchen themes were prevalent this year; as it turns out quilters love to cook—and it’s influencing their craft too.
Fruit. Going off the kitchen theme, quilters are craving summer, with fruit being one of the main staples of the kitchen theme.
Succulents. Popular for several years in the craft world, succulents are now becoming popular to quilt as well. Chances are many of your quilters like to garden too, so selling some of these plants (and having them as a display) may not be a bad idea.
The color blue. Blue is the new red. Shades of blue could be found everywhere, so consider expanding your store’s options.
Pop-up shops. Inspired by the fashion industry, retailers inside and out of that industry are jumping on the pop-up shop band wagon. Have a go-to display and products that are easy to take to and from events in your community.
Small piecing. Attention to detail is what crafters are all about this year. Pair patterns of fat quarters to make your customer’s shopping trip a little easier.
Characters. Everybody has a favorite TV show, and consumers want more of them. Stock up on your children and grandchildren’s favorite characters (think Spongebob, Harry Potter, video game characters, etc.) popularized by society.
Intergenerational quilting. Turns out, quilting can be a bonding experience too. Check out your kid’s selection of books and kits to help inspire the next generation of crafters.

You can read more about what we saw at the fall Quilt Market in the December issue of American Quilt Retailer.

Posted on November 7, 2018December 29, 2019 by AQR Piece by Piece

Holiday Window Display

Can you believe it’s that time of the year again? The holidays will soon be upon us and the spirit is already in the air.

It may seem too early to start planning your holiday window display but by the time Thanksgiving comes it’ll be too late. Here are some window display that really stand out:

Lord & Taylor: Less isn’t more, more is more! With 9,000 feet of garland, foliage, and lights, of course this window display takes the cake. Not to mention the hand carved statues of dancing raccoons and smiling polar bears, kids and adults alike found this display a delight.
Barney’s: Another nod to childhood, this window went with the theme of love, peace, and joy, and we’re able to capture that in three iconic pieces. (What word do you think the featured photo is trying to convey?)
Bloomingdale’s: This display had all of the lights. Visual artists created different chandeliers that were auctioned just before the holidays with the benefits going to charity. Although this display stacked third on the list, it wins in community mindedness. (What a cool idea—how could you include a charitable component into your holiday display?)
Tiffany & Co.: Simple can still be beautiful. Of course you could expect something like that from Tiffany’s, but keep in mind what brand your store has. If you’re known for going big, it’s okay to keep it that way.
Saks Fifth Avenue: Think Candyland meets the Nutcracker, this window display captures the magic of the holidays with its breathtaking, beautiful, and perfectly executed curation.

I know our small businesses don’t have near the time nor the resources as these big-name companies do, but I hope this list gets you in the holiday spirit. Happy decorating, and have fun!

*Note: These displays were featured in New York stores in December of 2016. Photos courtesy of Jetsetter.