Category: News

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AQR Academy Upcoming Events

Upcoming AQR Academy

There’s a lot going on at American Quilt Retailer, so we wanted to set the record straight. Check out the details below for all upcoming AQR Academy events.

Upcoming March AQR Academy Workshop

To kick things off, our next AQR Academy workshop is taking place next Wednesday, March 9 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. CST. Registration costs $45, and the topic is inventory and how to get it right.

Speaking of registration, there’s still time to take advantage of our discounted AQR Academy All Access Membership. You’ll save $120 and get access to all of 2022’s 90 minute workshops plus bonus information not included in the magazine. Registration is open until March 31.

AQR Academy The Buzz – Spring Fling ’22

AQR Academy is hosting an all day event on Saturday, April 9. We’re calling it The Buzz and it’s our Spring Fling kick off!

Can’t attend the whole day? No problem; join live for what you can and have access to recordings after the event. Note door prizes are still available.

AQR Academy Live

Last but not least, we’re hosting our first-ever AQR Academy Live. Register to attend in-person April 19 – 22 in Pleasant Hill, Iowa.

Editor of American Quilt Retailer Heidi Kaisand will be joined with three days worth of guests for learning and networking opportunities we haven’t been able to experience for several years.

Head to the event page for details on room reservations, the event schedule, and what meals are included in your registration fee.

If you can’t tell, we’re excited for the world to open up again and we hope you are too!

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.

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Time Flexibility

time

We all know time is money. But like money, we only have a certain amount of time in a day. Managing this, and being flexible with the changes that can happen along the way, is a topic I’ve been reflecting on.

Time Flexibility

Winter is hard, and if you’re anything like me it’s easy to slip into work mode. Next thing you know, other areas of your life start to be neglected. A friend calls to catch up and you realize your life has been consumed by work.

So how do you stop yourself from slipping into the haze of work mode? Ironically, I’ve found scheduling time for myself and time for hobbies has been the best balance.

Setting and enforcing work boundaries has also been a help. Mainly setting specific work hours – and sticking to them. If I find I can’t complete my work during those set hours, I find a way to work more efficiently.

And finally, I try to have a long-term mindset. It would be nice if I could everything done at once but that is not only unrealistic but a one-way ticket to exhaustion.

Time Management

Another trick I’ve been trying is scheduling each hour of my work day (breaks included). My process is simple as writing my daily-to-do list on a post it note; looking at my calendar, and filling in what needs to be done. I spend leftover time furthering my education or planning long-term projects.

Supposedly this tactic helps to save your creativity bank, and so far I’ve found that to be true. Plus, it’s helped me be more realistic with how long certain tasks take and enforces not spending too much time on one thing.

Don’t forget to check out our upcoming AQR Academy events including AQR Academy: The Buzz – Spring Fling ’22 on April 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST as well as AQR Academy Live April 19-21 just outside of Des Moines, Iowa. Take advantage of all our educational opportunites through our 2022 AQR Academy All Access Membership sale. Registration is open until March 31.

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Livestreaming: Part Three

Livestreaming

In the final part of our livestreaming triology, we cover the housekeeping pieces: best practices, promoting, and all of your livestreaming options.

Best Practices and Promotion

For best practices we’ll keep it short and sweet:

  1. Prep your materials and setup before you go live.
  2. Include a promo code during your livestream to further entice viewers to shop your product.
  3. Include links to the products highlighted to the archived version of your livestream.

As for promotion, think about the build up prior to the event. Include “sneak peaks” in your story, and ask your followers to vote on options they want to see.

Livestreaming options

Many platforms offer livestreaming capabilities, so we included a list and description for each to help you determine which is the best for you.

  • Zoom: Two years into the pandemic people are very comfortable using Zoom. This could be a great option to start practicing livestreams.
  • Instagram: You’re likely pretty familiar with Instagram live videos. Know you can split screens with other accounts, simplifying the livestream work load.
  • Facebook: Livestreaming on Facebook shows up as videos in follower’s timelines. You can also archive the livestream to your page as a recorded video.
  • Twitch: Although this platform originally began for gamers, Twitch is a livestream-only service. As the platform grows so does the types of content so this might be a good place to grow your audience.
  • Amazon Live Creator: Only look into this option if Amazon is a major source of sales for your shop.

Inspiration for this post came from “Connect Through Livestreaming” by Sommer Leigh published in the December 2021 issue of American Quilt Retailer.

AQR Academy Live!

One last thing before we go—AQR Academy is going LIVE for three days! The event runs April 19 through the 22nd just outside Des Moines, Iowa. Registration is $250 and you can find all of the details including a full schedule, meals, and lodging at the event link here.

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.

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Livestreaming: Part Two

Livestreaming

To continue our series on livestreaming, this week we’ll cover how to structure your livestream as well as ideas on what to livestream about.

How to Structure

Livestreaming is much like organizing a dinner party; the atmosphere changes depending how many people show up!

If one person shows up, the livestream will feel more like a meeting. If many attend it can turn into a classroom. Or, if it’s your most devoted followers, it will feel more like an intimate gathering.

Plan for one hour to get the best engagement, and be sure to plan accordingly. For instance, if you have a 30 minute interview scheduled, include 15 minutes of talking points prepared before and after the interview.

When you go lives, use the first few minutes to chat with your viewers so you can get used to the speed of comments coming in. If there aren’t any comments, run through an outline of what the livestream will entail. You don’t want to jump into things too quickly as you’ll likely have to repeat yourself as more attendees join.

Ways to Use Livestreaming

When it comes to livestreaming, there are many ideas! Check out this list for ideas and tips:

  • Launch a new product: This is a great option for shoppers interested in a first look of your product.
  • Q&A: Be prepared for down time in this one! Have stories or talking points on hand for when questions are slow coming in.
  • Interview: This is a great option if you’re uncomfortable being on camera the entire time. Plus you’ll get a variety of styles and personality types.
  • Teach a new skill: Publisher Heidi Kaisand’s quilt shop, Hens and Chicks Studio, goes live every Tuesday afternoon to show a new project or technique.
  • Chat and craft: Tik Tok-ers do this best. Set up your camera to focus on what you’re making. If you like to talk while you craft, then this is the best option for you.
  • Go behind the scenes: This is the best for promoting events. Show people how the sausage is made when decorating your shop or making treats.

Next week we’ll cover best practices, promotion, and livestreaming options. Inspiration for this post came from “Connect Through Livestreaming” by Sommer Leigh published in the December 2021 issue of American Quilt Retailer.

Even though it’s two months away, it’s not too early to register for AQR Academy: The Buzz – Spring Fling held virtually on April 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Door prizes are available and the day will be packed with product videos! Don’t worry if you can’t make it, but still be sure to register to get access to the recording after the event.

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.

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Livestreaming: Part One

livestreaming

In this next series, we’ll cover everything you need to know about livestreaming. In Part One specifically, we’ll go over what livestreaming is and tips to increase engagement.

What is Livestreaming?

According to Wikipedia, livestreaming is media that is simultaneously recorded and broadcast in real time over the internet. Additionally, 80% of livestream viewers prefer to watch a livestream than read a social media or blog post.

So, why should you do it? Essentially, livestreaming is a great option to connect retailers to shoppers. Multiple social platforms have livestreaming capabilities and the popularity continues to grow. Since livestreams are shown in real time, you can get information out quickly, and the preparation doesn’t take much more than recording a normal video.

Tips to Increase Engagement

Check out these tips to help you increase engagement on your first livestream:

  • Offer a live Q&A: This incentivizes your viewers to come with questions ready and interact throughout the stream.
  • Promote: Promote early to get your followers excited and ready to tune in.
  • Look professional: Investing in a camera mount or tripod will go a long way!
  • Share the replay: Post the livestream on your social for anyone who missed out.
  • Ask for feedback: This is another option for two-sided engagement. Ask if your followers if they can hear you or if they want more information.
  • Send reminders: Create more excitement by posting frequent reminders the day of.
  • Offer a next step: Have a goal for the livestream. This can be to get more followers to your social platforms (or to your store too of course).

And speaking of real time engagement, don’t forget to register for our AQR Academy All Access Membership. By registering before next Tuesday, you can save $120 and have access to an entire year’s worth of networking and educational opportunities.

Inspiration for this post came from “Connect Through Livestreaming” by Sommer Leigh published in the December 2021 issue of American Quilt Retailer.

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.

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Pinterest for Business: Part 3 – Time to Win

Pinterest win

You’re almost there—we promise! In part three of Pinterest for Business we go over the final step for having your business Pinterest profile do the work for you: creating pins. Read on for posting details (as well as image specs).

Creating Pins: The Ultimate Win!

To refresh your memory, pins are individual images or videos saved on boards.

To create a pin, head to your profile page and click on Saved > + > Pin. A box for the image should appear.

You’ll need to choose a board for this pin, so you can either post the pin to an existing board, or create a new one. Below are detail specifics you’ll need to know to publish:

  • Title: This is the name of the pin. Pinterest recommends 40-100 characters. Be specific and remember to use keywords.
  • Description: This tells the story about the pin. A good description is vital to being picked up in a search. Pinterest allows anywhere from 100 to 500 characters to describe your pin. The first 30-60 characters show in user’s feeds, so the most important details should come first. For examples, read the descriptions of other pins. Adding a price at the end can help increase sales also.
  • Alt Text: Here you’ll describe what’s in the image. This is more for Pinterests sake; the text is read by screen readers. Keywords are important here also.
  • Link: Finally, you can add a link. This is where the win comes in play. Add a link to your website and get Pinterest users shopping!

Once you complete all of this, click on that large, red “Publish” button in the upper right hand corner. You can publish immediately or schedule it for a later date.

Image Specifics

Images are the most important part when it comes to getting that Pinterest win.

Be sure to pick images that are clear, crisp, and have good lighting. Also take multiple shots (for fresh content), shoot vertical composition, and minimize distractions in the background. You can also add text to your image through free, online design programs (like Canva).

Below are the recommended specs for Pinterest and Instagram:

  • Long pin: 1:2:1 Ratio or 1000 x 2100 px. (Pro tip: Text should be centered in the middle of the photo to get noticed).
  • Standard pin: 2:3 or 1000 x 1500 px
  • Instagram: 1:1 or 1000 x 1000 px (Square).

Inspiration for this post came from “Are you Pinterested in Increased Sales?” by Kate Colleran, Joanne Hillestad, and Kris Poor published in the December 2021 issue of American Quilt Retailer.

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.

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Pinterest for Business: Part 2

Pinterest

In part two of Pinterest for Business, we start pinning! Read on for best practices and everything you need to know to start creating boards.

Pinterest Best Practices

Remember that Pinterest isn’t social media, but it does operate similarly. Pinterest also utilizes algorithms, and like social media, it changes all the time. While this post isn’t evergreen, it will provide a good foundation.

When you log into your business account of Pinterest, the user interface will take you to the business hub. To see your boards and pins, click on your logo in the right-hand corner. This will take you to your profile page.

To see your boards, click on Saved.

Creating Boards

Now that you’re in your boards, we can start building them (remember, boards are ways to store and organize individual pins).

To help you think of board ideas, think of your shop and the products you carry. When you’re ready, click on the + sign and select “Board”.

You’ll have two options. The first is “Name.” Although it’s tempting to come up with something cute, stick to three or four descriptive words so customers can have a clear search.

Second, is a “Keep this board secret” option. We recommend keeping the board secret until you have enough pins in the board to go live. Then click “Done”. (Note, if you want to go live, click “Create” before “Done”.)

Now, we can get to Editing. To access this, click on the three dots next to the board name.

  • Name: is already completed.
  • Description: Explain your board in a conversational structure. Pinterest uses this to help with search criteria also.
  • Collaborators: This is an option if you’re doing an event, class, or project with another company.
  • Settings: Here you can make the board public or keep it secret. Personal boards should always be kept secret. We also recommend boards that don’t have anything to do with your business (ie recipes) should be kept secret. Remember, the goal is for visitors to shop your product.
  • Personalization: This is more for Pinterest; it doesn’t help with searches so it’s fine if you want to skip it.
  • Action: Enables you to delete your board. This action can’t be undone.

There are three other dots while in your board, but we won’t get into the nitty gritty of those in this post.

Other Tips

If you need to the edit the details of the board, click on the pencil in the lower right-hand corner of the board in the “Saved” page we went through at the beginning.

You can also organize boards on your page so customers can find certain products easier.

Finally, you have an option to separate boards. For example, if you have a board on precuts, you can have a section for jelly rolls, and a section for precuts. Once these sections get too hefty however, consider creating separate boards.

Stay tuned next week for our final installment of Pinterest for Business.

Inspiration for this post came from “Are you Pinterested in Increased Sales?” by Kate Colleran, Joanne Hillestad, and Kris Poor.

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.

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Pinterest for Business

Pinterest logos

2021 was the year of social media, and we know keeping up with all of your options isn’t easy. Read on for everything you need to know to about Pinterest and if it’s a fit for your shop.

Pinterest lingo

The first thing to know about Pinterest is that it isn’t social media (just like Google isn’t social meda). But unlike Google, a quilter will search on Google when she knows what she wants, and alternatively, she will search on Pinterest when she’s searching for inspiration.

Pinterest is largely visual. Pinners can choose a topic they’re interested in, and Pinterest determines what appears in their feed. Below is Pinterest-specific jargon:

  • Feed: Collection of images based on user’s searches, pins collected, or term entered.
  • Search: Displays images on specific subjects based on terms entered in the search box.
  • Boards: Collections of pins arranged by subject matter and found on the user’s profile page.
  • Pins: Individual images saved on boards.
  • Pinners: Users who save pins.

Pinners create accounts to search for content that interests them and save pins to boards they create. Boards are typically arranged by subject (ie knitting, quilting, cooking, etc). Think of it as a virtual bulletin board.

Pinners can also save images from websites, so be sure to add a save button to your site so users can pin it.

Content, views, and benefits

A great time to make a pin is when you have something new in your store. The goal is for users to be inspired by your pins, click on them, and then shop your store in-person or online.

The more that people view your pins and save them, the more Pinterest will show those pins to even more users. Many factors go into this including the quality of the pin, the interests of the pinner, and how relevant your pin is to the search.

Last but not least, what is the benefit? Pins are essentially evergreen content that works for you around the clock.

Stay tuned; next week we’ll cover Pinterest best practices and how to create a boards.

Inspiration for this post came from “Are you Pinterested in Increased Sales?” by Kate Colleran, Joanne Hillestad, and Kris Poor published in the December 2021 issue of American Quilt Retailer.

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.

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Happy Holidays and New Year from AQR!

Happy New Year 2022

A year ago, everyone was eager to put a close to 2020 and move on to 2021. As many of the business changes we made in 2020 still remain today, it’s clear that our idea of “normal” has changed. Yet, you all remained resilient!

Thank You From AQR

As we reflect on the past year, we would like to take the time to thank everyone for being with us every step of the way. You are all strong, successful business owners and we hope we can continue adding value as things seem to change by the day.

We were all eager to get back to in-person quilting events, including Quilt Market, but Covid had other plans. That being said, we’ve enjoyed hosting and learning alongside each and every one of you during our AQR Academy events, and look forward to continuing them in 2022.

What a Year It’s Been

Speaking of 2022, nobody knows what’s in store! What sort of business practices are you prioritizing (that you haven’t previously)? Your website? Social media? Are you using some of the holiday time to familiarize yourself with video? Whatever it may be, we have full confidence you’ll become an expert in no time.

Happy Holidays from AQR and we wish you all a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous year to come.

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.

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Profit First Cash Management

profit first cash management

At the end of the day, profit is how we’re able to run a business. If at the end of the year, year after year, you’re unhappy with the profit you’re seeing, something has to change.

Enter profit first cash management. What does this mean? Essentially, Profit = Sales — Expenses. Simple right? What if we switched this equation around to account for human behavior. In other words, what if it looked like this:

Sales — Profit = Expenses.

Game changing, right?

What is Profit First?

What do we mean by profit first? Profit first teaches you to take the profit first then use the remainder to run the business. Essentially what we’re putting into practice the time-tested adage “pay yourself first.” The first step to get started is to complete the profit assessment, which you can find here.

If you’re beating yourself up for the numbers you see after completing the assessment, you’re not alone. Thankfully, this is just the starting point.

Open Your Accounts

Now that you know where your finances stand, it’s time to set up your bank accounts. The five foundational accounts include:

  • Income
  • Profit
  • Owner’s compensation
  • Tax
  • Operating expenses

And it’s recommended quilt shops should open an inventory purchases account also.

Another way to do this is to open a profit account, then transfer 1% of each sale into that account. If your business runs on $1000 / month, it can survive on $990 / month. Although this feels like nothing, you’ve started a habit that will grow month over month and change your business habits forever.

Inspiration for this post came from “Overcome Financial Stress” by Jacob Curtis published in the October 2021 issue of American Quilt Retailer.

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.