It’s well after Labor Day and fall is just around the corner.
Days will get shorter, weather will get cooler, and your store will see fewer customers scurrying for their last-minute county fair project supplies.
But the end of summer doesn’t have to mean the end of a busy store. Keep customers coming back with these trending fall projects.
Fringe: Did it ever go out of style? Tassel earrings are all the rage this season, and are easy do-it-yourself projects. Just have embroidery floss and ear wires on hand, and maybe a printed step-by-step tutorial on how to tie the bundles with your stores’ logo near by. Incorporate these into your display windows with a jewelry holder or mannequin head to advertise the project more.
Colors: Pantone’s color of the year is greenery, but other popular patterns are dark romantic florals, velvet, and neutral plaids. Incorporate the soft and subtle color into those three patterns, and collect bolts of fabric that have the color in their own section in your store. This could also help inspire Christmas gifts outside of the traditional Christmas green colors.
Cork: Wine seems to be the drink of choice for most women, and like any do-it-yourselfer, the best projects are done with supplies found at home. Encourage friends to save wine corks, and make your own display projects of Christmas trees, picture frames, candle holders, and coasters. Think of the corks as lincoln logs, and all you need is hot glue to get the project done.
Although these projects are far from the traditional quilting projects, they’re extra encouragement for customers to come into your store, and extra fun for you. With less time outside comes more time spent indoors, so enjoy this sweater weather and your crafts.
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.
