Reflect Archives - American Quilt Retailer

Posted on December 22, 2021December 22, 2021 by AQR Piece by Piece

Happy Holidays and New Year from AQR!

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.

Posted on March 18, 2020March 17, 2020 by AQR Piece by Piece

Self Quarantine

Times are strange right now aren’t they? The low hum of menace is everywhere, anxiety is plaguing our minds during this quarantine as much as the coronavirus is infecting the globe.

Misinformation is rampant and nobody knows what to do, how to feel. All we know is every time we leave the house we are either threats to somebody, or at risk of developing a serious illness.

You don’t need someone else telling you what you already know; to stay home and not to leave unless it’s absolutely necessary.

But with the nation self-quarantining, we all finally have something we’ve constantly been asking for: time.

And with this added time, it’s easy to reflect on the past few days. What could I have done different? Why didn’t I take this more seriously sooner? While reflecting on the past, it’s easy to transition to thinking about the future. What will happen to my business? What will happen to this nation?

Some things we do know; America (and the world for that matter) won’t be the same. Nobody alive has ever been through a pandemic, so there’s simply no way to tell how this will coalesce. But one thing I’m trying to do is live in the moment. This proves to be much easier said than done (any one else having adult acne for the first time?).

But when will the next time come around that I get to watch a movie every day for a week? Or do something that I love but haven’t been able to do for years, like paint?

We’re all struggling with how to articulate what we’re going through, and in that camaraderie I hope we can find the courage, and solace, to make the best decisions for our society in the coming weeks.

Godspeed American Quilt Retailer Community. In solidarity, we can curb the spread of the coronavirus together.

Posted on February 26, 2020February 25, 2020 by AQR Piece by Piece

Quilting and Community

We know this is a blog for quilt retailers, but this week instead of providing inspiration or business ideas we’re going back to the basics.

Reflect

Think back to the first quilt you ever made. Who helped you make that first quilt? Do you remember why you wanted to try quilting? Do you remember the feeling you had after your first quilt was done? Hopefully that same feeling returns every time you clip the last strings off a completed quilt.

There’s something about working with your hands and the process of turning nothing into something. It may be therapeutic for you, or exciting, or even nostalgic. There’s probably a few other people you know who share in your love for quilting as well.

Surround

Think of the fellow quilters in your circle. How did they start quilting? What do they like about it?

Across the country, quilters just like you gather in community spaces every month to make quilts. On the surface, these quilters share the same skills, but on a deeper level they share something much different. Likely, it has something to do with community mindedness, and the bond that creating art with a group can bring.

Act

Have you thought of ways you can create that sense of togetherness in your retail space? How can you create a space that encourages story telling, learning, experimenting, and all the other adjectives that end with -ing that quilting produces?

Every quilt has a story. Making a quilt is a part of that story too, and by getting at the heart of why you love quilting, and why your community loves quilting as well, you can spread the community of quilting farther than you ever imagined.