FabShop Schoolhouse Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined FabShop for our seven Schoolhouse presentations at Quilt Market in Minneapolis—we always enjoy the opportunity to share how FabShop’s programs can help you ring up more sales and improve your bottom line.

In case you weren’t able to join us at Schoolhouse, we were thrilled to introduce QuiltRed, FabShop’s exciting new program that helps raise awareness about the importance of women’s heart health though a flexible, comprehensive club program that includes 12 quilts and redwork embroidery; this new program is literally three programs in one and a great value! Debbie Welch debuted the second course in the Beginning Quilting by Machine series, which is a how-to-quilt course that absolutely anyone can teach. We also had fantastic presentations about the popular Breakfast Club program, Block Swappers—which brings customers back to your shop twice a month, Posies and Patches from the Quilt Gardener and Stash Pot Pie II, which is a great program to encourage your customers to use their stash, while increasing your sales. FabShop’s final Schoolhouse was all about financials—be sure to come by and ask about our book, Benchmarks for Quilt Shops to get all the numbers you need.

Stop by the FabShop booth, #2435, during Market to check out these programs and more that can help your business flourish.

Wishing you a fantastic Market from the entire FabShop team!

Win Dinner with a Schmetz Designer

Schmetz Needle Education

Euro-notions, USA distributor of Schmetz household needles, will unveil new needle education materials next month at 2009 International Quilt Market in Houston. Schmetz continues the “Get To The Point” educational program with three components available to store owners:

• New print materials in easy to read format;
• PowerPoint Presentation reviewing needle production, anatomy and needle types;
• New two hour hands-on class format.

Schmetz Focus Group conducted by Rhonda Pierce

At Quilt Market these materials will be presented in two Schoolhouse presentations and in two Take & Teach classes. Rhonda Pierce, Marketing Director, states “Focus groups were conducted this spring to better understand consumer needle knowledge. We were stunned at the lack of knowledge and equally pleased at consumer eagerness to learn and expand their needle repertoire. We have responded with educational materials readily available to machine dealers, quilt shops and fabric stores. Most Schmetz educational materials are free through their distributor. Plus the Schmetz “Super” needle is now available for easy demonstrations.”

In conjunction with needle education, Schmetz kicks up the traditional store show & tell program. Euro-notions, announces the Triple S Project – Schmetz Sewing Stories. Stores already have a version of show & tell in their existing class schedule. Pierce states “We are bringing show & tell to the digital/internet arena with a competitive edge for retailers. As part of Schmetz education, a video session is integrated into the class format. Dealers conduct a Schmetz needle class with the added format of asking consumers to bring their favorite show & tell project or a favorite sewing story. The dealer videos customers with their project or story and sends the video files to us for uploading at www.schmetzneedles.com . The three retailers that send the most consumer video stories will win a Schmetz Super Needle and a special dinner with a high profile Schmetz Designer at Spring 2010 International Quilt Market. Schmetz Sewing Stories are due to stories@schmetzneedles.com by April 30, 2010.”

Schmetz Class at 2009 Shipshewana Quilt Festival

Every consumer who shares their sewing story will be entered in the Triple S Project sweepstakes. The winner of the Triple S Project will receive Schmetz Special Needle Collections – retail value of $500 – and special recognition for the retailer that submitted the story. The winner’s name will be drawn on May 10, 2010. The Triple S Project will be promoted on the internet, in advertising and as a sponsor of National Sewing Month. All participating retailers will be listed on the website. See Rhonda Pierce in the Euro-notions booth at International Quilt Market or contact her at rpierce@euronotions.com for detailed information on Schmetz classes and the Triple S Project – Schmetz Sewing Stories.