Telling others about our successes and accomplishments often is difficult for some of us because we come from the generation where Mother said, “Don’t toot your own horn.  People will think you’re bragging. ”

However, if you wait solely for others to discover what you’re doing, the world won’t
hear about your or your quilting.  You can share, as I call it, without seeming “pushy.”  You can announce over forums and round-ups of success stories, as well as doing the traditional promotions. 

You might participate in a “success” post, such as the one Yvonne Russell, at Grow Your Writing Business has initiated, Marvelous Mini Milestones & Super Successes – September 2007.  Yvonne has begun doing this on a monthly basis. 

(She even mentioned the guest post I wrote for Grow Your Writing Business about blog tours, Virtual Blog Tours – The Latest Innovation for Promoting Your Writing.  Thanks, Yvonne, for “tooting” my horn!  Mother would be pleased that I hadn’t blown my own.)

Of course, the successes mentioned on Yvonne’s blog relate mainly to writing and publishing success, whether it’s print or online.  However, even if you aren’t a writer, you can apply many of the techniques mentioned to your quilting.

Why don’t you share your business successes here?  We can initate a monthly report of quilting  milestones and success stories.

Post from: Blisstree

Share Your Quilting & Fabric Art Successes With Us

   She answered questions an Alzheimer’s Notes’ reader, Kathy of KnowItAlz.com, asked about obtaining books for such a venture.  Even though Yvonne specifically addresses Kathy’s question about Alzheimer’s books, the information she gives is universal for any bookstore.

So, if you’re considering this type of business, you’ll certainly want to check out Yvonne’s post, Your Specialty Home Based Alzheimer’s Bookstore – Publisher Discount Basics.

Post from: Blisstree

Tips for Acquiring Books for Your Home Based Quilting Bookstore

I also wrote about this topic here on  Quilting and Patchwork to let writers of quilting and fabric art books know they could become involved in virtual blog tours, too. 

I’ve also interviewed blog tour coordinator Dorothy Thompson at Home Biz Notes, about her blog tour business.  If you’d like to learn more about blog touring or hosting, check out my post at Yvonne’s blog.

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting & Patchwork Blogger Guest at Grow Your Writing Business

 I just read a news item, License Denied for Existing Home Business, that concerned this topic.

Now this involves a lawn mower service business.  However, the same principles probably apply to any home business in that town.  The aldermen decided, according to the mayor’s statement ” they’re running a business in a residential area and we can’t approve that.”  He did say if the owners moved their lawn mower service business to a commercially zoned area, the license would be approved.

There were very few details in this news story, so we don’t know:

*how long this business existed at the owner’s home

*why they didn’t check out zoning and licensing

*are there other home businesses in that area

*is the business an obvious eye-sore, with lawn mowers and parts all over the place

*have licensing and zoning regulations always been followed strictly or are the aldermen suddenly becoming more stringent

No matter what has happened in the past or what the owners did or didn’t do, it points out that you should check out zoning and licensing requirements before becoming involved in a home business.  If your business has been operating from your home and new regulation are placed into effect, a “grandfathering clause” regarding existing businesses usually is in effect.  In other words, those in existence, can continue to operate.  However, the business, if sold, could not stay there.  If you stop operating the business for some time, then decided to start up again, the grandfathering clause probably would not be in place.

So…before starting a quilting business in your home, find out the regulations for your area, your town, county/provomce, state and country.

Resources: 

Yvonne Russell also mentioned this in her guest post at Home Biz Notes, about establishing an online bookstore, Start Your Own Specialist Home Based Bookstore.  I also refer to her post here, Would YOu Like an At-Home Quilt Bookstore?

I also refer to the licensing topic in Insurance, Taxes & Licensing Issues for a Home Business an mention Karen E. Klein’s article, Before Setting Up Shop on eBay that talks about this topic, too.)

Post from: Blisstree

Check Out Licensing/Zoning Before Starting a Quilting Business at Home

So…have you decided your niche might be quilt, fabric art, and related books?  Perhaps you want to operate simply a bookstore.  Or you may want to add a book nook to your quilt fabric and supply store.

The information Yvonne offers at her Home Biz Notes post gives some great information to start you thinking, researching, planning, and actually setting up a bookstore, if that seems feasible.

(Yvonne Russell is a freelance writer who blogs at Grow Your Writing Business.  She has operated and sold a number of businesses including an award winning bookstore.  She also is the director of People People, a small development and training business.)  

Post from: Blisstree

Would You Like an At-Home Quilt Bookstore?

Yvonne Russell, of Grow Your Writing Business, pointed out to me concering this topic of return customers, “There is quite a bit of research on the fact that it costs a lot more in dollars and time to get a new client, as compared with doing ongoing business with existing customers/clients.”

So often business owners seem to think once they have a customer, that person automatically will return…unless you sell one-of-a-kind items that don’t lend themselves to repeats.  However, you still will want a pleased customer who will recommend you to others.

I asked a friend today, who has a home based beauty and skin care business, ” Have you gotten in touch with Jenny?”  (This customer had purchased a large amount of products two months ago.)  

No, she hadn’t, except to deliver products after the order arrived.  So I suggested she call Jenny to see if she had any questions and to tell her about a new product.  Jenny was a good customer who was enthusiastic about the products.  So you want to make sure customers like her (and anyone who purchases from you)  have their questions answered, their needs met.  You don’t simply take their money and hope they’ll be a repeat customer.

(So translate the suggestion for Jenny into ones you can use in your quilting and fabric arts business…in fact, most any business.)

Once you have a satisfied customer, or one in the making, you need to spend some time, yes, but  not nearly so much as you will finding and developing new customers/clients.  So it behooves you to pay attention to your existing customers for repeat business.

For instance, at the dealership where my family buys cars, the salesman we work with has gotten to know us, sends cards and notes, updates, inquires how our car is working out, and simply keeps in touch.  He also knows our needs and keeps on the lookout for vehicles that will meet them.  To my husband and me, our daughter and son-in-law, he has sold many vehicles.  We don’t even consider going elsewhere when we need one.  (And the dealership is excellent when we need service on our vehicles.) 

Although this isn’t a home business, the principles this salesman practices would work well for home business owners, including those with quilting businesses…..taking care of existing customers.  This also generates new customers, because we recommend him to friends who need vehicles.

Do you have any examples you can share about taking care of your quilting and fabric art customers which leads to repeat business and recommendations to their friends?

Post from: Blisstree

Paying Attention to Your Quilting & Fabric Art Customers