Sometimes the terms you use to promote arts and crafts events (or any event) have much to do with how they’re received or the attention they get.  I saw the term “Homemade Happenings” for a listing of participants in a community open house of craftspeople in that area.
It caught my attention.  I like the term “Handmade Happenings” a bit better because I’ve discovered that people often regard something “handmade” as more professional than “homemade.” But that’s a matter of opinion.
However, the term in the promotion captured my attention more readily than “arts and crafts fair, arts display, crafters fair.” I went …read more

Even if you’re not selling your crafts and aren’t considering making it a business, you still may want to get recognition.  However, if you are developing your hobby into an income producing venture, whether it’s making items, developing workshops, giving talks, writing books or providing a service, you’ll need to let your potential customers know and to keep current ones informed.
Author Debbie Macomber has impressed me with her promotional techniques.  Of course, she’s a good writer and has developed a following of readers.  You can, too, take some lessons from Debbie and perhaps use some of her methods as a …read more

Artists, authors and craftspeople often utilize postcards of their work for promotion.  When you send a letter or note in an envelope, only you and that person usually will see  the item.  When you send a postcard, multiple people will glimpse it, and perhaps notice your work, as it makes it’s way from you to the recipient. 
 This is easier nowadays with the use of scanning and printing programs, whereby you can create postcards individually, as needed,  instead of getting several hundred printed at one time. 
 You can utilize places like Café Press for printing cards on demand and paying only for those you …read more

Even though crafters today have web sites and blogs, they still could use scrapbook or photo album of their wares, particularly if they’re selling the items they make.  We used them before the days of the Internet and electronic technology.  They’re not obsolete, but still serve a purpose.

Include photos of your various items with prices and ordering information.
Provide information about your workshops and classes with photos.
Simply have a record of your crafted items; this adds interest for anyone who enjoys your work.
Include press releases, news clippings, programs, in addition to photos of your work.
Use this as a record for your …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
FRIDAY FEATURE
If you have a quilting business or shop (online or walk-in), do you feature specials or an attraction one day a week…or month?  Do you look for these specials where you shop?
As I browse the mail coming to my e-mail box, I’ve noticed, over the course of time, that Fridays seems to be a day for special deals…special prices, special combinations of “stuff” (depending on what you sell and offer), exclusive offers, special incentives for doing business with you.  Generally these offers are one day only, or introduced on Friday with a limited number available.
For instance, this morning there …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com 

The View from My Window is the Promo Theme this week at the b5media Lifestyles Channel.  So how does this relate to quilting?
When we talk about windows and quilting, a number of thoughts come to mind.
*The view from the window of the room where we quilt
*The design of a quilt, such as Cathedral Window
*Inspiration for a new design or pattern
*Taking a workshop that opens up a technique for us…a window into another aspect of quilting or fabric art
*Meeting new quilting friends who add richness to our life
For me, the View from My Window brings to mind my mother, who for …read more

 QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
“Don’t toot your own horn,” Mother often cautioned us.  She called it bragging when we told others about our achievements. She was proud of us when we received recognition, but the general feeling was to downplay it. Mother felt it was for others to spread the word. That was somewhat the practice of the era when I was a child.  So I grew up to be self-conscious about promoting myself.
However, when we’re in business, or even quilting as a hobby, we discover that others often like celebrate our achievements with us. If you’re commissioned to do quilting or fabric art, your clients like to …read more

QultingAndPatchwork.com
Quilting and Patchwork, and the other b5media Lifestyles bloggers, had the opportunity to stroll down the Red Carpet for the Lifestyles Golden Blog Globe Awards.  Channel Editor Gayla McCord has a fun post up  highlighting the achievements of these bloggers in 2007, Live from the Red Carpet – It’s b5media’s Lifestyles Golden Blog Awards.
Mine chosen from Quilting and Patchwork posts was More Free Quilting & Patchwork Patterns.  You’ll also enjoy the numerous posts and intersting information from the other Lifestyles bloggers.
Do you have a favorite 2007 post from Quilting and Patchwork?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Offering contests for your customers, as well as blog and web site visitors, has become a popular way of generating interest in what you do, whether you operate a shop or simply like to quilt and chat and share. 
Do you ever offer contests or prize drawings?  This encourages customers to stop by your shop or web site. 
        (Sometimes you might offer as prizes books by popular quilters.)
*Invite customers to leave their business card or drop their name in a fish bowl for a monthly drawing of free fabric or quilting gadget has become quite common.
*Asking them to leave comments on your blog …read more

If you operated a quilting or fabric arts business in the pre-Internet days, you’ve likely discovered that much promotion nowadays is connected with online applications.  Even your business may have an online presence. 
“I’ve always considered myself a PR pro,” comments crafts business expert, Barbara Brabec, in her current e-newsletter bulletin, “but what I was particularly good at in years past was getting print publicity. 
       Yes, for many years Barbara has been considered a pro at helping crafts people promote their enterprises and has written several books on the subject.  Many of us have discovered, as Barbara has, that the PR field …read more