Image: sxc.hu

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 on to read more of the announcement, then realized this could be a discussion on my blog.

The terms you select for promotional purposes, the name for your arts and crafts business, your blog, and events you arrange stop people in their tracks or leave them untouched.  Perhaps “homemade happenings” wouldn’t have stood out for you, but it did me.  Some of it was the alliteration of words and then the picture of crafts people gathering with their creations.

How have you used catchy words and terms to call attention to your art or craft, whether it’s simply something you’re displaying or items you’d like to sell?

Post from: Blisstree

Handmade Happenings…Effective Promo Terms

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 springboard for your PR.

• Develop a web site and blog. 
• Feature various characters here, perhaps giving them a blog of their own.
• Create bookmarks and postcards you use and give out.
• Publish a free e-newsletter for fans who sign up for it.
• Develop a newsletter you can send by mail, if you find the expense worthwhile.
• Find a spin-off from your books.  Debbie, an avid knitter, and has written novels about women who knit.  So she has ventured into this field and even has developed patterns and instruction books on this.
• Debbie holds knitting get-togethers along with book signings.
• If your hobby involves quilting, knitting, crocheting, beading, etc. you might develop a blog about it, patterns, ideas, information, and then create stories about someone who participates in your chosen activity.  Work backward from a hobby to a story.

A Clothing & Accessories Line
*Develop a line of clothing, accessories, etc. that will be distinctive. (Ex: Debbie Macomber Floral Striped Tote for knitting and other uses.)

*Brainstorm and see what you can come up with to catch attention.

As you browse Debbie’s web site, you’ll find recipes, excerpts and other news of interest that will inspire you.

Have you used some particularly effective promotional ideas to become better known in your field?

(Amazon book image; Craft World tote image at Amazon)

Post from: Blisstree

Craft Publicity a la Debbie Macomber

Image: sxc.hu

 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 order.  Also, you can send individuals to Café Press to order their own.

 Use postcards:

•  For writing notes.  They’re cost less to send through the mail and put your work in front of more people.
•  Serve as handouts at shows and signings.  They’re another form of business card, if you include your pertinent information.
•  Include as giveaways when you sell a book or art item.  Stick it in the bag or shipping package.
•  This also helps boost your confidence…to get your work out where others will see it.

 Whenever you need to use stationery or notecards, use something that has your artwork on it.

How have you used postcards to promote your art?

Post from: Blisstree

Promoting Art Work With Postcards

Image: sxc.hu

• 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 family of this portion of your life.  Even your clients will find it interesting to learn something about you.
• Compile a book of the shows where you display and exhibit.

How can you display your photos and clippings?

• Use a scrapbook and incorporate scrapbooking techniques to add interest.
• A photo album will work well in many cases.
• Create a journal type book, with writing  and sketches about your wares and events.  These can be  media clippings or something you do.
• Keep a photo album/scrapbook of each item you make with notes about it.

What suggestions fo you have for creating scrapbooks that will add interest and promote your crafts?

Post from: Blisstree

Promoting Crafts With a Scrapbook

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 were:

 *A notice from JoAnn.com about one-day specials on Friday during the summer. This involves a special price/deal on one item only, while supplies last. 

*An alert about the Friday Feature at the Fat Quarter Shop.    

(Incidentally, I subscribe to online newsletters or alerts from JoAnn.com and Fat Quarter Shop, so these notices aren’t spam.)

Do you have a regular day of the week or month for specials, announcements, contests, giveaways, etc. to promote your business and encourage customers to stop by, whether online or at a walk-in shop?

It doesn’t need to be Friday.  Decide when it’s convenient for you. 

*Do you want to increase traffic on a slow day? 

*Is there something else going on locally on a particular day when it would be practical to invite customers to stop at your place? 

* Do other online shops have a weekly special you could coordinate with?

Put on your thinking cap!

Also, share with us what you do and I’ll feature it.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Friday Feature – Do You Offer Quilting Specials On Particular Days?

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 a long time desired a window above her kitchen sink instead of a wall and a shelf.

“Then I could look out and see the barn and cows and the fields beyond, right up to the woodland.  Then I could see the deer walk across that corn field next to the woods.”

Eventually Father cut a window above the kitchen sink and Mother enjoyed her view as she washed dishes.  When it was my turn to do the dishes, I found pleasure in this view, too.

Later, when Mother lived in her Alzheimer’s world, she talked about seeing deer out the window. It took me awhile to realize which memories she was experiencing. Then I realized then how much this window to her world had meant to her.

Wherever I’ve lived since I married and left the family farm, I’ve desired a window above my kitchen sink, too, instead of a wall.  If I couldn’t have a window, I hung a scene that took me outside.

Do you have a window, either a literal one, or one that leads you to a new avenue of quilting?

(Amazon image; click on cover to see details) 

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

The View from a Quilter’s Window

“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 know they’re associated with someone who is successful and recognized. 

You can learn to talk about yourself in a way that’s informative and humble, not with braggadocio.  You also give others the incentive for achieving in that field themselves.

• Give the award organizer the information for sending out press releases.  This also garners publicity for the organization or business that presented it. (When my daughter and I were listed in Who’s Who in American Quilting, the publisher sent press releases to local newspapers.  As a result, a school activity organizer, arranged for us to teach a series of workshops about quiltmaking, tying them into the curriculum.)
• Write press releases and send to online and off line publications yourself if no one else is going to. (I sent press releases about my book concerning my mom’s Alzheimer’s journey, When We Become the Parent to Our Parents, to our newspaper.  An organizer for women’s programs at a nearby church invited me to speak about caregiving and my writing.)
• Mention an achievement on your blog.  Your readers will rejoice with you and usually leave comments.
• Offer to write about your specific award field. 
• When customers ask, don’t play down the award, but explain what it’s for.  They’re interested. 
• Post copies of articles about your achievements on a bulletin board at your shop or on your blog/web site. (I’ve often gone into businesses where they’ve posted copies of newspaper articles, along with any photos taken at the time.)
• Make a scrapbook of clippings and awards that friends and customers can browse through.

An example of posting an announcement of an award is the one at Home Biz Notes, where I mentioned Yvonne Russell’s recent recognition. in the writing field.

What ideas do you have for spreading the word about your quilting and fabric arts achievements in an interesting, eye-catching, yet unobtrusive way?  

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Let Others Know About Your Quilting Achievements

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

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting & Patchwork Strolls Down the Red Carpet

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 post for a drawing has gained in popularity.

*Writing a slogan for a product or promotion interests some.

*Naming a quilt or hanging is another way to encourage participation in what you’re doing.

             *Guessing the number of buttons or beads in a jar is popular, too.

Quilting contests also are ways quilters participate in group activities.  And theirs might be selected for display nationally and beyond.

What can you come up with to promote interest in your quilting and create fun at the same time?

 If you like to participate in contests, check out three at b5media’s Sports Cannel, in other words, Play and Win at the Sports Channel.

 Three of the blogs are participating, Rackets and Balls, Hockey Beat, and World Poker Tour.  Each has a different set of rules.  Prizes include teddy bears and other great stuff.

Post from: Blisstree

Contests Often Increase the Popularity of Quilters

“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 is a whole “different ball game” now that we can contact people all over the world through the web.  However,  Barbara has been adept at adapting her advice to help crafts people in this Internet age, as you’ll see when you visit her web site.

Also, the nature of our quilting and fabric arts businesses may change as the Internet opens up many possibilities, even when we have basically a business with customers coming into our shop or provide services away from our home office.

*We may produce an e-newsletter instead of a printed one mailed to customers.

For instance, the owner of a local quilt fabric shop asked my daughter for her e-mail.  She said she was going to send an e-newsletter instead of one by postal mail, simply because the cost was less (almost negligible), it was quicker, and reached her customers faster.  She would have a few printed newsletters in her shop for customers without e-mail to pick up.  But she wouldn’t send them out that way after a specific date.

*E-mail becomes a common method of corresponding with our customers.

*Orders will come to us via e-mail rather than, or as well as, the post office if we’re a mail order business.

*Customers/clients will find you via a blog and/or web site, even if you have a physical shop.

If you’ve operated a home business during both eras, what are some ways you’ve had to change?  Do share with us.

Post from: Blisstree

Promotion for Quilting Businesses Has Changed with the Internet