Blisstree » quilt+business+plan

Jump Start Your Quilting Business With the “Jump Start Your Business” Contest

Mary Emma Allen — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:33:51 +0000

You might wonder how this contest applies to quilters and fabric artists. Do you make quilts and have wondered how to go about earning an income from them? Do you write books and instruction manuals? Do you teach workshops, but want to do more, as well as go on the speaking circuit? Have you thought of opening a fabric shop, quilt gallery, gift shop but don’t know how to start? Or, perhaps you’ve ventured into one of these areas but could use advice on creating momentum and more income.

The Jump Start Your Business contest at b5media’s Business Channel might just be the place to start getting you organized, start you writing a business plan, and have the possiblilty of receiving $2,000 in prizes and consulting.

So, finish your entry and submit it by Tuesday, September 25 for the “Jump Start Your Business” contest? There will be a Grand Prize winner with two runner-ups. Prizes and consulting total more than $2,000.

This is a great way to get your small business off the ground or to give your new (within the past year) one momentum. Check out the details here…..

Post from: Blisstree

Jump Start Your Quilting Business With the “Jump Start Your Business” Contest

Juggling Your Quilting Business with a Family

Mary Emma Allen — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 15:31:36 +0000

Juggling a quilting business or an outside-the-home job with family presents a challenge to any mom, However, when one has triplets, the challenge may present even more situations to cope with. Although Mary Beth Stevenson, doesn’t have a quilting business, we all might take an example from her if we want something that will enable us to be an at-home mom (or dad). She already had her home business up and running when her triplets arrived. Working from home at her designing business appears to have worked well for her. This wasn’t simply a whim, “What do I do now?” when she found she was going to have triplets. She and her husband decided they wanted her involved in a home business before they were married, so she began developing one then. This may be a great suggestion for anyone who thinks they would like to work at or from home. Start planning now, before you really need the business. Or, if you’re already involved in quilting and fabric arts, take this time to plan on organizing for efficiency, expansion, and enjoyment.

Post from: Blisstree

Juggling Your Quilting Business with a Family

A Book to Help You Develop a Quilting Business Plan

Mary Emma Allen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:54:53 +0000

If you’re thinking of starting a quilting/fabric arts business, whether solely on the Internet or a shop in your home where customers stop by, it’s a good idea to develop a business plan. Even if you’ve started your quilting business and don’t have a business plan, you could benefit by developing one for future direction and growth. If you’re considering going to a bank for a loan or start-up capital, you’ll definitely need to show you have a plan.

Laura Spencer at Writing Thoughts has reviewed a book, The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide, that’s worthwhile to consider when you’re developing your business plan.

“It’s basically a book that teaches the business person how to create an effective business plan,” Laura says. She also mentions, in her review, reasons why a business is never too small to develop a business plan and how this book might help you.

(Although Laura writes a column basically for writers, her business information has application for any small business, including a quilting or fabric arts business, a quilt fabric shop, or related venture.)

Post from: Blisstree

A Book to Help You Develop a Quilting Business Plan

Taking Time for the “Little Things” in your Quilting Business

Mary Emma Allen — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 12:30:30 +0000

Are you taking the time to attend to “the little things” when it comes to your quilting or fabric art customers? These would include keeping a file of your customers, getting to know them personally, sending thank you notes, new product notices, how can I help you inquiries?

When I was making quilts and other fabric items for customers and contact was by mail order, we often developed a friendship with correspondence continuing long after the quilt was made. Nowadays, your correspondence could be done by e-mail or hand written notes. However, in this electronic age, people still like to receive hand-written notes in their mail box.

I’ve been attending a business seminar this weekend. At one of the sessions, the workshop instructor talked about marketing, retaining customers, and getting repeat business. She mentioned taking time to take care of the “little things” so your customers/clients know they’re more than a dollar sign to you.

Of course, you hope they will purchase more or think of you when they need your type of product or services. If you develop a friendship, they’ll be more likely to return and keep you in mind if they have an occasion to refer you to a friend who needs what you offer.

In our busy world, we sometimes don’t take time for those acts of thoughtfulness to make people seem special. For years, my husband and I purchased our cars from one dealership and one salesman because he took time to get to know us, learn what we needed for a vehicle, and what we could pay. He would send thank you notes, how are you doing notes, and haven’t seen you in awhile notes. Joe was a popular salesman at the dealership until his retirement.

Of course, selling cars and fabric art aren’t the same items, but the same principles of customer relations do apply. The same care with customers/clients can be taken with your quilting business.

Post from: Blisstree

Taking Time for the “Little Things” in your Quilting Business

Developing a Business Plan for Your Quilting/Fabric Arts Business

Mary Emma Allen — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:51:10 +0000

Developing a business plan for your quilting/fabric arts business becomes important ...for keeping your own goals before you and for letting the IRS (in the United States) know you’re seriously involved in a business not a hobby making spasmatic earnings. I attended two home business workshops recently. At both the necessity for developing a home business plan was mentioned.

Also, if you go to a bank for any type of loan for your business, they generally will want to see that you have a busiiness plan. This lets the bank/lending institution know you’re serious about what you’re doing. For some, this is a requirment for the loan.

A business plan need not be a lengthy document, simply stating your weekly, monthly, and annual goals. You might have a 5-year plan that maintains where you desire to be after that length of time.

A business plan also helps keep you on track. This isn’t to say you won’t vary this as you try new directions, find something doesn’t work as well as you thought, have new opportunities open up, etc.

My quiltmaking business, years ago, evolved from a dressmaking/alterations business. When the demand for quilts grew at my mother’s country general store, she suggested I use some of my fabric scraps from sewing to make some quilts for her to sell. (The lady providing them at that time couldn’t keep up with orders.) So I took Mother’s suggestion and made some quilts. Eventually, my business evolved into a quilt business rather than the dressmaking. Yet I still was involved in a home business that dealt with sewing and could be operated from the home.

Post from: Blisstree

Developing a Business Plan for Your Quilting/Fabric Arts Business