Immediately I thought, “No, only someone applying for a job needs a resume.”

Then I began pondering some more  and it’s application to quilters.  Customers/clients often ask for referrals.  This information may not be in the strict sense a resume, but will provide information that helps them make a knowledgeable decision, just as an employer refers to the traditional resume.

1. If you have a service type of quilt business…. making quilts, wall hangings, machine quilting, and doing other quilting tasks ….your customers usually will want a description of what you offer, a summary of your experience, and often referrals.    They may have been referred to you in the first place and want this information to expand upon what they were told or to confirm it. 

2. If you make quilted and fabric products, either to sell outright in a shop or over the Internet, customers often will want to know your background and the quality of the product.  (For instance, you may see these designated by stars or customer ratings on web sites.)

What type of “resumes” are we talking about where customers/clients can find this information?

*Brochures, bookmarks, flyers of various types

*Web sites or blogs

*Press releases, either in print media or online

*Interviews

(For instance, the interview at Work From Home Momma, gives  a glimpse of my background from which somoene could seek additional information.  This wasn’t done with the purpose of promoting me.  But as I was thinking about interviews, I realized that any interview likely gives background, informal resume type of information and could be used a referral.)

*Referrals – word of mouth from customers/clients

*Ratings – for instance, authors often find their books rated or reviewed on book store and book sites.  Items they sell over the Internet may be rated, too.

These are a few of the methods  quilting related business owners can use to let customers/clients (current and potential) know about their products and services.  Even though they’re not what we think of as the traditional resume, they are necessary for home business owners in developing a loyal customer base. 

Can you think of more?  Can you share experiences about how these “resumes” helped you?

Post from: Blisstree

Do Quiltmakers & Quilt Businesses Need Resumes?

   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 came across an interesting article at Quilting Business.com, titled: Quilting Copyright: Can I Sell My Quilts Made with Licensed Fabric or from Copyrighted Patterns?   These are two of the copyright issues confronting quilter and fabric artists site owner Chuck Smith has researched. 

Chuck also has a free e-mail mini course: 7 Unique Ways to Make Money with Your Quilting.  (You can register by clicking on the same link as the above article.)

Quilting Business.com is a great site for answers and ideas for the quilt business owner.

Post from: Blisstree

The Copyright Issue Affects Most Quilters

 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?

*What if you live in a no tax state but sell to customers in a state where there is a sales tax?

*What if you have a sales tax in your state and sell to someone in another sales tax state?

*What happens when you and your customer both live in the same state that has a sales tax?  Sometimes, too, sales tax will vary from town to town, city to city, county to county within the same state.

*Do you collect sales tax if you visit another state to teach a workshop or give presentations and sell items while there?

These and other scenarios raise questions.

So….visit Kelly, the Taxgirl.  She has a great post about this topic, Ask the Taxgirl: Internet Sales.  Here Kelly will answer some of the questions you may have about the sales tax issue. 

Post from: Blisstree

Sales Tax & the Quilt Business Owner

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

Of course, with a business that’s entirely operated on the Internet, like Dorothy Thompson’s,  with no inventory, or one like Mark Allen’s business with CafePress taking orders and handling shipping, there’s no question about continuing if you move.  However, what about the business where you do have inventory and physically ship out orders?

If this business depends mainly on orders received from customers visiting your site and ordering or sending orders in via postal mail rather than stopping by your shop, you can continue wherever you move, as long as zoning regulations at your new home don’t interfere.

Recently I learned about a quilt/fabric art supply business operated from the owner’s home.  She and her family are moving to another city in another state.  She notified her customers that there will be a lapse of a few days, while her fabric and quilting supplies, along with household goods and personal belongings are in transit.  However, she plans to be set up to ship orders in a few days from her new home.  Also, fabric from her suppliers will be shipped to the new address.

If she operated a business that depended entirely or mostly on customers stopping at her shop, she’d have great difficulty and a lapse in business and income.   

These might be factors to consider when you’re thinking about developing a quilting related or fabric business.

If you’ve ever had to move your business, how have you managed it?  What difficulties did you encounter?  Was yours an Internet based or entirely dependent on customers/clients coming by? Was yours operated from your home or from an outside location?  I’d enjoy hearing from you and having you share your story.

Post from: Blisstree

Moving Your Quilting Business

Yvonne at Grow Your Writing Business offers some insights in a post, Price vs Value – How Much Should Writers Charge?  Although Yvonne provides the viewpoint of a writer addressing writers, you can apply much of what she discusses to most any home business.

When you can’t compete because of price, offer value that’s unrivaled.  Develop a reputation for great service and quality products…and a pleasing manner with your customers/clients whether you operate a traditional business or one online.

How have you handled pricing in your business?  Perhaps you’d like to share with us.

Do you have a particular book, web site, or other resource you’ve found particularly helpful in determining price?

Post from: Blisstree

The Quandry of Pricing in Your Quilting Business

She asked me to make her samples as she sought markets.  Then I began sewing for the orders she received.  So actually here, I discuss two types of quilting businesses.

Post from: Blisstree

Check Out Post About Quiltmaking Business at Home Biz Notes