*Christine has some  delightful Altered Take Out Boxes over at Mad Cropper.  Also check out the Halloween Mini Project Book here.

*Tammy shows us a Beaded Halloween Card at Jewelry and Beading.  Her Candy For Kids Jewelry project features a Candi the Corn pin.  Scroll Tammy’s Jewelry and Beading blog for a number of Halloween designs in earrings, pins, and charms.

*Josh at Junk Creation gives us some ideas for Leftover Pumpkin.  He even has a recipe for Autumn Pumpkin Pie.

(Halloween design by Yvonne Russell of Home Biz Notes.)

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Potpourri of Halloween Ideas at the Arts & Design Channel

Stop over at Home Biz Notes and enjoy the virtual birthday cake!

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Join Quilting & Patchwork Blogger for a Happy Birthday

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.

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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.

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Tips for Acquiring Books for Your Home Based Quilting Bookstore

 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.)

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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.)  

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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?

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Paying Attention to Your Quilting & Fabric Art Customers

Music while you work usually creates an uplifting atmosphere.  Do you listen to music for relaxation, to help you concentrate, drown out distracting sounds, or simply because you enjoy it?

Yvonne Russell set me thinking on this topic…music while you work, when I read her post, Whistle While You Write…7 Songs Meme, at Grow Your Writing Business blog.  Although Yvonne didn’t tag anyone for the meme, she invited readers to share their thoughts on music while working.

I prefer quiet music, relaxing music, yet something with an upbeat tempo.  There are some nostalgic songs from my youth that appeal, like The Twelfth of Never, which I listened to at the dentist’s the other day.  This resulted in a pleasant conversation about music with the dental hygenist (as much as I could talk while she worked).

I discovered Native American flute music when Jim and I visited Sedona, AZ.  Music from the Civil War era fascinates me.  I can visualize the ladies making quilts to send to the soldiers while softly singing some of these songs.  Yanni’s songs are others I find enjoyable.

My daughter has a CD of lovely quilting songs by Cathy Miller.  One of hers is One Stitch at a Time that we often play.

Think about it…  What type of music do you like to listen to when you’re working?  Or do you prefer quiet?

              I won’t tag anyone either, for a meme, but would find it interesting if you’d share the music you enjoy.

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Do You Listen to Music While You Quilt?

                          (Mary Emma)

Since many quilters are writers, or at least contribute patterns and information for books, so you may find the advice  Yvonne offers on her blog of great interest.  Her general advice also applies to businesses, which would include those offering quilts, fabric art, fabrics and other supplies. 

Much of what Yvonne offers here concerns promotion via the Internet and blogs.  She and I discussed this topic at length before she wrote this article.

Yvonne comments: “Bloggers and online writers [book authors and quilting businesses]  need to become e-marketers and look for opportunities on the web.  Our potential clients are not around the corner anymore.  If you’re on the web, you have a global market.  You have an international client base.”

How have you found your book and/or business promotion changing because you have the whole world wide web to explore?

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Quilting & Patchwork Blogger Interviewed

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?

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The Quandry of Pricing in Your Quilting Business