Tales Of A Fourth Generation Textile Executive: Jaftex Quilt Market Preview

Dear Quilt Market Attendees,

As we quickly approach the quilt market in Houston, I wanted to give you an overview of where the Jaftex Companies will be located, what schoolhouses we are offering and what our show special will be.  Here goes:

BOOTHS

  • Blank Quilting will be located at booth 1221.
  • Fabric Editions/3 Wishes will be located at booth 1114.
  • FreeSpirit Fabrics will be located at booth 1214.
  • Henry Glass Fabrics will be located at booth 1128.
  • Studioe Fabrics will be located at booth 1223.  This will be my home base.

SCHOOLHOUSES

BLANK QUILTING CORP (All schoolhouses in room 362D):

  • Missie Carpenter of Traditional Primitives will be teaching easy techniques for paper piecing and applique.  11:35-12:05.
  • Judy Hansen, owner of The Quilt Shop Of Deland in Florida will demonstrate some quick and easy projects to help you display and sell your latest full collection purchases.  12:10-12:40.
  • Hope Yoder will teach you some new Youtube and social media tricks that will help you with your social media presence.  12:45-1:15.

FREESPIRIT FABRICS (All schoolhouses in room 381B):

  • Anna Maria Horner, designer and owner of Craft South Quilt Shop will be previewing her Conservatory Chapter 2 Portraits.  11:35-12:05.
  • Anna Maria Horner will preview her Tambourine line.  12:10-12:40.
  • Our own, Nancy Jewell, FreeSpirit managing director, and some people from C&T Publishing will be talking about the FreeSpirit block party based on the recent book.  12:45-1:15.
  • Laura Heine, owner of Fiberworks Quilt Shop, will speak about her latest collage quilts.  1:20-1:50.
  • 1:55-2:25 TBD
  • Denise Burkitt, new FreeSpirit Austalian designer will discuss her art and solo travels.  2:30-2:45.
  • Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably & Liza Lucy will discuss their new Quilts In America Book, new fabric and more.  3:10-3:40.
  • Kathy Doughty, owner of the Material Obsession Quilt Shop in Australia, will be previewing her newest collection called Seeds & Stems.  3:45-4:15.
  • Tula Pink, yeah you know her, will be previewing her newest collection called Pinkerville.  4:20-4:50.

HENRY GLASS FABRICS (all schoolhouses in room 362E):

  • Gail Pan, licensed fabric designer and quilt designer will be talking about how to maximize Christmas sales in your store.  2:30-2:45.
  • Angela Lawrence, fabric designer, will be talking about her line called Petals Go Round and all of its endless opportunities.  2:50-3:05.
  • Janet Nesbitt of One Sister Designs will be talking about ideas and promotions for her One Crazy Sister club.  3:10-3:40.
  • Leanne Anderson of The Whole Country Caboodle will be showing some quick and easy projects and packaging.  3:45-4:15.

STUDIOE FABRICS (room 362F):

  • Janice Pope of the Anything But Boring Pattern Company and also a Jaftex sales rep will be talking about Peppered Cottons and especially focus on the 10 newest colors.  She is standing in for Pepper who won’t be at market in time for the schoolhouse.  1:55-2:25.

SHOW SPECIAL

The Jaftex Companies are having a combined show special.  In order to be eligible to win a prize, you will have to make a purchase of $1500 or more from 4 out of 5 of the Jaftex Companies (Blank, FreeSpirit, Henry Glass, Studioe or 3 Wishes).  After making a qualifying purchase, your passport will be stamped.  All passports with 4 hole punches or 5 will be put into a basket and winners will be selected on the last day of the show.  As of now, these are the prizes, but we may add a few more:

  1. $3000 credit towards purchases made from any of the Jaftex Companies. (1 TIME)
  2. $2000 credit towards purchases made from any of the Jaftex Companies. (1 TIME)
  3. $1000 credit towards purchases made from any of the Jaftex Companies. (1 TIME)
  4. $500 credit towards purchases made from any of the Jaftex Companies.  (5 TIMES)

Hopefully you will find this special offer very enticing and will honor us by buying from all or the majority of our companies.  You never know, maybe you will win one of these generous prizes.

I want to say that I am excited for another quilt market.  I always look forward to seeing a lot of people that I only do get to see at quilt market once or twice a year.  I am excited to continue to meet and work with all my new friends at FreeSpirit.  I am also looking forward to stepping up the Jaftex presence at market with new, improved and larger booths.  I sure hope that it pays off and customers recognize that the Jaftex Companies are here to stay for the long haul and committed to doing all we can for the industry.

I look forward to seeing you at market.  I would like to remind you to please introduce yourself or make sure your name tag is showing.  Please don’t assume that I recognize you.  I see and meet so many people and it is truly challenging to keep up with everyone especially those that I see on such an infrequent basis.  I am sorry in advance if I can’t come up with your name in an instant.  However, please do not be afraid to approach me, any of my family members or co-workers.  We welcome the opportunity to speak with you and hear what is on your mind as it relates to our companies.  If you need to talk to someone in particular and they are busy, please let someone else know that you are looking for that person and leave a note with instructions on how we can reach out to you to set up a time to talk or answer any of your questions.

That’s all for this week folks.  Looking forward to seeing you in Houston.  Safe travels.

See You In Houston Scott

5 Comments

  • Barbara Esposito, The Quilted B

    Wow Scott – you have so much going on. Sounds like you will be taking Quilt Market by storm! And I had no idea that 3 Wishes is under the Jaftex umbrella. I happen to have their utterly adorable “Tropicale” fabrics on my cutting table as we speak. I should have known they were a Jaftex family member because I fell in love with this fabric line as soon as I saw it. I am using it for a baby quilt for my soon to be born great niece! Best wishes for an amazing Quilt Market!