#ScottSentMe2019: A Special Challenge For Avid Fabric Consumers
SEE THE WINNERS AND PRIZES SECTION FOR UPDATES
Happy Monday Friends,
As I am writing this blog post, the #JaftexVideoChallenge19 is still underway and going strong. If you weren’t aware, that is my challenge to get shops to submit a video shop tour to me to post on my page for the world to see. If you don’t know anything about this challenge, you should go check out all the videos on Facebook on my @jaftexpresident page.
I love to see shops and I especially love to see them participate in my challenges. This is a great way for them to step-up their social media activity as that is an critical part of business marketing these days. Every shop should have their own video that acts as their “Superbowl commercial” to show off their unique shop to fabric fanatics everywhere.
In my effort to continue to get consumers to visit quilt shops, it is time for another great Jaftex challenge. This will be a follow up to the #JaftexVideoChallenge2019 that focused on quilt shops to the benefit of the owners and consumers too. This new challenge, on the other hand, is for all you awesome consumers who are so greatly appreciated and who we fabric suppliers and shop owners absolutely could not live without.
Without further ado, I am announcing my #ScottSentMe2019 challenge. Briefly, this is a way for consumers to make the most of their travels and visit as many quilt shops as they possibly can in the months of September, October and November of 2019. The one who visits the most shops gets the big prize of course, but in total there will be 5 winners and I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with the prizes. There is no doubt in my mind, that you could be one of the 5 lucky winners.
We have given this year’s #ScottSentMe2019 challenge a tagline that is “Find your Quilt Shop Home.” We know that when you walk into certain places you just feel like it’s home. That should be no different when it comes to quilt shops. You know it when you see it and it just feels so right and comfortable.
This year’s challenge will take place on Instagram. I want to get better on Instagram, gain new followers there and engage with consumers over on the Instagram platform more frequently. If I gain a bunch of new followers, that will encourage me to spend more time there and post more amazing photos and stuff for you all to enjoy. If you are not there yet, please get an Instagram account and follow me at: scott_fortunoff
#ScottSentMe2019
INSTRUCTIONS & RULES:
- No purchase is necessary, but I know it’s tough to control yourself.
- The gist of the contest: To see how many shops you can visit in the US and/or Canada during the 3 month-long contest. When you visit each shop, please make sure to tell them that “Scott Fortunoff from the Jaftex Corporation sent me.” [Think The Blank Quilting Corp., FreeSpirit Fabrics, Henry Glass Fabrics, Studioe Fabrics, A.E. Nathan Co., Inc. & 3 Wishes]. If they don’t know what you are talking about, please explain or tell them to check out this blog post, look me up on Facebook @jaftexpresident or on Instagram at scott_fortunoff.
- Duration: The contest will start on Sunday, September 1st, 2019 and end Saturday, November 30th, 2019. No more visits after November 30th, 2019 for the purposes of this contest, but please continue to visit shops as often as possible.
- On Saturday, November 30th, 2019, I will have a post up on my #scott_fortunoff Instagram page asking consumers to tell me how many shops they visited during the duration of the contest. In order to win, you must follow my #scott_fortunoff Instagram account.
- Consumers will have to indicate in the comments of that Instagram post the total number of shops visited. Each shop can only be counted one time for counting purposes, but that’s not to say that you can’t visit them more.
- On Friday, December 7, 2019, I will review the numbers and ask the 5 consumers who visited the most shops to show me proof of all the shops they visited.
- To play along with the #ScottSentMe2019 Challenge, you must have an Instagram account and make it public for the duration of the challenge.
THIS YEAR – IT’S ALL ABOUT INSTAGRAM
- Proof of visit: I am flexible on the way you prove you visited the shops, but here is some guidance below:
- I suggest trying to collect as much proof as possible and also to plan your proof ahead of time i.e. bring that day’s newspaper with you. Better to be safe with more proof than less. The most important proof that I will need is something that shows me you visited the shop during the duration of the contest and not days, months or years prior to when the contest began.
- To prove the date:
- You can include in your photo the front of that day’s newspaper or something with the month day and year.
- You can include a receipt of purchase or a credit card receipt if you made a purchase.
- THE BEST WAY is that you should post the photos from the visit on your own Instagram page using the hashtag #ScottSentMe2019 on the day you visited. That one is fool proof.
- I am open to any other foolproof methods.
- To prove that a certain shop was visited, here are ideas of things to include in the photos:
- For starters, you must be in one, if not all, of the proof photos for each shop visited.
- A picture in front of the shop’s signage.
- A picture with the owner if that is not disruptive to the business and they are willing to pose.
- A picture of you in the shop, as long as there is something that makes it clear what shop you were in i.e. a sign, a banner or a flyer to name a few.
- A picture of the shop’s business card.
- A photo of a shopping bag from the store.
- A credit card statement with a purchase from the store.
- Anything else you could think of that would be clear evidence that you were in all the shops you said you were somewhere between September 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.
- To prove the date:
- When visiting the shops, please make sure not to disrupt the shop’s business flow in any way as far as this contest is concerned. (For example: “Excuse me, I know you’re trying to sell that $14,000 sewing machine, but can we just get a quick selfie with you for the #scottsentme challenge?” Don’t be that person, but if you are, make sure to report back to me so I can laugh about it with you. I am joking! Not joking!)
Who can participate? The truth is that this contest is for everyone since we are all consumers. The only exclusion would be fabric sales reps and any Jaftex employees.
- Territory: This contest is open to consumers visiting shops in the US and Canada only. Sorry, but this time around I am not making this a worldwide contest.
- Warning: This isn’t intended to be some crazy challenge where you are driving 100 miles per hour from one shop to the other. Please drive safely and don’t do anything crazy or stupid to win. The prizes aren’t that great and your life and safety are of the utmost importance.
- Sponsors: I wanted to remind you of the names of all my companies under the Jaftex umbrella so that you know who is sponsoring this contest. I hope you will consider supporting all the brands of the companies that are supporting all these fun industry fabric challenges and contributing all the prizes.
- FreeSpirit Fabrics.
- Studioe Fabrics.
- Henry Glass Fabrics.
- The Blank Quilting Corp.
- A.E. Nathan Co., Inc.
- 3 Wishes/Fabric Editions.
- Jaftex Corporation.
- Above is the list of sponsors, but there are other brands that we distribute in case you were wondering. Air-lite Batting, Hotfix Adhesive, Stof of Denmark, Stof of France aka Le Quilt, Oasis Fabrics and Sykel Fabrics.
WINNERS & PRIZES
- As mentioned above, there will be 5 winners.
- First prize: A $500 credit for you to shop at (2) of your favorite quilt shops that must be Jaftex direct customers. $1000 value.
- Second prize: A $350 credit for you to shop at (2) of your favorite quilt shops that must be Jaftex direct customers. A $700 value.
- Third Prize: A $500 credit for you to shop at your favorite quilt shop that must be a Jaftex direct customer. A $500 value.
- Fourth Prize: A $250 credit for you to shop at your favorite quilt shop that must be a Jaftex direct customer. A $250 value.
- Fifth Prize: A $150 credit for you to shop at your favorite quilt shop that must be a Jaftex direct customer. A $150 value.
- SIXTH-TENTH PRIZES NEWLY ADDED AS OF SEPTEMBER 5. 5 CONSUMERS WILL BE PICKED AT RANDOM TO EACH RECEIVE A $100 CREDIT TO THEIR FAVORITE JAFTEX SHOP.
- All winners will also get some pre-cut fabrics from me too.
- After the winners select their shop(s) of choice, I will be in touch with the shop owner about a proper way to arrange the credit and you can go crazy buying up the whole place! I know, “Thank you Uncle Scott!” LOL!
GOT QUESTIONS?
- All questions must be posted in the comments section of this blog. I will answer all questions within a day or two. You can also ask questions on my Instagram page, but you will have to direct message me. Use the @scott_fortunoff so I make sure I see it.
- All questions will be answered in the location where they are asked.
- Do not email me personally or anyone else in my organization or you will be disqualified. Sorry, but I need to control my life and I can’t have a lot of emails about this contest filling my inbox or taking up my co-workers’ time. This is all me and no one else is involved and as far as I am concerned, the rules are very clear.
- Please do not call me or reach out to me any other way. Calling or another unapproved contact will result in you being disqualified.
- This is my contest and I will make all final determinations and decisions related to it.
Remember to use the hastag: #ScottSentMe2019
With that, I wish you all much luck and please don’t forget to have fun!
And lastly, please spread the word about the details of the contest to all of your quilty friends.
#scottsentmefortunoff
28 Comments
Catherine
Hi Scott and Vanessa -great contest! Love the fact that you are having a few random draws to include people who live in more remote areas.
Question: I think I see people posting pictures of stores not on the “List of Participating Stores”. Do all stores count, or only those on the official list? Thanks
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Catherine,
Any shop in the US is fair game to visit. We are all inclusive here. The list just contains shops that have decided to give consumers an extra incentive to come and visit.
Have a great week.
Scott
Ellen
I can’t find an address on one store on your list and a few stores don’t mention the state they are in. Will the participating shop list be updated soon?
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Ellen,
We are using what we are given from the shops. Google them if not all the info is there. Also, Vanessa is doing some more work on the chart. Should be fixed in the next day or so.
Scott
Vanessa Denniston
Here it is: https://scottfortunoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScottSentMe-Proof-of-Visit-Form.pdf
Vanessa Denniston
I have updated this list. http://scottfortunoff.com/scottsentme19-participating-shops/
Vanessa
Catherine
Hi Scott and Vanessa -great contest! Love the fact that you are having a few random draws to include people who live in more remote areas.
Question: I think I see people posting pictures of stores not on the “List of Participating Stores”. Do all stores count, or only those on the official list? Thanks
Vanessa Denniston
Hi Catherine,
All stores count! The participating stores’ list are shop owners that are offering specials to customers. V.
Linda Kruusi Mason
How about a graphic for the shops to print. Customers could take their picture in front of it!
Scott Fortunoff
Someone else asked for that on the retailer page. Working on it. Jen had a baby today so we are short handed. Stay tuned.
Vanessa Denniston
Here it is: https://scottfortunoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ScottSentMe-Proof-of-Visit-Form.pdf
Blamb
Like Leslie, I hate pics. Can we wear a fake mustache or silly glasses. Maybe a mustache on a stick held up to our face? It’s suppose to be fun!
Scott Fortunoff
I hear you about the not liking to take pictures, but the rules are the rules and the best proof to me is seeing your beautiful face at a quilt shop…or at a lot of different quilt shops for that matter. I hope this isn’t a deal breaker for you to be in the contest.
janel
Thanks, Scott.
Leslie Tabarez
I HATE taking my picture. Can I register my hand or something so you know it’s me, but NOT take a picture of myself at the quilt shops?
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Leslie,
We will need to see your face. The rules are the rules.
Scott
Debbie
Is there a list of shops that are Jaftex direct customers?
Jennifer McGuffee
These are the shops participating in the #ScottSentMe2019 challenge thus far: http://scottfortunoff.com/scottsentme19-participating-shops/
Judith Harvey
If I set up my Instagram account as private will you contact me for approval or do I have to set up a public account? (FYI – Hate public and probably not participate if it has to be public.) Great contest again this year, thanks for hosting!
Vanessa Denniston
Hi Judith!
I am answering for Scott, as he is on his vacation with the family. You do need to have your settings public, but only for the duration of the contest, so just Sept, Oct and November. I totally understand the decision you face. However, taking your account public allows folks who also share the #scottsentme2019 hashtag to see where each other has been! That is part of the fun of the contest, you can visit quilt shops just by looking at the feeds of like-minded friends, and they can see where you have been too! And you will have the chance to make some NEW Instagram friends if you are watching and commenting on peoples travels!! That is also the fun…finding new friends in Scott’s “familia.” After the contest is over on November 30, you can shut your Instagram down to private again if you want.
Thanks for asking, I am sure others have this same question.
Vanessa
Digital Marketing Manager
Jaftex
Kara Benavides
Thank you! What an awesome thing you are doing.
Scott Fortunoff
Thanks Kara. It’s all for you. Make me proud.
Scott
Diane
Can last years winners participate this year?
Scott Fortunoff
Yes, last year’s winners can participate. Good luck
Scott
Kathy Long
Does visiting shops at Quilt Shows, I’ve: Houston or local quilt shows, count?
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for the question. You need to visit physical stores.
Good luck
Scott
Carolyn Solomon
Please clarify “Jaftex Direct Customer”. Thank you. This sounds like fun!
Scott Fortunoff
Carolyn,
You don’t need to worry about that now. When I have to award prizes to the winners, I will speak to each of them and make sure that they shop that they are choosing is one that buys from my companies. If not, we will figure one out.
Scott