Excuses For Not Participating In The #JaftexVideoChallenge are Lame

We at the Jaftex Corporation (think FreeSpirit Fabrics, Henry Glass Fabrics, Studioe Fabrics, The Blank Quilting Corp., A.E. Nathan Co., Inc., 3 Wishes & Fabric Editions) are ready to launch the third iteration of our Facebook Live Shop Tour Video Challenge for our valued fabric reseller customers.  I know that I am going to hear lots of excuses as to why people won’t be submitting a video this year, like last year,  so I am going to debunk those excuses right here and now and recycle last year’s post.  Funny how some things never change. I hope I can convince you to participate before August 30th, 2020 when the contest ends and when it will be too late for you to jump on a unique opportunity to show the world your awesome business and why it rocks!

I keep asking myself, “Why wouldn’t a shop owner want to create a video and be a part of the challenge and the fun?”  In my brain there are reasons and excuses that I could conjure up if I were a timid shop owner, but all they really are is excuses.  To be honest, excuses are lame to me.  Here are a few with my retorts to those excuses:

• “I never taped a Facebook live.”  Ok, either did I, until I did.   I too was very afraid.   And, I didn’t know anything about it at first either.  My first video was poor at best, bad at worst, but I did it and have gained more confidence with each video that followed (and I hope they have improved too).  Also, know that you are not alone in the fear of being taped.  
• Don’t be afraid to ask others for help or advice.  Talk to family members, friends or customers who might be able to help you put together a video that will make you proud.  Or just go on to google and put in how to create a Facebook live and you will be amazed at how much help is out there.  The people at Facebook are very smart and they have made this super easy for all of us.  Dive right in, but don’t put your head in the sand and think this is going away because social media is here to stay and I am going to keep nagging you too step up to this challenge.  The sooner that you embrace it, the sooner you will reap the rewards….and trust me the rewards are endless.

• “I don’t have time for that.”  It’s August and things are a little quieter in many shops.  You mean to tell me that you can’t open up an hour in your schedule to do a video?  Don’t sell yourself short.  This is an investment like most of the other investments you make in your business.  Why would you want to make it that the only way for people to see your shop is by having to drive to you?  Welcome to this amazing new technological world that we live in especially now when people are on their phones more than ever.  Think about the possibilities of showing your shop to the entire world of quilters….millions.  Transport them to your beautiful store and welcome them with open arms and beautiful Jaftex Fabrics.

• “No one wants to see me on video.”  As I have said before, this isn’t about the acting or anything like that.  We know you aren’t a famous actor or actress.  We know you didn’t take theater in High School. We accept you for who you are and we love that you have a quilt shop to share with our amazing quilting community.  The people want to see the content “the stuff” and learn what makes your shop special and unique.  It’s about your CONTENT.  Show us all your pretties, pretty please and thank you! 

• “This video stuff is silly.”   I would bet that the majority, if not all who participated in the contest last year, have had some sort of positive feedback from entering the challenge and don’t think this contest is silly.  I would also be willing to bet that some have had even more meaningful and very positive experiences and they are now embracing video in their business like no other because they know it’s working for them.  Do any shop owners who submitted videos in the past have info to share?  Please share in the comments.  Thank you!

• “My shop isn’t worth showing.”  To that, I say, let the world be the judge of that.  Stop selling yourself short.  Moreover, if you think your shop isn’t worth showing, maybe this is the nudge (I was going to say kick in the a–!) you needed to change things up and make it worth showing.  Your shop should be a source of pride every single day when you walk into it.  If it isn’t, you need to deal with that right away because that’s an entirely different story.

• “It’s too late to win the contest as others got a head start on me.”  This isn’t about winning the contest although that is nice because we are offering cash prizes (credits) this year.  As I have said all along, this is a win, win, win for the entire industry….consumers, designers,  shop owners, fabric companies, etc.  This is exposure to entice people into sewing and quilting, buying from you and learning about what you have to offer.  The prize is just a token of my appreciation for promoting Jaftex fabrics and a way to get people’s competitive juices flowing…let’s call it an incentive.  I need to get those competitive juices flowing too….so don’t make it only about the prizes, make it about the abundance of rewards you will reap from today on. 

I am sure there are loads of other excuses going through the non-participants mind’s at this time, but I beg of you all to take a leap of faith with me and all those supportive consumers…..just make the video.  I promise that you will feel really good that you stepped out of your comfort zone to do the right thing for your business and your livelihood.

Stop the delaying and just do it as there are still plenty of days left.  I don’t want you to be kicking yourself in September about not having participated.

To all non-shop owners, thank you so much for your great support of the challengers and the entire challenge in general.  Thank you also for your continued support in spreading the word about the contest and sharing with all your friends and your favorite shop owners.  Please don’t give up until the month is over as the show must go on and we must keep spreading the fabric love

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Have a great week everyone and thank you for your continued support of the quilt shops, the industry, me and all the Jaftex Companies.

Scott The Host Of The Jaftex Facebook Live Video Tour Challenge #3

@jaftexpresident