Tales Of A Fourth Generation Textile Executive: Bits-N-Pieces

This week I have a lot of random things on my mind.  So rather than writing a blog on one subject, I am going to write what I am calling bits-n-pieces….a mish mosh of things in my head, some relevant and some totally and absolutely irrelevant.

If you got the most recent Studioe newsletter that was sent out late last week, you have learned that Studioe is now starting to sell tea towels under the E-Towel moniker.  We are really excited about the prospects of this and apparently a lot of our customers are too since we have received several emails telling us so.  There are 12 designs and 6 solids (see image below).  They are being sold as 6 of a pattern and were made in India.  Samples will be out in early May, so make sure to ask to see them. The best part of all is that our pricing is very aggressive.  Watch out competition!  The last point I wanted to make about the towels and business in general is that you always need to keep reinventing yourself and be willing to try new things visa vie the tea towels.  If you just sit around in status quoland and don’t care to change and try new things, you will wake up one day and your business could be all gone.

I am totally obsessed with the show “Naked & Afraid” on the Discovery Channel.  In fact, I am watching it right now and they are in the process of eating a killer snake.  Is anyone else a fan?  I would love to try to be on the show, but I have 2 problems:  1.  I am allergic to fish.  2.  I am from Long Island. Other than that, I am ready to go.

I am sure that you probably already heard, but Hancock Fabrics is officially out of business.  I am really sad to report this because it sad for our entire industry.  I never like to see anyone fail whether it is a quilt shop or a chain store.  Currently, the Hancock stores are under liquidation through an outside liquidator. Hopefully the cheap sale of fabric and other stuff won’t last too long.  In any case, rest in peace Hancock Fabrics.  Thanks for all the great years.

Going back to my earlier comments about being in status quoland, we at Jaftex are consolidating all of our New York businesses on to one floor.  Following the purchase of The Blank Quilting Corp., we subletted (is that a word) the 6th floor in our building.  Due to some people leaving the company, we now have enough room for everyone to get on to one floor.  It will take some time to get used to, but this will be a great business decision because it will make for one less rent payment.  Cutting overhead is always a positive things for businesses.  As you can see in the picture below, it doesn’t look to bad, right?

If I told you once, I told you a million times:  We do not sell to Craftsy!

Any idea what sport I played in high school?  I played defense on the lacrosse team.  The reason why I am mentioning this is because my big 7 year old son started playing lacrosse this past year.  The big difference is that he is starting in first grade and I didn’t start until 7th grade.  How the times have changed!

I take great pride in donating fabric for all kinds of good causes. Recently, in preparation for adding more people to our floor in the office, we have cleaned out a lot of closets and found a lot of fabric to donate. We get all kinds of donation requests and I usually send something because I know how happy fabric makes people…especially when it is free.  I do know it is going to a good cause.  However, recently, I noticed that a Church member that I donate fabric to started to spread the word.  So I keep getting letters like this:  I heard from XYZ that you donate fabric, can we get some too?  It made me think of this quote from a stupid reality show that didn’t last very long about some spoiled kids living in New York City. The quote was derived from a party where a guest of an invited guest took the liberty to bring their own guest.  In other words, a guest thrice removed.  So that quote was this and I crack up every chance I get to use it, “guests of guests can’t bring guests.”  In my situation the quote would go like this, “fabric donation requesters need to keep their source to themselves unless they want to start paying for the fabric.”  You know who you are!

So what time is our appointment together at the Quilt Market in Utah?  I would love to show you the lines or just chat with you about whatever.  As you know, I love meeting and greeting customers.  Even better than that, I love visiting as many shops as possible.  I will be at booth 2516, please come and say hi or just stop by and say how you are totally obsessed with reading my blah blah blog.

I am excited to start travelling again next week.  I have a big date to speak Monday night at a Quilt Guild Meeting in Wilmington, NC.  In addition, I plan to be out starting to sell the newest lines that we are offering for May.  Is there anything more rewarding than selling?  I have probably told this story a million times, but when I first came in to the business, my dad sat me down and said, “Scott, you have one task…..to sell.  If you sell, everything else will fall in to place.”  It is so true because without sales, you have nothing.  Something to think about!

Recently I received an email from a consumer who brought up an interesting subject.  She said she went to a shop and rather than cutting the fabric, the person in the shop ripped the fabric from selvedge to selvedge across the grain.  Typically, that does rip the fabric straight across. The problem arises when the fabric bows which does happen with fabric.  There even is an allowable amount of bowing, but all companies try to keep this to a minimum of course.  In any case, the million dollar question is whether ripping the fabric is a legit way of cutting?  What do you think?  Do you ever rip?  I would love to hear some other people’s opinion on this subject.

So there is my little mish mosh of info for you this week.  You likey?

Until Next Week,
This Is Bit-N-Pieces Scott