Tales Of A Fourth Generation Textile Executive: Quilt Shops & Chains Living In Harmony

Hi Everybody,

No matter how you slice it, I struggle to meet my blog deadlines with everything going on in our offices and just life.  So here I am, Tuesday morning, with my Monday blog.  

Last week, I attended a district/store manager show for one of the major retail chains. I had a table and explained to the attendees all the attributes of the fabrics that our companies were selling into the stores.  

This is the third year that I attended the show. If you recall, during the first two shows I dressed up one time as a clown, using our costume satin fabric, and another time I dressed up as a woman in a polyester dress using our fabric as well.  This year, I dressed up as a baby wearing a flannel jump suit that looked like a hazmat outfit.  The only problem with the costume was that it was so hot inside that I almost fainted….literally.  Check out the photo:

Anyway, the point of this blog is not to discuss the show.  The point of this blog is discuss how quilt shops and fabric/retail chains can live in harmony.  In my humble opinion, it is not about Them vs. Us, Big vs. Little or Goliath vs. David.  It is more about the common goal that both the chains and the quilt shops have.  That goal that I am referring to is to promote creativity and craftsmanship in the United States. Moreover, the goal is also to grow the crafting industry by promoting crafts to the younger generations so everyone can flourish long in to the future.

Of course, quilt shops and chains each have different and distinct positive and negative attributes.  And, of course, some people have their preference of where they like to shop or where they could get a better deal or a better product.  That is all good and well, but in the end it should not be about the competition (even though I know that is a factor), it should be about the common goal of promoting the great and creative industry that we are all so lucky to be a part of.

What do you think?

Enjoy what is left of the Summer!

Scott

P.S.  Monday is a holiday, so I will be taking a much needed rest from my TOAFGTE blog.