Tales Of A Fourth Generation Textile Executive: Report on Pittsburgh

May 21, 2014 /

OMG!  It is 9:58 and I am late for a very important date.  Missed my deadline for my every Wednesday for the rest of my life blog.  My boss and Vanessa are going to ream me.  So sorry folks, but I am still having a quilt market hangover….wish it was from alcohol, but it was just from the fabric.  So much fabric.  In any case, I survived another quilt market.  I think I am nearing in on my 20th one….yawn.  So what can I tell you about quilt market that you don’t already know? 

  • They certainly don’t call it the “International” Quilt Market for nothing.  The International customers were there in full force and they were buying.   Unfortunately, it seemed like the US customers were lacking.  I believe there were a couple reasons for the lack of US customers:
    • Pittsburgh was too far east for all the West Coasters.
    • Quilt Market is cost prohibitive.  Everything these days is so expensive.
    • It is just easier to stay home, work the shop and wait for the reps to see you.  My belief is that the shops prefer to see reps on their own turf.  Working at quilt market could be tough at times as there is always so much going on, everyone is on a schedule and it is hard to focus under the circumstances.
    • The horrible Winter hangover.
    • The Studioe Schoolhouse was very interesting for those that attended.  We should be posting a YouTube video soon of the schoolhouse for all of those who couldn’t make it.
    • Sample Spree….yawn again.  Sample spree was under attended.  Just one man’s opinion.  I will have enough precuts to fill up my entire office and send out donations for shop hops for a very long time.  Speaking of which, how about I show you some pictures of my personal office?  You might as well see my office where the magic happens.   
    • Laura & Vanessa did a great job on the Studioe booth.  I especially like how they showcased the winners of the Peppered Cotton Challenge as if it were a stage.  
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    • Studioe was approached by some big name “quilters” at market who want to design fabric for us.  We are really excited about these new opportunities, but I am sworn to secrecy. 
    • We showed our international customers 6 new lines at market for our July release. I am going to tease you here with a photo of the covers of these 6 new lines.  There might as well be some benefit for reading my blah, blah, blog. 
    • As you hopefully know, we have been creating YouTube video reviews of the Studioe fabric releases.  I did notice that the first time I did the video that only about 200 people viewed it.  This time around over 500 people watched and I am scratching my head about who all these people are.  As someone said, my family isn’t that big and I don’t have the time to watch the video 500 times.  Anyway, I now know who watches it as many people stopped me at the market and said they really enjoyed it.  Who would have thunk it?   In fact, some were even quoting me.  Weird!  Is this my 15 minutes of fame?  My big close-up?
    • Unfortunately I wasn’t able to walk the show much.  I did want to thank everyone that took the time to meet with Studioe and especially those who wrote orders.  We appreciate your business and loyalty very much.  As I have said before, it is a true pleasure to sit down and work with quilters.  They are so kind and genuine, unlike the people I worked with in my past lives…..liars (joke), I mean lawyers, and stock, make you broker, brokers.

With that, I am out of here.  It is 11:22 in New York. 

Signing off,

Scott the Famous Fabric Guy

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