Tales Of A Fourth Generation Textile Executive: Quilt Market In My Shoes

Happy Monday,

In anticipation of the impending Quilt Market in Houston, I thought I would tell you what a quilt market usually has in store for me as the owner of several fabric companies.  To be frank with you, it is pretty frantic, stressful and very busy at times.  I normally am pretty calm, cool and collected, but sometimes I get thrown off like anyone else might under stressful situations.  If I am not on my “A” game, things could get ugly and even if I am on my “A” game they are still capable of getting ugly.  That’s just how it goes and I do my best to take it as it comes and hang tough.

The first few days before the actual market opens will be comprised of a couple different activities.  For one, I do my best to be around the booth to lend a hand setting up and critique the look and functionality.  In addition, I try to set pre-market appointments with several of the international customers.  That allows us to have private quiet time which is very important since I only see most of them once or twice per year…..usually at quilt market.  I also have breakfast, lunch, dinner and after dinner drink plans.  Gotta schmooze Scott!

The other thing that is very important to me is to get to as many of my Jaftex sponsored schoolhouses as possible.  I want my peeps to know that I am there to support them wholeheartedly and it is important for me to hear what they have to say.  I too have a desire to learn as much as I can and these schoolhouses are chocked full of good info from experts in our industry.

This quilt market, I will be in Houston for 6 days more or less.  Wah!  In an effort to keep my sanity, I try to exercise as many mornings as possible barring any early breakfast appointments.  After my workout, I go to my room, shower, get my suitcase of samples and paperwork packed for the day and I am out not to return until a little after 6 pm.

Each day I schedule breakfast meetings that will then move over to proper appointments at the booth.  It’s pretty much non-stop from there on in.  The first couple days, I don’t have much time built into my schedule to even take a bathroom break or eat some lunch.  That’s the life of a fabric salesman.  I am here to work and work I will do.  More importantly, I am there to sell and that is the mission.  Sell Scott Sell!

Outside of the selling part of my day and the appointments, I like to make some time for other stuff.  For one, it’s always great to get photos especially with the huge social media appetite for eye candy these days.  More recently, I like to squeeze in some Facebook lives to show my followers what’s going on at market.  A tour of the booths is usually in order and then some surprises as well.

Last year, Tula Pink and I had some fun doing some different FB lives.  In one, she stole my phone and was clowning around doing a booth tour.  In another, I stole her phone and acted as if I were the one and only Tula Pink.  Gotta try and have some fun Scott!

I also like to spend time chatting up the licensed designers that work with my various companies.  I like to learn about them and build a repoire.  These people are part of my team and part of my extended family and of course they deserve the respect to be treated as such.

If time permits, I usually like to walk the market floor and see what else is going on.  I like to see what the competition is doing.  I also like to chat with my industry friends.  And lastly, I like to seek out big “machers” to be inducted to my big “macher” hall of fame.  Do you know anyone who will be attending quilt market that would fit the bill to be inducted as a big “macher?”  Let me know.

At 6 pm when market closes for the day, I head back to my hotel room to freshen up, change my clothes, speak with the wife and kids and then it’s off again.  Usually we have all sorts of dinners planned.  This year, we have a large Jaftex dinner with all of our licensed designers and in house staff.  I am truly looking forward to that.  Other nights, I go out with smaller groups of customers and it’s more low-key which is nice too.  Usually after dinner if I am not too tired, I will head to the bar to unwind a little more before I go up to pass out for the night.  Then I do it all again the next day.

Sounds enticing, right?

Wish me luck and don’t forget that it isn’t too late to set an appointment by emailing scott@jaftex.com.  I will be at the Studioe Fabrics booth 1223.

Have a great week.