The Business of Quilting

The other day some of you had some questions on the 'Business of Quilting'... so I asked for some specific questions that I could answer and got a few.. here you go.... I'd be happy to answer any follow ups!

The Business of Quilting Q&A

QUESTION - I have some ideas for a fabric line, how do I get them published (or a variation of that question as I had several)

My Thoughts on getting a Quilt fabric line published.... My main observation for fabric in the quilt industry is that the designs are in 3 categories-
1- In House Fabric – This is fabric designed by staff or contract textile designer. The fabric company name or a 'brand' name (like 3 Sisters) is used for those fabric lines

2- Fabric Designed 'with' an established quilt designer – There are now LOTS of lines designed with quilt designers. The designer is almost always someone who will design and publish quilts with their fabric in the magazines, in their books and in their pattern lines. They will also promote it when they teach.  The designer has usually been known in the industry for a while before the fabric line comes out.

3- Licensed Fabric designs from artists in other fields - Painters, graphic artists, celebrities, people who illustrate books...etc.  They have a 'name' in another area.... like.. mmm... lets say... Marie Osmond or Olivia the Pig! The fabric company is betting you see the name or designs and connect to it in some way. You will recognize it and want some!

I think that most fabric designed by quilt designers happens after the designer has been established with quilts published in magazines, books and self published patterns. Or they my be out on the teaching circuit getting their name known to the quilters, guilds and quilt shops who will then purchase this fabric.

**So how do you design fabric if you want to give it a try?
First you actually have to DRAW something! Not just have ideas... you need to actually do the work. See how it feels.. make it happen.  Then you can have some printed on spoonflower to have your fabric design on cotton.. that is a way to let you know if what you are doing seems 'right'

After you have a portfolio of a LOT OF DESIGN drawings... and I mean A LOT ... you will need to start contacting fabric companies to try and make an appointment with them at the trade show or at their offices.

Most likely they will want to see your portfolio first to see if it fits their company style, to be sure they don't already have something similar published or being published, to see what kind of work you do. This saves both of you time and money. Don't give up if one is not interested, just keep contacting companies with your portfolio. 

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QUESTION - How do I Get a Quilt design published.

I think the 2 quickest ways to have your first quilt published are
1-Self published
2-with a magazine.

With both options you must first make the quilt and write the pattern. No other way around it. So if you want something published and have NOT done this yet.. back away from the computer and get to work!  NOTHING and I mean NOTHING happens if you have not made a quilt and written the pattern.

** For self published you have the additional tasks of editing the pattern 500 times, formatting it, cover photography, pattern layout, interior graphics, printing, packing and marketing it. oh.. and you'll need a website too.

** For the magazines get all the correct magazine submission information off their website. Then send in photos for consideration (notice.. I said PHOTOS.. for the first time I would do more than one quilt so they have options).  You won't need to send the directions until the quilt is accepted, but you might as well practice writing them!

QUESTION - How do I own my own dream quilt shop.

I am not an expert on this... but I do own a quilt shop online, I have had a staff of 35, I've done HR work, and I have run a small business for 10+ yrs ... so here are my thoughts...

1-Have you EVER worked retail? Have you worked in a quilt shop? Yes.. GREAT you then KNOW what it's like.. NO??? Go work in a store now.. they are not hiring? Then work for free. You MUST know if you even LIKE working retail! It's not for everyone.

2-Have you ever had employees (children do NOT count)... yes? Then you know what it means to be a leader, have staff, worry and chat and talk with them, how to comply with all the laws associated with employees, have taxes just right, pay the rent, make enough income to hand out paychecks.. etc. 

Never had employees? Then I once again suggest you find some sort of job where you can try your hand at having some staff. Also take management training courses... it's an art and not everyone is a good leader (oh... you've WORKED for those people haven't you? You don't want to BE those people!) If you find out you hate being in charge like that.. you'll either need to hire a manager for your store or look at other options.  It's no fun to go into your dream and discover it's really a nightmare.

3-Next thing is to go to the quilt trade show and take all the business classes they offer. Get involved now before you spend any more $$ to see if it is really what you want to do.

Oh I thought you'd never ask.. yes i have some FURTHER Thoughts...

When I was a young woman working as a computer programmer I worked for a small consulting company. Only 12 employees. The 2 men that owned the business were AWESOME as they taught me so much.

One thing Murray always advised was to 'keep your day job'. Meaning.. try out what you want to do while you have a job that pays your bills. Try out your dream WHILE working before going at it full time. You want to be sure you not only like it, but feel it might actually work for you to support you and your family.

When I started my business.. I had already worked  4 years doing quilting as a evening and weekend job. I taught, did customer quilts, did models for fabric companies, did models for quilt shops.  When I started my pattern business I took 6 months off work to give it a try.

But after 6 months I went back to work full time in a busy computer field and I STILL did my quilt business. I did this for almost 2 MORE years as a 2nd job.... Even going to the trade show and starting up my pattern business. It was hard work but it showed ME that I loved doing it so much that I'd work overtime on it. I'd work for little pay. I'd work when I was tired.  It showed me it could bring in money... which meant when I went full time I felt it could be a full time job.

So your first assignment is to actually DO what you want to be doing, even if it's for free. Keep your day job and do your 2nd job in the evenings.. on the weekends...  but you can't just THINK about it. You have to draw, make, write and see what happens.

Again if you have a few questions email me or post in the comments...

Good luck, tell me how it goes!

ps.... hope you enjoyed the Caribbean Cruise pics.. can't have a post without photos!

Comments

[Kathy Allison]

Pat, love your thoughts and words of wisdom. keep your day job and build your dream on the side until you know that you can sustain yourself with your dream rather than sink in a nightmare. I realize that you wrote this 11 months ago but it's timeless information. Thanks

[Carolyn Carter]

Pat,
Thank you for all your information and time putting it there. I have also been doing free for years, i.e. teaching classes, sewing quilts, etc. Thanks for the suggestions on business classes @ quilt market. I am researching that also.
Thanks,
Carolyn in WV

[PAT SLOAN]

glad you found what 'feeds your soul'!

[Chris Dahl]

Excellent read Pat. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

I can relate to the part about doing something you love even if it is for free! My husband however doesn't understand that part. LOL

I have been working for about 2 years now to build a reputation and an online quilting business. What I have made in those two years isn't worth reporting to the IRS yet! But that has not stopped me.

I once thought about opening a quilt shop, but what I soon realized was I did not want the hassles of running a shop. (And yes I worked retail, and have managed employees in many of my jobs)

My passion for quilting and my passion for teaching soon became my focus and I found that was what I really loved! I didn't think I could pay rent with just classes, and did not want to deal with inventory or sales of products. I love working with people and helping others. All my job experience was pointing towards that. I examined all my past jobs and found the once thing in common with what I liked about each job was the same, it was working with people. I was good at customer service and I liked customers interactions. I once thought that a shop was the only way to go. I thought if quilting was my passion than open a quilt shop, right?

I now know that my online classroom website is an will always be the right choice for me. I get to help, I get to teach and I get to work with people all around the world. Creating patterns and writing lesson plans in not my favorite part but have learned to enjoy that too now.

My husband still has not seen why I feel compelled to continue this mission as he only measures success by dollars. I feel there are many more benefits I am getting right now that can't be measured by dollars. Maybe some day we will see the money who knows my future is yet to be written.

Chris Dahl

[Audrey]

Thank you for the great advice Pat! I would be interested in more Q/A posts like this. It is great to hear from someone who has been-there-done-that. You are a role model for all of us aspiring pattern designers out here! :)

[Katie Mackin]

My friend and partner have been in business for a little over a year, just working out of a cottage, that is not zoned for the public. We now are moving into a small space next to our town's new Arts and Cultural Enrichment Center, to sell our quilts. We do custom quilting and sewing. I see this as different than a regular quilting store. But, all of your advice is noteworthy and well received. Do you know of a method by which our work can be marketed on-line, without too much capital?
Visit our site, see what you think, and maybe others would consider featuring a link to our site on their site, and we could reciprocate.
We both work other jobs, as well, and Barbara is the founding member of the Art Center, Sol Treasures. celebrate@soltreasures.com
It seems our work is never done. I designed the Logo, the business cards, the brochures, the web site, and I feel like my life has set me up to do this. I was a graphic artist in a former life.
But everything takes time, energy, and money. We are barely making it. I think the biggest challenge is getting the word out there about what you have to offer.
Any ideas about that?
Thanking you in advance!
Katie

[quilting forum]

Great synopsis and oh so true!

[Amanda]

Pat,

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. It really gave me some insight into what I need to do. The first thing I need to do is to learn to draw! lol I may take some classes!

I have never had the desire to own or work in a quilt shop. Both of my parents owned their own businesses. From a very young age I could see that their workers had to love the business just as much as they themselves did. That's hard to find.

Thanks, again, for your insight. It makes me feel good to know that you have worked hard to be where you are. You still work hard. Like I told you on my blog, I'll always support those of you who design and make my quilting life such a joy.

[Anna]

Pat: Thanks for sharing your advice and experience. I appreciate the fact that your road to your quilting career hadn't always been smooth. When I retire from my federal government career, I would like to take a job in the quilting industry, maybe having my own quilting business or working in a quilt shop. I have been taking management/leadership courses, hoping they would come in handy in a second career. If I manage a quilt shop, it may have been worth my taking all those courses, I would like to take some small business courses too. --Annabelle

[Jen]

The one thing you need to know about working/owning a quilt shop is that its very physical work. Cutting, carrying bolts, did I mention cutting...lots of cutting. Your chiropractor & massage therapist will be your best friends. But for any quilt addict its the best job in the world.

[Renee]

Great info Pat! Thanks for taking the time to take questions and answer them. Guess I need to put my application in at my LQS!!
Renee

[Amanda]

Hi Pat great read. I know a job in this industry is not for me before I read this page... I have worked in a quilt shop and believe I know first hand how not to run one even though a once upon a time dreamed about it. Love the teaching (the little bit I have done) but not enough to make a business out of it.

[Debbie St.Germain]

Pat,
Wonderful information about the quilting business. I like the idea of making my own fabric, that would be fun to do and make great gifts for my quilting friends.

Debbie

[verrysherry]

Brillant words of wisdom! Thx for sharing.

[Nellie Mueller]

Pat - As a traveling teacher and pattern designer,I find your commentary (on getting into the quilt business) some of the most realistic and concise I have ever read. You do have to have a passion for management, marketing and people, as well as making quilts/patterns/fabric, etc. Your advice is a "must read". Thanks!

[Celine Perkins]

Pat,
Great synopsis and oh so true!

Celine

[Tamara]

Thank you for sharing Pat. What a fascinating journey!