Pat Sloan's Blog

Pat Sloan: What I do as a business

I had several emails recently asking me how I do what I do. How do I run my quilt business, what's it like, how have things changed, do I like it... etc.. etc... 

Would you like to know a bit about my background? How I got started my design firm and how it works now? Read on!

I have always wanted my own company. I remember thinking up businesses as a child. And in my first 'real' job, I was planning how to leave and start my own company. I was young, I didn't quite know what kind of company I wanted and I was working in computers and honestly.. it was fun! 

When computers were no longer fun, I had learned to quilt and knew my passion for this was deep enough to take the plunge.  That was in about 1995.. it took me a few more years to quilt my full time job in computers for 6 months in 1998 and see if I liked writing patterns and trying to market them.

Market them without the internet.  EXCITING.. after 6 months I went back to computers to save the world from ugly code so that when it hit midnight on Dec 31, 1999, the world didn't come to an end. I'm happy to report we saved the world and I was then laid off so I could pursue my Design business.  A happy ending to that one!

How I started my business then is much different than how I would start one now. The internet was in it's infancy not much use as a business tool. If I wrote an email to a shop owner to introduce myself and my designs (via their website) I often got back an angry note telling me not to spam them.. what?? Thank goodness THAT changed!

My business is a full time SMALL Family Owned business, and our only jobs, since 2000. Myself and my husband are the two owners. We leaped off the nearest tall building at the ripe age of 38 without retiring, and no other jobs. So we hit the ground running.  Do you see that sign behind me... i love this photo!

Is having my own business what I expected?  

Let's take a look through my rose colored glasses

Running my own company is everything I thought it would be

• I am so happy to work for myself. I am hard-wired to work for myself. There are many entrepreneurs in my family, and I feel very comfortable doing this. 
• Making the decisions that have to be made is as exciting as I thought it might be. I enjoy the daily challenges, yes.. daily.
• The design firm Gregg and I created fits so well with my 'Doer & Maker' personality. I have always loved when I worked at companies that made a product (Drake Cakes, Anheuser Bush to name a few)
• Not having employees and a staff is nice, I don't have to worry about other people, we just have the two of us.
• Meeting my industry peers and the people who run many of the companies in Quilting is a thrill and the best part of this job. 

Running my own company is nothing like I thought it would be

• It can be very stressful to have to make ALL the decisions ourselves. Should I take that job? Should we do more travel? less? will this be the best software for our store.. what.. my blog is DOWN?? 
• As a 'Doer & Maker'.. my making is more writing than quilting. SHOCK! Ask any shop owner, any designer who supports themselves fully in the business, and you'll find that we have a hard time fitting in the making. 
• The industry changes way more than you think it does. I have to keep up on trends, on meeting all of you who buy my things and allow me to have a business (BIG SMOOCH)! I have to keep up with technology.  I had no idea that quilting would change so much and so often. 
• Not having staff means I have to do most of it myself. I do hire out some jobs, but i would kill for an assistant some days to do tasks that never seem to get to the top of my massive to do list. I need to sell more fabric and patterns!
• I have a massive and diverse project list. The amount of different things I do for the company is mind boggling. Luckily I enjoy multi-tasking!

Do you run your own company? Thinking of it? Did you enjoy this little behind the scenes look at my work?  I have another post HERE on the business of quilt making for those looking to get into it. 

Also read Cheryl's articles on Pattern writing

Join the Facebook group that Cheryl Created for people wanting to get into pattern writing

And I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to start a creative business

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The Business of Quilting

I recieve many emails, sometimes daily, asking me about the 'Business of Quilting'... Here are my thoughts, Updated April 18, 2014

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 Dr. Seuss. 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. 

Also look at online teaching sites like SKillshare for Textile design courses. 

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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 an online business, I have had a staff of 35 people, I've done HR work, and I have run a small business for 22+ 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.

QUESTION - Will you be my Mentor?

This is a very flattering request that I get on a regular basis from lovely people who want me to help them with their business.  But it's impossible. I don't offer any business workshops and being a mentor is not something you ask a person to be who you have never met before.

This is an EXCELLENT article on Mentors, how you find one, and what that REALLY means. It's not asking a stranger to give you help for free.. why would they do that?  

Mentors are a relationship. 

Read the article HERE

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, 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.

• I Highly recommend that you check out all the business info from Quilts Inc, the trade show organizer. On the vendor category you will find fabric companies, notions companies and the distributors listed. Go to  HERE

• There is a Facebook group for quilt pattern designers with lots of good information  Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/quiltpatterndesign

This is a fantastic book, buy it

• Also listen to the shows from Monica Lee at Smart Creative Woman. http://smartcreativewomen.com/

Again if you have a very SPECIFIC question email me

Good luck, tell me how it goes!

ps.... hope you enjoyed the Caribbean Cruise pics!