quietlifeaz Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 to stop by two local quilt stores with a sample of my work and a stack of business cards. I TOTALLY forgot it was shop hop week, and I arrive at 5 pm after a long day of many quilters. so the visit goes like this: Me: "I am....blah...blah.....quilting service...blah..blah" (you know the usual introduction) Shop manager (s.m.): "I recognize you, you've been in here before" Stupid Me: "no yours is the first shop I have approached about my quilting business" S.M. "no, I mean you been in the store " ...dah!!! Me: "...sure, I shop here a lot (well that was a bit of a stretch....but not a total lie)" ....she looks at the front, how I applied the binding, the back.... S.M.: "do you have pets?" Me: "Yes I have a dog" S.M.: "some of the customers ask....do you smoke?" Me: "No I don't smoke and no one has ever smoked in my house" (which I can safely say since we built the house and have been the only owners) S.M.: "what’s your turn around time" Me: "two weeks.....could I leave some cards for you" S.M.: holds out her right hand, palm up Me: put a stack of cards in her hand S.M.: "I have some panels at home I'll give you a call in a week or so".......oh and "I hand out your cards" !!!!SCORE!!!!!!!! ok...that went pretty good, let’s try this again....I drive to the next store, which is run by a really nice lady that remembers every customers name (no lie --- every customer after just one visit). I come in get a cheerful greeting by her employee and husband (S.O.H) (who man's the cash register) she is in the back doing a demo.... ME: " I have started a long arm service, can I leave some cards" S.O.H.: "sure" Me: "I have a sample I can show you" Employee: "Oh...MODA...I have been trying to get her [shop Owner S.O)]to carry moda...let me see.....wow your stitches are great...I jut got a quilt back from the quilter we have been using and this is WAY better" I then see the store owner waving to me from the back of the store in her demo area....she sees her guests out .... S.O. "Hi, thanks for posting on our Face book site (seriously, I posted on "thats really pretty" post 2 months ago and had totally forgotten about it...and she not only remembered me, my name, and that I posted on FB....now that is impressive". Me: "Your welcome" Employee: "look ...she quilts....look at this" (opening my sample back up)..."see this is moda" S.O.: "wow that is great your stitches are so even...do you have a computer?" Me: "No, I have an APQS Millie" S.O.: "this is all freehand?' Me: "Well no, it is a panto, but it is all hand guided" S.O.: "looking at employee, wow this is......" Employee:" way better than ......" Me: "I would be happy to quilt a store sample for you" S.O.: "Good, that quilt pattern you commented on FB about...almost have it done.....you left cards with S.O.H right?" ME: "Yes" S.O.: "We can keep you really busy" TOTAL SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was walking on a cloud when I left the store!!!! :):):) this is my sample Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaB Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 WAY TO GO KELLY ...... YOUR DOING JUST GREAT ..... !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Woooo Hoooo! Sometimes all you have to do is ask! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Wow! You got me excited just reading your story. Congratulations -- nothing like beating the pavement to get some business -- sounds like you ARE in business! Very nice quilting sample, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Way to go!!! I like the fabrics in your sample quilt. What pattern did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Congratulations! Now you will be so busy you won't have time to do anything of your own anymore!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 That is fantastic. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littleshoes Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 it helps too if you frequent those shops now. They will continue to support you if you shop there. So happy you had some positive results, and not crabbiness after a long shop hop. Good luck in your new adventure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delld Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 SOunds like a terrific begiining to a great business to come!!!!! Congrates!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietlifeaz Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 thanks ladies @sandradarlington the pattern is maggies roses (my go to panto) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Congratulations! Good for you! What a nice day you had! I love your sample! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietlifeaz Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 thanks Sparkle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmilner Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Kelly, that is so awesome!! Many times we shy away from doing this because we think of it as "selling ourseves" instead of "offering our great services". Way to go girl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gable428 Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Good for you:) Very exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Really teriffic all the way around. Good Luck, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connieb Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 That is awesome!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnBarb Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Congratulations. It so rewarding when someone recognizes how hard you work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiltsinmotion Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Congratulations! with your jounery :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietlifeaz Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Thanks...I have to say I hate "selling" and hate "cold calls" even worse.....so it was a good day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibbyG Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Way to go!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chermitch4 Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Way to go girl!!!!!Congratulations!!!!!Now comes the hard part!!!!Keeping up with all the business you are going to get!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietlifeaz Posted September 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 @chermitch can't wait to have that problem~~~ :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcclannan Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 That's how my business got started 15 months ago. I have about 20 repeat customers and a new customer or two call each month. Once I got started I found that word of mouth from happy customers really helped too! Your phone is going to start ringing for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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