SEMINARS

Listen to a long-time quilting consumer, podcaster, and professional quilter. Annie Smith will discuss training your staff, rotating your stock, taking clues from Quilt Market booths, developing a professional look, how customers are your bread and butter, and how all of these things intertwine for your success. www.anniesmith.net

Amazon has only grown during the pandemic and is here to stay. Learn over ten ways to use Amazon to your advantage and add additional income streams to your business today.

Don't let the fear of technology stop you from expanding your business through the internet! Margaret Moorehead will outline basic website set up and strategies, what you need for an online shop, the benefits of having a membership area, newsletter provider options, how to utilize your newsletters for financial gain, and more! Your time is valuable so stop trying to figure it out all on your own and let Margaret guide you through the online maze! www.virtualsewingguild.net

Selling your products successfully in quilt shops starts with branding your business. Do you know your business inside and out? And, will shop owners be able to identify your brand? Heidi Kaisand will discuss actions you can take today to ensure success. www.americanquiltretailer.com

Do you ever feel like your business has taken over your life? Maybe you thought owning a store would give you more freedom and instead you feel trapped? Bob Negen focuses on helping you create the structure you need to give you the freedom you deserve. Learn proven strategies and tactics to take back your life. You CAN get off the hamster wheel IF you know how. www.whizbangtraining.com

Margaret Moorehead lays out the nuts and bolts of recording online classes. This class covers equipment, the recording process, editing, written directions, and different options for using these classes on YouTube, Facebook, and on your own website (including membership areas). This is the perfect class for starting (or ramping up) your online classes. www.virtualsewingguild.net

Learn how to use digital marketing to effectively drive traffic to your website and store. www.sewandvacmedia.com

Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are just a few of the places your business' content should be seen. If it sounds overwhelming to you, Rachel Goodlad will share some new tips to help get the word out about your store, website, classes, or new products.

The "R" word is on every retailer's mind these days. However, there are strategies, tactics, and mindsets that can help you turn what could be a problem into a BIG opportunity! www.whizbangtraining.com

Sewing is a team sport! Learn about connecting quilters to one another as you create quilting communities that support your business! www.carolinamoorepatterns.com

A great team creating a great customer experience is an independent retailer's biggest competitive advantage. This program explores what a Culture of Excellence looks like and how to create one. www.whizbangtraining.com

Explore ideas for turning your art into both physical and digital products. Learn about Traci Bautista’s creative process for designing sold out collections. She’ll share about developing her signature mixed media paint line (#tracibautistaCOLOR) along with examples of various products designed from original mixed media paintings and procreate illustrations including digital brushes, fabric, stencils, and stamps. Get a blueprint of developing a product line from idea through launching and selling the final collection. www.treicdesignsdigitals.com

Find out how to use the latest social media tools to expand your reach and sell more to your customers through your social media accounts.

The pandemic has accelerated change in retail, but particularly for small to mid-sized independent retail. Pre-pandemic, the store was the focus of the brand, and driving in-store traffic was the main goal of most marketing. Now, and in the post-pandemic future, consumers expect many ways to shop, interact, and buy from a brand. This seminar is an exploration of this trend and how to get on the front (and profitable) side of this trend. www.whizbangtraining.com

Learn the fundamentals of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and leave with an understanding of how to boost your online presence and drive traffic. www.likesewwebsites.com

Don't discount that fabric! Make a plan to sell it at a premium price. Teresa Coenen will show how to increase your profit margin by making plans for your fabric's afterlife. Participants will work with a self-assessment tool to individualize their seminar experience. www.stitchintree.com

Considering teaching, or perhaps kicking up your current game? Linda Hahn will discuss proposals, contracts (for shops, guilds, shows, cruises, and retreats), supply lists, shipping, selling products, expenses, "negotiation", presentation, evolving from a shop teacher to national teacher, ethical and moral considerations, preparation, social media, pricing, cancellations, reviews, reputation, working as a "brand ambassador", dealing with difficult students, and much more! Nothing is "sugar coated". www.froghollowdesigns.com

In a competitive market, learn how to make sure your website is Google friendly. www.sewandvacmedia.com

In Spring 2022, Facebook announced additional changes to business pages that significantly reduce organic growth. Facebook Groups provide businesses an opportunity to build fan communities, increase organic growth, and drive website traffic. Teresa Coenen will provide planning documents, practical application strategies, and action plans for starting and maintaining Facebook groups. www.stitchintree.com

Have you ever wondered if publishing a quilt pattern in a magazine might boost sales in your store? Bring your questions to editor Tracy Mooney and learn about how to submit to magazines, get designs published, and turn that into kit sales for your shop. www.sewsupportive.com

Filing a trademark application with the USPTO is probably the most important thing a young business can do. This class will teach you about choosing your name, researching whether the name is available, and how to start to fill out the form at the USPTO yourself. Don't wait! Don't invest time in a name you can't use. And of course, there's the issue of hashtags. Law is not scary. Learn about trademarks. www.justwannaquilt.com

Leave with a roadmap of how to create, launch, and teach LIVE online courses. Learn about creating your course from idea to going LIVE! Get an overview of tech, setup, live stream gear, and platforms. Traci Bautista has been an educator for over two decades, teaching tens of thousands in-person at retreats, quilt guilds, tradeshows, craft stores, and hosted international workshops, including 12 years teaching LIVE online. She brings a wealth of knowledge about turning your art and craft into a teaching platform. www.treicdesignsdigitals.com

Starting a new business? Go through all of the basic elements to get your business up and running in a snap. Learn more about business formation, basic trademark registration, employment questions, and contracts. What does every business need to get started? Whether it is a side hustle or your main business, this seminar will help you sort through the basics. www.justwannaquilt.com

Like Sew has analyzed quilter buying behavior through and after the pandemic and can teach you helpful tactics to grow your sales. www.likesewwebsites.com

Improve your cash flow and enjoy the calm of knowing you can pay your bills, even during slow seasons. Create a cash flow projection for the next 12 months. Learn seven quick tips to manage your cash flow every day and two strategies to increase your cash flow now. www.retailmavens.com

What should every business be doing each year to make sure their legal house is in order? Do you have new products? Are you working in new mediums (e.g. online, in a new social media platform, etc.)? Do you have new employees? This seminar will go through an annual checklist. No legal knowledge necessary. www.justwannaquilt.com

Join a panel of Quilt Shop retailers to learn specific strategies that are working right now to increase sales and customer engagement. Leave inspired with a stack of new revenue generating ideas! www.retailmavens.com

SEO (Search Engine Optimization). You've heard about it, but what is it? In this seminar, cover the basics of what SEO is and what are the elements of SEO. Walk away with some immediate ideas of what you can do with your website to improve traffic from search engines. www.createwhimsy.com

Writing is an essential part of business from newsletters, class descriptions, and blog posts, to social media posts and patterns, and wait for it, books, and video content. Hear all about writing content that is good and embodies our own style. Includes writing prompts, hints and tips, and some of Teri Lucas’ own writing mishaps. www.terificreations.com

Join Shannon Fabrics national educator Teresa Coates to learn how to make the most of your in-store events by bringing in nationally recognized teachers to inspire your customers, increase sales, and build a sense of community. Teresa will share insights from her experience teaching at more than one hundred local quilt shops just like yours across the country. www.teresacoates.com