Congratulations Stars!

The Fabric Shop Network is thrilled to announce the nominees for our 2nd Annual Star Awards!
Please join us in congratulating all of this year’s nominees! The nominees were selected by FabShop members and voting for finalists is going on now through April 1st. The Star Award Honorees will be announced at the FabShop Membership Market Kickoff Dinner Wednesday, May 11, in Salt Lake City.

Check out all the nominees and help spread the word right here!

Independents in the News: Bella Fabrics Supporting Afghan Widows

Photo Credit: The Daily News

Bella Fabrics (Carrollton, Virginia) owner Lisa Steele was recently featured in The Daily Press for her work supporting widows in Afghanistan. Lisa and the team at Bella Fabrics have shipped over a half-ton of fabric and other sewing supplies donated by customers to Afghanistan, where they will be used by American troops to teach Afghan women how to sew. This has also been a wonderful community collaboration, beyond just the donations of supplies–the Carrollton community has helped fund the shipment of the supplies,

The Hampton Roads community stepped forward with cash donations that covered about $2,000 in shipping expenses, Steele said. A Newport News man whose wife had recently died dropped off several boxes of sewing materials and an envelope stuffed with $1,000 in cash in his wife’s memory, she said.

Read the rest of the story, including the involvement of Fabric Shoppers Unite sponsors Checker Distributor and The Fabric Shop Network in this incredible effort on the Daily Press website.

Link: All About Cotton Prices with Deb from Whipstitch

There’s been a lot of discussion in the media about the rising cost of cotton. Shopowner Deb Moebes of Whipstitch Fabrics in Atlanta, Georgia has written a wonderful post on her blog that goes into detail about the situation with cotton fabric prices and what it means to shops and customers. Here’s an excerpt:

I have seen the occasional comment indicating that customers are frustrated when they visit smaller, local fabric shops and find that prices have gone up by fifty cents or a dollar per yard. Especially for a prolific stitcher, that can feel like a punch in the gut–and that’s not to mention the budgeting we’ve all been doing already. Trust me, as a shop owner I can tell you the straight skinny: WE WANT TO SELL YOU FABRIC. And just like the manufacturers and the mills and the farmers who are further up the supply chain from me as a retailer, I hate that there is less cotton to go around right now. I feel frustrated when I get word that prices for my wholesale fabric are about to increase, because in order to stay in business, I have to purchase at a higher price, and then raise the price in the store to make room in the shop budget.

Head on over to Deb’s blog to read her entire post–and be sure to share it with your friends who may have concerns about what they’ve heard about cotton prices.

Independents in the News: One Million Pillowcase Challenge Stitch-In in Leo, Indiana

A Quilt of Many Colors in Leo-Cedarville, Indiana was recently featured in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, which detailed their support of the One Million Pillowcase Challenge and a special event they’re hosting next week.

A Quilt of Many Colors will conduct an all-day “stitch-in” Aug. 28 at Leo United Methodist Church to create pillowcases that will be donated to the local VA Healthcare System hospital and to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, said Brothers.

Read the entire article over here.

FabShopU Presents: Basic Finance of Opening a Quilt or Fabric Store

Ever been curious about what it takes to open your own quilt or fabric shop? The Fabric Shop Network will be hosting a new class on that will take you through one of the most important aspects of owning a shop: the finances. Our instructor, Debi Linker, will cover the key financial information you need to consider when opening your shop.

Take part in a single-session, two hour teleclass with Debi Linker on Monday, August 23 starting at 4:00pm PST/5:00pm MST/6:00pm CST/7:00pm EST

In this course, you will learn about

• Market values for any given population
• Capital investment
• Projected sales needs
• Inventory breakdowns
• Inventory costs
• Payroll
• Rent
• Advertising

If your store is not open yet, this teleclass is for you!

Register today!

How Does a TeleClass Work?
A teleclass is conducted on the phone over a bridge line that offers a very clear conferencing system. As a participant, you dial a tnumber that we provide for the bridge line (long distance charges may apply). We all “meet” on the telephone.

On Friday, August 20, participants will receive:

• Phone number
• Security code
• Dialing instructions
• A PDF download to reference during class

Tuition: FabShop Member $49.95, Non-Member $99.95

Registration is limited for this course, so sign up today!

Independents in the News: Klassy Katz in Bartlett, Tenn.

PHOTO BY KAREN PULFER FOCHT / Memphis Commercial Appeal

The Memphis Commercial-Appeal recently ran a great story featuring Klassy Katz Quilt Shop in Tennessee that also addressed the state of the fabric and sewing industry today. It’s wonderful to read about the growth in owner Toni Katz’ business over the years!