tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post8739144893895508270..comments2024-03-28T11:26:14.777-04:00Comments on Crazy Quilter on a Bike!: My advice to fabric companies........Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-10724364189772875192018-05-29T15:24:02.174-04:002018-05-29T15:24:02.174-04:00christania’s “Bicycle Rental Copenhagen” bikes are...christania’s <a href="http://www.copenhagenbikerental.dk/" rel="nofollow">“Bicycle Rental Copenhagen”</a> bikes are rolling across the city. The system, less than a year old, is funded by christania’s municipal government. It is currently only in one of christania’s 22 administrative districts. Although a 2nd generation system, there are 12 “Houses” in this district, each with around 40 bikes. The yearly subscription cost is the equivalent of $2 US, and allows the use of a bike for up to four hours at a time. In less than a year, there have been 6,000 subscriptions sold. There are larger 3rd generation systems in the world, which do not have a subscription to bike ratio as big as that.Falcon Embroideryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00303720115296750883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-19587318379395056872018-03-24T17:15:56.940-04:002018-03-24T17:15:56.940-04:00lej en ladcykel Thanks for an interesting blog. Wh...<a href="http://www.copenhagenbikerental.dk/" rel="nofollow">lej en ladcykel</a> Thanks for an interesting blog. What else may I get that sort of info written in such a perfect approach? I have an undertaking that I am just now operating on, and I have been on the lookout for such info.<br />VINYAGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00502411420933293453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-9320344728749928272018-03-05T21:35:24.590-05:002018-03-05T21:35:24.590-05:00Great article Elaine! I've been thinking about...Great article Elaine! I've been thinking about the issue of rampant consumerism in the quilting industry for a while now, even before the Free Spirit closure news. I thought the industry was in for a correction. It's in the industry's best interest to encourage us to shop and stash endlessly, but most of us realize at some point that we will never be able to use up what we have, or we run out of storage ... There is a limit. Now Free Spirit has found a purchaser, but I think a correction is still coming. The smart companies will take your advice and "right-size" but I think some fabric companies will close ...trudys_personhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11764674203434410754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-78802727298859162132018-02-20T20:35:30.746-05:002018-02-20T20:35:30.746-05:00I also have some thoughts. I am 61 now. I grew up ...I also have some thoughts. I am 61 now. I grew up with old-fashioned quilters, people who quilted like the pioneers and who avoided buying fabric if they could. When I picked up quilting magazines again starting on about 2000, it was drastically different. Wildly complex and beautiful quilts, people buying fabric to buy fabric, and awfully expensive machines and a plethora of things like rulers, and so on. I read about quilters who have multiple machines. I saw a pattern/quilt I liked, but it listed more than 10 prints! And this was not an exception. <br />We should face the fact that we have been bred to be a nation of consumers, and we wanted it, in order to keep businesses growing. In addition to the wave of Baby Boomers changing demographics upward, it is cresting. And Industries change--yarn!--who does crewel now? I remember yarn companies folding.D.H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17519210084545964070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-71193831065473296142018-02-17T07:04:17.996-05:002018-02-17T07:04:17.996-05:00Yes Kathy -- you may share! The more we unite as ...Yes Kathy -- you may share! The more we unite as consumers, the louder the message will be!Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-90559829964674451732018-02-16T18:14:24.540-05:002018-02-16T18:14:24.540-05:00Very valid points Elaine, may I share this on my F...Very valid points Elaine, may I share this on my FB page?Kathy MacKiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17036167100686615797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-38249907236507236362018-02-16T06:52:12.859-05:002018-02-16T06:52:12.859-05:00Michelle - good comments. One thing to consider a...Michelle - good comments. One thing to consider about solids - they are CHEAPER than prints and let's face it, a large number of the modern group are using solids. That tells us something! Many of those designers will be picked up by new fabrics - Kaffe and Tula are actively searching for a new home. They won't be out of a job. But they need to scale back on how many collections they produce and how many SKUS. Tula's new All Stars has 62 fabrics in it. And a new collection coming out in two months. Can you afford to buy all that to support her? How many Tula Pink quilts do you want? Thanks again for the comments. Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-38722953090622227232018-02-16T06:49:23.597-05:002018-02-16T06:49:23.597-05:00OPQuilt --- I also listened to TUla Pink that day...OPQuilt --- I also listened to TUla Pink that day and I was SHOCKED at how much SHE was pushing. Yes - we are a limited population with limited dollars. The market is saturated with designers/fabric companies and anyone else who thinks they can make a living at this business. At some point, someone will have to STOP. We can only push back by not buying and at some point, more of them will go - not because we don't like them, but because of greed on their part!!! Thanks for the comments!!Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-66130960679012771912018-02-14T17:17:49.360-05:002018-02-14T17:17:49.360-05:00A few comments both on the article and the previou...A few comments both on the article and the previously posted comments. I do not believe that most quilters are at or nearing retirement. Perhaps many guild members are, but in my town the only guild meets during the day. I have to drive almost an hour to go to a guild meeting at night. Younger quilters are very active online and in the MQG.<br /><br />I have heard pushback that customers want some continuity between lines. Which is why some designers are adding a range of solids, dots, stripes etc to their lines to bridge from one collection to another. In the past a retail customer had to buy the line quickly if they wanted all the co-ordinates. That for me is value added. I know if I buy a few prints in a collection I will be able to add to them in the next collection.<br /><br />I think the incredible demand for solids in a huge range of colours bears out the idea that people want to be able to rebuy product.<br /><br />As well as being difficult for the designers who learned about this change at the same time as the general public (poor management planning there), it is going to be very difficult for fabric shops who focused on those designers. In my community the way so many LQS survive is by offering different product lines. There is a beautiful fabric shop in a small Sask town that carries a huge variety of Faffe Fabrics. Their customers know what to expect when they shop there. How will this change impact them? Michelle T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14897011032176640930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-90476998195846221492018-02-14T10:48:17.437-05:002018-02-14T10:48:17.437-05:00We, the consumer, are totally on board with all th...We, the consumer, are totally on board with all that you say. But there seems to be a disconnect at the top. I listened to Tula's FB broadcast and she continually said, I have two more designs in the pipeline, or Wait until you see what I'm designing now, or you're going to love what's coming. The one missing variable in your argument (which became apparent to me when listening to her) is that the designers only get paid when they release new collections...so they are interested in pushing them out. Isn't the real crux of the problem that we (fabric buyers) are a limited population? And so we can't support all these designers with all their collections? Because of this limitation, some fabrics will end up on sale racks, or in discount stores, just like all the other consumer products in our world. (PS I don't normally get back to blogs I comment on, so if you want me to see your comment, please use my email address.) Good column, good thoughts. Thanks for writing this.OPQuilthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08622702911207665333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-57143969245633345782018-02-14T08:48:08.559-05:002018-02-14T08:48:08.559-05:00Sharyn -- WOW - I'm impressed. I haven't...Sharyn -- WOW - I'm impressed. I haven't reached that stage yet, but I'm not buying willy nilly anymore. I'm only buying what I need. <br />Thanks for your comment and wow - you're good!!Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-33667460850152794512018-02-14T08:46:52.085-05:002018-02-14T08:46:52.085-05:00Becky -- I think you're right. Many designers ...Becky -- I think you're right. Many designers (of patterns and fabric) think they can get in on the "cash cow" which isn't really a cash cow at all. Time to scale back for sure!Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-75740425887957270302018-02-14T08:46:00.932-05:002018-02-14T08:46:00.932-05:00Thanks so much for your comment! Thanks so much for your comment! Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-64445742743242749682018-02-14T08:44:09.580-05:002018-02-14T08:44:09.580-05:00Sherry -- you are so right!! Many of the "av...Sherry -- you are so right!! Many of the "average quilter" is getting close to retirement age and sitting on a ton of fabric. We don't want MORE - we want to use up what we have. But the fabric companies don't see it that way - their head is in the sand!! And yes - the economy isn't helping either - there are two strikes against the fabric companies and they have to learn to work smarter in order to survive. Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-76571608756346847142018-02-14T08:42:18.209-05:002018-02-14T08:42:18.209-05:00Helen -- Hm - that's a question that I'm n...Helen -- Hm - that's a question that I'm not sure about. It might depend on what kind of contract they have, but I'm not sure why they would want to design for more than one unless there were issues (like not pumping out enough from one). I listened to Tula Pink yesterday and she has one line coming out NOW, one that will ship in three months and several more planned. That's WAY TOO MUCH!!! And Freespirit just let it happen. I would love to know the yardages and sales! Thanks for the comment. Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-56296729459261616342018-02-14T08:40:22.101-05:002018-02-14T08:40:22.101-05:00Mary-Kay -- right on! There seems to be very litt...Mary-Kay -- right on! There seems to be very little concern for what the consumer wants and that's just wrong! Thanks for the comments!Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-23310758286830401752018-02-14T08:39:38.301-05:002018-02-14T08:39:38.301-05:00Margaret -- I would agree with you on the designer...Margaret -- I would agree with you on the designers making more money on the patterns and trinkets. I'm not sure. But we really need to get a market correction happening here or more companies will close and then we're really going to be stuck for selection. And yes -<br /> I'd like to see some fabrics stick around a bit longer as well. Thanks for your comments. Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09654762599199404214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-4914305904380467512018-02-13T19:28:00.643-05:002018-02-13T19:28:00.643-05:00as a side effect of doing FlyLady :) I quit buying...as a side effect of doing FlyLady :) I quit buying fabric in October 2001. I've never felt I had a big stash, one double closet. I work on quilts every day. And only last year did I start running out of colors. <br />That is just me. <br />I could go on for days :)Sharyn Mallow Woerzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776056375534578046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-68920358276329168602018-02-13T16:30:25.918-05:002018-02-13T16:30:25.918-05:00I agree. I think the first one is paramount. Mayb...I agree. I think the first one is paramount. Maybe too many people are simply trying to make a living from the industry. Time for some "back to reality" shrinkage.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357762940466454306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-86183194455534959972018-02-13T15:37:51.351-05:002018-02-13T15:37:51.351-05:00Brilliant article! Nothing else I could add and if...Brilliant article! Nothing else I could add and if only people at the top would listen to your wise words things could have played out differently. Guess the Gordon Gecko "Greed is Good!" hasn't died...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-19261488325604742912018-02-13T15:32:03.135-05:002018-02-13T15:32:03.135-05:00I have not purchased large quantities of fabric in...I have not purchased large quantities of fabric in quite some time. And have not purchased any fabric since January 1st.<br /><br />I have a stash that takes up almost half of my basement. . . and I am looking at retirement. I need to downsize, not keep buying.<br /><br />And, to be honest, the economy is not all rosy and bright. . . in spite of what the government spin masters try to say. For the "little people" times are harder and will probably get harder.<br /><br />So, unfortunately, production will contract in response to slower sales (because businesses want income). . .and that, in turn, will continue to spiral downward as the employees that are let go will stop spending while they try to find other jobs. . . .and so on and so on.<br /><br />I have been involved in consumer goods for over 30 years. . . but these last 5 years or so have been the worst that I have seen for small businesses. . .and I don't see it getting better right away.Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11615766893549743938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-48764908236626273432018-02-13T14:46:24.054-05:002018-02-13T14:46:24.054-05:00I was also reading that online shopping like fabri...I was also reading that online shopping like fabric dot com and amazon are underselling the price LQS have to pay wholesale, specially here in Canada. There was one question that came to my mind ad I read the article last night. Can a designer design for more than one company at a time - for example if Tula Pink was under contract with Free Spirit - can they also design for another company at the same time? I checked and couldn't find an answer -.Helen Newtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-88406390381707276202018-02-13T11:39:14.281-05:002018-02-13T11:39:14.281-05:00I agree with you 100%. And I also agree with the c...I agree with you 100%. And I also agree with the comment Margaret posted. What it's really about is a money grab from the fabric companies and not enough what the consumer wants. No wonder they are closing.Mary-Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00142141481809983526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028034539470622344.post-51881280012941016782018-02-13T09:24:09.615-05:002018-02-13T09:24:09.615-05:00I agree with a lot of your comments, Elaine, parti...I agree with a lot of your comments, Elaine, particularly about the saturation of the fabric market. Do I really need a new selection of fabric every time I go to the fabric shop? Would I really like to see some fabrics be available longer than 4 - 6 months? Do I need to see Designer X’s new line, which looks remarkably like their last line, and the previous one, and the previous one?<br />I’ve really wondered about this, a lot. From what I’ve read (and I may be misunderstanding here), fabric designers make more money on patterns and trinkets, and don’t really make that much from their fabrics. To me, that means, stop pushing 3 or 4 new fabric lines a year. (Of course, I realize that someone is making money from those new lines. Fabric companies?)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07970078212794027289noreply@blogger.com