The next VDTA/SDTA Convention & Show will be in
New Orleans, LA
February 27 - 29, 2012
at the Ernest Morial Convention Center
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The next VDTA/SDTA Convention & Show will be in |
The Upside to a Downward Economy Beauty, Design, Quality. All words that lose impact when pitted against facts like: Tumbling economy, Layoffs, Recession. What happens to a luxury industry in a spiraling economy? What good can come of it? The short answer? Plenty! A tough economy can create a new market, a new niche, a new attitude and in the very rarest of cases a new product to attract a new customer base. How do you survive what is evident in every newspaper in every part of the country? It’s not a question of whether the economy is affecting you. The question is: To what degree? The fact is the sewing industry as a whole is feeling the pinch. Customers are not spending as freely nor are they spending as much. There is a gap in this industry for a product that can fill the need people still have to create beautiful things themselves. There is a nurturing spirit that evolves in people during trying economic times. They want to return to home. They want to nest and make their space safe and comfortable. They want to make one of a kind, handmade gifts for loved ones. They want to do all of that at an affordable price. Sounds like a pretty tough order. One very creative and talented lady has worked tirelessly for over a year to create a brand new technique to inspire the sewing enthusiast. She has discovered something so different and so revolutionary we dare to say it could change the industry as we know it. World-renowned Designer, Loralie Harris has developed a stylish new form of embellishment design. FashioNette was introduced to the sewing and quilting world in October 2008 at the International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston, TX. Shop owners were spellbound at the beauty of the design. They thought it an advanced technique. They picked up the samples and tried to decipher exactly what it was they were experiencing. They could not believe the product results they were holding could be achieved by the most novice sewer all the way to one with advanced skills and knowledge. FashioNette is Beautiful. It draws the eye. It evokes a compliment. It captivates people with its special charm. It all begins with an idea . . . Lovely or silly, humorous or fun, a good idea will set off an explosion of images which are then caught on paper-first with a quick sketch, then a line drawing, then full color. After numerous hours perfecting the vision she has for the collection, it all comes together. As it develops, ideas for other products emerge and the theme will be further expressed in Machine Embroidery and FashioNette. Loralie often says that the idea is the easy part! Ideas generate so much work! A designer spends countless hours in hot pursuit of that elusive, beautiful vision. Some come forward with ease. Others are reluctant and require much struggle to achieve. Loralie has often said she is so very grateful that her style and ideas are welcome in the marketplace. When asked her feelings on the time and energy she expends designing, Loralie had this to say, “It is such a blessing to me to work in this way. Since I was a little girl, I have loved to draw and create and I am living my dream. Thank you to everyone who supports my habit.” FashioNette, Loralie’s latest creative obsession, will sparkle up your store, put a lift in your customer’s step, and a jingle in your cash register. From home décor to crafting, scrapbook embellishment to clothing and couture, your customer will be achieving designer looks and designer results. Loralie has provided a foolproof technique in a lovely jewel-like kit to entice even the most apprehensive creator! What is FashioNette? FashioNette is available in a complete kit. A single kit provides all necessary components for your customer to get started. With the addition of a Digitized CD the same kit can make FashioNette available to your Machine Embroidery customer. Kits range in retail price from $19.95 to $29.95. The digitized Machine Embroidery CD is a nominal addition at under $20! How does FashioNette fit into your shop? FashioNette is the perfect class. Choose from the wide selection of FashioNette designs available to book up your half-day classes. This wonderful technique is available to ANY customer with any type of machine. The straight stichers with a basic machine can use the kit. They will enjoy the process so much they will quickly consider upgrading their machine to have access to the digitized version! FashioNette is so much fun they will never be satisfied with just one! The avid sewing enthusiast with the top of the line embroidery machine will have a new reason to fire up their old habit! Entice them to create quickly completed projects and they will be flocking to your shop for new supplies to support their new habit! The success they experience will shoot down all apprehensions these customers may have. In these trying economic times, your customer will be thrilled to spend a minimum amount of time and a reasonable amount of money for a wonderful result. Not only is the price point right, but your happy clients will leave your shop with a FINISHED PROJECT! No more un-finished projects to add to the pile. Here are just a few of the fabulous comments over-heard from devoted “FashioNetters” in Houston: (These comments were heard from end users, shop owners, and industry leaders alike!) Offer your customers Low-Stress Success today! You’ll be so glad you did. And stay tuned to see how Loralie develops yet more exciting ways to bridge the generation gap between experienced sewers and the newfound youthful enthusiast. You never know what to expect from her creative antics! Reprinted from SQE Professional, March 2009 |