Episode #159: The State of the Quilting Industry, Quilt Market Fall 2019

Today we have a special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast recorded at Fall Quilt Market in Houston, Texas. International Quilt Market is a trade show for the fabric and quilt industry. It takes place twice a year, in October and May, and is a time when quilt shop owners from all over the country and all over the world come together to see the forthcoming fabric collections from all of the manufacturers, try out the latest sewing machines, embroidery machines, and long arm machines from all the big machine brands, and discover new notions, buttons, trims, storage solutions, and other neat things they might want to carry in their shops in the coming year.

I attended Fall Quilt Market and recorded interviews with shop owners about how 2019 was for them, what's selling particularly well, and what challenges they're facing coming into 2020. Some of the shop owners I talked to have been in business for three decades, and some for just a few years. Some are full-service quilt shops with a dozen employees, some are very small shops, and some are online only. I enjoyed hearing the diversity of their experiences and I think you'll get a snapshot of the industry by listening to what they have to say.

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This episode is sponsored by Marcus Fabrics and Studio 37 Fabrics. For well over 100 years, Marcus Fabrics/Studio 37 has created beautiful fabrics for quilters and crafters, offering innovative, expertly designed BOM programs, designer fabrics and museum collections for today’s creative market, from Traditional to Trendy! Visit MarcusFabrics.com to view the collections, download some great free projects & more. And follow them on social media @marcusfabrics and @studio37fabrics.

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 To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.