As I discussed, here at Home Biz Notes, investing in a home business, in particular a sewing/quilting business, I realized I’d had to carry my decision further than simply purchasing a new sewing machine…which I did at one time in my business.  However, as my business progressed from dressmaking and alterations to quiltmaking and eventually to making appliqued children’s vests, I had another decision to make.
Should I expand?
I began to get orders for my products from around the country.  It was becoming more than I could handle on my simple sewing machine and with my husband’s help.  I began to look …read more

Determining when to invest in equipment in any home business becomes a factor for many business owners.  When your sewing or fabric art becomes more than an occasional hobby, you might like to consider a second sewing machine.
This is especially important if your sewing work has become an income producing venture and customers are depending on their items and you their payments.  (I had a horror of being without a sewing machine when my sewing contributed a portion of our income.  So I looked into another,  when I could afford it, because  I’d already begun to have problems with my old machine.)
 Some …read more

I came across an interesting article with tips for marketing a quilting business, in other words, promoting your quilting work and letting others know what you do.  Even though these suggestions are focused on the quilter or fabric artist, most apply to any business.
In Marketing Tips for Your Quilting Business by Nikki Sabato, we learn about printed materials one can utilize:

Flyers
Hang Tags
Posters

For the details, check out Nikki’s article.
Have you tried any of the tips she suggests?  What marketing/promotional practices do you find most successful for your home business?
I’ve tried some form of the above materials in my business promotions.  I’ve discovered …read more

“Can you help me make these lined drapes for my room?”
a friend of my daughter’s asked.  “I thought I’d save money by making them myself.”
They calculated yardages and Deb arrived with fabric in hand.  They spent the afternoon making and lining the drapes.
A reader, who works at a fabric store, mentioned,  “We have seen a great increase in business due to more people choosing to make, rather than buy, their gifts, home decor, etc.”
We often don’t think of fabric stores as home businesses, but in our small town, there were two very successful ones located in the owners’ homes.  One …read more

HomeBizNotes.com

This past week, over at the b5media Lifestyles Channel  we paid a tribute to grandparents, in recognition of Grandparents Day. 
The b5media Lifestyles Channel pays tribute to their own grandparents with memories, recipes and values handed down from generation to generation, said Channel Editor Gayla McCord.
At Quilting and Patchwork, where I also blog, I wrote a tribute to my grandmother for my quilting heritage and for introducing me to this art.  As a result of this, I operated a home quilting business for many years.  Now this enjoyment of quilting has translated into writing about it as part of my writing …read more

HomeBizNotes.com 
Are there any home business owners who are quilters or involved in a quilting related business?
I’m sponsoring a drawing over at my Quilting and Patchwork blog for a quilting booklet, Bonnie Leman’s How to Make a Quilt – 25 Easy Lessons for Beginners.
Click on the title above for guidelines for the drawing.
Also, if you are a quilter, you might like to let us know in the comments below.
Share with us your projects or about your quilting business. Quilting and fabric art can be very relaxing in times of stress. Sharing or networking with others also encourages us in our …read more