Spring Quilt Market 2012 has come and gone. The largest wholesale trade show in the quilting industry is held twice each year. Spring Market rotates between 5 different regional locations: Kansas City, Portland, Pittsburg, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City. Fall Market is always held in Houston.
Quilt Market is different things to different people. As a shop owner I’m focused on assessing trends, clearing my head, and using my social time to network with other shop owners, vendors and designers. 4 days away from the bustle of running a business gave me time to think strategically. I always return rejuvenated. This market left my head spinning with new ideas!
Here’s my take on Quilt Market Spring 2012:
- Relatively new designers releasing their 3rd or 4th fabric collections have really hit their stride. There seems to be a comfort level with who they are that translates into confident designs. Collections appear original, polished and well-curated.
- Blogging is most definitely a gateway to entering the business. I made note of lots of pattern designers, fabric designers and shop owners that started their journey via that first lonely blog post. The online world has opened up the market in a way that is positive for every person in this industry. No need to be an insider. Just create, share your gifts with the world, and take flight!
- The speed at which the industry is growing and changing is mind boggling.
- Social media has left everyone wondering how to do it all and where best to put one’s energy.
- Color, Color and Color!
- Veterans in the industry are extremely gracious, humble and genuinely nice people. In addition to talent, it’s clear that being grateful for and respectful of your customers is a ticket to success. I waited 3 deep in line to talk to Amy Butler. She talked with each person one at a time in a relaxed, non-hurried way. Engaging them in a lovely conversation that was a delight to eavesdrop on. It was clear that the opportunity to talk with her was a special experience for each us. I just have so much respect for that and it makes me admire Amy more than ever!
- Cloud9 Fabrics took orders for their debut of organic canvas. Yay!
- Moda announced two new pre-cuts:
- Candy – 2 1/2 inch squares in a pack of 42
- Junior Jelly Rolls – 21 strips in a pack vs. the traditional 42
- Customers shopping in the internet age still value service. Yay for the thoughtful, passionate, conscientious shop owner (both online and bricks & mortar). She is appreciated and will thrive!
- The retail climate is healthy. Shops seem to be spending again and focusing on strategies to grow and thrive vs. just survive. Positivity swirled around the convention center.
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I have some super fabulous items of market loot to share (plus a few carry overs from Fall 2011, oops on that one!).
Leave a comment telling me what you think the market trends are. I’ll pick winners next Monday. Giveaway is open worldwide!
Books:
- A SIGNED copy of Denyse Schmidt Modern Quilts Traditional Inspiration!
- A SIGNED copy of Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt
- A SIGNED copy of Kaffe Fassett’s Quilts in Sweden (signed by both Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy)
- A SIGNED copy of Stupendous Stitching – How to Make Fun and Fabulous Fiber Art by Carol Ann Waugh
- The complete set of new pattern releases from Serendipity Studio including The Bebe Dress, The Sally Shirtdress, Artful Bags & Accessories, and Fashion Formula Dresses – a HUGE thanks to Kay Whitt who generously provided these! (patterns coming soon to the shop)
- Modern Quilts Illustrated #1 and #2 from Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr at the Modern Quilt Studio.
- Chateau Rouge by French General - 2 1/2 inch Candy squares
- Mini 2 1/2 square pack of all 28 new Kona Cotton Solid colors! (we’ll be getting all 28 when they ship in June)
- Moda Apron featuring the canvas text print from the upcoming Odds & Ends collection by Julie Comstock
- Moda tote featuring the canvas tape measure print
- Moda linen tote printed with the quote ’As Usual, Unusual’
- City Scenes by Jane Dixon promotional tote from Andover Fabrics
- Eco Messenger Bag featuring the Triangle Jubilee Quilt from Deploy that Fabric by Jen Eskridge for Stash Books
ps In the top photo, I’m standing in front of my Modern Cross quilt from the new book We Love Color. Pretty exciting. Will be back later to talk more about that. Visit our Flickr page to view all 227 photos I took at market. I’ve also pinned some of my favorite images on Pinterest.
Kathy Mack
Carrie + Diana
Great Market Review. I really like that you comment on all the parts of the quilting community/industry. You always keep us up to date and informed. Thanks for all the hard work.
As the incoming president of the Tualatin Valley Quilt Guild in Sherwood, Oregon (south of Portland), I am very interested in the news in the quilting world. From your comments and photos I see lots of florals and Kaffe Fassett and Valori Wells -like fabrics. Is this because 30s, Civil War, batiks are “dying out” or did you choose photos based on your personal interests?
I think my favorite trend is the addition of so many wonderful solids! It seems that I have many more options with solids as of late.
I enjoyed reading your “report” from market. It was very interestig reading about the new trends and fabrics. I like how you gave a nonbiased report. Thanks for all the great photos. I would love to go to market! But alas I don’t own a business.
It is always fun and exciting to see what is new. The bright pinks, lime greens, blue and white definitely is catching my eye. We have had years of dreary, now it is wake up and be happy colors. Thank you for sharing all this incredeble eye candy with us.
I thank my lucky stars for internet shopping as the few local quilt shops in my area are just now waking up to all the wonderful new fabrics designs and color out there. I do my best to let them know that as a modern quilter that is what I want to see and buy. Thank you Cathy for putting this all at my fingertips in your blog and your shop!
Thanks for the great review of market! I am a member of the KCMQG and it was great to see such a big turn out for our meet up! I think solids are a growing trend. Thanks for all of the great giveaways!
The trends I’m seeing are:
Clear and bright colors, and lots of them
Polka dots and florals, everywhere
And, continued interest in creativity, patterns and kits included.
Thanks for the post, and the giveaways!
There’s no escape … florals, and other fripperies in nineties style, are prancing their way to the front of the stage. Sigh. Another reminder of my lost youth. Sitting in the corner reading a book, enigmatically catching my eye are fabrics with text, newspaper-like. And solids, feeling more than a bit self-satisfied, are milling around holding themselves up against one another to see how their glow intensifies in combination.
Using solids is going to continue to grow-finding new, yet old ways to use them. Continuing strong with bright, cheerful colors. Modern quilting, whatever a personal definition of that may be, will continue to be a huge thing. Loved your pics and the post. Wish I could have gone. See you in Houston.
brights and kits- keeping it fun and simple.
Looks like oodles of happy colors-mixed with liberal doses of white or just combined with each other! Hope this is a forecast for better days ahead. Thanks for the sneak-peek!
Market trends? Hmmm, I think that even with the influx of all the new Kona solids Michael Miller’s introduction of their solid line the industry will (of course) see the pendulum swing back tthe other way to prints…maybe more geometric than floral, but who is to say??? I just enjoy it as it comes and jump on the bandwagon while it’s here!
What great pictures! I find myself searching throughout your pictures–checking out the colors, designs, new ideas and the smiles. This makes me want to check out our quilt shops for the new fabrics and patterns that are coming out. Thanks for sharing.
An added comment to my previous one since I hit the submit too soon. I think the trend I see is fresh clear colors with simple modern styled quilts. These seem to appeal to young (and older) quilters and will fit into a variety of decorating styles. Thanks again.
my humble forecast for trends: fox is the new owl.
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Wow! I’ve never been to a market but there is a ton of variety there. My take on market trends = 1) convienence tools are a must as quilters are busier than ever; 2) quilters are loving smaller, less time-consuming projects such as purses, totes, fabric boxes, pillows, mug rugs, etc., and 3) the modern movement is gaining steam with their mantra of ‘no rules,’ freedom of technique and styles and, of course, updated fabrics. All of these trends point to a contemporary quilter’s need to fulfill their creativity in a condensed amount of time.
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