FEBRUARY 2010
YOUR SUPERBOWL WEEKEND SALE EVENT WAS OUR OUTSTANDING SUCCESS THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU!!!
The shop looks the same 'up front' but there is "tiptoe while holding in your breath room only" in the back room ... I think we'll be spending the next 3 days (minimum) just ringing orders through. So be patient .. we're getting your orders out just as fast as we and the USPS can get them to you! And again .. THANK YOU so much for making YOUR weekend sale such a SUCCESS!!!
The SOS $40.00 A Month Plan It’s happening all over the country. Nearly very day our hearts break as we see another “OUT OF BUSINESS” sign on the door of our favorite businesses. A great restaurant, delightful bread store, or especially our favorite needlework shop ...here one day and gone the next. I'm sure that you've asked your favorite needlework shop, your favorite little boutique, your favorite little coffee shop the question “So, how is your business? You won’t be closing too, will you?” Your independent shops are not PLANNING on going out of business, but it all depends on sales. Plain and simple. And, quite honestly, current sales are significantly below what is needed for long-term survival of neighborhood shops as it exists today. The last thing 'we shops' want to do is break your heart (and our own), and we'll try to do anything to try to keep that from happening. Why Shops DON'T Survive
For example - from a cross stitch shop's point of view: A chart is sold at $10.00. That first $5.00 is used by the shop to pay rent, taxes, salaries, utilities, and the remaining $5.00 is left to re-purchase another chart to put back into inventory. If that chart is put on sale, the first $5.00 still has to pay rent/salaries/taxes, etc. and now there is not enough money left to reorder that chart .. because it still costs $5.00 to purchase it from the distributor. Suddenly there is less to sell, customers get bored or already have it, and stop buying. (Not all “sales” create this condition, but most do, unless the item was greatly discounted to the LNS at the time the shop purchased it - and that is 'rare'.) The above is a very simplistic explanation, and there are things a small business owner can do to increase the profit margins 'somewhat', but the two items listed above are the major components to success or failure for retailers. You CAN Save Your Favorite Small Business! A Minneapolis-based retail consultant recently explained that if even half of the employed population spent a mere $50 a month each, at any 3 independently-owned stores (instead of at the big box/chain stores), this economy would turn around in the blink of an eye! AND .. those 3 businesses would be saved from closing. That breaks down to about $12.00 a week at each of your 3 favorite independently-owned retailers. Think about what you spend weekly on gourmet coffees, texting charges, or bottled water (I'll bet you just found where you could get some money for MORE stuffs!). At your local needlework shop, if every person on their Preferred Stitcher list spent even just $40 a month (or $10 a week), that shop would not only survive, it would prosper and be able to offer you more new & exciting products, great classes, and a wonderful place to come and play and forget that the outside world exists for a while! Support your local needlework shop (or not-so-local favorite needlework shop by:
It all adds up. Only $10 a week or $40 a month will keep your favorite needlework shop in business for your stitching passions! We at Stitches N Things would like to thank you for your continued support of the needlearts and our independent needlework shop!
Tough Economy? Sure is, but have you sat down yet to figure out the VALUE you receive when you choose to purchase needlework over other entertainment activities? A Night At The Movies For Two: Refreshments - $15.00 Gas to get there - $5.00 TOTAL = $45.00 for 90 minutes that breaks down to $2.00 per minute Dinner Out On The Town For Two: Drinks - $15.00 Appetizers - $10.00 Dinner - $25.00 Gas to get there - $5.00 TOTAL = $55.00 for 90 minutes that breaks down to $1.64 per minute Stitching With A Friend: Fabric (linen) - $20.00 Fibers - $12.00 Chart - $10.00 Gas to get there - $5.00 TOTAL = $47.00 for 300 minutes that breaks down to $0.16 per minute
LAUNCHING FEBRUARY 2010 The STITCH YOUR HEART OUT Campaign SYHO has created a one of a kind stitching experience that will last an entire year! Beginning in February 2010, the first Friday of every month for 12 months, a new design will be released by industry leading designers. The first designer will be Glendon Place; all 12 SYHO Designer Encyclopedia Designs will each be $4.50. Once you have stitched all 12 designs, you will receive FREE instructions on how to assemble the 12 designs into a stitched designer encyclopedia. (The FREE finishing instructions are available ONLY to those who purchase the entire 12 design series.) The designs will be for all ranges of stitchers .. from beginning to experienced. Each designer will publish a design that is indicative of their company style. Most are all cross stitch; some will have a few specialty stitches and perhaps an embellishment or two. Don't worry - all designers involved will provide clear and detailed instructions and diagrams for any part you may find 'tricky'. Fabric? Each designer has completed a design that is 50 x 50 and stitched on 32ct Linen. This does not mean that you need to stitch on the fabric specified. It does mean however, if you want to complete the full set of 12 designs, you will need to stitch ALL 12 on the same count fabric (each fabric color can and might be different depending on the designer). "What if I want to SEE these first?" You will be able to view the entire collection of designs, finished in encyclopedia form, online in February. Stay tuned for site viewing details! "Where to I sign up to get all 12 of these designs and participate in the stitching fun?" Why with Stitches N Things of course!!!
Coming In February ... The ABC'S Of Cross Stitch Coffee Table Book An amazingly vivid photographic collection of cross stitch from A to Z. Photos of projects and supplies that will catch the attention and spark an interest in even the hardest to please non-stitcher. Don't worry! Stitchers can use it too! Check out the SYHO blog for more info about the 26 participating needlework design companies, and find out how you can win the designs and products featured in the SYHO ABC book! THE NEXT GENERATION Worried about the future of needlework and want to help introduce cross stitch to the next generation? Great! Loose Thread Stitchers has partnered with Funk and Weber Designs on the Literacy and ThREAD ~ for more info visit the SYHO Blog or the Literacy and ThREAD web site here: http://jenfunkweber.com/ For more information about the SYHO campaign, please click on this link!
Frank Bielec Says... Click here to watch Frank's video and download your free Flaming Red Heart" graph! Use it to teach someone how to cross stitch! Need the supplies for it, just let us know! We'd be honored to supply you with what you need for this graph so you can pass along our wondrous needle art!
ARCHIVED (aka OLD) NEWSLETTERS Re-read Them Here!!!
CAMP STITCHALOT MARCH 19 - 21, 2010 **
Have you ever been to a needlework retreat, vacation or special weekend? Well, your stitching friends at Stitches N Things work hard to make sure that you have the opportunity to attend at least one ... to make sure that you can afford to attend one ... to make sure you have a great time at one! We call ours ... CAMP STITCHALOT and it's being held March 19, 20 & 21, 2010 You MUST Make Your Reservation WITH Stitches N Things - do NOT call the hotel click here for Printable CAMP STITCHALOT Reservation Form What previous 'camper/attendees' have had to say:
YES .. We WILL have CLASSES available to you at Camp! Classes are optional and so the prices for classes are not included in the camp fee. If you are wanting to take a class only and NOT attend Camp Stitchalot, we'd LOVE to have you join us ... Come take a Class With us!!
BETSY STINNER "THE ALL I NEED SAMPLER"
Betsy of EARTH THREADS will be teaching specialty stitches with "All I Need". This band sampler contains the phrase "a book, a cup of tea and my stitching are all I need". Stitched in silks on 28ct Vintage linen, the dominant colors are greens, red, peach, brown, purple and blues. As usual, you will be learning all the stitches used in the sampler on a 'preface' piece .. not a practice piece, but a small design that is easily completed while at the weekend! (two - you'll get two designs in one class!) You know that Betsy gives a historical presentation/talk along with her class ... the subject? A Revolutionary War heroine! Stitching Ability: Should be able to stitch comfortably on over two threads Bring Scissors & Needle; magnification and additional lighting if you feel the need. Class Fee: $75.00
AMY BRUECKEN "EAT DESSERT FIRST CUPCAKE"
Amy of AMY BRUECKEN DESIGNS (Sisters & Best Friends) will be teaching Finishing Techniques once again (after last year our 'campers' insisted she return with this type class) with her "Eat Dessert First Cupcake"! Teaching you different ways of finishing your stitchery, working along side of you and finishing the design with you step by step, Amy will also be showing around a dozen or so of other cute finishing ideas. BEST OF ALL - you receive this EXCLUSIVE (designed just for Camp!)chart in advance so you can have it stitched up when you come to the class. That's where you will be learning HOW to finish if off by making the cool handle, pillowing and adding the glitz! Choose whatever you want ... you're the one who will be DECORATING your Cupcake!! Stitching Ability: For All! Bring Scissors & Needle Class Fee: $48.00 Deb Koch "THE NOT-SO-FLAT FELTED FLOWER PURSE"
You probably know that Deb of Stitches N Things has fallen in love with needle felting. This time she'll be showing you how to do sculptural felting on a pre-made Black wool shoulder bag using wool roving in a variety of colors. A touch of perle cotton and beads will be added to the bag. Deb will be showing you all the tricks and help you perfect your technique. Whether you've needle felted before or not, this is sure to be a fun and easy class that you will enjoy - the goal is to finish the project in class, but this is not a 'must'. Stitching Ability: For All! Bring A Smile, Scissors & Tapestry Needle Class Fee: $30.00 Click Here For Printable Class Reservation Form
Visit with Deb @ Reading N Writing N Stitches N Things
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Meet The SNT Staff here.. just click on the picture of Our Shop!
Have you checked out The Stitcher's Village yet?? The purpose of this new global online interactive stitching community is to bring together retailers, designers and the general stitching public in a safe, secure place and provide a venue for the stitching community to gather, learn and discover! And, while you're in The Stitcher's Village, check out our shop there ... Stitches N Things is located in the "Green building" in the Upper East Village Stores in Suite 23. |
campaign. Stitchers can create bookmarks to donate to local schools, Girl Scout troops, after school programs, etc. and help introduce cross stitch to the next generation. Need inspiration? Ask Loose Thread Stitchers for a complimentary SYHO Bookmark challenge chart and encourage your customers to stitch and win! Get involved and help spread the word about the Literacy and ThREAD Campaign 
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Are you tired of Googling needlework* events, shop locations and designer releases only to find incorrect or out of date information?
Wish all your needlework needs were met by a single state of the art web site?
Welcome to Loose Thread Stitchers, the first and only customizable needlework search engine available today.
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Come join their site and help revitalize the needlework industry one LoOSe ThREAd at a time.
Cross Stitch, Needlepoint, Sewing, Knitting, Quilting and Crochet
Wow - FREE STUFF - Click On The Sheepie To See
Check out our SALE page!!
Q. Deb, how do you decide what to put on sale?
A. It's really quite easy .. other than that I'm in 'love' with my inventory and tend to perceive it as my own stash-pile-away-from-home. So, to keep things in control, we have a tracking system for each item that comes into the shop .. what date it came in and how many we got, when it was last sold, when it was last re-ordered. We check each item against our tracking system, and IF that item has been in the shop (even if we started with 12 or more and have only 1 or 2 left) for over 2 years (at the most), it's taking up valuable space and has to go! Besides, we kind of think of this as "weight-watchering' our book bins .. they need thinning out as the drawers are getting really a bit too heavy to easily access!
Q. So if you have something on your SALE page, will I be able to get it at a later time if I don't get it now?
A. In most cases yes, but we cannot guarantee that it would still be at the sale price however. Items that go on our sale pages are those items that: (1) we have an overstock of; (2) that initially sold well, but since we've reordered again and again, they are no longer selling; (3) we'd ordered for customers who changed their minds; (4) were ordered by us in error for a customer when that item was "hiding here in the shop" all along and we didn't see it until it was too late (you see, us shops are not able to send back the items we've ordered!). (Sometimes however items are discontinued, go out of print, etc. constantly and we have no way of knowing that unless we place an order and are told thusly by the designer, company, etc. We make sure we take it OFF our catalog instantly if that should happen .. and we feel just as disappointed as you do that you are unable to get it!)
Since what we have listed on the sale page is limited to the quantity we have on hand/in stock, if it's been sold from the sale page, it is no longer available at that sale price.
Q. What if you still have it on your catalog sale page but you don't have it in the shop when I place my order?
A. We make every effort to make sure our Sale page is up to date! The problem is that we are a 'real live brick & mortar' store and not just an Internet store, so any items listed are "1st Come 1st Served". That means we have customers walking into the shop daily .. and they are browsing the sale bins too! There is the rare occasion that they purchase sale items and Debbie or I do not get that information to remove that item from the sale page or to adjust the available quantities of items on sale. If this should happen, we will ask if you want it ordered for you, but it would not be at the sale price if we do reorder it.
Q. I understand about custom framing not being on sale since it's a labor charge and not an item, but why isn't DMC floss on sale?
A. Because our DMC floss is on sale 'every day'! Did you realize that according to DMC the suggested retail price for their floss, as sold here in the USA, is supposed to be 69 cents per skein!?!!
For The BEST in COUNTED CROSS STITCH:
Stitches N Things - we're the STAR on the map! (click on link to see)
Stitches 'N Things
14288 N. Fenton Road
Fenton, MI 48430
located in the Fenton Lake Square, behind Sagebrush Cantina
Hours are Eastern Time Zone:
Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm
Closed Sundays
You can email us at deb@stitchesnthings.com
Call us Toll Free (within the USA) at 877-325-4060
Or Call us at 810-629-3333 / Fax us at 810-629-3313
visit Deb's blogspot @ http://debatstitchesnthings.blogspot.com/
Have Friends Who Don't Cross Stitch but do other types of needlework?
Then you must get everyone together and find out why our area
is Your 'One Stop Needlework Shopping" Neighborhood !!
for NEEDLEPOINT:
Homestead Needle Arts- Grand Blanc Homestead Needlearts
(only 10 1/2 miles from our door)
for QUILTING:
Quilter's Garden - Quilter's Garden
(only 1/2 mile from our door)
for KNITTING:
The Knit Side - Holly Knit Side
(only 4 1/4 miles from our door)
Please know that we do not send attachments with our e-mails,
nor do we open them if you send attachments to us.
Our computers have firewall's installed and are virus checked 24/7.
If you should ever receive an email WITH
an attachment from Xstching@aol.com or from deb@stitchesnthings.com
please be aware that it did NOT come from us! DO NOT Open it - Just DELETE it!
To ensure you always get your newsletters OR response e-mails from us,
set your security to accept email from Xstching@aol.com as well as from
deb@stitchesnthings.com and from news@stitchesnthings.com
We NEVER Share your e-mail address with anyone ... EVER!
We Will NEVER Sell our e-mail address list to anyone ... EVER!
ALL information shared with us ... you have entrusted to us, and so ... It Stays With Us!
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In Remembrance of September 11, 2001 We Will Never Forget.
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Stitches N' Things
14288 N. Fenton Rd.
Fenton, MI 48430
Toll Free Order Line: 1-877-325-4060
Phone: 810-629-3333
Fax: 810-629-3313
Email: deb@stitchesnthings.com
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