June 26, 27, 28 Quiltique in Henderson hosted an amazing Sewapolooza event. It was sort of a Superpolooza! It was a three day event with Kaye England as their featured teacher. There were 77 attendees. $299 per person. It was sold out several months in advance. They rented an old church building that had lots of space. There were 3 large classrooms and a huge room for eating, announcements, and the Sewapolooza store. Kaye's room sewed on 560's, one classroom had 880's, and one classroom 780's. Approximately 25 people per class. They spent an entire day in each classroom. For example: one group was with Kaye all day and worked on a quilt of their choice from one of her Christmas books. One group was with Kellie Rushing (my partner in crime) for the Serging set, Software set, and Accessory set. The last classroom with me had Embroidery set, Quilting set, and Design works set. They stayed with us all day so we were able to get to know them and build relationships with them. There is nothing more fun than sewing all day on fabulous sewing machines with a bunch of great sewists. Then they rotated to a new room for each of the following days.
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| Table decorations, love the rock candy |
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| Goodie bags |
Day one opened with breakfast, introductions, and instructions. Lunch was catered each day. No breakfast was served on days 2 or 3. There was a break with snacks in the afternoon. 3 students per machine each making one project each day. I loved how they did their Sewapolooza store. Andrea compiled a list of every item that went with every set. One item of each was set out on the table by sets in the Sewapolooza store. There were signs that said "sample only" on all inventory and all available inventory was put behind the tables in tubs etc. All of the serging items were together, all the embroidery items were all together etc. Everyone had a large paper bag with their names on them behind the counter.
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| Quilting Set |
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| Accessory Set display |
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| Sewapolooza store |
In each class when the set started the monitors handed out a shopping list. It had all of the items talked about and used in that set with the MSRP and the sale price. There was a check box next to each item. As we spoke about them they could mark what they wanted to buy. Then at the end of class the monitors picked up the shopping lists if they wanted them to, and took them to the Sewapolooza store and at the end of the day everything they wanted was in their shopping bag at checkout. Genius.
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| Sell sheets |
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| Sell Sheets |
Great idea pre printed shopping list, check business hub there may be a template
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| Button prize boxes |
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| All accessories for the set listed |
The button game: At every place on the first day there was a goodie bag full of chocolates pads of paper etc. and a little plastic box for buttons. Students earned buttons throughout the day. When they answered questions, helped others, gave a good idea, etc. they got a button. If someone at your table bought a machine everyone got 5 buttons. In the Sewapolooza store there were 3 tubs of goodies. Tub one you could take out of for 5 buttons or less. Tub 2 10 buttons or less (better stuff) and over 10 buttons for the tub with really good stuff. A great way to move "surplus" inventory.
On the last day there was a closing ceremony at the end of the day.
There is always an issue of getting students in their seats on time. Each time a student was in their seat exactly on time they received a raffle ticket. At the end of the third day there was a drawing for 2 prizes. One was a free registration to the creative center in Chicago (available to all dealers with over 50 attendees) courtesy of BERNINA. And a drawing for a $299 gift certificate to the store. In other words they get their money back.
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| Full house |
Having some fun!
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| Kellie and Sandra Selfie |
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| Andrea and Sandra Selfie |
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| Joyce our DM and Sandra selfie |
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| Tons of ballons |
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| Last minute instructions |
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| Great Catering |
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| Film crew from BERNINA! |
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| This is how Sandra and Kellie start the day... |
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| Ready for check in |
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| Ready to sew |
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| These two were cool as cucumbers! |
Friday night Quiltique hosted a Cocktail/Mocktail party at their actual store. They had lots of great meat and cheese platters, finger foods, yummy lime and mint punch (I want to get that recipe) and wine. The guests had to wear their stage pass badges to get in the store and get their special discounts. Quiltique was only open to attendees that evening. The film crew got some great shots and interviews for the video to be shown at BU in July.
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| Friday night Cocktail party at the Quiltique store |
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| Busy night at the Quilt store |
