Quilting and Patchwork

Taking Time for the “Little Things” in your Quilting Business

by Mary Emma Allen on April 14th, 2007

Are you taking the time to attend to “the little things” when it comes to your quilting or fabric art customers?  These would include keeping a file of your customers, getting to know them personally, sending thank you notes, new product notices, how can I help you inquiries? 

When I was making quilts and other fabric items for customers and contact was by mail order, we often developed a friendship with correspondence continuing long after the quilt was made.  Nowadays, your correspondence  could be done by e-mail or hand written notes.  However, in this electronic age, people still like to receive hand-written notes in their mail box.

I’ve been attending a business seminar this weekend.  At one of the sessions, the workshop instructor talked about marketing, retaining customers, and getting repeat business.  She mentioned taking time to take care of the “little things” so your customers/clients know they’re more than a dollar sign to you.

Of course, you hope  they will purchase more or think of you when they need your type of product or services. If you develop a friendship, they’ll be more likely to return and keep you in mind if they have an occasion to refer you to a friend who needs what you offer.

In our busy world, we sometimes don’t take time for those acts of thoughtfulness to make people seem special.  For years, my husband and I purchased our cars from one dealership and one salesman because he took time to get to know us, learn what we needed for a vehicle, and what we could pay.  He would send thank you notes, how are you doing notes, and haven’t seen you in awhile notes.  Joe was a popular salesman at the dealership until his retirement.

      Of course, selling cars and fabric art aren’t the same items, but the same principles of customer relations do apply. The same care with customers/clients can be taken with your quilting business.

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