The International Quilt Market is being held this year on October 29-31, 2022 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, Texas. It is a wholesale trade-only show for the quilting and textile businesses. The show has been presented since 1979 and is the only wholesale trade show for the quilting and textile industries.
This is a great opportunity for shop owners and employees to check out the companies and see the latest offerings. While there are many reasons to attend the Market here are our five top reasons to attend
This is the chance to check out the wide variety of companies offering fabrics, machines, and notions. Sure some company representatives might still pay visits to the local stores in metropolitan areas, but many smaller companies cannot offer that face-to-face time. This is a great time to look for new offerings and find a new, niche company that you can offer to your customers. Plus you can see the upcoming lineups of new fabrics scheduled to be offered by the companies.
On Friday, October 28, 2022 (the day before the Market officially opens) the Market holds a series of small sessions (15-20 minutes) from various vendors touting the latest and the greatest. You can pick and choose from several offerings and it gets you a chance to find out the latest trends in the marketplace. You'll often wish you could be in two places at the same time as these sessions are so helpful.
Whether you are a new quilt shop owner or an experienced "pro", the Market offers a variety of business seminars to help your local quilt shop grow. With tips on social media, customer engagement, website development, and even video recording of online classes, there is something for everyone. Seventeen educators offer their advice in thirty different seminars during the Market weekend.
Quilting is already a social event but attending Market with other quilt shop owners gives you a great opportunity to meet these shop owners. This is a great chance to discuss what fabric lines they carry, products that are in demand at their shops, and even tips on hiring the right employees. This is a great chance to socialize, trade information, and develop lasting business relationships. Be sure and bring lots of business cards
Taking the opportunity to attend the Quilt Market means stepping away from the local quilt shop. This forces others to run the shop, handle issues, and turn on and off the lights. Stepping away for even a few days gives you a chance to think about your shop and where you want to see it grow and evolve. You may walk away with sore feet but plenty of new ideas about offerings, displays, and classes to offer your customers.
FYI - After the International Quilt Market wraps up the convention center magically transforms into a retail sale offering as the International Quilt Festival. The festival is where businesses, many of whom were not at the Market, sell fabric, tools, thread, and patterns to the public. Check out our article on the International Quilt Festival HERE.
Check out the most popular tool on QuiltingHub. Use the search 'Map Of Resources' or the 'Resources Trip Planner' to the right (or below).