Building on the success of last year’s Sofa Talks, our Main Stage Content will feature informative sessions hosted by small and large businesses. These sessions will delve into current and emerging issues and points of interest within the industry. Attendees will gain valuable insights and practical tips to help grow their businesses. This is a FREE program; this stage is located on the exhibit floor.

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and connect in the crafting industry. Everyone is welcome to join us at the conference!

3:30 pm – 4:15 pm | 5 E’s to Easy Everyday Marketing

Shop owner panel! Seasoned retailers share easy everyday marketing strategies that garner big results. Moderated by The Fabric Shop Network, Inc. … the trade association for independent fabric and quilt retailers.

Presented by The Fab Shop Network, Inc

10:15 am – 11:30 am | Online Education Meets Brick and Mortar: Enriching Your Customer’s Experience and Your Bottom Line

Bring online education into your real-world shop. Learn how brick-and-mortar retailers can collaborate with online educators to expand offerings, increase sales, and build community.

We’ll discuss:

• What, how, why of online workshops
• Collaborating with online educators
• Win-win-win Customer-Shop-Educator
• The money, the money, the money

Moderated by Lyric Kinard of The Academy for Virtual Teaching; Panelists: Felicia Lo of School of SweetGeorgia, Lauren Venell of Maydel, Amy Marson of C&T Publishing

11:45 am – 12:45 pm | Amazon – How to Make Money from A to Z

Expanding your business can be accelerated by selling on Amazon’s marketplace, but doing it right means paying attention to the details. In this talk, you’ll learn best practices for listing items, fulfillment, customer service, and brand registry. What resources are available to help begin selling in the largest online store? What resources are necessary and how much time will be required to sell on Amazon? Join us to learn where to start your Amazon selling journey.

Presented by Harley Thomas of Arrow Sewing Furniture

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm | Creation, Cosplay, and Your Brand: A Panel Discussion

Learn about what is cosplay and how your business should be marketing to cosplayers. We’ll cover what is cosplay, how cosplayers choose their materials, and where they shop. We’ll also discuss how businesses can be involved in conventions and makerspaces, how cosplayers would like to connect with businesses, and how businesses have connected with cosplayers and makers so far/ideas for connecting

Moderated by Alex Moore of Alex Is Crafting; Panelists: Tim Harrison of HDC, Maggie Hofmann of Paisley and Glue, Sebastian Rivera of Famore Cutlery

2:15 pm – 3:00 pm | Crafting Creative Code

Learn how gosadi bridges the gap between technology and craft, allowing you to successfully build and manage your e-commerce business.

After launching 144 Stitches in 2011, her blog – Stitch & Hustle in 2013, followed by Stitch Up Events in 2017, Michele Costa decided to bring her knowledge of the fiber industry into the tech world in 2021 along with her business partner and collaborator Hilary of Nina Chicago LYS. With gosadi, her innovative new platform, she uses technology to help independent designers and artists streamline e-commerce management and increase pattern sales.

What we’ll discuss in this candid chat:

• Working 2tog, the importance of community over competition.
• Frogging code, how taking steps backward moves you forward.
• WIP, she’ll discuss her current work in progress, how she became interested in working in programming, the importance of taking the leap towards building your dream business, and how to create the roadmap.

**Plus, we’ll cover gosadi’s time-saving strategies for creators – giving you more time to create while increasing audience and sales!!

Presented by Michele Costa and Samantha Brunson of gosadi

3:30 pm – 4:15 pm | Stitchcraft Marketing Presents: 2023 Craft Industry Research Results

With research partner Audience Audit, Stitchcraft Marketing surveyed thousands of retail craft owners to learn their attitudes about growth, revenue, vendors, marketing, D&I and MANY other issues.

During this session, we’ll share findings that benefit you such as:

• How does your business compare as a craft retailer?
• What are the biggest challenges retailers face?
• How are retailers growing and finding new customers?
• Marketing recommendations to help your business grow
• Other practical takeaways from the research

Grab a drink and a snack at the cash bar and take a seat at the main stage for this exciting event.

Presented by Leanne Pressly of Stitchcraft Marketing & Susan Baier from Audience Audit

10:30 am – 11:15 am | Sustainability Challenges and Opportunities for Craft Businesses

Sustainability is one of the most important and pressing issues of our time. How can craft businesses work together toward reducing environmental impacts, supporting local economies, and promoting social responsibility? In this panel discussion, business owners who have made sustainable practices the heart of their companies’ brands will share lessons they’ve learned along their journeys and suggest some actions to consider. Come away with a better understanding of the eco-friendly alternatives to mass-produced goods on the market today and how to communicate with your customers about these options.

Moderated by Mary Jeanne Packer; Panelists: Peggy Ehlers of Nuna Knits, Jeanne Carver from Shaniko Wool Company, CeCe Tyczy of Cece’s Wool, and Diane Browning from Appalachian Baby

11:45 am – 12:30 pm | Working with Influencers: How Brands and Content Creators Can Work Together So Everyone Wins

Influencers can bring your brand to life in new ways, creating original content that authentically reaches their audience while selling your product. This form of marketing has also become a critical form of connecting with the craft customer community, as well as a means to keep up with the insatiable content monster living within social media. But how can you ensure that the relationship between creator and company works for everyone?

In this panel discussion, moderated by a business owner and industry vet who’s been on both sides of the marketing aisle, you’ll hear from two craft brands and two successful content creators on what works (and what doesn’t) in forging successful brand/influencer partnerships.

Moderated by Vickie Howell; panelist Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter, Sarah Zimmerman from Repeat Crafter Me, Taylor Palacio at Ellison/Sizzix, and Tom Schaub our VP of Business Development at DecoArt

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | How to Create a Great Customer Experience

Join Heidi Kaisand and a panel of special guests to learn what you need to do to actively engage visitors to your store, both in-person and online. Engaged shoppers become your loyal customers, which leads to improved word-of-mouth promotion, and increased revenue. They come for the product; they stay for the experience.

Presented by: Heidi Kaisand of Creative Retailer