Plan your schedule and join us for our FREE keynote sessions. Our Keynote Sessions will be a highlight of the event, featuring a State of the Industry Panel Address and two keynote speeches by successful business leaders and entrepreneurs in the crafting industry. These sessions will inspire and educate attendees on the latest trends and innovations in the field.

8:30 am – 9:30 am

Immediately after the awards ceremony, we’ll welcome the panelists to the stage for our annual State of the Industry panel discussion. We’ll be exploring the challenges and opportunities craft businesses are facing today and what tomorrow will bring. In this panel discussion with industry leaders from the US and abroad, you’ll hear about developing trends, forecasts, and future outlooks for craft businesses.

Come away with a global view of the crafts industry. We are all connected, from new businesses to established companies, from large corporations to independent makers, and this discussion will set the tone for what the show and the coming year will bring.

What challenges and opportunities are craft businesses facing today? And what will tomorrow bring? In this panel discussion with industry leaders from the US and abroad, you’ll hear about developing trends, forecasts, and future outlooks for craft businesses. Come away with a global view of the crafts industry. We are all connected, from new businesses to established companies, from large corporations to independent makers, and this discussion will set the tone for what the show and the coming year will bring.

Panelists: Toni Lipsey, TL Yarn Crafts; Gina Pantastico, Cloud9; Virginia Johnson, Gather Here; Scott Stone, Gemporia Craft

Moderated by: Abby Glassenberg, Craft Industry Alliance

Amber Kemp-Gerstel began her career as a child psychologist. In 2015, she shifted gears to creating craft content full-time. Since then she learned that her job is as much about crafting as it is about relating and engaging with people. After being on NBC’s Making It, she came to realize that there is truly no creative challenge she can’t take on.

In this keynote address, Amber will dive into the ever-shifting landscape of how creative businesses engage with customers and the incredible value of influencer marketing. Hear inside anecdotes from brand collaborations and what it’s really like to share DIY content every day with an audience of over 115,000 people.

Quilting Trends is an annual large-scale consumer research study conducted by Premier Needle Arts and Handi Quilter in collaboration with industry partners. Each year 25,000 quilters nationwide respond to survey questions that reveal important behavioral and buying trends. In this summary of the 2024 survey results you’ll learn about the profile of the average quilter today, their buying preferences, and where quilters are turning now to learn new skills. Come away with an understanding of the trajectory of the industry in comparison to years past.

Yarn Trends is a periodic large-scale consumer research study focused on understanding consumer behavior in the yarn industry. Conducted by Berroco, the study’s findings reveal the overall size of the yarn industry now, the demographics of the average consumer in this sector, and trends in buying behavior. Learn how consumers are learning about new products, where they’re going to learn new skills and more.