Sewing Dealer Exchange

An Unforgettable Week at h+h americas!

Join the All-New Sewing & Fabric Dealer Exchange

Experience a revitalized event designed exclusively for industry leaders. The Sewing Dealer Exchange (formerly the Sewing Dealer Summit) offers unmatched education, networking, and opportunities to connect with top vendors and industry professionals.

Event Highlights

✨ Monday, May 5, 2025 – Dealer Exclusive Sessions

Top vendors will host exclusive sessions for dealers. Get insights directly from leading brands, including:

  • BERNINA USA
  • Brother International
  • Janome America
  • Handi Quilter
  • RNK Distributing

👉 Contact your vendors directly for more details on these exclusive opportunities.

✨ Tuesday, May 6, 2025 – Educational Sessions & Networking

A day packed with learning and connections:

  • Open Education Tracks
    • Operations Track: Gain strategies to streamline your business.
    • Marketing Track: Elevate your brand and reach.

9:30 AM Check-in and Coffee

10:30 AM Sales and Marketing through Education | Ricky Brooks
There are many forms of marketing that will result in making a sale. Marketing through education will not only result in making a sale, but it will also make a customer!

12:00 PM How to Easily Create Social Media Reels for Sewing Brands: Best Practices, Tools, and Templates | Seth Norwood
Discover the art of creating compelling social media reels. Focused on the unique needs of the sewing industry, this course aims to equip participants with the best practices, tools, and templates necessary to streamline the reel production process. From showcasing your latest sewing project to highlighting unique fabric selections, learn how to effectively capture your audience’s attention across major platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

1:00 PM Lunch

2:15 PM Tips for successful brick & mortar Sewing Machine Sales in the age of Amazon | Paul LaPonte
In this seminar Paul will offer practical ideas and practices that will help you improve revenue, gross margins, and customer and employee satisfaction. Topics will include pricing strategies, trade-in policies, maintenance plan sales, and employee engagement. Quality Sewing & Vacuum has found success by creating an excellent service culture he calls “Finding a Way to Say Yes!” When done right, running a retail sewing store is both financially rewarding and a lot of fun.

3:45 PM Congratulations, You Own or Manage a Sewing Retail Business, Now What? | Ricky Brooks
Using a Sewing Machine is different from turning on a TV or even vacuuming a floor with a vacuum cleaner. Managing a successful (profitable) Sewing Machine Business is just as different from any other retail business. Join us for this class and take home over 40 years of successful experience in Home Sewing, Quilting, Embroidery Industry.

6:00 PM Happy Hour

7:00 PM Sample It

9:30 AM Check-in & Coffee

10:30 AM How Financing Builds Customer Loyalty | Lisa Gabbert
Promotional financing provides customer with time to make payments on purchases at your store using the Sewing & More credit card. The card isn’t just for big purchases but offers a dedicated revolving credit line for product and project needs. Learn about how financing builds a bigger ticket and brings customers back to your store for repeat purchases, both big and small.

12:00 PM Sewing Shop Alternatives – Store concepts under 1000 SQ FT | Cheryl Sleboda Whited
Brick and Mortar is changing, and you can change with it. Modern quilt and sewing shops don’t need to be mega warehouses with $250K of inventory. Learn about store concepts that earn under 1000 Sq Ft that you can implement today.

1:00 PM Lunch

2:15 PM Beyond the binding, why you want to jump on the fashion sewing trend. | Jessy Gregg
Garment sewing is on the rise, and is especially popular with new sewists who are just starting to build their skills. Although it might seem intimidating to add fashion sewing to your quilting inventory there are some compelling reasons why you want to jump on this growing trend.

3:45 PM Staying Competitive in the Face of Online and AI with your Shop | Cheryl Sleboda Whited
Sewing and Quilt shops have never had more competition than they have now. Learn tricks to stay top of mind for your customers and use AI like a pro in real world examples and scenarios.

6:00 PM Happy Hour

7:00 PM Sample It

  • Closed Vendor Sessions
    • Exclusive learning directly from leading brands.
  • Product Academy
    • Engage in 30-minute sessions showcasing must-see products.
  • Hospitality & Networking
    • Forge valuable connections with peers and industry experts.
    • Sponsored by Brother International Janome, and RNK Distributing
  • Sample It
    • Cash-in-carry sample event.

Ticket Information

  • Tuesday Program Fee: $169 per attendee
    (Includes a 3-Day Expo Pass, Product Academy, and Sample It access.)
  • Ticket Sales Open: February 1, 2025

Event Schedule

  • Sewing Dealer Exchange: May 5–6, 2025
  • Exhibit Hall: May 7–9, 2025

Ticket Information

  • Program Fee: $169 per attendee
    (Includes the Sewing Dealer Exchange, a 3-Day Expo Pass, Product Academy, and Sample It access.)
  • Ticket Sales Open: February 1, 2025

Discover More in Rosemont!

Enhance your trip with local attractions:

  • Top Golf
  • Rosemont Fashion Outlet Mall
  • Parkway Bank Entertainment District
  • Casino
  • Enjoy easy access to Chicago’s cultural and iconic landmarks.

Let’s Make May 2025 Unforgettable!

This isn’t just an event—it’s your gateway to discover, connect, and grow in the industry. Don’t miss this extraordinary week at h+h americas!

Stay Connected

Follow us on social media for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks. Share your feedback and ideas about the new branding—we’d love to hear from you!

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