| If you love applique quilting, why not start your | | | | dimensions or color scheme. |
| quilting business by targeting the niche market of | | | | Once you've decided which customers to target, |
| quilted wall hangings? | | | | you should plan how to reach those potential |
| Your quilted wall hanging business could be run | | | | customers. Fliers are always a good choice, no |
| several ways. You could concentrate on children's | | | | matter which avenue you take. And make sure |
| appliqu?all hangings (which might even be used as | | | | you have professionally printed business cards. If |
| baby quilts if sized right). The various forms of | | | | you believe your local card printer is too |
| Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam patterns are | | | | expensive, there are many companies like online |
| obvious traditional favorites. | | | | that offer quality service at a reasonable price. |
| If you feel comfortable creating your own | | | | With fliers and business cards, you are ready to |
| appliqu?esigns, you can truly create a unique wall | | | | get your business started! If you are targeting |
| hanging business. Children's coloring books or | | | | the children's market, get your advertising |
| simple clip art designs are a great place to start | | | | materials into children's clothing stores and plan to |
| for applique design inspiration. Virtually anything | | | | set up at craft shows or children's consignment |
| can become an appliqu?esign for your quilted wall | | | | events. |
| hangings! | | | | If it's the adult home d?r market you plan to |
| Following the same appliqu?esign approach above, | | | | target, be at all the big craft shows in your area. |
| you could build your quilted wall hanging business | | | | Team up with local decorators and floral designers. |
| to target home d?r for adults. Look through home | | | | For the business target market, direct sales is |
| accessory departments, catalogs, and magazines | | | | probably the best approach, especially as you |
| to get ideas of current trends. Cats, chickens, | | | | start your quilted wall hanging business. Setting up |
| ladies' high heel shoes are all popular themes for | | | | a booth at business expos and various community |
| women. Trends for men include sports, cars, | | | | events would be another good way to reach |
| motorcycles, etc. Simple designs make the best | | | | your potential customers. |
| appliques for your quilted wall hangings! | | | | Online advertising is great for all three target |
| Another approach to starting a quilted wall hanging | | | | markets. Make time to put your ad in the right |
| business is to sell to businesses and industries. Use | | | | spot. Take advantage of all the free online |
| a company's logo to create an appliqu?uilted wall | | | | advertising you can find! |
| hanging. Make a sample or two ahead. Perhaps | | | | If you plan to build a website to sell your products |
| you could make one for your public library or | | | | online, ask your favorite sites if they'd provide a |
| favorite local school to show as a sample. Once | | | | link to your website. If you're selling quilted wall |
| you've used them in your sales calls, donate them | | | | hangings geared toward children, try to get linked |
| to the school or library. Your work will be on | | | | on parenting websites and blogs. |
| display, which will give additional credibility to your | | | | If you target adult home d?r, try to get your |
| quilted wall hanging business! | | | | website linked on websites or blogs that deal with |
| Another sales tactic when approaching businesses | | | | home decorating or renovating. |
| is to have a sample for that particular business on | | | | Links with business customers could be anything |
| paper. Don't worry about taking time to quilt and | | | | because anyone who has a logo is your potential |
| actual wall hanging. Chances are the business | | | | customer! |
| might want to change the wall hanging's size, | | | | |