Show Report: Craftcation 2019
Craftcation, the five-day business and makers’ conference held in Ventura, California, has once again served up a delightful mix of hands-on craft workshops, business classes, and problem-solving “think tanks” geared to makers and creative entrepreneurs. The event, which ran from April 3-7 and is now in its 8th year, attracted about 500 people, including presenters, sponsors, staff, and volunteers, many looking to start, build or refine their businesses while having fun and learning new skills. Roberta Wax was there and brings us this report.
News Roundup from the Scrapbooking Industry
From patent lawsuits to mergers to store closures, there’s a lot going on in the scrapbooking industry. Nancy Nally of Scrapbook Update brings us the latest news in this report.
Show Report: Sewing and Stitchery Expo 2019
Set within view of Washington State’s majestic Mt. Rainier, the 35th annual Sewing and Stitchery Expo took place February 28th – March 3rd. According to organizers, a record number of attendees shopped over 400 vendors and took over 100 classes per day from industry experts at this year’s show. Unique in the world of sewing shows, the Sewing and Stitchery Expo is owned and managed by non-profit Washington State University and is the largest consumer sewing show in the USA. Attendees and business owners come from all over the US, Canada, and several other countries. Annette Millard was there and brings us this report.
Cosplay Attracts a New Demographic to Sewing
Motivated by the desire to make their own costumes, cosplayers are buying sewing machines, patterns, fabrics and supplies and they’re taking classes to develop their sewing skills. The sewing industry is taking note, especially since cosplayers are typically between 18-39 years old, a market that retailers are desperate to reach.
Don’t Let Social Anxiety Disorder Hurt Your Business
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, about 15 million American adults suffer from this disorder, which can seriously and negatively affect one’s life, from social to business.
How to Integrate Shopify with MailChimp After the Breakup
Last week MailChimp threw the ecommerce world into a panic by announcing that they would no longer integrate with Shopify. The two companies were apparently unable to resolve a disagreement overcome to an agreement over a data privacy issue. Here’s how we recommend you proceed.
Etsy Offers 24 Hour Phone Support (At Last)
Etsy sellers have been persistently asking for phone support from the online marketplace for many years now, and yesterday their request was finally fulfilled. In an update to the Seller Handbook Etsy staff explained, “We’ve been working to make support on Etsy even better with a suite of new help tools so you can contact us when you need to get answers quickly. With our new phone support option, you’ll have a direct line to an Etsy support advisor.”
Show Report: Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2019
In its 6th year, Edinburgh Yarn Festival (EYF) welcomes thousands of knitters and crocheters from around the world for five full days of woolly fun. The festival, with its ancillary events, took place March 20-24 at Edinburgh Corn Exchange. Paige Sato was there and brings us this report.
Spring Reading List for Creative Entrepreneurs
Erin Dollar is back as the Craft Industry Alliance resident librarian, offering her picks for Spring 2019’s best art books, creative business titles, and self-help books. Erin has found some excellent new titles to kickstart your springtime reading.
How to Create Engaging Videos for Instagram
If you’re feeling inspired by artists using video on Instagram to boost engagement, it’s time to integrate video content into your own social media efforts. The good news is there are plenty of easy and affordable ways to use your smartphone to create engaging video for Instagram.