Sally Terry  helps
machine quilters with machine quilting education and resources plus, assists professionals grow profits eliminating wasted time & effort with proven systems for quilting, along with vital marketing strategies.  

   curious about the buzz?
   here is a glimpse at what they are saying. . . 

 "Sally I got the book yesterday and I am delighted with it.

  I love the HOFeathers. I use them more than anything  

  else now.  Thanks for a wonderful book so full of ideas!  
  Sue C. in OK                                                                               

  

You already have the ability to
machine quilt beautiful feathers,
this book just helps you find it.

click here for more information 

____________________________________________________

Here is what Gayle has to say about this article.

"Hi Sally, what a great marketing idea, with so much
truth in it! I didn't realize how much I do for a
customer's quilt without a fee. Really an eye
opener. Thanks for sharing your experience. Gayle"

read on....

Because you are all invited to write in with questions
affecting your business, you may be interest to read the
reply to Margaret H. concerning her email "Help!"...

• How to add extra services when taking in the quilt
  with actual scripts
• Find how to build a fence around your customer
• Also pricing considerations 

Thanks so much!   I love your web-site.   Margaret H.

Reply :
Hi Margaret here are some things you can do:

List all of your services, include everything you do like pressing,
clipping threads, squaring up the backing, seaming the backing,
turning the quilt, washing backing, trim batting and backing,
thread inventory, backing inventory etc.,....any and all things
you do to get the quilt top ready, even if you do not charge for
the process. These are the things that add value to your services.

Make two lists. First the basic services that are included
that you do not charge for and second the services that
you do charge for.

Next put your pricing next to all the services even the ones
you do not charge for and make those real prices not round
up or rounded down...thread changes 2.55 colored thread
3.55 specialty thread 11.54 ...That makes your expenses
much more believable instead of 2.00, see what I mean.
When you show value use a $ sign, when you show pricing
to the customer leave off the $ sign and use the decimal.

Maybe you could have specific services at no charge that
other quilters in your area charge for...giving you a leg up
on your competition.

Then bundle the services...list the services separate and
then list them bundled, all over pattern 16.00 per square
yard, then bundle - all over pattern, trim backing and
batting, binding preparation, complete binding 24.00
per square yard.

Print it up and post it where they can see it. If they know
what you do to justify your prices as a professioanl the
added value will seem more that you are charging. Then
offer them the bundled services. 11% should take the
upsell without batting an eye. One quilter actually
increased her revenue by 30% just posting the services...
her customers had no idea.

Make sure you can make money with your pricing. Play
around with the different services then bundle the most
popular ones for your customer. If you give anything
away...make it a service not an inventory item.

Next when you take in the quilt here is what you can say.
If they just ask for the lowest price...say "That is no problem,
I can give you the lowest price but I just want to make sure
you are only interested in the lowest price and quality,
value, delivery and service not that important. I just want
to make sure that the that you have no interest in quality......
in any way. Or you could use thread choices, batting quality,
pattern selection......

If they ask for the lowest price again say "Sure that is no
problem I will be happy to give you the lowest price."

Next take the quilt dimensions and convert them to square
yards. There are 1296 sq. in. in a sq. yd.

Take the quilt and tell them how wonderful it is...that  you
love the fabric choices, how honored you are that they
choose you to quilt their beautiful top. Then say "You
have a $300 top here with all the fabric and the work
you put into it. I can do an all over pattern on it for
$18 a square yard and give you back a $300 quilt or
I can give you custom pattern, block, sashing, border
designs that coordinate (what ever would be appropriate
for that quilt) for $24 a sq. yard and give you back a
$700 quilt." Let them do the math...that is an $6 a yd
difference. If there are 6 sq. yards in the top (you need
to figure that for them) then that is only $36 more
dollars.... I call that reducing it to the ridiculous. They
have more than doubled the value of their quilt
for pennies....

Good luck with that.

Now for building a fence around your customer. When
you see them always say Hi, Suzie good to see such a
loyal customer....I want you to meet Suzie, she is one
of my loyal customers....See you later Suzie, thanks
for being such a loyal customer.  If you do that over
and over she will think twice about leaving you. Just
condition them everytime you see them, introduce
them etc.

Then make them part of a club. The "Opportunity Quilt
Club of ___ Studio" or any title like that. I buy one raffle
ticket from my guild for every quilt my customer brings me.
Donating money to a recognized accepted charity and
then giving them the chance to win is huge. Consider
what is important to them in your community. Can you
image them winning a quilt because they use you as
their quilter.

I hope this helps...let me know how it is going. 
warmest regards,  

These ideas and more are found in the 10 Mortal Sins CD,
Marketing To Women, and 6 Step System to Building
Your Quilting Business CD.

Your 10 Immutable Laws of Quilting

1. Fabric silently takes over the whole house
2. The back-lash spring when dropped
   matches the flooring
3. You can never have too many stencil or
   find the one you want
4. The final inch of your machine quilting top thread
   deliberately runs out in the last block on the last row
5. Backing cleverly turns 90 degrees and is always a
   smidge short of the quilt top
6. Bobbin threads whoosh out or snap on your most 
   proudfully executed delicate curve in the longest feather
7. The one quilt you delayed quilting for lack of head-
   turning designs is the one that took the shortest time t
   o quilt with blue ribbon spectacular results!
8. Inspiration can come at the most inopportune time -
   the quilt room is cluttered with doodles on napkins,
   gum wrappers, utility bills; and even though it looks l
   ike garbage to others, it is very important to the machine quilter.
   Cathy Keindl, West Point,
9. Inspiration and great ideas always come the moment
   the machine goes out for cleaning and repairs. Kay Benedict
10. You vaguely remember the perfect quilting
    design for this specific area on your new prize top.
    Do I have the design??, doodling on paper is just
    not working.
    
    Maybe I didn't buy it, I thought I'd get it
    "next time". Totally frustrated I use another
    design, it's OK but not quite as special as" t
    he one that got away".
    
    Two weeks after quilting is done, I find said
    special design " in the safe place to keep it from
    getting lost so when I need it I can find it for that
    special top." 
    Linda Tramm, Wisconsin
    

NEWS.. Hooked On Feathers

Book is here!!!

The new way to machine quilt feathers

that works for today's quilter.

Here is a drawing for the book... 

click on the drawing or here and you will be taken to the
Hooked On Feathers page for more info

AQS worked very hard getting this book to you as quickly
as possible...just in time for the Holiday quilting season.  
There are 80 pages full of step-by-step instruction, photos,
24 full page pattern motifs and over 40 individual feather
patterns for you to mix and match.

Plus everything you need to layout your designs for spines,
blocks, borders, sashings; even how to use the "hook"
with the feather stencils you already have in your studio.

You may be interested to know that this no-backtracking,
no-mark feathertechnique is written for shortarm, midarm,
longarm and traditional machines.

I hope that this clever free-motion technique will bring
you fun, quick and easy results that are simply spectacular.

What more could we ask for in a feather?!
Here is the link for more information

 

I would like to thank Andi Reynolds, Associate Publisher,
Linda Lasco my editor and Linda Smith for her great illustrations. 
Your response has been overwhelming,
thank you             
_________________________________________________ 

 Why? 

...after being totally hooked on the sound of that needle
punching through layers of batting and backing on the
most incredibly pieced quilt tops anyone has been
privileged to coax into a "quilt", thought it was time to 
share even more of our treasured passion. 

After all it is my firm belief we all have incredible talents 
and abilities within us all. And, it feels so good when
we actually accomplish things five years ago we would
have never dreamed possible. So, with a never ending
flow of inspirational information, welcome.

And don't be a stranger...let me know what you think,
as together, our online adventure grows.

 

For starters, here you will have the most complete
and extensive online resource for machine quilters--
whether you are just starting out or have advanced
experience. This is my goal whether you are a traditional
machine quilter, shortarm, midarm or longarm. The
pages will be full of fun, excitement and incredible
opportunities to grow your abilities.

Not only will you get help adjusting thread tension,
but real sparks of "creative imagination" with valuable
tips, tricks and techniques.

Real "standing at the quilting machine"
talks and videos.

Also, for many of you there is a another aspect
of your machine quilting, the business side.

"Most quilters love the process and hands-on aspect.
Turning a love and passion into a business should not
be difficult--it should be fun, fulfilling and profitable."

Soon you will be able to tour our extensive articles,
audio and video clips, gallery, blog, online courses,
teleseminars and more. Categories will continually
expand with new information. Sign up for our newsletter 
to receive valuable "Tips, Tricks and Twists". To check
the blog for useful updates just click on the blog tab in
the menu bar above.

For the first time we now offer safe and secure
online shopping.

In addition to that you will find important marketing
tips to assist you in growing your business, plus
powerful strategies to attract and keep your customers.
I know of no other place to get this indispensable information.

Here is a glimpse... 

Terry Twist® - New Pattern Pack Available Fast, Adaptable
Continuous-Line Design
Most of you were only able to get this at the shows. Now it is
available with the click of a mouse. I am working on making
a digital download...it is coming but it may be six months or so.
You'll get effortless designs that are easy to master and quick
to stitch. Receive the Terry Twist machine quilting sequence, 
information, and suggestions.

Marketing Strategies - An portion of this site provides a 
definitive guide to increasing profits for your Professional
Longarm Machine Quilting Business. We focus on eliminating
wasted time and effort, attracting new customers, rekindling
old customers and securing your current customer base,
all with a proven strategies you can put to work immediately. 
I promise making it interesting and profitable at the same time...
just what you need to jumpstart your business.

Then there is the Toy Box where all sorts of tools, gadgets
and gizmos reside. Things often come and go and sometimes
never return. There are surprise discounts for you on many items.

Information: Articles, Resources and Valued Information -
This is where it all neatly comes together for you. Download
valuable articles, machine quilting patterns; plus, get resource
links to help you be more productive, successful and just
plain thankful you found your love in machine quilting.

New Hooked On Feathers - No Backtracking!
The One Feather You Will Use Over and Over -
Eliminate time wasted unstitching, backtracking and
worrisome design challenges turning corners....ALL GONE! 
Brand new feather design uses only one shape - the hook.
We found beginning students were as successful as the
advanced students in hands-on classes. Use it once
and you too will be HOOKED on its' beauty!

Our book is still very popular. Discover exactly what
thousands of the most savvy Quilters already know. It
is the definitive guide to quilting, whether you are a
traditional machine, shortarm, midarm, longarm or hand
quilter... 'Pathways To Better Quilting Book'.    
Midwest Book Review calls this book a "classic". 
A must for every Quilter's bookshelf. Contains 75
quilting patterns; get a system to pick quilting patterns
in minutes, not hours; see how to use only 5 Basic Shapes
of the Language of QuiltingTM for machine quilting.