I want to share some show numbers with you….

I got an email from Bob Ruggiero, the director of publications and pubic information at Quilts, Inc.—the sponsors of Quilt Market and Quilt Festival telling me the latest stats from the Quilt Festival show recently held in Long Beach, CA.

I  thought you might find it interesting to know that nearly 19,000 attended the show.  So big were the numbers were in fact, that they actually opened the show 15 minutes before the scheduled opening time…Now, that may not sound like it was that big of a deal…but it is if as a vendor, like me...scrambling to get everything set for the big “door opening”.

IT IS ALL ABOUT NUMBERS!
According to Bob, here are the Quilts, Inc. numbers:

530+ vendors—WOW!  The logistics of getting every vendor with their products and displays in and out of the venue was crazy!

800+ quilts and wearable art on display, stunning for sure...see the videos

Dozens of busloads of quilters and I can only guess how many rolls of toliet tissue...

Lots and lots of classes and lectures….so many in fact, they actually started the day before the show

A ba-zillion gallons (my estimation, not Bob's) of Diet soda and coffee

Click here to enjoy the 11 different videos of the show the Quilts, Inc website

This show had a few problems as well, admits, Bob.  Not enough food, parking with some quitlers waiting 2 hours to get in... Most of the kinks were worked out before day two began; however, they still opened the doors 15 minutes a head of schedule that second day because of the unexpected door busting crowds.

HOW MUCH DO THEY SPEND?

I am always curious myself, about how much fabric, buttons, patterns, antiques, books, tools, etc that is actually sold at shows like this one.  Most vendors do not disclose this “sacred” information--I ask tactfully as I can—but no one really spills the beans. 

MY NUMBERS—Full Disclosure

In case you are wondering about me (I took and demonstrated Gammill quilting machines with Cranberry Quiltworks and sold patterns, quilt kits and assorted goodies with Threaded Pear Studio)

If you are interested in MY numbers...here goes:

My numbers from this three-day show:

-I sold 878 yards of JUMBO 2” Ric Rac --actually it is 1" and 13/16, I round up and call it 2"--don't get me in trouble....

I sold 48 sets of sock monkey kits are waiting to “come to life” with a stitch or two and some stuffing

-I had a 10’ x 40’ booth —which cost over $4000….crazy, I know!

-I had five people working the 9 hour show daily

-We made hundreds of sales, but only took in 2 checks!

-It took us two full days to set up the booth

-And four hours to break it down.

Plan For Next Year.... 

This was a west coast debut show for Quilts, Inc. and when I talked to Bob, they said they have signed up to do it at least 2 more years…The dates for 2009 are July 24-26 (with classes beginning July 23)..Why do I tell you this now almost a year in advance…just thought you could plan a summer get-a-way to Long Beach next year…to stop by and say “hi”—and see all the goodies at this show.

 I’ll be back next year with more colors of Ric Rac and a few more kits and patterns, and I am sure about 20,000 of you quilters will be too.

You want to know more about the show...email the show --  shows@quilts.com 

 
Did you attend this show?  Tell us what you thought about it. Make a comment.

(Photos of the show are thanks to Bob and his Quilts, Inc. crew.)