January 2014
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January 2014 Get in Gear or te New Year FREE COPY Editor’s Letter Business Minded ROSE CALLAHAN One of my favorite weekends of the year is the one spent at the Yarn Market News Smart Business Conference. The name of the conference is long and solidly describes what it is, but let’s be honest: It’s a little boring. It doesn’t get across just how fun and special this event actually is. When I tell people outside our industry why I’m unavailable that weekend, they give me a sympathetic look, for in their fields “professional development” is a tedious affair. But in our case, that’s not true at all. I’m quick to explain not only why I like going to the conference so much, but why it’s so important to the industry. The atmosphere is warm, Ofriendly and open, but it’s educational and inspiring as well. We’re there for serious work—the state of our economy is, after all, no laughing matter—but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun while we do it. Something that strikes me every year is how noncompetitive every- one is while they’re together. People with shops in the same general area commiserate about a problem customer, a local law that affects their businesses, the vagaries of the recent weather. Those who are meeting for the first time set up regular phone calls to talk shop once they’re back home. Owners who’ve been in business for decades regularly (and eagerly) share on our cover tips—handling vendors, for instance—with LYSOs who’ve been open for less than a year. The serious work is spent in sessions, and this year we made a point of looking for speakers THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ROBOTO who know something about weathering a tough economy. Two incredibly useful sessions, A helpful cardboard robot helps us “The ABC’s of Cash Flow” and “How to Grow Your Business in Challenging Times,” will pro- wind some Manos del Uruguay Wool vide ideas for handling slow times and taking control of your business. But it’s not all doom Clasica in a neon-bright shade. The mainstay yarn comes to life in new, on- and gloom—we also want attendees to stay current on fashion trends, learn how commun- trend colors in addition to the classics. ication styles differ by personality type, and think about PR in the digital age. Though Yarn Learn more in our Yarn Update (page Market News works to bring you this kind of information regularly, there’s nothing quite like 22). Distributed by Fairmount Fibers the personal interaction that the conference can bring. (fairmountfibers.com). Photograph by Marcus Tullis I hope to see you at the conference, scheduled for March 9–11 in Chicago; in the mean- time, please enjoy this jam-packed issue. Many of the topics dovetail nicely with the ones you’ll hear about at the conference, in fact—everything from budgeting and planning your cash flow ATOP OUR SMART COLUMNS (page 56) to creating online content that will reach the masses (page 38). Leslie Petrovski Colorful crochet hooks fromKnitter’s Pride let you know exactly what size explores the world of yarn tourism (page 48), a growing segment of the industry, while Daryl you’re using. knitterspride.com Brower sticks close to home with advice on dealing with security issues at your shop (page 52). I’m particularly thrilled to present our celebrity interview with Barbara Kingsolver, who’s not only a brilliant writer and avid knitter but the owner of a sheep farm as well. Here’s to 2014—may it be a lucrative one! Erin Slonaker, Editor in Chief FOLLOW YARN MARKET NEWS MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK 2 JANUARY 2014 30 46 in every issue 48 2 EDITOR’S LETTER 10 MARKET REPORT 18 BOOK REVIEWS 22 YARN FORWARD 26 TNNA UPDATE 28 CYC UPDATE 30 KNITTING GUILD 32 CROCHET GUILD 34 SMART MARKETING 36 SMART MONEY 22 38 SMART ONLINE 40 SMART RETAILING features 42 SMART SANITY 48 UNWIND WITH A KNITTING 52 60 44 COMPANY PROFILE VACATION Knit One, Crochet Too How hosting a knitting-themed getaway 46 INTERNATIONAL REPORT can benefit your bottom line. By Leslie The Faroe Islands Petrovski 60 CELEBRITY INTERVIEW 52 MINDING THE STORE Barbara Kingsolver How secure is your shop? By Daryl Brower 56 WINTER IS COMING: BUDGETING FOR UNEXPECTED EXPENSES Preparing for “known knowns,” “known unknowns” and “unknown 10 unknowns.” By Carol J. Sulcoski 10 WHAT IS THE BEST BUSINESS DECISION YOUCAN MAKE FOR 2 014 ? Smart Business Conference CHICAGO MARCH 9–11, 2014 OMNI CHICAGO HOTEL REGISTRATION VISIT YARNMARKETNEWS.COM NOW OPEN! TO REGISTER! FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKER Dr. Lois P. Frankel Dr. Lois P. Frankel, president of Corporate Coaching International, is a best-selling author, an executive coach and an internationally recognized expert in the field of leadership development for women. She has appeared on Larry King Live, The Tavis Smiley Show, The Today Show and 20/20 to discuss her New York Times best-selling books Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office, Nice Girls Don’tGetRich and Nice Girls JustDon’tGetIt . Mary Faktor Paula Giovacchini Debi Lilly Nancy Shenker Cathy Wagner David Wolfe Understanding the How to Grow Your Business Making the Most Creating PR from ABC’s of Cash Flow Current and Upcoming Personalities of Your in Challenging Times of Your Space: Digital Media Fashion and Color Trends Customers and Employees Tips & Tricks Get Connected • Find Your Focus • Build Your Business 2014 Yarn Market News Smart Business Conference A three-day symposium featuring speakers and sessions devoted to providing the tools needed to thrive in today’s marketplace. Conference Includes: Join us at theluxurious • Opening cocktail party with entertainment Omni Chicago Hotel, • VIP Gift Bag overflowing with samples located on the Magnificent Mile in the heart of downtown • Breakfasts, luncheons and ongoing refreshments Chicago.We’ve reserved a block of rooms priced at $179 • Relevant, informational sessions per night. Please help support YMN by staying on-site. • Gala dinner and keynote address Omni Chicago Hotel • Optional Chicago-area Yarn Shop Crawl 676 North Michigan Avenue with transportation provided Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 944-6664 Payment plans are still available! Contact Carol Buonanno at [email protected] for more information. www.yarnmarketnews.com namaste Editorial Director TRISHA MALCOLM Editor in Chief ERIN SLONAKER Creative Director JOE VIOR Managing Editor LESLIE A. BARBER EDITORIAL Contributing Editors CAROL J. SULCOSKI, LESLIE PETROVSKI ART AND PRODUCTION Online Production Manager JOE WOOD Graphic Designer EMILY JONES ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS Director of Advertising Sales DOREEN CONNORS SPELLMAN (212) 937-2554, [email protected] Accounts Manager ROSE ANN POLLANI (212) 937-2557, [email protected] Events Director GABRIELLE ALD (212) 225-9001, [email protected] Events Manager CAROL BUONANNO (212) 225-9011, [email protected] Marketing Manager BETH RITTER (212) 225-9006, [email protected] SOHO PUBLISHING COMPANY President ART JOINNIDES Publisher DAVID JOINNIDES Controller ELAINE MOWBRAY EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD PEARL CHIN, Knitty City MARY COLUCCI, Craft Yarn Council NADINE CURTIS, Be Sweet KIT HUTCHIN, Churchmouse Yarns & Teas JASON KRELLENSTEIN, Esquire LINDA MCCLELLAND, Sales Rep TRISHA MALCOLM, SoHo Publishing Co. LINDA PRATT, Westminster Fibers PATTY PARRISH, TNNA CONFERENCE ADVISORY BOARD JOANLOOI, Sales Rep BETSY PERRY, Classic Elite Yarns Magazine Publishers of America Manufactured and printed in the United States of America Yarn Market News™ is a trademark of SoHo Publishing, LLC. YMNis published three times a year, in January, May and September, in the U.S. and Canada. Copyright ©2014 by SoHo Publishing Company, LLC, 161 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301, New York, NY 10013. No part of this book may be copied or reproduced by any means without written permission of the Publisher. Executive, publishing, editorial and advertising offices: 161Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301, New York, NY 10013. HOW TO REACH US TO SUBSCRIBE, CHANGE AN ADDRESS OR CANCEL A SUBSCRIPTION: visit www.yarnmarketnews.com or e-mail [email protected] EDITORIAL COMMENTS: e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] The next issue of YMN will mail on April 9, 2014. Visit us at TNNA in Booth Numbers 723 - 727. BY CAROL J. SULCOSKI market REPORT Knitting Abacus What do you do when you’ve hurt your back and pain meds make you too her customers devise for their Ablets: keeping score in golf, counting calories groggy to count rows? If you’re knitter Sharon Coleman, you invent a deco- or how many glasses of water are drunk in a day, helping with medication rative bracelet that lets the wearer keep track of rows by counting beads. or vitamin regimens or, as Coleman herself does, using it to keep Coleman dubbed her invention the “Ablet”—“ab” from abacus, “let” from track of the current date. The Ablet comes in more than a dozen bracelet. It works like an abacus, with two columns of beads, one to keep styles, with various colors of beads and lacing; at press time, track of the “ones” and the other to keep track of the “tens.” As the knitter a leather steampunk version that will enable repeat and row finishes a row, she moves a bead from one end of the Ablet to the other. counting at the same time was in the The Ablet is designed so that beads slide at the touch of a finger but stay in works. knittingabacus.com place when the bracelet moves or is shaken. Coleman was insistent that the product be attractive enough to stand on its own as jewelry: “The Ablet went through several incarnations before I found a way to make it both functional and pretty enough to wear all the time, which is important if you are as forgetful as I am.” Originally Coleman made all the Ablets herself, but she has since hired outside help.