Kona Bay Fabrics loves being techie!!!

Kona Bay Fabrics has had a web presence since the early days of the internet.

Kona Bay Fabrics has a webpage, is on Facebook, has a Twitter presence, a blog and now we use QuickResponse symbols to let quilters and fabric lovers all over the world know about our fabrics and our free patterns.

We hope you are following Kona Bay in some or all of our social network activities.

Now you can use your QR reader application and see where our QR code above takes you.

Aloha and mahalo from Da Textile Samurai.

Asian Fabric Issue #17—The Surprise Inside!

One of my favorite things about flying to and fro Hawaii is having time to enjoy my pile of current magazines. Our recent poll tells me it’s at the top of your list, too. It has been both exciting and satisfying to publish the only quilting magazine specializing in working with Asian prints.

Last week we released Issue #17 of Asian Fabric magazine. If you haven’t picked up one at your local quilt shop yet, reports are—they’re going fast! In addition to the usual great array of patterns, this special edition includes the current catalog showcasing the latest and greatest fabric designs from Kona Bay Fabrics.

This sneak preview has previously been reserved only for our customers—the local independent quilt shops that bring you fabric, fun and fellowship. As the list of enthusiastic fans of Asian Fabric has grown, we decided to say thank you by sharing our catalog with our readers as well.

In addition to just having the scoop on new designs, a few readers have mentioned that the catalog images are a helpful planning tool. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this special edition and how it might have inspired you.

The power of the printed page has long fascinated me. Having been in the quilting industry for nearly twenty years, starting and building Asian Fabric magazine has been akin to the documentation of a long, enjoyable adventure that some days feels like it’s only just begun!

Now, if only walls could talk—the staff and I are busy getting ready for the semi-annual quilt industry trade show in October. We’ll be headed to Houston for 2009 International Quilt Market on the 8th of October. I’ll be tweeting updates and posting photos on the Kona Bay Fan Page. It’s a good time to get on board—click here to follow me on Twitter or join in and become a Facebook fan of Kona Bay Fabrics here so you don’t miss a thing!

Kona Bay Appearing Daily On Etsy

Every day, I spend time on the internet—posting tweets to our fast growing league of Twitter followers and reviewing the many amazing products people have created with fabrics from Kona Bay. Along with enjoying photos of projects I’m emailed, Etsy has become one of my favorite places to linger.

Since 100% cotton fabrics are the norm for quilts, it’s often the first use people think of when they think of Kona Bay. Although there are, no doubt, thousands of quilts created every year by quilters around the globe, perhaps just as many other creative projects are made. I have found hundreds of examples on Etsy.

Of course, you recently saw our nations’ first lady wearing a stylish designer dress made completely with Kona Bay Fabric. Did I mention how excited we were to see that photo pop up in national papers? The thought still makes me smile!

In case you have never heard of Etsy—it’s an online marketplace where you can buy and sell handmade items. There may be no other place online that exhibits such a phenomenal display of talent all at one site. Launched in 2005 and not even five years old, Etsy is a runaway success story.

The Etsy community boasts nearly 2 million members and growth doesn’t seem to be slowing. Each seller has their own shop where you can buy their products and learn more about them. It’s boutique shopper’s paradise! I’ve also heard that it’s a source of inspiration for many.
I wanted to share a few fun products I found today.

KOALACaddie has developed a unique craft apron for knitters and chrocheters. I think these clever aprons could be appreciated by handywomen (and men!) of all kinds.

Pink Sweetie offers pendants, magnets and hair adornments using fabric covered buttons. These delightful little gems are the perfect option the next time you need an affordable gift (it’s ok to give yourself a gift).

Sandra's Creations’ stylish bags will take you from the beach to the office and grocery shopping in between.

These are just a few examples of the creative ways folks are using Kona Bay. Visit Kona Bay to see what’s new and Etsy for inspiring ideas on how to use your stash so you can make room for new designs.

Partner With Technology And Increase Your Fabric Sales

Where do quilt shop customers come from? If you own one and you’re not asking yourself that question on a regular basis, you might be missing out.

The internet has changed the way business and customers play the retail game. Once upon a time, it might have been enough to have a shop newsletter printed up once month or quarter. Your customers would sign up for your mailing list or maybe just pick it up when they came in to buy fabric.

The shop newsletter was a good way, and still is, to communicate with your customer. Today, though, many of your customers spend hours online. Are they spending some of that time with you?

Let’s look at a few of the key tools successful shops are using:

Websites Many people have abandoned their phone books in lieu of the internet. If they need a service, they use their favorite search engine to find it. Will they find you? No longer is your customers’ first impression always when they walk through the door. It might be online!

Kona Bay Fabrics has worked hard to build a useful site for our customers and quilters around the globe.

Ecommerce Quilters today are busy with families, jobs, activities and the home. More and more, they’re turning to internet stores to save time. If you have a brick and mortar store, you’re halfways there. If you’re not selling your goods online, it’s a good time to start. Kona Bay, aware of how busy shop owners are, was the first to offer online ordering for our wholesale customers.

Blogs Some folks still think of the early personal journals that made up many of the blogs found online. Today, businesses are using the blog format to communicate with their customers and build an interactive community. A blog allows you a way to stay in touch with your customers on a regular basis using a very cost effective format. The Kona Bay blog you’re reading prompts a lot of feedback.

Twitter This hot, relatively new, social networking and micro-blogging tool is taking the web by storm. Each 140 character post reaches out to your followers. This fun new tool can be a quick and easy way to promote your store and it’s specials. Follow me on Twitter and let me show you the way grasshopper!

Email Exceptional customer service has always been our goal at Kona Bay Fabrics. Making sure you can be reached via email is a simple step in the right direction. Some people are simply more comfortable with email than phone calls. Make it easy for them by providing easy access to a frequently checked email. A little secret…It’ll save you time, too! You can always reach Kona Bay by email and expect a quick response—konabay@konabay.com.

The flipside of this is to make sure you are always building your email list. There is no easier way to communicate with your customer. Send out your newsletter (there are many easy to use templates and services to help) or notifications of upcoming classes. Maybe you have a big sale coming up—remind them, I guarantee your customers want to know about it!

There are more online tools! But master these and you’ll be well on your way to selling fabric with technology on your side. Let me know some of the tools you’re company is using. I always love hearing from you—douglas@konabay.com!

How Do You Know When Your Business Has Made It?

I recently heard exciting news from one of our longarm quilting friends and customers. Marybeth O’Halloran, who owns and operates White Lotus Quilting, that she bestowed an honor on Kona Bay Fabrics so great it made my heart skip a beat.Since I can’t say it any better, here’s what Marybeth wrote…

”Kona Bay (the dog) is a 5-month-old Sheltie tri-color. We had other names planned for her but when she arrived we found her to have a much stronger personality than we’d expected so she needed something as rich dark and deep as her coat color for a name. Kona Bay became the obvious choice”.

She continued with, “Your fabrics have a distinctive attitude and personality which I am quite naturally drawn to. They suggest an aura of repose and relaxation, of awe at the natural beauty around us which sometimes goes unnoticed. Thanks for setting such a high standard in Asian-inspired design on fabric”.

Days later and my heart is still going pitter-patter over such a touching account of what Kona Bay fabrics meant to Marybeth. I absolutely love hearing stories like these. For those of you who didn’t know, you can follow me on Twitter @konabayfabrics. It's easy to sign up and get twittering. I’m always on the lookout for fun projects using Kona Bay and to hear your thoughts and ideas.

The moral of the story—You know you’ve made it when someone names their dog after you. Thanks, Marybeth!