Fabrics News and Trends
Stay informed on fabrics news and trends to keep merchandise and marketing appealing
Whether you sell fabrics to crafters for sewing projects or businesses that create furniture, clothing or home décor, discovering industry trends will help you offer textiles that they want. Ensure you visit a variety of sources to uncover fabrics information like company news, seasonal trends, hot colors and marketing ideas.By reading articles, participating in discussion groups and meeting with other retailers, you’ll gain knowledge about the fabric marketplace and use it to boost your bottom line. Keeping up with latest news and trends in the fabrics industry makes good business sense. Gather more information by trying to:
1. Subscribe to publications for the textile industry and visit websites, blogs and message boards that discuss fabric suppliers, manufacturers and trends.
2. Join associations for fabric wholesalers and retailers to discover best sellers, merchandising concepts, company rumors and project ideas through meetings and educational opportunities.
3. Attend industry trade shows to catch a glimpse of new products, study advertising and meet manufacturers and wholesalers of fabric material and supplies.
Get information on fabric textiles and the industry through online and published sources
By reading fabric trade journals, home décor magazines and websites with industry news, you'll discover upcoming product releases to help you plan your budget and merchandising ideas for new lines. You'll also be able to hear manufacturer updates and discover which companies have less than perfect customer service records. Consumer sewing and craft magazines can show you how crafters are using fabrics and help you brainstorm ways to market the merchandise.
Try: Fabric Trends, published by All American Crafts, showcases hot quilt fabric and cotton fabric designs, colors and textures in projects that might spark your customers’ imaginations. Fibre2Fashion provides updates on fabric textiles company trends and news from around the world. Use the search function to focus on stories related to the United States and narrow your search results further by using fabric as the search keyword.
Participate in groups to uncover news and network with manufacturers and owners of fabric stores
Industry associations' meetings and online forums will put you in contact with other retailers who can give you first-hand information on successful marketing campaigns, best sellers and opinions on style forecasts. Group functions and keynote addresses also give you the chance to discuss fabrics news and trends with manufacturer representatives and interior designers.
Try: Track the trends in upholstery fabric, linen fabrics and more by attending meetings of the National Textile Association. Join The Fabric Shop Network, a trade organization designed to help fabric and quilt retailers succeed with business information, marketing strategies and industry trend news.
Discover advertising and display ideas, as well as hot new products, at fabrics trade shows
If there aren't any fabrics trade shows scheduled near you, the information you'll receive at a convention in another state may be worth the price of airfare and lodging. You'll be able to network with other retailers and see color, pattern and other textile trends first hand.
Try: Discover new products, sources of wholesale fabric and current uses for designer fabrics at Sourcing at Magic. The trade event features manufacturers, fabric mills and supply chain service providers as exhibitors. Check out the Dallas Fabric Show, hosted by the Dallas Market Center, to discover new sources of fabrics, trims and additional supplies. Study the exhibits for interesting merchandising and project ideas and talk to manufacturers and other retailers about industry rumors and customer trends.
- While attending fabrics trade shows or association meetings, use the opportunity to discuss news and trends regarding distributors and company representatives with other retailers. You may discover new wholesale sources for sewing fabric or decorator fabrics and you may also hear about those with bad shipping and service policies.
Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
