Need some assistance.

That's obvious.

I need assistance on many, many levels. I need many types of assistance.

But that's not what you're here to help me with.

I am leaving in two days for Stitches East. Have I mentioned that before? I have? Oh.

Well, how about one more time for good measure: Me, Stitches, Booth 239, enough said.

What I need from you is assistance in remembering all the things I've forgotten. Aside from yarn, what should I be bringing? For some reason, I keep thinking that I need tape. Lots and lots of tape. Tape is useful in times of crisis.

I hope there's no crisis about to befall me.

So, let's say you don't know me from Adam, you stop by my booth, you see the pretty yarn, you see my smiling face, what else would you be wanting? What would make you think, "They should really have..."

I know it would be great if we had a huge selection of books and whatnot. That can't happen in the next 24 hours. Plus, our booth is really about yarn. And there are huge book vendors who do nothing but books. I'm sure I will be stopping by. I have a serious knitting book weakness.

I know it would be great if we had a huge selection of FREE yarn. That would be really great.

Also not likely, though. Sorry about that one.

Should I bring our patterns? Should I bring dyeing kits? Should I make pattern and yarn kits? Should I bring lots of business cards? Should I bring a colorway catalog in a three ring binder? Should I bring chocolate? Should I bring tape? Should I bring samples of our other yarn bases that we won't be featuring? Should I bring postcards? Should I bring...what? WHAT IS IT THAT I SHOULD BRING?

OK, those are the first things I need help with.

Here's the next thing I need help with:

If there is ONE colorway that I should bring, one colorway that you think is really appealing and splendiferous, what would it be? I have many dyed up, but I want to be sure I have what people are looking for.

Does anyone get the feeling that I should have done this just a touch sooner in the process?

Me too.

But it is what it is. It's 5:52 am, and I'm heading down to the shop. I've dyed over 100lbs of yarn this week, I can do a little more to make sure I have your favorite.

So, that's the assistance I need. Tell me:

1. What I'm forgetting.

2. What you would like to see if you were a customer

3. What one colorway I should be sure to remember

Please help an old Yarnista out! :)

Comments

[Lori]

1. What I’m forgetting: needles, so potential customers can doa quickie swatch

2. What you would like to see if you were a customer: a friendly, smiling face (a given!) and lots of yarn, some patterns, maybe some samples of wool washes/tiny skeins, etc.

3. What one colorway I should be sure to remember: any of the special sock club colorways would be great! that way you could show you have some "exclusiives", as alot of people like that kinda thing

Good luck!!!

[Lisa]

Don't forget the credit card machine (if you have to supply one). I hate going to fairs to find out I can only use the cash I have on hand.

I'd definitely take the business cards or anything else with you online info so they can look when they're at home & not overwhelmed.

Favorite colorway: probably one of the deep rich colors since its fall. I think the idea of a club colorway is great too for the above stated reasons.

Have a great time!

[Rlynn]

Don't forget:
- hot water bottle to make yourself a cuppa hot chocolate or coffee

I'd like to see:
- Ribbons or pretty papers to wrap the yarn with, it's always nice to have a nicely packaged yarn
- Sets/giftboxes/kits: matching semi-solid with variegated, or yarn with woolwash, or kit, you know, the kind of thing The Body Shop has--a small amount of everything
- Pictures of FO's made from 3IG yarn (if you can have permission of the knitters, of course, but I'm sure they'd all be glad to be featured :p)

Bring:
- Aiden and Carson and the story behind it, maybe even the sample fabric. People love to see wishes coming true, even if it's other ppl's wishes. They'd place custom orders too :)

[Kristen]

I agree that business cards are a great idea! I know that free yarn isn't possible, but I love having a few yards of a "unique" yarn to knit up a swatch so I can see for myself why I need to buy lots of it.

what I'd want to see? a variety of yarn types so I can see what they are like in person, and a few colorways dyed in various yarns so I can see how they take color differently.

what colorway? I'd go with Nora and a few of the other really unique colorways - ones that aren't likely to be seen in other places. (Kelly and Clodagh come to mind also!)

[Meri]

I think you are forgetting to breathe. :) Definitely bring lots and lots of business cards and postcards - any kind of information that you can pass out, so people will come back to your online shop later. And the credit card machine is a golden suggestion!

I would LOVE to be able to feel all your yarn bases. And to have you standing there describing what I'm feeling? yeah, that'd put a dent in my wallet.

Colorway? I've gotta say your two new ones - Aiden and Carson. Seriously stunning. Others that are more girly - Quinn, Tara, Nora...

HAVE FUN! I wish I could be there to bring you coffee and chocolate!

[Suzanne]

Can't wait to come by the booth on Saturday!

1. Yes, bring cool business cards. If they have the Rav group names on 'em, even better. best way for people to check FO's and see all the chatter, later.

2. If you did kits, I bet the mini sock skeins in complimentary colors would fly off the tables. Lots of sock knitters out there man.

3. I love the new colors like Carson and Emer. Nora is lovely.

Good luck Yarnista!

[Heather]

LOADS of business cards. GIve them to everyone. I would guess that there will be lots of booths and people will forget (I notice the Yarn Harlot forgets and she yarns for a living - get it). Anyway, a business card will get stuck somewhere and pulled out when the person gets home. They can then check the website which should speak for itself.

You may want a few pattern kits. I would skip the dye kits unless they are easy to transport.

You could bring the colorways in a binder, but I wouldn't make it the center of your display. I would whip it out when you have someone interested in it or point people to it that wonder if you have something with brown.

Chocolate is good and postcards would be a nice touch for every sale.

Tape is always good when you are in a pinc.

Good luck. You will wow them!

[Agnes]

Hmmm...
Definitely don't forget your business cards!

Samples of the different yarn bases is a definite must, everyone loves to pet yarn (don't they?)

I think you should also take along one of your new winter offering colourways - Aiden perhaps. I also love the idea of bringing one of the club colourways. Maybe you could bring something with brown in it? Do you think you have something like that?

Good luck!

[Paige]

Chocolate and business cards. The chocolate can always be for you to calm your nerves!

Credit card machine. And your own card for buying yarn for yourself!

And Sharon, don't forget the yarn, OK??? Lots of yarn. Can't go wrong with lots o' yarn.

I predict a buying frenzy. Not only is your yarn unbelievable, but there's an election today. So some of your customers will be celebrating (with yarn), others will be drowning their sorrows (with yarn). You can't lose!

Good luck!

[Julie]

Bring:
-String (I know you have barrels of yarn, but string is useful too!)
-Tape (you got that one)
-Extra Cardstock/Paper for last minute signs.
-BUSINESS CARDS LOTS AND LOTS. I always grab a few to pass out to friends
-Postcard if you have them
-Your color card!!
-Extra yarn labels?
-Paperclips
-markers and pens
-did I say tape?
-Extension cords (if you have power and/or electronic CC stuff)
-extra CC tape if you have the machine
-a calculator!
-notebook/paper to write stuff on
-Some... tampons/pads. You *never* know. And even if you don't need them someone else might!

[Jen]

1. Underwear? Toothbrush? Seriously--that's the type of stuff I forget when I'm focusing on something else.

2. Bring yarn, yarn, and more yarn. Trust me--with the beautiful yarns you have, anything else is a distraction! But I think bringing patterns to go with the yarns is a great idea, and putting together some kits is even better. Definitely business cards!

3. Well, Gwendolyn is the next colorway I'm planning to purchase, so that gets my vote! I really like the idea of bringing some of the club yarns (and info on the clubs to hand out).

[jen]

1. business cards, c.c. machine, mailing list sign up, yarn samples (maybe a card showing all the different types/weight), bags, tissue, club info

2. Yarn! Plus, dyeing kits, patterns, gift certificates, little kits (i.e. a pattern, yarn, and a little extra).

3. Colors - the two new winter colors, the four fall colors, plus connemara, donegan, curran, tara, nora, fiona, and some semi-solids.

Good Luck!

[jen]

forgot to add: bring lady slipper!!!!!

[Kelly]

Lots of business cards, and if possible, samples of all your yarn bases & colors....maybe in a big binder?

Your new frosted solids, arctic circle, and the Carson & Aiden would by my suggestions for yarn must haves.

[Tracey]

I agree with the other posters make sure you have tons of business cards and postcards. I have never been to Stitches but I have been to other shows and I keep cards from the booths that made an impression on me and I have ordered from several at a later time.

I would love to see dyeing kits or pattern/yarn kits and yarn enough for an adult sweater in the same colorway. I would also want to see the other yarn bases so I could compare them to what you are featuring.

And I think the three ring binder is great way to show off all of your colorways. I would have a hard time choosing one or two of your colorways to bring!! I think your newest colorways should be featured, Aiden is a great fall/winter colorway but I think that Adara is my favorite of all times. I liked it in the skein but I LOVED it knitted up!! I don't take very good pictures but here is http://www.ravelry.com/projects/nhknitgirl/baby-socks-hat-and-longies

Have fun at Stitches!!

[Liz]

Bring a stool for you to sit on occasionally.

Sock patterns.

If you have any samples knit up - socks, soakers, longies, hats.

Bring Adara.

[angela]

1 - I agree with the toothbrush bit :) Seriously, you do yarn, and people are there for yarn. Anything else is gravy. So, yarn, biz cards, change (for those of us who have to limit our spending at Stitches somehow) and your cc machine.

2- I want yarn. Maybe a little roving. In a rainbow of fibers, colors, with varigated and semi-solids. Kits are cool, but I'm not a kit buyer, I guess. I want to be, but I rarely go for them.

3- Don't make me choose!

[Abigail]

Bring postcards, and some dyeing tutorials and kits! It's nice to have some low cost items and the tutorials and postcards fit that. People will buy the postcards cause they are pretty and then remember they came from you when they want yarn. The colorway catalog sounds fantastic too. Will you be taking orders? Definitely bring a skein of each yarn base.

Don't forget socks and underwear, too. And a hairbrush. And a water bottle - your throat will get tired from all of the talking!

As for colors, I think you should bring one of your frosted solids and one of your short-repeat-wonders like Nora or something similar, because I think your short repeat yarns are spectacular and a nice change of what is available commercially. Carson is my current OMGFAVORITE colorway.

Lots of extra pens. People will walk off with them.

[Amanda]

bring water, snacks, a chair.

If I were there, I would want to have a business card from you. So bring lots.

I would love to see a few sample colorways/yarn bases.

I would love to see a catalog of your available colorways.

I think it would do you nothing but good to share the story of Aiden and Carson, and how you can do custom colorways.

[Wendy]

You HAVE HAVE HAVE to take Kirsty, Lady Slippers, Nora and Florry ! *swoon*

[Toria]

1. What I’m forgetting.
I think everyone covered it!

2. What you would like to see if you were a customer
When I went to Stitches Midwest, I was looking for stuff that I couldn't find at my LYS. Different Stuff. Special Stuff. Even if it was just because it was wrapped in Pretty Tissue Paper. That made it special and therefore worthy of my special budget. So, I would say maybe make some kits? Or if you have those stitch markers we got in the sock club- I would totally consider that special and worthy of Stitches budget. However, all in all, your yarn is special enough/pretty/different/exciting to warrant purchase!

3. What one colorway I should be sure to remember
I second sock exclusives. And Meg. On Wexford.

[Trisha]

I didn't read all the replies, but I think you should remember your photo face, I am sure that a lot of your fans, ie friends on Ravelry, will want thier picture taken with you. Otherwise, I think you had it covered. Maybe some Tylenol too.

[Tasha]

Definitely bring business cards!

As a customer (who can't wait to come hang out at your booth!), I think a binder with colorways is a great idea. But seriously, every one of your colorways is delicious.

Have a safe trip!

[Katherine]

1. What I’m forgetting.
What about a couple of FO's you have knit yourself ie a scarf etc

2. What you would like to see if you were a customer
Some of the silk and more luxurious yarns dyed up.

3. What one colorway I should be sure to remember
Meg on Wexford (devine!!!)

[rhiannon]

I would bring samples of each of your yarn bases, even if they're undyed.

Definitely bring Arctic Circle because it's so awesome. If you have any of the October extra, that would be a neat thing to sell, too. Do you have a guestbook? That could be kind of neat--you could have people leave comments.

Pack some quick snacks (granola bars, pudding cups, etc.) in case you aren't able to get away and eat. Pack some fruit, too. And throat lozenges--your throat will definitely get sore. Have fun Sharon! I'll be wishing I was there.