Kick off the show at the Launch Party, a high-energy celebration designed for discovering what’s new and connecting with the people behind it. Get an early look at new products, fresh ideas, emerging brands, and exciting launches from across the quilting and sewing industry—all in a relaxed, social setting. It’s part preview, part networking event, and the perfect way to start the show with inspiration, conversation, and a little fun.
Lunch includes a Keynote talk. If you're looking for new product, this is a don't miss event.
Launch Party: $50 with box lunch included. Registration required.
Interchange is where the industry comes together before the show floor opens. Designed for easy conversation and meaningful connection, this networking party gives retailers, designers, educators, manufacturers, distributors, and other industry professionals a chance to meet, reconnect, exchange ideas, and build relationships before the busy day begins.
Whether you’re looking for a new collaborator, a future business partner, or simply a great conversation with someone who understands the industry, Interchange is the perfect place to start the show connected.
Cost $25 Cocktails for purchase. Gift bags for the first 150 attendees. Registration required.
Roundabout is part networking, part discovery, and a little like speed dating for the quilting and sewing industry. Attendees rotate through a series of quick introductions to brands, products, services, and industry professionals, making it easy to discover companies they may not have encountered otherwise.
These short, focused conversations are designed to break the ice, spark interest, and help retailers and other attendees quickly identify the people and businesses they want to connect with more deeply during the show. It’s fast-paced, fun, and built to turn introductions into opportunities.
This is event is FREE but requires preregistration. Shops/Buyers only
Test Track puts new ideas, products, and businesses in the spotlight. Part product showcase and part Shark Tank–style pitch, this session gives participants the opportunity to present what they’re working on, explain the problem it solves, and make the case for why the industry should take notice.
Attendees get an inside look at fresh concepts and emerging innovation, while presenters gain valuable exposure, feedback, and the chance to make connections that could help move their idea forward. It’s a lively, engaging way to discover what might be coming next in quilting and sewing.
This event is FREE and you may register ahead. To pitch your product at this event, email crossroadsqm@gmail.com
On Ramps are practical, approachable sessions designed to help you build the skills you need to move your business forward. Whether you’re new to the industry, stepping into a new area of your business, or simply need a refresher, On Ramps break down essential topics into clear, useful information you can put to work right away. Think of them as your entry point—giving you the foundation, vocabulary, and confidence to take the next step.
Whether you’re building a teaching business or opening the doors to a new shop, these sessions are designed to help you start stronger. Educators can explore topics like developing classes, working with shops and brands, pricing, contracts, and building an audience, while new shop owners can dig into the fundamentals of retail, merchandising, buying, operations, marketing, and more. These practical sessions give newer industry professionals the tools, context, and connections they need to grow with confidence.
On Ramps are $100 per track and include a box lunch. Registration required.
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Check in & Networking
9:30 - 10:45 AM - Basics of Business
10:45 - 11 AM - Break
11-12:15 - Location Scouting, Fixtures & Pre-Inventory
12:15 - 1:45 PM - Lunch & Keynote
1:45 - 3:00 PM - Purchasing, Distributors, Fabric Buying
3:15 - 5:00 PM - Mentor Hour
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Check in & Networking
9:30 - 10:45 AM - Basics of Business
10:45 - 11 AM - Break
11-12:15 - Where to Start? Who to Contact? Specialty? (Website, Socials, Etc.)
12:15 - 1:45 PM - Lunch & Keynote
1:45 - 3:00 PM - Pros and Cons of Ambassador Programs
3:15 - 4:00 PM - Teaching for Shows, Shops, Guilds, Etc.
4:15 - 5:00 PM - Mentor Hour
Dialogue Sessions bring the industry together for candid, collaborative conversations about the challenges, changes, and opportunities shaping quilting and sewing today. Rather than a traditional lecture, these sessions are built around shared perspectives, real-world experiences, and open discussion among retailers, designers, educators, manufacturers, and other industry professionals. Come ready to listen, contribute, ask questions, and leave with new ideas—and a better understanding of what others across the industry need to succeed.
Dialogues are FREE and can be registered for at the time of your registration for the show. Walk-ins are allowed.
What is actually driving sales in today’s quilt and sewing shops—and what is no longer working? This practical session explores approachable sales techniques for people who dislike feeling “salesy,” with a focus on helping customers find the right products and confidently complete their projects. Learn how to read customer behavior, identify missed opportunities, and use sales floor heat mapping to understand which areas attract attention, where shoppers linger, and which displays are being overlooked. Walk away with realistic ideas for improving merchandising, customer service, and sales without relying on high-pressure tactics.
A great design is only the beginning. Clear, accurate instructions can make the difference between a pattern customers love and one that creates confusion, returns, and frustrated phone calls. Learn practical tips for writing easy-to-follow patterns, discover what separates a good pattern from a great one, and explore how to recruit and work effectively with pattern testers. We’ll also discuss the role of a technical editor, when hiring one is worth the investment, and what retailers should look for when evaluating patterns to carry in their shops.
Explore the latest directions in fabric design and how color, scale, theme, and collection structure influence what customers buy. This session will also examine precuts, including which formats work best for different shoppers, how to merchandise and price them effectively, and when to create your own. Learn practical strategies for selecting collections, managing inventory, and turning fabric trends into profitable opportunities for your shop.
Successful vending starts long before the doors open. Learn how to evaluate whether a show is the right fit for your business, including audience, costs, travel, sales potential, and promotional support. Then explore the essentials of booth planning, inventory, staffing, displays, payment systems, and customer service. This session will also share practical move-in and move-out strategies to help you pack, transport, set up, organize, and break down your booth efficiently and with less stress.
Your classroom can be one of your shop’s most effective sales tools. Learn how to design classes that naturally introduce students to products, techniques, and future purchases without making the experience feel like a sales pitch. We’ll explore when creating a kit adds value, when it creates unnecessary work, and how to price and manage kits profitably. This session will also cover ways to partner with fabric, thread, machine, pattern, and notions brands to secure support, expand your offerings, and create stronger experiences for both your students and your business.
Your classroom can be one of your shop’s most effective sales tools. Learn how to design classes that naturally introduce students to products, techniques, and future purchases without making the experience feel like a sales pitch. We’ll explore when creating a kit adds value, when it creates unnecessary work, and how to price and manage kits profitably. This session will also cover ways to partner with fabric, thread, machine, pattern, and notions brands to secure support, expand your offerings, and create stronger experiences for both your students and your business.
Your point-of-sale system, website, inventory, customer data, and online sales tools should work together—not create more work. This session explores what retailers need from today’s technology, including reliable inventory syncing, integrated e-commerce, customer management, reporting, email and loyalty tools, mobile selling, and useful automations. Learn which features truly support a growing business, where disconnected systems create costly problems, and what questions to ask before choosing, changing, or expanding your retail technology.
Should you work with a distributor or handle wholesale distribution yourself? Explore the advantages, challenges, costs, and responsibilities of each approach so you can choose the best path for your business. This session will also cover practical ways to protect your intellectual property, establish clear usage terms, and respond when your designs, images, or written content are used without permission.
What should the next generation of quilting and sewing events look like? Join an open conversation about what is working, what is no longer serving our industry, and how shows can better support retailers, educators, designers, brands, vendors, and attendees. Together, we’ll explore opportunities to improve education, networking, buying, exhibiting, scheduling, accessibility, and the overall event experience—and identify practical ways the industry can build stronger, more valuable shows for everyone.
Taking your shop on the road is about more than the sales you make during the event. Learn how to select products, merchandise your booth, and create a traveling version of your shop that introduces new customers to your brand. We’ll explore strategies for converting show attendees into lasting in-store and online customers through email, social media, special offers, and thoughtful follow-up. This session will also help you evaluate shows as both a customer acquisition expense and a marketing investment, so you can measure the value of an event beyond its immediate sales totals.
Successful teaching partnerships begin with clear communication and a solid agreement. Learn what should be included in a teaching contract, including compensation, travel, lodging, cancellations, supply responsibilities, classroom requirements, kit fees, book and product sales, and promotional expectations. Experienced teachers will also share their top tips for creating strong programs, avoiding common problems, supporting students, and building productive, long-term relationships with shops and event organizers.
Help customers see more than individual products—show them a complete creative experience. Learn how to bundle tools, patterns, fabrics, notions, and supporting products into coordinated systems that make projects easier to understand and purchase. We’ll also explore how pop-ups, trunk shows, demonstrations, featured displays, and brand partnerships can transform your shop into an engaging destination. Discover practical ways to create memorable in-store experiences, increase product visibility, encourage add-on sales, and give customers compelling reasons to return.
