The Quilter’s Choice Newsletter

Winter 2003

Presentation Overview

1. Introduction

2. Why a newsletter?

3. Anatomy of the Newsletter

4. How format and specific features are ideally suited to audience, purpose, and context.

5. Concluding remarks.

The Quilter’s Choice Newsletter Winter 2003

650 Progress Ave., Kingston, Ontario K7M4W9 (613) 384-8932 www.thequilterschoice.com

It’s that time again! Here’s what’s happening and what’s new:

*Spring Fling Sale-watch for details

*Open House! Mark Thurs., January 9th on your calendars. The store will be open 10 am-7 pm. If you haven’t already done so it will be a good time to enroll for classes and check out what’s new for spring. Meet the teachers and win prizes!

*Book of the Month continues. Save 20% on the featured book.

*The Nickel Bees group organized by Gayle in the fall will continue this winter. Everyone enjoyed collecting and sharing fabrics as well as learning great techniques for using them. It’s not too late to join!

*Caring Quilters will continue to meet on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month. There is always room for more. Fabric, machines, refreshments and fellowship are provided. In December, over 25 quilts were delivered to Ryandale House and The Children’s Aid Society. Also a quilt was donated for auction to a class of public school students to raise funds for a young classmate with cancer. Did you see our picture in the Kingston This Week?

*For Love of Quilting magazine from Fons and Porter is now available at the store.

* Celebration 2003-our quilt show featuring the work of our students, patrons, and friends will be held Sat., May 3 from 11-3 at the Kingston Independent Nylon Workers Union Hall on Arlington Park Drive (off Gardners Road south of Taylor-Kidd). Once again we will be accepting donations to The Food Bank as admission.

*QuiltIt by Gayle-Gayle has started her own custom quilting business. Saturday February 22, she will be in the store for an Open House. Drop by for a visit and see samples of her work. She will available all day to answer questions.

*Watch for monthly specials. Save 25% on featured fabrics. York Heritage Quilt Show was hectic and fun. The quilts were spectacular and inspiring. As always, there was a warm welcome from the guild members. The food was good, too. Congratulations to the recent draw winners - especially those who say “they never win anything”. Don’t forget to enter every time you’re in the store! Happy Quilting from the gals, Adriana, Betsy, Charlene, Gayle, Fernanda, Ilona, Karen, Kathy, Marilyn, Michelle & Nellie

Letter Head and Newsletter Logo

Bulleted Items Outlining:

Sales/Specials Special Events News

Staff names

Every page has the same Header. Look for this throughout

Class Descriptions always follow the same format:

Note the central placement of the ad to immediately draw the eye.

TitleDate and Time Description Instructor Fee

This is important information so it is placed in a prominent place. We want to make sure people read it.

The three column format is consistent throughout the newsletter.

Items of special interest are often separated out by a block or border.

Sales are easy to spot

All class information is labeled.Classes that run for successiveweeks are easier to see.

Generic calendar format.All boxes are in proportion.

A Typical Newsletter Calendar

Note: the newsletter also has March and April calendars.

Purpose – What does it Do?

The newsletter’s reason for being is:

To advertise products, classes, and services.

To bring customers into the store to ask questions and to sell product

To inform customers about promotions, products and general news.

Context - Constraints

Printed Twice a Year - Must contain all necessary information to cover that period.

Arrives in Mail -Limited in length to keep costs down. Cannot exceed 4 pages (printed on both sides) for most effective pricing.

-Standard format is easiest and cheapest to produce.

Competition -Quality must match or exceed that of the competition.

Also available on website

- Format needs to be easily adapted for website.

Cost -Must be simple enough to be produced by a busy person at the busiest time of the year.

-Must be produced in the most cost-efficient manner possible to fit advertising budget.

- Must work well in black and white.

Audience - Considerations• Women, ages 25-80. • All are quilters and therefore familiar with specialized

vocabulary such as fat quarters, appliqué, sampler, borders....

• Most know the staff on a first name basis.• Most have already been in the store at least once before.• Most are familiar with the newsletter format.• Most receive newsletters from the other quilt stores in the

area and make comparisons.

Questions

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