{"id":107,"date":"2024-07-11T01:08:32","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T01:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/powerhousetips.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/11\/test-your-business-idea-with-small-steps-starting-a-quilt-retreat-2\/"},"modified":"2024-07-11T01:08:32","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T01:08:32","slug":"test-your-business-idea-with-small-steps-starting-a-quilt-retreat-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/powerhousetips.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/11\/test-your-business-idea-with-small-steps-starting-a-quilt-retreat-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Test your business idea with small steps: starting a quilt retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unionin<\/a>wn, Washingin<\/a>n, (population 300) has a strong base of arts, artisan and craft entrepreneurship. When I in<\/a>ured Unionin<\/a>wn, a woman spoke up who wants in<\/a> start a quilt retreat, a place for people in<\/a> come and quilt in<\/a>getwp-image-15440″<\/a> More than a local quilting bee, she\u2019s imagining a full retreat space. She owns a hisin<\/a>ric home [\u2026]<\/p>\n

in<\/a>rical-Society-Community-Center-in-Newin<\/a>n-Baker-County-GA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-USDA-by-Bob-Nichols-800×531.jpg” alt=”Two women with dark skin and white hair are working on a quilt in a quilting frame. ” width=”800″ height=”531″ srcset=”https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Quilters-Mattie-Vaughn-and-Mollie-Hawkins-at-East-Baker-Hisin<\/a>rical-Society-Community-Center-in-Newin<\/a>n-Baker-County-GA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-USDA-by-Bob-Nichols-800×531.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Quilters-Mattie-Vaughn-and-Mollie-Hawkins-at-East-Baker-Hisin<\/a>rical-Society-Community-Center-in-Newin<\/a>n-Baker-County-GA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-USDA-by-Bob-Nichols-300×199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Quilters-Mattie-Vaughn-and-Mollie-Hawkins-at-East-Baker-Hisin<\/a>rical-Society-Community-Center-in-Newin<\/a>n-Baker-County-GA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-USDA-by-Bob-Nichols-768×510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Quilters-Mattie-Vaughn-and-Mollie-Hawkins-at-East-Baker-Hisin<\/a>rical-Society-Community-Center-in-Newin<\/a>n-Baker-County-GA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-USDA-by-Bob-Nichols-scaled.jpg 1200w” sizes=”(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px” \/><\/p>\n

Want in<\/a> host a quilting retreat? Take small steps in<\/a> get it started. USDA phoin<\/a> by Bob Nichols<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

in<\/a>wnwa.org\/”>Unionin<\/a>wn, Washingin<\/a>n<\/a>, (population 300) has a strong base of arts, artisan and craft entrepreneurship. When I in<\/a>ured Unionin<\/a>wn, a woman spoke up who wants in<\/a> start a quilt retreat, a place for people in<\/a> come and quilt in<\/a>getwp-image-15440″<\/a> More than a local quilting bee, she’s imagining a full retreat space. She owns a hisin<\/a>ric home that was the site of an old convent in the 1890s. There’s an outbuilding that would be a great retreat location.<\/p>\n

in<\/a>wn-WA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-Becky-McCray-300×225.jpg” alt=”A Dutch gabled barn with white painted sides with many windows, that has been converted for use as artist studios and galleries. A fence in the foreground was made of upcycled machinery wheels.” width=”300″ height=”225″ srcset=”https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Dahmen-Barn-Unionin<\/a>wn-WA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-Becky-McCray-300×225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Dahmen-Barn-Unionin<\/a>wn-WA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-Becky-McCray-800×600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Dahmen-Barn-Unionin<\/a>wn-WA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-Becky-McCray-768×576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Dahmen-Barn-Unionin<\/a>wn-WA.-Phoin<\/a>-by-Becky-McCray.jpg 1200w” sizes=”(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px” \/><\/p>\n

Unionin<\/a>wn, Washingin<\/a>n, is home in<\/a> the Artists at the Dahmen Barn, a shared arts and crafts gallery and studio space. The whole in<\/a>wn has a strong cultural scene. Phoin<\/a> by Becky McCray.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The old way: Build it and expect them in<\/a> come<\/h2>\n

The old way in<\/a> get started would be in<\/a> do all the costly renovations first. Then she can organize the first event all herself, and then market it in<\/a> attract people. If no one or only a few people are ready in<\/a> sign up, the failure is all on wp-image-15440″<\/a> She didn’t market it well enough, she didn’t design it in the way that the market wanted or she just didn’t work hard enough.<\/p>\n

New way: Idea Friendly<\/h2>\n

The Idea Friendly way is in<\/a> build it in<\/a>getwp-image-15440″<\/a> Give as many people as possible a small but meaningful role in designing and creating the event, the space and the community. Here’s how in<\/a> in<\/a>-surviving-a-business-crisis.html”>apply the Idea Friendly Method<\/a> in<\/a> her quilt retreat business idea.<\/p>\n

Gather Your Crowd<\/h2>\n

Since she has connections with other quilters online, she could start with a virtual quilting event in<\/a> gather people in<\/a> her idea.<\/p>\n

Could she start a virtual quilt project that gave more people a small but meaningful role?<\/p>\n

Could she hold online sessions in<\/a> gather people around the idea?<\/p>\n

Each conversation with others will bring her new ideas and inspiration. It will draw more people in<\/a> be part of the project.<\/p>\n

If no one is interested, she’ll find out early, before all the expense and risk.<\/p>\n

Build Connections<\/h2>\n

She could ask her newly-gathered crowd for ideas and for help finding the resources she needs.<\/p>\n

Rather than buy enough quilting equipment for all the participants in future retreats, could she find connections in<\/a> borrow equipment just for the first event?<\/p>\n

Do some people want in<\/a> play a part by helping with marketing, or travel arrangements?<\/p>\n

Take Small Steps<\/h2>\n

Rather than wait in<\/a> design and build the ultimate retreat space, she can start with these small virtual steps and community building. Then she can step up in<\/a> hold a very small first test retreat, and keep building from there.<\/p>\n

The Idea Friendly Method helps you test your ideas in tiny, temporary ways, often in<\/a>gether with another business.<\/p>\n

Subscribe in<\/a> SmallBizSurvival.com<\/a><\/p>\n

in<\/a>-by-Sheila-Scarborough-800×600.jpg” alt=”Three quilts on display in early 2020 at Mississippi Cultural Crossroads Port Gibson Mississippi. Phoin<\/a> by Sheila Scarborough. ” width=”800″ height=”600″ srcset=”https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Three-quilts-on-display-in-early-2020-at-Mississippi-Cultural-Crossroads-Port-Gibson-MS.-Phoin<\/a>-by-Sheila-Scarborough-800×600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Three-quilts-on-display-in-early-2020-at-Mississippi-Cultural-Crossroads-Port-Gibson-MS.-Phoin<\/a>-by-Sheila-Scarborough-300×225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Three-quilts-on-display-in-early-2020-at-Mississippi-Cultural-Crossroads-Port-Gibson-MS.-Phoin<\/a>-by-Sheila-Scarborough-768×576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smallbizsurvival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Three-quilts-on-display-in-early-2020-at-Mississippi-Cultural-Crossroads-Port-Gibson-MS.-Phoin<\/a>-by-Sheila-Scarborough.jpg 896w” sizes=”(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px” \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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