Positive Yarn

Business owners in the needleart and craft industries are being reminded at nearly every turn that they need more and more technology. Computer software upgrades, cell phone plans, Web sites, emails — it’s not enough these days to simply have a good product or service; you need to have ever-evolving strategies to communicate its ability to the world.

While I’m no Luddite, I don’t get quite as excited as my husband does when CNET breaks the news about the latest browser platform or digital camera on the market. But I do try to keep in step with the trends — in this business climate, you have to be open to new ways of thinking or else be left in the dust.

Of course, a lot of handicraft’s appeal is because it’s the opposite of impersonal, cookie-cutter, computer-generated materials. It’s about finding the core of your creativity, not pushing buttons in a series so as to make something happen that somebody else programmed for you. It’s about making something one-of-a-kind, even if it’s from a kit, because you are able to put your own unique touch to the finished product. It’s about connecting with a time before electronics invaded our everyday lives.

But once you decide you want to profit from this endeavor, it’s time to turn on the laptop.

I’m delighted to say that I have written some technology columns for Mike Hartnett, editor of Creative Leisure News, an industry-focused bi-weekly newsletter. The issue that hit in-boxes of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and designers nationwide this morning includes a column I wrote about business applications for iPhones. It can be found here. (It should be noted that while this is a subscription-only publication, Mike does have a “Try Two Issues Free” service.) Earlier this year, I also wrote a two-part series for CLN on marketing through social media, which can be found here and here.

In closing, technology obviously plays a role in my business — double-spaced articles fresh off the ol’ Royal typewriter would be met with disdain by any editor these days (myself included: who has time to retype?). But I want to know: How does technology support your business? Talk to me: Either comment below or email me at positiveyarn@goochandgooch.com. (Just don’t text me; I’m still adjusting to my cell phone plan!)

It’s been a busy week already, and it’s only Tuesday! I just wanted to publicly thank Mike Hartnett over at Creative Leisure News for publishing my musings about using social media in the craft and needle arts industries. He turned it into two separate technology columns in the January 19 and February 2 editions. When I first retired from my job as managing editor of a business-to-business magazine, I wanted to jump right into doing writing, editing and marketing for things that I loved, like scrapbooking and the fiber arts. Mike’s bi-weekly e-newsletter was one of the first things I signed up for, to educate myself about the business side of the craft and hobby field. Mike himself has always lent a listening ear and a bit of advice along the way, and for that I’m truly grateful!

I still drop everything when I see CLN hit my in-box.

On another note, I just saw the weather forecast here in Northeast Ohio, and tomorrow is bringing more snow. I just can’t believe I look forward to this stuff when I’m sweltering hot in July. I guess I have a short memory.

I’ll leave you with this shot of a “tagged” tree outside Studio Knit in Medina, OH. (By the way, Owner Anita Byrd sent her latest e-newsletter today, which touts that the shop is going green with logoed canvas bags. As an incentive to buy one for $5, she’s offering 5% off future purchases when you use the bag. Kudos, Anita!)

Now this is the kind of snow I like all year long:

On Jan. 20, Barack Obama becomes our nation’s 44th president. One of the things that’s particularly striking about the inaguration event in particular is how much of it will be celebrated through technology. The National Post has recently blogged about this here, including the fact that the Obama camp has even set up a Twitter account just for the event.

About 1 million Obama supporters first learned of the president-elect’s choice of Joe Biden as a running mate via text message, for example, and the so-called “mobile campaigning” served Obama well throughout the election seasion. And because this technology is moving from teen-agers and techies to mainstream consumers, so should you consider incorporating social media into your marketing plans this year.

Should you text a million people about your next big sale? Probably not. But you can set up text reminders of class sign-ups, create a Facebook account that lets you network with your colleagues and customers, and tweet about how the cool new fibers you just got in.

2009 has been promised to be a year of change and hope, and new technologies have brought people together to work toward those goals in numerous ways. Make it your resolution to explore some of these techniques as ways to build customer loyalty and take your business to new heights.