Tartan

I just watched the video of Quilt Market Sample Spree in May at www.thequiltshow.com It looks like soooo much fun! Has anyone actually been there?

ktigger2

One of my running buddies was at the convention center that day. His daughter was in a dance competition, which was also being held there. He said Sampe Spree was a zoo, albeit he only saw the mob of people in the hallway. It was funny to hear his perspective of it.

sewbeadit

How do you find that on the quiltshow? I couldn't find the spree on it. Thanks.

Sandygirl

Sample spree is for wholesale buyers-shops. It is held at The International Quilt Market wholesale trade show. It is not open to the general public. I have been to sample spree in the past. Vendors offer misc items for sale to the shops. The Moda table was packed! I never got close to it. It sold out fast! Overall, I purchased a wool applique kit, an Aurifil thread kit and some misc patterns. It IS a packed zoo and the attendees wait in long lines just to attend. You buy a ticket for admittance and there are limited tickets available, if I recall. I did this once. I have no desire to do it again. Too much commotion. IMHO.

I did not find the video either but I have been there....done that.
sandy

applique

Me too years ago.

ManiacQuilter2

Been there, done that. Yes, you have to be in the business with credentials to go to Quilt Market. It like a feeding frenzy with people just grabbing what they can get. Not my type of fun since many sellers give out samples of their items in their booths. I am lucky that I went before the restrictions on baggage in planes. I brought home carry about 5 bags of Hobbs batting onto the plane!!

Tartan

I found the video of Sample Spree yesterday on the Daily Blog page. I feel better now knowing I can't attend even if I could get there.

KLO

Is it okay to link to the video? Hope so but if not someone will delete it for me.
http://thequiltshow.com/daily-blog/1...f24d64b567d860

If you watch the interviews, many people stood in line for 2 - 3 hours in order to participate in the Sample Spree. Yikes! Not sure I would want to do that either. Some of the tables looked really crowded and some not so much. Apparently the buyers get some really great deals on the items they buy .... I believe they buy the items at "cost" so that is quite a deal. Of course they do have to pay in "time" spent in line so ....

quiltstringz

Since these are shop owners they actually already get their orders for shops at cost (wholesale) I think the big deal about this is that the manufacturers have limited supply of the new lines they are showing - a lot of which will not be available for shops to receive until Aug/Sept/Oct, etc. This way they can get a FQ pack and make samples for the store and take advance orders or generate interest before they even get the fabric in the shop OR they can also keep it for their personal use/stash

Fizzle

Tartan, I think it would be so much fun! Sure it was crowded and long wait but for something like that, well worth it. I would go in a heartbeat!!