Expanding the Bookmark Challenge

In-Store Event Ideas

Add other events to the Bookmark Challenge to increase fun, excitement, and participation. Choose from the suggestions below, or create your own. (If you create your own, we'd love to hear about them.)

• Start a book club. Members read a selected book during the month, then get together to discuss it and stitch. Hold monthly meetings throughout the year.
  
  Resources for starting and running a book club:
  • Book Clubs Resource
  • BookBrowse
• Start a reading marathon. Keep a list of all the books you and your customers read during the Bookmark Challenge.
• Hold a weekly Read-and-Stitch. Invite customers to come in and stitch bookmarks. When the group is assembled, have someone read a novel or short story aloud. If you choose a novel, make sure the group plans to meet regularly. Short stories, articles, and poems are better for drop-in groups.
• Offer prizes for participation.
  • when a customer turns in a bookmark, offer a coupon for the next bookmark pattern purchase
  • offer prizes for various categories: the most bookmarks stitched, the most embellished bookmark, the most colors used, etc.

Outreach Event Ideas

Contact your local library to coordinate a Make-It/Take-It or demonstration event in March or April. This is especially good if you’re donating the bookmarks to them. Solicit help from customers or a local guild.

For a Make It/Take It you will need materials for participants. These can be free or available for purchase. (Check with your library about selling materials.) Ask manufacturers, customers, or guilds for donations or sponsorship of materials.

For a demonstration, schedule stitchers (customers and guild members) to be present at the library, actively stitching, talking about stitching, and answering patrons’ questions. Provide a handout with information about your shop and the Bookmark Challenge.

To begin coordinating an outreach event at your local library, talk with the person in charge of programs, or someone in public relations. It is a fabulous opportunity to connect with the community and share the fun of needlework.

If you're donating your bookmarks to a school, ask if you can do a demonstration or Make-It/Take-It there. Needlework is a great addition to an arts program, as well as an educational experience.

Let us know if you plan an event so that we can post it on the Needle and Thread: Stitching for Literacy Web site and talk about it on the blog.

Mike and Jen Funk Weber Funk & Weber Designs 35232 W Pinochle Trail Sutton, AK 99674 (907) 746-5641 mail@funkandweber.com