The business of Quilter is doubled in three years with membership
Rebecca Bryan is a quilter writer, author, and business owner in the company behind Bryan House Quilts. Rebecca Bryan has revolutionized the world of materials through her unique line of fabric and thread collection while also teaching in-person quilting workshops.
When she began her career and search for a better way to support her family as well as make time to pursue her passion for art. Learn more about how the switch to an online subscription membership gave Rebecca the financial prosperity and peace of mind she sought.
What made you choose to jump into knowledge commerce?
My quilting business started with the publication of my first book, Modern Rainbow Quilts. Then, I started to travel to teach at guilds and quilt shows around all over the United States. My workshop offerings with the publication of my second book Modern Triangle Quilts.
After that, my husband got his new job and relocated our family, which included four children of school age over in the Netherlands. Being in the Netherlands made it impossible for us to return to the US for a classroom visit!
I had been contemplating offering my workshops online, but this move gave me the boost I required.
What was the first digital service you released? What was the reason you chose it?
When I first started with my new venture, I decided to begin the first of my workshops that I which I teach from the Contemporary Triangle Quilts book, "Design Improv using Triangles". In the workshop, I instruct the student through a series of hands-on activities that lead to them creating their very own Modern Triangle quilt blocks. I chose this class because it included my most recent book and I realized the extent to which an online class can be as compared to a traditional three-hour or six-hour live workshop. (See the Equilateral Sampler quilt, which is pictured on display in Rockport, Mass.)
Do you have more details about the performance of your training sessions that were part of only one transaction?
I really enjoyed the whole experience of digital for my students. For one, I found it completely surprising the amount of fun I had teaching on camera and via Zoom. It is impossible to overstate how (painfully!) camera-phobic I used to be. However, stepping up with my students felt so rewarding. In addition, I came to meet my students while we had a time of fellowship even though it was a virtual. All of it was pleasant!
Then, I started offering more online courses that began with a plan for the entire year. When we quilt, we refer to the blocks "Blocks of the Months" Every month we create an entirely new set of quilt blocks and then at the close of the year we stitch all of the quilt blocks together to complete our quilt. Woohoo! (See Rainbow Remix, my 2018 BOM.)
What inspired you to offer a subscription based product?
When my collection of "Block of the Month" programmes grew from three to and I realized that I could offer my students greater benefit and assistance by bringing the entirety of my "Modern Triangle" initiatives within one club. In March of 2020, I officially opened the doors to the "Make Modern Triangles" The official organization for helping quilters create, make, and finish blockbuster modern triangle quilts.
In the group, members can choose exactly what quilt they'd like to work on as well as receive guidance and assistance from me, and stay motivated by the desire to "bust the blocks" through working in a community of like-minded quilters from all over the world. This "Triangle Chatter" community is amazing! Everyday, I'm blown over by the work and the progress pictures the members post.
What was the way your customers react to your subscription?
Favorably, I'd say!
The Block of the Month products make for a great fun program to put together from my perspective as the teacher. The whole process really comes to life inside the group; the excitement for the next challenge and watching piles of blocks increase; the remorse of a mistake; the satisfaction of completing each stage and saying "ta Da!" together! It's all amazing and all an element of the camaraderie that we all experience together, as a group.
What lessons did you take away from starting your subscription that you take to heart running your own business?
Oh boy. The biggest lesson I learned, the hard way was that I do way too much task for myself. So, I'm constantly looking for ways to streamline.
When I started my own business, one of my primary goals was to be financially able to provide for the family support and not have to look for a "real" job. I began when my four kids were infants with the hopes that my earnings would grow to the same level as a "real" work.
I wanted to create a business where I could do at least 25% of my day on the computer, and spend all the time creating within my sewing area.
However, as someone who loves to teach and teach, I would get distracted by using every quilt I'd created and creating a book around it. As you can imagine, this gave me lots of work to do! And that actually took me out of my sewing area and from my goal.
In order to keep things simple to keep it simple, I am now focusing (mostly!) on my membership. I've pared all of my offerings into one offer.
What effect did launching the subscription-based service on your business?
Through simplifying and focusing on creating my membership, my business has increased by 50% over the last three years (thanks for those sweet, sweet analytics!). I've met my goal to build a business that can support my family as well as one that is one in which I'm not chained to my laptop: I'm able to work from home and make artwork.
I'm relieved of stress. I am happy with the product I'm offering my customers. I enjoywatching my members' work. And I have more time. I feel secure. This peace of mind clears my time. Although it's not perfect, I know what I'm building and how I can improve it and see the growth and development coming in the next few years.
With my membership, there's less pressure. In the majority of cases I can see my company's revenues in the current year. And I don't feel like I have to teach the latest thing I'm working on or design a brand new product that I can sell. It's easy to focus on providing fabulous information and connections for my members but also on developing for myself. Plus, I can be at all times and be flexible enough to take good care of my family.
What helped you get those results?
My aim was ever going to be simplicity, and this has made total sense. It's easy for an online business to become complex in just a few minutes. This tool simplifies things and I'm here for it. All I require is included in , and aside from the other tools (from the before times when I did not use ), I use exclusively.
What suggestions would you provide an individual who is looking to start a subscription based company?
Lean hard into your "Beta" version and then keep your version "Beta" for longer time than you believe you need to. I wished I'd kept mine in beta mode longer. From your Beta, find your strengths, then do more of that. And then spend time and energy polishing and perfecting the things that are working. Be simple, and remain in the forefront of simpleness. Begin with your test right now. The more time you put off longer, the more complex the process is!