Team Up Locally & Grow Together

One of the most powerful ways to grow your quilt shop? Look next door. Or down the street. Or across town.

Local business partnerships are a win-win—giving both parties a boost in visibility, traffic, and relevance. Whether you run a cozy storefront or an online shop with regional customers, teaming up with nearby businesses brings fresh energy and a sense of community-first charm.

And the best part? It doesn’t take a big budget—just a little creativity and outreach.

Why It Works

• Boosts awareness by tapping into each other’s audiences
• Creates fun, fresh reasons to visit your shop (or your site!)
• Adds value to your products and events with minimal cost
• Builds trust with customers who already love shopping local

Plus, partnerships give you new ways to feature your fabric! A bundle matched with handmade mugs, a bold batik bag displayed in a boutique, or a collaborative class with a local artist all open the door to deeper storytelling.

3 Partnership Ideas to Get You Started

1. Pop-Ups or Trunk Shows
   • Partner with a local yarn shop, bakery, or gift boutique to host a mini event in their space—or invite them into yours.
   • Bring a small selection of seasonal bundles, handmade samples, or kits
   • Make it a short-and-sweet event—just a Saturday morning or Friday night!
2. Shared Promotions
   • Try a “Buy from both, get a treat” promotion:
     • Spend $25 at your shop and $25 at theirs? Get a free FQ bundle or coupon for next time.
   • Add promo cards in each other’s bags or online orders.
   • For e-commerce? Offer a bundled product that features items from both brands and ship together or cross-promote.
3. Community Events
   • Join forces for local sidewalk sales, art walks, or holiday open house tours.
   • Host a collaborative class—like quilting and calligraphy, punch needle and baking.
   • If you’re online-only, try a regional giveaway: “Enter to win the ultimate [Your Town] Maker Bundle!” with products from 3–5 local creatives.

Reaching Out: It’s Easier Than You Think

Most local business owners are just as excited to collaborate—they just need a starting point. Keep it simple:

• Draft a short pitch email:
  •  “Hi! I’m the owner of [Your Shop], and I’d love to collaborate on a fun promotion or event. I think our customers would love discovering your products, and I’d be happy to brainstorm ideas together!”
• Propose 1–2 specific ideas
• Be flexible with timing and scale
• Focus on mutual benefit—and shared values like community, creativity, or handmade goods

Time to Get Creative Together

You don’t need a marketing agency to make a splash—just your existing connections, a little initiative, and a spirit of generosity. 

Start with one of these simple steps:

• Reach out to one nearby business and propose a small collaboration
• Plan a pop-up table or mini bundle that features a partner’s products
• Add a local highlight section to your next newsletter or Instagram post

Small businesses shine brighter when they support each other—and your customers will feel that community spirit from the moment they walk in (or click through).

Industry Insight:

Kelly Morris, VP of Marketing at Riley Blake Designs

Local partnerships can be powerful —not just for visibility, but for building brand loyalty. Some of the most successful events come from teaming up with the shop next door or the bakery down the street.

And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Create a ‘Local Maker Tour’—customers who visit all five shops on the list get entered into a giveaway. This brings in so much foot traffic and starts conversations that can last for months.

At Riley Blake Designs, we always encourage shop owners to think outside their four walls. Whether you’re partnering with a candle shop, an art studio, or a bag maker, collaboration creates energy—and your customers feel it.