A Year in Review: Reflect, Reset & Map Out Your Best Year Yet -

There’s something energizing about turning the page on a new year. It gives you space to look back at what worked, learn from the surprises, and set a clear direction for where you want your shop to go next.

Shops that grow the most aren’t necessarily the biggest or busiest — they’re the ones that regularly pause, evaluate, and make intentional tweaks along the way.

1. Start With an Honest Look at the Past Year

Think of this as your shop’s highlight reel with a few teachable moments sprinkled in. A few prompts to get rolling:

What were your top sales categories? Which ones stalled?
Which events, classes, or promotions actually drove foot traffic or online conversions?
Did any collections disappear faster than expected — or linger a little too long?
Where did you feel the most momentum in your business? And where did things feel clunky?

A quick brainstorm or scribbled list works just fine. You’re simply gathering clues so this next year can be smoother and more profitable.

2. Identify Your Big Wins & Repeatable Successes

Every shop has magic moments throughout the year — the things customers rave about, the displays that sparkle, the kits that sell out in a blink. Those wins deserve a spotlight.

Ask yourself:

What absolutely needs to be repeated in 2026?
Can you scale a winning idea — maybe run the event quarterly instead of once?
Did a specific brand, category, or class format consistently shine?

Success leaves patterns, and those patterns often point directly to next year’s opportunities.

3. Note the Pain Points & Turn Them Into Small Fixes

Instead of looking at pain points as failures, treat them like your roadmap for improvement. For example:

If fabric shelf life stretched longer than expected, plan tighter buys or more intentional promotions.
If class attendance fluctuated, try seasonal themes, shorter formats, or fresh teacher talent.
If you constantly felt rushed, look at automation tools or simple processes you can streamline.

Small fixes often unlock big breathing room.

4. Set Clear, Attainable Goals for the Year Ahead

This is where everything clicks into place. Pick 3–5 goals that feel meaningful and motivating:

Increase batik sales by refreshing the category each quarter
Shorten average fabric shelf life by 20%
Grow your email list or social engagement to support online sales
Launch two new recurring classes or clubs
Update impulse sections or seasonal displays more consistently

Clear goals help you prioritize… and help your whole team stay aligned.

5. Build a Flexible Plan (Not a Rigid One!)

Once your goals are set, sketch out a simple month-by-month approach:

What promotions pair well with seasonal buying habits?
When do you want to schedule classes or special events?
Which months need inventory resets?
When should you take another look at your numbers?

Think of it like a quilt pattern — it gives you structure, but still leaves plenty of room for creativity and spontaneous ideas.

Your Quick “Get Started Today” Checklist

Pull your sales and class data
Write down your top wins and biggest frustrations
Choose 3–5 goals for the upcoming year
Map out seasonal priorities
Share your plan with your team so you all start strong together

Industry Insight

Kelly Morris: VP of Marketing

“In my experience, the shops that thrive year after year are the ones that stay curious and intentional. When you take even a little time to reflect on your numbers, your wins, and your customer behavior, you start to see patterns that make planning so much easier. I’ve watched countless shops transform simply by leaning into what worked, letting go of what didn’t, and giving themselves permission to adapt. You don’t need a massive overhaul to grow. Most of the time, it’s steady, thoughtful adjustments — updating a category that’s gone stale, refreshing displays more often, or leaning into a class format your customers clearly love. Those small shifts compound into a stronger, more profitable year.”