Spotlight on Sewforless.com

If you are a quilter or embroiderer, you know that it is not just a hobby, it’s a passion sometimes bordering on obsession. We are always out looking for the next great find. Well, I stumbled across a sewer’s treasure trove when I started reading about Sewforless.com.

Sewforless.com first came online in 2000, but they have been in business since 1981. The physical store is located in beautiful historical Saint Charles, Missouri. The owner originally managed company stores for Singer, and when Singer started to close all of the corporate stores, he decided to go out on his own. In 2000, his son joined the company and started the online branch of the family business. Since joining the Word Wide Web, they have found an increase in out-of-town customers.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced sewer, you will find what you need at Sewforless.com. For the embroiderers out there, they have a number of different designs, embroidery thread, Kiwi and WunderStich embroidery paper, Magna Hoops, software and hardware for your embroidery machine, as well as custom digitizing! They also carry Brother sewing and embroidery machines, lighting, stabilizers, backing, AccuQuilt Go Fabric Cutters, along with educational DVD’s for those of you who want to learn something new. These are just a few of the things they have to offer. Check out their store to find the rest of the treasures they have hidden there.

Sewforless.com’s motto is: Offer great prices, provide great customer service and educate the consumer. They realize with such a specialized industry, sewing and embroidery consumers expect knowledgeable help with their questions, no matter how complicated or simple. Sewforless.com likes to approach each question with the same goal - make sure that the consumer understands what they are purchasing and why it will benefit them. That is why they encourage their customers to call if they have questions on what to buy, how to use a certain product or if you need any help. If they can’t answer your question, they will get you in touch with someone who can.

Sewforless.com uses Email Contact to send out emails to their customers to keep them informed about price drops and promotions. Sewforless.com said “Communication is key - be it email newsletters, phone conversations or anything that puts you in touch with the consumer. People like to know that there is a real person behind that computer screen. Email Contact helps to ensure that we are in front of the customer and gives us the chance to do just that.”

To learn more about this fantastic company, check out their website or ‘like’ them on Facebook. If you are in the Saint Charles, Missouri area, go to 516 First Capital Drive, and check out their store. They are open Monday through Friday 9:30-5:00 and Saturday 9:30-12:00. They also offer FREE shipping on all orders over $149. Happy sewing!

Spotlight on Chippewa Nature Center

“Nature is man's teacher. She unfolds her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, illumes his mind, and purifies his heart; an influence breathes from all the sights and sounds of her existence.” Alfred Billings Street

Getting tired of the hustle and bustle of city life? Need to get away from the concrete jungle? Yearning to smell the sweetness of fresh air again? Whether you live in a big city or a small town, sometimes you need to get away from it all, and commune with nature. The Chippewa Nature Center can offer you all of that!

The Chippewa Nature Center is a non-profit organization helping people enjoy and learn about the environment, as well as to inspire and teach them how to be responsible stewards of the land, water and air. The CNC started with 198 acres in 1965, and has grown to over 1,200 acres with 40 staff members and hundreds of dedicated volunteers. Annually, they have over 50,000 people visit, including 20,000 school children and 700 Nature Day Campers. Today Chippewa Nature Center is one of the largest private non-profit nature centers in the United States.

It doesn’t matter if you are a tenderfoot looking to experience a little of what nature has to offer, or an avid outdoorsman, you can find what you are looking for at the CNC. Some of the various programs and activities that are offered at the CNC include a Nature Preschool for 3-4 year olds that provides a high quality learning environment that meets their developmental needs while initiating them into a life-long, meaningful relationship with the natural world. For school age children, the CNC offers science- and history-based programs for school groups. Their programs are geared to meet the needs of the teacher as well as the students. When children visit the CNC, not only do they get to be immersed in nature, they will learn about it as well.

Some of the other activities found at the CNC are the numerous trails that can be used year round. Don’t let a little snow slow you down, strap on a pair of snow shoes or cross country skis and hit the trails. If you’re looking for something more relaxing, you can see what life was like in the 1870’s by exploring the Homestead Farm and Log Schoolhouse. In March you can watch how they make maple syrup by taping a maple tree and collecting its sap. If you are looking to take in a little bit of scenery, then don’t miss the rolling rivers, the beautiful wetlands or the wildflower walk. Since the CNC is open for visitors all year, check out their calendar of events to see what is going on each month. Best of all, most of the events are FREE!

The Chippewa Nature Center uses Email Contact to send out weekly newsletters that include upcoming events, “Recent Sightings” of flora and fauna visitors have found on the property, and information about the Nature Preschool, Nature Day Camp, Nature Center Store sales, upcoming programs and other promotions being offered. Jamie Hockstra, Director of Marketing and Communications said, “By staying in contact with our visitors through Email Contact, we have been able to get the word out about our various offerings to a target audience on a regular basis at a very affordable rate. We have also used Email Contact to send an annual year-end appeal. Our email list has grown from 464 people in 2006 to almost 3,000 in 2011.”

If you would like to learn more about the Chippewa Nature Center, visit their website or ‘like’ them on Facebook. If you would like to get away from the rat race of daily life and become one with nature for a while, visit the CNC at 400 S. Badour Rd., Midland, MI, open 8 am-5 pm Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm Saturday and 1-5 pm Sunday and holidays.

Phone: 989-631-0830

Fax: 989-631-7070

Spotlight on The Travel Connection

“The World Is a Book and Those Who Do Not Travel Read Only One Page.” – St. Augustine

It’s that time of year again. The travel season is upon us! Many of us are getting ready to travel for the holidays. Some of us are going to visit family, while others are taking a vacation to get away and forget about life for a while. Whatever your reason might be, if you’re like me, you already have enough to do in your life, and the thought of trying to find the right airline tickets, the right hotel, a rental car and activities at the right price, that are both kid and adult friendly is enough to make you want to pull your hair out. Instead of torturing yourself by spending hours on the internet combing through travel sites, leave the work to the travel professionals at The Travel Connection.

In today’s world of instant online access and unlimited information to travel options, you might be wondering why it makes sense to plan your vacation with a travel agent. It’s simple, at The Travel Connection, they are there to talk to you, answer all your questions, and design a vacation that will be tailored to your specific needs. There is not a website or phone app that can provide that level of personal service and attention to detail. At The Travel Connection, they create memories that last a lifetime.

In 2009, Celece Seegmiller needed to go back to work. Since she had worked in the travel industry for over 18 years, and travel was what she knew, it seemed natural to start her own travel agency. She was also fortunate to have two former co-workers decide to leave their jobs at a big, corporate agency and take a risk on her. In December 2009, The Travel Connection opened its doors for business. “Everyone thought I was crazy for opening a travel business in the middle of a recession but after 18 years of working in travel, I witnessed a series of events that deeply impacted the travel industry. Two that stand out were the capability to book travel online and 9/11. I could see that consumers were overwhelmed with all of the online travel options and even taken advantage of by fraudulent travel agencies and travel websites. I knew that there was a need for good old fashion customer service, a place where customers can come in, look at brochures and have their questions answered by a professional with experience - all without costing anything more than booking online. I am proud to say that we have been extremely successful and continue to grow!”

The Travel Connection uses Email contact to manage their database for all of their email newsletters, travel specials, and events. In the travel business incredible specials arrive on a daily basis. “Email Contact gives us the capability to "get the word out fast!" - resulting in some great sales and new customers!”

Are you ready to plan your next vacation? Stop by The Travel Connection at 1386 E 100 S #H, St. George, UT 84790, and talk with Celece or one of her experienced travel professionals about your dream vacation. Don’t have time to stop by the office? No problem, call The Travel Connection at (435) 628-3636 or (877) 877-1326. For those of you who mention you saw this spotlight, The Travel Connection is generously offering a $50 discount on any 7 night cruise or vacation package.

If you want to learn more about The Travel Connection, visit their website or ‘like’ them on Facebook.

Spotlight on Little Dress Up Shop

Playing dress-up was one of my favorite games when I was a little girl. I could do or become anything. Sticks would magically turn into wands, a broom would become a horse and my mother’s freshly washed towels transformed into superhero capes. Things have changed very little over the years. Children still have amazing imaginations that take them to fantasy worlds, but now they no longer have to imagine a towel as a cape or a stick as a magic wand. Today, if my daughter wants to be a fairy or a doctor, I can buy her a costume to go with her make-believe games.

Seven years ago Lindsay and Brian Bills were expecting their first child. Lindsay wanted a job that would be flexible and allow her to stay at home with their new baby. They started looking for a product they could sell, and found a local supplier of children’s dress-up clothes. They fell in love with how adorable and comfortable the dress-ups were, and how well they were made. They decided to sell the dress-ups online, and the Little Dress Up Shop was born! The online company caters to little boys and girls that love to play dress-up. They have everything from princess to pirate. Also, if you are a parent that loves to play make-believe with your child, they have costumes in adult sizes as well.

Lindsay and Brian make sure that the dress-ups they sell are of the highest quality. They want their customers to be satisfied with their purchase, so they only sell products that they would buy for their own children. In fact, all of their dress-ups have been tested by their children. If their children don’t love it, they don’t sell it. The fabrics they use are soft and don’t have the itchy underskirts that drive kids insane. They don’t have Velcro or zippers to snag fabric, or tiny buttons to frustrate little fingers. They come in multiple sizes to get the fit just right, and slip over the child’s head like a shirt to be easily put on or taken off. Best of all, they are machine washable, as opposed to the costumes you buy in a store that say “wipe clean only.”|

The Little Dress Up Shop uses Email Contact to let their customers know about new products they have available, what is on sale and what is going on at the Little Dress Up Shop. Lindsay says “Email contact has been a great way for us to organize our email lists so we can target the right people with our communications. We have also loved being able to look back at past emails and make decisions based on responses from those emails. Sending emails has been a great way to inform our customers and allow them to pass on the emails to new potential customers.”

To learn more about this delightfully charming company, visit their website or “like” them on Facebook. Have a little fun and go play dress-up. See where your imagination takes you!

Spotlight on Shiisa Quilts

In 2007, Janet Mease flew home from Okinawa, Japan to Bloomington, Indiana to visit her mother. While she was there, Janet and her mother went fabric shopping for a quilt that her mother was making. After leaving the store, Janet remarked to her mother, “Maybe I should move back to Bloomington and open a quilt shop.” Well, as you can imagine, that was music to her mother’s ears. Within forty-eight hours of making that innocent comment to her mother, Janet was well on her way to becoming the owner of Shiisa Quilts! After a lot of hard work and planning, Shiisa Quilts opened its doors in January of 2008.

Shiisa Quilts has a lot to offer both the master quilter, as well as the novice. They are a full-service Bernina Sewing Machine dealer, and carry the entire line of machines. Not only do they have such a wonderful selection of machines, they also carry the newest Bernina embroidery software and accessories. You will also find an extensive line of Horn of America furniture, as well as a large selection of books, patterns, notions and over 1000 bolts of high quality fabric. At Shiisa Quilts, if you can’t find what you’re looking for in the store they will order it for you!

“Our goal is to exceed your expectations in customer service and product knowledge.”

If you are looking for a great quilting class, Shiisa has them in abundance. It doesn’t matter what your level of experience is, they have classes ranging from “how do you turn this thing on?” to advanced classes for experienced quilters and embroiderers. Check out their events calendar. It is overflowing with different events and classes! There is something for everyone.

Shiisa Quilts uses Email Contact to let their customers know about what’s new in the store, class schedules and sales. “I love being able to allow our customers to choose what they want to hear about. The emails are attractive, easy to format… and I also love the fact that people can share the emails with their friends.”

To learn more about this fascinating business, visit Shiisa Quilt's website, or go to their store.

2536 W. Industrial Park Drive

Bloomington, IN.

Spotlight on Scrap Happy Sisters

Two sisters, Kris and Kit, had a love for scrapbooking. They saw a need for a scrapbooking store in their area, and decided to go into the scrapbooking business together. In September of 2004 Scrap Happy Sisters was born!

Scrap Happy Sisters is a locally owned business in Glendale, Arizona. The store carries all of the popular lines in scrapbooking, stamping and crafting, as well as items that are not carried in the big box stores. Some of the lines they carry are Tim Holtz, Creative Imaginations , Bo Bunny, Basic Grey, Graphic 45, 7 gypsies, We R Memory Keepers, EK Success, Reminisce, Fancy Pants, American Crafts, May Arts Ribbons, Leaky Shed, Martha Stewart and Kaiser Crafts.

Along with all of the great scrapbooking, stamping and crafting supplies that you will find in Kris and Kit’s store, they also provide a multitude of classes. Their calendar is so jam packed with an assortment of different classes, there is bound to be something for everyone. They offer everything from holiday themed projects, to mini books and basic to advanced operations of your cricut machine. Also, the store offers many all day, or late late night crops. Check out their calendar of events to find something for you!

Scrap Happy Sisters uses Email Contact twice a week to let their customers know what is new in the store, what classes are being offered, and what they are doing. Ardelle, an employee of Scrap Happy Sisters, says, “I recently took over handling the promotional emails, and love using your program. It is easy, and always accurate! Thank you.” Well, Ardelle, we are glad you like it!

If you would like to learn more about Scrap Happy Sisters, visit their webpage or 'like' them on Facebook. Better yet, go to their store at 6525 W. Happy Valley Rd. Glendale, AZ 85310 and mention that you saw them on the Email Contact Spotlight, and you will receive $5.00 off your purchase of $20.00 or more!

Spotlight on Scrap n' Art

When we become passionate about something, we want to share it with the world. That is exactly what Angela Pruitt decided to do! She created Scrap n’ Art Online Magazine as a way of sharing her love of crafting and scrapbooking.

Scrap n’ Art made its debut in February of 2008. What began as a print quality downloadable publication with only 50 pages, soon began to grow quickly! In 2009, Angela brought Candy Rosenberg on board as a designer, and in January of 2010, Candy took over the publication of Scrap n’ Art. In November of the same year, the magazine had grown to over 150 pages, and decisions had to be made about either reducing the size of the magazine or taking it completely online where there would be no boundaries. Thankfully they decided to grow!

Scrap n’ Art is all about information, inspiration and education. They are a traditional and digital scrapbooking, mixed media and paper crafting magazine. The publication is in an easy to read, print and PDF format that is published monthly. Each month they provide full editorials on different companies. Their goal is to balance the issue with new and upcoming companies as well as the older more established companies. They also give tutorials and digital downloads that are educational, and exclusive to their subscribers. Scrap n’ Art wants to make sure they give their customers all the information that they can on products, companies and techniques. Content and education is their number one priority! Plus they provide the convenience of the CLICK N’ SHOP feature that allows the customer to shop right from the article. Now that’s what I call user friendly!

Scrap n’ Art has utilized Email Contact for quite some time, and uses it to reach out to their subscribers and non subscribers. Scrap n’ Art notifies them of when the upcoming issue will be ready, and all the great things they will be able to expect. Recently, they have added a mid month newsletter to let their subscribers know about giveaways and special offers that their featured companies are offering only to Scrap n’ Art’s mailing list. Candy says “Email Contact is so easy to use, and our subscribers tell us how much they love our newsletters all the time! This makes us very happy.” Well, Candy, this makes us happy too!

Scrap n’ Art has generously offered to extend an exclusive offer to the customers of Email Contact. Follow this link to www.ScrapnArt.com and register for three FREE months of this wonderful magazine! It’s really easy to do! When you get to the payment screen, enter the promotional code: emailcontact. There are no strings attached, and no payment information is required!

To learn more about this awesome magazine, visit their webpage.