Was it Worth it? What 5 Quilting Professionals Learned at h+h Americas

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a tech editor, a marketing coach, and three quilt pattern designers and teachers walk into the h+h americas Trade show? These are five quilting business owners with wildly different game plans — and a lot of honest hindsight. In this special panel episode, Tori and Andi sit down with three of the friends they spent the week with at h+h Americas in Chicago — Kaitlyn Fritsch of Fritsch in Stitches, Laureen Smith of Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts, and Brooke Stambersky of Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches — to recap what the show was actually like, mistakes and all. The prep stories alone run the full spectrum: Tori planned a full year out for a $2,500 booth, while Kaitlyn decided to go just two weeks before and scrambled through business-card drama to make it happen. From there, the group digs into what they did on the floor, how they're handling follow-up now that they're home (spoiler: a marketing coach admits she forgot to collect contact info), and the moments that made it all worth it - from Laureen getting stopped by a quilting-world celebrity to Brooke's big fangirl moment. They don't sugarcoat the hard parts either: the overwhelm, the exhaustion, an unkind vendor, and the honest question every side-hustler eventually has to ask — is this a business investment, or just a really expensive hobby? If you've ever wondered whether a show like h+h is worth your time and money, this conversation will help you decide. Guests: Kaitlyn from Fritsch in Stitches  Laureen from Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts  Brooke from Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches  Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Panelist Introductions 02:31 Preparation for H & H: Different Approaches 09:16 Experiences at H & H: Strategies and Insights 28:50 The Importance of Follow-Up and Networking 32:40 Navigating Post-Event Overwhelm 41:17 Strategies for Effective Follow-Up 44:39 Lessons Learned from Mistakes 45:40 Highs and Lows of the Experience 01:01:21 Reflections on Value and Future Plans Want More Quilting Business Content? 🔗 Join us on Patreon for exclusive perks 🔗 Grab Tori’s book, Workshops Unleashed  📌 Follow us on Instagram Co-Hosts: Tori McElwain @heytori.tech & https://www.heytori.tech/ Andi Stanfield @truebluequilts & https://truebluequilts.com/  Support the show If you want more support with your quilting business, make sure to hit follow.