The Colorado chapter invited ASDP’s VP of Development, Julie Hansberry, to its January meeting. Julie has been sewing since 2nd grade and recently shifted from a career in marketing to open her sewing business. Tis position is a natural use of her varied talents. Therefore, she spoke about several opportunities to expand ASDP to related industries.
There is a niche available for us to help designers who are not ready to start large-scale factory manufacturing: they often need help transitioning designs to samples and technical specs for the factories. But for many of us, the factories speak a different language, making it difficult for us to help each other without additional education. For these reasons, and to advance this diversity within ASDP, the board is considering liaison groups to foster communication with these other parts of the sewing industry.
As another opportunity, she will be reaching out to the JoAnn’s, because JoAnn’s is often the only local store for buying fabric for many who sew. Julie also spoke of BNI (Business Networking International), which has local groups of service professionals who gather to network and provide referrals.
For these reasons, and to advance this diversity within ASDP, the board is considering liaison groups to foster communication with other parts of the sewing industry. Julie also noted the large number of people on social media who own cottage industries to sew a wide range of items and might be interested in joining ASDP. The board, she reported, wants ASDP to be open to all who profit from the sewing industry. To advance this goal, the board has removed prior requirements that members have a business reference and a tax ID number.