What do all fabric stores have in common?
Leftover fabric scraps.
In the process of cutting fabric for your customers, there’s bound to be some extra material left behind. These pieces of fabric come in a variety of measurements, patterns, and styles.
And while you’re not likely to sell these small, irregular pieces on an individual basis, you can still get some value out of these fabric remnants.
Reusing these pieces of material (instead of throwing them away) is good for the planet and for your business. By getting creative and thinking outside the box, you can turn these scraps into a profit-booster.
In this blog, we’ll explain what to do with fabric scraps, and explore 10 creative ideas for using these pieces you’d otherwise throw away.
A straightforward solution to making use of fabric scraps is to bundle and sell them. Devoted quilt and sewing enthusiasts can find a variety of uses for a bag of scraps — when making quilts and other crafts, and these small scraps can be incorporated into many designs.
If there’s variety in the patterns on these fabric scraps, there are even more possibilities to their usage, and the customer may just find exactly the piece they need. You can put together these bags yourself, or you can create a scrap bin and allow customers to fill up a bag with the pieces they want for a set price based on the size of the bag.
To generate more interest in these fabric scrap bundles, create mystery bags where the patterns are a surprise to the customer. As you market these fabric scrap bundles, emphasize that they’re made with reused pieces and are a more environmentally conscious option.
Related Read: How To Choose Quilting Supplies for Your Store
If you have enough fabric scraps to choose from, you can take this strategy a step further and offer themed scrap bags.
Consider putting together scrap bags with the following themes:
For fabric stores with an abundance of extra fabric scraps, putting together these themed bags can be helpful for customers’ specific craft needs. They can also be helpful for clearing out seasonal fabrics that are nearing or past the end of their season.
You can also make small items out of fabric that you can sell to customers. These include items that can be worn, sewing accessories, or other items with everyday uses.
Here are a few ideas for items that can be made with fabric scraps:
These items showcase the versatility of fabric scraps. In addition to being products you can sell to customers, these items will inspire them to make their own fabric creations — and they’ll be encouraged to buy more supplies from your fabric store.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) projects are a popular trend — they help people save money, reduce waste, and take pride in making something with their own two hands. Rather than making items like bows or pin cushions yourself, you can provide scrap fabric and patterns so your customers can make these items.
Put together kits with everything needed to complete a small project. Keep them simple and be sure to include easy-to-follow instructions so even beginners can complete them. You can promote these items as first sewing projects for beginners, or perfect gifts for sewing enthusiasts.
Larger fabric scraps cut into irregular measurements may still be sellable — but mark them down as bargain items. Try offering these discounts as limited-time deals to encourage more sales and clear out your inventory. Place them at the front of your fabric store to make them more visible — and if a few are left over, you can cut them up further and use them for scrap bundles.
Related Read: How To Store Fabric: 5 Industry Tips and Tricks
Some fabric stores sell stuffed items like toys or pillows, and shredded fabric can make the perfect filler material. You can make your own stuffed items, fill them with shredded fabric scraps, and sell them to customers — or sell shredded fabric scraps directly to customers to use for their own projects. Sell shredded fabric in clear packages to clearly show the material and emphasize this product as a reused, eco-friendly option.
Another option for selling fabric scraps is to host classes that teach participants how to make specific items using scraps. Because quilters often have extra fabric scraps lying around, they may find it valuable to learn how to make headbands, bracelets, or totes out of these extra pieces of material. You can include a set of miscellaneous fabric scraps with the price of the class, and use the class as an opportunity to advertise other items in your fabric store, too.
In-store classes and workshops help you build a sense of community in your fabric store and attract new customers. You can further increase brand awareness by encouraging your participants to share the items they create on social media and tag your store in their posts.
Related Read: Quilt Class Management 101 for Retail Stores
You can also use leftover fabric scraps to host a “scrap swap” event. You can invite customers to bring in fabric and scraps they no longer want as a contribution, and these customers might be interested in the scraps that someone else brings in.
You can charge a small fee for the event, let customers exchange fabric with each other, and include your fabric store’s leftover scraps on the pile. This allows you to make some money off of the event and get customers in your store, where they’ll see the other products you have to offer.
Collaborating with individuals and organizations in similar industries can help you promote your business. Local craftspeople and artisans create handmade items to sell, and if they use fabric scraps to create their item, you can strike a deal with them. You can offer them fabric scraps at a fair price and even sell their items in your store.
You can also use social media to promote their business, while they use their social media to promote yours. These collaborations can broaden the audiences of both businesses and be beneficial for both parties.
Related Read: Fabric Store Marketing: 8 Beginner Tips
Fabric swatches are small pieces of fabric that give customers an idea of how a material looks and feels before they purchase a larger cut of it. Some fabric scraps can be used as swatches if you offer the same fabric in larger quantities at your store.
You can collect and gather swatches of the fabric you sell into a swatch book, which customers can flip through to gain inspiration and decide which fabrics to purchase. Offering these swatches as a complimentary service enhances a customer’s experience and makes them more likely to make a purchase.
There are so many possibilities for turning fabric scraps into profits for your business. You can sell them in bundles, use them to make new items, and even host in-person events to teach customers what they can make with these items.
But what to do with fabric scraps at your store depends on your customers and your business. Depending on your market and customer preferences, some of these strategies will be more effective than others.
Try a variety of strategies to see which ones resonate with your customers, then focus your efforts on the strategies that seem to be most effective. By reusing these fabric scraps, you can offer more options to your customers and reduce waste.
To help you implement these strategies, you need a robust point of sale (POS) system. Like Sew is an all-in-one POS system designed specifically for fabric stores. With general retail features like payment processing, inventory management, and e-commerce, as well as fabric-specific features like fractional yards and access to fabric suppliers, you have everything you need to run your business.
Contact us to schedule a demo today!