What are the pros and cons of the Internet as it concerns our industry?
Being an Internet person in my previous career, I love the Internet and the possibilities it gives us as stitchers. Since shops are far apart and can’t possibly carry everything, buying on the Internet gives the stitcher in a remote location an opportunity to enjoy needlepoint. It gives us all a chance to learn things without having to travel or join a guild, or find a book (which probably doesn’t exist). We make a community through the Internet. I have friends, close friends, who live far away, who I don’t see, but with whom I am closely connected through needlepoint and through the Internet. But there is a danger, doing the Internet right is not the easiest thing. You can’t just slap a website together and expect sales to come. If you’re a shop, that’s like having a poorly stocked thread wall. You need to be generous with your knowledge, ideas, and time. You need to use the technology to say what you want to say, not whatever technical widget is popular this week. I look at many webs
