Yarn: the fabulous fiber that weaves its way in and out of our lives, sometimes making grand entrances and occasional quiet exits. But then there are the legends, the yarns that stand the test of time, clutching their labels like badges of honor for decades. Meet the hall-of-famers: Bernat Super Value, Red Heart Super Saver, Caron One Pound, Caron Simply Soft, and the all-star squad of staple yarns. These yarns aren't just threads; they're traditions, cherished across generations.
Now, being a proud Canadian, my yarn journey began with Bernat. With Red Heart absent from the shelves of my youth, Bernat-labelled yarn became my trusty sidekick for value and reliability. However, in recent years, I've broadened my yarn horizons, diving into the vibrant world of Red Heart Super Saver and the mighty Caron One Pound. It's been a thrilling adventure of texture and color, each skein a ticket to creative possibilities!
Step One - Trend Forecasting
Trend forecasting is no joke in the yarn world! The colors and vibes of our lifestyles play a huge role in shaping the yarns and patterns of the future. Yarnspirations, for instance, dives deep into scientific and professional analysis to forecast trends several years out.
Remember that iconic scene in The Devil Wears Prada about the blue sweater? It's a perfect example. We consumers like to think we're making our own choices, but the fashion world has a sneaky way of guiding us towards certain styles. The yarn industry is no different—those trend forecasts gently nudge us towards the colors and textures we'll be itching to stitch in the coming years.
For example, brace yourself because in the next two to three years, neon and bright colors are making a full-blown comeback. Like it or not, that's the prediction! Fashion houses, yarn companies, and more are already shifting in that direction. Haven't noticed? Just take a look at the latest Halloween section at Michaels—it's bold, bright, and nearly neon. That's no coincidence; it's all forecasted. The trends have spoken, and our future is looking incredibly vibrant!
Step 2 - Decide What Brand It Fits Into
Yarnspirations is like the ultimate yarn connoisseur, owning several brands that each cater to different segments of the population. But here's the scoop: some yarns that could be made don't see the light of day if they don't fit a brand's unique style. It gets the boot if it doesn't vibe with the brand's aesthetic. They simply move on. It's a tough world out there for yarns, but that's what keeps the brands distinctive and true to their followers!
Step 3 - Cost of Yarn Final Product
I used to work in engineering for car manufacturing, and back in the late 1990s, I had the incredible experience of being involved with the first-ever GM EV 1 Electric Car. Imagine this: prototype pieces of the car's exterior were scattered around my apartment one weekend as I worked on figuring out how the car was to be molded.
Just like yarn, the fewer cars that are made, the more expensive each car becomes. The tooling needed to make the car has to be factored into the production costs, which is the same for yarn. The fewer the skeins produced, the higher the price tag. It's all about the economies of scale!
Some yarns are destined for exclusivity from the get-go, produced in lower quantities right from the decision-making stage. Others, however, are predicted to be big hits and get all the bells and whistles. The bigger the volume, the cheaper the yarn becomes for us, the consumers.
Yarn has a sweet spot when it comes to pricing. If a product can't be produced and sold at that perfect price point, it simply doesn't make the cut. It’s all about hitting that balance between quality, production cost, and what we're willing to pay.
Step 4 - Testing the Product
Product testing is a rigorous process before any final commitment is made. Focus groups—composed of regular people like you and me—are assembled to give raw and unedited feedback. Several groups are formed to ensure a well-rounded point of view.
If a product isn’t well-received or if more issues are discovered, it’s either held for improvements or scrapped altogether. Colors and other features often get fine-tuned based on this feedback.
When reviews are mixed and retailers are unsure, further testing is conducted to make sure the product meets the mark before hitting the shelves. It’s a meticulous process to ensure only the best make it to market!
Step 5 - Pitching to The RetailersOnce a yarn is finalized, colors are curated, and the retailers are pitched with these yarn choices six months to a year before they hit the shelves. Getting an entire brand created and ready to ship takes several months. COVID-19 threw a wrench in this process, turning months into waiting periods due to shutdowns and halted global trade, leading to empty shelves.
Retailers have options with these pitches, including choosing colors. They can request more colors, cancel some, or even reject the brand entirely.
If one retailer says no, others might still say yes. Shelf space is limited, so accepting a new brand often means bumping an existing one. What's changed recently is retailers saying no to physical shelf space altogether, opting instead for online sales. Yarnspirations, for example, is now completely online.
Retailers might test a product, like Caron Colorama Bamboo Blend and Red Heart Bitty Stripes. If these tests show strong consumer interest, the brand might be stocked in more detail later.
Retailers can say no, choosing to sell exclusively online. If no retailer picks up a brand, Yarnspirations may sell it exclusively on their website. If all else fails, the brand might get canceled altogether.
Step 6 - Design Team Steps In
The design team steps in to create patterns for the new brand. At launch, there are usually fewer patterns—just enough to get some pictures on the ball labels.
If a brand is set to be a one-season wonder, the design team doesn’t invest heavily in it. Instead, they focus more on staple yarns and those expected to last for several years, ensuring these enduring brands get the attention they deserve.
Step 7 - Inline or Seasonal
A yarn is determined to be on the shelves permanently or longer than a season, called 'inline.' It's in line with the rest of the staple yarn products, just like the popular kid in school always hanging out with the cool crowd. Ultimately, a yarn company wants to be a trusted piece of the craft store puzzle rather than just a fad or a fleeting crush.
If a yarn brand such as cotton in the northern regions is the ticket, crocheters and knitters buy less fashionable cotton yarn in the cooler months and replace it with a warmer or seasonal yarn that matches the temperature. It's kind of like how we switch from summer shorts to woolly mittens when the weather turns colder—no one wants to craft cozy sweaters out of beachwear!
Step 8 - Yarn Ambassadors Are Brought Into The Picture
The yarn ambassadors of Yarnspirations are like the secret agents of the yarn world. They swoop in on select brands that are just about to make their grand debut. These yarn enthusiasts might be in the loop months ahead of time, crafting new designs and hatching brilliant ideas.
But here's the kicker: it's not rare for a Yarn Ambassador to discover new brands at the same time as everyone else — thanks, social media!
Each Yarn Ambassador brings their unique flair to the table, and let's be honest, some yarns just aren't their cup of tea. Take Bernat EZ yarn, for instance; it's not exactly in our wheelhouse but it's totally Jonah's jam. Now, give us Caron One Pound yarn every day, and we're a happy bunch! And then there's Marly, who has a soft spot for clothing-based yarns.
A yarn ambassador is usually left in the dark when a yarn's fate is sealed, having little to no say in its colors, sales locations, or other decisions.
Step 9 - Once the Yarn Ships
Once the yarn ships to the stores and/or is available online, it's in the hands of the consumers, and all of the testing and forecasting is done. Sometimes, a yarn can be tested, put through all the bells and whistles, and still completely collapse right out of the gate. It's like watching a perfectly planned party fall apart because someone forgot the cake... and the keys to the venue.
On the flip side, some brands are not only well received but received better than anticipated, causing stock to vanish faster than cookies at a bake sale. This is exactly what happened with the original launch of Caron Cakes many years ago—those yarns flew off the shelves before you could even say "knit one, purl one!"
The yarn re-order process can sometimes feel like a yarn saga, but it's all about making sure you have your favorite yarn in stock! 🧶
So, here's the stitch:
- Every yarn has its own little "alarm clock" at the store. When the yarn stock hits snooze (falls below the trigger number), a re-order is automatically sent out. It's like a magical yarn fairy making sure your knitting or crocheting never gets interrupted!
- If a particular yarn is super popular and flying off the shelves, that "alarm clock" is going to ring more often. This ensures the next truckload brings enough yarn to avoid those dreaded "all out of yarn" moments. Imagine a yarn truck filled to the brim, racing to your store like a yarn superhero!
- And for those yarns that are long-time superstars in the sales charts, they get even more love with extra stock. It's all about keeping the yarn party going strong!
So, rest easy, knowing that your craft adventures are supported by a finely-tuned system that's got your yarn needs covered! 🎉✨
Step 10 - Recoloured or Discontinued
Brands can become stale, colourwise. It's like the fashion world's equivalent of wearing the same socks every day—eventually, someone's going to notice. So, trends are forecasted like some sort of crystal ball magic. If a retailer sees a colour lounging on the shelf for too long, new colours are summoned, probably with a bit of dramatic flair.
It gets funnier: If a retailer notices that a brand feels like it’s attending awkward family dinners, with fewer reorders coming through, that brand might be headed for retirement. It seems losing interest in a yarn that fails to perform is like unfriending someone who keeps posting cat videos—eventually, it just has to happen. The yarn must do a somersault or two on the shelf to earn its cozy little spot.
Here’s the twist. While yarn is undeniably touchy-feely (think of it as the hugger of the craft world), the younger generation is all about taking risks. They’re the daredevils ordering yarn sight unseen, banking on consumer reviews like it's some high-stakes yarn lottery.
Speaking of reviews, there's a fun game of "Is this legit or just someone having a bad yarn day?" Reviews can be a tapestry of the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. Just remember, what's ugly for one might be another person’s buried treasure.
Finally
I have seen yarns I loved get discontinued, and it felt like losing an old sock behind the couch. It's like, "Oh no, where did you go, my fuzzy friend?" Holding onto those memories is like holding onto mismatched buttons—it’s endearing but a little bit useless. Humans love clinging to the past like dogs to squeaky toys, but hey, we're pretty good at fetching new ones too.
Yarnspirations used to make patterns from discontinued yarns disappear faster than my willpower in a yarn sale. I would practically get on my hands and knees, pleading, "Please, don't take my patterns away!" A lot of us are emotional shoppers; we buy yarn with visions of cozy blankets and quirky scarves dancing in our heads, only to find that same yarn nestled in a bag a year later, untouched. It’s like finding a time capsule—"Oh, right, I did buy that!" With the patterns gone, it seriously sucked. But then Yarnspirations brought back those discontinued patterns, and it was like they threw me a lifeline made of yarn—finally, I could make that dream scarf without a care in the world.
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