Explore how to not only survive, but be successful in a struggling economy.

Basic Training - August 8, 9, 10, 2016 - Sorry, our 2016 Boot Camp has been cancelled.

Registration Fee is $595 per person. $100 deposit due at registration. Balance due on June 1, 2016.
Get a $100 discount when you pay in full at the time of registration.

Register here.

Lodging, meals, and transportation not included.

Email info@stitchinheaven.com or call 800.841.3901

Local Accommodations

Best Western
Mineola, Texas
(903) 569-5331
Visit the website.

See what some of our Boot Camp Survivors have to say!

"Just wanted to let everyone know how much I enjoyed the last 3 day with all of you. Deb the class was life changing. Even though I still have that deer and the headlight look, I am looking forward to getting things in order and "MAKING MONEY"

Patricia McCartney, Heavenly Threads

"What an incredible experience boot camp was - now the rest is up to me. I have to keep that "I can do it" feeling going."

Laura Flynn, Cotton Patch Quilt Shop

"The past three days were amazing. We came away with so many ideas and we can't wait to start implementing them. "

Kelly & Pam, Magnolia Quiltworks

Thank you again for the Boot Camp... the information you gave us is invaluable! I have had my first all-staff meeting which everyone really liked so lines of communication are improving, staff has begun to give more input and write procedures and we have our internet presence being improved upon. Small steps but at least we are no longer going in circles I also have a book keeper working more than once every quarter so we can see where we are and better set goals to be more profitable. We are very fortunate that somehow over the past two years we have developed a nice customer base that continues to grow. I hear several times a day how much people love the shop but now I know not to rest on any laurels - need to continue working at it everyday and the staff knows that. Thank you SO much again!

Sharon Cioffi, Shared Stitches

Boot camp success story!!! I came home and raised my prices on all new fabric additions to $9.50. I realize I'm still lagging but it was a big step for me to go from $9 to $9.50 as my base price. It's giving me the confidence I need to deal with having to go over the $10 barrier which I know is looming. Sales are strong, I've just focused my attention on marketing and stopped worrying about pricing so much. Thank you for giving me your time after the last day of class. It really meant a lot to me and left me with some words of wisdom that are driving my daily motivation to grow my business

Kathy Mack, Pink Chalk Studio

"Deb- the boot camp was absolutely the best money and time investment I have done so far to give me the tools to help my business. Positively life changing for me also! Can't wait to get started!"

Sue Blubaugh, Prairie Pieces Quilt Shop

"Thanks SO much for Boot Camp. I have SO much to do, but I have a direction to go in. It was the best money I've spent on my business so far."

Patti Oakley, Batiks by Design

Since returning home I have been chipping away at my mountain of changes that I'm going to implement. The first on my list was communicating those changes to my employees and addressing their work schedules. We had a meeting on Sunday evening and I'm happy to say that it went very smoothly. I'll be eliminating two part-timers who were basically just working for their discount and rewarding my best employees with more hours and responsibilities. Next up is launching my new web site - I'm shooting for two weeks from now (stay tuned). After that we're broadening our product offerings with quilt, apron and pillowcase kits. Working on my business is so much more fun that working in it!

Sarah Stine, Fabric Crush

I just wanted to say congratulations to the Boot Camp participants who will be visiting Quitman Texas this week. As a charter survivior I must say you have all made a wise decision. Even though I have closed my store for a multitude of reasons, the success I experienced after implementing many of the programs that Deb suggested was great. Deb shares so much information to help you become successful. I would suggest you pay particular attention to "Strategic Planning." It is difficult to plan for an entire year but you will have a great model in front of you this week. Once you get home, continue to educate yourself through the books and other media that "Team Stichin' Heaven" suggests. Most of all, you will leave Boot Camp with: 1) motivation, 2) self-confidence, 3) guides & models 4) a plan and, most of a 5) a mentor and friend. Enjoy yourself and enjoy the southern hospitality bestowed upon you by Deb and the SH staff. Have a great week!!!

Sandra Guilbeau

Debby, When I returned from Texas I experienced the most incredible “recharging of my batteries”. I could not have imagined the change that would occur. When I attended in July, my husband (Bill) and I drove to Quitman. Bill and I work the business together. It has worked well for 8 years but we have not been nearly as successful as we have wanted to be. I chose to attend “Boot Camp” by myself. Bill went to Dallas to visit his brother and read the “E-Myth”. If I was “down n’ tired” of our business; he was really “in the pits”. Bill has been “ the bookkeeper- CFO”. We have every metric needed because of his analytical skills. While he has done an excellent job, this has not been a good fit. When we drove home, and discussing the E-Myth, I asked him to ‘re-invent’ his role. I put together an action plan-hierarchy of the things we needed to change and have continued to work this list. We are both happier; business has been better and we have a much better plan. The changes I have made have been numerous but sensible with a plan each week . The use of Procedures can ‘change your life’. Following things I learned in Boot Camp, I just completed an event. We celebrated “National Chocolate Milkshake Day” on “Friday and Saturday. Customers were lined up before we opened. Amazing! For the first time, I actually was pleased with the results; both sales and the number of customers who came for the event. I was shocked! So, this note is a delayed thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you so much for your willingness to share. I look forward to other classes and returning to beautiful Quitman!

Sydney, Ladybug Hill Quilts

Hi Deb, I learned that I should: work on my store, not in it work on events to bring people in, not have sales all the time have a percentage of closeouts/promo fabrics mixed in to improve my bottom line negotiate lower rates on overhead items or review if they need to be updated/modified brainstorm in August to layout my "plan" for the year ahead

Kathy Rutherford

When I went to Boot Camp, my main goal was to assess how my shop compared to a well-run shop, and to leave knowing what I needed to do to get there myself. I came away overwhelmed with what I needed to do, but I had hope...and the kernel of a plan. As a result of the changes I made, we are more focused, our sales have significantly improved over last year, and I feel less stressed overall. There are still many things not yet done, but we are headed in the right direction. Boot Camp gave me the information I needed to plan my way out of where I was to where I want to be. It was the best investment I've made in this business!

Marsha Doyenne, Fabric Essentials

As the smallest shop represented at the first Bootcamp, I got the vision of what I could become and how to get there. The information about employee manual and the procedures manual are awesome. You learn how to write your mission, your goals and your expectations of employees. This is invaluable when you are looking to grow your business. Thanks Deb for all you share and invest in our businesses and in the industry as a whole.

Patricia McCartney, Heavenly Threads Quilt Shop

There are SO many things that I learned from you Deb that I had to take some time to think about what has made the biggest impact! I have to say that it is a combination of changing/rearranging my staff so that everyone works at least three days per week AND writing down procedures for various tasks around the shop. Even though I do not yet have written a procedure for everything we do - that will take time - we now already have more consistency in our operations and the customers notice! Far less answering to a customer "Gee, I don't know how to do that" or "Gee, I am not sure where that is", etc. As you emphasized in Boot Camp, outstanding customer service and trust are two of the major ingredients in setting your shop apart from the competition. With all of my employees on the same page, customers no longer get different or confusing information from different staff, and this boosts their confidence in the shop. Thank you!

Sharon Cioffi, Shared Stitches

The most important thing I learned at bootcamp was how to run my business instead of working in my business. Deb provided a framework that allowed me to identify my business objectives and take ownership of my growth and profitability. I learned practical solutions to common quilt shop operational challenges that make my business run more efficiently and keep me sane! Most importantly, I came home with a new self-confidence that has allowed me to make good, rational business decisions and focus my energy on being a leader.

Kathy Mack, Pink Chalk Fabrics

Deb: I believe one of the most important ideas I brought home with me was eliminating part time employees and focusing on all full time employees. I was able to complete that process January 1 of this year after turning a long term employee into the shop manager back last September; a disgruntled long term--part time employee chose to 'retire' and her replacement came on board full time. So much less stress and juggling schedules. Our sales continue to grow and Quiltin' Country continues to prosper.

Gayle Smith, Quiltin' Country

I thought the whole 3 days was fabulous -- everything from the comraderie of the participants to the nuts and bolts of the discussions. Two areas stand out for me personally. The first was the marketing piece and all of its components from advertising, facebook, your website, building a customer database. It's much more integrated than I first imagined but more important, the overlying concept of building customer relationships rather than just selling was critical. The second piece that was incredibly valuable was to reevaluate my staff positions based on the key drivers of the business rather than just filling spots with great people.

Cyndi Rich, Emma's Quilt Cupboard & Sewing Machines, Inc.

Bookeeper hired! Cleaning Crew Hired! No more toilets for me at 10:30 at night! Full time only! I will say the bonus plan was what I opened my 1st staff meeting with. Bootcamp has changed me, my business, my staff, my life! Deb you are an inspiration to us all! I am anxious to see what your schoolhouse is at Quilt Market. I will be there! Prior to Boot Camp I thought of you as a friend, peer and shoe rock goddess! I now have to add amazingly courageous, focused, strong, inspirational and just flat out awesome! Thank you for being who you are, doing what you do and most importantly sharing it with all of us.

Respectfully, Kathy Runyan, Boot Camp Survivor

I was in the first Boot Camp. It was great and changed my business life. Thanks Deb.

P. McCartney

It (Boot Camp) saved my sanity and gave me confidence! Thanks Deb for the continued opportunities you create for us to network.

K. Mack

I use skills and tips that Deb shared in Boot Camp 2010 EVERY day. Thank you Deb!

S. Cioffi

I attended Boot Camp in March 2010. It has made a tremendous difference in my business and how I look at it. Deb....you really rocked it for me :D

C. Naglis

We were in the 2011 Bootcamp group, learned so much! Have hit a speed bump or two along the way, but are still working towards implementing a long list of ideas that we got from the group!!!

T. Veglahn

I attended bootcamp in 2010 with Amber, our shop manager. We've spent most of 2011 working on a long list of items generated by Deb and the participants we met during that trip to Texas. I would not hesitate to recommend Bootcamp to anyone who is "serious about getting serious" about their business!

R. Greco

Best thing I've ever done for myself and for my store! Deb, you rock!!

M. Cowan

Boot Camp was one of the best investments I have made to date. We are growing each and every month using tips and techniques learned in Boot Camp.

P. Stringer

I attended Boot Camp in June 2011, and Deb and her entire program gave me so much great information that I am using to help us grow in a more effective way. We are focused on documenting operational processes and procedures! I used the Retail Mastery program templates and all my notes and ideas gathered from Boot Camp to get me jump started. The reception of store staff has been wonderful. They want them, contributed to improvements, and now we are on our way with written procedures. We aren't done yet -- by any means we have more to do, and always will. Thanks Deb!

L. Eaves

Not a day goes by that I don't think of things I learned there. Since Boot Camp I have leased additional space and hired a full time kit cutter and an operations person to handle all the day to day non-sales details around the shop, so that I have more time to work on the business, not in it! Still have a long way to go, but it is encouraging and fun to be making progress. Boot Camp helped give me the courage/direction to do the things I knew needed to be done!

Linda Luiten, The Quilter's Market