10 suitcases, very little sleep, thousands of needlepoint canvases, and a whole lot of lessons learned!
Our Flowers of America collection, featuring hand-stitched and finished examples alongside the canvases. Shop the Flowers of America Collection!
This October, Lucky Lotus Needlepoint attended its very first wholesale needlepoint market, the 2026 Autumn Needlepoint Reunion (ANR) in Frisco, Texas!
I had been looking forward to this event for months, but as a first-time exhibitor, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. There was so much preparation, a little bit of chaos (okay, maybe a lot), and SO much learning along the way.
I wanted to share a behind-the-scenes look at my first market experience, from preparing inventory and packing an unreasonable number of suitcases to setting up our hotel room and experiencing one of the most special moments I've had since starting Lucky Lotus.
First Things First: What Is Needlepoint Market?
If you're unfamiliar with the wholesale side of the needlepoint industry, you might be wondering what exactly a needlepoint market is.
The Autumn Needlepoint Reunion is a wholesale trade show that brings together needlepoint designers, accessory brands, and local needlepoint shop owners (LNS owners) from across the country.
This year's event took place October 2–4 at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas.
What makes this market so unique is that instead of traditional trade show booths, each exhibitor essentially transforms a hotel room into their own little shop!
Designers set up tables, display their canvases, organize accessories, and turn their rooms into miniature showrooms. Meanwhile, needlepoint shop owners walk the hotel hallways, going from room to room to shop for inventory to carry in their stores.
It's such a fun concept, and seeing an entire hotel filled with needlepoint designers and shop owners was incredible.
This was Lucky Lotus Needlepoint's first time exhibiting, and although I had done plenty of research, I quickly realized there are some things you can only learn by actually experiencing market.
Preparing for Market: Taking a Big Risk
A little behind-the-scenes look at how we transformed our hotel room into the Lucky Lotus Needlepoint showroom for our very first Autumn Needlepoint Reunion! 💗
One of the biggest decisions I made before market was ordering a LOT of inventory.
And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.
I actually started placing large inventory orders well before I even knew whether Lucky Lotus would be accepted as an exhibitor!
Looking back, that was definitely a risk. As a small business owner, committing to that much inventory without knowing whether I would even be attending market was a little scary. However, I knew that if I did get accepted, I wanted to be prepared.
I wanted stores to have the opportunity to shop a large selection of our designs and take them home that same day, rather than having to place pre-orders and wait for inventory to arrive.
Thankfully, the risk paid off!
I was incredibly proud of the cash-and-carry inventory we brought to market. Seeing so many of my designs displayed together was one of those moments where I realized just how much Lucky Lotus has grown since launching in 2024.
The Needlepoint Community Really Showed Up for Me
The second thing I did to prepare was reach out to other designers and needlepoint shop owners to ask for advice.
And I cannot even begin to explain how helpful everyone was.
The very first person who reached out to help me was Melissa from The Wool & The Floss. Before I had even applied to market, I posted online asking for advice about how to get accepted, what I could do to strengthen my application, and how I should start preparing. Melissa was kind enough to reach out and share her advice, which meant so much to me, especially since I was completely new to the whole process.
Alice & Blue was another designer who really helped me prepare. She was so generous with her advice and would even check in on me throughout the weeks leading up to market to make sure I was doing okay with all the nerves and craziness. Having someone who had been through the experience before was so reassuring.
I also reached out to Salt + Sand Designs, and she was AMAZING. We had a video call where she helped me put together a list of everything I would need to bring and walked me through what to expect. There were so many little things she mentioned that I would have never thought of on my own!
And one of the best parts? She's now become one of my closest friends in the needlepoint industry!
Another person who deserves a HUGE thank you is Brooke from The Paint and Stitch.
Brooke helped me with everything from sending Amazon links for supplies to giving me advice about preparing my room. But her generosity didn't stop there. Once I arrived in Texas, she and her helper, LeighAnne (@leighannestitches), ended up helping me set up practically my entire room!
More on that in a minute...
I really cannot emphasize enough how welcoming and supportive everyone was. Entering a new industry event can feel intimidating, especially when it seems like everyone else already knows what they're doing.
I genuinely don't know how I would have prepared for market without these women.
10 Suitcases Later... We Made It to Texas!
Just 5 of the 10 suitcases we somehow managed to bring to Texas for our first needlepoint market! I might rethink my shipping strategy next year... 😂
Now for the fun part. Or maybe the slightly chaotic part.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was figuring out how to physically get all of our inventory to Texas.
Shipping inventory was an option, but based on how I had planned everything, I ultimately decided that bringing it all in suitcases would be the easiest solution.
So naturally, I bought a bunch of suitcases.
I flew to Texas on Thursday afternoon with five checked suitcases, a carry-on, and a backpack. My husband, Collin, who had graciously agreed to be my designated market helper, brought the exact same amount.
That's 10 checked suitcases, 2 carry-ons, and 2 backpacks between the two of us.
Absolutely ridiculous looking back, but we made it work!
Because Collin and I were flying at different times, we weren't able to help each other navigate the airport with all our luggage.
I must have looked particularly overwhelmed at the Delta check-in counter because the employee ended up checking all of my bags for free after seeing how much I was struggling!
That was definitely a much-appreciated surprise.
Unfortunately, the weather had other plans for us.
There was some flooding in Texas that day, which caused flight delays for what seemed like almost everyone attending market.
My flight was delayed, and I ended up arriving around 6 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.
Collin, on the other hand, didn't arrive until MIDNIGHT.
And this is where things got interesting.
Setting Up Our Hotel Room: A Game of Furniture Jenga
A little peek inside Lucky Lotus Needlepoint's very first wholesale market room!
For some reason, I had severely underestimated how long it would take to set up our market room.
In my head, I imagined arriving at the hotel, walking into a mostly empty room, and finding the tables I had ordered already set up.
That was absolutely not what happened.
First, I had to figure out where to check in for the market, which was on a completely different floor.
Then I had to coordinate getting my tables delivered.
Meanwhile, all of the normal hotel furniture was still in the room, and I had absolutely no idea where I was supposed to move everything.
At one point, it genuinely felt like I was playing Jenga with hotel furniture.
There were couches, chairs, tables, suitcases, boxes, and needlepoint canvases everywhere.
And because Collin hadn't arrived yet, I was attempting to figure all of this out by myself.
Enter Brooke and Leanne from The Paint and Stitch.
These two were absolute lifesavers.
Not only did they help me physically move furniture around, but they also helped me figure out how to organize the room so that it would actually make sense for buyers shopping our collection.
They suggested organizing canvases into different sections and categories so that shop owners could easily navigate the room and find the types of designs they were looking for.
It seems so obvious now, but when you're standing in a hotel room surrounded by thousands of canvases and furniture everywhere, those little suggestions make the biggest difference.
By the time Collin arrived around midnight, we still had some work to do.
So we kept going.
And going.
And going.
We were absolutely exhausted, but seeing the room slowly come together was so exciting.
Market Doesn't Really Start When You Think It Does
Seeing our fruit and vegetable basket designs stitched and finished made me love these little designs even more! Shop our Fruit & Veggie Basket Designs!
Officially, market was scheduled to begin at noon the next day (Friday).
Naturally, Collin and I thought this meant we could stay up late finishing the room and then sleep in a little before buyers started arriving.
That was another incorrect assumption!
If you've never stayed at an Embassy Suites, the hotel has an open atrium layout, with many of the guest room doors and windows facing the interior hallways.
During market, exhibitors typically leave their doors open when they're ready for buyers to shop.
Well, several hours before the official market opening, we started hearing knocks on our door and even our window!
Other exhibitors already had their doors open, and shop owners were out and about, ready to start shopping.
We had barely slept, but quickly realized we needed to get moving.
So we opened our door and jumped right into it.
One thing I hadn't fully appreciated before market was just how much work the shop owners are doing during these events.
They're trying to purchase inventory for their stores, fill customer pre-orders, discover new designs, visit their favorite designers, and make sure they don't miss out on products that might sell out.
There is a LOT happening in a very short amount of time.
And with inventory shortages and long production lead times being such a challenge in the needlepoint industry, I completely understand why buyers want to get to their favorite designers as quickly as possible.
It definitely gave me a new appreciation for everything our local needlepoint shops do behind the scenes.
The Work Doesn't Stop When Market Closes
Our Christmas Village collection all set up for market! I love seeing these little buildings come to life as finished pieces. Shop Christmas Village Collection!
One thing I completely underestimated was just how much work happens outside of the actual market hours.
I think I had imagined that once market closed for the day, we would have some time to relax, visit other designers, and maybe even get a decent night's sleep.
That was definitely not the case!
Because shop owners are trying to visit so many different designers in such a short amount of time, a lot of them don't have time to wait around while you ring up their purchases.
Instead, they'll pick out the canvases they want, put everything into a bag with their shop's name on it, and head off to their next stop.
Then it's up to us to enter everything into Shopify, create their order, and text them when it's ready to be picked up.
It's actually a really efficient system for the buyers, but I had no idea how much work it would create behind the scenes!
After the first day of market on Friday, Collin and I spent practically the entire night entering orders into Shopify, organizing bags, and making sure everything was ready for stores to pick up the following morning.
And of course, while you're doing all of that, you're also trying to reorganize your inventory, restock your displays, and get the room ready for another full day of shopping.
Needless to say, there really wasn't a single moment where it felt like things slowed down.
Finding Time to Explore Other Designers' Rooms
I also didn't get nearly as much time to leave our room as I had hoped. Before market, I was so excited about the opportunity to walk around, see everyone's displays, and do a little shopping for myself.
Luckily, I was determined to squeeze in at least a few visits!
I stopped by Alice & Blue and pre-ordered one of her beautiful new designs featuring a lake, mountains, and fall trees. It immediately reminded me of my husband's home in Vermont, so obviously I had to have it!
I also stopped by Fire and Iris and pre-ordered her ski map design, which I think is SO cute.
Another room I absolutely had to visit was Stephanie's from Spellbound Stitchery!
I feel like Stephanie's room was the perfect example of how a designer's personality can shine through not only their designs, but also how they set up and decorate their space. Her room was so uniquely her, and I loved seeing how she brought her brand to life!
It was also so special getting to spend some time with her in person.
For those of you who don't know, Stephanie actually played a huge role in helping me get Lucky Lotus started. Before I had even launched my business, she was incredibly generous with her time, advice, and encouragement. I genuinely don't know if Lucky Lotus would exist today without her help and support.
So even though I didn't have nearly as much time as I would have liked to explore all the different rooms at market, I knew I had to make a point to stop by hers.
My shopping was definitely a little rushed, but I was so happy I got to see even a handful of the other exhibitors' rooms.
One of my favorite things about market was seeing how every designer transformed essentially the same hotel room into something completely different.
Each room felt so unique to the designer's brand, from how they organized their canvases to the colors, decorations, and finished needlepoint pieces they displayed.
It was so much fun to see everyone's creativity come to life, and I left feeling inspired by all the different ways people showcased their collections.
Next year, I'm definitely hoping to carve out a little more time to explore (hopefully)!
Lessons Learned: Appointments, Pre-Orders, and Display Space
Our new Mary Santa and Mary Snowman designs made their market debut! Shop Christmas needlepoint!
Of course, there are quite a few things I'll be doing differently at my next market.
One of the biggest lessons was figuring out how to balance private appointments with general shopping.
Before market, several shops had reached out asking to schedule private appointments. I loved this because I wanted to give those buyers dedicated time to look through our collection, ask questions, and get to know Lucky Lotus.
However, every time I opened the door to let an appointment in, other buyers would see that our room was open and come inside to shop.
In some instances, I had a really hard time asking people to come back later!
I wanted to be welcoming to everyone, but I also wanted to respect the shops that had proactively scheduled time with me.
Next year, I think having clearer appointment windows and more defined shopping hours will make things easier for everyone.
Another lesson was making sure my pre-order communication was consistent. Before market, I had created forms stating we would require a 100% deposit for pre-orders, but we ended up not requiring a deposit for our regular canvas pre-orders.
Obviously, the shops were happy about that change! But looking back, I wish I had made sure all our forms and policies matched what we were actually doing.
And finally, not every finished needlepoint project needs to come to market!
Over the past year, I've been slowly working toward getting every Lucky Lotus design stitched and finished into an actual product. I love having finished examples because they help customers visualize what a canvas can become.
Leading up to market, I rushed quite a few projects through stitching and finishing because I wanted to have as many examples as possible.
One of those projects was our new 13-mesh cornucopia canvas. I had my ghost stitcher prioritize stitching it and even paid for rushed finishing so I could have the completed pillow in time for market.
And it turned out beautifully!
There was just one problem.
The pillow was HUGE.
As in, it practically needed an entire suitcase of its own.
And since we were already trying to fit thousands of canvases onto tables, couches, and every other available surface in our hotel room, I quickly realized that display space was incredibly valuable.
A few of our finished needlepoint pillows, including the giant cornucopia pillow that was almost too big to bring to Texas! Special shout-out to Petite Point for finishing this running canvas and hand-delivering it to us at market!
Next time, I'll be much more selective about which finished pieces I bring, focusing on examples that make the biggest impact without taking up too much room.
Sometimes less really is more!
The Moment That Made It All Worth It
I have to say, my absolute favorite moment of the entire market happened right at the very end.
After three days of what felt like nonstop work, Sunday finally came to a close.
And as market officially ended, something happened that I wasn't expecting.
Everyone came out of their hotel rooms and started clapping.
All of the designers, exhibitors, and people who had spent the last several days working so hard were standing in the hallways applauding together.
It was such a simple moment, but it made me more emotional than I ever would have expected.
I think that was the first time all weekend that I really had a chance to stop and take everything in.
For months, I had been so focused on preparing for market. Ordering inventory, coordinating production, figuring out logistics, packing suitcases, organizing displays, and worrying about whether I was doing everything correctly.
And then once we got there, everything happened so quickly that I barely had a chance to process any of it.
But standing in that hallway on Sunday, surrounded by so many other people who had just poured their hearts into the exact same experience, it really hit me.
There was so much work that went into those three days, not just for me, but for every single person there.
Every designer had spent months creating products, preparing inventory, and getting ready to showcase their collections. Every shop owner had spent the weekend running from room to room, making buying decisions, and working to bring new products back to their customers.
And behind the scenes, there was an entire team of people who had worked incredibly hard to organize the event and bring everyone together.
For those few minutes, it felt like we were all celebrating each other and everything we had accomplished.
I think that's what made the moment so special.
The needlepoint industry is filled with small business owners who work incredibly hard, often behind the scenes, doing things that most people never see. And for one weekend, we all came together because of something we genuinely love.
I went into market thinking mostly about the business side of things. I wanted to meet shop owners, introduce more people to Lucky Lotus, and hopefully have a successful first market.
And while all of those things were important, I think the biggest thing I took away from the experience was an even greater appreciation for this community.
That moment in the hallway was hands down the highlight of my entire weekend.
I also want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped organize the Autumn Needlepoint Reunion. I truly cannot imagine the amount of planning, coordination, and hard work that goes into making an event like this happen. After experiencing it firsthand, I have so much appreciation for everything that goes on behind the scenes.
I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of it.
When I started Lucky Lotus Needlepoint in 2024, I never imagined that just two years later I would be standing in a hotel hallway in Texas, surrounded by so many talented people in an industry I've grown to love so much.
It was definitely one of those moments that reminded me why I love doing what I do.
So, would I do it all again?
Without a doubt. Even the 10 suitcases. Although I might rethink that part next year! 💗
With love,
Sydney
Lucky Lotus Needlepoint
Loved seeing all of our designs at market? You can shop our entire collection of needlepoint canvases, accessories, and kits at Lucky Lotus Needlepoint!
2 comments