Born Again Quilts

Address: 4005 South Wayne Ave., Fort Wayne

At a glance: Specializes in the restoration and selling of vintage quilts

Employees: One

Annual revenue: $10,000

When was the company founded: 1996

Biggest accomplishment in the past 12 months: Moving into a storefront last October. The location is in the Foster Park area with a lot of foot traffic, which bodes well for business. At nearly 1,700 square feet, the new location is six times larger than a previous downtown Fort Wayne site.

What was your biggest mistake in operating this business: Would have liked to have established a stand-alone business storefront sooner.

What are the key challenges facing your business or industry: The age of quilters keeps getting older. Trying to get young people to unplug and use their hands is something the industry contends with. However, now that the retailer has its own storefront, owner Lois Eubank expects the visibility will increase interest, especially for people who have the mistaken impression that her business is “just some little hobby,” she said. “We’re a full-blown studio.”

What is your strategy for staying ahead of your competition: “There is a generation of young people who never grew up with (home economics) and are awed by skills they don’t have,” Eubank said. “They find it intriguing.” Attracting a younger demographic is a key way to keep in front of competitors.

What resources have you found most helpful in running a business: Networking and marketing.

What are your growth projections for the next five years: A 10 percent to 15 percent increase in sales each year.

What is one thing about your business that people might not be aware of: The new location will be able to host quilting parties for children and adults, ranging from six to 10 people.

If you weren’t running this business, what would you be doing: Volunteering for various organizations devoted to animal care and well being.