The Stitching Post in Dayton, OH, has been named Husqvarna Viking International Dealer of the Year. Owner Joe Fulmer, whose 25,000-square-foot superstore is a sewer’s paradise, has stepped up to accept the honor every time his dealership has been eligible — three times in six years.

“It’s a great honor because it shows that we’re continuing to do what we do to take care of our customers,” said Denice Bullock, vice-president general manager of the Stitching Post.

The award was presented at the Husqvarna Viking International Convention held in New Orleans in April. “The Big Easy” was this year’s theme, inspired by the city and based on the new line of Platinum sewing machines — a series of state-of-the-art machines designed with easy-to-use features for the modern consumer. Company executives who led a “Platinum Parade” kicked off the weekend-long event. The top brass, decked out in Mardi Gras costumes, paraded in the four new Platinum machines — the Platinum Plus, 770, 750, and 730 followed by 25 caped assistants tossing beads and coins into the crowd.

To qualify for the International Dealer of the Year award, dealer partners must exhibit sales growth over the previous year, carry only Husqvarna Viking products (brand exclusivity), demonstrate proven customer satisfaction, support Husqvarna Viking business values, contribute to the development of products, actively promote via creative sewing classes, actively work within their communities to support and promote brand development and introduce new retailing, marketing, and business development ideas.

“The Stitching Post in Dayton, OH, is the biggest Husqvama Viking dealer in the world,” said Bengt Gerborg, president and CEO of VSM Sewing Inc. “Owner Joe Fulmer and

his excellent staff received this award because of creativity, innovative advertising, and continued strong increases in business. The superstore has a Sewing University and is very dedicated to ‘edutainment.’ These are the qualifications we are looking for in the International Dealer of the Year.”

Fulmer’s father opened the original Stitching Post in Dayton in 1958. He passed the reigns to his son 25 years later, and in his first year as owner, the junior Fulmer sold 100 sewing machines.

International Dealer of the Year Pictured left to right: Joe Fulmer, owner of The Stitching Post, Dayton, OH, Juan Dawson, Svante Runnquist, CEO, VSM Group AR, Sweden, Denice Bullock.

Ten years later he moved his growing business to a larger Dayton location and in the ‘90s opened eight additional outposts inside JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores in Columbus, Springfield and Dayton, OH.

The Cross Point Centre Superstore location opened in July of 2000.

A European retailing atmosphere greets customers and flows logically in the round. The raised sewing machine center occupies the middle of the retail space with no less than eight TV monitors overhead running informational videos. Various departments — notions, classrooms, designer and quilting fabrics, machine repair, patterns, computer lab and sewing cabinets —are positioned around the perimeter.

The superstore was conceptual­ized, designed and implemented by Fulmer, who within the first year of opening had garnished sales in excess of 8,000 sewing machines. But winning the award isn’t contin­gent on sales alone, according to Bullock.

“It’s also based on what you do for the company, for the customer, and for the industry,” she said.

The Stitching Post’s red and blue color scheme, including custom designed carpet, is very much reflec­tive of the Husqvarna Viking brand image and overall global mission:

“Keeping the World Sewing.” Stitch­ing Post University, what Fulmer calls his classroom area and extensive education program, has been set up to accommodate 240 students at any given time, and an informational Web site www.stitchingpost.com  lets customers all over the world tap into the Stitching Post experience.

International Dealer of the Year Candidates. Pictured left to night: Svante Runnquist, Joe Fulmer Juan Dawson, and Denice Bullock, The Stitching Post, Dayton, OH, Joyce Hancock of Joyce Hancock’s Teaching and Sewing Studio in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, and Mule and Floyd Kaiser of Silks and More in St. Louis, MO.

The award presented to the Stitching Post is an original study in full lead crystal designed exclusively for Husqvarna Viking by Mats Jonasson. The piece is handmade at the Malaras Glassworks, in southern Sweden, which is recognized around the world

for the clarity and quality of their crystal. The beautiful piece features an etching of the Husqvarna Viking log and the very first Husqvama Viking sewing machine, the Northern Star or Nordstjeman (circa 1872).

Nominees for this year’saward included Millie and Floyd Kaiser of Silks and More in St. Louis, Mo; and Joyce

Hancock of Joyce Hancock’s Teaching and Sewing Studio in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. This year’s Rising Star award was presented to Linda Beer and Linda McLeod of Sundrop Textiles in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.

Rising Star Candidates. Pictured left to right: Gordon King and Sue Berry Bay Area Sewing, St. Petersberg, FL, Linda Beer and Linda McLeod, Sundrop Textiles, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, Debbie Vite and Ann Gedemer, Sew N Share, Racine, WI, Will Sanders representing DeBezige Bij, Numansdorf, The Netherlands.

Rising Star winners Linda Beer and Linda McLeod, Sundrop Textiles, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.