As you know, XRX, Inc. and the Think Outside The SOX co-sponsors have partnered up with many local yarn stores across the country to create SOX HOT SPOTS. These featured yarn retailers sell yarn for the yarn-specific categories in the contest.

There are now hundreds of SOX HOT SPOTS across the US (and even a few overseas and in Canada). Many are developing in-store sock programs, and we’ve just heard of one that has taken their participation in the contest to a whole new level. Have You Any Wool? In Berkley, MI is throwing a Sock Hop on Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm to kick off, promote, and inspire knitters and crocheters to enter the Think Outside The SOX contest.

When we spoke with Bridget Dean, the owner of Have You Any Wool?, she said, “I decided to join the SOX HOT SPOT program because I realized that I could bring something fresh and exciting to my customers that would tap their creativity in a different way.

“My excitement for this program is contagious. I presented it at our staff meeting and now my staff is buzzing about it and coming up with more ideas. The Creativity Workshop sprang up from talking about the program with one of my staff, Beth Krause. 

“After the sock hop, we’ll host a knit-along for socks. Knit-alongs build community and allow knitters to meet and exchange ideas. Inspiration comes from many places, and when you surround yourself with creative people, you develop your own creative skills. I know there will be more offshoots, and I’ll keep you posted.

“One of the things that we’re doing at the Sock Hop is demonstrating different methods of knitting socks. There isn’t just one way, and we want people to see that. We may even come up with yet another way to knit socks!”

Bridget also told us that she’s ‘Thinking Outside The Box’ in her marketing plans, “Diana [Bridget’s rep at Skacel] is working on some giveaways from Skacel. I’m also involving the larger community of Berkley by visiting a couple of the nearby restaurants and asking for their support and participation. Maybe they’d like to give me coupons (complimentary soft drink, milk shake, or fries with purchase) to hand out to my customers? The barber shop around the corner has a greaser theme. I’ll talk with Jason, the owner, to see how we can tie them in as well. Cross pollination is a good thing!

“We’re awarding prizes for the best hand knit socks and the best costume we see that day,” Bridget says, inviting the community to join her. “So pull out your poodle skirt and sweater set or your blue jeans and white T-shirt. Put on your best socks and your dancing shoes and come on in for an afternoon of fun and prizes!”

In her latest eNewsletter, Bridget invited and challenged all of her customers to become a part of the event, “I hope you're as excited as I am about this fabulous opportunity to expand your creativity, meet new knitting friends, compete, and win prizes. Your design may find its way into the new sock book that's being developed by XRX. If I like your design, I may ask you to come and teach a sock workshop. The possibilities are endless!  I've encountered many surprises since opening my shop four years ago. Most of them have been good. I encourage you to take the leap and challenge yourself to do something new and different. You just never know where it may lead. Happy Knitting!”

XRX, Inc. and the rest of the co-sponsors would like to recognize and congratulate Bridget Dean on her enthusiasm and creativity. Have You Any Wool? is, in our opinion, the very model of a SOX HOT SPOT!