Stitching Sustainability: How One Quilt Shop Is Powering a Stronger Community
Small Business, Big Job
One Small Change Transformed Their Shop
The craft of quilting spans centuries. An essential part of Wisconsin culture, quilting connects generations of people to their heritage and creates folk art, family heirlooms, and blankets of warmth. Keeping this tradition alive is important work, and Busy Bobbin in Rice Lake is up to the task thanks to help from Focus on Energy, Rice Lake Utilities, and We Energies.
Busy Bobbin offers quilting supplies and classes for customers to learn and share this treasured pastime.
“Quilting provides our customers with an outlet for relaxation, social interaction, and artistic expression,” says shop owner Diann Raymond. “I want to make sure they always feel comfortable here and Focus on Energy gave us the best ways to make that happen.”
Stitching the Plan Together
While Busy Bobbin’s cozy atmosphere helps customers feel right at home, their retail space posed challenges due to insufficient lighting, potential drafts, and inconsistent temperatures. Focus on Energy, Rice Lake Utilities, and We Energies recognized the shop had a strong potential for energy efficiency improvements. The team discovered several changes benefiting both the business and its customers, and Raymond worked with trusted Focus on Energy Trade Ally contractors to get the best upgrade options.
A damaged area below one window was leaking cold air and moisture into the shop, and the aging heating and cooling system needed updating. By fixing the leaking area and replacing the HVAC system with modern equipment, Busy Bobbin would be able to maintain a steady temperature for customers and be more energy efficient.
Good lighting is critical in retail locations, as it creates an inviting atmosphere and enhances the visibility of merchandise. Busy Bobbin’s existing fluorescent lighting made the material, thread, and pattern colors appear muted or have different tones than when in natural light. For quilters, seeing the true colors of the supplies is essential to creating a high-quality product.
Energy Efficiency by Design
Bill Balts Construction added insulation under the window to keep the cold air and dampness out.
Meanwhile, Paul’s Sheet Metal carefully selected a new high-efficiency furnace and air conditioning system tailored to the shop’s various uses. With a predicted 15-year lifespan, the new heating and cooling system will keep Busy Bobbin more comfortable for staff, shoppers, and class participants long into the future.
For the lighting, B&B Electric replaced fluorescent lights with high-efficiency LEDs. The new LED lighting more closely matches natural daylight and provides consistent lighting throughout the store, ensuring the quilting supplies appear true to color. The LEDs also create a brighter, welcoming environment for customers.
Energy Savings Matter
Combined, the HVAC and lighting improvements will generate an estimated annual savings of $590! For a small business owner like Raymond, these savings have a big impact on the bottom line. Making the store more comfortable and inviting is also a great way to attract new customers and keep Busy Bobbin busy for years to come.
“The support we received from Focus on Energy wasn’t just about upgrades – it was about investing in our shop, our customers, and our collective culture,” Raymond says. “That kind of partnership makes a real difference in our community.”
