In this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re excited to share with you an interview with Abbie Small. Abbie served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Simplicity Creative Group, owner of the Big 4 pattern companies. Just last week, Rubelmann Capital, in partnership with Abbie, acquired the company from the bankruptcy auction that was held after Design Group in the UK sold Design Group Americas to Hilco Capital for $1. Now, Abbie is at the helm. We ask her how her this sale came to about and find out what the future holds for these legacy sewing pattern brands.
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In this interview, Abbie traces her career path at Simplicity. She first took a job at the company in 1983 after graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in fashion and apparel design. Abbie has held various roles at the company, including helping to launch New Look. She’s also been there throughout several different corporate buyouts.
We talk about the introduction of PDF patterns in the mid-2000s. We also discuss the consignment model used by Joann to purchase patterns. Abbie explains the ownership of the last tissue printers in the United States and where they are currently housed. She also talks about her thinking behind printing tissue for many of the independent pattern companies. We discuss how the staff at Simplicity came to understand that Design Group was liquidating its American division and how it dawned on her that she should try to figure out a way to bid on the brands in the bankruptcy auction. Abbie talks about how she partnered up with Rubelmann Capital and the role they are playing in the company going forward.
Abbie explains the difference between this purchase, made from a bankruptcy auction, and the previous mergers and acquisitions that have happened to the Big 4 brands. She also talks about hopes and plans for the future, including technology changes that are to come. If you’re curious about what the future holds for the Big 4 pattern brands, we hope you’ll get some answers from this interview with Abbie Small.
