As we welcome in the year of the Ox, we'd like to wish all past, current and future customers a very happy and prosperous 2009. And as always in our quarterly updates, tell you what's been happening here at Vietnam Quilts in the past few months.

In this edition of the VQ newsletter you'll find:

• An invitation to our store-wide sale
• New products in store
• New products online
• US buyers impressed with VQ quality
• A call for volunteers
• Lonely Planet recommendation request

For two weeks from Monday, 16 March 2009, you're invited to Vietnam Quilts' first store-wide sale. In both our Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi stores, every product will be reduced by 10-40%, offering amazing bargains on our exquisite quilts and accessories.
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to support our quilters while snapping up a bargain.
Sales finishes on Saturday, 28 March.
**Some conditions apply**
Click here to go to our website for more details.

We have a range of new products available in our shops, including lush velvet hand bags, gorgeous silk patchwork quilts and the ever-popular Sapa ethnic fabric quilts. We are continually introducing new colours and design variations, so be sure to come in to see our latest creations.

And remember that if you can't find exactly what you're after in the shop , we are happy to custom-make your order to the size, colour and design of your choice.

NEW PRODUCTS ONLINE

We've been busy updating our website with different quilts for sale, and have a number of designs and colours available for immediate purchase. We will be continually adding a selection of new designs and colours to this section, so be sure to take a look at our latest offerings.

In February, a delegation from the US company High Country visited our quilters in Duc Linh. With the intention of seeing for themselves our "high quality" quilts, they were so impressed with our "excellent quality" that they decided to buy 20 quilts, 48 cushion covers and 14 table settings for their business with the possibility of more for the future. Click here to read their letter of thanks to Vietnam Quilts.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Over the years, Vietnam Quilts has appreciated the generous help of many volunteers who assist us with sales, design, marketing and more. This year, we are looking for more willing helpers to volunteer in one of our stores, or even remotely.

Opportunities include helping us with direct sales, local and international networking and marketing, and product design and development. Whether you live in Hanoi, HCMC or overseas, we'd love to hear from you, and in return give you the chance to even more directly contribute to the wellbeing of hundreds of poor Vietnamese families. Please email us at vietnam-quilts@hcm.fpt.vn for more information, letting us know where you currently live.

HELP US TO GET IN THE LONELY PLANET

To ensure the continued support of our quilters and their families, we'd like your help to make our way into the Lonely Planet guidebook for Vietnam. As listings rely on visitor recommendations, we're asking you to click on this link and enter details of the HCMC and/or Hanoi shop. For just a few minutes of your time, you will be helping us enormously by potentially directing thousands of future tourists through our doors. Thanks for taking the time!

WHO WE ARE

Vietnam Quilts is a non-profit, community development project within the NGO of Vietnam Plus. The program trains and employs women in rural areas of Vietnam, where employment is seasonal and can require the women to leave their families for extended periods of time. Vietnam Quilts aims to give these women permanent work, with a regular income, in their own village. Currently we employ 180 women to hand-make quilts and home accessories for sale in Vietnam and internationally, but are always looking for opportunities to employ more.

For further information about Vietnam Quilts and to view our catalogue of quilts available for purchase, please visit our website.

** Please feel free to forward this newsletter to interested parties**