Ready, Set, Knit with KATHY AND STEVE ELKINS of WEBS – America’s Yarn Store was our featured guest today for PODCASTER NOVEMBER on Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird.
WEBS was begun by Steve’s mother, who wanted to support her own yarn supply as a weaver. Over the years (just celebrating their 40th anniversary!) the business has progressed out of the basement of the family home to a warehouse and Steve’s folks retirement (or dad’s at least) and Steve & Kathy running the larger staff and supporting their family, and a huge online presence.
Ready, Set, Knit! came about through the local radio station. The station’s desire to get back to their roots of local programming and to offer a radio show to their sponsors gave WEBS a unique opportunity to get the news of fiber into the community. Even if the radio show failed, they would be in a great position to continue as a podcast with the knowledge they had gained. The wisdom of their experience must be immense after about 7 years of broadcasting. Kathy feels that after all this time, she can keep the feeling of an interview natural and flowing without become stagnant, and keeping the subject of the interview upfront for those who’ve tuned in late.
They have a format that involves what is happening with family, or at the store, an interview of a designer or other awesome fiber personality, and close with Steve discussing current special offers. So much information to fit into a specific 28 minute time-frame! Steve says it’s a great vehicle to introduce the public to WEBS, similar as Kathy says to meeting folks at the trade shows. It’s important for The Elkins to show there is real people behind the business, creating a personal connection.
A lot of this past year, with the 40th anniversary, was working with dyers and designers to create unique items for the celebration. Many of the indie yarn dyers created a colorway of their choice and a Ruby colorway (this precious stone is the 40th anniversary gem), patterns from favorite designers and there was also a project bag from Della Q to commemorate the event.
The program can be found at the website for Webs, under the podcast link. Many of us listen through iTunes.
If you missed hearing the program live, it can be found at this link in the archives, https://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2014/11/18/ready-set-knit-with-kathy-and-steve-elkins-of-webs or through iTunes, if that is easier for you.
Thanks for the interview with Kathy & Steve from WEBS. I love ordering from them and wish them a Happy WEBS40th with continued success. I hope to visit their store one day!
Enjoyed your interview with Kathy and Steve. Although I have many yarn stores around me I consider WEBS to be my LYS even though it is on the other Coast 🙂 I love the yarn that I purchased during their WEBS40th anniversary sale.
Hoping to get to WEBS before WEBS40th is over. Great show!
My two favorite podcasts at the same time! At Stitches East I purchased Charlemont in the celebratory Webs40th ruby color. Ruby is also my new granddaughter’s birthstone. I cannot wait until after Christmas when I can make it into a shawl for myself.
I live in Southwestern NH. So, when I head south I make certain to visit WEBS. Now that I know about the WEBS40th I’ll have to make my way down there, even a special trip! Great interview as usual. Thanks Marley.
Congrats on WEBS40th. Someday I’d love to shop at WEBS. I’d probably have to get a hotel for a week!
Great show today! Congratulations on WEBS40th and here’s hoping for another 40 years!
Congratulations to the Elkins family for reaching the milestone of 40 years of Webs. WEBS40th has been a great celebration of the milestone.
Really loved this show! I listen to Ready Set Knit every week and order from Webs all the time. I loved the special features they had for Webs40th this year. Here’s to many more years of yarn goodness from Webs!
Benji9 (ravelry)
I always enjoy listening to the WEBS podcast. Congratulations on WEBS40th and may you have many more years of yarny bliss!!
Enjoyed your interview with Kathy and Steve. Congrats to Web’s 40th Anniversary!!
Lmecoll on Ravelry
Really enjoyed the podcast with Kathy and Steve. It was interesting to hear how they got their start. A big congrats on WEBS40th! Here’s to the next 40 years! I will definitely give Ready, Set, Knit a listen. I love to learn about different things in the fiber world.
Enjoyed the podcast today with Kathy and Steve from Webs40th anniversay!
Rav ID Monkeysmom1
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Mazel tov on WEBS40th! I love visiting WEBS store as well as enjoying the wonderful service on line. I always appreciate the discount which makes even the high-end yarns more affordable, and the fact that there is so much more than yarn! Spinning supplies, looms….I’m bound to get in even more trouble because of Kathy and Steve!
Congratulations on WEBS40th anniversary. Very much enjoyed your interview and hearing the history. I think it is great that your Mom is still involved with no plans to retire.
Kathy and Steve, Congratulations on Webs 40th Anniversary! Here’s hoping for 40 more!
Great interview with Kathy and Steve. Congratulations to them on WEBS40th!
I enjoy the Webs podcast, and love shopping at their site, especially during WEBS40th!
I really love Kathy and Steve’s podcast. It is always a behind the scenes peak at the industry. The WEBS40th has been a great event, and here’s to 40 more!
Congratulations on Webs40th. A great show and a good interview with Kathy and Steve.
I enjoyed listening to Kathy and Steve on this episode. I’ve only listened to a few of their shows but plan to add them to my current podcast list.
Congratulations on WEBsS40th Anniversary. I’m looking forward to many more years of shopping with you.
The discount program makes the shopping experience even more wonderful. With the wide selection of yarns, fibers, tools, accessories, books, videos, and other items, I always find lovely items to enhance my knitting, crochet, spinning, and weaving projects.
I really enjoyed listening to your interview with Kathy and Steve and hearing about their WEBS40th event.
This is my first time listening to your podcast. I am looking forward to going to listening to the Ready Set Knit. WEBS40th congratulations on 40 years.
I am currently listening to this awesome podcast and it’s really fun hearing from Kathy & Steve as guests! I’ve been learning about WEBS40th all year long but it was awesome to hear about all the features. Great episode!
Great show as usual. I listen to the Webs podcast and enjoy it also. Congratulations to WEBS on their Webs 40th celebration.
What fun it was to hear Kathy and Steve talk about WEBS! When I was in college/living in Amherst back in the early 80s, I enjoyed spending long hours at WEBS! I didn’t know about Ready Set Knit, but I will be sure to check it out! Happy WEBS40th! Thank, Marly for a great show!
Once again, thank you Marly for a wonderful show and introducing me to other podcasts. I did not realize that WEBS had a podcast, I will have to add that to my list. Congratulations on their WEBS40th!
It is wonderful to see the next generation operating the business, Webs40th is something to celebrate.
I’m a faithful listener of Ready, Set, Knit. A visit to Webs is on my bucket list. Congrats on celebrating WEBS40th!
pmack17 on rav
Kathy and Steve are absolutely charming! I love their podcast and congratulations on WEBS’ 40th!
I so enjoy when Steve & Kathy are interviewed. Especially since they have been celebrating their WEBS40th Anniversary. I love hearing about the history behind how it began!!!
Congratulations on webs40th!! I listen to Ready Set Knit on my commute to work – it makes my Monday mornings bearable!!
I am fortunate to live close enough that Webs is my second go to LYS. I just participated in their knit/crochet for charity event. What fun! Their sales and events are not to be missed, WEBS40 included. Thanks for Ready Set Knit and for Yarn Thing. RAD in NH
Great show with Kathy and Steve! And, wow! It’s so great that WEBS has been flourishing for 40 years! Happy WEB’s 40th! Am looking forward to listening to their podcast! Thanks so much, Marly!
Enjoyed the interview. Really coming to love this Podcast of yours Marly Bird. Met the WEBS folks at Stitches East. Happy WEBS40th Anniversary.
Love the online store, didn’t know about the podcast though! Happy WEBS40th!!
Congrats to Webs on their 40th! I love listening to these two and love their rav group. That store is my dream go to destination but for now I enjoy ordering from them online 🙂 I also love his “sale codes” on Rav
I loved the interview with Steve and Kathy! Congrats on WEBS40th! Hope to get there and visit one day!
Congratulations Steve and Kathy on Webs 40th anniversary. I enjoy your podcast especially the lively banter between you too.
I am a huge fan of Ready Set Knit. Happy WEBS40th!.
It’s always so nice to hear the banter on Ready Set Knit. Happy Webs 40th!
Hi! I really enjoyed listening to the three of you chat last night. I listen to your podcast while I’m at work, stocking shelves at Target; it helps the time fly by. Congratulations to Steve and Kathy and the whole team for reaching their WEBS40th anniversary. I’ve been married for 8 years less than that, which sort of gives me some perspective on what an impressive achievement that is. May there be many more!
Happy WEBS40th Anniversary! I really enjoyed this episode and learning about the Ready, Set, Knit podcast. I’ve ordered from WEBS a few times, but didn’t know that they had a podcast. Now I need to go check it out!
Wow! I can’t believe it has been 40 years for Webs. I would love to visit their store sometime even if I can’t get there for their big WEBS40th Anniversary. I also want to give their podcast a listen. Thanks for a great interview, Marly, with Kathy and Steve.
Wow, 40 years for Webs. Happy WEBS40th!!!
I love coming to shop at Webs Online, always great choices, fast shipping, and yarn choices that I love. My family knows to look at my Wish list to shop for me for holidays.
I have enjoyed the both of your podcasts for a while now. Marly, thanks for another great show, and Kathy and Steve you were wonderful.
rav id floridakelly
Been buying from WEBS for a long time. Happy WWEBS40th.
I have been listening to ready, Set, Knit all year and love the stories that Kathy and Steve tell about the origins of Webs as they celebrate Webs 40th anniversary. Congratulations Webs!!!!!
Congratulations!!! Webs40th! You’ve put a lot into making it a special year for your customers and all those that work with you.
I listen to Ready, Set, Knit and enjoy the banter between Steve and Kathy and Steve’s yarn picks. I finally was able to visit Webs and pet some of their fabulous yarns. Congratulations of Webs40th anniversary. Here’s to many more!
Fun podcast, and I love Webs Yarn shop. Congratulations on the Webs40th anniversary! I’ve bought yarn from them before — and they were a godsend! I ran out of yarn for the first sweater I ever knitted. The LYS didn’t have any more, and I couldn’t find any anywhere. Not only did Webs have the yarn, but they had the dye lot the rest of the sweater was in! It was so great to be able to leave a note on my order and actually get the yarn in the same dye lot the rest of my yarn was in. Awesome company! Thanks for another great podcast, Marly. 🙂
-greg, KnittingDaddy on Rav
Another great show, and congratulations to Steve and Kathy for the Webs40th anniversary!
Congrats on Webs40th. I loved hearing the behind the scenes happenings about their podcast.
I have recently discovered WEBS and have been doing some serious damage this yarn in Stashing during Webs40th. I love the mix of their podcast between industry and specific webs product placements and the friendly banter. Thanks so much for all you do=)
Wow this is a new store I am going to have to check out as an easy trip from New York. WEBS40th sounds like it was a big hit and I would love to support a local yarn store from a road trip.
Happy Web40th! You are truly amazing and thanks for all you do.(you too, Marly!)
Thanks for another great show! How exciting that it is WEBS 40th anniversary! I haven’t gotten there yet but hope to make a trip one day.