Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Have you ever participated in this kind of project? >
  • Have you ever participated in this kind of project?

  • Have you ever participated in this kind of project?

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 02-03-2011, 08:08 PM
      #11  
    Junior Member
     
    Join Date: Sep 2010
    Posts: 159
    Default

    I have only been to one quilting store and have not heard anything about this idea. If they did offer something like that there I would participate.
    Momofthree is offline  
    Old 02-03-2011, 08:22 PM
      #12  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Posts: 1,232
    Default

    I did it once. $5.00 to start, different block every month, didn't pay more if you kept up. Given a choice of 2 color schemes up front. This was offered twice each month, and you could attend either session, so it wasn't too difficult to attend the 'class'. It did introduce me to some of the gadgets available, although I didn't buy them. And also got a few pointers on block construction.

    But -- my completed blocks are just that -- blocks. I have yet to sew them together. Another UFO.
    quilt1950 is offline  
    Old 02-03-2011, 08:26 PM
      #13  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jun 2008
    Location: British Columbia
    Posts: 2,352
    Default

    Never heard of this, but it's an interesting concept.
    An LQS I know of offers free fabric once a week if you stay in the shop and sew it into a quilt. They donate the quilts to the shelter.
    b.zang is offline  
    Old 02-03-2011, 08:46 PM
      #14  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Aug 2010
    Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
    Posts: 8,562
    Default

    Originally Posted by stewyscrewy
    To me it is jsut a gimmic to get you to buy (a vaction condo) just for thier new products or old ones they are trying to get rid of. Maybe you will have fun doing this as if thier fabrics turn out free would be a good thing.
    Please don't call creative attempts to entice customers into one's store a "gimmick." These LQS don't self support, you know. The sale of their merchandise pays the bills....and doesn't often provide much real income on top of that for the owners, either!

    This BOM sales technique in several formats has been around for a bit over a decade and was wildly popular for shops and customers when it began. For us personally, it was a way to demonstrate a new product that may not have been sold in our area before or may have just very recently come on the market. Those customers who bought it that morning of the block/demo received a 10% discount on it, but they were also invited to come for the BOM and make no other purchase.

    In most small LQS, I ask you, HOW else can you get demonstrations of new things to the customers, expand on the inventory and keep things fresh in the shop?

    Your local grocery store has "taste testing demos" all the time; do we resent THEM? This sort of thing is simply good business, "marketing".

    I, too, am really worried about the cost of goods for our art these days, but expecting a LQS to survive on "air" and no paying customers is a bit far-fetched. Visit these demos when you can, you might actually learn a thing or two and enjoy the energy and company of like minds on that day!

    Jan in VA
    Jan in VA is offline  
    Old 02-03-2011, 08:54 PM
      #15  
    Super Member
     
    luckylindy333's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: Snohomish, Washington
    Posts: 2,031
    Default

    I am going to one at Ben Franklin on Saturday. My DM wanted to go to a Block of the Month, so we found this one. It is $25.00 initially. I don't mind because they have good fabric and I want them to stay in business. It will be a chance to meet more quilters, too.

    This is in Monroe, WA. is anyone else going to this? It started in January, so we missed a month, but I am sure we are going to get caught up. It is going to be 30's and 40's fabrics.
    luckylindy333 is offline  
    Old 02-03-2011, 08:56 PM
      #16  
    Super Member
     
    luckylindy333's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: Snohomish, Washington
    Posts: 2,031
    Default

    Originally Posted by koko
    One of the Quilt Shops is offering a monthly project where you pay for the first block pattern and fabric to make it....if you bring it back completed the next month you receive a different block with fabric for free. You must also stay a few minutes to listen to instructions and about new products in the shop.This goes on for 9 months. There doesn't seem to be a completed quilt to show at this time and I don't think they plan to show it....maybe more of a mystery? If you have participated in something like this could you share your experiences about how it ran and if you knew more about what the complete project was going to look like before you enrolled?
    All the ones I have been to before show you a finished quilt. I still think it is a very good deal.
    luckylindy333 is offline  
    Old 02-03-2011, 09:50 PM
      #17  
    Super Member
     
    marilynr's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2010
    Location: Oregon
    Posts: 1,604
    Default

    I did one where it was $5.00 the first month/block & they gave us one fabric piece. No charge for each additional month if you finished it & did "show & tell", which I enjoyed.
    It was to test out a new pattern so it helped them & us.
    I enjoyed the group experience very much & always learned new things. The LQS was exceptional, but unfortunately closed.
    Miss it.
    marilynr is offline  
    Old 02-04-2011, 02:52 AM
      #18  
    Administrator
     
    patricej's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2006
    Location: Southeast Georgia, USA
    Posts: 9,135
    Default

    if the procedures are explained clearly and in detail from the beginning ...

    if there are no hidden costs that will suprise and bite you in the wallet at some future point ...

    if you like the fabrics ...

    if it will be fun ...

    if it fits your budget ...

    then it isn't a gimmick. the shop is taking the bigger financial risk. unless they ask you to sign a contract up front, they can't be sure you will buy the finishing kit from them, so they are risking their cost of the supplies for the second through last block. they might make back that cost by attracting you to other things they have for sale, or for the finishing kit. they might not.

    a program like this puts the customer in control. (well ... if it could be said that quilters have any control at all over our urge to spend on fabric and supplies. but that's another topic altogether. :lol: )

    from a consumer's perspective, it sounds quite tempting. :-)
    patricej is offline  
    Old 02-04-2011, 05:42 AM
      #19  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2009
    Location: Maine-ly Florida
    Posts: 3,926
    Default

    I'm doing one. It's a Frog quilt with hand embroidery. I wasn't tempted at first, couldn't think of what I'd do with the end result but decided to join in for the fun of it. Ours is $5.00 a month. You get a package with the fabrics cut out and the directions. Every month, it's the same charge and they won't care if you just collect them and sew them later. Some of us get together at the shop on Sunday afternoons for a free sit and sew so I may work on that then.
    lots2do is offline  
    Old 02-04-2011, 08:48 AM
      #20  
    Senior Member
     
    Zebra2's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Jackson County, Kansas
    Posts: 339
    Default

    Originally Posted by Jan in VA
    Originally Posted by stewyscrewy
    To me it is jsut a gimmic to get you to buy (a vaction condo) just for thier new products or old ones they are trying to get rid of. Maybe you will have fun doing this as if thier fabrics turn out free would be a good thing.
    Please don't call creative attempts to entice customers into one's store a "gimmick." These LQS don't self support, you know. The sale of their merchandise pays the bills....and doesn't often provide much real income on top of that for the owners, either!

    This BOM sales technique in several formats has been around for a bit over a decade and was wildly popular for shops and customers when it began. For us personally, it was a way to demonstrate a new product that may not have been sold in our area before or may have just very recently come on the market. Those customers who bought it that morning of the block/demo received a 10% discount on it, but they were also invited to come for the BOM and make no other purchase.

    In most small LQS, I ask you, HOW else can you get demonstrations of new things to the customers, expand on the inventory and keep things fresh in the shop?

    Your local grocery store has "taste testing demos" all the time; do we resent THEM? This sort of thing is simply good business, "marketing".

    I, too, am really worried about the cost of goods for our art these days, but expecting a LQS to survive on "air" and no paying customers is a bit far-fetched. Visit these demos when you can, you might actually learn a thing or two and enjoy the energy and company of like minds on that day!

    Jan in VA
    Well said. As a former LQS (gone broke) owner, AND a LA quilter who appreciates quilting quilt tops made of LQS quality fabric, I appreciate and support LQSs.
    Zebra2 is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    CircleSquare
    Main
    34
    02-07-2021 11:00 AM
    IrelandDragonQuilting
    General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
    28
    09-25-2011 09:47 AM
    quilt-fanatic
    Main
    19
    07-01-2011 03:06 PM
    Quilting G
    Member Swaps and Round/Row Robins
    72
    07-22-2009 02:44 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter