I've seen many posts lately about the poor economy and how that has affected local quilt shops and other small businesses. With the price of cotton going up I'm sure the additional cost will have to be passed on to customers.

What suggestions do you have for local quilt shops which would help them to keep quilters' coming back?

sales of course. maybe some small affordable classes and just some sew in's where quilters can get together just to sew and chat. door prizes once a month.

I really like the sew-in idea. Sometimes the problem isn't getting people to buy, it's getting people in the door in the first place. It is also a "friendly" thing to do, which is always a big perk.

If the LQS is THE place to be, it'll also be the place to buy.

This is true, many of them have class rooms sitting empty a lot of the time :D:D:D

Great Customer service will keep them coming back and inviting others to join them.

Treating EVERY customer the same no matter if they spend a thousand dollars at a time or just a few dollars. Some shop owners are a bit snobbish to some customers which hurts them in the short and long run. If you treat customers right they will come back.

I agree with this post...even free quilting classes..they will end up buying rulers and fabrics and keep coming back.

One of my LQS has block of the month programs, you have to come in person to pick up the next month's kit. And bring in your completed block from the previous month for a little discount.

The thing that brings me back to my local shops - projects on display that I fall in love with and have to do, and new fabrics that need to be fondled and drooled over (I try to limit the actual drooling to NOT on the fabric ... lol!).

What about sponsoring a fabric swap? No purchase necessary, get together with other quilters and trade stash.

Not only would it foster goodwill with the quilters who participate, but no doubt people who get new (to them) fabric will want to buy items to complement it - coordinating fabric, a new pattern, a notion they heard someone else talking about, etc. Maybe offer an after-hours discount to this group, for that day only?

We have a quilt store that offers their sometimes empty classrooms for a sit and sew day. This not only is good for us but for the shop as well. We buy fabrics and notions as long as we are there. It doesn't matter if we need them, they just catch our eye. Good for the Quilt shop, yes?

Ours used to do this once a month on a Friday night and it was a huge success. They made a lot of sales. Now they charge $20 and have dinner brought in so I can't go anymore. I can't afford it.