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Thread: What Does Your Local Fabric Shop Do In-house Besides Sell Fabric?

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  1. 05-19-2011, 07:32 AM #1
    ThayerRags
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    Whether it’s a LQS or Chain Store, do fabric shops around your area offer any other services or products besides just fabric? I’m talking about the walk-in shops. I know some shops sell and/or repair sewing machines and/or vacuum cleaners, some do in-house longarm quilting, some give quilting and/or sewing lessons, others do alterations, rent formal wear, etc.

    We do mending, alterations, machine repairs, and ironing at ours. A shop in the next town sells and services sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. A shop in another nearby town offers quilt classes and longarm quilting. We’re all in small cities/towns or rural areas. Most of us wouldn’t be around if we only sold fabric.

    I’m just curious how many shops that you know of offer other products or services besides fabric, and what they are.

    CD in Oklahoma
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  2. 03-01-2012, 08:50 AM #2
    ThayerRags
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    I thought that I would renew this old thread to see how things may have changed since last May. Has anyone noticed additional product or service changes at their brick & mortar LQS in the past six months (besides them closing)? I’m referring to taking on new and different retail products or adding additional services.

    With the increase in both fabric and fuel prices, I think small local shops will be looking for ways to diversify to stay afloat. Some quilters are less able to hop in the car with a couple of friends to go shop hopping to that distant shop that they’ve heard about, at least not as often as they once did. If traveling and shopping goes on the decline, especially in the rural areas, do you think small shops will try new products and services, or try going online with their business? Online fabric sales are getting very competitive.

    We’re not ready to go online yet, but we’ve had to expand our service area again (sq ft of usable shop space) and obviously, that shrinks our retail fabric & notions space. We started out in 2006 using 6.4% of our floor space for services (ironing, SM repair, & sewing/mending/alterations). It was originally just something to keep us busy during slow retail activity. But mending and alterations have been increasing, so in 2010, we increased that space to 10.6%, and this past month, we have increased that to 13.9% to be able to manage the service. Each time that we expand, we lose space for quilting fabric.

    Do you think that your LQS will change or stay the same? Do you think that brick & mortar fabric shops may become a thing of the past?

    CD in Oklahoma
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  3. 03-01-2012, 08:56 AM #3
    newbee3
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    our shop does vacuum cleaners , sewing machine they sell and repair these. They have a small long-arrm they also sell. they give lessons and they have emb club.
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  4. 03-01-2012, 09:22 AM #4
    irishrose
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    One of mine sells strawberries and sunflowers from her on site garden. She also has another site that is a flower shop. The one downtown offers homemade large ironing boards along with the expected items in a quilt store/Janome dealer.
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  5. 03-01-2012, 09:35 AM #5
    happyquiltmom
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    The LQS where I work offers quilting cotton, notions, patterns, books, thread, plus homespuns and a large selection of wools. We have reproduction fabrics as well (both 1930's & '40's and Civil War)

    We have several Block a month programs, including Thangles Buck-A-Block. We offer classes and conduct a "Quilting Overnighter" twice a year at a nearby church.

    Although we do not offer longarm quilting services, we do have a list of area quilters who do so.

    We highly value our customers and do our best to be sure that they leave our shop with all their questions answered. One of my very favorite parts of the job is helping customers choose fabric for their projects. Oh, and we LOVE it when they bring the finished project back for "show & tell"!

    If you're ever in NE Indiana, stop by Caroline's Cottage Cottons in Rome City and say "Hi"!

    Cindy
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  6. 03-01-2012, 09:29 AM #6
    raptureready
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    EVERYTHING!!!! Threads of Time in Danville, Il. offers classes, an unbelievably wonderful retreat center, money saving retreat passes, machine sales, Koala sewing chairs and furniture, free cookies, coffee, and tea, clubs, personal instruction, a friendly atmosphere, several machines set up to try out, online sales, reward points that amount to 10%, nationally known teachers for seminars and workshops several times a year, notion fairs, etc. Oh and they have a lovely relaxing garden with fountains, gazebo, patio furniture and even a large grill. They also provide a community garden for the neighbors.
    Last edited by raptureready; 03-01-2012 at 09:32 AM. Reason: forgot something
    If no one ever experimented we'd all still be making 4 patches.
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  7. 03-01-2012, 09:55 AM #7
    Shankquilt
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    My local quilt shop has a flower shop within her shop. She also does long-arm quilting and sews for people if they request. Since her space is large she has maybe 10 booths also set up that sell antiques, quilt and baby items, purses, jewelry, etc. This is a really nice touch, especially in a small town where people may be looking for gifts, etc. also. She gets a monthly rent check from the booth renters plus a small commission from things they sell. The antique booths do very well in her shop.
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  8. 03-01-2012, 11:07 AM #8
    Handcraftsbyjen
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    Our LQS also does picture framing. I would LOVE having an ice cream store as part of the quilt shop! I also like the flower shop idea.
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