Originally Posted by calicojoan

We have a great little shop that sells used fabrics at $5 a yard. They get it from estate sales, shop closures, etc. You can also take your fabrics in and they will purchase them for a small price. You get some wonderful quality fabrics at a great price. Problem is that one of the gals there is so sour and rude, that I refuse to go in the door anymore. It's worth it to pay retail to not deal with her!

Originally Posted by NikkiLu

A new quilt shop opened up exactly 20 miles from my house and I was thrilled to say the least. It was in the walkout basement of the owners house - very homey. The owner, a woman, sadly died about a year after their opening and her DH kept the shop open with the help of his wife's partner. Anyway, they had very good prices on their fabrics, especially batiks. I went in there as often as I had extra money. They all called me by my first name as I walked in the door and were very helpful. Then he decided to close the store and move to another town and started having their going out of business sales - 30% off the first month; 40% off the second month and 50% off their last month, December. I went at least once a week and bought armloads of fabric. I was writing so many checks that I started putting "WalMart" into my checkbook instead of "quilt shop" so my DH would not get so mad. I bought fabric for my DD's new obsession with clothesline bowls too. I think that I went 3 times in the last 50% off week. Each time was greeted by my first name. The very last day - it was just me and the owner in the store- and I wished him the best with his new "life" in his new town, etc. What did I receive from him - NOTHING!!! Not even a "thank you for all of your business" or anything like that. That really stung. When I got home I looked in my checkbook and I had spent around $500 there in the last month.

Originally Posted by dottiequilts

My favorite quilt shop is Loose Threads in Milton, WI. The owner Mary Kay is friendly and knowledgable. Her quilt store offers fabric for every taste and it's arranged artfully and in a manner than makes sense. She has quilts and projects on display everywere. There are books and gadgets and going there is like visiting a friend. We have over ten quilt stores within a one hour radius, yet she gets most of my business. When I go to other stores when we travel, I constantly think that they should take lessons from her.