Originally Posted by quiltmom04
Originally Posted by lindabeecher
As a partner in a small quilt/gift store, I have a unique perspective. Your lqs has fixed costs that they must pay every day. Fabric costs are continuing to rise, and it's hard to make any profit and keep the store looking great, have darling samples, offer classes, have knowledgeable experienced staff, etc., etc. AND have great deals and low prices. We strive to make our customers feel welcomed, important, and valued. Do the chains do that, or the "bargain fabric places"? If you like having an independent quilt store, prove it by shopping there.
Thank you for speaking up! It seems sometimes that some people feel there is a quilt store conspiracy to make gigantic profits on the backs of quilters . I know this is not the way it is, but I'm glad to hear from a quilt store owner!
As a customer, I have to respond. I only buy fabric from LQS. I don't shop at chain fabric stores for fabric. I am willing to pay for the higher quality. I have 10 LQS within 60 minutes of my home and I shop at them all, but I do notice that a couple have consistently lower prices for the same fabric as the others. I don't really care about the samples, the classes or how friendly the staff is. I just want lots of choices in fabric at a fair price.
I want to keep my LQS in business but there is a price level where I will move my shopping to the internet for the lower prices. I don't think that most quilt store owners are getting rich. But I make an effort to go to the ones with better prices whenever I can. It is important to recognize that customers have different priorities and just because some focus on price doesn't make them wrong, especially when they don't value the social aspects of a shop.