I don't always want to buy something in a new-to-me store. I am more interested in seeing the stores, like how the displays are set up and what kits they have. Even though I am in a major metro area, there are still some things that the shops here don't carry, like paper pieces or a variety of Aurifil thread so I make a little list of things to look out for. A few years ago I was looking for pink and yellow batiks - very hard to find in my area for some reason. A shop in Sturgeon Bay, WI, carried them b/c they said that they couldn't find them anywhere either.