Can someone explain a Shop Hop to me
09-21-2011, 12:44 PM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: north east
Posts: 8,394
We just had one recently (though I didn't go this year because of gas prices). My LQS usually runs it for our state. We have 18-20 stores that participate. We do buy the passport, but we get a tote bag (like the ones you buy in the supermarket for 99 cents) and each place puts a stamp in your book. The last one I went to, each place had us pick out two strips of 2 1/2" wide fabric. If we made it to all the shops, our home quilt shop would give us the pattern for free and we had enough strips to make the pattern (just needed to buy background fabric).
Each store will have refreshments and a snack for us and has a special just for the shop hoppers. It's a wonderful way to go to shops you have not been to and it's also really nice to go with a fellow quilter.
Each store will have refreshments and a snack for us and has a special just for the shop hoppers. It's a wonderful way to go to shops you have not been to and it's also really nice to go with a fellow quilter.
09-21-2011, 01:24 PM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
Dare I jump in here with some history and hop info many of you may not know?
In the late 1990s the shop I owned along with 9 other Dallas/Ft. Worth area shops, met to organize the FIRST ever Texas shop hop. We set certain parameters:
* Only 10 shops could participate. (There were 28 shops in the area at the time!!) The 10 on our hop covered over 280 miles of traveling! Some groups hired a bus, stayed overnight and shopped for the whole weekend, LOL!
* Each shop gave away part of a whole quilt's pattern - quilt was designed by one of the shops.
* Each shop stamped a passport which hoppers had to complete in order to enter the drawings at the end.
* Each shop served refreshments, had extra staff on hand, had door prize drawings about every 1/2 hour, was *not* allowed to hold special sales during the shop hop.
* The Hop was held Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon with extended hours.
* Each shop had to donate $100 toward the Grand Prize, the rest was all donated that first year, including a new sewing machine from Bernina (I believe it was). It was a magnificent Prize!
* That first Shop Hop weekend, as shop owners, we were astounded at the success of the venture. The shop that made the most income that weekend made $19,000; the least made was $11,000!! In one weekend!
The following year, the same 10 shops refused to expand to a larger number of shops in the Hop, so other shop owners in the area created The Spring Fling and had their own shop hop. :D
Sandy Brawner of Quilt Country in Lewisville, TX, and I got to discussing the shop hop ventrue on FabShopNet (long before it was what it is now) and told the other shop owner members how successful and how much fun it had been. Before we could turn around the shop hop idea had spread across the country like wildfire!
It was a joy to go into shops as I traveled from TX to VA on vacation, see how other locations were handling the logistics and to share with them what had worked for us originally. But none I ever talked to made the kind of profit experienced that first year for the original 10 shops, sadly.
It's been a long time since I personally went on one of the hops as I no longer enjoy thrill of the crowds and energy. But I love that the idea is still viable and enjoyed by many!
Jan in VA (formerly owner of Silver Threads, Inc. in Plano, TX, now closed)
In the late 1990s the shop I owned along with 9 other Dallas/Ft. Worth area shops, met to organize the FIRST ever Texas shop hop. We set certain parameters:
* Only 10 shops could participate. (There were 28 shops in the area at the time!!) The 10 on our hop covered over 280 miles of traveling! Some groups hired a bus, stayed overnight and shopped for the whole weekend, LOL!
* Each shop gave away part of a whole quilt's pattern - quilt was designed by one of the shops.
* Each shop stamped a passport which hoppers had to complete in order to enter the drawings at the end.
* Each shop served refreshments, had extra staff on hand, had door prize drawings about every 1/2 hour, was *not* allowed to hold special sales during the shop hop.
* The Hop was held Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon with extended hours.
* Each shop had to donate $100 toward the Grand Prize, the rest was all donated that first year, including a new sewing machine from Bernina (I believe it was). It was a magnificent Prize!
* That first Shop Hop weekend, as shop owners, we were astounded at the success of the venture. The shop that made the most income that weekend made $19,000; the least made was $11,000!! In one weekend!
The following year, the same 10 shops refused to expand to a larger number of shops in the Hop, so other shop owners in the area created The Spring Fling and had their own shop hop. :D
Sandy Brawner of Quilt Country in Lewisville, TX, and I got to discussing the shop hop ventrue on FabShopNet (long before it was what it is now) and told the other shop owner members how successful and how much fun it had been. Before we could turn around the shop hop idea had spread across the country like wildfire!
It was a joy to go into shops as I traveled from TX to VA on vacation, see how other locations were handling the logistics and to share with them what had worked for us originally. But none I ever talked to made the kind of profit experienced that first year for the original 10 shops, sadly.
It's been a long time since I personally went on one of the hops as I no longer enjoy thrill of the crowds and energy. But I love that the idea is still viable and enjoyed by many!
Jan in VA (formerly owner of Silver Threads, Inc. in Plano, TX, now closed)
09-21-2011, 01:42 PM
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
Originally Posted by butterflies5518
you have your "passport" stamped at the quilt shop.
09-21-2011, 07:24 PM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,955
Jan VA I applaud your creative talent as I enjoyed the results of the shop hop even with visiting just one shop! It allowed me to experience the world beyond my environment and gain many benefits from the generosity and creative talent of the whole world. Thank you and thank you to everyone on the board {clap clap clap}
09-21-2011, 07:42 PM
#16
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Enid, OK
Posts: 8,273
years ago they were a blast..now..not so much. Between the shops being spread further out (especially here in OK), the cost of gas, food, and now fabric, it is just is not cost worthy! Perhaps if it was the ONE big trip you planned for all year, but it would be spendy!
09-21-2011, 07:44 PM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Riverside Washington
Posts: 1,508
Tomarrow the 22 is the first day of a 10 day shop hop for our area. we are very spread out 12 shops in all I will leave here on the 23 at 7AM to get to one of the farest by 9 when all the shops open. By the time I get back home I will have driven aprox 460 miles and hit 5 or 6 shops A passport is a slip of paper with the name of all shops involved. At each shop our passport will be stamped, we will be given a pattern for a block (part of the quilt). The Quilt was designed by one of the shops in the hop. At our first stop we can get a picture of the finished quilt. At each shop we will sign up for a gift basket drawing from that shop. Shops will have demos going on all day with coffee and cookies for visitors. After we have visited all the shops we will have the pattern for an orignial quilt, signed up for 12 drawings, turn in our passports for a drawing- Grand prize new sewing machine, and lots of other goodies. I always take along fabric samples that I need to match for future projects. We take lots of water, snacks and a pick-nick lunch It is a lot of talking, driving, and fun for all involved. My car will be full I drive a Prius avg. 48 real miles per gallon. everone chips in on gas
09-22-2011, 03:24 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Uniontown, Ohio
Posts: 535
I love doing the shop hops. Just did the charming shop hop here, took my mom with me. Each shop you received 5 charm squares,got a snack,and a pattern. 1st one I won a 100.00 basket, third one I won a 25.00 gift cert, waithing to hear about the last one.
09-22-2011, 03:59 AM
#19
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 79
Jan,
Thank you so much for the history of the North Texas shop hop. My friend and I have been wondering how all of this started. We love going on the shop hops. These are stores that we would probably never consider because they aren't local, yet the ideas stretch our imagination. Some of the shops take us 5 minutes to get in and out. Others can keep us there for an hour. QAT is having its first time this year. We have had a blast. Going to Austin/San Antonio this weekend. Looking forward to seeing what's out there.
Thank you so much for the history of the North Texas shop hop. My friend and I have been wondering how all of this started. We love going on the shop hops. These are stores that we would probably never consider because they aren't local, yet the ideas stretch our imagination. Some of the shops take us 5 minutes to get in and out. Others can keep us there for an hour. QAT is having its first time this year. We have had a blast. Going to Austin/San Antonio this weekend. Looking forward to seeing what's out there.
09-22-2011, 04:43 AM
#20
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 97
Our quilt group has "Shop Hops" in Nov., Feb., and late March. We stop at 3-4 shops . We include lunch in the day. Our Chairman calls the shops ahead of time to let them know we are coming. We carpool and the passangers buys lunch for the driver. There is no passport etc.although I have done those too.
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