LQS likes/dislikes?
06-07-2010, 11:48 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Nevada
Posts: 650
When I was visiting my sister in TX we went to a quilt shop in New Brunfels that was everything I could imagine in a perfect quilt store. There was the usual classroom and sale fabric area, lots and lots of patterns. Lots and lots of samples quilts and things made from the patterns they had. They had both modern fabrics as well as everything else, and the place was a kaleidoscope of color. But the best part was the staff. I picked up the bow tuck pattern and some focus fabric in the sale area for it, and the older gal told me all the ins and outs of making them. Then a younger gal came and helped me pick out fabrics for the rest of the bag. I could have spent all day there as well as a lot of money. It was so refreshing to be in a store that was friendly and helpful as well as up on all the newest things. It is a good thing I don't live in the area or I would spend a fortune there.
06-07-2010, 11:51 AM
#13
Google Goddess
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Central Indiana (USA)
Posts: 30,181
1. Owner and Employees to be friendly and helpful.
I was at a LQS (Local Quilt Store) last month and the owner and 2 employees never recognized anyone was in the store shopping, I was in the store for about 30 minutes and decided to leave as no one said hi, asked me if I need help or anything
2. Have a sew day where you can take a project in and sew and if you have any ? someone is there to help you out
3. demonstrations on rulers, etc.
4. classes (so we can learn more) and offer the classes at different times, day, evenings, weekends
5. Have an area to sit and relax if you need to
6. Samples & Demonstrations
Thanks again for starting this thread!
I was at a LQS (Local Quilt Store) last month and the owner and 2 employees never recognized anyone was in the store shopping, I was in the store for about 30 minutes and decided to leave as no one said hi, asked me if I need help or anything
2. Have a sew day where you can take a project in and sew and if you have any ? someone is there to help you out
3. demonstrations on rulers, etc.
4. classes (so we can learn more) and offer the classes at different times, day, evenings, weekends
5. Have an area to sit and relax if you need to
6. Samples & Demonstrations
Thanks again for starting this thread!
06-07-2010, 11:53 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,524
Set up a website. When I am going someplace I often check online to see if there are quilt shops on the way. There are some really cool shops that I will drive out of my way to go to.
My LQS here has been very critical when I have gone in looking for suggestions. I realize I'm not the best quilter in the world. Rather than find fault with what I have done find some way to encourage me so I can be better next time. Sorry, you just received my rant for the day. Thank you. I'm done. lol
My LQS here has been very critical when I have gone in looking for suggestions. I realize I'm not the best quilter in the world. Rather than find fault with what I have done find some way to encourage me so I can be better next time. Sorry, you just received my rant for the day. Thank you. I'm done. lol
06-07-2010, 11:57 AM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 20,306
If you have quilts on display, the name of the quilt and where the pattern came from(book/ leaflet pattern). Try and make sure you have the pattern available, preferably near the display :thumbup:
Staff that greets the customers , ask if they need help, then let them wonder about and don't follow them.
Hands on demonstrations and advertise them :wink:
Good Luck :lol:
Staff that greets the customers , ask if they need help, then let them wonder about and don't follow them.
Hands on demonstrations and advertise them :wink:
Good Luck :lol:
06-07-2010, 12:01 PM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New England
Posts: 1,653
I have to agree on the customer service thing. A LQS does not sell fabric IMO, it sells service, because unless you live in a town where there is no internet and no other place to buy fabric for 100 miles, most people will always find a cheaper place to buy what you’re selling. You have to have employees that realize this and can help you sell the best service possible. Whether it’s right or not, teenagers wouldn’t spend $100 for a pair of jeans at Abercrombie and Fitch if the sales people didn’t fit the company's look and style. Although everyone has many opinions on what product, classes, etc… they would like to see in a LQS, I have heard on the boards that the single most reason a person stops shopping at a LQS is service is because of bad service. Not because they didn’t have a certain book (Oh can we order that for you?), or a certain fabric (Well unfortunately we can’t order that for you, but let’s hop on this computer and find it online somewhere for you, then let’s take a look at the coordinators I do have here for you to get today), or even because they don’t have a class they want to take (That is a great idea for a class! We will look into finding a teacher for something like that.). Make sure you provide the best service, without smothering people and you will win in the long run.
Now on to other things LOL I think you should see how you can incorporate technology into your store. Can you have a computer set up with all the stores fabrics imported into Electric Quilt 7 (or the simpler version Quilt Wizard), so someone can come in and design a quilt and buy the fabrics that day? (With help from a knowledgeable staff person of course) Or how about having a large computer screen set up in the store that rotates through flickr photos of quilts you have made for the store? People tend to shy away from technology when they own a small company, but we are a technological society, embrace it!
Have night and weekend hours. A lot of the quilt stores around me close at 4:00 and don’t open on Sunday. Not all of us are stay at home mom’s I would love to see a store that stays open till 7 or 8 and is open everyday of the week. Hire a competent staff that you can train to close for you and you can easily do this.
I have a ton of other ideas, but I don’t want to write a novel. Just think of all the things you wish you could have done when you walked into a LQS yourself. Yes it may cost a bit more up front, but it will pay more in the end.
Rachel
Now on to other things LOL I think you should see how you can incorporate technology into your store. Can you have a computer set up with all the stores fabrics imported into Electric Quilt 7 (or the simpler version Quilt Wizard), so someone can come in and design a quilt and buy the fabrics that day? (With help from a knowledgeable staff person of course) Or how about having a large computer screen set up in the store that rotates through flickr photos of quilts you have made for the store? People tend to shy away from technology when they own a small company, but we are a technological society, embrace it!
Have night and weekend hours. A lot of the quilt stores around me close at 4:00 and don’t open on Sunday. Not all of us are stay at home mom’s I would love to see a store that stays open till 7 or 8 and is open everyday of the week. Hire a competent staff that you can train to close for you and you can easily do this.
I have a ton of other ideas, but I don’t want to write a novel. Just think of all the things you wish you could have done when you walked into a LQS yourself. Yes it may cost a bit more up front, but it will pay more in the end.
Rachel
06-07-2010, 12:03 PM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chapel Hill
Posts: 1,086
My remarks are in bold.
Good luck and have fun!
Cheers, K
Originally Posted by quiltedrunner
I'm looking for some help from my fellow quilters... those that know best! :-D
I am hoping to purchase a LQS, which will be pretty much turn-key, but not probably til closer to fall. However, would you share with me your personal likes and dislikes about any LQS? What draws you there? What turns you away?
Children's play area? - Not a necessity but could be a nice diversion for the younger set, at the very least a good chair for the husbands
Coffee? - No, I would think that there would be too much risk to the merchandise, and then you risk turning people off because you only serve a certain type, or it is stale, or you don't have tea... though one solution to that is a Keurig or other pod type machine. My favorite LQS is located next door to a local coffee/tea/wine shop so they don't have to worry about supplying beverages.
Rude sales people? Yikes! (One of my personal turnoffs) - I think you know the answer to this already. Carefully training your staff to read people is helpful as well as helping them know when to back off and when to engage.
Smells? - Definitely a huge turn off for me. I'm allergic to many scents, so a heavily scented store drives me out pretty quickly, I also don't want my purchases coming home perfumed. It goes without saying that smoking shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the fabric or the stock.
Kits? - Potentially a great sales tool, however, many of the ones I see are not to my taste in terms of colors. I think an option to help a customer build a kit with their preferred color scheme would drive more sales.
Samples? - Absolutely essential
Music? - If any, keep it low and unobtrusive.
Sewing area? - Very important if you are going to be offering classes or expanding to sewing machine sales. The area must be appropriately lit.
Just some ideas... please share your thoughts with me! Thanks!!!
I am hoping to purchase a LQS, which will be pretty much turn-key, but not probably til closer to fall. However, would you share with me your personal likes and dislikes about any LQS? What draws you there? What turns you away?
Children's play area? - Not a necessity but could be a nice diversion for the younger set, at the very least a good chair for the husbands
Coffee? - No, I would think that there would be too much risk to the merchandise, and then you risk turning people off because you only serve a certain type, or it is stale, or you don't have tea... though one solution to that is a Keurig or other pod type machine. My favorite LQS is located next door to a local coffee/tea/wine shop so they don't have to worry about supplying beverages.
Rude sales people? Yikes! (One of my personal turnoffs) - I think you know the answer to this already. Carefully training your staff to read people is helpful as well as helping them know when to back off and when to engage.
Smells? - Definitely a huge turn off for me. I'm allergic to many scents, so a heavily scented store drives me out pretty quickly, I also don't want my purchases coming home perfumed. It goes without saying that smoking shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the fabric or the stock.
Kits? - Potentially a great sales tool, however, many of the ones I see are not to my taste in terms of colors. I think an option to help a customer build a kit with their preferred color scheme would drive more sales.
Samples? - Absolutely essential
Music? - If any, keep it low and unobtrusive.
Sewing area? - Very important if you are going to be offering classes or expanding to sewing machine sales. The area must be appropriately lit.
Just some ideas... please share your thoughts with me! Thanks!!!
Cheers, K
06-07-2010, 12:07 PM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 7,084
#1 - friendly, knowledgable customer service
also, I like to see a variety of fabrics, not just focusing on a particular style (for instance mainly 1930's & civil war); lots of threads, samples, patterns, gadgets.
music - a variety would be nice. I get sleepy listening to some of the music one local shop plays.
smells - I have allergies, so some smells, especially flowery or perfumy ones have me running for the door. If you must, keep it subtle.
I'd love to see a place have some gadgets out that you can try before you buy. they do get expensive, and sometimes you end up with several that were a waste of money.
Classes & Newsletters are nice.
Evening/Weekend hours - I work full time. Where I shop depends on the time/day I can do so.
Frequent shopper program!
also, I like to see a variety of fabrics, not just focusing on a particular style (for instance mainly 1930's & civil war); lots of threads, samples, patterns, gadgets.
music - a variety would be nice. I get sleepy listening to some of the music one local shop plays.
smells - I have allergies, so some smells, especially flowery or perfumy ones have me running for the door. If you must, keep it subtle.
I'd love to see a place have some gadgets out that you can try before you buy. they do get expensive, and sometimes you end up with several that were a waste of money.
Classes & Newsletters are nice.
Evening/Weekend hours - I work full time. Where I shop depends on the time/day I can do so.
Frequent shopper program!
06-07-2010, 12:29 PM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Colorful Colorado
Posts: 1,989
Originally Posted by sharon b
If you have quilts on display, the name of the quilt and where the pattern came from(book/ leaflet pattern). Try and make sure you have the pattern available, preferably near the display :thumbup:
Staff that greets the customers , ask if they need help, then let them wonder about and don't follow them.
Hands on demonstrations and advertise them :wink:
Good Luck :lol:
Staff that greets the customers , ask if they need help, then let them wonder about and don't follow them.
Hands on demonstrations and advertise them :wink:
Good Luck :lol:
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