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I feel I'm cheating myself if I pay more than I need to for a given product.
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Originally Posted by Beckster
(Post 5441690)
We have a LQS that is huge. Love going there. In a very very small town in kansas. if you're ever in Kansas look for Alden.....and the staff is good. Friendly, helpful, know where things are, take time to discuss options. But I also look online. Thing about shopping at LQS, I want to "see" the fabric, feel it, lay several out together to get a better idea of what I'm looking for. it's a mix of both - online and LQS, but I do prefer the Alden store. So much fabric, neatly arranged, easy to find what I'm looking for, and just fun!
Chris |
Well said! Supporting places like WM and online stores are sending many local businesses right out of business. BUY LOCAL, please!!!
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You have a LQS that is unique. There are no stores like that in my area at all. If I bought all my fabric from our LQS, then I would be in serious trouble. I have only bought charm squares from Missouri Star and Keepsake Quilting, forgot about Connecting Threads. My LQS just wants you to buy expensive Bernina embroidery machines which I can't stand ! You have a gem in your quilt store, I don't blame you for buying from her.
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:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
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Since I have limited income, I do shop where I can get the best deal. And yes, even Salvation Army, yard sales, online, wherever I can afford.
I do try to buy local when I can, but not just fabric. What about groceries, appliances, ect? Do we first visit the big box stores for our purchase? Last year I bought my front-load washer from our local hometown dealer and was happy to do so. I do think one problem for years was there was no competition, so the local guys could charge what they wanted and get it. Not so much nowadays. |
Agree with you - I feel much the same, as I worked and taught at 2 LQS in years past.
There are at least 3 longtime LQS locations here in the metro Houston area that have closed up shop in the last year or so ... Not out of business, but 2 are online sales only now and the latest one has only machines and limited pre-cuts in the store. Yes, I can order online from them ... but there's no physical quilt shop now to visit and enjoy or take classes from ... a trend of the future, I'm afraid !! |
I agree!!!! It is hard to pay the prices but they provide such a service and it does not come free!!!!
Originally Posted by jcrow
(Post 5440792)
I love my LQS and the owner. We are good friends. I have to drive 45 minutes to her shop and she gives me 15% off. Well, I've been buying online now and again and a few days ago I went into her shop and noticed that her inventory is down quite a bit. She has a building behind her store with lots of long tables for classes and she keeps it open for anyone to come sew anytime they want. The day I went I could hardly find a place to shop because all the gals were sewing in the shop out back. They were having a great time together. Dawn says they do that all the time. I use to only shop from her and her shop was loaded with fabric and kits. Not so anymore. I think many people are shopping online now, getting better prices and more selection, and Dawn's shop is affected. I feel just horrible. I went there to pick up my quilt that her LAer quilted. Well, I bought a layer cake, but I needed a charm pack really, so she cut the layer cake into 5" squares for me while I waited. What a nice human being she is. And I bought more fabric from her that I didn't need but felt that I owed her. I had a king quilt and she squared it up for me for free, as usual. We visited for an hour. One person came in during that time. Not like the old days. I know prices are high at quilt shops, but she isn't trying to rip anyone off. She is making a business.
She goes out of her way for me all the time. I call her whenever I have a problem sewing and need some math and she helps me. She knows I'm not good at picking out fabric, so she makes me kits out of fabric I like. I told her I was in a funk and needed to take a quilt class to get back into quilting and she asked me which teacher I wanted and then showed me a couple of patterns that I could choose from and then she wrote up a class. Just because I needed it. She is the greatest. And I've been cheating on her. If I would have spent my money in her shop, she would have more fabric, I guarantee it. I spend a lot of money on fabric. I think a lot of us are shopping on line now to get better deals and more selection and we are hurting our LQSs. I am going to stop online shopping for now. I know she doesn't have a lot of fabric I want, but she has the best eye for blending fabrics together. So, I will for now pick out a piece of fabric from her shop and have her make me a kit again. I need to be loyal. You know, she sells me 2" of fabric, if I need only that. She is all about the customer. She is everyone's best friend. She let me pick the teacher and the pattern and made a class just to get me back into sewing again. You can't find that online. She's the one who bound my last quilt because I don't like binding quilts and the gal that does it for her was unavailable. She cut all the 2 1/2" strips and sewed them together. She did it all. And charged me very reasonable. I bought fabric for the backing of a quilt I brought over and she took the backing fabric home and sewed it together...she even threw in a strip of another fabric to jazz it up...all for free. What online shop would even care about that? I think we all need to think about buying online and at stores that aren't quilt shops. What are we going to do if they all go out of business???? I rely on her so much. She helps me pick out what quilt pattern to use on my quilt. She teaches me the short cuts. She tells me which books to buy and which aren't worth my money. I take my quilt to be quilted to her and she sends it out and when she gets it back, she pays the LAer out of her till and holds on to my quilt until my payday until I can pay her. She ever said I could take my quilt and write a post dated check. What online store would do that? I say we celebrate our local quilt stores again. They got us quilting. Let's keep them in business!!!! We don't even know who the online store owners are. Could be big companies who don't quilt and maybe not even a woman in sight. She has my back. And she wants me to succeed. And I want her to succeed. I think we all need to support our local quilt stores and quit complaining about the extra money. She's not getting rich at her shop. |
I would like to have had more customers like you when I had my quilt shop. I'm convinced customers have LITTLE IDEA how much $$$ it takes to keep the doors open of a LQS. Yes, I know fully well that quilters can buy the same fabric online for a lesser price; the overhead is all together different. I actually had a customer suggest to me that I have my shop open 'just for a couple of hours' on Sundays so she could stop in after church. My shop was closed on Sundays. Needless to say, I did not take her suggestion. Sadly, instead of the local quilters supporting my shop, they felt more jealous and resentful that I was doing something (had my own quilt shop) they couldn't do. I closed my shop after 5 years, just before the financial meltdown in '08.
OK. Enough venting. Yes, support your LQS. Yes, times are tough for everyone, especially the small business owners. Also important is this: please be sure you let your LQS know how glad you are that they're there. Say 'thank you!!' Quilt on! |
I agree!!! Personally, I boycott WM but that's just me. I do so for a multitude of reasons, one being that yes, they drive local businesses out of business. Please support your local quilt shop.
Quilt on! |
I shop at 2 of the 3 LQS near by (7-10 miles). The third is so unfriendly and they really push you buying their sewing machines and give you a cold shoulder if you don't buy a machine.
I also buy online and appreciate the lower prices but my inspiration comes from the LQS. I will say, I shop their sales more often than just drop in, and DH gives me gift certificates for my BD and Christmas from them. I try to save money, but the LQS give me service I can't get anywhere else. |
Shop where it's most convenient and the most helpful for your circumstances. Some people need a lot of help so the LQS would be the place to go, but please buy from them if you expect them to help you out. Yes, I've heard that some of them are not so helpful no matter what, but most of them are quilters and love what they do and are more than willing to help. If you don't need much help, or you live too far, or you can't afford LQS prices, then shop online or discount stores. Just have fun and make some quilts! I have an online shop but I don't sell everything the LQS has. I "specialize" in pre-cuts, and I know not everyone uses them, but that's all I have room for if I want to keep it a home-based business. I send people to my LQS if they need yardage or notions or classes. The LQS sends people to me if the need pre-cuts that they don't have. They also have a website. We are both small businesses so we help each other out.
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You are so right. Three quilt shops that I used to go to have closed. Now if I want to buy fabric other than at JoAnn's, I have and hour drive. Sure wished they wouldn't have closed as they always had just what I needed including all the help they gave me.
Originally Posted by jcrow
(Post 5440792)
I love my LQS and the owner. We are good friends. I have to drive 45 minutes to her shop and she gives me 15% off. Well, I've been buying online now and again and a few days ago I went into her shop and noticed that her inventory is down quite a bit. She has a building behind her store with lots of long tables for classes and she keeps it open for anyone to come sew anytime they want. The day I went I could hardly find a place to shop because all the gals were sewing in the shop out back. They were having a great time together. Dawn says they do that all the time. I use to only shop from her and her shop was loaded with fabric and kits. Not so anymore. I think many people are shopping online now, getting better prices and more selection, and Dawn's shop is affected. I feel just horrible. I went there to pick up my quilt that her LAer quilted. Well, I bought a layer cake, but I needed a charm pack really, so she cut the layer cake into 5" squares for me while I waited. What a nice human being she is. And I bought more fabric from her that I didn't need but felt that I owed her. I had a king quilt and she squared it up for me for free, as usual. We visited for an hour. One person came in during that time. Not like the old days. I know prices are high at quilt shops, but she isn't trying to rip anyone off. She is making a business.
She goes out of her way for me all the time. I call her whenever I have a problem sewing and need some math and she helps me. She knows I'm not good at picking out fabric, so she makes me kits out of fabric I like. I told her I was in a funk and needed to take a quilt class to get back into quilting and she asked me which teacher I wanted and then showed me a couple of patterns that I could choose from and then she wrote up a class. Just because I needed it. She is the greatest. And I've been cheating on her. If I would have spent my money in her shop, she would have more fabric, I guarantee it. I spend a lot of money on fabric. I think a lot of us are shopping on line now to get better deals and more selection and we are hurting our LQSs. I am going to stop online shopping for now. I know she doesn't have a lot of fabric I want, but she has the best eye for blending fabrics together. So, I will for now pick out a piece of fabric from her shop and have her make me a kit again. I need to be loyal. You know, she sells me 2" of fabric, if I need only that. She is all about the customer. She is everyone's best friend. She let me pick the teacher and the pattern and made a class just to get me back into sewing again. You can't find that online. She's the one who bound my last quilt because I don't like binding quilts and the gal that does it for her was unavailable. She cut all the 2 1/2" strips and sewed them together. She did it all. And charged me very reasonable. I bought fabric for the backing of a quilt I brought over and she took the backing fabric home and sewed it together...she even threw in a strip of another fabric to jazz it up...all for free. What online shop would even care about that? I think we all need to think about buying online and at stores that aren't quilt shops. What are we going to do if they all go out of business???? I rely on her so much. She helps me pick out what quilt pattern to use on my quilt. She teaches me the short cuts. She tells me which books to buy and which aren't worth my money. I take my quilt to be quilted to her and she sends it out and when she gets it back, she pays the LAer out of her till and holds on to my quilt until my payday until I can pay her. She ever said I could take my quilt and write a post dated check. What online store would do that? I say we celebrate our local quilt stores again. They got us quilting. Let's keep them in business!!!! We don't even know who the online store owners are. Could be big companies who don't quilt and maybe not even a woman in sight. She has my back. And she wants me to succeed. And I want her to succeed. I think we all need to support our local quilt stores and quit complaining about the extra money. She's not getting rich at her shop. |
I used to work at a Quilt shop and it was wonderful until they had to close. I now shop at a few other LQS but they are further away and don't always have the fabrics that I care for. {some shops are geared towards batiks and brights some towards primitives and civil war etc.} So...I shop online and get what I want in fabric choices.
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I wish our LQS in Lansing, E-Lansing was friendly, they are so rude. I like going to the Quilt store in Frandor
(Lansing) and love the quilt store in Portland----my husband likes this one also. "Got him trained" lol Lana the Quilting Dreamer Lansing, MI |
I don't usually plan to buy large quantities of fabric so shopping online becomes expensive with the shipping. I live 3 miles from Hancock, about 4 from Walmart, 8 from one LQS, 3 1/2 from another and about 9 from another. I buy what I must from Hancock and some of their sale fabrics as well. I buy a little from Walmart but may buy more as they have doubled the size of their fabric area. BUT, I buy the quality fabric from the LQS 8 miles away when I go there once a month for our "Saturday Sampler". With the cost of gas, I feel that I must buy wherever I am closest to when I need to make a purchase. I like using as much as possible from my excessive stash and just fill in with purchases when necessary. (or when I see something that I absolutely cannot live without, lol)
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I have no LQS. I must travel a minimum of 45 minutes in any direction, to find a LQS--and never know if they will have what I need. Plus our Canadian prices are always at least 1/3 more than online. The fact that I have a DH who works in the US and is willing to have my orders shipped to his hotel, makes a tremendous difference in mail cost too. Just recently, I purchased some fabric from our Members' sale board. The shipping to my home address was more than DOUBLE than to DH's hotel AND there was no duty, AND it arrived in TWO DAYS!!
When I am travelling, I always check out and support any LQS I come across and, for the most part, have been thrilled with the service and quality of goods. Quantity, I agree, sometimes is lacking but I know how expensive it must be, to maintain such an amount of stock. |
there are many times when i feel my visit to the lqs doesn't last long enough. a place, like on the porch you mentioned, to sit before and after the sale extends the feeling of appreciation i have for the entire experience.
Originally Posted by auntpiggylpn
(Post 5440916)
I love my LQS! It is about a 25-30 minute drive from my home. There is one that is about 10 minutes from my home where I bought my machine. I have been treated so poorly everytime I go in there that I refuse to give them any of my money. Since I purchased my machine 5 years ago, I can count on one hand the times I have been back to that shop and the amount I have spent in there (minus my machine) is less than $100. My favorite LQS is worth the drive. It is in an old house in the middle of a small town. There is a wrap around front porch with big wooden rocking chairs. Sometimes I just sit in one of them for a little bit before I go into the shop and sometimes when I am done shopping. The selection of fabrics is overwheming! The staff, including the owner, is always friendly and helpful. They greet each customer as they walk in the door and I know that smile on their face is genuine and sincere. We talk about quilting and everything else under the sun. This shop has a sale the first weekend of every month and they cater a free lunch for their customers. They also have email sales so if you are on their email list, you will get a special deal. I have spent more money there in the 2 years they have been open than I care to admit out loud. I do still shop online or here on the QB but it is usually for something the shop doesn't have. The owner has been talking since opening about going online. I hope they do that way I can order what I want and they will have it all cut for me when I go to pick it up. Sometimes, when I am feeling a little stressed and just overwhelmed by life itself, I will make the journey to "just look". As soon as I enter the shop, my mood feels lighter and all my troubles seem to vanish. I don't always buy when I am there but just to be surrounded by such wonderful people and the vast array of beautiful fabrics is the best medicine in the world. You can't get that from an online store, that's for sure!
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if i feel treated in an unfriendly manner, i would speak to the owner...even if it is the owner. i figure that i may or may not see them in the future. if after a few more visits i feel the same way, i will tell the owner again why i will not come back...and i won't come back! perhaps it might make someone else's visit more pleasant.
Originally Posted by mhansen6
(Post 5441934)
If my local quilt shops did what yours do I would shop only at them also. I went in to buy some batting for a flannel quilt yesterday and the owner just barked at me. I was just asking questions about the batting. There was no one else in the store and she was treating me like she was too busy to help me. This is typical for the stores around here. The closest store that treats me "special" is in Prineville. She is always helpful and really nice.
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I give my LQS business, but I also shop at Joanns, hancocks, walmart, hobby lobby, and I've shopped online, and on here.
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I very much think we should try to support our LQS's, but it is their responsibility to offer courteous, friendly, helpful service. Price is not an issue with me. If they provide what I need, I am willing to pay more so that they will be there for me in the future. I am kind of new to quilting, but last year I was trying to find all the quilt shops within a reasonable driving distance. When I arrived at one, it was having a close out sale. They were shutting down their brick mortar and going into an online business only. I felt very saddened and a bit apprehensive. Without the help from my LQS, I would never have managed to make my first quilt.
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Wow..that was a great story! I will continue to support our local quilt shops! Times are too hard right now for the
little guy.. by the way, just wondering, where is this shop in Or? I live in Or also... thanks! |
Just wondering - how many of you shop at the little mom and pop corner grocery stores?
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Originally Posted by bearisgray
(Post 5443471)
Just wondering - how many of you shop at the little mom and pop corner grocery stores?
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Originally Posted by bearisgray
(Post 5443471)
Just wondering - how many of you shop at the little mom and pop corner grocery stores?
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I agree with SouthPStitches. I also think that some LQS's charge way too much for some of their stuff. I have to do what is right for my budget.
with SouthPStitches
Originally Posted by SouthPStitches
(Post 5440884)
You have to do what feels right in your heart and what you can financially afford. Maybe you could strike a better balance. Purchase from her what you can and when you can. There is nothing wrong with subsidizing your projects with some good internet bargains. It is important to support your LQS whenever you can, but competition can be healthy too.
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With today's economy, gas prices going up again, food prices going up, etc. one needs to determine just how much they want/need to spend on things like fabric, notions etc.
My local quilt shops are a gal of gas to get there and to get back home for my vehicle! Now add that cost to the price of fabric and you are paying a whole lot more than if you shop online and have it shipped. It's not always the online shops that are killing the small business but the overall economy. People have to make tough choices at times, food or fabric for example! It's up to the owner of the Local Quilt shop to stay in business and find ways to bring in customers to shop. |
Originally Posted by bearisgray
(Post 5443471)
Just wondering - how many of you shop at the little mom and pop corner grocery stores?
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I think it is necessary to be online.If you had access to both,wouldn't you shop her a little more.It is probably a lot of work,but it sounds like she is already working hard.Very hard.
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Originally Posted by mhansen6
(Post 5441934)
If my local quilt shops did what yours do I would shop only at them also. I went in to buy some batting for a flannel quilt yesterday and the owner just barked at me. I was just asking questions about the batting. There was no one else in the store and she was treating me like she was too busy to help me. This is typical for the stores around here. The closest store that treats me "special" is in Prineville. She is always helpful and really nice.
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I don't know what you consider a reasonable price for fabric at LQS. They have to make a living or close their doors. If you shop on line, consider the loss of sales for your community if the online shop is out of state. This hurts our local economies. We live in a small town and at one time had 3 LQS. One also has an online business. They go out of their way to be hateful. Many people would come to shop there and would be so disgusted with the treatment they would go to the other stores where the owners and staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Sadly, one closed because of the bad economy. The other is still in business and she is doing everything she can to attract and keep customers. She always has a 50% off group of LQS fabric. How many online stores help our local groups? She donates to many local charities by giving us a place to get together for various sewing projects such as the million pillowcase project. Have no idea how many pillowcases we've donated to area nursing homes, crisis centers and others in need. We have been doing this for several years. We are now also working on hats for cancer patients who lose their hair from chemo treatments. Most of us bring fabric from our own stash so she's not making a lot of money. Can't say enough good things about this store, owner and staff. Will do what I can to help her stay in business. There is another LQS about 20 miles away and the owner and staff are great. She carries an entirely different line of fabrics so I shop there when I need something different. I buy in these stores, even if I have to buy less fabric because I want them to stay in business and to help our local economies.
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I agree...we need to support local business. I see nothing wrong with shopping LQS, Joanns, online -- all businesses give jobs to someone. I do admit I am getting a little frustrated when I see the majority of fabrics are from China -- now that is shipping jobs overseas.
We have a couple of LQS shops in the area, one of the shops is very uncomfortable to go to. The clerk follows you all over the store and you can almost feel her breathing down your neck. Now that is a definite turn off for me. |
I left out the word tax in my previous post. Our communities need tax revenue to keep needed services. Buying from online sellers does not contribute to local sales taxes. I know tax is a bad word but I like my streets kept up and all the other services sales taxes provide
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Good for you! Where is your LQS? I wanna go there!
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I like what you wrote, Jeanne. I have a lovely shop owner that isn't 45 miles away (only 14) but it is far enough. Her business is also taking a dive because of the prices she has to charge for fabric. I love the shop. They go out of their way to help. Like you said, they help me pull together fabric for quilts, help with calculations, and just about anything else I can think of. I have talked to the woman that does long arm quilting, and have gotten a better deal. I can get 1/8 cuts, and have gotten a 5" square of something when I ran out of that much fabric.
I buy some from online sources and do watch eBay for real deals. However, I drive the 14 miles for more than fabric--I drive for the camaraderie and the help. Thank you, Lisa. You are a true gem. |
We had a LQS here that closed a couple of yrs ago, it SHOULD have done well ... but it had an absentee owner and the staff she had was so UNfriendly and UNhelpful that everyone I knew wouldn't go back. They would stand around chatting and IF you were lucky, one might FINALLY ask if you needed something. They were never actually busy ... wonder why??
I gave them one (3rd) last try when my DD was visiting, and it was still the same old thing. As we left (without any purchases) I asked the "manager" if they always acted that way towards customers ?? She had a blank look on her face and then quietly said she was sorry. I told her "I am too, because this shop will be out of business soon!" I heard the owner hired all new staff soon after that, but within a year she closed. The damage was done ... |
I Understand but.....
There is a very nice quilt shop here in Northern Wisconsin that also has an on site store. My experience was this. I bought $50.55 in fabric. I had cash in my wallet and gave her exactly $55.50, I did not have a nickel in my wallet. I thought she would just let it go but she didn't. I told her that I might have a nickel in my truck. I had to go down two flights of stairs, go to my truck, walk up two flights of steps with a nickel. I have not been back since. If I have a need for a new fabric I'll go to the local Ben Franklin because they carry some Moda fabric.
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It is great you have that kind of service in your local shop. Shop owners, take note. It's your attitude that makes all the difference.
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Originally Posted by jcrow
(Post 5440792)
I love my LQS and the owner. We are good friends. I have to drive 45 minutes to her shop and she gives me 15% off. Well, I've been buying online now and again and a few days ago I went into her shop and noticed that her inventory is down quite a bit. She has a building behind her store with lots of long tables for classes and she keeps it open for anyone to come sew anytime they want. The day I went I could hardly find a place to shop because all the gals were sewing in the shop out back. They were having a great time together. Dawn says they do that all the time. I use to only shop from her and her shop was loaded with fabric and kits. Not so anymore. I think many people are shopping online now, getting better prices and more selection, and Dawn's shop is affected. I feel just horrible. I went there to pick up my quilt that her LAer quilted. Well, I bought a layer cake, but I needed a charm pack really, so she cut the layer cake into 5" squares for me while I waited. What a nice human being she is. And I bought more fabric from her that I didn't need but felt that I owed her. I had a king quilt and she squared it up for me for free, as usual. We visited for an hour. One person came in during that time. Not like the old days. I know prices are high at quilt shops, but she isn't trying to rip anyone off. She is making a business.
She goes out of her way for me all the time. I call her whenever I have a problem sewing and need some math and she helps me. She knows I'm not good at picking out fabric, so she makes me kits out of fabric I like. I told her I was in a funk and needed to take a quilt class to get back into quilting and she asked me which teacher I wanted and then showed me a couple of patterns that I could choose from and then she wrote up a class. Just because I needed it. She is the greatest. And I've been cheating on her. If I would have spent my money in her shop, she would have more fabric, I guarantee it. I spend a lot of money on fabric. I think a lot of us are shopping on line now to get better deals and more selection and we are hurting our LQSs. I am going to stop online shopping for now. I know she doesn't have a lot of fabric I want, but she has the best eye for blending fabrics together. So, I will for now pick out a piece of fabric from her shop and have her make me a kit again. I need to be loyal. You know, she sells me 2" of fabric, if I need only that. She is all about the customer. She is everyone's best friend. She let me pick the teacher and the pattern and made a class just to get me back into sewing again. You can't find that online. She's the one who bound my last quilt because I don't like binding quilts and the gal that does it for her was unavailable. She cut all the 2 1/2" strips and sewed them together. She did it all. And charged me very reasonable. I bought fabric for the backing of a quilt I brought over and she took the backing fabric home and sewed it together...she even threw in a strip of another fabric to jazz it up...all for free. What online shop would even care about that? I think we all need to think about buying online and at stores that aren't quilt shops. What are we going to do if they all go out of business???? I rely on her so much. She helps me pick out what quilt pattern to use on my quilt. She teaches me the short cuts. She tells me which books to buy and which aren't worth my money. I take my quilt to be quilted to her and she sends it out and when she gets it back, she pays the LAer out of her till and holds on to my quilt until my payday until I can pay her. She ever said I could take my quilt and write a post dated check. What online store would do that? I say we celebrate our local quilt stores again. They got us quilting. Let's keep them in business!!!! We don't even know who the online store owners are. Could be big companies who don't quilt and maybe not even a woman in sight. She has my back. And she wants me to succeed. And I want her to succeed. I think we all need to support our local quilt stores and quit complaining about the extra money. She's not getting rich at her shop. |
Well said, Jeanne. If you are lucky enough to have a LQS, you should support it. My favorite "LQS" is over an hour away. I love to shop there in person when I can, but in between visits, I buy online---from the same quilt shop. Not all online businesses are large corporations. You just need to know who you are buying from.
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