I've been to dozens of quilt shops all over the US. I can count on one hand the shops that I would want to revisit. Most are unfriendly and and have employees and owners that are quilt news ignorant.

I think there is room in the quilting industry for both chains and local quilt shops. They both serve a purpose and have their own strong customer base.
I also don't think either has a lock on rude employees. It's the same with quilt guilds - there are some that are warm and welcoming, and some that are snooty and exclusive. It depends on what's tolerated within the group. If rudeness to customers is tolerated at a quilt shop, that shop will lose business. Same goes for a quilt guild - if unfriendliness and intolerance (aka the Quilt Police) are tolerated, new members will go elsewhere and others will drop out.

The LQS that most of us used to go to closed. Joanne's changed managers and the one lady that is still there is so rude! I prefer to shop online!

Thanks for the very interesting article.

Related to the article you linked to: 70% of all internet Christmas sales were through WalMart, Amazon, or Target. The biggies are not only pushing out brick and mortar stores, they are crushing smaller etailers.

Fascinating analysis. Thank you for posting.

i buy at all three although i must admit i dont spend as much at the lqs as i used to. i do still buy some fabric there and i have 99 percent of my la quilting done there. i used to buy more when she had classes but she stopped having them and although when im elsewhere i do love to go to quilt shops due to the economy i dont purchase as much. i live in a rural area we have a walmart which hardly ever seems to have much and the 1 lqs although sometimes i drive to another walmart thats in a small town 30-45 min away that has a huge selection and very nice competent help to take care of you. i like to go to joanns however its a bit over an hour away and unless i have a big list or happen to go to that town for another reason its not worth the gas to make the trip i shop alot online.
carla m

I love my LQS. I live over an hour and a half away and she always asks if it's okay to wait on everyone else before me. Then she and I get down to business. She helps me figure out what I want to make and what choices look good together. We also visit about our lives and what's going on at home. I call her and ask her to mail me fabric and other notions and she does right away. I send her Christmas cards every year. I call her quite a bit for advice and she always has time to chit chat with me. I feel like we are very good friends. She says I'm one of her favorite customers (I don't know why) and so, of course, I always go to her shop. I have shops closer but I chose her's because of her customer friendship (I think that's what I can call it). She always gives me 15% off because I drive so far to her place. And she gives me good deals when I'm deciding if I can afford something or not. She also shows me new ways of doing things. I really appreciate that. To me, she's my best friend in the quilting world. I don't think I would be the quilter I am today if it wasn't for her. And she told me I am one of the best quilters she knows (which I don't believe for a second, but that's how she is) and I leave there feeling good about myself.

I believe that's their goal.

Wow--I'd travel across the state to spend money in her store. I love the people in all my LQS's but you found the cream of the crop.