I'm always sorry to hear about LQS closing ... I worked at 2 shops a few years back, and taught classes too.
As convenient as online shops are, we all need to do our part to keep our good LQS going !!
I buy things online that I can't find locally, or a particular fabric, but that can't replace the FUN of heading out for a Shop Hop with friends, or going to the local shop for classes, good advice, or to show off a newly done quilt. Fabric may be a bit more than online, but it's worth it to me to have that personal contact. I enjoy seeing what's new and catching up with friends. I know I'd sure miss them if they had to close ...
and Yes I always use debit or cash too, helps them out !

That is just CRAZY !! How are they still in business ? No shop should be marking up 8 YEAR OLD fabric ! But then, a GOOD shop shouldn't HAVE 8 year old fabrics. A SMART shop should have fabrics no more than 2 years old. That's what SALES & Bargain bins are for ! :roll:

I always like to buy local as much as I can, but I can't afford to buy the majority of my stuff at the LQS. I do buy some things there, though, and am thankful that they're there! Last weekend I went to the big chain store and bought a couple of marking pencils- they were dreadful! I spent more time sharpening them than using them, and they applied terribly. So yesterday I stopped in at my LQS, winced at the cash register, and came home with a Sewline, which wasn't carried at the "cheap" store. SO much better! : )

It's interesting that most of you seem to have a lot of local stores to support.Maybe it's the area of the country we live in.
The hardware store is Lowes,the 3 groceries are all big chains,the only clothing stores left are Sears,Penneys & Walmart.Shoe stores, all chains, ditto for toy & card shops.Ditto for coffee & dougnut shops.We have a lot of chain restaurants & chain banks.Even the several rest homes are owned buy a big company of Drs.
That leaves almost nothing left in our small town to support.There's almost no choice left in peoples daily lives.Just a fact of life.

That's unfortunate that you feel so powerless. Trust me, yer not. When the price of soup went up, I made my own. When I got tired of all the comercial bread that's devoid of all possible fiber and nutrients, I began making my own. I make my own meat loaves, and grind my own hamburger too.
If you don't like the big chain, big box, or other big conglomerate, you do not have to support them. Make yer own.
I also make my own coffee cake that will make you wonder why you ever bought that cwap at the store.

I don't really have a LQS, unless I drive about 15 miles. We had one right in town here for a minute. I went there to buy thread and it was $8. I didn't go back, and the store closed within 6 months. I felt bad for them, but I can't buy an $8 spool of thread everyday.

I live in a suburb of Houston ... we are lucky to have 3 nice LQS within 10-15 mi. Plus about a dozen others located all around Houston, 30-60 mi from me, so not exactly local. We have a lot of local businesses, retail, restaurants, shops etc. All the big box chains too, but a lot of smaller biz do well. I know the economy here in Texas is healthier than most, including MI.

Which just supports the idea that you get what you pay for.

Visited one of our local quilt shops today (about 25mi travel) that was having a grand opening of their new shop.
I was a cute shop to begin with...in an old building with lots of character but poor lighting, uneven floors, cramped and worst of all the classroom was up a flight of stairs that was a killer.
New shop is spacious, well lit, airy, merchandise is well-displayed. Also has a great bathroom which is very important to some of us seniors! Classroom downstairs with lots of electrical receptacles on the floor at each table. How cool is that! The owner, Kathy, is so customer-oriented she had a customer who uses a personal mobility conveyance come in before the shop opened to try it out and see how handicapped-accessible it really was. How great was that!
Now, you won't find any $4.00/yd fabric here although she
does have a sale room. She also gives a discount to guild
members. The four ladies who work for her are THE BEST.
For me it is worth the ride (I am aware that some of you ladies will think 25mi is outrageous but this is a rural area)
and the not-so-cheap fabric (again, I know some of you will find $9-10/yd fabric preposterous either financially or philosophically and that is very much your right) to get great service, current merchandise, and a great day out with my friends.
Never saw a child in this store in its three years of operation but that's more a function of it's location and population demographics than anything. Kathy has several chairs in the store for quick time-outs or if you're waiting for your buddies to finish up shopping (or husbands!) and a couple of rocking chairs on the porch.

This is not as rare as some might think. We have several LQS in our area doing the same thing..........however, the couple shops that are prospering, make it their job to cater to the customers. I'll pay extra for that.....when I can.

Mark-up on most fabric is 100%. If business is down, wouldn't you think a sale would profit everyone? I know this, because I have an in-home business and purchase fabric from a distributor for my quilts and backings. When possible, I sell fabric to my friends if I can get what they want. Even with a 50% mark-up, I can make money, pay the freight, and make a little for my pocket, too. Sometimes big business is not the way to go, but "financially sound" is a phrase all of us like to hear. The posts have said everything that needs to be said. Let's get on with something else!

Wow, that honor the Joann's coupon idea is a great idea and one that some of the LQS's should pick up on. Reap the sales but not pay the advertising cost.

I shop all of the local shops or at least most of them but not for notions etc.

thank you, this was very insightful.

I would love to support LQS but this is a competitive market (what our country was founded on) and they don't have competitive prices. At least not the ones within 20 miles of my house.

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Ditto. I know there are some lines that are less expensive and the fabric is lovely. One of them is Blank Fabric, but finding it in a LQS is like looking for frog's hair. froggyintexas[/quote]

The affordability of Blank's lines is what attracted me to carry quite a few of their fabrics in my shop. That and the fact that when they introduce new lines, many will coordinate with lines they have already made....makes what my small shop carries stretch a little more with more coordinates for what I've already got on my shelves.

We're a new shop (not quite 2 months old), and I do understand the customer's dismay at the higher prices for fabrics. We're in a small town, so I know my customers aren't going to pay a lot for a yard of fabric. I used to shop online before we opened the shop (weren't any shops close to me), so I see both sides of this. But just like gas and food prices, I doubt the fabric manufacturers will be dropping prices any time soon. Simply means that shoppers and shop owners will have to be smart consumers.

I live in Southern California. We have so many quilt shops. Unfortunately, we also have high gas prices. Many quilt shops are more than just a short drive away. I know of one that closed its doors recently.

Since my income was reduced by my employer by 18 percent, I don't shop anywhere like I used to.

I generally try to buy at Road to California and the Long Beach Quilt Show. I also live by several WalMarts and a JoAnn's although I prefer the fabric at local quilt shops. However, economics are economics.

very well said

Not all LQS's buy the latest hot off the press
fabrics!

They are worth getting to know and checking out.

It is not only a matter of quilt shops closing, but recruiting and training new sewers/quilters to carry on after us.

I'm glad to hear a quilt shop is opening in Maryland. The one in Aberdeen closed and I always went when I visited DD.

South Georgia has one on St. Simons Island. Will be back there sometime soon. Just as soon as budget allows and hopefully she hasn't raised her prices too much. Love quilt shops, will shop there before online.

I would like to support our LQS, but the one that is closest to me is outrageously priced, has classes when I can't possibly take them, and frankly, I don't stand for long periods of time any more, so shopping online makes sense for me. I find much better prices there also, I can shop in the middle of the night when I am awake, rather than try to wake up for their hours. For example, I just ordered, at 330am, the last bit of fabric I need for my son's quilt. While I was on that website (connecting threads), I found a ton of fabric that I loved on clearance for 2.96 a yard. Find me a LQS with those prices. Got free shipping, and I don't think I paid taxes on it either. I ended up getting 27 yards of fabric for under a hundred dollars. Had I been in my LQS, I would probably barely been able to pay for the fabric I needed for the specific quilt. I will definetely be using all of the fabric, so it was a great deal I never would have found in my own backyard. Since it is a company doing business in America, I am still supporting my economy.

I have always tried to get everything at our local shop but I think the last few times I'd be in there she would ignore me and be busy eating lunch, talking to other employees, cutting fat quarters...I also in general don't think they made much effort at helping pick fabrics and stuff like that. Im new to quilting so I need probably more help that everyone else. I have told them that too. I think if they would make more effort I'd love to shop there. But now I will go to the local wal mart. There's a lady there that helps me alot more.

My LQS owner keeps her dog in the shop with her..we all love ton see her. Often there arecquilters working at her tables, too. Is is a very friendly place!

You're right, customer service makes all the difference! Lots of people appreciate having help choosing fabrics that play well together. And not just new quilters, either! Sometimes you just want somebody else to confirm your own choices.