"The worst case scenario is that they tell you no" My daughter lives by that. It's how she got an internship in Vermont one summer, how she got someone to sit on her thesis review board for her masters. Since you don't know them and they don't know you, don't take it personally if they say no.
Good luck with the store and I hope it's near me. I live in IL! :) :)

Contact Fabric reps from companies you think you will carry, ie Moda, Quilting Treasures, Hoffman, etc. Reps are usually listed on the company's website. They will know what the competition buys in terms of yardage, etc.

I have no idea what info to give you but good luck. Have a good newsletter to send out to your customers and a website that is easy to navigate. There is a LQS that I love that has an awful website and I know it hurts her business. SHe doesn't sell on line.

Samples, samples, samples. Make as many things as you can now so you will be ready when the store opens. People buy from what is on display. Now is the time for you to get some made for opening and beyond. Change them often even if you have to pay someone to make them. Have lots of money, bolts are expensive and going up. If nothing is around you go with Moda first. Have a BOM ready to go. Any pre wok will help. When you start to open you won't have time to tweek things so do as much as you can right now. Have a few craft items for gifts to help fill, like kleenex covers, jewelry bags for trips, lots of charm and Jellies BUT have examples made up. Figure customers will use their 40% off coupons at JoAnns so skimp on those opting for the fabric , patterns and books she does NOT carry. Books they buy there too so be careful. Samples made from books helps you. Good luck

wow, great idea, am wondering if the area in which you live is one of the "hotbeds" for the quilting revival. I live int the Pacific Northwest and quilting has been going strong here for years, but I know that some other areas don't have the same interest that we do.Even here, it is hard for a new shopt to "make it" Wishing you good luck

Thanks EVERYONE!
 

I appreciate it. Taking all of this into consideration.

Thanks! I will do that!

Good Luck, I live in Illinois, I hope you will be close, i hope you will have lots and lots of patterns and fabrics.

I am up here in the rain too. smile..and yes I am meeting more and more people who quilt. sometimes in strange places. Like at the food bank where I volunteer. I am saving my scraps and selveges for a lady there.

Good luck.
I would second some of these suggestions, such as -especially for quilting fabric carry the lines JoAnn doesn't carry-(Moda does seem popular with lots of peeps on the board) and since you are going for more modern lines check out some of the various ones.
Also speaking from experience DO have Samples of things on your walls. I have bought a book at the LQS that had a quilt that was on their wall. Love the quilt and even though I can't start it yet, when I'm ready I want to have the book so I went ahead and bought it, as one never knows when a book will be out of print. And if they are looking for their next project it will appeal to them seeing it made up. If you will be doing classes have a sample of something from it as when customers see it made up some will sign up for the class as a result of seeing the project.