Loosing quilting retail.
 

I have noticed in the last few months that shops are closing and those staying open are getting very expensive.fabric is know £15 upwards for a metre.
Also I am a amazing crazy person but 3 of the magazines I order have been cancelled. Irish magazine stopped,.a very good quilting plus food closed after a few copies and now an American magazine has stopped although this open has offered to send another mag to replace,
Is this the same in other countries or just UK.

A lot of quilting shops have closed here as well even online quilt shops fabric here in the US. Fabric runs $11 a yard and up at LQS. I do get a couple of quilt magazines but had not heard of some of them going out of business. These are tough times financially for many people and because of that people have stopped subscribing to magazines and buying fabric and using what they have in there stash. I can not even imagine paying as much as some of our fellow quiters due abroad. I only buy when I find it on sale or clearance because I can not justify spending $11 a yard.

When the price of cotton went up, so did our fabric. Shop owners had no choice, they are paying more also. Our LQS of 42 years, closed their Brick and Mortar Store and went to on-line only. she moved the business to her property. which really cut down on her overhead.

I was @ my small LQS last week & overheard the owner talking on the phone to a salesperson. The conversation centered on how it was almost impossible for a LQS to make a profit now. They can't compete with the online pricing. He was saying that he had some loyal customers that bought fabric, but we're in a small town, and it's not enough business to keep them afloat. So sad. I hate the idea of them closing. The husband/wife that own the shop have been so helpful in my new quilting journey! But when I'm looking at the cost of fabric for a king size quilt, yes, I can get it cheaper online. I feel guilty not buying from the quilt shop!

I know what you guys mean! Our local shop has great fabric, but I just can't afford to shop there most of the time! Most of her stuff is $15/yd and don't get me started on the notions wall. Most of the time I go to Joann's, just because I get the coupons and can get all the fabric for a quilt for $20-$30.

I don't feel guilty about buying the same quality on line for less money when the store owner doesn't feel guilty selling me the same quality for a higher price.

I still buy fabric at my LQS. She offers good sales and always has good new ideas. The batiks are higher than regular cottons. I usually do the block of the month with them. The owner of my LQS has another job too. I guess that helps support her fabric buying. She is also smart about being thrifty. I depend on her help to choose the right fabric for my quilts. We have a large number that come to the monthly meeting, and they buy a lot on that day. Quilt shops would do better if they keep activities going that bring people in.

Online retailers typically don't have the overhead costs of brick and mortar stores.