When I was visiting my sister in TX we went to a quilt shop in New Brunfels that was everything I could imagine in a perfect quilt store. There was the usual classroom and sale fabric area, lots and lots of patterns. Lots and lots of samples quilts and things made from the patterns they had. They had both modern fabrics as well as everything else, and the place was a kaleidoscope of color. But the best part was the staff. I picked up the bow tuck pattern and some focus fabric in the sale area for it, and the older gal told me all the ins and outs of making them. Then a younger gal came and helped me pick out fabrics for the rest of the bag. I could have spent all day there as well as a lot of money. It was so refreshing to be in a store that was friendly and helpful as well as up on all the newest things. It is a good thing I don't live in the area or I would spend a fortune there.

oh, one more thing I look for in a quilt store. One simple thing. Inspiration!

1. Owner and Employees to be friendly and helpful.

I was at a LQS (Local Quilt Store) last month and the owner and 2 employees never recognized anyone was in the store shopping, I was in the store for about 30 minutes and decided to leave as no one said hi, asked me if I need help or anything

2. Have a sew day where you can take a project in and sew and if you have any ? someone is there to help you out

3. demonstrations on rulers, etc.

4. classes (so we can learn more) and offer the classes at different times, day, evenings, weekends

5. Have an area to sit and relax if you need to

6. Samples & Demonstrations

Thanks again for starting this thread!

Set up a website. When I am going someplace I often check online to see if there are quilt shops on the way. There are some really cool shops that I will drive out of my way to go to.

My LQS here has been very critical when I have gone in looking for suggestions. I realize I'm not the best quilter in the world. Rather than find fault with what I have done find some way to encourage me so I can be better next time. Sorry, you just received my rant for the day. Thank you. I'm done. lol

If you have quilts on display, the name of the quilt and where the pattern came from(book/ leaflet pattern). Try and make sure you have the pattern available, preferably near the display :thumbup:

Staff that greets the customers , ask if they need help, then let them wonder about and don't follow them.

Hands on demonstrations and advertise them :wink:

Good Luck :lol:

I have to agree on the customer service thing. A LQS does not sell fabric IMO, it sells service, because unless you live in a town where there is no internet and no other place to buy fabric for 100 miles, most people will always find a cheaper place to buy what you’re selling. You have to have employees that realize this and can help you sell the best service possible. Whether it’s right or not, teenagers wouldn’t spend $100 for a pair of jeans at Abercrombie and Fitch if the sales people didn’t fit the company's look and style. Although everyone has many opinions on what product, classes, etc… they would like to see in a LQS, I have heard on the boards that the single most reason a person stops shopping at a LQS is service is because of bad service. Not because they didn’t have a certain book (Oh can we order that for you?), or a certain fabric (Well unfortunately we can’t order that for you, but let’s hop on this computer and find it online somewhere for you, then let’s take a look at the coordinators I do have here for you to get today), or even because they don’t have a class they want to take (That is a great idea for a class! We will look into finding a teacher for something like that.). Make sure you provide the best service, without smothering people and you will win in the long run.

Now on to other things LOL I think you should see how you can incorporate technology into your store. Can you have a computer set up with all the stores fabrics imported into Electric Quilt 7 (or the simpler version Quilt Wizard), so someone can come in and design a quilt and buy the fabrics that day? (With help from a knowledgeable staff person of course) Or how about having a large computer screen set up in the store that rotates through flickr photos of quilts you have made for the store? People tend to shy away from technology when they own a small company, but we are a technological society, embrace it!

Have night and weekend hours. A lot of the quilt stores around me close at 4:00 and don’t open on Sunday. Not all of us are stay at home mom’s I would love to see a store that stays open till 7 or 8 and is open everyday of the week. Hire a competent staff that you can train to close for you and you can easily do this.

I have a ton of other ideas, but I don’t want to write a novel. Just think of all the things you wish you could have done when you walked into a LQS yourself. Yes it may cost a bit more up front, but it will pay more in the end.

Rachel

My remarks are in bold.

Good luck and have fun!

Cheers, K

#1 - friendly, knowledgable customer service

also, I like to see a variety of fabrics, not just focusing on a particular style (for instance mainly 1930's & civil war); lots of threads, samples, patterns, gadgets.

music - a variety would be nice. I get sleepy listening to some of the music one local shop plays.

smells - I have allergies, so some smells, especially flowery or perfumy ones have me running for the door. If you must, keep it subtle.

I'd love to see a place have some gadgets out that you can try before you buy. they do get expensive, and sometimes you end up with several that were a waste of money.

Classes & Newsletters are nice.

Evening/Weekend hours - I work full time. Where I shop depends on the time/day I can do so.

Frequent shopper program!

Oh, lucky you, a quilt shop! I like a huge varity of stuff...modern, old, childrens, and LOTS of it!
Smiling help, and some fun classes would be neat!

and they quilt also