people are helpful, and keep a couple of toys or coloring books for little kids and maybe a box of scrap fabric with kiddy scissors to help keep them occupied behind the counter or even in their own little corner near the counter. drinks are okay but not necessary. smells are okay but not too overwhelming. good knowledge able staff that will greet you and if they see you looking around like you are searching to "side up" to you and ask if you need some help finding something or picking a color. Also coupons coupons coupons and or great prices. Plus have a couple of machines in the shop that people can "borrow"/"rent" in shop to make tags or even quilt on. ie long arms or mid arms and embroydery machines. This could lead to people even purchasing machines from you. Plus having classes at lots of different times. You could also have a suggestion sheet for times and classes people would like to sign up for. You can also have demo days and times where you or one of your experienced staff will demonstrate a "new" technique for customers. This is always good to do with the quilts that are on display. show how the person made the block and stuff. And the most important part. Lots and Lots of colors of fabric. You might also want to talk with Bob1414 about maybe carring a line of her batiks if the area seems to like batiks. You just have to get to know your clientele. they are the ones that you have to cater too. You might also want to form a couple of classes that cater to moms/dads who sew. ie get two teachers and one sits with the little ones and teaches them about color and fabric and shapes and cutting while the parent gets to take a class on whatever. This would be the shop that I would shop at even if the fabric was extremely expensive. Might only get a yard or two at a time but would do my best to help support them.

Maybe coffee served in a little snack area.
A comfy chair for the husbands who tag along.

I really like it when the cuts are an extra inch or so to account for shrinkage or squaring up. I also like when the rewards for shopping are all computerized. I don't like to have to carry a bunch or cards around. Many of the one's near me have also started to put your name in a drawing if you bring your own tote bag for carrying home your purchase. They drawings are usually for $25.00. I like to see inexpensive kits for quick projects, and new ideas. A kids play area is really nice.

I'm keeping my list! You all have some terrific ideas that I'm definitely going to try... Thx!!! :) Keep ideas coming! HUGS

Friendliness..everyone smiles and says hello. Helps if they know quilting. Inspiration areas. One place I go the have taken the flyers from fabric manufacturers and put on the walls in the bathroom with rubber cement so they can be changed, along with pattern ideas. We all have to make a trip to see the latest and we always have conversations concerning the new items. Samples, lots. They also stick a "tip" in each bag. 1/3 sheet of paper with the Tip of the day on it. Believe it or not after 35 years at this game some of those tips are the greatest time savers, who knew.

if you do a shop and hop make sure you hand out some nice goody bags, I went to my first one last year and was so disappointed and went to 3 shops

also give some free classes to educate how to use a rotary cutter, etc. tips and tricks

sew days (where others can come to your shop for a small fee and use the classroom to sew and meet other quilters)

Marie ... the teacher is to blame for her poor performance, not the shop. If she is the only teacher in most of the classes offered, she might be the only one who wants to do the teaching (which is a shame not to have others to teach).
It would behoove you to speak to the shop owner about your feelings. It's unlikely that you would get anything $$ back, but at the shop owner will know why no one else comes back to class after one. She might be inspired to find others to teach.

The LQS I frequent has a "meet the teacher day" in conjunction with the new class schedule. They have all the samples displayed, you can ask questions of the teachers, and I think there is a discount associated with the purchase for a class. They offer refreshments (drink and cookies in the classroom area). It is a nice outing.

I know that real estate costs money and I think sometimes stores cram so much display stuff into an area that it becomes impossible to navigate the store. I like to be able to step back just a bit and survey the shelf of fabric. When I am forced to be right up against the shelves, a lot of time the bottom onces get ignored (back problem and bending issues).

Speaking of back problems, a reasonably comfy chair somewhere is nice.

Most of all - nice, helpful, NON-JUDGEMENTAL staff with a sense of humor is what keeps me coming back. I don't want any fabric clerk to tell me how aweful my choices are or that the green doesn't go with the pink. A smart employee makes suggestions without making me feel like an idiot. (I can do that quite well without help - lol)

Reasonable opening hours for the working class. I like to know that one day is open later and I can plan to make it after work.

Make friends with nearby shops. Shop hops are a wonderful way to draw in new customers.
Website - a must! nowadays.
Newsletters don't have to be mailed. You can have them attached to your website.
Visit guilds - get them excited.
Display class quilts or kit quilts - make sure they are quilted and bound.
Have business cards from your local long arm quilters. Have a partnership with them. Have their customers drop off and pick up their quilts.

If you are taking over another shop - find something new to make you unique. Within four years time, one shop opened and closed and come to find out, all she did was try to build her inventory with fillers - she had no personality. Be the BRIGHTS shop or be the Thimbleberries shop (be both if you can afford). But you will need to try to separate yourself from the past owner - good, bad or indiffeent.

Best of luck ... owning a business is 24 hours/7 days a week.

I agree with Ladybug Pam. Every shop has a personality. It need not be what you like but what the quilting community wants. Also, be a part of QOV and Project Linus, helping all of us give back to our community. We have all night Pajama Pizza parties. More fun, 20% off everything we buy and sometimes we make it to 1:15am. Mostly its midnight when we start heading home but we get so much accomplished. Its quarterly. One shop we have is heavy into embroidery machines. We don't go there very often. Look at "Quilt Shop Sampler" that shows LQS across the US for ideas.