LQS question
 

I am having a little struggle and I am wondering if anyone else has the same issue. About 9 months ago a quilt shop opened close to me. I am so happy to have her shop close by. She is very nice and I enjoy taking my machine there and sewing on the weekends.

My problem is that I feel guilty when I buy things other places. I do want to support her and I hope she succeeds... but as nice as her shop is, her selection can't compete with some of these on line stores. And some of her prices are 2 and 3 times higher than the same thing on some of the on line stores. I am not made of money so the price is a big factor for me.

I spend waaay more at her store that I should - but I still spend alot other places too. Then I end up feeling guilty

I took a couple of quilt tops to her shop to help pick out the border and binding fabric. And she said that I have to bring them back to show her when they are done. I would be more than happy to show her, but I bought the batting and backing fabric somewhere else. So I would really feel bad taking them back in to show her.

Does anyone else ever feel this way?

I have felt this way before. I consider trying to keep ALL my sources in business! She has no way of knowing if that batting/backing was or was not already in your stash. You dont' have to keep her in business all by yourself either. I would suggest you keep shopping there and continue to keep other sources in business too! (and not break YOUR bank either!)

I can't imagine she would expect you to buy everything at her shop. If you spend a good amount there and tell other people about her shop you're doing your part. Take your quilts in and do not spend another second felling guilty about buying things where ever you want.

yep, I do but the other day I went to my local shop looking for a bit of decorator fabric. They don't carry any. So I must go elsewhere.

She doesn't know that. She's only been open for 9 months, how could she possibly expect that every piece of fabric you own is purchased from her?

I am friends with the owner of a quilt shop that opened about 3 years ago in my town. I actually make some of her shop samples for her, and help her out behind the scenes when she needs a boo-boo fixed or a binding put on.

I do my best to support her, also, but as a practical business owner, she understands that she can't possibly carry everything that I want or need.

Another way I try to support her is by referrals. When I do commission bindings, I arrange to pick up and drop off the quilt at her shop, that way quilters are enticed to shop while they're there, and that helps her, too.

Any business owner that doesn't know "It's not personal, it's business' doesn't need to be in business. I would buy something special every now and then from her but I wouldn't spend extra money at her store because I feel like I had to.

any quilt shop knows that you can't buy all your fabric from them as they can't handle all. Our quilt shop is having a bus to a shop hop to shops in the southern part of Minnesota so we won't even stop at her shop. She knows that you have to shop else where to get more ideas and other fabric that she doesn't handle.

We have a wonderful quilt shop in town with fabulous fabrics. Each year they have a new "Saturday Sampler" and that generates a lot of business for the shop. There are always specials offered to the women who do the sampler. I usually end up buying something on the Saturday we meet, but I know what my budget is and that is my guild line. I also purchase fabric on line. I will have to say that I purchase mostly on line. Don't feel like you have to buy exclusively from your local quilt shop.

Money is a big factor for me also & if I can save $2.00 to $4.00 a yard then that is where I buy. I want quality fabric & I know it is expensive so I need deals when I can. I do also buy from our local quilt store & from the local Amish quilt store so I feel I'm doing my part in helping them out but most of mine is bought online.

Don't worry about it. I work at a LQS, and we are friends with the other LQS in town. Our employees shop at the other shop when we can't find what we need where we work. And vice versa. We make fleece blankets on a blanket-stitch machine at the store, and most of the time, the fabric is from JoAnn's. It's good business to not worry about whether the fabric came from another shop. One of our employee keeps saying, "we're in the friend business." It's always a treat to have customers come back and show us what they've made.

If she asked to see your quilt, show it to her! Sometimes it helps shop owners to get an idea of what their customers like when they see completed quilts. I know THE best quilt shop in my area has done that since the day they opened & because of that they know their customers really well. They love talking about techniques used, materials used & they do notice what kinds of fabrics were used & whether they were likely to have come from their shop. They use that as free market research to improve their inventory.

There is a Repro LQS by me that sells 30's, Civil War & Downton Abbey fabrics exclusively. The other day my niece picked out one of their fabrics for the back of her quilt. They didn't have the 3 yards that I needed, so I ended up ordering it online -- and told them that was what I was going to do because my niece would never be happy if she didn't get the exact print she spent time picking out and she would insist that I pull the quilt apart & re-do it or "glue the pretty fabric on the back" (yeah. well... she's 3 & hasn't grasped the concept yet that a quilt needs to be sewn together).

They still encouraged me to enter my quilt in their annual quilt show (looks like it won't be finished in time, but they wanted it in there in spite of the backing coming from somewhere else & the batting being Warm & Plush, which they don't stock). The important thing, I think, is that if you are going there to use their shop space for sewing, the proper way to thank them is to spend $15-20/quilt in their shop either on classes, fabric or supplies. I've found that most quilt shops have a good deal on something and there are always those times when I realize I need something at the 11th hour & on-line orders wouldn't reach me in time.

Your loyalty is commendable and that alone shows that you are an amazing person! I'm sure the owner of your LQS is very appreciative of the support you give her and I'm also sure she does not expect exclusive rights to your custom. You have no reason to feel guilty at all.

I try to support my LQS but I buy backing elsewhere because the price is so different. I also have a large stash so I never make excuses. She also knows I go to shop hops and love quilt shows. She hangs my quilts in her store for display when I get my fabric from there but she knows I shop all over the place. I do try to support her shop and I tell everyone about it. She has been in business about 3 yrs and just doubled her size so I think she is doing well!

One shop is not all things. I am sure she realizes that you have to purchase from other vendors. Just be consistent in her business and you'll be fine.

Thanks everyone for your responses... makes me feel better. I am sure that she knows I shop elsewhere, I just want her to do well :)

I wouldn't worry. I worked closely with a LQS at my previous residency but they can't have everything I needed. If they didn't have a color I needed, I bought it elsewhere. I am sure since they knew that I professional quilted for others, that I bought my batting by the roll wholesale. The LQS here closed a year ago last April. I tried to buy items there that I needed but since I don't drive, I have to buy the items I need online.

I am fortunate to have several LQSs within reach and each one has its own personality... they are supportive of each other and surely wouldn't be bothered knowing that I shop elsewhere. Just this week when I was looking for 30's fabric my LQS suggested one of the competitors for my 30's fabric search. I call that great customer service.

I try to support local businesses, but sometimes its just not possible... selection, price etc. I used to feel guilty but , I have adopted the policy to support ME first. Before I worry about keeping someone else in business , first I need to keep the roof over my head.

I like to support LQS 's but it is not always possible - for instance one often has samples that I admire but has "run out" of the fabric needed for them. It's the staff in the LQS that makes a difference to me. The shop I have gone to most in the last few years has changed staff - unfortunately new manager is not very knowledgeable although she thinks she is so I am less inclined to patronize this shop.

This is really a great response! Don't make yourself feel badly at all. Think of restaurants. I bet you don't eat at only one. I love finding new-to-me shops. It's inspiring!