|
Originally Posted by LAQUITA
Ladies,
I have a dear friend that is praying about opening a quilt store in our town in texas. I am doing some leg work for her on her and we'd like to hear from YOU. Please tell me what you MOST like about the quilt shops you shop. What you DON"T LIKE at them What you'd LOVE to see them have, do or carry Anything else that you would like to suggest as a must have for a new shop owner. What do you like in notions, or fabrics or patterns? Just tell us what YOU would have in a quilt store if YOU could open your own. Thanks, this should be fun to see everyones suggestions. I can't wait. :) Then I want a friendly staff who will chat with you and make you want to come back & show what you made with their fabric. I don't like crowded bolts that I can't easily get out to look at. I would put most of my inventory in fabric, patterns are everywhere online. Samples are wonderful to see on the walls. If it was my store I would love to have an area set aside for people to come in & sit & stitch & talk. Put in a coffee pot and maybe a water cooler. Maybe have a charity project or two going that folks could pick up & work on while they visit. In today's market we need to fill the holes that the big box stores don't have the time or desire to do. Good luck to her! I wish her MUCH sucess!! |
I understand that small business owners can be devistated by shoplifting ... but I hate it when the owners/employees stare the entire time I'm looking at notions or fat quarters. I totally understand the reason why but it makes me very uncomfortable ... if you have to keep an eagle eye out ... strike up a conversation ... that way you can monitor and not make a customer uncomfortable. BTW ... I'm really not scary LOL ... think middle aged wearing office attire because I shop on my way home or at lunch <grin>. One shop owner did get shoplifted when her dad was minding the store for her for a few minutes and when I first started going there she was really bad about following people around but we've gotten to know each other (meaning I spend too much time in there LOL) and now she follows me around because neither of us can shut up LOL.
ETA ... I LOVE Doty's ideas too! Susan |
I think its important for the staff to be friendly and helpful. A nice selection, and a clean shop too! Good luck to her!
|
classes make the difference. I will go to LQS that I don't care for their fabric selection, merely because they have good classes.
And of course, smiling faces and helpful clerks. I like to feel welcome when I come in. Not like I am intruding. |
Patterns for the samples that are made up. One store I've been to has lots of neat things made up, but they don't have the patterns for them. I've never understood why.
|
Oh, and fq's that are priced according to the bolt price. There's a store in the area that does that and I love buying my fq's from her. Finding a fq for $1.88 is fun after seeing them priced at a flat $2.50 each in other stores.
|
My best advice is make sure she loads up on Kona Bay Fabrics.
But, I'm biased....I own Kona Bay:) http://www.konabay.com |
Originally Posted by Furza Flyin
My LQS is so very sweet and kind.
1. They have someone in the shop trained to sharpen scissors there in the shop while you wait. You dont have to leave your babies. 2. They have a play area for little ones set up in a safe area of the store(not near any doors) that can be seen from all areas of the store. 3. They have large tables available to set up and use at no charge if you want to come in and sandwich/pin your quilt. 4. They send out class lists both by mail or email. Which ever works best for you. 5. They have internet access and will order fabric/notions that they dont have in stock or dont normally carry. |
I'd like to see fabric choices as opposed to fabric LINES. One of the things I enjoy most about quilting is going in and wandering around trying to match up fabrics for a specific quilt. It really irritates me that every shop carries the same lines and have no filler fabrics so I can pick and choose. I feel a bit miffed, as if they are inferring that I can't make a proper choice on my own.
I also wish that the LQS would carry more tools and rulers for long arm quilters. LA is here to stay but we have to order on line with out touching and trying things and then wait for the items to be shipped...not to mention paying the shipping over and over. One more thing...I'd love to see a lot of ribbons, floss, embellishments, lace, beads etc. and fabrics specifically geared to crazy quilters. I recently visited all but three of the quilt shops in my state and sadly only one had some seed beads but nothing else CQ related. Not even in the big cities. I went to 36 shops so that is pretty sad. Thanks for asking! |
Open 24/7!!!! Us quilters keep strange hours!
|
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:18 AM. |