This is kind of a spin off from the what do you like in quilt shops thread. I practice in a very busy inner city hospital and my fantasy job is to work in a quilt shop. I have it all designed in my head :-D My question is in this economy can you make a living from owning a quilt shop? What do you all think?

I would bet you can't but that's just a quess.

You could if you were near me!

I've been in business for myself for almost 40 years but not quilting related...darn it!!....and it is very important you have at LEAST a YEARS worth of expensives in the bank before you even think of turning a profit. It might happen in a month but trust me, to get a bank loan for a start up business, you will need to show the bank you understand how hard it will be and you have the resourses to stay out of default. My guess would be you need about $100.000.00 to find a building, insurence, utilities, advertising, remodeling, finding and hiring workers and then stock with bolt after bolt of fabric. Yes, you will need tax numbers and a very good business accouant to do the books....there is so much more than ''just opening the doors for business''........

jodi in leavenworth

I suspect it depends on how much of a living you want to make. But with the right business plan, location, traffic, demographic, it could be successful.

I was in a quilt shop yesterday that has both quilt/fabric products and a line of machines. This lets them offer classes for both the sewing/quilting and embroidery enthusiasts.

I think a quilt shop can be profitable if it is in the right location and the owner knows what the customer base wants. Good customer service is a must.

As the old saying goes "Location, location, location". I also have played with the idea of owning a quilt shop. I lost my job a year or so ago and received a decent severance package, but have yet to take that step. I live in eastern Maine in what has been called the poorest county in Maine. I think if you can keep your overhead low enough and run the shop yourself or with one other person to start with, it might make a go. I don't think you can rely on the sale of fabric, but more so in the services you would offer and the classes etc. Those are my thoughts for what it is worth. Good luck if you decide to take the plunge.

We have a new LQS that opened up here about two years ago. Within a year they had to move into a space twice as big as where they started out. Last year they won an award for "Best New Business" in town. I think that was a Chamber of Commerce award. Everytime I've been in there it's packed. The service is great and they have everything mentioned in the other "What do you like in a quilt shop" thread.

So..... it's possible!

I think this applies to any small business especially in the craft area - scrapbooking, stamps, beading, etc....

My thoughts are if you sell sewing machines, thats where the profit is. Fabric not so much as the cost wholesale per yd has gone beyond $5.00. Research a lot and ask other shop owners.

if you could travel and buy big to get it cheaper and you could sale cheaper than your competition. that's the way walmart did it so they could sale so cheap. but they quit so what do i know LOL!!!!!!!!

It's a nice fantasy when I drag myself out of bed at 2 am to deliver a baby. I know the reality is that it would be alot of hard work. I can still dream.

Depends on a number of factors. We have a number of them in Wichita KS that seem to be doing well.

You must have classes! My LQS has a huge selection of classes that seem to always be full. Then when in class, you always have to buy something, thread , fabric, batting, scissors. I've probably spent more money on classes and the needed supplies (and the things I forgot to bring) then I would spend just shopping.

the fabric stores near here are offering classes and machines and notions. the machine stores are offering classes and vacuum cleaners. they all offer servicing and scissor sharpening.
i think they're all having trouble making it on one category alone.

Dreaming is what its all about!

Is there any class for people that want to open business at your local college.Here in Quebec province the course would be titled Entrepreneurship.They give information about the required permits, how to pick a location, taxes etc... They also help you to make a business plan, your bank manager will appreciate it and there will be less hidden surprises. Good luck in your enterprise.

I would think you should also have a big online presence. I buy about 1/2 my fabric online, because of convenience and I don't always like the choices my small LQS offers. I like bright colors and lots of batiks. I prefer to shop locally since I like to see the colors in person. I also will travel to a guilt store I love. Today I am making the 2.5 hr drive to Keepsake Quilting in NH and do the trip usually 3-4 times a year. I always figure I will open a quilt store when I hit the lottery and don't need to make a profit lol. I owned a dog grooming and supply store for about 8 years and between health insurance costs and putting in 60 hrs a week it was not worth it. The problem with a quilt shop is when times are tough people cut back on the nice to have's not the have to have's and the fabric budget can be cut back on to buy food, heating oil, gas etc... good luck and if you open let me know, I will be taking a road trip to visit.

And just know that I've heard that shop owners have no time to sew or quilt once they've gone into business. (I heard this from shop owners that I know).

You are absolutely right about the servies and running the shop yourself. I have thought about this also but there are two shops close by me so I think it would be overkill. Too bad, though, because I have a nice large cabin on my property and would not have to pay rent for a space.

I owned a yarn/needlework shop for 8 years, didn't make any money but lots of friends. Good thing my husband supported me or I would have starved to death trying to make a living. So much of the profits have to go into new stock. If you don't have to support yourself and a family, it is a nice hobby and I got my satisfaction out of teaching and helping people. I made life long friends that still come for help. Sold the shop 22 years ago and made my money on it when I sold it. That was my payback for all the hours I put in.
Would be more fun working for someone who already owns a shop and none of the expenses. My rent tripled in the 8 years I owned it.

Carol J.

We've got one here in Franklin (45 min from me) that has just moved into larger bldg.

I can't afford them AT ALL. All of the damn classes are as follows:

4 hour class $300
6 hour class $500

They have about TEN classes I'd love to take but it won't be in this lifetime!

Let me pick myself up off the floor. Those class prices are at least 10 times higher than anything I have ever seen. They sure wouldn't be teaching me!
Babycatcher: see if you can't arrange to work in a shop one day a week. You'll be making friends and seeing if it is really what you want to do. Some shops do hire people by the day of the week. They sell, make samples, and teach classses. And maybe your dream will come true. At least, you'll have gotten some experience there and had fun too. All the best.

LOL me too!

our LQS stays in business only thru their on/line sales. That is one complaint I have, too busy filling internet orders to even say hello. They have over 200 BOM's that they fill every month. Whatever works I guess????

If your dream job is to *work* in a quilt shop, then that is what you should try to do. Find a job working in one. And watch closely what the owner spends his/her time on. Handling the fabric is a great deal of fun, as is the buying process. But I would guess that the majority of the owner's time is NOT spent on those tasks, but on the more mundane jobs like accounting and record-keeping, and other managment-type tasks.

Also, if you don't have a good head for business decisions - or if you have no training in business, you really should try to take a basic course on the subject, even through community education.

All depends on location and if you can satisfy all people....or at least most people...I know one of my favorite shops, the owners both work there....they have 3 shops that sell Bernina machines and then one of the shops also sells fabric....so selling machines can't be all that money making as most people don't buy a new machine every year....but we do buy fabric, like maybe weekly!!!

My LQS also does custom quilting on computerized long arm machines (I believe they have 2) and there is usually about a 6 week turnaround because they are so busy. They are in a small building with lots of fabrics, classes, kits, and a room in the back to bring in your machine and sew if you want. While I can't afford their fabrics when walmart is 5 minutes away, and JoAnn is 45 minutes, I do love their service, smiles, and help when I am stuck on something.

The classes at The City Quilter in NYC are all under $100.00.
$300 or $400 is out of sight!

That would be my guess also. The biggest stores around me all have pretty thriving machine sales which, in turn, help drive the fabric sales.

I don't think you make money on classes as far as class fees are concerned, but on supplies and getting the customer hooked!! I would think most of the profit is from books, machines, sewing cabinets and notions of one sort or another. I'm not sure the wholesale cost of fabric, but you should be able to pay employees from what you net there. Whatever it is, its got to be more than what you have left after malpractice insurance :lol: :lol:

What has not been mentioned here, owning-working a business takes a lot of physical energy and stamina.

Re location: There are 3 good quilt shops here, 2 in shopping centers, one a little off the beaten path, their thinking was/is they are a destination business. They are smaller, but no less busy then other shops.

As a former business owner, everything said above very important. During good times anything is easy, during a rough economy like now, every one struggles.

Good luck with your decision and dreams.

location would be the key. We do not have a fabric store with in 15miles of our town so a fabric/craft/quilt store would be a good thing.

Yes, even in this economy they can be profitable. The owner has to be willing to work long, hard hours. And it will take time to build a customer base. The shop must be knowledgable of customer service, classes, notions, fabrics etc. Seeing to the details is essential.

Location, Friendly, Good hours, and fabric that others like, not just what you like. If you carry all darks, and no brights or more batiks than anything else it won't work. Classes that aren't too expensive, and maybe a discount on the fabric and rulers or books would help get them hooked. Overhead is the big killer, rent and utilities eat up your profits.

If you're looking for a monthly income from a quilt shop,I seriously doubt it. I turned my dining room(never used) into a quilt shop. But I don't sell items to make quilts,only made quilts.I make them all year and then around October I run an ad in our local paper and during November and December I sell them all for extra money for Christmas,home repairs,birthdays. Maybe if you sold the quilting supplies you could do it,I don't know.I have MS and and there are days that I can't physically do anything but look up patterns on the computer. You might also have to pay for help,and business insurance.My daughter helps me and the way I make my quilts I don't have to have more that the home insurance that I have.

A good location costs lots of money, advertising enough to bring traffic into a not so good location can cost even more.

I have had 5 quilts shops in my general area here in Atlanta. All 5 have gone out of business in the last 8 years. We have a second home in Hendersonville NC (Near Asheville). There are two quilt shops there. Both have relocated into very small shops...thus cutting down on the amount of fabric, etc. they stock. One is a Bernina dealer and 1/2 of her small space is designated for machines. Look at the threads here. It seems to me that most of the quilters here shop JoAnn's and Hancock-type places where they can get fabric on sales for $3.00 a yard. They aren't willing and/or able to pay $8-10/yard at LQS. I think it would be a very tough market and I wouldn't consider it in this economy under any circumstances. I owned a business for 30 years and it's a constant stress. I'd rather work in a quilt shop (and hopefully get a discount) than own it. Good luck in your decision-making.

What part of Wisconsin? I assume Milwaukee? I think it depends on the location a lot as well, when I am willing to pay a lot is when I am in a "pinch"... so when I want to start/finish a project and I am out of something or need something extra. So then I go to Joannes (simply because that is all that is nearby me), and pay whatever it costs to be stocked. I work on my stash building when fabrics are around the $3 per yard mark like someone else posted.
Good luck! I love your avatar as well.

One LQS started in a converted garage, later moved to a store, and from what I hear is now looking for a larger facility. One of the reasons they're successful is that they own their own bolts outright (no financing), they offer classes and have free activities as well, and they are always friendly and helpful. I've asked some owners whether the current economic climate is hurting, and the answer has always been that more people seem to be quilting now than ever. Maybe it's because we're staying at home more?