My son and I have purchased machines from our LQS and we are always greeted by name and treated well. I love going in there.

I do support the LQS's in my area. I know many people feel their prices are too high and prefer to shop at the chain stores. Sewing/Quilting is my ONE indulgence (I'm a very low maintenance woman) so I buy quality fabrics, and quality tools and notions. I'm not nearly as prolific as some of the members on this board, so I haven't broken the bank yet.

I was next door to JoAnn's today so I went in to look at their magazines. While I was there I looked at the fabric and couldn't believe how their prices have increased. $9.99yd and panels for $16.99. These were not 1st quality fabrics.

I know that most of the WalMarts have eliminated fabric, so I wonder if JoAnn's is feeling that they are the only game in town for that customer demographic, and feel they can increase their prices and the customer will pay. I will never spend $9.99yd at JoAnn's but will at my LQS if I see something I really like.

I will continue to support my LQS's because of all that they offer, plus I like to support the little guy over a corporation any day.

When you live in a small town and an outlying county, you have to take care of the shop you have. We have two and I support both. The larger one is always busy and classes full. The smaller one is quieter, smaller classes, and a place I go to sit and visit. Of course both stores know me by name and suggest things to me they know I am interested in. I love the personal touch. Otherwise, if they were to close, I would be on a road trip to Ft. Worth or further. I love the big guys buy want to keep the little guys around too.

I am pretty far away from the ones around here too, but there is one I just love. When I want to splurge I go to a LQS and buy a few fat quarters of their 30's prints.
As someone said, JoAnnes is getting almost as expensive, but they have the AWESOME coupons.
If a LQS owner treated me badly, I'd never go there again though!

Fussycut and other owners, here is my story. First off, I need to say I live in a Quilter's Paradise in Massachusetts! There are 3 LQS's within 15 mins, 5 more in 30 mins and 8+ more within 45 mins. (Also three Joann Fabric stores within 30 mins). Not all in the same direction, but you get the idea. With one to three other friends, I average at least monthly trips (mini shop hops) to several of them at a time. We never come home empty-handed and make one or more purchases in each store.

I belong to two quilt guilds (each has close to 200 members) and these are active quilters who also regularly patronize these LQS's.
The closest LQS store owners make themselves visible by participating and getting to know quilters without overt advertising or commercials at the guild meetings. They gain their business through friendliness and having their customers spread the word about where to get which fabrics.

The LQS's strive to be unique as a destination with their personal touch and selection of fabric categories. The ones that I/we frequent least often are either poorly organized or messy shops, staff that are preoccupied with each other, or too distracted to offer a smile to customers. (This happens rarely since their competition is near by).

Many use e-mail for monthly newsletter or notice of sales or a special limited discount, special events, etc. Again with a personal touch they are friendly.

We do our best to support them and they respond by appreciating us and our business. They even make referrals to each other if you are looking for a particular fabric type.

We recently had a new store open within about 25 min. of me...which I can't tell you how much I appreciate! There is no fabric at Wally's, there are no other fabric outlets nearby. I've been there 3 times and purchased each time. I think she will have to work very hard to stay open though due to fabric costs. I'm afraid that the old Wally customers who can't afford higher cost fabs will end up at the thrift store buying clothes to cut up. LQSs are wonderful and I DO support them, but with modern technology and current fabric prices, they will have to be very careful to be able to offer lower priced fabs I think.

I love the ladies at my LQS and although I don't make it there as often as I'd like, I support them as much as I can.

ladies..please listen to this..it is very important to support your lqs;s...if they all close ..where are you going to go...walmart fabrics are a hit and a miss..they shrink..they fade..they are not even weaved..and over time they will not hold up...besides walmart doesnt care if you shop there or not..don;t bother to ask them a sewing question..they probably cant thread a needle..joann;s is at least somewhat better...lqs are the best..they need your support..take your machines to get them professioally cleaned..take classes...buy and enjoy from the best even if it means less fabric but the best fabric

I mainly buy on line as my LQS has mostly fabric that doesn't interest me.
I do shop 3 LQS in NH when I'm in their areas: Quilters Workshop in Newport and Quilted Threads in Henniker. Both have an abundance of fabulous fabric.
Their staff are wonderful women, but I'd shop there anyway.
Frank's in Claremont has mostly last year's lines (fine by me), at well discounted prices. They are also nice people.

I go to shops, however, for the fabric; not breaking bread nor marrying them, so attitude is really immaterial to me.

Don't have one; never had one; got along nicely without one and still do. My support of any shop of any sort has to be beneficial to me as well as the shop. Otherwise, I don't see the point.