Interesting article re: Chain stores vs LQS
#22
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,563
I think there is room in the quilting industry for both chains and local quilt shops. They both serve a purpose and have their own strong customer base.
I also don't think either has a lock on rude employees. It's the same with quilt guilds - there are some that are warm and welcoming, and some that are snooty and exclusive. It depends on what's tolerated within the group. If rudeness to customers is tolerated at a quilt shop, that shop will lose business. Same goes for a quilt guild - if unfriendliness and intolerance (aka the Quilt Police) are tolerated, new members will go elsewhere and others will drop out.
I also don't think either has a lock on rude employees. It's the same with quilt guilds - there are some that are warm and welcoming, and some that are snooty and exclusive. It depends on what's tolerated within the group. If rudeness to customers is tolerated at a quilt shop, that shop will lose business. Same goes for a quilt guild - if unfriendliness and intolerance (aka the Quilt Police) are tolerated, new members will go elsewhere and others will drop out.
#25
Related to the article you linked to: 70% of all internet Christmas sales were through WalMart, Amazon, or Target. The biggies are not only pushing out brick and mortar stores, they are crushing smaller etailers.
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: altus oklahoma
Posts: 339
i buy at all three although i must admit i dont spend as much at the lqs as i used to. i do still buy some fabric there and i have 99 percent of my la quilting done there. i used to buy more when she had classes but she stopped having them and although when im elsewhere i do love to go to quilt shops due to the economy i dont purchase as much. i live in a rural area we have a walmart which hardly ever seems to have much and the 1 lqs although sometimes i drive to another walmart thats in a small town 30-45 min away that has a huge selection and very nice competent help to take care of you. i like to go to joanns however its a bit over an hour away and unless i have a big list or happen to go to that town for another reason its not worth the gas to make the trip i shop alot online.
carla m
carla m
#28
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Small town in Northeast Oregon close to Washington and Idaho
Posts: 2,795
I love my LQS. I live over an hour and a half away and she always asks if it's okay to wait on everyone else before me. Then she and I get down to business. She helps me figure out what I want to make and what choices look good together. We also visit about our lives and what's going on at home. I call her and ask her to mail me fabric and other notions and she does right away. I send her Christmas cards every year. I call her quite a bit for advice and she always has time to chit chat with me. I feel like we are very good friends. She says I'm one of her favorite customers (I don't know why) and so, of course, I always go to her shop. I have shops closer but I chose her's because of her customer friendship (I think that's what I can call it). She always gives me 15% off because I drive so far to her place. And she gives me good deals when I'm deciding if I can afford something or not. She also shows me new ways of doing things. I really appreciate that. To me, she's my best friend in the quilting world. I don't think I would be the quilter I am today if it wasn't for her. And she told me I am one of the best quilters she knows (which I don't believe for a second, but that's how she is) and I leave there feeling good about myself.
#29
#30
I love my LQS. I live over an hour and a half away and she always asks if it's okay to wait on everyone else before me. Then she and I get down to business. She helps me figure out what I want to make and what choices look good together. We also visit about our lives and what's going on at home. I call her and ask her to mail me fabric and other notions and she does right away. I send her Christmas cards every year. I call her quite a bit for advice and she always has time to chit chat with me. I feel like we are very good friends. She says I'm one of her favorite customers (I don't know why) and so, of course, I always go to her shop. I have shops closer but I chose her's because of her customer friendship (I think that's what I can call it). She always gives me 15% off because I drive so far to her place. And she gives me good deals when I'm deciding if I can afford something or not. She also shows me new ways of doing things. I really appreciate that. To me, she's my best friend in the quilting world. I don't think I would be the quilter I am today if it wasn't for her. And she told me I am one of the best quilters she knows (which I don't believe for a second, but that's how she is) and I leave there feeling good about myself.
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Chasing Hawk
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01-22-2012 03:44 AM