CarrieAnne

Itskind of nice my area we have several LQS, and they all seem to specialise in one type of fabric. One has lots of batiks, another the Civil War prints, another has lots of 30s and baby stuff...

llamalady

Hate being followed around like a criminal looking for something to steal,or constantly being told I should buy this or that. Love friendly, helpful (when asked ) salespeople.
Nice selection of fabric, books and notions. Although one of my machines is a Diamond, I don't like being asked what machine I use.

fireworkslover

It's nice if there's a chair by the books/patterns section, that can be sat in, not just for display. Helpful workers, that trully want to help, not just cut your fabric. Sometimes, I want to get fmq ideas for a quilt, when I'm stuck and don't know what to do. Friendly workers are a must, I'd say. Lots of samples of tops &/or finished quilts displayed too.

LauriBeth

Being a younger quilter, sometimes I feel so self-conscience when I walk in the door and get a rude "how may I help you." It makes me really sad when I walk in with my young children (who are well-behaved) and get ugly looks from the women who work there. My children love to go and see all the fabric, and then are in complete awe when they see the final product.

lorils

Good lighting so you can tell what fabric blends and is not even blue when you get it home it is purple.
Big classrooms or at least big enough so you aren't bumping elbows.
Samples and kits at a price that is the same as if you would pick out the fabric yourself. I don't like kits that are priced higher than what the original fabric is.
Lots of quick projects. I like to fit them in between big ones and many shops don't have quick projects.

mhansen6

I like the classes. Please have a space big enough for classes, so ladies can spread out. I hate nothing more than being cramed into a small spot. Classes also sell fabric. 90% of the people who go buy fabric.

Free sew days, where ladies can come in and work on their projects and get help from the staff if they need it.

Knowledgable staff too. People who know what they are doing and can actually answer questions instead of someone who just cuts fabric.

Space. Don't load your store with so much stuff that your customers can't walk around. Plenty of light also. You need light to match fabrics.

Friendly Friendly Friendly staff. I will drive way out of my way to a store that the staff are friendly.

QuiltingPinjinsa

:thumbup:

Ethel A

I dislike employees (and shop owners) who think they "know it all" and talk to new quilters, like myself, as if we're just plain stupid. I like employees who can identify a novice quilter and offer basic solutions, answers to their questions, and quilting classes; rather than spouting off their expansive (and sometimes useless) knowledge of quilting information which sometimes leaves me more confused than ever before.

Pieceful Quilter

Must haves for me:

Really, really great lighting so the fabric colors are easy to see and match up. Perhaps even a couple of Ott type lights at work tables.

A coffee pot on at all times!

A small table for hubbies/others - put out a jigsaw puzzle and a few Sudoku books.

A place to set out fabrics and match them up.

ALL, and I mean ALL, employees must treat each customer as though they are important. One quilt shop I go to has a super friendly owner, but if she is not in the shop, the gal or two that work there act like the women they know well are wonderful, and every one else who enters the shop are aliens who must be held at arm's length. They chat and go about their business and act like you are bothering them if you ask a question or want to get fabric cut for Pete's sake...

A clean bathroom!

Posted shop hours that are adhered to.

Good luck with the shop!

MarySews

One thing I have noticed is that some shops reflect their owners taste a bit too much. One shop I used to go to seemed to have all dark colors, no lights and certainly no brights.