I am a small business owner- granted not a lqs, but I have the latest technology because it means I keep up with the competition. I get frustrated because everyone thinks they need to bundle services- it will save money. So they get a title co. who is not familiar with the local way of doing business and the Relators have to spoon feed them to get their work done. I get calls from them saying what can we do to get this info. This morning I told a Realtor- you have time to cancel with them and use me- I can get you taken care of in 24 hours. I tell everyone to use a local title co., realtor, bank, etc. They know your area.

Not everyone has the mindset of being positive in everything they do.

There is a local shop here- there is a HUGE sign out front saying they are a community business employing community workers. It doesn't help them that their customer service attitude stinks and they are tons higher in price. That sign alone will mean I won't use them. Give me a sign that's showing a positive why I should use you!

We are all different, I like to be ++++.

Barb

Living in a large metropolitan area, I have many choices! I like to shop where the people are friendly and knowledgeable and have the products I am interested in! Because I do have choices, I can go to another LQS if I am not given the service I prefer. We also have big box stores where I go to look, but they don't have the newest, latest fabrics. I usually shop them with coupons for notions. I will not shop anywhere I feel bullied! No matter what their service! I don't have to tolerate it! But I do have choices within reasonable driving distances. :lol:

In these economic hard times one thing that will have to be re-learned is the importance of customer service.
This goes from where you get your oil changed to where you buy groceries to your local LQS...
I went to 3 different quilt shops yesterday...
One was about 30mins away, I found 2 patterns and 2 yds of BW fabric, I went to another one and found 2 yds more of bw fabric and then to another that was less than 5 mins from my house and found ZERO fabric...
The latter quilt shop had great prices but not alot of inventory nor patterns and kits...
The second a bit better but the one that was 30 mins away had great fabrics, spendy and kits and BOMS and a bit more pricey...
Plus they have an online store...
Plus the CS was good!!!
I am all for supporting my local quilt shops but at least give me some customer service and variety...
Otherwise I can go to the big box stores...
K

Barbm I totally agree with you! The positives always trump the negatives. I think it is human nature to gravitate toward the positive and in business, its always a winner :) :) :)

I have to say, I have finally found an LQS with the kind of CS that makes me want to spend my money with them...
The one "in town" is ROTTEN. Terrible customer service -- they go out of their way to ignore anyone not in their clique.
The one out here in the mountains is WONDERFUL! Once a month they host a "charity quilt night." Fabric is donated by whomever wants to donate it, you bring your machine and thread, and sit and sew for three hours (or less if you want.) They then donate the backing and the batting and we can volunteer to take the quilts home to quilt. Then the shop owner binds them. This Christmas, seven lap quilts were given to children whose mothers spent Christmas in prison. This past Tues., we made 6 more tops.
I love this quilt store, the prices are comparable to the "in town" store, and the owners REMEMBER MY NAME. I will use them because they are what small-town business is all about.

Things are getting tough for our mom and pop stores around here, but this is such a tough town, that I know things will pull thru. We even have a new Starbucks that will opening soon, brand new building too.
I have some of my quilt items on consignment at a specialty yarn shop and I know the owner is having a struggle. I know she can't even pay her rent this month plus other bills. So this morning, I wrote a check to cover her advertising bill that she has. I definitely don't want her going under. I also called upon a few of the other consignees and told them to get their butts to her store and do some major cleaning and help her out. She had one of her big windows in front broken out last weekend and still needed to get things back in there for display, so we did that yesterday and my hubby hung her signs back up for her.
I've never been hugged so many times in a short amt. of time as I was yesterday morning!! It made me feel so good to do my part to keep this shop in business!! While we were there, she had several customers come in and purchase some items. I knew a couple of them, so it was easy for me to talk to them and push them into that sale.
Oh, the owner of this shop is 81 yrs. old!!!!!

God will bless you for this Tricia.....pay it forward is a great policy.

Margie :)

We have no mom and pop stores left here....I can remember when...it was nice to visit and shop

I have not been buying much fabric. If I found good fabric at a good price I used to buy about 3 yards. Now I buy One. If I need a small bit I buy a half yard or less. Some weeks I have to stay away from the fabric stores. Prices continue to rise but my income doesn't. Oh well so be it thats life :wink:

I seldom go to the lqs, but do go there for notions etc. but sometimes go to the local hardware store for craft supplies and batting. I seek out the cheapest. No wally marts here less than forty miles away. I would love to support the local businesses, but the price is too far over my head. I don't have one hundred dollars or more to spend on making a quilt. Sorry, but the price of fabric is way over what I can afford. I know it is not the fault of the business, but perhaps we need to step back and wonder how come it is all so expensive. How come? I also do not subscribe to the notion that I must buy a piece of fabric just to have it around in my "stash", sitting around doing nothing but taking up space. I suspect I am not the only one in this position. I hand quilt with a group that exists mainly on fabric donations. I love to do this and go full steam ahead perfectly happy with the process of quilt making in this way. All the proceeds from the sale of these quilts and small quilted items, go to local charities. In that way, at the least, I feel my efforts are going toward supporting the community.

I live in a small town that is quickly dieing. The only fabric store close a year ago and I have to travel 50 miles one way to go to Joann's or Walmart. Yes our Walmart still has fabric. The quilt store in that town is $12.00 a yard so a no go on my budget and they are so small they don't have much in notions. I purchase from Walmart or Joann's on sale but am finding $9.00 a yard is streaching it a bit to far for me to have FUN with quilting. I keep an eye on the $1.50 a yard bin at Walmart and when I seen nice fabric I grab at least 3 yards. Shopping local for us is hard unless we buy sale items at the only grocery store we pay up to $2.00 per item more than Save-A-Lot or Walmart. There is no place in our town to buy any type of craft item not even elastic we can get white thread at the Dollar tree!!!