Support your local quilt Shop
06-06-2010, 01:38 PM
#71
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Ridgefield WA
Posts: 7,765
Originally Posted by renee765
Originally Posted by fussycut
Yes, fabric prices are increasing everywhere. I just want to remind everyone to support your local quilt shop. They not only provide fabric but they provide services as well, things that you will not come by on E-bay, Walmart, chain stores, etc. What about the time you needed help with a particular technique-local quilt shop to the rescue. What about the time you needed to learn something new-local quilt shop to the rescue. What about the time you just want to escape the day to day stress of everyone's life-quilt shop to the rescue. Who will help you figure out yardage and make pattern modifications?
They also provide good quality fabric that lasts and will withstand the test of time. If you are making a heirloom quilt, don't run the risk of using less than quality fabric.
Most local quilt shops are not in the business to make millions but rather to provide a service to a wonderful group of people - Quilters! We need your support to stick around.
:) Any suggestions?
They also provide good quality fabric that lasts and will withstand the test of time. If you are making a heirloom quilt, don't run the risk of using less than quality fabric.
Most local quilt shops are not in the business to make millions but rather to provide a service to a wonderful group of people - Quilters! We need your support to stick around.
:) Any suggestions?
But as I was reading your post, I couldn't help but answer your questions a little differently.
What about the time you needed help with a particular technique - this Quilting Board has come to my rescue.
What about the time you just want to escape the day to day stress of everyone's life - this Quilting Board has come to my rescue.
Who will help you figure out yardage and make pattern modifications? My friends on this Quilting Board have come to my rescue.
Having said all this, it makes me wonder if our modern technology, with the ability to easily order quilting supplies online, and virtual communities (where else could you get ideas from someone on the east coast, west coast, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.) that creates a global quilting fellowship have made it extremely difficult for a LQS to stay in business? Thank you for all the work that you do!
06-06-2010, 02:25 PM
#72
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 54
I live 20 miles from the nearest LQS and I support them when I can. I do shop online simply because it is convenient and I can't go to the LQS as often as I need things. I have found that some quilt shop owners/employees are awesome and others are NOT. Those that are snobby, etc., well, let's just say that I don't frequent their shops. Different shops for different folks. I love the LQS and want to support them when I can, but there is also the need the order online for those of us in remote locations.
06-06-2010, 02:58 PM
#73
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
My general philoshophy is to make my purchases at businesses I want to be there next year. I choose to support the bussinesses that provide a real value,,, great choices, great infomation, great people, or just great charma! Plus the "local owner" will be spending the dollars in the comunity , rather than a corp. that profits go WHERE? And its primary concern is with its stock price.
Got to say my local shops provide more inspiration and encouragement than money can define , that is REAL VALUE.
Only one local shop was a real downer( snobby staff, lack of service, seemed only interested is selling me a new machine ...contantly ) , they went out of business this spring and ... I had no sense of loss. Now if one of my favorites went out of business , I would feel the loss of a trusted friend and resource... for a long time. Buy/spend where it matters to you if the business is there next month or next year. In this economy it really matters.
OK , I'll stop the editorial.
Got to say my local shops provide more inspiration and encouragement than money can define , that is REAL VALUE.
Only one local shop was a real downer( snobby staff, lack of service, seemed only interested is selling me a new machine ...contantly ) , they went out of business this spring and ... I had no sense of loss. Now if one of my favorites went out of business , I would feel the loss of a trusted friend and resource... for a long time. Buy/spend where it matters to you if the business is there next month or next year. In this economy it really matters.
OK , I'll stop the editorial.
06-06-2010, 04:41 PM
#74
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,162
Originally Posted by mrsdralshhadeh
Being fairly new to quilting,, and wal mart not caring their fabric anymore,, I am in a pickle,, lol.. SO although I love the LQS,, we do not have them in Puerto Rico,,, so I am forced to buy online,, or have my mother run and grab what she thinks I would like,,or need. (usually right as well,, but then again mothers know everything right,,lol..) but I understand your post,,, it is true,,,,
06-06-2010, 05:24 PM
#75
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: here! :)
Posts: 1,485
I LOVE our one remaining LQS. We had three... one lady moved (rarely went there though it was the closest - she was very rude and always too busy to answer any questions or offer much help), another closed due to the age of the owners (poor people did not want to close but had to) and the third is THE best. They offer a wide variety of fabrics, wonderfully friendly staff and are very, very helpful but leave one alone if one wants to just browse. I do not go often but do go when I have a specific project. There is another quilt shop about 40 miles south - I love going down there as a day out with other quilters - so much fun. It was getting to the point that WM's choices (here at least) were minimal in quality. JoAnn's has some good choices, but the prices are beginning to match the LQS so I'd just as soon support the LQS... and while JA's has wonderful coupons they are making it harder and harder to get the sales - 40% off REGULAR priced items - when all the items are on sale - give me a break.
06-06-2010, 05:26 PM
#76
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chapel Hill
Posts: 1,086
I think that customer service is one of the most important things a LQS can offer. I am a new quilter and also scrapbook. Over the past three or four years every local scrapbook store that I liked/shopped at has closed because they couldn't compete with places like Archivers and the other big box stores, and with the internet.
This afternoon I drove 100 miles round trip to visit a new-to-me LQS. It was totally worth the time - and I did find the thread I was looking for. I also met people that I would like to quilt with sometime. The person helping me took the time to go through several magazines with me trying to find a pattern to work with the fabric I have - we eventually agreed that a pattern I saw online that they didn't have would probably be the best - and then she took the time to show me around the rest of the store and the class samples. They were also happy to just let me browse to my heart's content. My local (only 15 miles away) store is also great - but unfortunately many of their classes are offered on days that I can't be there (cub scouts, etc.).
Sales are great, and I am mindful of prices, and when I can, I will support my LQS.
Cheers, K
This afternoon I drove 100 miles round trip to visit a new-to-me LQS. It was totally worth the time - and I did find the thread I was looking for. I also met people that I would like to quilt with sometime. The person helping me took the time to go through several magazines with me trying to find a pattern to work with the fabric I have - we eventually agreed that a pattern I saw online that they didn't have would probably be the best - and then she took the time to show me around the rest of the store and the class samples. They were also happy to just let me browse to my heart's content. My local (only 15 miles away) store is also great - but unfortunately many of their classes are offered on days that I can't be there (cub scouts, etc.).
Sales are great, and I am mindful of prices, and when I can, I will support my LQS.
Cheers, K
06-06-2010, 05:37 PM
#77
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Southeast Michigan
Posts: 825
There are 2 LQS by me that I know about. One about 15 minutes away and one about an hour. I rarely go to the far one because it is just too far (I did get the Civil War repro fabric for my Dear Jane there). I refuse to go to the close one again. Last time I was there my DH stopped by on a whim, handed me a wad of cash and said "Have a good time". I walked in and was completely ignored. I smiled and said hello and no one responded, no one would help me and I wound up not spending all the money. The folks at my Joanns are much more friendly.
06-06-2010, 06:57 PM
#78
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: near Dayton, OH
Posts: 179
My favorite LQS is closing this month - she will be doing online only. Another is for sale - her DH is being transferred to WA and she's hoping someone will buy the shop and keep it open. The next one is okay, has classes and stuff, but the fab selection is not my taste. My favorite shop is about 35 miles so I don't get there very often, tho I like her fabs and staff.
I've been doing my be$t to $upport the $hop$ since the first of the year, and would like to do more, if DH would cooperate and get me a new machine!
I've been doing my be$t to $upport the $hop$ since the first of the year, and would like to do more, if DH would cooperate and get me a new machine!
06-06-2010, 10:27 PM
#79
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Merced, CA
Posts: 4,188
My LQS has an additude too....If your local and don't spend alot you get "the look"...I do buy at other shops at a distance but I don't like the additude I get locally
-------------------------------------
I've noticed that "look" at a few out of town quilting shops. Since I'm an older
lady (76) and no longer give a damn about fashion, I dress comfortably in
jeans and, since I have a very bad ankle, lace up cowboy roper boots, plus a
Tee shirt. I don't look like I could afford a new spool of thread, so I'm ignored
often, which does leave me time to search out the fabrics I want.
But at our local Joann's, one of the young girls working there couldn't answer
my question about what bobbin my new Brother used=different from my Singer= so she whipped out her own cell phone, got on the Internet, found my
machine and the bobbin it used. Then of course she sold me a large amount of
them so I wouldn't run out of colors!! And I filled out a page they gave me for
her to be honored (or whatever they do to their employees), she really did deserve it. Should have more like her.
-------------------------------------
I've noticed that "look" at a few out of town quilting shops. Since I'm an older
lady (76) and no longer give a damn about fashion, I dress comfortably in
jeans and, since I have a very bad ankle, lace up cowboy roper boots, plus a
Tee shirt. I don't look like I could afford a new spool of thread, so I'm ignored
often, which does leave me time to search out the fabrics I want.
But at our local Joann's, one of the young girls working there couldn't answer
my question about what bobbin my new Brother used=different from my Singer= so she whipped out her own cell phone, got on the Internet, found my
machine and the bobbin it used. Then of course she sold me a large amount of
them so I wouldn't run out of colors!! And I filled out a page they gave me for
her to be honored (or whatever they do to their employees), she really did deserve it. Should have more like her.
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