What sends you back to your favorite LQS?
10-11-2009, 07:33 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Pacific NW USA
Posts: 883
My favorite shop is well over an hour's drive. There are MANY nice LQS closer to me, a lot closer. However what keeps me coming back is LOTS of fabrics and the biggest selection of batiks, and new ones always coming in.
The shop is well lit so that I can actually see the color of the fabrics, there is ample space to walk between the rows of fabric.
Important to me...there are a couple places to sit down scattered within the shop (ones that are not for selling sewing machines). I have a back injury and can not stand for more than about 10 minutes without a short stop to sit. Not many shops include a spot to sit for a moment. They also have a stool at the checkout counter for customers.
They offer a Birthday month discount. One time during your birthday month you can get 25% off all your fabric for the day.
Staff is ALWAYS friendly, and attitude counts for a lot and one of the reasons I don't shop closer to home.
The cutest shop, closest to me had a lady work there who was so totally rude to my husband and I that he was horrified, and every time I consider going to that shop I remember that incident and do not want to go. Sad, she was an employee and I don't even know if she is still there. I never mentioned it to the owner. I should have. It's been a couple years and I still never want to go there.
:D :D
The shop is well lit so that I can actually see the color of the fabrics, there is ample space to walk between the rows of fabric.
Important to me...there are a couple places to sit down scattered within the shop (ones that are not for selling sewing machines). I have a back injury and can not stand for more than about 10 minutes without a short stop to sit. Not many shops include a spot to sit for a moment. They also have a stool at the checkout counter for customers.
They offer a Birthday month discount. One time during your birthday month you can get 25% off all your fabric for the day.
Staff is ALWAYS friendly, and attitude counts for a lot and one of the reasons I don't shop closer to home.
The cutest shop, closest to me had a lady work there who was so totally rude to my husband and I that he was horrified, and every time I consider going to that shop I remember that incident and do not want to go. Sad, she was an employee and I don't even know if she is still there. I never mentioned it to the owner. I should have. It's been a couple years and I still never want to go there.
Originally Posted by Cathy M
...
16. When you come in for your fabric emergency, the clerks
don't comment on the fact you're wearing pajama bottoms
and your hair isn't brushed :) :) .
16. When you come in for your fabric emergency, the clerks
don't comment on the fact you're wearing pajama bottoms
and your hair isn't brushed :) :) .
10-11-2009, 07:37 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Southwest Kansas
Posts: 4,820
Good question! I have 6 favorite LQSs. Mostly I go back because I'm friends with the owners. They're all friendly, have great fabric selections, etc. They also tend to be local quilter hang-outs with coffee and places to sit and chat.
The ones that aren't my favorites are just stores, not shops. You may or may not get greeted when you go in.
The one I refuse to shop at is mostly an internet store but she's supposedly open evenings and saturdays. She belongs to a couple of guilds I'm in and thinks she's an authority on nearly everything. Plus she's selling a kit to guild members for a guild workshop at full price and acting like she's giving them a discount. I've seen the exact same kit advertized for less in a couple of magazines.
The ones that aren't my favorites are just stores, not shops. You may or may not get greeted when you go in.
The one I refuse to shop at is mostly an internet store but she's supposedly open evenings and saturdays. She belongs to a couple of guilds I'm in and thinks she's an authority on nearly everything. Plus she's selling a kit to guild members for a guild workshop at full price and acting like she's giving them a discount. I've seen the exact same kit advertized for less in a couple of magazines.
10-11-2009, 07:38 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Tied up in Thread
Posts: 5,109
Originally Posted by gaigai
There is only one LQS within a reasonable distance to me here, and I'll never darken their doors again. I signed up for a class that was forming. They had a list, but no firm date yet. I was about the fifth name on the list. They never called. I also requested to join a Civil War Block class. They said they would have to ask the instructor, but was never called. If they had even called and said, "sorry, the class is cancelled; the other instructor said no" or whatever I would have been ok, but I never heard a thing.
10-11-2009, 07:58 AM
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Front row
Posts: 14,646
I travel a lot and go to all the quilt shops I find where ever I'm at. The successful shops are inviting and happy places. The bad shops makes me wonder if the owner has ever set foot in a successful shop.
10-11-2009, 08:18 AM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Athens Ga
Posts: 11,420
My favorite shop is 1 1/2 hr away, but there is a huge fabric selection. And she carries all the latest fabrics. Rows of Batiks, rows of blues etc: you name it and there will be rows to look through. You can't see all that is there in just one day. Huge cutting tables, and no matter how busy they are, you never have to wait long. 32,000 sq. ft. of material to drool over, and a large selection of notions, patterns, and books. The prices are very reasonable. My DH is glad we don't live closer!!! :D :D :D
10-11-2009, 09:07 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,743
Originally Posted by azdesertrat
they are open on Sundays.the only shop in town that is,except Joanns
10-11-2009, 09:15 AM
#18
Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marana, Arizona
Posts: 85
Desperation for a certain fabric is what sends me to my LQS. It is about 30 miles from me. Sadly, they will only occasionally greet me. If so, then I know it's a new employee :lol:
For the most part I am ignored the entire time I'm looking. They will be eager to cut my fabrics and ring me up. Offer no chit chat, no friendliness.
It makes me wonder how they've stayed in business. Maybe it's just me??
I can't believe in a city like Tucson there are so few quilting shops. :?:
For the most part I am ignored the entire time I'm looking. They will be eager to cut my fabrics and ring me up. Offer no chit chat, no friendliness.
It makes me wonder how they've stayed in business. Maybe it's just me??
I can't believe in a city like Tucson there are so few quilting shops. :?:
10-11-2009, 09:43 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,199
Originally Posted by grammy Dwynn
I have the choice of two shops, both 30 minutes away.
:mrgreen: always friendly
:? barely acknowledge you
:mrgreen: great parking lot
:? street parking or across the street lot
:mrgreen: large fabric selection
:? okay selection
:mrgreen: 30,40& 50% sale rack
:? 30% sale (not always quilt fabric,??)
:mrgreen: large class room
:? squeeze play
:mrgreen: two potty rooms
:? have to get a key and go two doors down ??
Okay you get the picture. Sometime the simple things can make a great shop. MY LQS has clubs, BOM, class for beginners to advanced. Wool, Jackets, totes (of course quilts) classes. Late night sewing once a month, for your own projects and just getting together with the 'girls'.
:mrgreen: always friendly
:? barely acknowledge you
:mrgreen: great parking lot
:? street parking or across the street lot
:mrgreen: large fabric selection
:? okay selection
:mrgreen: 30,40& 50% sale rack
:? 30% sale (not always quilt fabric,??)
:mrgreen: large class room
:? squeeze play
:mrgreen: two potty rooms
:? have to get a key and go two doors down ??
Okay you get the picture. Sometime the simple things can make a great shop. MY LQS has clubs, BOM, class for beginners to advanced. Wool, Jackets, totes (of course quilts) classes. Late night sewing once a month, for your own projects and just getting together with the 'girls'.
10-11-2009, 11:06 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central FL
Posts: 4,829
My favorite is not convenient, and has a huge problem with inadequate parking. Still, it is just so inviting. The fabrics are beautiful, artfully arranged, and lots of projects are displayed to get your creative juices going.
The ladies working there seem genuinely interested in what you are making and I have the sense that they are quilters, too. At the chain stores, I know some of the people cutting my fabric have newer sewn a stitch, or they'd cut the cloth straight!
The ladies working there seem genuinely interested in what you are making and I have the sense that they are quilters, too. At the chain stores, I know some of the people cutting my fabric have newer sewn a stitch, or they'd cut the cloth straight!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
KathyJB
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
26
03-30-2017 05:43 PM
Chigger Holler Quilter
Offline Events, Announcements, Discussions
10
09-01-2010 12:04 AM
