one more on the way out.....

[bubba]

The quilt shop I took my first class at is closing. I'm surprised it has taken her so long to come to this conclusion. I met my sister there earlier and all fabric is 30% off. If you finish the bolt, it's 40%.

I looked, but did not buy as I placed myself on a fabric diet this month, which should be easy to keep since I'm not supposed to sew for three more weeks! Personally, I think it will be longer because I am learning a sprained shoulder takes a long time to heal! Driving there and back, six miles each way, has done me in for the day. I'd take a pain pill and sleep, except we are going out for dinner w/our daughter in two hours and I know I would not wake up.

So, if anyone is in the Tacoma area, Parkland Parish will soon be gone!

[Sylvia H]

Re: one more on the way out.....

I am always sad at the news of a LQS closing. So much good information and support being lost. At the same time, I rarely buy at my LQSs because of the cost. When I can get a discount coupon, from our Shop Hop, I will use that. I recently went to two LQS. One had nothing under $10.98/yd. The other, I was able to find fabric at $7/yd. Fortunately, I did have 20% off coupons, so I picked up a few fabrics at each. But, even with the coupons, I can buy good quality fabric for less on line. Perhaps it will be solely up to the quilt guilds to pass along information and techniques as we continue to lose our LQSs. Of course, this forum also offers great information, support and instruction to quilters.

[CraftySweetPeas]

Re: one more on the way out.....

I thought it was for sale....darn it!

[MRoy]

Re: one more on the way out.....

The discount store where I could get nice fabric for $3/yard closed their fabric/craft department last month without any advance notice at all. Left me hanging with a $100 gift card that DH gave me for Christmas last year. I'd tried to use it earlier this year for fabric and their computer server was down and they couldn't process it. I'm now using the gift card to get boating and fishing equipment instead (good thing I enjoy fishing). I'll not be shopping there after the gift card is all used up.

[GrandmaE]

Re: one more on the way out.....

The quilt shop I took my first class at is closing. I'm surprised it has taken her so long to come to this conclusion. I met my sister there earlier and all fabric is 30% off. If you finish the bolt, it's 40%.

I looked, but did not buy as I placed myself on a fabric diet this month, which should be easy to keep since I'm not supposed to sew for three more weeks! Personally, I think it will be longer because I am learning a sprained shoulder takes a long time to heal! Driving there and back, six miles each way, has done me in for the day. I'd take a pain pill and sleep, except we are going out for dinner w/our daughter in two hours and I know I would not wake up.

So, if anyone is in the Tacoma area, Parkland Parish will soon be gone!

Isn't this the 2nd store in your area closing in the last couple of months?

So sad. We lost a store last month in our town. The owners lease was up and she decided to retire. I think she did good business but it was time to enjoy some time with her husband. We will miss her shop and the gals who worked there a lot. Good selection, good prices and great employees.

[bubba]

Re: one more on the way out.....

Isn't this the 2nd store in your area closing in the last couple of months?

It is! Bayside in Olympia shut down a few months ago due to retirement, and last year, one out in Orting closed due to illness.

I thought it was for sale....darn it!

It has been, but there were no takers.

[Bubby]

Re: one more on the way out.....

We lost three quilt shops owned by the same person. The shops weren't in my immediate area, but they were in areas where they were the only quilt shop. They tried consolidating down to one shop, but it didn't work out either. Their prices were fair but their machine quilting was very mediocre and expensive.

[ucarrieme]

Re: one more on the way out.....

That's too bad. I can't always buy fabric at the LQS but I do try buy something inexpensive just to support their business.

[geegeequilts]

Re: one more on the way out.....

I've said it before...maybe if they had more sales with the prices being a lot lower, maybe buy a certain amount & getting some free. Advertise a discount. Organize a quilting club (not a guild) that offers precuts (or yardage) cheaper. Some of us don't shop at LQS because of pricing or distance to one. And yes I have some fabric that was bought at WM, HL, JA & a quilt shop. I'm just saying that the prices at LQS and not just fabric has driven quilters to find cheaper places to get what they need.

I hope this doesn't make anyone upset or make anyone feel I was attacking any particular business. It was a rant of sorts. I'm just saying with the internet a lot of locally owned shops and not just quilting are gonna lose business. I just can't afford to buy fabric that runs $10 to $14 dollars a yard. And just a final thought...what is your stash made up of? Yardage or precuts?

Gina

[jjkaiser]

Re: one more on the way out.....

Gina my stash is 95% precuts, I have a terrible weakness for JR & CP

[geegeequilts]

Re: one more on the way out.....

I didn't mean to sound like I was hijacking the post. I hope no one is mad or upset with me if they think I did that. I too have some precuts but most of my stash is in yardage a little (very little) is LQS.

Gina

[Snip Snip]

Re: one more on the way out.....

I don't think any one thought you were hijacking the thread.
It used to be that the only way to stay in business was to carry things that Walmart doesn't carry. Now the internet stores compete with and beat out just about anyone. Business has just changed, better in some ways, worse in some ways.

[GrammaBabs]

Re: one more on the way out.....

I agree with snip snip... change can be bittersweet... we all just try to find a way to adjust and "make it work" for us... has anyone considered that we "babyboomers" who are also "tech savy" are feeling pretty content to stay home and shop in our comfy clothes! Or perhaps a health issue keeps us in the house more. Price comparison at lightning speed for just about anything! As with most anything, it's important to "ride the wave of success" being careful to prepare for the future. Enjoy the moment as best we can)

[bubba]

Re: one more on the way out.....

I've said it before...maybe if they had more sales with the prices being a lot lower, maybe buy a certain amount & getting some free. Advertise a discount. Organize a quilting club (not a guild) that offers precuts (or yardage) cheaper. Gina

This shop did have a program. A while ago, they sold cute fabric bags where you got a discount if you had it with you when you shopped. I bought one, I think it was $10. They also had another program where you carried a key fob thing around and when you bought something, they swiped the fob and you got credit points for what you bought. Several other quilt shops up here have that, as well as several restaurants. You can carry one fob and they just add their info to it. Or, you can give them your phone number and it will credit you as well.

[lots2do]

Re: one more on the way out.....

We are losing two here in Maine. One is probably due to the person not really knowing what the business was all about even though she tried really hard to keep it going. The other is based on a decision to spend more time with family. One in NH is hoping to sell her business. As far as I know the ones near our home in Florida are all still going strong.