I was very saddened to learn that our only reasonable driving distance LNS is closing. She will remain on the internet and has opened an eBay store, but I don't need to tell you that's not really a happy alternative.
That leaves us in this area with Michaels and Wal-Mart and I'm sure you can all agree that isn't the same thing.
Lucille
"Lucille" ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with
It's not the same thing it's true. The last one in NS closed a few months back and we now see she is on ebay. I am sure it involves her in far fewer hours this way, so I can sympathise, while not liking it. She is now also relieved of having to keep a large inventory in order to please people. She has stuff that either sells or doesn't but won't be asked to order other stuff etc.
As a Guild we are trying to get basic samples of things like the Zweigart fabrics etc. so that at least members can handle them and see them 'for real' before ordering. Next best thing is someone reliable online one can trust for judgment to send what you would like, I did that with Mrs. Twitchett for my last hardanger piece, she picked the fabric based on my description of the type of room it was going in as the colour names really did not help much.
I know it is said that LNS have closed because we, the stitchers, left them for online ordering but I think also many of them did not move quickly enough to carry overdyed, silks etc. but then, that might be because of inventory costs and the fear of being left with it all if the requests for them died out too soon. It's probably fifty/fifty.
This particular store did carry that stuff, probably because the owner absolutely loved to try new things herself. I will miss her input. She does have an e-mail address listed in the note she sent to her customers on line and she said she will try to open up at least two half days a week, so I'm hoping that she will still stay involved.
She also stated that she would entertain an offer to sell. Maybe someone will be interested and buy the store.
And some closed because of bad business decisions, e.g., doubling the size of the store but didn't double the inventory, which meant sales didn't increase proportionately to the increased rent/utilities.
I ordered online the things LNS didn't carry, which they weren't inclined to special-order for me anyway, so they have only themselves to blame for those lost sales.
I have now found a shop owner who also does some designing, so I trust her eye for color in doing the floss-toss for me.
If I buy it, will you run it? ;)
Just what I need in my life. A full time, and for someone with little patience a hair pulling kind of job, and an absentee owner. An owner that I'm quite sure wouldn't be able to keep her mouth shut and let her staff do it their way without adding a "strong" opinion.
RD&H ;*))
What "absentee"? I buy your LNS, I'm moving into the back room. If you see a light on at midnight, don't worry, it's just me stealing some floss. :)
I just don't have it in me to do the job myself.
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