I found a shop in Kentville, quite by accident when we were down for a wedding over the summer, but it's only open weekdays, for some reason. It's called the Art-Flo SHoppe, and it looks like it has some interesting things. What kinds of things would the Guild members want?
Louisa
That's a great idea, and there are a couple of knitting shops here.
Louisa
I hadn't thought of people coming in expecting to be taught extensively. I was thinking that most people with a project would just need a quick bit of help, to clarify something in the instructions or maybe to have a stitch demonstrated, but nothing needing more than 10 or 15 minutes at most. You see, that's why I put the question up here. Lots of experience and viewpoints are a huge help! A consultation sounds essentially like a private class. Is that right?
Louisa
Was she the same gal who opened up a craft shop in Penhorn Mall? Heather's I think? It was at the time I had just started needlework. I remember too a small craft store in Woodlawn Mall that also carried some supplies. One think that sticks out in my mind is that she had a ring binder of photocopied patterns! At that time I didn't have a clue about where patterns came from and thought this was normal procedure! Neither are around anymore.
Mavia
No, the scurriluous Heather was on Almon and later on Young. I remember the place in the Woodlawn Mall, can't remember the name either but I think they were more yarn than needlework.
I expect you knew Heather McCumber in Truro, everything kopasetic about her, no copied patterns etc. She is still with the Marigold Guild.
The shop in Penhorn was run by the daughter of the family who had the shop in New Brunswick. I remember Jonna C. used to give hardanger classes there.
Yes, I know Heather McCumber. Like you said she's an excellent teacher. Too bad no one took over her business. We're luck to have Because You Count. Their mail service is good also.
Mavia
I must ask my daughter what she knows, sure sounds like her, my daughter lives just up from there on the top of Bellevista and I know she used the store for knitting wool, we were doing lots of lopi sweaters then.
The store in Penhorn and the one in Woodlawn were two different stores. You are right the one in Woodlawn was mostly a yarn shop but the one is Penhorn had all kinds of crafts. I'll ask Jonna tomorrow night. I'm sure I've heard her refer to it as Heather's.
It's nice to have the Guilds starting up again. Does Alderny still go all year?
Mavia
Yes, it never closes lol I am guilty of not attending too much of late but will be getting back to work this winter. I have been knitting and shall be away in October and for the rest, well life happens. I always know what is happening because Lyn Young and I are close friends and she is Treasurer etc.
She moved from young to penhorn, then out on Portland ( or the other way round not sure) She went bankrupt a few times. At penhorn she tried to be a total craft store and I think that may have been where the problems came. in. I have to say everytime she closed up shop I did well in heavily discounted stash. When she moved form penhorn I got several DMC floss storage units and they are great for all my threads . Ruby
Honestly, I don't think having the floss at a reasonable price brings in much traffic. I'd say perhaps 3 people a week maybe, just maybe, come in for some DMC or Anchor that they specifically need - if that's all they need. And then buying something else - perhaps. Mostly, people are in because they want to browse the stash, and the floss is a convenience so they can kit up their newest project. So, mostly - it's really a convenience, and honestly, the shop owner where I was managing wanted to dump it - but several of us convinced her that would be so foolish - as people would just be so irked if they only had the pricier threads available at the LNS. The floss takes a fair amount of show space, but IMHO, you have to carry it. But, seriously, it's really rare for someone to go into the LNS to buy DMC and then buy a bunch more. They're already wanting to get a project generally when they come in - or some special threads, fabric. The ones who just want floss - they go to Michaels, or just come in, and and just buy the floss. IME. It just doesn't work as a loss leader for an LNS the way it does for large shops (differences in percentage of loss versus overhead and what other big ticket items will attract you).
Ellice
Yes. Often people come in, with their Michaels bag, full of stuff, and can't figure something out. It's usually a "big" question - that takes more than just a couple of minutes to show them. And honestly, in a small shop, if you have to spend 15 minutes with a customer that isn't buying anything, and didn't buy her project from you...that can be a problem. You have to judge the situation. We'd just politely say something about being happy to show you some instructional material, books, take a quick look. IF it's a quick thing - fine. But, often, they're really confused and we'll just suggest a consultation, private lesson. And that works really well - people get a lot from that, and when I teach them, I'll do the basics, have them do some doodle stuff, and work on any specifics in the allotted time. I've frogged plenty for customers. OTOH, if the project came from the shop - then we do most help for free. But, we do have customers that buy a project, and really need a full lesson session - beyond the basic guidance we'll give, and they'll just ask for it.
In the knitting shop, I've noticed that they get a lot of people with "problems" which really need one of their folks to actually physically fix. The customer may be scared, or unsure how to follow the instruction to do the fix - and some of those really take time. So, they waent to the "consult" policy and it has really helped them a lot.
Ellice
That's been my experience. If I needed just DMC I most likely would have gone to Michaels or JoAnn's.
That was quicker and most always cheaper for me because I rarely left the LNS without something wonderful that I would never have had if I didn't go there.
I would be surprised to hear that a lot of us could step foot in a decent needlework shop and come out with nothing but a skein of DMC floss. I rarely do that even in Michaels and they don't have nearly as many goodies to look at.
Lucille
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My guess is that you're a really good teacher and you certainly know your craft. Unfortunately people like you, who are willing to give of themselves and share their knowledge, are few and far between. And, of course, there's always the one who thinks they know and after two sentences you realize that you know more then they do and they really can't help.
I try to explain to people why I spend time on this newsgroup and they simply don't understand that I learn more about needlework then anywhere else I know of, and there's the plus bonus of someone here most always being an expert in several other areas. It's rare that a question is asked and no one has an opinion or an answer and that for me is a great thing.
Lucille
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That's good to know. You also mentioned "big ticket items'. How much variety in stands, lights, etc., do you think is reasonable or necessary?
Louisa
I know what you mean. It's 'kid in the candy store' syndrome!
Louisa
Louisa, at the risk of being forward, are you thinking of thrilling metro by opening an LNS ?
On 9/19/08 1:22 PM, in article snipped-for-privacy@p25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com, " snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com" wrote: Careful snipping....
I'd love to have a chance to see and even try a variety of stands and frames. And to try different magnifiers.
Cheryl
I wouldn't waste floor space or inventory money on Ott lights and other items that are readily available in other places, especially ones that offer coupons or regularly have 40% off sales. Instead, I might have one or two hard to find but wonderful floor and lap stands, frames, hoops, etc. I'd also have a notebook containing pictures of other 'must have' items prominently displayed.
and another thing -- it's impossible for a shop to have everything so good relationships with reputable suppliers who ship things quickly is very important. Case in point -- I needed a piece of congress cloth for a project and rather than order it online, I went to LNS. She didn't have any but when she offered to order it for me, I said 'yes.' Weeks passed and I didn't hear from her. I finally called and was told that the order hadn't come in yet. Almost 8 weeks after placing the order, I was told it had arrived at the shop.
Turns out she had ordered it from NN (y'all figure out who/what that is ) I paid her what I would've paid them plus sales tax but not shipping and handling.
At least it eventually arrived. A friend ordered a couple skeins of specialty fiber from our now defunct LNS. For the next close to two years, each time either of us was in there, we asked after it. The shop closed without it ever arriving. It was only during the clearance sale that it was finally admitted to me that it had never been ordered; they didn't have enough special orders yet to make up the minimum order from that company!
If that was really the problem, they could've just given me the company's catalogue and I would've happily ordered a bunch of stuff for stash, or I could have tossed it in with an order for other stuff that they didn't stock, but we were led to believe that it had been ordered and the manufacturer hadn't shipped it.
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