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a guilt trip to the LQS

Just pondering on this cold, cold winter evening..... do you ever go on a guilt trip to your LQS? Mine is about 35 miles away in a tiny town of about

600 population. I can't imagine why they opened their quilt shop there- they live in my town with a population of 12,000. But they did. The owners are the nicest people and they truly try to keep their fabric prices very reasonable. Their shop is all you could ask for in a LQS. They are helpful, friendly, knowledgeable, have a nice selection of fabrics and patterns and notions and it's all nicely displayed if not in a fancy set-up. (It's an old building with homemade shelving and tables and I'm fine with that.) I am happy to patronize their shop and support their business. But.... I know it's a struggle for them to keep the prices low and still stay in business. They are always very 'helpful' about showing me their latest fabric lines and encouraging me to buy, buy, buy.... and I'm very susceptible to their suggestions. But, sometimes, I find myself making excuses to not make the drive because I know they will tempt me--- and I'm weak. VBG

Do y'all ever find yourselves in this position?

Leslie & The Furbabies in economically depressed small town MO.

Reply to
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
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No, Leslie, but I wish I did. There's a tiny LQS about 40 miles to the west of us and one the same distance or so to the east. To the west, they patronize me - you know - they go ga-ga over my quilts and want to display them; they want me to teach, they want to longarm for me. They treat me like I'm an expert and a celebrity and it's really worse than nauseating and I don't quite know how to respond except to run for the hills as fast as I can. The one to the east? They act like I'm not a member of their local guild and probably not worth bothering with. I don't like that either. This sounds like Cranky Pants Polly - but it's just the truth. I remember dearly the little shops here before Katrina washed them away. But ! we are surviving. After only three years we actually got a real post office last week. Polly

"Leslie & The Furbabies in MO." Just pondering on this cold, cold winter evening..... do you ever go on a

Reply to
Polly Esther

Although my city has several fabric stores, my favorite quilt shop is in my home town, 70 miles away. The owners had done custom sewing at the family farm for quite a few years, but decided to have an actual quilt shop "in town" when an old grocery store building became available, and it is great! They know just about everybody but don't gossip, are very knowledgable, generous with their expertise, stock only good fabrics, and are very pleasant folks. I only get to my home town every 3 or 4 months, but always make a point to stopping at the quilt shop. My niece, who lives 17 hours' drive away, visits once or twice a year, and always does her shopping there, too. (They kind of like having long-distance repeat customers.)

Reply to
Mary

Gosh, I don't think they would want you to feel guilty. Purchase what you can and don't feel it is your job to be sole support for the place. I would think 35 miles in your big truck makes just getting there kind of pricey. There are 3 quilt shops that opened in the area here in the last few years. Two are the same direction 10-15 miles away and the other is about 5 miles away in a spot I just don't go out of my way to get to because of traffic. I do work out of my stash mostly and get a lot of staples at M&L though. I go to M&L occasionally on the way to family functions sort of as an incentive. Not too far out of the way and worth it. I don't do deadlines so if I run out of something I wait until I get near a shop or order online. There is a reason my 3-1/2 yo vehicle has only 24K in miles on it! I try and save my guilt for big stuff. If any of the lqs's had opened in a more central location I would probably shop it more. I am very near the main hub of the shopping area here in the valley and not one quilt store is. Taria

Leslie & The Furbabies > Just pondering on this cold, cold winter evening..... do you ever go on

Reply to
Taria

To paraphrase a statement "they can't make you feel guilty without your permission". I buy when I want, where I want. The semi-LQS is closing mid-March, and I spent 2 hrs in there yesterday [1.5 hrs of it standing in line] and got a couple pieces of fabric, thread, and ceramic beads to make a fob for SAM [my new car]. Did I need the fabric? No. But I have plans for it.

Where a shop owner chooses to set up their business is their decision, and you should never feel obligated to buy to help them stay open!

Just my 2 cents worth, G> Just pondering on this cold, cold winter evening..... do you ever go on a

Reply to
Ginger in CA

Well, we've lost our TSWLTH this year, WalMart is getting rid of their fabric dept soon...there is an LQS about 8 miles from me and the next one is 2 hrs away. i love love love the one 2 hrs away, the other is nice, and has a great selection of fabrics, but there's a little attitude with that store. i do go there once a month for a get together group, but i dont interact too much (with the owner) and dont buy much from there. i only get to go to the 2hr away one about 2-3 times a year. but i really enjoy it there.

Attitude is everything, and feeling welcome is second to none.

amy in CNY

Reply to
amy in CNY

Yes, and what's with the attitude some LQS's have? We have two within driving distance. In one, I feel welcome, it's a wonderful atmosphere and there's about nothing I'd rather do than go there and just waste an hour browsing (and I've never left without a purchase, yet, whether I need anything or not). In the other one, I feel like a tresspasser.

Sherry

Reply to
Sherry

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