This article was originally written FIVE years ago and so much of it is still true! Quit shops need our help if they are going to survive. I have changed a bit of the language in this to reflect that I no longer own a store and to update for today’s trends in social media so give it a fresh look, since there is NEVER a better time than now to give your local store a bit of love, even if it is from a socially distanced 6 feet and while wearing a mask!
“How can I help you succeed?” a sweet new customer who had fallen in love with our store asked during her first visit. It was a great question and the truth is that customers can play a HUGE roll in the success of a shop especially in these very perilous pandemic days.
Of course the top thing you can do is shop at your LQS as often as your budget allows, even if their physical doors are closed there is a good chance their website is open!
But honestly you don’t have to spend a dime to help your favorite shop shine.
7 Ways to be your quilt shop’s BFF that don’t cost a dime!
- Make it your goal to introduce a different friend to your LQS every month.
Bring them in the shop and get them on the mailing list for specials and coupons.Send them a link for a sale or share a Facebook post with them along with a link to some cool new fabric you think they will love! - If they are open and you go, wear a damn mask and bring hand sanitizer so you are not exposing them to more harm than they are already in for. And if there is any chance you have been exposed, or are not feeling well do not be a selfish ass and go and expose them.
- Respect their new polices, hours and rules, don’t be that person who makes them regret having a quilt shop.
- Make sure to have a little stash of shop business cards on hand to give out when the moment is right. (guild meetings, craft fairs etc) and share their Facebook Page as often as once a week!
- Toot their horn! When you show off a quilt or other project give the shop where you got the fabric some credit. Give them even more credit if they helped you with your color selection, quilt math or ordered in something special for you.
- Boost them on social media. Give your favorite store a regular shout-out on line with a link to their page. It is NOT too much to do this weekly!
- Click the ~ LIKE~ button on ALL posts or mentions of the shops you love. Such a small thing and yet huge in the bid for social media presence. Really.. like really.
- Share blog posts to Pinterest when appropriate.
- Share the facebook update when your LQS posts. This is called an organic-share and it is a powerful way to support your LQS in getting their message out there on Facebook and on Instagram. <—- This one is huge folks, if you do nothing else share!
And last but not least, know that the people running the store you love are making sacrifices to keep that store open for you even if they are only on line right now. They are busting their asses every day and are not going to whine about it and when you ask they are going to smile and tell you that all is good since in many ways it is but it is also scary AF right now. So if you want to be the lucky person with a local quilt shop keep shaking your pompoms for them, they need all the help they can get right now!
Pssssst.. did you know that the private membership community for BAQS is getting ready to open its doors? Only 575 invitations have been issued.. did you get one? There are a very few left and if you want one when they go live CLICK HERE to score one or get on the waiting list!
True! I worked part time for my LQS and I loved it and our customers. It recently closed, and I miss it and The owners. Haven’t been another one like it.
Nothing can beat going into a quilt shop and touch and feel all the fabrics!
You can get one on one advise and meet lots of friends too!
Maddie, thank you for this post! It is being revived among a number of quilt shops on their facebook pages. We are all sharing your post as we have seen a rise in manufacturers selling to companies that are undercutting the LQS… Craftsy is a major offender!
Great post! I included it in my reading list here: http://quiltartbymegan.com/2015/12/16/day-16-what-im-reading/
My area has lots of quilt shops to visit. My fave is in my hometown where I go first fridays to spend the day shopping, sewing, sharing ideas, visiting with the wonderful staff whom I’ve become close friends with, and sharing a meal together, along with ideas and our excitement over the upcoming quilting cruise in the spring.
What a lovely post! I’ve just celebrated my second year of having a quilt shop … no brick and mortar here … just an old post and beam barn that I share with my husband’s Wooden Toy and Gift Shop. My friends are my customers, and my customers are my friends. When I had a half dozen customers on Small Business Saturday, I was thrilled! And when Row by Row™ came to Massachusetts in my first year, I was amazed that people from all over were finding my shop at the RxR website! Quilters’ Quarters in Georgetown, MA is my retirement dream come true!
I love brick & mortar. On line is dull & impersonal Community is looking friends in eye and sharing our ideas our work and our lives I hope people wake up and appreciate the scope of commitment it takes to sustain the retailer As far as I can tell its a 24/7 job for these store. Please go in and sapport !!!
Such a well written article Maddie! You know I have been trying to build my business online over the last year and a half. I would love to one day open a brick and mortar store, but I guess I have to start somewhere. I am just amazed at how many people “are watching” but not “interacting”. For instance, last week when I posted a new Christmas kit on facebook, I had over 580 visitors to my shop that day! However, I only had 8 “likes” on the facebook post and 1 Comment. ONE! Sometimes I wonder if Social Media does more harm than good? I hope your shop has a tremendous Holiday season and a steady flow of Customers in the New Year! xo jan
Nicely written and a good reminder. Thank you
I love this list and I do tell my friends about my LQS even though they don’t carry fabrics that my friends prefer, they aren’t open at hours when we’re able to shop (close at 4 on Saturday) and they are not active on social media or even sending out newsletters on a monthly basis. I attend the quilting night on Fridays when they stay open until 9pm but I always feel like an outsider. I’ve offered to help them with updating their website but they’ve refused my help. I want them to succeed but I feel like it’s a two way street and their lane is closed. Also, there are bees and events that happen on Sundays or after hours that they don’t promote and only those who are already and trending know about them. I struggle now that my friend who drives from across town for sewing on Friday has said she doesn’t want to drive after dark can’t make it anymore because I don’t feel like I know anyone. But I’m going to keep going and keep trying to meet people and make them know me because I do want that social connection to people. Thanks for sharing this list.
Anna, you are right that it is a two way street and some shops have taken up residence on a one way only avenue! You are a real trooper for trying to promote the shop but at some point there is nothing to be done for some shops that that is ok, it is the way of the market. The part about hours is hard since to be economically feasible you have to have customers in those late or early hours that support the cost of the shop being open and in our experience they just are not out there so that is why you often she shops that close at 4 since there are not enough shoppers after that hour to support keeping the doors open. I would suggest in your case to look for social connection through a guild… find one or start one! 🙂 You can’t be the only lone wolf out there. Thank you so much for taking the time to write!
Thank you for letting me share your voice. I would like to meet you to see how (I) we can get more African-American into quilting. Thanks for your time. Cynthia Sousa
So true. My local shop is very small because she had to take it into her home to keep going. She has gorgeous fabric and offers classes and is the most helpful and generous person. She was going to close this January but has reorganized and is going to try to keep going. Row by Row helped generate more interest in her shop. I pray my favorite shop won’t close. If you are ever in Navarre, FL stop by Unlimited Embroidery and Fabric Art. I guarantee you won’t be sorry you did.