Textiles Talk

OT a bit: If you could open a CS store

Question:

I have been doing a bit of looking around for cross stitch stores, and found out the nearest one to me is about an hour away.  (I live in Hamilton, ON and it’s in Toronto, ON for those familiar with the Golden Horseshoe area of ON.)  Anyway, I got thinking how nice it would be to open my own store. Now, it will probably never happen any time soon, if at all.  I’m still in university, and plan to get married and start a family when I’m finished in about 4 years.  So, this got me thinking, if you could open a cross stitch store (and other needlework) what kind of things would you stock?  All the BF, cords, etc?  All colors of DMC and Anchor (which is near impossible to get here)?  Would you have a small stitching area with chairs for customers to relax and stitch a bit?  I have a friend in commerce (I’m in engineering, soon to change to computer science, I hope) who is also interested.  Let me know what you think. Oh, and where in a city would you it.  We have one street, that was pretty run down but coming back now, where there are many fabric and dress making supply stores (only one carries floss, and it’s J&P, and no aida).  Would you put it here or elsewhere.     Thanks,         Heather

Response:

writes: So, this got me thinking, if you could open a cross stitch store (and other needlework) what kind of things would you stock?

Ooh, that’s sounds great! I only sell over the internet, so let me dream a bit…. I would not carry DMC I think – if you have a WalMart near you they will beat your price. Anchor would be good, though. I would have lots and lots of patterns of course, and plenty of finished items on the walls. Lots of Kreinik braids and BF. Silk floss, waterflowers, an area for mothers to corral the kiddies (a large playpen type thing – I’ve seen these without floors – just walls and they are big) An area to have classes. Lots of fabric, of course <G. Mill Hill beads – Michaels’ does carry these, but not all the colors, so they should sell ok. Kim Fabrics2U email me to get on monthly sale list! http://members.aol.com/Fabrics2U/index.html

Response:

Hi Heather This subject was passed around not too long ago (in case you wish to go a DejaNews search for past responses to this subject – there were quite a few good suggestions). I thought I would comment on the "where" question  - I would say it depends on your city.  I personally don’t pay a lot of attention to the surroundings – and frankly if locating in a "bad/more run down" part of town keeps the overhead down then this will be reflected (somewhat) in the prices I pay and is OK by me.  But – I was raised in a small town with no crime to speak of and then went off to Laf., IN which is fairly low-crime.  Now I’m living in Fort Worth, TX and it’s another story. Where I’m not as paranoid as those raised here – I certainly wouldn’t leave the house doors unlocked like I did in Indiana and even ‘tho we live closer to the school than when I was little (and walked)  - the kids do NOT walk to school by themselves. So if your city has a high-crime rate then you will want to take into consideration that many potential customers will be uneasy in some run-down areas and may not even come check you out. I like the idea of having chairs and good lighting for customers to stay a while and stitch.  When I was having daydreams of a needlecrafts shop – I always envisioned a place set aside for people to sit and stitch/crochet/knit . . . with another area for to keep kids occupied (with a TV/VCR and a "nice" movie running and maybe crayons and paper with a pint size table/chairs and of course toys). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been doing a bit of looking around for cross stitch stores, and found out the nearest one to me is about an hour away.  (I live in Hamilton, ON and it’s in Toronto, ON for those familiar with the Golden Horseshoe area of ON.)  Anyway, I got thinking how nice it would be to open my own store. Now, it will probably never happen any time soon, if at all.  I’m still in university, and plan to get married and start a family when I’m finished in about 4 years.  So, this got me thinking, if you could open a cross stitch store (and other needlework) what kind of things would you stock?  All the BF, cords, etc?  All colors of DMC and Anchor (which is near impossible to get here)?  Would you have a small stitching area with chairs for customers to relax and stitch a bit?  I have a friend in commerce (I’m in engineering, soon to change to computer science, I hope) who is also interested.  Let me know what you think. Oh, and where in a city would you it.  We have one street, that was pretty run down but coming back now, where there are many fabric and dress making supply stores (only one carries floss, and it’s J&P, and no aida).  Would you put it here or elsewhere.     Thanks,         Heather

Response:

what kind of things would you stock?   We have one street, that was pretty run down but coming back now, where there

are many fabric and dress making supply stores (only one carries floss, and it’s J&P, and no aida).   I think I would place it there, since it would be an area that people would associate with sewing and stitching related items.  The rent should also be less then in areas that are nicer and more established   I would want the charts for many different interest areas and that would dictate the other supplies to carry.  You would definetely need to be able to supply the needed materials for these charts.  After all you don’t want your customers having to go else where to fill in the items from the lists.  So you would want to get supplied with the overdyes, blending filiments, beads and other general emblishments.  None of this will happen overnight.  You will probably have to aquire them over time.  But some of the basics had better be in place at the time of opening.  A good selection of linens would be a must to me also.  I don’t want much do I! nancymiller

Response:

Filed under: Silk Fabric

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