What is your 'preferred shopping' experience?

[rebeccav]

<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>I am doing research on opening a yarn/bead store locally. Currently, there is only big chains: WM, HL, JA, Michaels, Hancock-just those 5.
We are looking into several retail locations and I wanted to get the opinions of fellow yarn (and thread) lovers.

Like all cities, we have different 'areas' of shopping - near the Mall - where there is TONS of shopping - big strip malls and chain stores - there are medium sized strip malls all through town with 1 or 2 store giants and several small shops - small strip malls with all local shops (usually go to with purpose, not just something you 'wander' around at) - then there's 'downtown', it's an area of town that is dwindling, but the city is trying to pick it back up (and is doing a good job) the stores line the one-way streets, small shops with history and a great feel - then there is 6th street which is Route66, the tourists are constant the stores are individual(meaning the fronts are different), but they share sides. this is also a historical district so the structure can not be changed.

Guess I should say that in my part of the world, everyone drives and it is 'no big deal' to drive across town - or down the block, to get to where you are wanting to go. It can take up to 20-30 minutes to drive across town, but that's not an issue here. It's normal and we just do it. So, all that said:

If you had a choice where would you prefer to shop?



Thank you very much for your opinion in this!</FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Results (total votes = 19):</FONT><table bgcolor=#FFFFFF border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width="75%">
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Mall type - close to 'big city' shopping</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>0&nbsp;/&nbsp;0.0%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td></td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Strip Mall - convenient to other shopping areas</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>2&nbsp;/&nbsp;10.5%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=31 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Local Strips - off the beaten path, but 'homey'</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>2&nbsp;/&nbsp;10.5%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=31 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Downtown - out of the way, but worth it for the feel and specific shopping</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>1&nbsp;/&nbsp;5.3%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=15 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>6th street - very comfy, relaxed near lots of small all local stores (antiques-cafes and coffee shops)</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>14&nbsp;/&nbsp;73.7%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=221 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<a href=http://p084.ezboard.com/fcrochetvillefrm18.showMessage?topicID=16.topic><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Vote Now</FONT></a> &nbsp

[HollyM]

I think for a high end, specialty shop, the trendy touristy part of town might be the best bet. That where you'll get customers with money to burn and time to leasurly shop.
As long as there is enough local traffic in the off season...

Having a good web presence and the ability to ship could be a good idea so those tourists can be repeat customers!

I don't know what your source options would be but I would try to have some less expensive yet not "craft store" yarns available. I went to a new LYS and everything was so so expensive. There were no medium price options. I'm not talking Red Heart, but maybe some Plymouth or something??
I want to support small stores, I don't mind spending a little more for something special but I'm not going to spend $30 to make a hat <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/cutewink.gif" />

Holly

[rebeccav]

thank you so much for the input, holly
i actually plan on spinning a lot of the yarn we will carry and i'm sure i'll price that very reasonably! because i agree with you. i've never had the opportunity (yet) to see an actual LYS, but the ones you can tour and stuff on line, OUCH! the prices are crazy! the plan is to also have spinning/crocheting (of course) and knitting lessons. along with beading help (learning different things-loomin, peyote stitches and such). i've also got an appointment to talk with the leader of the local weaver's guild. several of those ladies spin as well, so i'm hoping to get several local contributors...

[Donna]

As soon as I started reading the survey, I immediately knew what my response would be. 6th street. That is similar to my LYS location. Our historic area has been very successful in revitalizing the area. It has a great atmosphere. Also, I'm echoing Holly. Everything she said. I agree totally.

[Deb]

I guess you can put me down as *ditto* to what's been said here already. I agree completely.

Good luck in your venture, Rebecca. <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/veryhappy.gif" />

[Nashville Crocheter]

Rebecca, my answer is 6th street. Let me tell you about the stores in my area. As far as I know there are no combinations like that here. There are at least 3 lys here ( that I know of). All are in a different part of town. 2 are in definintly UPSCALE areas. The other one is in a neighboring town but is still close. All three take me about 30 to dirve to.

There are several bead stores. 3 have the same owner and are in 3 different areas of town. again upscale area in small shopping areas. One bead store I know of is in a "specialty "shopping area. a former residential street the businesses are each in houses. There is a Wild Birds Unlimited, Florist shop, Collectible dolls, Antiques, and several shops that have items for your garden. There are more I just put the ones that I can think of off the top of my head.

[Sonny321]

I have to agree on some of the prices at LYS's. I have a lovely one very close to my house. Yarn Heaven( she actually has an ad in August's Crochet Fantasy) It's a beautiful store in a local stip mall. My Only problem is the prices, She has some yarns for around $70 a skein, and yes it's so scrumptius but Yikes! I love the selection she has, you can walk in there and just spend HOURS touching and dreaming, And the pattern books, OMG so many, but sadly the main reason I go there, is to buy crochet magazine's( only place I can find them) or the occasional pattern, because everything else is out of my price range, and it's a shame because I'd do all my yarn shopping there if I could afford it.

[woolandflax]

Oh my gosh Rebecca!! You said we have alot in common but I know you could not realize just how much. Hubby and I are also beginning the research phase of opening our own lys. The town we live in is supplied only by Wal-Mart, as far as yarn goes. The only specialty craft store we have is a scrapbooking store. Those are very big around here. Anyway, I voted for the 6th street location. That is the kind of area I'm looking for too. Hey, you could email me if you want, I'd love to discuss this more in length. I have alot of questions!!! :read :idea

my email address is chigaboom1976@yahoo.com

[AmyS]

Rebecca, I have recently begun considering doing something similar myself: combined yarn/bead store. I love crocheting and beading, and I'm pretty good at both. My sister is also starting her own lampwork bead business this year.

We have an expensive yarn store in town already, plus W-M, Hobby Lobby, and Michael's. I would open on the complete opposite side of town from the yarn store, but the other stores would be within relatively easy distance.

I've noticed that many crocheters don't tend to use the very expensive yarns the knitting-focused stores carry as much/often as the knitters do. I know there is no way as a small independent store I would be able to compete price-wise on the yarns carried by W-M, HL, and Michael's.

Are there enough mid-priced yarns that are not carried by those stores that would draw both crocheters and knitters into the store?

I would love to hear from people on what specific yarns you would like to see an LYS carry that you don't typically find at your craft/discount stores or LYS. Any ideas out there?