how to get shop owners to take advantage of TQS

[snowplow3840]

With our traveling around the country in the summer, I am always looking for new quilt shops. I use the search function here wherever we are and try to find shops owned by members. (why not support members if I can). I am constantly amazed when I go into a new shop that I just "happen" upon and ask if they are members, the owner or one of the staff will say oh yes, I (the owner) is a member. Then I ask about screen name and why I didn't find them on the search list. The usual answer is "Oh I haven't had time to set up my profile and list my shop" I try to encourage them to get on board and list their shop. But I AM TRULY AMAZED THAT ANY SAAVY BUSINESS PERSON WOULD NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SEARCH FEATURE HERE.

HAS ANYONE GOT ANY IDEAS ABOUT WHY THIS PHENOMENON EXISTS AND WHAT CAN US CUSTOMERS DO TO ENCOURAGE THE LQS OWNER TO LIST THEIR SHOP?

Ann a befuddled traveling shopper

[eileenkny]

Ann,
Funny you should mention this. A few months ago, Eileen(equilter)and I talked up TQS to our LQS owner. She got "that" smile on her face. You know the one. Another LQS owner told me she's not a fan of Ricky's so why bother? I tried to tell her it's so much more but she just shrugged her shoulders.
I don't think they get it. This site can increase traffic to their sites and shops!!
Hey, all we can do is keep trying, right?

[eileenkny]

I think the shop owners see YOU / posters as part of the limited few who actually will drive to a quilt shop out of their area. They use their ( probably limited) advertising budget to get to their bread and butter customers.... local shoppers who come in regularily for fabric, notions and classes.

A shop owner has to have time to post their information on the list, make up a web page, etc... She may or may not have the needed computer skills and those persons who make up web pages for customers are VERY EXPENSIVE.

Many of the shop owners are pretty much ONE woman shows... they have to have/ make quilts to display, fill out the schedule for her workers, balance the books, order the fabric and still have time for her family...ETC, ETC...... Many shop owners are into quilting but not necessarily into surfing the computer / internet unless it is a tool of quilting... Internet surfing is considered more as a form of relaxation or wasting time then it is seen as an adjunct to business.

[eileenkny]

My LQS is the same way. The basic membership of the local guilds in the area seniors who do not use the Internet. I know...surprising but true. And with the costs of everything increasing...I know more and more folks (not just seniors either) who are cutting expenses and dumping their Internet connection. If they really need to use the Internet...they go to the library.
And I have to say...when I travel I just look in the local phone book for fabric shops.
I have found even if I Google a place...the shop may not come up.
Perhaps it is the not in the exact town I am traveling to or in the next town so using the phone book is the easiest way to find shops.

FW

[eileenkny]

In MICHIGAN and alot of other states I get the COUNTY REGISTER a publication usually available in antique and quilt or craft shops listing shops across the state. I can always find shops in those.

Their also is a quilt shop locator that list quilt shops from state to state a lot of the quilt shops have them in the shop ... our guild always gets the newest issues and we can borrow them from the guilld library. ... I ALWAYS call first to make sure of the hours and the shop is still in business.

[snowplow3840]

I understand the issues of time and money and wanting to advertise to the people who will spend the most BUT my purchases often exceed $100.00 at any quilt shop that has a new or different variety of quilt fabrics and intersting displays. I do check the local newspapers and advertisements when we are in new places but often are driving through and planning to stop for lunch and for dh to take a walk. Stopping at a quilt shop would just be a bonus for me but I do not have time to find a pay phone with a phone book (is there such a thing out there anymore ??????)

A friend took me to a quilt shop in her area where she said the "owners really didn't like Ricky much and wouldn't be interested in talking about him" I figured ok I would just be quiet this time (a new phenomena for me) but she had two rhapsodies in the car and she was looking to match a certain fabric she had used in the applique. So she brought one in and we looked for fabric. A customer came up, admired the rhapsody, asked questions and soon we had a lively discussion going about rhapsodies, Ricky's classes. Super Seminar etc. Two other customers joined us and soon the owner and one staff were right there with us. Before she and I left (I spent about $50.00 on some new Ricky coloree piece and some fat quarters and smaller pieces to use in my BOMs ) the owner had sold two of Ricky's Rhapsody books and about $200.00 of fabric to others besides my friend and I. The other three customers said oh I was only going to look today and look what happened. Similar things have happened when I have been wearing my convergence vest or have a convergence with me looking for a backing or binding etc.

I am sure others of you have similar experiences and we also need to let LQS owners understand the number of younger people there are who quilt but use this site and the internet more than they do other forms of advertisement. THIS ISN'T AN OLD LADIES HOBBY ANY MORE (even if I might qualify age wise as old I refuse to think old so I don't put myself in that category either)

Ann (who just spent about a half hour searching for quilt shops in the areas where we are traveling next so I could call about a certain piece of fabric I need and found ZIP EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN TO SHOPS ON THIS ROUTE AND KNOW THEY ARE THERE)

[snowplow3840]

You know when I was looking to start quilting the internet was the first place I looked- and couldn't find my local quilt shop anywhere. She does not come up in any search engines or on any quilting site even though she has a website. I just happened to drive by one day and thought I would go in and see what kind of fabric it sold. I think there are many people out there like me who want to try a new hobby but are not going to join a guild or anything else like that until they've tried it out. If I hadn't turned down that particular street I still wouldn't have found this shop and it is less than 5 miles from my house (I do not have any friends who quilt and the friends that sew go to Hobby Lobby or Wal Mart for fabric.)

I think shop owners are missing out not advertising at a low cost, high traffic site like this. I have already picked out shops to go to when I am in Chicago next weekend. As for my local shop- I'm glad I did find them- they are very, very helpful and Ihave spent well over $600.00 total on quilting stuff (and have yet to finish my first quilt! :lol: )

Lisa

[snowplow3840]

While reading everyone's entries, I thought, how ironic that my LQS that cosponsored Alex to come out do and a Bernina event isn't on here. I admit for my utility quilts I'll go to walmart or Jomar but the ones that are specially designed and dedicated I will go to the LQS and leave with my bank account $250 lighter (I always purchase an extra yard of each fabric plus batting backing and binding-that when I know it won't remian a UFO :wink: ). I have talked up TQS when I go to the shops but for some reason the shop owners just don't seem to realize the reach they could have. I will just have to be a little more persistent. My LQS isn't 5 min away, so when I do go to any of the three that I can get to it is definitely an event.

I wonder does anyone know if there is a pdf available to print and leave a copy? I wouldn't mind printing one off when I know i'll be at the LQS. Just a thought. Lissette

[snowplow3840]

Thanks Ruth for the heads up on something to take to quilt shops to show them how to get quick and easy advertisements to a lot of quilters at once. I will print out the information and carry it with me to my favorite quilt shops. Ann one of the traveling quilters

[snowplow3840]

Thank you Ruth, I am planning an "event" this weekend. :lol:
Lissette

[snowplow3840]

I had to remind my favorite shop to sign up. It's good because she was the first one in the state to sign up so now she appears first. I know in the "Shoppe" section of the website that the last time I checked they didn't have their zip code search options set up right. If I did a search for my zip code another shop would show up but not my favorite LQS, even though they are in the same city. Reported the problem and it worked one time then it didn't.

[eileenkny]

Thanks, Ruth. I'm going to print it off and take it to a couple of shops.
eileenkny

[eileenkny]

I am a small quilt shop in northern California. I have had the pleasure of being a friend of Alex's for a few years now.
Quilt shops are all about making money. I wish they could see what a great opportunity TQS provides to do that. We can't always have every fabric and every book and pattern. However, TQS is giving great exposure for all the published artists out there. I have learned so much about artists I never knew about before. That converts into classes, book sales and inspiration for my shop. Sometimes it takes a while to get everything together but that is the main point of the show for us. I feel every quilt shop should have someone watching these shows to get ideas for the next class, kit or sale.
Besides I personally have learned so much! If not just for myself than for thinking of great classes to teach.
Pass this along to your quilt shops! Let them see the dollar possibilities.

[Margo]

Hey BunnyRose! It was GREAT visiting your shop this morning on the TQS Road Trip! Your shop looks great, and your yurt classroom is awesome! If I ever get to your neck of the woods, I'll definately stop in! SEW LONG!
Margo in SE Tennessee

[Margo]

Hello, Ladies,

This is the first time in over a year that I've had a chance to stop in to see what's happening here at TQS. By way of introduction, I'd like to tell you my name is Ramona Moreland, and I own a quilt shop, Chester County Quilting. I was among the first dozen owners to post my shop here on the TQS three yers ago when I first opened. I'm tech-savvy, and recommended this website to many of my customers when it first when live. Now, since my business has grown, I don't have the time to spend cruising online forums like I used to, but I would love to share my experiences as a shop owner who has done exactly what each of you has mentioned in this thread:

1. Very few of my quilting customers have even heard of TQS, let alone been here. You would be very surprised at how advertising-resistant many people are.

2. The few customers who have visited TQS have not returned because having full access to this website costs money that they'd rather spend on fabric and notions. I know each of you (and Ricky and Alex, too) think that the subscription price is worth every penny, but not everyone is in agreement. This is even more true in today's tight economy.

3. Others who did pay at first have let their subscriptions drop, myself included. Now I've discovered that I can't search the shop listing to make sure I'm still listed. That's not cool! So, what use is the search function if you have to pay first? There are plenty of free sites out there.

4. I have NEVER had a customer - in three years! - come into my shop and tell me that they found me through TQS. Not once! And trust me, I ask all the time how people have found out about my shop. I've added my shop name and info to literally dozens of websites all over the internet - for free! I target the local guilds directly. I pay to advertise (successfully) in Quilter's Newsletter and direct mail via my own shop newletter. However, word of mouth is by far and away the most vaulable advertising anyone could hope for, trust me! Even my local newspaper was a bust.

Now, knowing what you know from my shop owners' perspective, how much more time and money would you continue to devote to the TQS advertising angle, or any other avenue that obviously isn't working?

I hope I don't sound negative. I'm hoping you would like to hear a shop owners' side to the comments made in this thread. The bottom line - when you realize something isn't working for you, you eventually need to move on. Ladies, have a great day. I'm off to cut 160 kits... Did I mention I love owning a quilt shop????