Starting a Discount Fabric Store
Pat
I'm thinking about starting a fabric discount store in a well
populated area of the East Coast. There is really only one other store
that caters to discounted fabrics and that accounts for only 25% of
the store's revenue.
The closest discount fabric store is about 1.5 hours away and I really
believe the area needs an alternative.
The other idea I had would be to start a designer fabric
warehouse/giant retail store in the area. It's a pretty affluent area,
so I believe it would do well. Just can't decide which to choose!
thanks for any help,
-Pat
Ward
Sounds like a great project. If you are going to be anywhere in NJ, go for
the designer fabric store. We can always get ordinary fabrics at Joann's
but have to go to NYC, Philadelphia, or the DC area for really good quality
fabrics.
Liz
"Pat" <pmm1...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:10f69b77.04032...@posting.google.com...
Carey1003
get speciality and "classy" fabrics at a store between CT and MA, and I can go
to 1.99 store in CT to get quantity at a discount but I also know there is
nothing near where I am moving to in Western MA for discount. Don't know if
that helps but its my $.02.
Carey
Charlotte
I can get high-end fabric on the web (as well as in the many specialty
shops in Boston). If I'm going to be spending $15/yard or greater I want
to get *exactly* what I want and usually the web is best for that. Or a
special trip to Britex!
However, a really good discount store is invaluable. I have a great one
two blocks from my office but it's so great that my mother plans to fly
out from Colorado when it comes time to decorate her new house. I *will*
make a point of returning to this store every time I come back here.
If you're willing to maintain a web presence, by all means go high-end.
If not I think your best bet is best value fabrics.
BTW: for the prices my discount store beats JoAnn's every day of the
week, even w/a 50% off coupon. There is the most beautiful 100% silk
there now for $1.99/yard and I really wish I
1. had room for it
2. had a project for it (in that order, I'd buy it without a project if
I could only store it. What reds! What blues!)
Good luck!
-Charlotte
sewingb...@webtv.net
Starting a Discount Fabric Store
pmm1...@yahoo.com (Pat)
Pat, don't know how much help this will be, but FWIW: Here in the
Hampton Roads area, we have just recently gotten large enough,
demographically, to attract a wide variety of national chain stores and
shops. At the same time, competition among fabric suppliers has fallen
dramatically, with large shops closing their doors, (Piece Goods) or
concentrating their main business supplies into the crafting supply
arena, instead of fabrics and notions. I refer, mainly, to TSWLTH,
otherwise known as Joann's. They have positioned themselves as a craft
and garden-art type shop, cramming an increasingly scant fabric supply
into the messy mix.
Their other competitor, Hancock's, is more expensive, but carries a
full line of dress fabrics, notions, and uph/drapery fabrics, and their
sales help are excellent; cheerful and always ready to help plan a
project or figure yardage. unlike the trolls who work elsewhere.
Local, individual-owned craft stores are plentiful, and Wal-Mart is
barely a blip on my fabric radar. We have a great interior fabric/
workroom shop in town, and a large fabric shop on the other side of
town, which I rarely frequent, since prom-gown making days are over. On
the craft side, we have Michael's,
Garden Ridge, Wal-Mart, scores of small stores, and...err...(brain is
now Officially Out of Info; except that it is a nationwide chain, a
newcomer in the local crafting market, and I don't see their ad in the
phone book.)
So, it would appear that everyone can craft, but few people spend a
lot of money sewing. Except me. I've gone to on-line shopping to round
out the selection.
I hope you do your homework and/or have lots of play money to get
started. If you built it here locally, I will come...and bring all of my
friends, even the non-sewing ones. :)
Cea
sewingb...@webtv.net
Re: Starting a Discount Fabric Store
(Charlotte) teased us:
<snip>
However, a really good discount store is invaluable. I have a great one
two blocks from my office but it's so great that my mother plans to fly
out from Colorado when it comes time to decorate her new house. I *will*
make a point of returning to this store every time I come back here. <>
week, even w/a 50% off coupon. There is the most beautiful 100% silk
there now for $1.99/yard and I really wish I
1. had room for it
2. had a project for it
(in that order, I'd buy it without a project if I could only store it.
What reds! What blues!)
----
OK, this is really dirty pool, Charlotte!! Does this discount store
have a web address, or a phone number, or even a name? We like to share
good sources--if we don't, they may go belly-up, and who wants that?
Cea
Charlotte
sewingb...@webtv.net wrote:
> OK, this is really dirty pool, Charlotte!! Does this discount store
> have a web address, or a phone number, or even a name? We like to share
> good sources--if we don't, they may go belly-up, and who wants that?
> Cea
No web address but you can always come visit Cea!
The name is SewFisticated, I learned about it on this board years ago,
and they're just great! I can get the phone number next time I'm there.
Some staff members pride themselves on harassing the guests. One in
particular. I was really surprised when she started yelling at a
customer to not mess up the flat-folds. I watched and she was smiling so
I realized she didn't mean it. Now we take turns dishing out sass to
each other and get along great. She cuts very generously for me!
You can also email me your address and I'll send some silk along...
-Charlotte
Elaine Carpman
"Charlotte" <chrli...@SPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4069ef78$0$558$b45e...@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu...
>
>Oh Charlotte,I have been there.There used to be one very close to my home,
but that store closed. I have been to the one on Morrisey Blvd when I was
working in the area. I miss having the one near me. Right now the one I like
near me is Fabric Place,the rem table has netted me some really nice fabric
especially with a coupon on top of it.
Elaine (south of Boston)
Charlotte
Elaine Carpman wrote:
>Oh Charlotte,I have been there.There used to be one very close to my home,
>
> but that store closed. I have been to the one on Morrisey Blvd when I was
> working in the area. I miss having the one near me. Right now the one I like
> near me is Fabric Place,the rem table has netted me some really nice fabric
> especially with a coupon on top of it.
> Elaine (south of Boston)
Elaine,
I haven't been there but it sounds really nice!
-Charlotte
sewingb...@webtv.net
Re: Starting a Discount Fabric Store
Charlotte, if you're serious, name your poison, and we can arrange a
swap! Say, linen blend?
Cea
Pat
I've been getting 50/50 results on people giving me their opinion on
whether I should open a discount fabric store or a designer fabric
store. Hmmmm. I'm thinking why not both? Discount designer fabrics.
But I just can't resist putting a big (EASY to navigate) discount
regular fabric section.
Ok. My next project is to find a relatively cheap building lease and
start looking at writing a business plan.
The craft area I agree is very big, and our area could probably use a
sewing/craft store. But my heart is in fabrics, fabrics!
Thank you!
Charlotte <chrli...@SPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message news:<406b25a9$0$574$b45e...@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu>...
Charlotte
sewingb...@webtv.net wrote:
> ---
> Charlotte, if you're serious, name your poison, and we can arrange a
> swap! Say, linen blend?
> Cea
>
Ack! Don't tempt me Cea!
I don't have space I don't have space I don't have space!
I am serious in a sense. How do you feel about barter? Bear with me here:
In May I go to my cousin's wedding. While there I have arranged to try
on her mother's wedding gown which is much too large for her to have
worn. For one thing we're a good 8 inches taller than she. This gown was
made by my paternal grandmother on her old machine and was a duplicate
of a designer gown of it's day. My grandmother combined 3 patterns to
manage that. My own mother tried the gown when she married my father and
it fit like it was made for her but her own father wanted to provide her
with a gown of her own, so she didn't wear it.
Guess who is the same size as this aunt and mother (were)??? :) The only
thing about it is that I hear the sleeves are very 1970s, poofy with a
fitted lower arm and a point over the hand. Not me. I'd like to replace
the sleeves with another set but for my aunt to agree I'll have to get a
PROFESSIONAL SEAMSTRESS involved... So someday I propose to visit your
area with my dress, see the capital, and get you to help me put new
sleeves on it. What do you think? I promise I won't be a PITA bride, my
goal in all of this is to be as mellow as possible.
Can I get you lots of silk in barter?
Holding her breath,
-Charlotte
PS. whenever I do get married I'll wear my own mother's veil and
everyone will be happy.
sewingb...@webtv.net
Re: Starting a Discount Fabric Store
chrli...@SPAMyahoo.com (Charlotte)
<sewingb...@webtv.net wrote:
arrange a swap! Say, linen blend?
Cea
<<Ack! Don't tempt me Cea!
I don't have space I don't have space I don't have space!
<< Ahh, I do but dangle the lure, Mi'lady! There is always room for
linen, and it makes up so fast.<G> (note to self: quit reading
historical novels, the style rubs off.)
---
<<I am serious in a sense. How do you feel about barter? Bear with me
here:
In May I go to my cousin's wedding. While there I have arranged to try
on her mother's wedding gown which is much too large for her to have
worn. For one thing we're a good 8 inches taller than she. This gown was
made by my paternal grandmother on her old machine and was a duplicate
of a designer gown of it's day. My grandmother combined 3 patterns to
manage that. My own mother tried the gown when she married my father and
it fit like it was made for her but her own father wanted to provide her
with a gown of her own, so she didn't wear it.
Guess who is the same size as this aunt and mother (were)??? :) The only
thing about it is that I hear the sleeves are very 1970s, poofy with a
fitted lower arm and a point over the hand.
< "EGADS! Perfectly in style once more!" (She said pointedly).
---
<<Not me. I'd like to replace the sleeves with another set but for my
aunt to agree I'll have to get a PROFESSIONAL SEAMSTRESS involved... So
someday I propose to visit your area with my dress, see the capital, and
get you to help me put new sleeves on it. What do you think? I promise I
won't be a PITA bride, my goal in all of this is to be as mellow as
possible. Can I get you lots of silk in barter?
Holding her breath,
-Charlotte
PS. whenever I do get married I'll wear my own mother's veil and
everyone will be happy.
< Hmm... that's ('Lady's) Tailor', My dear... (Men's too, but who's
counting?)
How you do tempt me, offering "lots of silk in barter"... I really
had sworn, the next time I considered dealing with a bride, that I would
get in the tub and do some serious bloodletting instead, but you come
across as such a charming person...not to be greedy or any such, but how
much is lots? <G>(She inquired greedily). Would you be the Charlotte who
discussed chairs with me a while back?
Cea
Charlotte
sewingb...@webtv.net wrote:
> ---
> < Hmm... that's ('Lady's) Tailor', My dear... (Men's too, but who's
> counting?)
My apologies, only attempting to point out that my aunt requires someone
with a business card in the mix, that I don't get to hack at her dress
myself! In theory I'll put her own sleeves back on it before I send it
back.
Those sleeves may well be back in style but they don't suit me! Still, I
should at least *try* on the dress before I start counting chickens.
I'll know far more in the beginning of June.
> How you do tempt me, offering "lots of silk in barter"... I really
> had sworn, the next time I considered dealing with a bride, that I would
> get in the tub and do some serious bloodletting instead, but you come
> across as such a charming person...not to be greedy or any such, but how
> much is lots? <G>(She inquired greedily). Would you be the Charlotte who
> discussed chairs with me a while back?
One and the same, my good madam. And as a side note I'll point out I'm
not actually a bride!
I've been working an awful lot lately and not reading the board much.
Unsubscribed from the higher traffic board after a last (?) flame war. I
haven't done a d*** thing about the chair, still can't get the seat
unscrewed so I've covered it in a throw blanket and forgotten about it
for the duration. I did find another very much like it and his'n'hers
brocade to re-do them both with (and it isn't white, you'll be glad to
hear), so someday that will get done (snort). If not I have 10 yards of
blue and cream upholstery fabric to throw in, 5 in a stripe and 5 in a
lovely oak leaves and acorns weave. <grins>
I went back to that store today to raise my spirits with all this rain
and the plain silk is nearly all gone. There is a rich purple left.
Mostly now it's a lovely drapey herringbone weave at $2.99. Still a
yummy red, I'd love to make a draped '30s style Christmas dress out of
it, and a nice blue that would be good for work. But I *must* finish
some existing projects first!
-Charlotte
paula
> Hi all,
>
> The other idea I had would be to start a designer fabric
> warehouse/giant retail store in the area. It's a pretty affluent area,
> so I believe it would do well. Just can't decide which to choose!
>
> thanks for any help,
> -Pat
hi there. i do not even live on your side of the pond but thought i
would give my two cents worth anyway. Whilst i love designer/quality
fabrics i cannot resist a bargain, so, could you not somehow
incorporate both?,As you mention a "giant" retail store could you not
have a bargain basement/corner and have a certain few lines on sale
changing them every month or so whilst concentrating the larger area
on the higher class fabrics. That way you will attract both the low
spender and the money people.if displayed tastefully the two sorts of
fabrics could live happily in the same surroundings.good luck.
Elaine Carpman
I saw you mention something about recovering a chair. I'm assuming you are
in Mass somewhere like me. If you have never been to a place called Craig's
Textiles in Rockland MA you should get on their mailing list to find out
when they have their sales (couple of times a year). It is a warehouse type
place,home dec only. I bought some sumptuous silk chennille for only
$6.99/yd among other great buys.
Just thought you'd want to know.
Elaine(south of Boston)
>
Kitty Fluff
Good luck on your fabric store venture! I am looking for a very GOOD
place to get fabric for my Women's Plus Size Clothing line. We don't
have much in Seattle. If you go internet I'm certain you will post
here.....I definitely will check you out. Looking for EXCELLENT buys of
very GOOD fabric: cottons, silks, rayons, blends.
Sure would appreciate any TIPS of fabric buys via the internet! Will
post another thread with the same request!
Thanks muchly!
BeckyInSeattle
--
Kitty Fluff
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