The "Crabby Shop"

[gparr]

Emerging from this thread:
http://www.crossstitchforum.com/viewtop ... 43#p518743" target="_blank
is a LNS category referred to as a Crabby Shop, i.e., a shop that only welcomes you if you're a regular/show up with a wad of cash in your hands. Otherwise, they make you feel like you're an intrusion. How many people have Crabby Shops in their area? Do you patronize them, anyway? Stay away? Use them as a source in "desperate" situations?
Gary

[Rose]

Yes I do have a shop that when you walk in the door they look at you as if you are a shoplifter on the prowl. I only went there as they had the Krenik that I needed and I had some questions. Well as soon as I asked the first question I could tell that this was not the place for me. I left and have not been back. When I talked to a friend, that knits but does not cross, she suggested this other shop and I was so happy with the service and welcome that I will shop there and if they do not have it or can not get it I will order on line. I refuse to go to a place that treats people like trash. I have heard that she is going out of business, well imagine that.

[rcperryls]

I can't imagine a "crabby shop". There are actually 2 LNS in driving distance for me. One focuses on needlepoint (tapestry) and the other on cross stitch. Both are wonderfully friendly and helpful. In fact when I started looking for an LNS (the previous two had closed down years ago and both were great so it was very sad) I called the needlepoint store (didn't know by the name) and the owner asked me several questions and then referred me to the other LNS which is owned by a woman who loves loves cross stitching. That is where the stitch in group is held monthly, but the area is always set up so that if you wanted to stitch, she'd sit you right down and come stitch with you if there were any free time. I guess I'm luckier than many.

Carole

[gparr]

I need to credit MaggieM1750 for the Crabby Shop term. I love the moniker as I've encountered this type of shop in several areas/hobbies. I never understand how so many stay in business, but they do.
Gary

[wwdiva]

I am at the point I would almost welcome even a crabby shop.
Where I live, there are no small needlework/craft shops left anymore. Some high-end knit shops. Michaels has downsized anything to do with needlearts so I must do everything online. While this opens up a world of choice, it would still be nice to have the personal touch of a small shop.
I live in a large metropolitan area. One would think that there could be one but I am coming to the realization that very few people around here do craft-like hobbies anymore so probably not enough business to sustain the high rent/tax expense of this area that a small business person would have to pay.

No cheers

[MaggieM1750]

One of the last times I went to the Crabby shop was when I was starting to work on Cardinal Christmas Ball by Alessandra Adelaide.
For those not familiar with her designs.. its monochromatic. I could put it on whatever fabric I wanted, and stitch it in whatever color I wanted. Sure, the designer offers up suggestions.. but seriously, my options were endless. I already had the chart- only needed the supplies.
So I went down to the store.. which is about 30 min away, in an area of town I am rarely in.. to go there, its a specific trip, not just a stop when I am in that area.
I walk in and an employee looks up from whatever she was working on- I think cutting fabric. Nice, polite enough.. but I could tell she just wanted to finish what she was doing and not help me. So I wander over to their wall of fabrics. Back to those endless options.. they had a WALL of fabrics. All sorts of materials, counts, hand dyed, basics.. you want it- they probably had it. I also wasn't familiar with evenweaves.. but I wanted to give it a try.

I had been standing in front of fabric wall for maybe 5-10 min when a new woman comes over and asks what I am looking for. My response was... I have no idea. I didn't! I hadn't decided yet.. that was the reason I was there. She rolls her eyes, sighs, and asks what I am working on. So I pull out my pattern. And she says.. "Did you buy this here?" And I said No.. and she very rudely says "We don't carry this designer." Umm, well, then why did you ask if I had bought it there if you don't carry that designer?? Grrr

So she asks what count I wanted to work on. I told her "I haven't ever worked on anything other than aida but want to try evenweave. What would you suggest for a beginner?" And she said "Well, you can work on whatever you want. There is no beginners size." Grrrr

The photo on the front of the chart is red thread on white fabric. After seeing all the possibilities with colored fabric, I knew I didn't want just basic white. So I start thumbing through the stack in front of me. Pulled out a burgundy red, 28 ct lugana... I think- I can never remember fabrics. Sure, fine, perfect. Ask if that piece will be big enough for my project.. I get another eye roll and sigh.. with the question of "Are you stitching over 1 or 2?" I had just told her I hadn't worked on evenweave before.. I had NO CLUE what she was talking about. I just wanted to crawl into a hole after the look she gave me when I told her I didn't know that either.

Seriously.. I don't know why I stayed in the store after that. Or even why I made that purchase. Stubbornness? A really strong urge to try it.. no matter the mental cost? Who knows.. but I stuck with it. She did the math.. and the piece I grabbed would be big enough to do it over 2.. so super huge if I wanted to do it over 1.. but ok fine, I'll buy the giant fabric, grabbed white thread and left.

Come to find out later.. THAT WAS THE OWNER! Miss Crabby Pants.. who couldn't contain her annoyance that I didn't know what I wanted while I was in her store.. owned the place. I am 35 years old.. I can easily have another 40 years of stitching ahead of me. BE NICE.. and perhaps I'll spend some of my money over the next 40 years to buy things in your store. If you make it easy for me to buy things in your store.. chances are I'll spend more. Its a hobby store- It is 100% discretional spending. I don't HAVE to buy fabric and thread- its not clothes or food. Its fun money.

It was maybe a month later that I found out Nice store had opened. Perfect timing! I had gone in after working on the project for a bit.. and trying to figure out how to add a bit of bling.. helped me with beads and metallics. At Nice store.. I spent less than $5 on that project.. and they helped me IMMENSELY! They didn't care where I bought the pattern or supplies. That $5 initial purchase has led to probably $3-400 of my own purchases (I'm not sure.. I refuse to do that math- I don't care what I spend). I tell everyone I know that stitches about Nice store, I've taken classes, I tell other 'crafty' type people about their classes. And yes.. even chat up random people in the aisles at JoAnns and tell them about the nice store thats just down the street. So.. who knows how much word of mouth spending has come from my initial $5 purchase. I want to spend money in that store for the next 40 years- they need to stay in business.

Gary, its sounds very similar to your LNS. I can be in the Nice store for an hour.. while trying to decide on fabrics and threads for my next project. And Jill, the owner of Nice store, will help me.. gladly! I still don't always know what fabric or threads I want. I have an idea but I figure it out once I am there and have things in front of me. Jill offers up her own suggestions. And asks for project updates the next time I am in.

I've been across the street of Crabby store twice in the last month.. and I need a few small items.. but I won't go in. I'll add it to the list for the next time I go to Nice store. How Crabby has managed to stay in business as long as they have is beyond me. That particular shopping trip was not a rare one- it was just the most memorable because I was so mad when I left. I've talked about it on another board, and with other stitchers- and they have all had similar experiences.

[Stitchinkitty]

There used to be a shop like that here in the suburbs of Brisbane.The owner judged everyone by the way they dressed,would not even acknowledge the existence of Aida and reduced many would be customers to tears.If she didn't like the look of you she would totally ignore you.Further down the street was the Lovely lady who would spend hours helping customers and would even give a free mini lesson in cross stitch to newbies.

[Mystonique]

I stay out of them. I don't like giving my money to horrible people.

We have one very nearby (it's walking distance from my house) but I haven't been in there for years because I just didn't like their attitude. I want to enjoy my hobby, not be made to feel awful because I'm not wealthy enough to buy stuff I'll never use on a shopping whim.

[Fizzbw]

Yep, we have one of those as well. Mainly a wool and mixed crafts shop, we have 3 of these in our small town, one mainly does papercraft, the other mainly sewing not stitching fabric but one does have DMC thread. To be quite honest I'm not sure what the crabby shop has in it! Some of everything I think, some kits but not easy ones (the only time I went in I was a beginner and needed an easy stitch, not a tatty teddy).

Telling, I've never been in it again. I go to both the others, though I get the bulk of my stitching supplies from eBay or Sewandso. There was a mainly wool shop which was wonderful when I was knitting but sadly it's shut now. I used to goin with some really hard questions to the lovely lady who owned it, like making trousers for a horse (cue pictures of the said horse and explainations why and sketched designs, and no it didn't work in the end ).

Niki xxx

[Amanda G]

A local Crabby shop went out of business I received a rant from the store owner once when I was buying sewing items because "local people refuse to use this local store and it's putting me out of business!". I was as I was a regular shopper!! The SewandSo store in Stroud is lovely. The 2 ladies who work in there go out of their way to help customers and they make you feel really welcome. I'm not sure if they are part of the on-line place but it wouldn't surprise me if they were.

[Nachstenliebe]

I don't have a local shop at all... but I we regularly go up to New Hampshire and I found out there's a little shop up near where we stay.. The lady was so mean and crabby that I a: didn't buy anything and b: eternally vowed to never go back...
First impressions of people go a long way...

[aian11]

Sorry for asking but, what's an LNS? Is that a local store?

Thanks!

[gparr]

LNS=Local Needlework Store

[aian11]

LNS=Local Needlework Store

Thanks Gary!
I'm looking for LNS too. A few years ago, I found one when I was new here in US. It was also a gift shop. The ladies were really nice. I haven't been back there since but I'm planning on visiting the shop again.

I really like local shops. It's very homey, warm and it feels close to your heart (like approachable). Of course, with the exception of those "crabby" ones... It feels like you go under x-ray vision when you enter the shop.

[Mystonique]

On the other hand I'm happy to drive 3 hours each way to visit a good LNS (Victoria House). I make a pilgramage a few times a year to them.

[jaye_pony]

I can't understand how "Crabby Shops" stay in business. The margins in retail are so small when you figure in rent, etc, and we're all hurting for money, you would think people would be a bit more polite and grateful for the sale.

[LadyS]

The nearest LNS it's about 30 minutes away, and I have no idea how they are or if it's any good, as I actually haven't been there in the 2 years I am here. But that's mostly because I have a Michael's and a Joann's 10-15 minutes away, and 'cus I LOVE 123 Stitch for everything else (or other online shops). I should go there sometime and see what they have, their prices, etc.

[rcperryls]

Laura, you might try calling them and see what they offer. I didn't know about the monthly stitch ins until I finally went to my LNS, also about 30 mins. Away to get my sister's birthday present framed. I spent an hour talking with the owner and she encouraged me to attend. And you may be able to tell on the phone if it is a friendly or a crabby place and then make your decision.

Carole

[Helby]

I have a shop not too far from me that is a total mystery as every time I go in, the lady wants to tell me her life story and I don't get a chance to browse. I go there after closing time to peer through the windows. It looks like there is some great stuff in there. I think I'm going to have to stake the place out and wait for someone else to go in and act like a decoy. She is honestly a lovely lady and her family sound great but she'd make more money if she talked less.
Crabby shops I don't even bother with, it takes the fun out of stitching.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Maggie, your Nice shop sounds ideal!

Amanda, the parcels I get from Sew & So come from Stroud so it must be the same shop -- I hadn't realised they had an actual bricks & mortar outlet must convince DH that we have some business down Stroud way some time....