I
Did today!
I went to the fabric store here in town (fairly new). I
Took a few of my patterns in.
Asked her if she would be willing to sell them.
She has maybe 4 patterns all together in her store.
She didn't even look up from what she was doing.
She said that she has people coming in all of the time wanting her to sell items like crochet (yes, that is the example she used).
She said if she said yes to me she would have to say yes to everyone else.
I was in shock....crochet.
This is not crochet...these are patterns.
I told her well....I thought since these were patterns.
Still NO!!!
It took every ounce of my being to just walk in there and ask. I have been meaning to for months, got my patterns all ready....and finally took the plunge today
and she says no.
She would come out on the winning end. She has no money invested. And.....where does she get her patterns from?
Oh well....I still feel kinda raw from it and my insides kinds shake but tomorrow I will be over it.
So if you own a store, where do you get your patterns? Do you accept people off the street?
That is my soap box for today.
Making Chocolate Chip cookies.....
Tomorrow is another day.
My thought is, if she can't support local artists, then I wouldn't support her!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of your experience. I would enjoy a few cookies today, think positive, and don't give up!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet her fairly new store doesn't last too long. What an attitude. Honestly, I've walked into many a quilt store and have felt like I was invading their space. Don't be discouraged! Keep trying! It was her, not you! XO
ReplyDeleteI agree , I would never darken her door again for anything.
ReplyDeleteshe will be very sorry for her actions.Hugs my sweet friend!, Marie
Gosh, when I go into a quilt shop I've never been before I look for patterns first! I love to see what the gals at that particular quilt shop have done. I get a lot of great ideas and always buy a pattern or two for my stash then find the fabric to use in it. Her loss! She won't survive very long not supporting local quilters.
ReplyDeleteHARUMPH! Seems like this new store owner could use a few lessons in pleasant customer relations. Hope the cookies made you feel better, Barb!
ReplyDeleteFunny, Osage Bluff Quilter said exactly what I was thinking. I mean seriously, a FABRIC store that has only four patterns is only hurting themselves. If she had said yes and asked you to make samples with her fabrics, think of the benefit to both of you.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you had such a nasty experience. Hang in there :)
ReplyDeleteoh that's terrible, I have a bunch of snobby stores around me too, do you deal with quiltwoman.com she sells to stores, I haven't done super well but every bit helps and they print and do everything! you just HAVE to have testers test patterns first.
ReplyDeleteI got comments like that when I started long arm quilting and went store to store, some didn't even want my cards (had enough long armers) others would take them and NEVER sent anyone my way, one store would take cards but would match up customers to their favorite long armers so I never had a chance, only ONE store gladly accepted my cards and even was a customer for me and SHE had cards in a card holder and would tell customers to take one of each and CALL around and see who they liked and maybe they'd say a few things about each quilter, that's it and that's FAIR! but to compare crochet to quilt patterns in a quilt store!?? horrible!! so sorry
Yah!!!!!What they all said!!!!
ReplyDeleteAlso
Some people are not meant to be small business owners. They take a hobby or pleasure or passionate pursuit and make a job out of it and Some people make it and some people find they get tired of all the people (customers, vendors, ect )who get in the way.
Wow how rude of her!!! Bet she will not be in business long!
ReplyDeleteYou are one brave cookie! And so what if she has to give everyone consideration. That's what she is in business for. There are no rules that say if she accepts your patterns she has to accept others. If she is fairly new, she probably hasn't had a lot of experience in fabric retail. Sad to say, she may not last long.
ReplyDeleteBoo on her! She's the one losing out! Don't let that one bad apple spoil your day/week/month or even moment! Actually, she might've just had a bad day herself. Next time, go in and leave your business card and maybe she'll reconsider.
ReplyDeleteHere is a story for you. When I worked, one of my co-supervisors was married to a woman that has soooo much fiber talent you would not believe it. But her personality stunk. Not shy...rather rude and self centered. He was always looking for a way to make a buck by investing in other businesses or looking for one to buy. He once told me that his wife wanted to open a quilt store. I told him, as a person that frequents them, not to waste his money. She did not have the welcoming personality that would be needed to make it successful. This lady will certainly learn by failure that she doesn't have what it takes.
ReplyDeletexx, Carol
It's her loss. Don't let her dissuade her from asking other stores. I would recommend sending letters with pictures of the patterns. That way, the person in charge can look at it when they have the time to do so and get a chance to really think about it. You also would be able to write up a great sales speech / cover letter that tells them what is in it for them.
ReplyDeleteYour patterns are amazing! It is her loss.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing to do when owners act like that is to avoid their store. Really, it's the only way you can make your point. Bad customer service, bad products, bad policies are their choice, but you don't have to participate.
ReplyDelete"She didn't even look up from what she was doing", is the first clue of how she treats people who "WORK" for her. Consider that she is not a person to be connected with in business. Saving you from jumping through a lot of hoops for her in the future.
ReplyDeleteNever let someone intimidate you about your patterns. You are gifted and talented. I love your blog and enjoy your work. You shine!!! Celebrate that.
I have worked in a quilt shop and the owners ordered almost all patterns from distributors--United Notions and Checkers for example. I think the shop owners felt more comfortable buying this way as it seems the designers are "tried and true". I wouldn't give up on her. Maybe you could offer to teach a class using your pattern (and her fabrics) to bring people into the shop. It's very important to have your pattern tested by other sewers as beaquilter said. Customers get very unhappy when they find errors and the shop owners pay the price. Good luck and don't give up!
ReplyDeleteWow. I wouldn't be too offended about not getting your patterns into her store. If she's so rude as to not even look up to see who she's even talking to, I don't think I'd WANT my patterns in her store, much less go to that store to buy anything either. She had no idea who you were or anything. How RUDE! If it were me, I'd sit down and compose a letter to the owner of the store, see if you can possibly get the owner's name from the local Chamber of Commerce if you don't know who it is possibly from their website. Then address the letter to that person. It may not have been the owner working that day so I would just write a letter to the owner as if you've never spoken to her and explain how hard it was to even find the nerve to walk in to inquire about them placing your patterns in their store to sell. Explain that whomever it was working on the day (list the date in the letter so she knows if it was her or maybe someone working for her) you have very popular quilt patterns which are well written and were hoping to support a local business and go on to explain how offended you were that the person didn't even take the time to look up to see who you were or even to make eye contact before they just said NO. They didn't know if possibly you were a very good customer of theirs already and had that because of this you thought maybe they would consider your patterns to see how it went if they recognized you from being a regular customer. At least the owner would know she has workers not even paying attention to customers and/or that SHE, the owner should be taking time to actually LOOK at someone trying to speak to her as a fellow business person. It may not help you, but it will at least let her know that she should not be ignoring people coming into her store no matter what the reason. Heck, how did she know you weren't planning to rob the place. How would that person ever be able to give a description of the robber if they don't have any idea who was standing in front of them. LOL (of course, we know you weren't there to rob the place, but that is a possibility if someone else had that idea)
ReplyDeleteHer loss. She sounds like a horrible person.
ReplyDeleteWow! To not even look up and be courteous is way not okay. I am so sorry you were treated that way. =(
ReplyDeleteHer loss in more ways than one. I've actually thoroughly enjoyed patterns being sold by local designers. And, when I've been traveling, I've often bought "more" of these patterns just because they are local designers. I wish the store owner luck, but it doesn't sound like a shop I would want to visit, nor spend my $$$ in.
ReplyDeleteQuiltShopGal
www.quiltshopgal.com
PS - The woman was absolutely rude to not look up and use the excuse if she bought from one local person she'd have to buy from another. You are right - there can be a win-win via consignment, but she seems to be not able to look beyond her nose to find good talent.
You certainly are blessed with loving and caring friends. Thank God for giving you strength. He helped you ask a stranger to sell your patterns, and He will help you overcome the rejection.
ReplyDeleteShame on her!
ReplyDeleteWow! It's a wonder she even stays in business with that kind of attitude! Unbelievable! It wouldn't have killed her (or bankrupted her either) to take a few of the patterns and see if they sold. I hope the chocolate chip cookies helped :*)
ReplyDeleteWow! This person obviously does not know what word-of-mouth can mean to her business. Bravo to you for putting yourself out there.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an experience. So sorry you had to endure that. I agree with so many of these comments - people like that have no skills and will not be in business long. Or, if she is not the owner, then the owner would definitely want to know they had someone that unprofessional there....every person who walks in a store deserves eye contact and a cheerful greeting! They aren't all like that - don't give up!
ReplyDeleteWell. My response would be to not shop in her store. I had an "experience" with a quilt shop in a small town I used to live in and never crossed her threshold again. I drove further for my fabric but shopped in a store that was happy to see me. And if she only had four patterns in the store what is she in business for, anyway?
ReplyDelete