Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tuesday Rotate (Mary’s shop)

Greetings and welcome to another instalment of Tuesday Rotate.

Today I am going to tell you about my friend Mary’s shop in Gisborne- Patch ‘n’ Quilt.  I met Mary years ago on my very first trip to sewjourn, when my friend Annie convinced Mary to stock my patterns. Now I get to catch up with Mary every time I go to sewjourn.

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My visit to Mary is always a bit of a sewjourn joke, as my arrival may  be delayed somewhat when I pop in to Mary's.  (Ok Mary and I once spent three hours chatting over the counter …but only once and we have never lived it down !). I love hanging out in Mary’s shop, everyone gets a cheery hello when they enter and as much help as they need. The customers all strike up conversations and offer suggestions, it really is fun. There is always lots of laughter coming from the back room where the classes are held…..

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     There is a huge range of really diverse fabrics, lots of bright and lots of more traditional fabrics. Mary also stocks both acrylic and wool felt, buttons, masses of hardware and gadgets, threads, doo-dads, gizmos and whatchamacallits.

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On this trip I got some great little clip thingo’s that I had been searching all over the internet for, a little top-up of delicious wool felts as I had run out of black, some fabrics for a new bag, cotton – a little bit of everything.mary2

I did ask Mary if it was Ok to take all the photos and I told her about Tuesday Rotate and told her it was a little bit about sharing the love and a little bit about me being sick of talking about me all the time.

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So, in her usual gorgeous Mary style (the woman is insanely generous) she gave me a fat 1/4 pack for one of you guys.

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So tell me, folks, what makes a good shop experience for you? Are you a leave-me-alone kind of shopper or a chatty shopper. What brings you back to a shop or what scares you off?

I’ll randomly pick a winner and send them this great set of fat 1/4’s courtesy of Mary.

67 comments:

  1. Love to have good browse - happy to be left alone, then I always try to strike up a conversation. About anything really. If I get a chatty reply with no pushy hard sell then I fall in love with that shop and WILL return.

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  2. wow jodie what a lovely thing for Mary to do.I like to be left alone to look and think and if i need help i will ask and i find most people really good with their help and that makes for a nice shopping experience.xx

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  3. I like to be acknowledged - where possible - when I come into a store - after that I am happy to wander until I need some help or want some suggestions...But when I am being served I like to think I am the focus of that person's attention until the transaction is finalized...I work in face to face retail so I try to employ a lot of what I just said when dealing with customers - however we (customer service) don't always get it right...I guess the old saying of "treat how you want to be treated" is always a good rule of thumb - from BOTH sides of the counter... Cheers

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  4. I love it when you can chat to the shop keeper and get their ideas - some of the best fabric matches can come from the shop staff when I'm stuck and indecisive

    It's great if they own the shop so that you know you're directly supporting their own small business too

    Love the Tuesday rotate posts

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  5. I love a shop where I'm acknowledged when I walk in but then left to have a look around. If I'm looking stuck (and I have a half-finished quilt hanging over my shoulder) its nice if the assistant asks to have a look and offers to help me choose what I'm looking for! Then the best conversations are struck up - sometimes with other customers too. I have to say I find it odd when I'm in a shop, have a quilt with me and the assistant DOESN'T show any interest (unless they're busy of course) - this indicates to me they're not really interested in learning about what their customers are making with their fabrics and I wonder what drives their fabric purchasing decisions.

    I've been to this lovely shop in Gisborne! It's gorgeous.

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  6. I tend to like to look around a lot and circle. I don't like feeling followed or badgered, but checking in to see if I need help is appreciated.

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  7. Hello! I am a chatty shopper and do like to be greeted when I walk in. I think it's useful if they tell you about new stock or any specials. I went to a newly opened shop last week, was not spoken to at all, so I walked out. They had opened the previous day. I doubt I'd bother going back to be honest.

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  8. I like to be able to walk into a shop, be greeted with a smile and friendly "hello", and then told that if I need any help to just ask. If the shopkeeper follows me around and tries to push me into buying things then I'll leave and not come back!

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  9. I live in a country with no quilt stores, so when I do get to visit a fabric store I like to be acknowledged when I come in the door, left alone to browse for a while and given help when I ask for it. If they chat to my five year old who is building her stash and likes to sew that is an added bonus.

    I was impressed when I visited my old quilt store in Australia recently 8 years later they still had my details in their computer...

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  10. A balance of all of that but most importantly acknowledging you and letting you know they are available to help if needed.

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  11. Ok so that depends if I have the little owlets with me - if I don't then I'm likely to chat for hours, be talked into all sorts of purchases, be inspired by new ideas and projects and spend a fortune. If I have the owlets, well then it is in, out and back into the car as quick as I can before they destroy the place (well that isn't fair, they are really quite good and indulge mummys love of craft stores!).

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  12. Oh and I've been to this shop - it was just lovely!!

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  13. Whenever you post pictures of Mary's shop it makes me want to dive right into the computer screen. So lovely, and such a lovely bunch of fat quarters too. I'm with most of the commenters above, I like to be greated and then left to browse. I also don't like it when shop workers make knowing assumptions about my skill level or what I'm working on based on my purchases.

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  14. Oh goodness that's lovely! I like to chat when shopping for fabric, yarn, etc. and am definitely turned off by too-cool salespeople (or ones who seem bored...how can you be bored by craft supplies, I'd like to know?!?). xx

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  15. Oh, what gorgeous pictures! Mary's shop looks like the kind of shop I could spend hours in... so much to admire and be inspired by.

    Um, I'm a chatty sort, so I enjoy a friendly, knowledgeable staff - but I do like to wander and browse on my own. Knowing that the staff is happy to help when I need them and that they share a passion for sewing (nothing brings down a shopping "high" like a grumpy or bored staff that hasn't the time or the patience for a customer)... will keep me coming back to shop there.

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  16. I love shops where there are a lot of samples of things to do for inspiration. I love to just browse and feel the fabrics :) I like to chat a little, but if it is too much I feel my time for me to browse in invaded.

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  17. definitely a chatty shopper - I love when shops have the samples, thats what draws me in to buy more! :)

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  18. Love to walk into a shop and receive a welcoming smile and a cheery hello - then to wander around and brouse - to see beautiful samples is great inspiration - I like to chat a little and like help with colour choices - I like a shop with good lighting so that you can see the true colour of the fabric - Mary's shop in the beautiful Gisborne is lovely and very welcoming, there is always a little treasure to be found. LindaB

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  19. The best shops are the ones where they acknowledge you even when they are busy with another customer and let you know that they will help you as soon as they are able. Great colour will always lure me in and inspiration will draw me back.
    Lovely bundle by the way. Great if I won a bundle instead of loosing my bundle like I normally do!

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  20. Now that I think about it, I'm more off an online-shopper, how sad is that!
    Thanks for the realitycheck, I'm going into town today, for some 'real' shopping, with a little chitchat on the side!
    Love the fabric!

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  21. I would rather shop for fabric and craft supplies than clothes and shoes, that is just a chore. Like grocery shopping. Most craft and fabric proprietors love what they do and are always interested in your projects. Were the clips you bought the red ones for holding the quilt to the binding instead of pins? I got some last year and use them for all sorts of projects.

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  22. I like to be acknowledged and then left to wonder around. Not interested in pushy sales people. hugs

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  23. I like to be acknowledged and left to browse. I do spend ages looking at fabrics before I make a decision. One thing I really dislike is when you are obviously trying to match fabric up to a quilt or softie and the assistant doesn't ask to see what you are making. I guess it's a bit selfish but surely if they work in a fabric store they are interested?

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  24. A cheery smile and hello as I enter and let me know if I can help with anything. I like to be left alone to browse. Stuck up shop owners turn me off and I probably wouldn't go back.

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  25. For me, it's when I get my alone time, so I want to enjoy it! Nice to chat at the end though, once I've made my decisions!

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  26. I'm a chatty shopper, cos I don't get out much!

    Ok, so I'm a chatty anything who doesn't get out much. I love a doodad and watchmacallit filled shop. Fabric (or yarn) yes, but all the other bits and pieces are great. Samples and displays like your Mary has are just wonderful eye candy.

    Space to move. Somewhere to sit down (I am 97 remember). and clear prices on everything so you don't have to ask.

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  27. I like to be greeted when I walk in, at least to a small shop, but then it depends whether I'm a new customer or a regular. I do have long conversations with the staff of our local craft shop (and usually end up buying something I didn't actually need!) Mary's shop looks wonderful. We don;t have anything similar near here - I end up doing a lot of fabric shopping online which can be a bit hit & miss.

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  28. No 'local' QS anymore where I live (the old one was 40min away, the closest which has lovely service is now a good hour...). There is a number of things I like in a good quilt shop, the people / service and 'the stuff'.
    Like many others I like to be acknowledged, then left alone until I ask for help. I need the staff to know about quilting, better be quilters. Offer advice when asked but also accepting if my opinion is different - some people can get very opinionated and I don't appreciate this. I like it when people remember me when I come back. If I bring a project, I like it when they ask to have a look. They don't have to love it but it helps ;-)
    As for 'stuff', I like to see things I am into - in my case batiks and brights. I visited a shop 2h from me last week and bought things I had never thought about because I liked what they displayed (I bought flannels, and not even in bright-brights!). I like a range of 'bits' to go with it - threads (well, now that I have joined the cotton-on-cotton brigade using mainly aurifil this is getting harder to get locally at a reasonable price), the odd tool (ruler, blades - so expensive!, pins, needles etc.), maybe some patterns / magazines / books (again so expensive!).

    Love reading your blog!!! The fabric is gorgeous, but postage to NZ isn't cheap, so if you just want to pass on feedback to Mary that's all good ;-) One day I'll go and visit her gorgeous shop!!!

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  30. What a gorgeous shop - I'd be in there all the time. Your comment about the classes out in the back room reminded me of the patchwork group I used to belong to in the U.K. We had a table in the middle of the shop and did our stuff surrounded by gorgeous fabric. We used to advise people who came in on colour combinations etc., probably whether they wanted advice or not! Now I come to think about it, we were probably quite intimidating.
    I like to exchange a little bit of chatty small talk once I've finished buying or, if I really am after some expert information, then I like to have a chat about that. I am talking, of course, when I am in an English speaking shop. Here, I am terrified somebody will talk to me in the supermarket queue as my French isn't bad but 'small talk' is usually full of slang and colloquialisms and it isn't always up to that. Nodding politely however is the same in any language.
    (p.s. had to delete the first comment as I spotted a spelling mistake! Quelle horreur!)

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  31. Mary's shop looks wonderful & sounds terrific! For me it's all about the personal attention & assistance, otherwise why not shop online? A friendly welcome & a genuine offer of help (if needed) are what makes me want to spend money in a quilt shop & make me want to return. Thanks for featuring Mary & her shop, it's very sweet of her to give away these gorgeous fabrics.

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  32. Nice shop - really can't imagine you two talking that long.
    I like shops that have stuff displayed in a way that is interesting, not just shelves full of fabric ranges. Happy staff and customers willing to chat is always nice.
    Glad you got the advertising shot!

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  33. Sadly my local quilt store is closing but I value trips there as they are always so lovely and helpful. They will happily leave you alone but if you are after something in particular, you know, a whatchamacallit they are so happy to oblige!

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    therese.aiken@gmail.com

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  34. I like to be acknowledged when I enter my LQS and then be on my own until I ask for help. I ask for second thoughts on colors and if they have this or that...it can be anything from the specific fabric from a class sample (yes they would cut me some from the bolt they stashed in the back) to do you have any black batting...we did, let's check to see if there is any left in the back. I have watched them grow over the years and so I always try them first before I order online.

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  35. Patch n Quilt looks like a lovely shop!
    I like it when the staff remember your name if you are a regular. And I like a good range of fabrics, especially modern and I love when they know what they are talking about!

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  36. For me it depends on the day, sometimes I am interested in chatting other times just looking without interruption.
    BUT...the big thing that I would have to say is, staff need to ask if you need help and be polite to your children. I am a stay at home mum, if I want to buy fabric my children are coming with me. I try to shop when they aren't tired and are in good spirits but they are active, loud preschoolers. I try to keep them contained and quiet but I am spending money in your shop, be polite!!!!
    If anyone is looking for this type of shop in Adelaide, believe me I can tell you the good and the bad!!
    I think Mary's shop sounds wonderful. What a great place to be able to chat at the counter about fabrics, patterns and day-to-day life.

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  37. I'd like to walk into a shop and be greeted with a friendly smile or warm hello. Thereafter I prefer to be left alone to browse around. Pushy sales staff scares me off.

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  38. I like a friendly welcome and to be asked how I am and maybe to ask if I have any questions or to let me know that they are available and then for me to look around. I find that most people at craft shops are helpful and genuine and enjoy sharing conversations and ideas about different fabrics/crafts, etc.

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  39. I have 2 go to shops. My local shop Savers, I know them all and chat with them and tell them what i am making with all that stuff i buy. My other real shopping love is Spotlight in South Morang. I have shopped there since they were first in Bundoora and then moved to Mill Park and now finally South Morang. I am definitely a chatterer, both to the staff and the fellow customers. The staff there all know me and wave and smile even when they are busy. Lovely people. I love to chat with the customers in the queue, In fact I LOVE a queue, I am very nosy and love to find out what people are going to make with their fabrics. What a lovely subject!

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  40. Upon entering, I do appreciate a greeting. Then, unless I need help I prefer to be left alone with my thoughts. When I get to the cutting table or cash register, I like to chat if time permits. I like to know what others have done or are working on with the fabrics I have chosen.

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  41. I grew up in a family retail/wholesale fabric business and while I always greeted our customers I never interfered with their shopping experience. I always think for women fabric stores are like a "religious" experience. They come in, they look, they touch and take all the fabric-y goodness in. I never met a customer who actually truly knew what they wanted to buy when they came in the door. Constantly standing at their elbow wasn't going to help them make a decision.

    For that reason I like to be greeted when I go into a shop but then leave me alone...LOL I love to wander and poke about and ponder the fabrics. I don't like pushy sales people. I'll just leave and not buy anything.

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  42. Oh I'm definitely a chatty shopper - I want people to take an interest in me and what I'm making - because I'm naturally self-centered!! I don't like it if you are made to feel incompetent though although fortunately that doesn't happen too often!! xx

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  43. A smile and a hello are nice, but I do like to be left alone while I look. Saying that, it's so nice to have someone friendly and helpful around if I have a question!
    Evin5 at aol dot com

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  44. Definitely a chatty shopper! Like you I could spend 3 hours chatting over the counter at my local quilt shop!

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  45. I also like to be left alone to sort through and figure out how much I need or which to leave out because I can't afford it all! LOL! But I also love people who know their job and are actually helpful and knowledgeable when I have questions.

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  46. I enjoy a greeting, but like to be left alone to shop most of the time. On the other hand, it's nice to have specials or sales pointed out to me. Your description and photographs make Mary's shop the place we'd all like to shop. And the fabrics in the giveaway are beautiful!

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  47. I love a bit of a chat in a shop, but I hate being asked "can I help you?", it makes me feel like they want me to get what I'm looking for, quickly, and leave.

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  48. Mostly I like to be left to browse, but also like to know that there is someone to ask if I need advice or assistance too.

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  49. I started quilting in my early twenties and didn't fit the demographic of many of the shoppers at my local quilt shops. I found that, in turn, I was (and sometimes still am) either ignored (not even a hello) or continually asked if I need help picking out something for my "first project." I recognize it's a fine line for a shop owner - between being friendly and not being a bother. But when it comes down to it, I simply want to be respected as a potential customer and it not assumed because I'm young I don't know anything. So long story short, I like to be greeted, browse, chat when my fabrics are being cut and have staff available for questions.

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  50. I love shops that inspire me, with ideas that are new. I also love displays that are carefully laid out to spark my interest. To have enough clerks busy on the floor is a plus, in case I have questions.

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  51. The introvert me is a leave-me-alone shopper. I have finally figured out that it's much better to ask questions, chat and talk about my projects as I get so much help and encouragement. So for me, it's nice to be greeted at the door, left alone for a bit to browse, then to be asked if I have found what I wanted. It's great to be greeted by name and also for me to get to know the staff. Then I can march right up to the perfect person for help when I need it. :-)

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  52. A cherry hello a lovely acknowledgement that you are in the store, I love to wonder but also love to have someone say if I can help you just let me know. A patchwork shop is my version of a man's hardware, never enough time can be spent in a good shop. when undecided there suggestions, without being pushed upon you a good chat and a smile always.


    PS: Mary shop is just the best she has a wonderful eye for colour and can make you feel like you are important, she is always so very cheerful. Love her shop, well to me it is my hardware store

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  53. I love a visual feast when I first enter the shop, then a cheery 'hello, do you need help or happy to browse'? I love help when I ask for it and an opinion from other shoppers as well as staff, and just love it when they "get" the look I am after.I am so lucky my local shop owner sees it the same way I do. I love a well lit, clean and organised shop with a lot of color and displays to excite my mind, to show me possibilities outside of my comfort zone, that will help me expand my mind and offer me options of what I could achieve. Yay for Patchwork and quilting shops!

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  54. I prefer being left alone while I'm picking the fabrics I want...

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  55. I think I am a chatty shopper.....but sometimes it's nice to have a really good look around first (especially if the shop is new to me)...chatting may distract one from seeing everything there is to see. What scares me off? not much if I am in the mood for shopping.....but I don't like poorly lit shops or pushy staff.

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  56. I want to shop at Mary's shop! Unfortunately not possible so luckily my local quilt shop suits me perfectly. Very friendly and they offer great solutions to my problems - even when it results in a loss of a sale for them! Now if we were talking clothes shopping on the other hand...I much prefer to be left alone!

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  57. Friendly helpful staff who smile, say hello, offer their assistance but leave you alone if you are just happy to browse. Stock knowledge is important as is a good range, but just being happy....nothing worse the feeling like you are in their way/taking up their time! And show n tell...having displays of product n
    Made from the patterns they stock...much more tempting to buy if I v
    Can see end result.

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  58. Yes, lovely to be acknowledged with a friendly hello..I like to have a good stickybeak around at all the stuff, and great to get a bit of expertise / assistance with a current project when needed. (shopping kid free is a bonus)

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  59. I've been to Mary's shop too and she's a little bit naughty and cheeky which I love. She has a great sense of humour. Up there as one of my favourite shop experiences!

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  60. Mary's sounds like my kind of shop and I'd love to come visit her in person!! I like being greeted (and in a friendly manner, if it's not asking too awful much, please), then being offered help if I need it..and some quietude if I don't. What I do NOT care for is the employees all chatting in a huddle amongst themselves and acting as if I'm an imposition to them when I ask for help in locating something or even color or measurement assistance. There's a shop not even 5 miles from my home and to be honest, I'd much rather drive 60 miles, to the next closest shop, where I'm appreciated and much more welcome. Sad, but true.

    The fabrics being given away are lovely, and since I haven't got a stitch of red, would be most welcome in my stash!

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  61. Love, love, love to see a variety of fabrics. We all have our favorites, but it is great to be inspired by lots of options. I love to find a shop with pizazz. I love to visit a shop with helpful friendly and personable salepeople.
    i love shops that inspire me to step outside my comfort zone.
    Thanks for this offer! Bonnie

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  62. I love a shop where the folks are friendly & open. Where they treat you like they are glad you came there to shop, and one where they remember you, even if they don't remember your name, they know you've shopped there before. Those are the shops I'll return to. Like others have said here, there are a few shops that I just don't want to return to. One shop always makes me feel as if the people working there act like I should be priviledged to be allowed in their shop. Sorry, but there are other shops that are warm, open and friendly. That's where I'll go again and again!

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  63. Your display in the shop is lovely! I can be either kind of shopper depending on my mood and how much time I have!

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  64. I love to have a quick chat and a long browse, as often it is my chance to have some "me-time" without my littlies!

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  65. A shop that doesn't look at my age (31) and raise their noses and says something like 'we don't allow novices in our classes' and are unhelpful with choices of colours or amount of fabric required - this attitude put me off quilting for a long time until I realised those stores were only a few od many quilting stores - of which others were so helpful! :)

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  66. You have some great shops in Australia. I'm a chatty shopper. I hate hate those shops which are cliquey - and look down your nose at you. We have two shops within easy distance of me - the first one looks gorgeous, has lots of the sort of the fabrics I love, but they're snooty. The other ones is much much friendlier but hardly any of the sort of fabrics I go for. Soooo - I order online or visit the friendly shop.

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Hellloooooo !!!!