Well no stitching update this week. One measly hour of stitching in the whole week does not constitute an update.
I did however read a few good books, watch the Torchwood week of specials and assist in getting the house ready for our first rental inspection today.
We discovered on Saturday that the local generic craft store is going out of business. I'm not all that surprised. I've had offices bigger than that shop and yet they still tried to cater to the cross stitch, tapestry, quilting, bear making, scrap booking, knitting and children's craft hobbists.
Their cross stitch section comprised overpriced DMC and a half a dozen charts each from Told in the Garden, Mirabilia and Heaven & Earth. With everything 20% off for the clearance sale, their prices are now approaching other small business prices.
I just don't see how they expected to make this work. They do not carry anything that isn't already carried at a much much cheaper price by our large franchise stores Lincrafts and Spotlight (our version of Walmart).
Janine at ColoursDownUnder has cheaper prices than this little store and a heck of a better range. If you are going to compete with the big guys, you have to either match on price or have a wider selection that is not carried by the bigger stores. This little shop did neither.
Yet they blamed their failure on location - they didn't get enough foot traffic through that particular suburban shopping centre.
Anyway one good thing was that Mr S really liked a HAED chart he saw there so we are now proud owners of a copy of a HAED Quick Stitch, Rain Dragon by Lisa Victoria. See picture above.
So no stitching this week, but a small amount of stashing was done. I'm picking up some 25ct evenweave for this chart from Janine tonight.
Hope everyone else had a good week.
7 comments:
Sorry you didn't get a lot of stitching in this week. I didn't either. I agree with what you're saying about the little shops - it's hard for them to compete with the big guys if they can't find the right groove to fit into. I love Mr. S's QS of the Rain Dragon. I have the QS Pirate Dragon sitting in my stash for one of the boys... so much to stitch, so little time :)
It's tough supporting the little shops sometimes. The LNS that is about an hour from me is so overpriced that I don't think it's worth the time to go up there. We can't get much of anything anymore from the local chain stores other than DMC, some kits and not so great fabric.
Janine from Colours Down Under has such a great range that I will go to her for anything more than just a skein of DMC. Sure her prices are a little more expensive than the big chains, but not horrendously so.
And she makes up for the slightly higher prices with higher levels of customer service. I'll pay for good customer service.
Karen at The Sittching Post ont he other side of Australia is ths same.
But a shop who's prices are lots higher than its competitors, who doesn't have range or customer service .... nope they are not getting my business.
Pirate Dragon QS was offered out as a freebie at one point wasn't it? If so I have it in mys tash somewhere too ....
Definitely so much to stitch and so little time.
Aww, he's cute! Good luck getting more stitching in this week :)
And I completely agree about the shop - that's definitely no way to do business, blame it on what they will....
Hurrah to the comment on good customer service. I'll go back time & time again for good service, even if it takes a few more $$. Agree with your comments on both Stitching Post & Colours down under. Not much stitching happening over here either, but Torchwood made up for that...mmmmm...naked Jack arse.
Mel, it's really hard for me to stitch when I'm working both jobs. I've found that if I take a piece with me to work and stitch, even though it's only 15 - 20 minutes, I at least get to see some progress. I choose something that is easy to start and stop. My latest was Second Chances - Ink Circles. Hope you have another great week!!
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