Knitters - would you come to a yarn shop like this?

[zisforzebra]

I've been thinking of opening a yarn shop for about a year now. We don't have one in our town (although there are a couple of market stalls selling 100% acrylic yarn in the local indoor market). The next town over has a small shop selling some nice yarn but out of the four staff that work there one is downright rude and aggressive, one is always too busy talking about what's gone wrong in her family to be any help (and desperate to get you out of the shop so she can get back to it!) and although the other two are nice, they aren't very helpful to new knitters.

My idea would be to have a good selection of yarns as well as books, patterns, needles, buttons, crochet hooks etc but also a comfy seating area where people can come in with their knitting and have a cup of coffee and chat, knitting clubs and also lessons for beginners. I plan to have a sign saying 'there are no stupid questions, please feel free to ask'

So, would you shop somewhere like that?

I would, absolutely!!!
If you provide comfy chairs - you might get people sitting in them all day which could be interesting

I much prefer shops with polite friendly staff.
I would love a local wool shop to sell skeins of proper wool as well as synthetic stuff

A selection of books and magazines for purchase would be excellent - books about weaving and rugs never seem widely available so have some of those!

Our wool shop (a unit in indoor shopping place) has just closed which is not very encouraging.........

Great idea though

Why are so many people who work in knitting shops rude?

I am sure not everyone is but so many are!

Please open your shop in east london.

It sounds fantastic.

Have you read The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs? I dream of having a LYS like the one in the book.

yep I would...
if you get the chance to go to London, have a look at this little shop...t'is gorgeous

It's in Islington chegirl, not too far away

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ingles I learned to knit there .

It was lovely (though the lessons were fearfully expensive). Worth it though.

I went on to a local further ed course but they insisted on it being a city and guilds . Put everyone off.

I put my needles down a year or so ago and have only just picked them up again.

Where do you live zisforzebra?
I'd shop there. Hell, I'd work there.

did you?
Did Susan teach you?

I would.

Please open your shop in Birmingham

No I dont think her name was Susan. It was a young Asian lady. She was in her mid twenties I should think but I cant remember her name.

So much has happened in my life since that happy little interlude (sounds a bit corny }

It was a lovely few days.

No I don't know her. Susan Cropper owns the shop, she's a American lady in her 40's. Really lovely.

Glad you enjoyed the course though

Absolutely would. Open it on my doorstep please! What about classes/groups for children? My DD has learned to knit but has no motivation to finish a project!

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The K1 owner is, isn't she? Have only ever been in the tiny Glasgow shop once.

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There is a market for that in Northampton. There is a shop like that in Rushden, in fact there are two shops in Rushden, one is quite expensive and doesn't sell acrylics much, the other one is quite old-fashioned, packed to the ceiling with all sorts of stuff, but nowhere to sit and Knit and knatter.
Are you on Ravelry? There are groups local to your area which you could consult.

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I would - sounds lovely :-)

We have one here...opened about a year ago
Seems to be doing ok.Lots of online sales i imagine. It also does workshops and childrens holiday sessions...and has knitting groups who use it to meet up.

Pruners, you have summed up the situation so well.
I hardly ever buy yarn locally anymore, which is sad as the businesses are going to die. The internet has opened up a whole new world of natural hand dyed yarns that I couldn't previously access.
However, when I look at my friends and collegues I am the only person I know who knits, so I would question how big a potential market a yarn shop would have. You would have to do on line sales too, and stock some unique or difficult to get hold of lines to attract cutomers.
DS asked me the other day what my ideal job would be if money was no object. I said open a yarn shop and knit all day, stock beautiful things and pass my passion on to others.
Most of the sucessful shops offer workshops and lessons, these tend to be in the evening and at weekends and I am not sure this would be very compatable with family life.

I know a few people (well online) who have opened knitting businesses and from observation:

People will ALWAYS come in looking for acrylic baby yarn and Funky Fur. Need to think about how you will steer them towards your display of Debbie Bliss and Sublime (for the benefit of their recipients if no one else)

Online operation to back it up - In fact I think the online came first, and she imports/specialises in a particular line.

Knitting club and lessons are a good way of getting people in, once you have come into the shop it's hard to leave without a purchase IME!

A small toybox/indestructible corner makes it easier for mums to shop there!

I think stocking mainstream quality yarns like Rowan and Debbie Bliss will get keen knitters checking you out, but then it's a case of what you want to be your speciality.

Oh good luck too

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Do it! I'm trying to learn how to knit and everyone in my area are downright evil if you're under 50, they get suspicious of me everytime I enter the shop because I'm under 20 I think

Wow! I'm so happy that you're all so positive. I've been driving my DH mad with "when I have my wool shop..." etc!

blithedance - great idea about the toy corner!

Pruners ITA with everything you've said! I am on ravelry but haven't been for long. My home internet connection has been terrible until very recently (and it's such a novelty to have it working properly now that I'm spending all evening on here catching up!)

Puddock I'm not sure I can say exactly where I am ahving been so rude about my local wool shop but I'm in the west, between Bristol and Worcester.

Sliceoflife I work a mixed rota including evenings at the moment and on some days don't see my children awake for more than half an hour. I could close the shop at 4.30, do the tea and bed stuff and reopen for clubs/classes at 7ish (only just thought that out but it might work!)

PixiNanny That's exactly what I'm thinking about. I was in my local wool shop a few weeks back and someone came in and asked how much needles cost. The woman replied "it depends how big they are" The customer clearly didn't know what size she wanted because she asked how you know what size you need. Instead of taking the oppourtunity to sell her a book of knitting for beginners, some needles and a ball of yarn, the woman just said "it depends what you're knitting" and turned away. At which point the customer looked defeated and left.

Ingles2 I'm hoping to bring the children to london in the easter break so I might have to take a detour in the direction of that shop!

ceolas and troutpout Children's workshops are a great idea.

If you're going to London over Easter, you could also take a look at Sharp Works in Herne Hill (nice parks nearby for the dcs afterwards). It's tiny, but the people who work there are super friendly, they have seats for knitters, and are very happy to offer advice. My only criticism of them is that they only stock the really expensive wools - it would be nice to be able to buy a couple of balls of cheaper wool there too. But a lovely place. I miss it (we moved away last year )