Small business is really a labor of love. A passion.
I do this because I love bringing my visions to life! I do this because I have come to know and love my stitchers!
But Local Yarn Shops (including mine) struggle to keep a foot hold in the main street small business marketplace.
In January 2018, the website America’s Knitting did a year-end report stating that on January 1, 2018 there were 970 yarns shops across the 50 U.S. states. That is an overall DECREASE of 64 shops from the previous year!
That is more than 1 shop a week closing during all of 2017. There are lots of reasons for shops closing that is for sure! Moving, retiring, and simple lack of business are the most obvious.
The amazing convenience of online shopping from home in our jammies is powerful. The low cost of big craft store yarns is tempting.
So, what makes a local yarn shop important in all of this changing economy? Cowgirl Yarn in Laramie, Wyoming has some honest observations about the significance of keep Local Yarn Shops viable. You can read their thoughts here.
In addition to the impact to local economy through business and operating taxes and sales taxes, in my experience, it comes down to something that you cannot get in a box store or online.
Customer Relationships.
I have heard from so many of you that you are excited about what you are learning simply by hanging out at Perfectly Knotty! Even my most advanced knitters will tell me they come away with some new idea or nuance every time they visit! And for those of us in the intermediate and beginner categories the learning is even stronger. Our Sit-N-Stitch groups are a tremendous pool of knowledge. The process of osmosis is at work powerfully here, and the encouragement flows freely. I challenge you to find a box store that can provide that level of encouragement.
Additionally, the friendships that form between the customers is amazing. I have personally watched many friendships as a result of owning this yarn store and my heart is so blessed by that. I see real friendships that extend beyond the walls of this building.
Being a tactile activity, there’s nothing like touching yarn before you buy it! Colors don’t show true on computer screens and you can’t tell what the texture is online. And sometimes, the yarn simply jumps off the shelf and into your arms!
Sometimes people will say “Yarn is yarn. What difference does it make?” In addressing this question about the difference in craft store yarn and yarn shop yarn I often use the analogy of denim. You can buy a pair of denim jeans at Wal-Mart for $20 or less, right!? And you can find some rock’n Miss Me Jeans at the Arlington Hardware for $135! But denim is denim. Right? Not really! Duluth Trading Company is different from Levi’s denim which is different than Carhart, and that is different from Wrangler and Wal-Mart. They all serve different purposes! Understand what you want and need for your end result, and we can help you find the right yarn for the project! PLUS! Your fingers will be so happy with the feel of amazing yarn as you stitch as much as a mile of yarn into an amazing heirloom!
Another benefit is that when we need to find a different yarn than a pattern calls for, whether for preference, the yarn is discontinued, or maybe there is a fiber allergy, Local Yarn Shop operators can help you find a proper substitute yarn. Have a solid understanding of the various characteristics of different yarns, they can help you find the just right yarn for your project.
I’d love to hear from you.
There are lots more reasons that we love our local yarn shops!
What are some of your reasons? Share in the comments below.
How can Perfectly Knotty be better! I take your positive feed back seriously. While I cannot implement everything, I really do make note of your suggestions and do the best I can with the resources I have to bring your ideas to life!
Love,
SuziQ