Yarn & Craft Shop

Irishmam

Hi Guys,

Please can you help me I am hoping to set up a yarn and craft shop in my town,I have a premises in mind with reasonable rent,I love to knit but am a novice,can you give me some advice on what brands of yarn to stock that you would use.and what you would like to see in the shop.It has always been my dream to run my own business where people can come to knit and chat over a cuppa.What do you think of the idea? Please Help Thanks.

Rufussharkey

I'm not sure of an answer for you but where would your shop be?
I use a brand called eurospun and style craft

wmpdd3

Its really does depend where you shop is, will you have mostly traditional knitters or new knitters?

Find your local knit clubs, ask if you can chat to the knitters, bring samples and ask what they find hard to find locally.

Watch the latest you tube vids from america and try work out what the next big thing will be.

Also watch shopping TV, they also are pretty up to date.

But some knitting magazines for inspiration.

Set a value limit on your stock holding, remember you will have to try keep you stock in the same dye lots.

Check the buy and sell for old shop fit gear.

PM me if you have any further questions!!

Good luck, I'd love to do this too but havent the time for the next decade!!



Is there already a craft shop, I'm very loyal to the 2 shops I go to, I'd be lost if the closed so I try to support them.

TreasureBin

Very good advice above.
Probably best not to start with the more specialised yarns unless you're sure the interest is there, and that people are willing and able to spend the money on more expensive yarns.
I find the best sellers are baby yarns and aran wool (and appropriate buttons). As mentioned above, Stylecraft is a popular yarn because of its low cost.
If you're able to offer classes/demos, that will help sell particular yarns.

John Mason

are you only looking at setting up a wool shop?

Dublin has a serious shortages of decent craft shops.

are you thinking of setting up something like Inspiring Ideas ?

Rosy Posy

In my humble experience there are two main types of yarn shops- the pile em high sell em cheap variety that mainly sells tooth-zinging acrylics to pensioners or the trendy boutique style of shop that sell luxury yarns at big prices to new school knitters and crafters. The latter often run workshops or 'stitch and bitch' sessions. You need to find out who your market is before you take the plunge. Also it wouldn't hurt to get onto ravelry and gauge what kind of interest in what kind of stuff is in your area.

Also it would be good as another poster pointed out to expand into not just wool but at least buttons and fixings and notions and things, spinning/felting materials and maybe fabrics as well as other crafts.

If you're interested there's a (slightly trashy chick lit) novel called Diva's Don't Knit by Gil McNeil about a woman setting up her own knitting shop in a semi-rural area that has some good ideas too. All the best!