| Author | Content |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
November 16, 2007
10:34 AM Post #4199443
| Hi All!
I have taken on a new venture of opening an artisan supply shop here in North Hollywood, CA which will selll all kinds of yarn, leather, jewelry making supplies, soap and candle making supplies, etc. I was wondering if any of you could give me some opions on various yarns that you like and would like to see in most shops. Also, what are your likes and dislikes about some yarn shops, so I don't make the same mistakes. Any all around opionions would be greatly appreciated.
kanita |
roadrunner
Hereford, AZ
(Zone 8a)
November 19, 2007
04:54 PM Post #4210921
| Kanita...I don't use any yarn so that is out of my area...I just want to wish you a sucessful shop.
P.S. Get that brother of yours to make a cake for the grand opening...LOL Jo |
zebraman
Venice, CA
(Zone 10a)
November 19, 2007
09:42 PM Post #4211974
| Hey Kanita; I am a master knitter and have been since the early 80's.I only use natural fibers and mostly use sport and dk weight yarn.I buy most of my yarn online.I do however shop at 1 place locally called Yarns Unlimited on Pico blvd. in Santa Monica.They are Always friendly and anything I need they will order it. Last year I wanted to knit this sweater in Alpaca yarn from http://www.thealpacayarnco.com which the shop on Pico carries.I needed 19 colors and the shop had two of them in the store.I didn't waant to purchase them online as the Yarn Supplier only sells each color in minimum bags of 10 balls.Yarns Un. ordered the other 17 colors and I knitted the sweater.
http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/fridom_snowbird/
Also you should check out the distributor for Henry's Attic.They carry a huge selection of yarns,all natural fibers in an unbelievable assortment of weights,textures and quite a lot of them un-dyed.They come in large,mill-end looking loose skeins and at great prices. If you offer hands on classes and get people involved in the painting and dyeing of their own yarns there will be another reason for them to want to come to your shop and not one of the many others.
The only place in your area that I know of is La Knitterie Parisienne on Ventura Blvd.They have a great selection however the woman (owner) is unbelievably Rude! That is why I don't shop there,Ever.
If you can treat every customer like they are your Favorite (even the sour-pusses) You will suceed. |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
November 20, 2007
03:12 PM Post #4214338
| Thanks Jo! I hadn't thought of having a grand opening. I have to think about that now.
Thanks Zebraman. I have been told that about the woman who owns Parisienne by even the yarn sales reps. I am trying to find out who the distributor of Henry's Attic is as I really want their yarns, but am having a hard time locating them. I really appreciate your help. |
zebraman
Venice, CA
(Zone 10a)
November 20, 2007
06:59 PM Post #4215023
| Hey Kanita; I have it and I'll find it sometime between now and the weekend.There is just a lot of other things I have to do today and Wednesday.- |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
November 21, 2007
12:45 PM Post #4217390
| Thanks |
RuTemple
Redwood City, CA
(Zone 9b)
January 24, 2008
05:36 PM Post #4448661
| So, how did the Grand Opening go, kanita??
I'd also recommend getting on Ravelry as another way to connect with other retailers to share info and biz talk, and to get a good pulse of what's popular. Classes, sponsoring an open drop-in-and-knit night, and cosy places to sit, count as much as selection and willingness to special-order, in my book: the strength of the LYS is the community that is created there.
An online presense beyond location/hours/sales flyer stuff if you can swing the time; even your locals will sometimes want to mail-order online.
I wish you all the best, and now I'm even more excited about meeting you at Stitches West this spring!
-Ru |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
January 31, 2008
03:26 PM Post #4479127
| Hi Ru!
The grand opening has been pushed back to Feb 10 because a lot of my yarn suppliers still have not gotten me my orders. So I did a ton of redecorating. I am on Ravelry and have been for a couple of months now. It's a great site. I am really excited because I will be the only shop on the entire West Coast to carry the Garnstudio/Drops Designs line, which is the number 1 yarn in all of Europe. It is really great and the prices are amazing for luxury yarns.
I have a full website where customers can buy online that I am putting th finishing touches on. I have expanded the show to part of the back warehouse where people can sit and knit, & have a separate "classroom" for classes.
Thanks so much for all of the great tips and info. I will post pics for everyone to see soon. |
roadrunner
Hereford, AZ
(Zone 8a)
January 31, 2008
04:07 PM Post #4479269
| Looki9ng forward to your web site...although I don't knit or crochet!
But...I can tell a "good yarn"...LOL Jo |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
February 01, 2008
09:26 AM Post #4481731
| Thanks Jo. |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
February 15, 2008
03:26 PM Post #4542811
| I crochet and like to make special items. For our granddaughters first blankets and for the christening gowns I special ordered cashmere yarn. Always thought it would be something I could sell to the "Hollywood" set for their newborns. Perhaps you could have a section of "exotics". |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
February 17, 2008
01:24 PM Post #4550542
| Thanks Haighr, I looked at some cashemere yarn and it retailed for $57 each skein, do you think people would really pay that much? |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
February 18, 2008
03:59 PM Post #4556285
| I did, but only for special event like the special blankets for our first two granddaughters. I think it may be worth at least advertising that you have it available for those types of special occasion items. |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
February 20, 2008
02:59 AM Post #4563349
| How many yards were in that $57 skein and how did it compare to other cashmere yarns available?
The Quiviut (arctic musk ox) yarn is even more expensive than cashmere, but it seems to sell well at the Stitches marketplace.
I agree with haighr - for a special occasion item, many knitters will splurge on a really nice yarn.
Two more days to stitches! ... pant, pant , pant...
You are probably busy packing, eh kantia? I look forward to seeing you at the market place. |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
February 21, 2008
07:56 AM Post #4567734
| sorry, I have had a chance to log on in a while. Yes, I am super busy. On top of everything else I have a large wholesale order to prepare. |
Gourdbeader
Toledo, OR
(Zone 8b)
March 07, 2008
02:06 AM Post #4632746
| Hi Kanita,
I hope you had a wonderful grand openning. If I was still in Torrence I would be shopping there. I used to live in Torrence and work in BH.
It should've only been a 20 minute drive but always ran me from an hour and a half to two hours to get to work. Boy, I sure don't miss the traffic one single bit but I sure miss the sunshine and warm weather.
I am a beginning knitter and a long time crocheter. [sp?] Are you going to have an online catologue so we can contribute to your business?
Good Luck with your future endevors.
Jan |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
March 07, 2008
11:08 PM Post #4636303
| Hi Jan:
Too bad you're gone :(. I do have an online shop, it is http://www.badanartisan.com and my blogs are: http://www.badanartisan.blogspot.com and http://www.couturehooker.blogspot.com the second is a crochet specific blog.
This message was edited Mar 7, 2008 7:09 PM |
Gourdbeader
Toledo, OR
(Zone 8b)
March 07, 2008
11:17 PM Post #4636341
| Hi Kanita,
I went to your site and tried to pull up the fragrance oils but nothing came up. Are you still working on this or is there a problem with the site.
Jan |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
March 07, 2008
11:18 PM Post #4636348
| I am still uploading every day. By Monday, they should be all up including the essential oils. My old webhosting company went out of business, so I have to completely re-build 3 websites from scratch! A pain you know where. |
roadrunner
Hereford, AZ
(Zone 8a)
March 08, 2008
01:07 AM Post #4636709
| Kanita...I do hope you're going to take time off to come to the RU at Don & Pams in June!! Jo |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
March 08, 2008
08:22 AM Post #4637148
| I will definitely try Jo. |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
June 19, 2008
10:28 AM Post #5127337
| After finally getting my shop the way I wanted, I have moved! LOL to a much better location and more beautiful location. I am now right across from the Van Nuys Convention Center and Hotel, so hopefully that will bring in more customers. And, the unit above my shop became available after I acquired the shop, and the owner said he would convert that into an apartment for me! So now, I have the whole building!
As you can see I am very excited about this.
kanita |
roadrunner
Hereford, AZ
(Zone 8a)
June 19, 2008
10:53 AM Post #5127434
| Kanita...Seems like you have hit the Mother Lode! Good luck. Jo |
Gourdbeader
Toledo, OR
(Zone 8b)
June 19, 2008
11:52 AM Post #5127728
| Hey Kanita, that is great news. What a lucky break to be able to just go downstairs to work. Wow, a dream come true. Especially with gas prices what they are now. We are paying almost $4.50 a gallon. So now its either buy one less gallon of gas and buy a gallon of milk.
Will you have your web site up and going soon? I look forward to hearing from you. Best of luck in your new venture.
Jan |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
June 19, 2008
04:03 PM Post #5128891
| Great news kanita! Almost sounds like "The Shop on Blossom Street". :D
(have you read that one yet?) |
Gourdbeader
Toledo, OR
(Zone 8b)
June 19, 2008
11:37 PM Post #5131155
| hey, Garden_Mermaid. What is The Shop on Blossom Street? Is that a book. Just curious. Sounds like a neat title if it isn't a book. |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
June 20, 2008
12:33 AM Post #5131327
| It's a knitting novel by Debbie Macomber in which the lead character of the story opens a knitting shop in Seattle, on Blossom Street, and lives above the store.
http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Blossom-Street-Knitting-Books/dp/... |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
June 20, 2008
02:36 AM Post #5131563
| GMermaid, I will have to read that one. With gas being $4.80 a gallon here, I am extremely lucky to have this arrangement and not have to drive to get to the shop, which was really wearing me down.
Did any of you in your wildest dreams ever think that we would be paying this much for gasoline? I am just in sticker shock as it cost me today $237 to fill up my cargo van which I have been using to move. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 20, 2008
10:21 AM Post #5132641
| Yes, gas prices are getting painful! My car has a relatively small tank and when I first moved out here 6 years ago I could fill up for under $20, now it costs a little over $50. I'm just so glad I moved closer to work 2 years ago--I used to drive 60 miles round trip every day, now it's less than 10. |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
June 23, 2008
08:44 PM Post #5149719
| kanita, back in 1979, I had to get up at 3am, to get in line a mile from gas station by 4am, in hopes of getting any gas at all! This was when I lived in West Los Angeles.
I'm used to the higher prices in other countries. I'm *very* frustrated that I can get a fuel efficient car (wagon or mini van) that gets 40 mpg+ in Europe but they are not available here. We don't need to pollute our coast with drilling, we need to bring in the fuel efficient cars and trucks and develop more alternatives (like oil from algae).
Hope you like the novel. I've read through a number of knitting novels, including several knitting mysteries like Knit One, Kill Two, and Needled to Death. Dyed in the Wool in another. |
kanita
Los Angeles, CA
(Zone 10a)
June 25, 2008
05:42 PM Post #5159107
| I agree that we need alternative fuel sources. Weren't they working on something with corn oil? |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
June 25, 2008
06:54 PM Post #5159383
| kanita, there are several discussion threads on alternative fuel sources in the Sustainable Alternatives forum. You may want to check out some of those threads. |
