Ever since the start of internet bulletin boards and newsgroups, I've thought that the internet and needlework were a perfect combination. What frustrates the heck out of me is the lack of internet presence by some needlework shops. There are 4 shops within a 45 minute radius from my house, and 2 of them have no website or blog and 1 of them has some decent information (but no email newsletter) and has a "blog" that has no feed so you can't subscribe. The other one doesn't even list the hours. It's like they started to design a website and then gave up.
5 years ago I was seriously thinking of opening a LNS in our town. 2 yarn shops, lots of quilting fabric places, but no needlework. When I found out how much it was going to cost me to open and maintain, I was scared away. The internet was going to be an important tool in this business, with access to Hoffman Distributing and other distributors readily available to customers. My idea was that even if I wouldn't be able to carry each and every fiber, fabric and chart, it would be easy to locate and order, at least the majority of merchandise.
If there are any shop owners out there that might happen upon this post, could you clue me in as to why you wouldn't want to have a website and newsletter? I just can't figure it out...
3 comments:
I always wondered that too so I asked one of the owners in our state why she didn't have one. Her answer was the expense of having a site designed and then the maintenance. I think for some shops they are barely hanging on and to have that added expense isn't justifiable. I've tried to convince her that it would help her business out immensely, but she doesn't seem to think so.
I agree with Deb, and I'd add that many owners just don't have the time to get to everything.
I can't see how they would stay in business if they didn't have a website or at least a web presence. The old ways of doing business don't work anymore. The only LNS in this state that are still in business are the ones who have websites.
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