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There’s nothing quite like the moment you start wondering if you could turn your quilting hobby into a business.
You’ve spent years immersed in fabric, patterns, textures, and color theory. Maybe friends are already asking for advice. Maybe you’ve sold a few quilts at local markets. And now you're thinking about opening a shop.
That spark of excitement is powerful. But turning a creative passion into a successful retail business comes with challenges.
Many new shop owners (especially those coming from the hobby world) make the same mistakes — not because they’re not talented, but because running a business requires a whole different set of muscles.
If you’re dreaming about starting your own quilt shop, this list is for you. Let’s dive into eight common mistakes to avoid, along with real-world solutions that can set your business up for long-term success.
1. You Run It Like a Hobby Instead of a Business
This is one of the most common growing pains — you go from sewing for fun to suddenly running a shop, and it’s a bit of a wake-up call. When you’re used to quilting for joy, it can feel weird to start thinking about profit margins, pricing your time, and tracking every little expense.
That’s one of the biggest hurdles when turning a hobby into a business: learning to treat it like a business.
Here’s how to shift gears:
- Create a simple business plan.
- Set a few income goals.
- Track your income and expenses from day one.
- Block off regular time each week to step back, review, and plan ahead.
Adding a little structure and consistency will help you turn your passion into something sustainable.
2. You Let Personal Taste Drive Inventory Decisions
It’s so easy to fall into this one. You see a new collection and think, “I love this — my customers will, too!” But sometimes, what speaks to you isn’t what your shoppers are looking for.
Maybe your style is bold and modern, but your local quilters lean more traditional. That can leave you with bolts that just sit… and sit… and sit.
Here’s how to avoid that:
- Start with a limited product mix.
- Pay attention to what sells.
- Ask customers what they want more of.
- Reorder your bestsellers quickly.
The most successful shop owners let their customers do the talking. So, remember to buy with their taste and needs in mind — and use real sales data to guide your decisions.
Related Read: Quilt Shop Inventory Management: 7 Steps to Success
3. You Try To Do Everything by Hand
When you're just starting out, it feels doable to write things down, manage inventory in a spreadsheet, and keep class signups on a clipboard.
And for a little while, it works just fine. But as soon as things pick up — more customers, more products, more events — those manual systems start to break down. Mistakes happen. Things slip through the cracks. And suddenly, you’re spending more time fixing problems than actually running your shop.
Here’s how to lighten the load:
- Use a point of sale (POS) system that connects directly to your inventory.
- Sync your online orders so you're not updating two systems.
- Digitize class signups and customer info to keep everything in one place.
The more you can automate the behind-the-scenes stuff, the more time you’ll get back to focus on your customers, your community, and the parts of the business you enjoy.
4. You Wait Too Long To Launch Online Sales
This is common — especially when you’re in the early stages of turning your hobby into a business. You’re busy getting your shop open, handling orders, and meeting customers — and e-commerce just keeps getting pushed down the to-do list.
Plus, it can feel overwhelming. Maybe you’re worried it’ll be expensive, complicated, or too much to manage on top of everything else.
But here’s the thing — more and more quilters are shopping online. If they can’t find you when they’re browsing for fabric at 9 p.m. on their couch, you’re missing out on sales and visibility.
And no, you don’t need a giant website or hundreds of products to start. Just having a few of your best items online can make a difference.
Try this:
- Start with your bestsellers or bundles.
- Make sure your online and in-store inventory syncs.
- Offer shipping and local pickup for convenience.
- Add SEO-friendly product names and descriptions.
The sooner you start building your online presence, the easier it is to grow sustainably.
5. You Forget That People (Not Just Products) Make a Quilt Shop Special
Quilting is social. People come into your shop to feel inspired, yes, but they also come to connect, talk about what they’re working on, and feel part of something.
If you’re only focused on stocking bolts and ringing up sales, you might miss the chance to build that real sense of community.
Here’s what helps:
- Learn your regulars by name.
- Host open sew nights, clubs, or mini-retreats.
- Celebrate customer finishes on social media.
- Offer classes for different skill levels.
At the end of the day, it’s how people feel when they walk into your shop. Make it warm, make it personal, and they’ll keep coming back.
6. You Neglect Marketing Your Quilt Shop
“I’m not good at marketing” is something we hear often. But at its heart, marketing for a small business is just sharing your story and keeping your shop on people’s minds.
If you never tell anyone what’s new, what events you have coming up, or what makes your shop different, how will customers know to stop by?
Here are a few simple ways to get started:
- Post a few times per week on Instagram and Facebook.
- Send a monthly newsletter with upcoming events or product arrivals.
- Feature customer makes or staff picks.
- Ask for Google reviews — they build trust.
Just be consistent and authentic with your marketing — people will notice.
Related Read: How To Market a Quilt Shop: 7 Simple Ideas
7. You Don’t Set Up Systems for Classes and Events
Classes are hands down one of the best ways to get people coming back and loving your shop. But if you’re managing signups with a notebook, it’s going to get confusing. You’ll end up with double bookings, missed emails, and customers wondering what’s going on.
Here’s what helps:
- Use a class calendar with real-time registration.
- Automate email confirmations and reminders.
- Track attendance and see which instructors or topics perform best.
- Bundle class supplies and kits to increase revenue.
Getting this right takes a bit of work upfront, but it’ll save you time and headaches in the long run.
8. You Wait Too Long To Ask for Help
A lot of new shop owners feel like they have to do it all themselves — either because they don’t want to bother anyone, or they think asking for help means they don’t know what they’re doing.
Here’s what to do instead:
- Join local or online communities of quilt shop owners.
- Talk to your vendors and ask for small business support resources.
- Reach out to friends or mentors who’ve run businesses before.
- Don’t be afraid to call your providers’ customer support — that’s what it’s there for.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. No one does in the beginning. Every successful shop owner started exactly where you are — figuring it out as they go.
Let Your POS Technology Do the Heavy Lifting
If you’re dreaming of opening a fabric shop, chances are you’ve already got the most important part down — you love fabric, you know your stuff, and you care about the people who walk through your door.
That’s huge. But running a shop every day — managing inventory, keeping up with online orders, tracking class signups, and staying on top of everything — can get overwhelming if you’re doing it all by hand.
That’s where Like Sew comes in. Our POS system was built just for quilt and fabric shops like yours — and designed to grow alongside you. From in-store checkout and inventory tracking to online orders, class registration, and marketing, it’s all connected in one easy-to-use system.
We’ve helped hundreds of hobbyists turn their love of sewing into full-fledged shops, without the burnout. And we’d love to help you, too.
Ready to see how Like Sew can help? Book a free demo today — we’ll walk you through everything.
