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If you’ve ever wandered into a Barnes & Noble bookstore, you know there are plenty of reasons to linger.
Cozy seating, the scent of fresh coffee, inviting displays, and a mix of quiet nooks and social spaces all work together to make you want to stay.
Barnes & Noble understands that the longer customers spend time in the store, the more likely they are to buy. Fabric stores can take this same principle and tailor it to their own audience — shoppers who love to touch, imagine, and plan before they purchase.
In this blog, we break down how to keep customers in your store longer by creating an environment that encourages extended visits, bigger baskets, and more repeat business.
Let’s dive in.
1. Provide Baskets, Totes, & Rolling Carts
Quilters, sewists, and crafters rarely leave with just one thing. But when their arms are full, they tend to stop browsing sooner.
Even in small fabric shops, offering lightweight baskets, branded totes, or rolling carts makes it easier for shoppers to carry bolts, notions, and patterns.
Here are some ideas:
- Set up a basket station near the entrance with colorful fabric totes that match the season.
- Place a friendly sign above the baskets: “Grab a tote — your arms will thank you!”
- Offer a loyalty reward where regulars get their own named shopping bag.
- Provide a small rolling cart if you stock heavy rolls or wide quilt backings.
Since customers with full hands tend to browse less, giving them simple ways to carry their items is a great first step in learning how to keep customers in your store longer.
2. Surprise Customers With Creative Touches
Unexpected little moments can turn a quick errand into an hour-long visit.
In a fabric store, surprises might look like:
- A “mystery fat quarter” bin where customers grab a surprise for $1
- Mini treasure hunts with clues hidden among fabric bolts, leading to small freebies or discounts
- Free pattern cards displayed next to seasonal fabric collections
- A color inspiration wall with mood boards made from your fabric scraps — perfect for photo inspiration
- “Flash Friday” deals, where select bolts are 25% off for two hours only
These small, creative touches add fun and personality to your shop, encouraging customers to stick around — and come back often.
3. Train Staff To Be Warm, Knowledgeable, & Craft-Savvy
Friendly and helpful associates are one of the top reasons customers continue to visit physical stores.
In a fabric shop, that means:
- Greet everyone with a smile and a simple, open-ended question like, “What are you making today?”
- Offer color-matching help for projects in progress.
- Point customers toward coordinating trims, buttons, and thread while they’re at the cutting counter.
- Share a quick sewing or quilting tip that relates to what the customer is buying.
If someone buys interfacing, for instance, a staff member can slip in a printed tip sheet with care instructions and project ideas.
Related Read: Run Fabric Classes In-Store in 7 Simple Steps
4. Offer Demonstrations, Mini-Classes, & Interactive Displays
Hands-on experiences are a natural fit for fabric stores. They don’t have to be full-length classes — sometimes a quick, casual demo works even better to keep people browsing.
Here are a few ideas:
- Demo days: Show off a new tool, like a quilting ruler, rotary cutter, or fabric glue pen.
- Test sewing station: Let customers try a machine, practice a stitch, or test-drive a new presser foot.
- Technique corner: Highlight one skill per month, like binding corners or English paper piecing, and display all the supplies needed to try it.
- Looped tutorials: Play short videos on quilting tips, sewing hacks, and project ideas on a screen in the shop.
Schedule demos during peak hours (like Saturday mornings) so the most people can benefit.
5. Engage All Five Senses
Fabric shopping is already a tactile experience, but you can create a richer, more memorable environment by engaging every sense.
Here’s how:
- Sight: Color-block your fabric displays for visual impact and feature a “fabric of the week” spotlight near the entrance.
- Touch: Set out precut swatches or small scrap bins that customers can handle without unrolling bolts.
- Sound: Play upbeat music that fits your store’s personality — folk and acoustic for cozy vibes, or light pop for energy.
- Smell: Use subtle, fabric-safe scents like lavender, vanilla, or fresh linen.
- Taste: Offer coffee, lemonade, and small cookies during special events to make the visit feel more homey.
6. Set Up Project Zones To Spark Ideas
Instead of just lining bolts in rows, group fabrics and supplies by project type.
For example:
- Baby corner: Arrange flannel bolts, soft batting, coordinating thread, and baby quilt patterns in one area.
- Seasonal tabletop: Display table runner kits, napkin fabrics, and seasonal trims together.
- Beginner’s station: Bundle simple sewing patterns, easy-care fabrics, and starter notions for new sewists.
This helps customers visualize their next project and often encourages them to buy more than they originally planned.
7. Host Social Sewing Hours
Set up a few tables with irons, cutting mats, and sewing machines for open studio time. Charge a small fee or make it free for customers who purchase materials that day.
Shoppers stay longer, buy extra supplies, and form friendships that keep them coming back week after week.
Related Read: 8 Proven Promotion Ideas for Fabric Shops
8. Celebrate Customer Projects
Dedicate a wall, bulletin board, or digital slideshow to customer work. Ask them to bring in finished projects made with your fabrics, then feature their photos with captions like, “Made with love from our shop to your home.”
When customers feel part of your store’s story, they’re more likely to return and invite friends.
9. Add a Comfy Corner
Quilting is creative, but it’s also social. Consider setting up a small sitting area with cozy chairs, a quilted throw, and maybe a pot of tea or coffee on weekends.
This gives spouses or kids a place to hang out while the quilter browses — and it sends a clear signal: “You’re welcome to take your time here.”
10. Create Seasonal Excitement
Rotate displays and events often so customers always find something new.
For example:
- Holiday kits: Showcase table runners for Thanksgiving, stockings for Christmas, and heart-themed wall hangings for Valentine’s Day.
- Block-of-the-month programs: Set up a program where customers return monthly for new fabric bundles and instructions.
Freshness keeps your store from ever feeling static — and it gives shoppers a reason to come back.
Bring These Strategies to Life With Like Sew
Learning how to keep customers in your store longer gets much easier when your point of sale (POS) system, e-commerce website, classes, marketing, and loyalty program all work together.
Like Sew gives quilt shops an all‑in‑one tool kit built specifically for fabric stores, so shoppers linger, learn, and buy more — online and in store.
With our cloud-based software, you can:
- Fill your calendar and your classroom: Publish classes, manage sign-ups, and automatically promote them with upcoming-classes emails — plus list everything on your website.
- Turn browsers into regulars: Run points‑based loyalty programs, birthday and anniversary campaigns, and bounceback coupons that bring customers back.
- Power high-return programs: Offer block‑of‑the‑month clubs, memberships and subscriptions, and prebuilt kits to drive repeat visits.
- Inspire bigger baskets: Allow for wish lists and roll out mix‑and‑match or “buy X, get Y” promos tied to your seasonal displays.
- Be fabric-shop friendly: Sell by fractional yardage (down to 1/8 yard), pull from up‑to‑date vendor catalogs, and manage serialized inventory, repairs, and trade‑ins for your machine department.
Ready to keep customers in your store longer? Book a demo to see how Like Sew can help.
