An Interview with ... Dana Dodge of Got Yarn?

Prism's Foxy Cowl

Once a week I post interviews with interesting people about their insights on their experience of working in the Knitting industry.  I’ve noticed that every one of these individuals makes their living in a slightly different manner bringing their own unique presence to the knitting world.

You can find Got Yarn? here. Dana is here on Ravelry. 

All items in the photos are available from Got Yarn?

Tell me how you ended up running a yarn business?

I worked as an advertising art director for a dozen years after college. In 1994 I decided to freelance and see if I could earn my own keep. I was enjoying the entrepreneurial side, as well as the creative side, of my business. Since I was set up as a business and already collecting sales tax, I started buying close-out yarn from a few of the venerable US hand-knitting distributors. I was reselling to friends and acquaintances in order to support my voracious knitting habit.

In '98 I discovered EBay and typed in “yarn” and I got 7,244 hits. {I just now repeated that and got 174,837 hits.} I got really excited, so I listed a bunch of yarns immediately and sold everything in five days. That lead me to search for websites selling yarn. The results were sparse. Most were informational one page sites for LYS and they were not selling products online. Within a few weeks, I designed my website and placed ads in Vogue Knitting magazine. I launched GotYarn.com on July 1, 1999. The name Got Yarn?® is an homage to my background in advertising.

Do you run the shop by yourself or do you have employees? If you do how many people work for you?

For the past eight years I have been solo, wearing all the hats.

I ran a retail shop from 2000-2006. I opened the shop because Got Yarn outgrew my basement, and I saw it as an opportunity to buy yarn from the many retailers who would not sell to me, because I was only online. When I closed I had seven part-time employees, who were as good as gold to me, but it got to be too overwhelming, wearing way too many hats. So here I am back at my beginnings.

How did you choose the yarns that you carry in your shop?

I buy what I love; what I personally would knit if I have the time to knit it all! I gravitate to the high-end. I carry mostly natural fibers, and hand-dyed yarn. To be worth my time {and my customer’s time} it has to be top quality, exquisite and well-wearing.

Nicky Epstein's Koigu KPPPM Capelet

You focus on kits which include the yarn and pattern. Could you tell us about that?

Yes, kits are my specialty. I offer hundreds of combinations of projects and yarns in various colors, and I assemble them as they are ordered. A kit might include a single pattern, a back-issue of a knitting magazine, or a hardcover book with dozens of projects. The paradox of choice can make even buying yarn overwhelming. My customers love picking a project and knowing they are getting the right yarn for it. I offer a lot of kits from world famous designers. I get orders from all over the planet for Kaffe Fasset kits with umpteen colors of Rowan yarn, plus the pattern book. I special order custom kits too: a Prism sweater kit in their favorite hand-dyed colorway, a Jane Slicer-Smith coat in a choice of three lengths, one of Maie Landra's amazing garments for Koigu. I get a lot of special requests. Even if it's a vintage design, I will try to find them an appropriate substitute. I get a vicarious thrill helping them pick the next project to go on their needles.

I also kit some of my own designs, mainly simple sweaters and fun, no-gauge hats. I try to offer crochet as well, but there's never enough time for me to list everything I can offer.

Here’s a quote from a customer, Kathleen in Canada... "I really like the fact that you put together unique and interesting kits that are hard to come by myself. There is simplicity when you receive a kit in the mail. It sits ready for you whenever the creative juices arise."

What is the biggest lesson running a yarn business has taught you?

Just about every knitter I have ever met, emailed or spoken to on the phone is an honest, passionate person! I can't imagine a more positive business to be in. Every day, I am grateful I was given the gift of knitting to guide my life.

What is your favourite part of what you do running the business?

Buying the yarn – what else?

Kaffe Fasset's Fair Isle scarf and dress for Rowan

We've seen many cycles in the yarn industry with the market increasing and then falling again. What are your thoughts on where things might be headed now?

I am really happy that most of the suppliers I started out with are still going strong. It takes a lot of innovation and smarts to do what they do, season after season. That being said, along with everything else, the internet has created unlimited possibilities for knitting and crochet. No doubt, the business will continue to fragment. Now anyone can sell yarn to the smallest corner of the planet, designers can make a living selling their designs directly and wholesalers have created close ties to their end-users. The conventional wholesale-retail model will continue to evolve rapidly.

Did you do a formal business plan?

NO! I would have thrown in the towel years ago!

Do you have a mentor? 

My father ran his own business for 40 years, all by himself and he is now comfortably retired. He has always given me sound advice. Fortunately, he doesn't question me about all the yarn!

Lizard Ridge Afghan in Noro Yarn, designed by Laura Aylor

Do you have a business model that you have emulated?

My mother taught me to be nice to everybody, value creativity and buy quality, not quantity. I see my business as a fusion of her wisdom.

I have never put that down on paper before, but it's obvious now that both my parents taught me how to run a yarn business!

Did you take any courses in how to run a business before you opened?

When I started my freelance business I took a course on consultative selling. That means listening to your customers and helping them figure out what they want. Just about everything else I do here is self-taught. I've never even taken a single computer class. I am a fast learner and I've always operated by observation and intuition, figuring things out as I go along. I can easily get overwhelmed by too much information. Fortunately for me that doesn’t apply to my knitting. I love taking knitting classes and there's no such thing as too much!

Dana's Favorite Merino Yarn (Aurora 8) in her design Aran Mitts

How do you maintain your life/work balance? 

I try really hard not to answer the phone or check emails on weekends and holidays. Another plus about this business is that there are very few “yarn emergencies!” In advertising, the account executives treated everything like it was life or death.

How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?

I was lucky in that I caught the “new millennium scarf craze” while I had my shop. That helped me build a cushion. So that was seven years into it. After that I was a single, self-employed mom for six years. Just about any small business is all about cash flow. Anytime I needed money, I would send out an email blast to my customers!

Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf by Churchmouse

What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in running a yarn business?

Say goodbye to knitting something just because you want to. All your precious knitting time will be spent on projects that will be popular and move yarn. If you gravitate towards muted colors, get over it!

Debbie Bliss Baby Blanket

Debbie Bliss Cardigan

An Interview with ... Melissa McColl of LadeeBee Update!

Once a week I post interviews with interesting people about their insights on their experience of working in the Knitting industry.  I’ve noticed that every one of these individuals makes their living in a slightly different manner bringing their own unique presence to the knitting world.

You can find Melissa here and here on Ravelry.

Melissa's business is growing! Her original interview was one of the most read shop owners interviews. It seems appropriate with her recent growth to ask her some new questions and get an update on her adventures in the knitting industry. You can read her original interview here.  

You've moved into a new and bigger space, please tell us how that came about?

I had been sharing a two level space with a lovely gift shop called Wise Daughters. She carried an array of handmade items by local artists,  but unfortunately, she was unable to continue the business and had to close her doors. I was faced with the decision to close after only one year or carry on by taking over the entire location. I could have found another spot to set up shop, but this is such a great space and we have a good established relationship with the owner of the building. After a year of operating in the lower level of Wise Daughters I felt confident that I could carry the space on my own. I really didn't even consider closing to be honest as I just don't see myself doing anything else. I felt that there was enough support in the community to sustain and continue to grow LadeeBee, so expanding seemed like the right thing to do.

You run workshops for both adults and kids how do the challenges differ for each group?

Adults may bring some challenges to the table when they come to a workshop. I can see that confidence often has to be fostered quite a bit . I think as we get older it just becomes harder to learn a new task. We have a lot of distractions in our lives and slowing down and relaxing to learn a new skill takes a bit of time. I find that anxiety can really hinder the learning experience, so I try to make students feel as comfortable and at ease as possible. Children on the other hand are quite accustomed to a learning environment and are asked to acquire new skills on a nearly daily basis. If there is any anxiety it doesn't seem to hinder them quite as much. Children will generally dive right in to the activity. If children are genuinely interested in the activity they will be very quiet and focused and determined to complete the task.

You are offering a variety of workshops which include topics other than knitting, how do you describe your shop to potential customers?

LadeeBee is a one stop destination for crafting inspiration. Because I enjoy a variety of crafts I have so many different departments in the shop. The main departments are yarn and beads, but in addition I carry supplies for cross stitching, embroidery, felting, spinning, and even a small section for handmade gifts. I think the shop is fun and cheerful and the idea is to assist my customers to scratch their crafting itch when they feel like making something. 

Is the shop equally split between the various crafts or is one more strongly represented?

I would say at the moment that yarn and fibre has the most representation in the shop. There is potential to expand the beading department in the lower level to give each department more or less a 50/50 representation with other crafts supported minimally. 

Sundays are your Stitching Bee days, which are open to all craft pursuits not just knitting, is this event drawing in more customers for you?

It's a really important event for me in many ways. The people that come regularly on Sunday are my core supporters. They offer this support by being my sounding board, generating activity ideas (such as the Mother's Day Tea Cozy Exhibit), they were there to help me set up when I expanded, and they are a nice group for me to engage with socially. I think its nice for other customers to see the shop active and busy so it brings a positive vibe to the shop. It doesn't necessarily bring in new customers directly, but as you can see it is an important group.

Could you tell us a little about upcoming workshops that are being planned?

We always run a beginner knitting and crochet course on alternate months. This month we are running a beginner crochet course. Coming up we have an embroidery workshop, needle felted gnome workshop, a pendant making class, wet felted bowls, beaded bracelets with memory wire, crochet booties, a top down knitted raglan cardigan course, a seaming techniques class for knitters, and a crochet floral necklace workshop. Phew! As you can see we like to have some core classes for knitters and crocheters with some jewelry making and other needlework workshops as well. Every month we will have the different crafts represented in this way in our programming. 

ETA Melissa has invited me to teach an introductory lace knitting class on June 14 1 - 4. It will be added to her website soon. 

 

An Interview with ... Melissa McColl of LadeeBee

Once a week I post interviews with interesting people about their insights on their experience of working in the Knitting industry.  I’ve noticed that every one of these individuals makes their living in a slightly different manner bringing their own unique presence to the Knitting world.

You can find Melissa here and here on Ravelry.

Tell me how you got into the business of running a yarn store?

My path to having a bricks and mortar business was a bit of a winding road. Previously, I worked in the non-profit sector in a young parent resource centre. A few years into my job I was diagnosed with major depression and was ordered on leave by my doctor. During my medical leave I starting knitting almost all of my waking hours. I taught myself to crochet and to use knitting machines. I was in acquisition mode, buying up buttons, fabric, yarn, machines, and filling my home with things that made me happy. During my treatment I opened two Etsy shops. One called LadeeBee and the other Vintage Baby Revival. LadeeBee was focused on vintage buttons and for Vintage Baby Revival I designed and created knitware for babies and toddlers. I took my business a little further with the knitwear and exhibited at the One of a Kind Show and sold my items at local boutiques. Eventually, I decided not to return to my position at the young parent resource centre and to focus on crafting and creating for a living. An acquaintance of mine decided to do a big bead destash and gave me several bags of supplies free of charge. I started selling on a live auction website called Tophatter. The site was in its infancy and I was one of the first sellers to get on board. I sold off all of the supplies swiftly and at a massive profit and decided I wanted to do more of this. I sourced more jewelry supplies and began a steady business on Tophatter. 

I live in an up and coming neighbourhood called the Junction in Toronto and I always would say dreamily "I would love to open a yarn shop right here!" I never thought it possible because I lacked the finances to kick start a business so I never gave the idea any serious thought. By this time I had become friends with Mary Breen, the owner of Wise Daughters Craft Market, where I sold my baby knits on consignment and sometimes worked part-time. Wise Daughters had a gallery and workshop space in the lower level but Mary felt the space was underutilized. I suggested I could open a yarn shop and Mary agreed it would be a perfect fit with her locally handmade market. In fact many customers called her shop looking for craft supplies already. So in one serendipitous afternoon it was decided - I would have a yarn, bead and craft supplies shop in my beloved neighbourhood, the Junction. 

How long have you been in business?

I opened the bricks and mortar business in January 2013. 

Do you run the store by yourself or do you have employees, and if so, how many people work at your shop?

I mainly run the business on my own, but I have had occasional employees and even volunteers. 

How did you choose the yarns that you carry in your shop?

Truth be told, I am still choosing the yarns for my shop. I did not open the shop in a traditional way. I am growing slowly over time. I started off with a destash of the yarn from my own studio and now I carry Cascade 220 Superwash and 220 Superwash Sport, Cascade Magnum, Cascade Eco Duo, Manos Lace, and TurtlePurl Softshell Turtle Toes (a Canadian indie dyer). I purchased a lot of indie dyed sock yarn from a knitter who was destashing her own stash, and I am selling yarn on consignment for a local yarn shop that recently closed. As you can see I've had to be very creative in filling the shelves and also choosing a distributor with small opening order terms. I do want to have the best of the best and have my sights set on Sweet Fibre, another indie Canadian dyer, Socks that Rock, Malabrigo, and Noro. I love natural fibres and the beauty of hand dyed yarns.

What have done to create a sense of community in your store?

I am fortunate because much of the community was already built in when I opened my shop. Mary and I agreed that she would hold on to her workshops and borrow back the space to operate the classes. It is a pleasure to see so many activities, not just fibre related crafts, taking place in my space. I have also started a Sit N' Stitch I call a "Stitching Bee" on Sundays. Anyone can drop in during store hours on Sunday with their knitting, crochet, needlework, spinning, or beading project for a stitching social.  Together Mary and I plan special events for Worldwide Knit in Public Day and we participate in our local community events as well.

What is the biggest lesson running a yarn shop has taught you?

The biggest lessons are in patience and perseverance. Shelves don't fill up as quickly as I'd like and some days it feels like I'm spinning my wheels. You've got to be tough and focused and remain energetic as much as possible. 

What is your favourite part of what you do running the shop?

I feel so satisfied when I help someone find just the right thing for their project. I enjoy engaging my customers and finding out what they are working on and what materials make them happy. I am delighted when they find something in my shop that causes them to be excited and inspired. 

We've seen many cycles in the yarn industry of the market increasing and then falling again. What are your thoughts on where things might be headed now? 

I am really excited about the direction the industry is going. There is definitely a renaissance happening right now. The public is really becoming interested in doing things by hand again and connecting with the DIY spirit. I take personal responsibility for being an advocate for the crafts and sharing my passion with others. I feel if we all do our part we can see a long and prosperous future for the yarn industry. 

Do you have a mentor?

I do have two important mentors in my life. One is Mary Breen of Wise Daughters. She opened her bricks and mortar business four years prior to LadeeBee's arrival. She is a constant source of support, information, and comic relief. The other is Gloria Williams, a long time knitting expert. She has personally taken me under her wing to show me the ropes of teaching and has advised me in the nuances of yarn shop operations.

Do you have a business model that you have emulated?

None in particular. I have visited dozens of yarn shops across the country and the US and have picked up on some things that I have emulated or aspire to emulate. I adore Purl Soho's (NYC) online presence, their advertising and of course their physical shop. I love the representation of fabric, yarn and needlework crafts. The General Store in Brooklyn is also similar. There's a sweet little shop in Peterborough, Needle in the Hay, that I adore as well. I gain inspiration from a variety of shops. 

What impact has the Internet had on your business?

The internet was really my jumping off point. Once I had a stable income from online sales I was confident I'd be able to open the bricks and mortar location. Now that I have a location I can expand my inventory that I offer online. I am no longer confined by the space of my home based business. I love the opportunities that the internet offers. I have shipped things all over the world, but  I am truly most excited when I have a new Canadian customer. 

How do you maintain your life/work balance?

Work is life at the moment and I am happy with that. I come to the shop 7 days a week even though we are closed on Mondays. Because I live a block away from the shop I tend to live my life in a 1km radius and benefit from zero commute. Luckily, I am easily accessible to my family.

How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself?

Right now the shop is self sustaining and all profit goes right back into reinvesting in inventory. I imagine this will be the cycle for some time.  It has taken five years to get here and I imagine it'll be another five before I can say I am supporting myself. 

What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in running a yarn store? 

My advice is to recognize that everyone has their own path. Be open to yours.

If you enjoy reading my blog, I'd really appreciate it if you would tell your knitting friends or share links to your favourite posts online with Twitter, Ravelry or Facebook. Word of mouth is really helping to grow my business as knitters respect the views of other members of our community. Thanks!

An Interview with...Beckie Paul of Unraveled

Beckie is on the left and her staffer Stacey is on the right.  They are both wearing a Gradient  by Shibui knit with Silkcloud.

Once a week I post interviews with interesting people about their insights on their experience of working in the Knitting industry.  I’ve noticed that every one of these individuals makes their living in a slightly different manner bringing their own unique presence to the Knitting world.

 
You can find the shop here  and their Ravelry group is here

How long have you been in business?

We've been open since April 2012

Do you run the store by yourself or do you have employees, if you do how many people work at your shop?

It's mostly just me, but I have a very supportive Mother who works for me when I need her to, or when she kicks me out for a rest, and Stacey, my student who also kicks me out on Sundays when I need a rest!  I am really lucky to have them with me in this.  My Fiancée Josh is brave enough to accompany me to knitting fairs and shows :-)

How did you choose the yarns that you carry in your shop?

Oh, that's the fun part!  I started choosing yarns based on what I wanted to knit with, what I could not find anywhere else, and anything that got my heart racing.  I still shop for the store in the same way.  I have to love something if it's coming through the doors and is going to take up precious space on the shelves.  We don't have a lot of room, so I need to make every square inch count.  If I don't love it, I won't be able to sell it.  The products I have are the products I love.  I choose colours in every range, and definitely take customer feedback on colours and bases into account. I can't carry everything but I try to cover a lot of bases in every weight.

What is the biggest lesson running a yarn shop has taught you? 

Running the shop has taught me to pick my personal battles. I have learned that everything that needs to be done cannot possibly be done all at once, or all in one day, a week, a month, sometimes a year.  I am still struggling with this, but picking my battles is my biggest lesson.  What is immediate, what is for tomorrow, what can wait a week, what is a nice to have, what is a luxury?  Those are the filing boxes on my list.  

What is your favorite part of what you do running the shop?

Oh, so many!  My favourite part though is my customers, and their support of not only the business but me personally too.  I could never have imagined before opening the store how close I would grow with my customers - who are now friends.  They can pick me up on the rough days, and make the good ones even better.  They come with great stories, beautiful project ideas, and finished projects to show off and share with the other customers in the store.  I could not have gotten where I am without the wonderful knitters who frequent the shop - I genuinely look forward to the days I know someone is coming in for a visit. I'm extremely lucky to have the customers I do; my favourite part by far!

We've seen many cycles in the yarn industry of the market increasing and then falling again. What are your thoughts on where things might be headed now? 

I think sites like Ravelry.com are helping to keep the fibre industry relevant and are causing continuous growth.  Many of my newer knitters have learned online, or saw something on Pinterest and decided they needed to knit and take it up. The more access people outside of the community have to knitting information the better, and the growth of knitting communities online helps keep existing knitters interested to keep learning and making, sharing and commenting.

Did you do a formal business plan? 

ummm... no? :-D  I did figure out expenses and project ahead as to what numbers I needed to meet monthly just to pay the bills.  I knew that every cent that comes into the business over the next few years will go back into it and I think my customers have noticed this as the stock grows and diversifies over time.  I can't even believe how much the store has changed in a year :-) Best business plan ever if you ask me! just kidding...

Do you have a mentor? 

My Mom.  Sounds cliché perhaps, but she's the best business person I know.  I grew up with my parents running a business and like to think they imparted some know how on me during those years.  Since that time my Mom is my adviser, shrink, and best friend.  I bounce almost every idea off of her to see what she thinks; she's the best sounding board I could ask for.  I wouldn't have been able to even think about starting and running my own business without her.

Do you have a business model that you have emulated? 

No - just trying to run things my way.  I wanted to create the shop I wanted to shop in that I couldn't quite find, I've succeeded in my vision and just keep hoping I find like minded individuals who enjoy what I'm doing and what I'm selling.  It's never a good business strategy to go out and copy the competition - if we all do our own thing it makes the entire field better for the customers to shop in.

Did you take any courses in how to run a business before you opened? 

No, none. 

What impact has the Internet had on your business?

Facebook is fantastic for business.  I use it to get any and all information about the shop out there quickly.  I love it - I can post new items as soon as they come in, share pretty fibre pictures, and pass along information about events and upcoming classes.  I think it's invaluable, I'd love to find the time to be more involved in more aspects and forums of social media, but right now I have time for just FB mostly.

How do you maintain your life/work balance?

This is probably my biggest challenge.  I am constantly on duty right now and am finding spare time without the store being involved tricky.  It's hard to step away even for a second when its just me.  Late night email replies, packing online orders before and after work, store orders for re-stocking, sourcing new items - it doesn't all go away when the doors close at night.  I'm getting a bit better at taking a day off on Sundays to spend with my family, but it still involves work in some capacity.  My pup has adapted to sleeping around my computer - they share my lap, he's doing better at maintaining his work/life balance than I am at this point!

What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in running a yarn store? 

Know what you're getting into - it's more about running a business than knitting all day everyday.  Don't get me wrong, it's fantastic, but I've had to come to terms with talking and thinking more about knitting and spinning than actually knitting and spinning.  There is only so much time in a day, and unfortunately when your income depends on how much work you get done and how hard you work, something has to give.  My sacrifice is less hours spent actually putting needles and yarn together.  

An Interview with... Mary Cullen

Mary

Once a week I post interviews with interesting people about their insights on their experience of working in the Knitting industry.  I’ve noticed that every one of these individuals makes their living in a slightly different manner bringing their own unique presence to the Knitting world.

You can find Mary here and here and here (sock knitters) on Ravelry


Tell me how you got into the business of running a yarn store?
That's a funny question because I should be able to answer it…..but I really don't remember. It had been a dream for years and anytime I was out for a drive..I would envision just about any property I saw, as a yarn shop.

One day an old building on Main Street , Unionville became available and before I knew it…….I was on my way to opening a yarn shop. Truthfully, it was Easter weekend and I think I was a bit preoccupied with getting a big dinner and hiding the eggs!
 

How long have you been in business?
I got the property in June 2002, but didn't open until the end of February, 2003.  The old house (built in 1876) was a disaster and needed painting…top to bottom. We also landscaped, etc….then I started buying inventory, so I have been open for just over ten years.

Do you run the store by yourself or do you have employees, if you do how many people work at your shop?
My daughter, Lynn joined me 4 years after I opened. The two of us run it…..but we have 3 delightful part-time employees.

How did you choose the yarns that you carry in your shop? 
How do we choose?……"rapid fire"……..we know very quickly if it "feels" right. That doesn't mean we always make the right decision…but we don't spend too much time thinking about it.  Price is a big factor and Lynn and I each choose half of the colours we order…she likes the brights…while I tend to go for the earthier tones.  After being in business for ten years….you do start to have a feel for what your clientele will like. 

What have done to create a sense of community in your store?
….a sense of community comes from doing our best to remember people and being truly interested in their stories. We like to introduce knitters to one another if we feel they have a common bond…we also have a group that meet in the upstairs room at the shop , every other Wednesday afternoon. 

Our classes and special events tend to bring out many of the same people…..so eventually they get to know one another. It's fun to hear two customers making plans to meet at one another's homes….to knit. Helping friendships form, can only help a community.

What is the biggest lesson running a yarn shop has taught you?
The biggest lesson….not everybody shops like me!     Seriously……I am intrigued by all of the different ways people approach a project, so I must keep that in mind when buying.

What is your favorite part of what you do running the shop?
Organizing and merchandising.  I love tidying the yarns and lining them up in such a way that people are drawn to the colours and the textures…..but I love the interaction with the customers…and suppliers……it's fun to find a deal and pass it along to customers…or a new yarn……I honestly love everything about "running" a yarn shop……..

We've seen many cycles in the yarn industry of the market increasing and then falling again. What are your thoughts on where things might be headed now?
I think we're in a better place than we've been in many years because so many people have gotten into knitting in the past 15 years……it's beyond being a fad and while it may have some dips….I don't think we'll see it get anywhere close to disappearing in our lifetime……..especially if Rowan keep putting out their beautiful books! 

Did you do a formal business plan?

No formal business plan.  

Do you have a mentor? 
Ah yes….my husband is my #1 mentor. It's all we talk about….retail...……and both of our fathers were in retail…so I often stop and run questions by them in my mind…as they have both passed away…and I try and guess what they would say. My kids are also wonderful for being honest and up to date…..so their opinions matter a lot to me. 

Do you have a business model that you have emulated?

Not really…….maybe snippets of one store and snippets of another……I love to watch some of the larger stores, but their conditions are so different from mine….that emulating is not really an option.

Did you take any courses in how to run a business before you opened? 
Not recently, but I did major in Home Ec  at Guelph..thinking that I wanted to become a sewing/cooking teacher.  After a year in the course and the trend away from teaching Home Ec in the schools…I switched to Consumer Studies. This course supplied me with much of the basic info I needed for running a shop…otherwise…it's a gut feeling and a great mentor! 

What impact has the Internet had on your business? 

The Internet…….I was more aware of it when I opened 10 years ago……people were discovering the Internet and me at about the same time…. 

I guess it's safe to say that I felt threatened by the Internet when I first opened…but honestly…I think we have it to thank for the huge increase in the number of knitters. It's so great to be able to refer to You Tube or Ravelry when we're stuck.  It's so much easier to help a customer find the right yarn now that we have Ravelry at our fingertips…..it sure beats saving all of the old yarn catalogues for reference!!  It's a "win/win". 

How do you maintain your life/work balance? 

Work/Life balance…….does anyone have the answer for that?  My 4 kids are getting older and moving out…so that makes it a bit easier…….but now there are new challenges….so I really can't advise on that. Funny thing….I am actually more relaxed at the shop…..I go there to chill. 

How long did it take for you to be able to support yourself? 

Support myself……or my yarn habit?  Thankfully, my family is not counting on my income from the shop…….but we are finally in a spot where one of us can take home a decent pay cheque. 

What advice would you give someone who wants to pursue a career in running a yarn store? 

Advice?  Not really….every person and every yarn shop/location is so different…….that's what makes it all so interesting…

Be patient in the early years…….it does take some time to see your business generate a positive cash flow.

Do your best to be friends with  neighbouring yarn shops……..it's so much nicer if everyone can work together.

It's hard work…….but we love it.

Thanks Robin for inviting me to answer these questions. It's a great exercise and only reinforces how happy I am that I decided to open the shop. I've had my moments……but overall, it's been a joy. My biggest fear before I opened was that I would lose my love of knitting. That has not happened for even a fraction of a second….it's been wonderful to meet so many knitters…see their projects and hear their stories.

Lynn, Mary and Karen