Maybe I’m bias because I’m a business owner, but I try to always buy from small businesses. When you buy from small businesses you are helping a family, or several families raise their families. You’re helping those kids go with community activities, and eventually college, if they go that route. Small businesses run our world. When big business puts small business out of business, you’re paying rich CEOs who pay beans to the workers. Great video!
Absolutely agree, we need family-owned businesses. I would rather walk into a store and feel the fabric. Hate shopping online, but have no choice. Another shop is closing in my area and it makes me sad. If it’s cheap, it means someone got taken advantage of…re: cheap labor and it bothers me. We’re in a culture of get it cheaper.
Where I live, there are no " local / mom & pop " stores. I have to drive 30 ish miles - one way - to reach a Walmart. I used to drive that 30ish miles to get to a Hancock's.... the Joanne's in that city is a miserable experience to shop in. I need to learn about more on-line options for fabric.
I have local-ish fabric stores that I try to buy from. Amazon and JoAnn, last resort. "Zipper and Thread" is the best place I've found for zippers. They will even custom create zippers. Grommets, rivets, snaps, etc Kamsnaps.
I live in an urban environment that's not heavy into homemaking or its supplies. I've been ordering from Cleaners Supply company for years for most of my notions, and the prices and the quality are terrific, especially for zippers. Their shipping has always been as fast, if not faster than some of Amazon's 3rd party companies.
Seems this not only applies to Amazon but Wal-Mart, Joann's and Hobby Lobby as well. YES Let's make the effort to support small businesses which are often women-owned.
I prefer everything, including sewing to use independent retailers when I can. In the little town where I live a small fabric shop has recently opened. Fantastic for haberdashery and, although small, carry a great range of fabrics. I will often look on Amazon for something and then go to the retailer's own website to actually buy it. 9 times out of 10 its cheaper that way. May have to wait a few extra days for delivery but there are not many things I need the next day. Of course that isn't always possible and for somethings Amazon is the place to get it. I bought interfacing once from Amazon, purely because it was the weekend and I did need it urgently. To be honest it wasn't very good quality so wouldn't bother again.
In the rural central Pennsylvania mountains every shopping trip is a Road Trip. We make a list for each store over the weeks. Ask neighbors if they need anything. Choose a day of sales and weather so we dont waste a nice day we can be in gatden. Amazon is just another store....
Amazon will not sink or float based on my buying power, but a local store employs staff who know about sewing and fabric and stuff. While I do shop Amazon for some things, it's usually the 'in a pinch" as you have described: something I can't get or can't get to. Nice vid and keep up the good work at Love Notions.
Very well thought out and presented vlog on shopping small business vs. Amazon. On the rare occasion I buy a pattern from Style Arc, I'll head to Amazon...full-sized paper pattern arrives ready for cutting. Other than that, I try to avoid Amazon as much as possible (for pretty much everything) for the reasons you mentioned...the closing of other businesses. I know it's a competition, but I like choice. The color of the floral print in your top is so pretty on you. I'm also a Summer color season, so I'm always interested to see what colors you choose for your garments. And lastly, thank you for showing the photo of your husband and daughter again. It's so touching and makes me smile 😍
My preference is to purchase irl, because I like to see what I'm getting before I buy it. OTOH, the local shop near me doesn't sell certain fabrics, like canvas or denim. I source them from different places, always online. We also have Amazon Prime, which means free shipping in most cases, so I'm interested in knowing the Amazon shop you got that canvas from. I use a lot of canvas for the purses I make for Sew Powerful (purses with menstrual supplies for impoverished girls/women in Zambia). I really like WAWAK. They've done very speedy delivery in my experience.
I laughed at speedy delivery from Amazon. When we lived in an urban area it was quick sometimes 2 hours. Now that I’m in a very rural area if I don’t order by Thursday it’s not coming for almost 2 weeks. Way well presented and sometimes you do need to use Amazon but I prefer small retailers for fabric better service, better fabric
Great video! I don’t purchase as much from Amazon as I used to in all types of products and prefer to support small business. I appreciate Love Notions patterns and how you provide ideas for where I can find good fabric online.
We wanted 2 metal trellises for our yard and a search showed them on Amazon but we decided to check the website of the company that made them. It took a few more days to get them directly but it was worth it as the business didn’t have to share the profit.
Pre Covid I think was the best time to buy fabric on Amazon. I found The Frozen movie purple cotton fabric for .99c a yard, I purchased a bolt of it. I still have some of the fabric left over. With other fabric, I only buy from known fabric stores on Amazon.
Hah! Tessa here, and I think my daughter looks nothing like me! The resemblance in the other two are way stronger - but I will gladly take that as a compliment - I think she's just stunning
I have! We actually have them listed on our Amazon storefront. They're my favorite! I probably break 1 outta 25 or so. I stab myself every time I pin. 🥴🤣 ~J
@@LoveNotions I hate pins! I use those same clips and have installed zippered leaders on my longarm quilting machine. I am a sewist for 70yrs and a quilter for 28. I enjoy both very much. I’ve been sewing clothes more because I hate the cheaply made, ill fitting RTW!
I live in a mid-sized city and every year, it is getting harder to buy sewing notions and fabrics from a bricks and mortar shop. The shops are closing or moving further away. It’s really sad. Starting to buy from Amazon….it’s easier.
I'm boycotting American corporations because of Israel but even before doing so, I preferred shopping locally at smaller businesses. I'd only buy from Amazon and eBay items I couldn't find elsewhere.
@@voulafisentzidis8830 That is your choice. No matter where you live. Ask yourself why these ultra rich Muslim countries cannot take one Palestinian refugee.
I have purchased kits like safety eyes , hooks and eyes etc.from Amazon that really works for me. Interfacing sometimes. Rolls of elastic. All good on Amazon. I have purchased fabric. I am not saying I would never again purchase fabric from Amazon but it would not be my 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice. It is okay but not satisfying. All those cons are accurate. Also, I love adding a mystery box when I order and can't do that on Amazon
Totally agree! I do use a lot of elastic from Amazon, but fabric is definitely hit or miss. But when I just need 2y of RS or something quickly, it's so convenient! But I would much rather shop with one of our recommended fabric shops and support small (and mostly women owned!!) businesses! ☺️ Thanks for watching! ~J
I do shop for fabric on Amazon to find the retailer it comes from then buy from the retailer's website when possible. As an Etsy shop owner, I know the feeling of having to pay the platform owner the fees while doing all the work. I don't shop small retailers to save money. I shop them because I need them to stay in business. We all need them to stay in business. Imagine a world where all our "stuff" comes from Amazon. Who owns whom? I really liked your statement: a rising tide lifts all ships.
Totally agree! I sometimes buy fabric from Amazon when I need something basic and don't want to pay shipping from my normal shops. But it's not always guaranteed to be what you expect (learned that the hard way with some WOVEN scuba that I thought was knit. I didn't even know woven scuba was a thing! Live and learn!) Thanks for watching the video! ~J
I have seen a lot of price inflation on Amazon. Gutermann thread for example sold a higher price than it should be or what seems a bargain but has exorbitant shipping fees. Often I can get the same thing at a better price elsewhere if I just search a bit harder. I have seen the same thing with notions and knitting needles. Is that a ballad you are wearing?
Gutterman has dropped in quality a lot over the last several years. It is fuzzy and lints a lot more than it ever did before. I was buying Superior exclusively for several years then suddenly their warehouse closed and limited types of threads were being sold through independent quilt stores. Now I look for Mettler at local places, small shops first, but most have limited offerings.
I think Wawak is as quick and more reliable for zippers and thread. I find Amazon's search and listings to be difficult for things like that. Lots of other things, but not sewing Notions or fabric
I find myself going to Amazon mostly for the Customer Comments/Recommendations. RE: Fabric Shopping. I have been looking for a certain color velvet. I found an affordable one on Amazon that looks like it would fit the bill . . . but . . . I don't know the Company. I have been on the fence about it. I found one on the Mood Fabrics website that wasn't really the color I was looking for and it cost 3x. And I feel stuck because I trust Mood, Minerva, etc. -- I know them, I don't know the Amazon company. In the Amazon Company's Comments people say that the velvet is thin, others say that it is heavy . . . and so on. I know I can trust what these smaller companies say about the fabric that they have in stock. See? It has to do with trust. (And my budget!)
That trust component is soooooooo important. I wonder if that can be developed with big corporations to the same level? Even if it could, I am resistant to the idea of using one place for all my needs. I'm sure economists can speak to this, but the monopoly threat seams like a risky situation for both the consumer and the community at large.
I try not to buy from Amazon unless that is the only place I can get something. I am a union musician, and their non union fight is disturbing to me, as well as the way they treat their workers. I would prefer to support my local stores, but not everyone has that available to them. In that case shoppers don't have other options.Thank you for this video . Good to hear people's experiences.
@@LoveNotions Joann’s filed Chapter11 and has had several heavy investors come and help them get back on track, hopefully better. A friend works in the corporate headquarters so I think stores aren’t closing in most areas
Maybe I’m bias because I’m a business owner, but I try to always buy from small businesses. When you buy from small businesses you are helping a family, or several families raise their families. You’re helping those kids go with community activities, and eventually college, if they go that route. Small businesses run our world. When big business puts small business out of business, you’re paying rich CEOs who pay beans to the workers. Great video!
100% agree! Love supporting small businesses! ❤️ thanks for watching! ~J
I agree my store is closing b/c I just can’t compete. Everyone wants cheap cheap.. 😢
💔💔💔❤️❤️❤️
Absolutely agree, we need family-owned businesses. I would rather walk into a store and feel the fabric. Hate shopping online, but have no choice. Another shop is closing in my area and it makes me sad. If it’s cheap, it means someone got taken advantage of…re: cheap labor and it bothers me. We’re in a culture of get it cheaper.
Buying from large companies also lets those of us who are investors raise our families who have community activities and college.
Where I live, there are no
" local / mom & pop " stores.
I have to drive 30 ish miles - one way - to reach a Walmart.
I used to drive that 30ish miles to get to a Hancock's....
the Joanne's in that city is a miserable experience to shop in.
I need to learn about more on-line options for fabric.
It's definitely tough when there aren't local options. Online options are such a sewing saver! ~J
WAWAK is amazing for sewing supplies….they’re quick + cheap! 😊
Love Wawak! They're not far from me, so it usually comes next day, too! ❤️ Great rec! Thanks for watching! ~Jess
I have local-ish fabric stores that I try to buy from. Amazon and JoAnn, last resort. "Zipper and Thread" is the best place I've found for zippers. They will even custom create zippers. Grommets, rivets, snaps, etc Kamsnaps.
OOOOO! What a great tip! Thank you!
I live in an urban environment that's not heavy into homemaking or its supplies. I've been ordering from Cleaners Supply company for years for most of my notions, and the prices and the quality are terrific, especially for zippers. Their shipping has always been as fast, if not faster than some of Amazon's 3rd party companies.
Good to know, thanks for sharing! ☺️ ~J
Cleaners Supply and Wawak are the same company, so you'll get great product and service from either.
Seems this not only applies to Amazon but Wal-Mart, Joann's and Hobby Lobby as well. YES Let's make the effort to support small businesses which are often women-owned.
🙌🙌🙌
I prefer everything, including sewing to use independent retailers when I can. In the little town where I live a small fabric shop has recently opened. Fantastic for haberdashery and, although small, carry a great range of fabrics. I will often look on Amazon for something and then go to the retailer's own website to actually buy it. 9 times out of 10 its cheaper that way. May have to wait a few extra days for delivery but there are not many things I need the next day. Of course that isn't always possible and for somethings Amazon is the place to get it. I bought interfacing once from Amazon, purely because it was the weekend and I did need it urgently. To be honest it wasn't very good quality so wouldn't bother again.
That's great you have a local shop! Love supporting local businesses! ☺️☺️ ~J
In the rural central Pennsylvania mountains every shopping trip is a Road Trip. We make a list for each store over the weeks. Ask neighbors if they need anything. Choose a day of sales and weather so we dont waste a nice day we can be in gatden. Amazon is just another store....
Amazon will not sink or float based on my buying power, but a local store employs staff who know about sewing and fabric and stuff. While I do shop Amazon for some things, it's usually the 'in a pinch" as you have described: something I can't get or can't get to. Nice vid and keep up the good work at Love Notions.
100% agree! Thanks so much for watching! ❤️ ~J
Very well thought out and presented vlog on shopping small business vs. Amazon. On the rare occasion I buy a pattern from Style Arc, I'll head to Amazon...full-sized paper pattern arrives ready for cutting. Other than that, I try to avoid Amazon as much as possible (for pretty much everything) for the reasons you mentioned...the closing of other businesses. I know it's a competition, but I like choice. The color of the floral print in your top is so pretty on you. I'm also a Summer color season, so I'm always interested to see what colors you choose for your garments. And lastly, thank you for showing the photo of your husband and daughter again. It's so touching and makes me smile 😍
Thank you so much for watching and the kind comments! ❤️ ~J
Thumbs up to supporting small business🥰
Yes!! 🙌🙌 Thanks for watching! ~J
My preference is to purchase irl, because I like to see what I'm getting before I buy it. OTOH, the local shop near me doesn't sell certain fabrics, like canvas or denim. I source them from different places, always online. We also have Amazon Prime, which means free shipping in most cases, so I'm interested in knowing the Amazon shop you got that canvas from. I use a lot of canvas for the purses I make for Sew Powerful (purses with menstrual supplies for impoverished girls/women in Zambia). I really like WAWAK. They've done very speedy delivery in my experience.
I laughed at speedy delivery from Amazon. When we lived in an urban area it was quick sometimes 2 hours. Now that I’m in a very rural area if I don’t order by Thursday it’s not coming for almost 2 weeks. Way well presented and sometimes you do need to use Amazon but I prefer small retailers for fabric better service, better fabric
I feel similarly - thanks for watching
Great video! I don’t purchase as much from Amazon as I used to in all types of products and prefer to support small business. I appreciate Love Notions patterns and how you provide ideas for where I can find good fabric online.
Appreciate the comments, thanks for watching! ~J
We wanted 2 metal trellises for our yard and a search showed them on Amazon but we decided to check the website of the company that made them. It took a few more days to get them directly but it was worth it as the business didn’t have to share the profit.
What a great suggestion! Use their platform to search -- buy direct!@@texasproud8822
Pre Covid I think was the best time to buy fabric on Amazon. I found The Frozen movie purple cotton fabric for .99c a yard, I purchased a bolt of it. I still have some of the fabric left over. With other fabric, I only buy from known fabric stores on Amazon.
Wow, that was a great deal! What a find!! Thanks for watching! ~J
You must hear this all the time but your daughter is a mini you! The resemblence is amazing!
They do look like a lot alike! Such a sweet fam! ❤️ ~J
Hah! Tessa here, and I think my daughter looks nothing like me! The resemblance in the other two are way stronger - but I will gladly take that as a compliment - I think she's just stunning
Have you bought the plastic clips that are used instead of pins. They seem very cheap, compared to my local shops
I have! We actually have them listed on our Amazon storefront. They're my favorite! I probably break 1 outta 25 or so. I stab myself every time I pin. 🥴🤣 ~J
@@LoveNotions I hate pins! I use those same clips and have installed zippered leaders on my longarm quilting machine. I am a sewist for 70yrs and a quilter for 28. I enjoy both very much. I’ve been sewing clothes more because I hate the cheaply made, ill fitting RTW!
I live in a mid-sized city and every year, it is getting harder to buy sewing notions and fabrics from a bricks and mortar shop. The shops are closing or moving further away. It’s really sad. Starting to buy from Amazon….it’s easier.
Unfortunately true... ~J
I'm boycotting American corporations because of Israel but even before doing so, I preferred shopping locally at smaller businesses. I'd only buy from Amazon and eBay items I couldn't find elsewhere.
Local is the best way to go if it's an option! Thanks for watching! ~J
@@LoveNotions regrettably, most of our music and book stores have closed thanks to Amazon.
Please explain boycotting American corporations because of Israel....
@@rosemarymarie5595 because American money subsidises Israel and American corporations have very loud voices when it comes to lobbying the government.
@@voulafisentzidis8830
That is your choice. No matter where you live. Ask yourself why these ultra rich Muslim countries cannot take one Palestinian refugee.
I purchased some sewing items and fabric from Amazon and was happy , however I do prefer small businesses over all. Actually like LN ❤
Yasssss! We love and appreciate all of our sewists! ☺️ ~J
I have purchased kits like safety eyes , hooks and eyes etc.from Amazon that really works for me. Interfacing sometimes. Rolls of elastic. All good on Amazon. I have purchased fabric. I am not saying I would never again purchase fabric from Amazon but it would not be my 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice. It is okay but not satisfying. All those cons are accurate. Also, I love adding a mystery box when I order and can't do that on Amazon
Totally agree! I do use a lot of elastic from Amazon, but fabric is definitely hit or miss. But when I just need 2y of RS or something quickly, it's so convenient! But I would much rather shop with one of our recommended fabric shops and support small (and mostly women owned!!) businesses! ☺️ Thanks for watching! ~J
I do shop for fabric on Amazon to find the retailer it comes from then buy from the retailer's website when possible. As an Etsy shop owner, I know the feeling of having to pay the platform owner the fees while doing all the work. I don't shop small retailers to save money. I shop them because I need them to stay in business. We all need them to stay in business. Imagine a world where all our "stuff" comes from Amazon. Who owns whom? I really liked your statement: a rising tide lifts all ships.
Totally agree! I sometimes buy fabric from Amazon when I need something basic and don't want to pay shipping from my normal shops. But it's not always guaranteed to be what you expect (learned that the hard way with some WOVEN scuba that I thought was knit. I didn't even know woven scuba was a thing! Live and learn!) Thanks for watching the video! ~J
I have seen a lot of price inflation on Amazon. Gutermann thread for example sold a higher price than it should be or what seems a bargain but has exorbitant shipping fees. Often I can get the same thing at a better price elsewhere if I just search a bit harder. I have seen the same thing with notions and knitting needles. Is that a ballad you are wearing?
It's definitely hit or miss! Sometimes the convenience is worth the extra cost but definitely worth shopping around! ~J
It is a Ballad! It's actually one from testing and I just love the fabric so much, I can't part from it! :)
@@LoveNotionsit is lovely.
Thank you! I will pass along the praise ☺️ ~J
Gutterman has dropped in quality a lot over the last several years. It is fuzzy and lints a lot more than it ever did before. I was buying Superior exclusively for several years then suddenly their warehouse closed and limited types of threads were being sold through independent quilt stores. Now I look for Mettler at local places, small shops first, but most have limited offerings.
I think Wawak is as quick and more reliable for zippers and thread. I find Amazon's search and listings to be difficult for things like that. Lots of other things, but not sewing Notions or fabric
Agreed! Love Wawak! ~J
I find myself going to Amazon mostly for the Customer Comments/Recommendations. RE: Fabric Shopping. I have been looking for a certain color velvet. I found an affordable one on Amazon that looks like it would fit the bill . . . but . . . I don't know the Company. I have been on the fence about it. I found one on the Mood Fabrics website that wasn't really the color I was looking for and it cost 3x. And I feel stuck because I trust Mood, Minerva, etc. -- I know them, I don't know the Amazon company. In the Amazon Company's Comments people say that the velvet is thin, others say that it is heavy . . . and so on. I know I can trust what these smaller companies say about the fabric that they have in stock. See? It has to do with trust. (And my budget!)
That trust component is soooooooo important. I wonder if that can be developed with big corporations to the same level? Even if it could, I am resistant to the idea of using one place for all my needs. I'm sure economists can speak to this, but the monopoly threat seams like a risky situation for both the consumer and the community at large.
I try not to buy from Amazon unless that is the only place I can get something. I am a union musician, and their non union fight is disturbing to me, as well as the way they treat their workers. I would prefer to support my local stores, but not everyone has that available to them. In that case shoppers don't have other options.Thank you for this video . Good to hear people's experiences.
Absolutely! Thanks for watching! ❤️ ~J
The first problem is that all our local fabric stores have closed except Joann, and they have declared bankruptcy. That leaves mail order sources.
Yes, that is unfortunate with Joanns. We'll see how that actually shakes with the filing, hopefully they can restructure and keep most stores open! ~J
@@LoveNotions Joann’s filed Chapter11 and has had several heavy investors come and help them get back on track, hopefully better. A friend works in the corporate headquarters so I think stores aren’t closing in most areas