I’m new to the world of online fabric retail sales and here is a short story of how I got here…
It’s been a long-time dream of mine to open a fabric shop. About fifteen years ago, when Kitchener Textiles closed it’s doors, I nearly cried from the feeling of loss. Where, in my little corner of the world, would I get such a vast selection of fabrics, knowledgeable help and friendly, like-minded people to buy fabric from?! I jokingly asked my husband if we should offer to buy the business before it closed for good. I got a firm “No” in response.
Fast forward five years, again a store was closing, this time a local hardware store in my little village of New Dundee, Ontario. It was a long-standing, family run business but, with the changing times and changing generations, it just wasn’t a sustainable business in such a small town. On a whim, I asked my husband if (maybe, please) we could open a brick and mortar fabric shop in the empty space. Again, I got a firm “No!” in response. (insert sad face)
Jump with me again, this time eight years; yet another brick and mortar fabric shop (this time in St. Jacobs, Ontario) was closing it’s doors. It was a viable business but, understandably, the owner wanted to retire and just couldn’t find a serious buyer. Guess who asked her husband? Yup, I got the same (albeit firmer) “NO!” response. (insert pouting here)
Now, let’s move to the present. I’ve been a Registered Massage Therapist for 25 years and lately, my hands have begun to feel every year of the hard work I have asked of them. I love my chosen profession, but my body and my fading passion for this job has made it feel just that… a job. My personal standards are far too high to allow myself to treat any of my valued clients as “a job”. So, I’ve started to brainstorm other professions that may be a bit gentler on my creaky body.
Again, I kept thinking FABRIC STORE!!! Guess who said “NO”? The problem was, the outlay of money for inventory, the rental space, the insurance, the paperwork, the licences, the bylaws, etc, etc, etc (I kind of tuned him out after a while). My husband is actually a very smart man!! He thinks of EVERYTHING! While I was just in the dreaming phase, he was the practical one, thinking of how the hell we were going to pay for all this!
So, it was actually a sweet young lady that owned another online fabric shop that suggested (because I already buy sooooo much fabric) that I open my own online fabric shop. I sort of laughed it off (at first) but the more I thought of it, the overhead costs were much (much) less. I could grow the business slowly, without the need for staff, space, money (well, I still needed a bit of money). I mulled this over for a bit, and approached my husband (tentatively) thinking, there was no way he’d go for it. He’d already said “no” several times.
He said “YES”!!! He thought it over (quite a while) and agreed that this could be a good ‘next chapter’ in my career. So, all this very long story to say…
I’d like to invite you to hop over to my shop, Fabric Please! It’s my goal to bring you designer fabrics at reasonable prices. If you love fabric as much as I do, why not pour yourself a beverage and browse my shop. Happy shopping to you, and a happy face (if you could see it) on me!
Oh, and if you want to chat with me in person, I’ll see you at the Creativ Festival! Booth #315
Rita Ferber, owner of Fabric Please!
And, here’s just a sampling of some of what I carry!
Michael-Miller-Hashmark-cx6688_luna
Michael-Miller-Hashmark-6700-12-clementine
Michael-Miller-Hashmark-6513-12-clementine
Passport-3736-26
Passport-4084-11
Passport 3929-16
Low country indigo 40135-
- Sashiko Birds
Show Information
- Creativ Festival, International Centre, Entrance 1, 6900 Airport Rd, Mississauga, ON Canada L4V 1E8
- Free parking! Friday, April 24 – 10am to 7pm & Saturday, April 25 – 10am to 6pm. Get in early at 9am with advance tickets and e-tickets.
- All sessions are free with admission and no pre-registration required! Buy advance tickets now.