Re: The future of Craft Central

[rita]

Congratulations and good luck to all who have got thier jobs back
Would like to think that maybe Wakefield Store would be re -opened .as i would die to have my old job back ,but only under new management as i could never trust the kings again .
The space , and customers ,are there in Carr Gate just waiting for us to fill it with lovely crafting goodies
SO FINGERS CROSSED IT MAY HAPPEN
Rita

[cake n craft]

Tom Mc Kenzie is Quay imports
cake n craft

[craftymaz]

Thank you for that cake n crafty i think my friend may have met Tom if he cleared out Altrincham store she says he was a lovely man whoever he was lol
and if it was you Tom please dont disregard Altrincham because of the fabric of the building a bit of re organisation wouldnt go amiss
right thats me pleading the case for Altrincham m'lud

[larryal]

You asked what the customers would like.
I believe in the present financial climate we have to offer more than just a place to buy craft goods. There are many lonely people out there who craft alone; they come to CC not only to buy but also to feel part of the crafting community. If it would be possible to create a crafting community, based in the store, such as a monthly ATC swap, or Craft afternoon of some form, you would strengthen even further the loyalty of your customers and I believe they would reward you with their custom before all others.

Good Luck

[Tiny Tina]

I agree with Larry that alot of our customers used to come and visit just for some company. We used to have customers that might come in one day just for some company and then come back in a couple of days with friends and buy bits. We used to say that we were in a way agony aunts and marriage councilers at times as customers used to come in with all their problems and might just want to chat. That is one thing Dan hated, he used to say at Cranleigh we spent too much time chatting to people. You have to talk to customers otherwise they wont come back. If you go into a shop and the staff are friendly you twnd to go back to the shop again

Tina

[piasharn]

I totally agree with Tina, Customers would often come asking how things worked and how do you do that, We always took time in showing and explaining things. They would come back time and time again, We had a group of ladies, who would regularly come to the garden center, have lunch and spend the afternoon in the craft shop, often returning after their afternoon cups of tea to buy yet more stuff after going through each other bags lol.

Customers would comment on how friendly and helpful the staff where, but all Dan and Pat would say is your not paid to chat, your paid to work, surely getting friendly with the customers, is one way of building their trust and loyalty......which in turn spent money...... it always worked for us.

[crafty laine]

I think alot of us loved our jobs and would love to be back in a craft shop enviroment. I know our shop had a huge customer base, and we all got on so well together, the customers loved to just pop in to see us and leave with a bag full!! I do think though the shops should have a manageress, as each shop has different needs and its the girls in the shops that know what the customers want.

[dododo-dahdahdah]

I am so very pleased that Tom has come to the rescue of some CC's. He will do very well to listen to his staff, who in turn listen to the customer. At the end of the day, it is is the customer base that makes or breaks a buisiness ( and having the right person at the helm!). I wish him and all his staff the very best of luck. I only wish he could rescue us down south!! We, like a lot of others, had very loyal and lovely customers. When we closed at Ramsgate it felt like WE had let our customers down. They were all saying "what are we going to do without you?" They and we have lost friends that we thought a lot of. It would be OOOOOH SOOO NICE if we could be up and running again. Under new management and the old staff back, I KNOW that Ramsgate could be a success.

[craftychez]

Fabulous. Well if there is any chance of Craft Central Burton on Trent reopening, I would certainly be interested in possibly regaining my job.

[Daise]

I've met Tom today, seems a really nice genuine person. Good luck to all of you and hope the future is much much brighter.

[paper crafter]

Does anyone know if the Enfield, St Albans or Royston stores are reopening. These were my 3 nearest ones & I miss them soooo much!
Good luck to all of you x

[sarah84]

I have heard that Enfield will know if they are opening under the garden centre management at the end of jan. Give them a call then.

[alison59]

You asked what the customers would like.
I believe in the present financial climate we have to offer more than just a place to buy craft goods. There are many lonely people out there who craft alone; they come to CC not only to buy but also to feel part of the crafting community. If it would be possible to create a crafting community, based in the store, such as a monthly ATC swap, or Craft afternoon of some form, you would strengthen even further the loyalty of your customers and I believe they would reward you with their custom before all others.

Good Luck

As a customer I couldn't agree more

[alison59]

Does anyone know if the Enfield, St Albans or Royston stores are reopening. These were my 3 nearest ones & I miss them soooo much!
Good luck to all of you x

I used Enfield and really miss my trips up there

[Jackie in Bristol]

I have to agree with Sue-playing-with-paper, as another local to Bristol Craft Central, I would love to see it return. The ladies there were very helpful.

As for any suggestions we may have, I have been told by previous employees (not Bristol incidentially) that the staff were expected to be able to demonstrate goods but were not allowed to try them out if they were not already open .. as with certain machines.


If it were possible, workshops would be great, or card/scrap booking groups.


I wish you every success in the future.