Betty and Jim Ouellette opened their local yarn shop Bayberry Knitting in the summer of 2009 and now they are looking for a new owner. The shop has over 1600 customers from Connecticut and out of state. Even in this economy there is still growth at the shop. Betty says, "Jim and I are at a point in our lives where we must now make time for our family and for ourselves. "
Within the next few weeks, if a new owner is not found, they will provide us with a closing date for the shop. Below are statistics from the Craft Yarn Council on why we knit and what motivates us to buy yarn and where we buy it.
The Craft Yarn Council says, ""There are 38 million consumers who knit and crochet. Creativity is, by far, the number one influencing factor that attracts women (28%) to the craft and it’s most important to women in the 18-24 age group (31%). Creativity is followed by "keeping hands busy" at 15%, "making gifts" at 13%, and "stress relief" at 10%. Most respondents, 26%, spend 1–5 hours on their craft per week, 16% spend between 6–9 hours and 18% between 10–19 hours."" These results are from 2011 findings,
"What motivates the consumer to buy yarn? Across all age groups, knitters and crocheters alike said: seeing a yarn they like (74%), seeing a project they like (67%), and yarn on sale (63%). They shop at their primary retailer because the store has a good selection of yarn colors (63%), carries the brands they like (57%), has enough yarn in stock (47%), the yarn department is well organized (44%) and the store has the best prices (43%)."
Stop by the shop at 36 Whiting St Plainville, CT 06062, (860) 410-4250. They would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions in person or via e-mail. Betty and Jim would also like to thank you for your patronage and your loyalty. A yarn shop is so much more than a store that sells yarn. It is a haven for like minded individuals to get together, talk, enjoy each others company and of course knit and crochet. Let's hope a new owner comes along.
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