What started as a hobby and a love for sewing has led to the creation of a successful business, which is now celebrating a milestone anniversary. Empty Bobbin Quilt and Fabric Shop is celebrating five successful years in business in Swan River.
“I’ve always been involved in sewing, whether it was projects or quilts,” said Empty Bobbin Quilt and Fabric Shop Owner and Operator Julie Baskier. “A couple of years before opening the store, I purchased a long-arm sewing machine and was working with it to create projects as a way to make some money on the side. What I charged customers then, just basically fed my hobby.
“The Swan Valley Co-op closed down their clothing department that had fabric and another fabric store in town was making plans to leave. My youngest child was headed off to school that fall, so I thought it was time to do this and see how it went. I feel it has been a good decision and I’ve been happy with it ever since.”
Over the past five years, Baskier has seen her business grow in many different ways.
“The business has grown in customer base for sure,” said Baskier. “I have a lot of out-of-town customers. Even looking at what I ship out for online orders and where they are going. I’m seeing repeats from the same area, so the word is getting out there. Just getting to be known that way is growth.
“I remember when I was about three years into this business, I would get people coming in and saying they didn’t know my shop was in Swan River and they had been coming here all the time for appointments. I have been hearing that less and less, so I know that people are more aware there is a fabric store in town and that can also be accessed online.
“Then there is the inventory,” said Baskier. “During my live recording with Cody, I mentioned it would be interesting to see what my first live recording looked like when I opened the store, to what it looks like now. We both commented on how the store has more inventory since I opened and there is a larger selection to choose from.
“Right from the get-go, I knew I would offer online as an option for shoppers. At that time, social media had taken off and people who were sewing were on there. As I was setting up shop, I knew that there were people who shop online, even if they could access it right there, some prefer that method of shopping. I knew I had to do this to ensure I would have the customer base I needed.
“The online portion of my business did take longer to build up a customer base than the brick and mortar did,” said Baskier. “I opened up in January 2020 and had started online at that point as well, so that was kind of my savings grace when the pandemic hit. I was already established online and it allowed me to be able to continue through that platform.
“The other thing is we have expanded from brick and mortar and online to going on the road and doing quilt shows. We have a set quilt show road trip that we do. We attended the quilt market this year because it let us meet the people designing the fabrics face to face, so that was exciting growth-wise. Then the quilt retreat we do has been something we’ve added to the business and it’s grown since then.”
Despite opening up the Empty Bobbin Quilt and Fabric Shop just months before the pandemic, Baskier was fortunate and successful in keeping her business open during a time that was challenging and detrimental to many businesses.
“I will never forget my mom saying to me, ‘People without a hobby, what are they doing now?’,” said Baskier. “At that time, she was coming to the store to help me get orders ready for customers to pick up. When the pandemic hit, she was afraid my business would be done. I wasn’t 100 percent certain what the shop’s future was either, but fortunately, it worked.
“I think it was because I had only been open for two and half months before the pandemic hit, that I was able to pivot. I was still swimming and trying to figure out my business and what it all entailed. Because of that, I feel I was able to adapt my way of doing business much easier.”
Baskier is still processing that her business is celebrating five years of operation. She has enjoyed many aspects of running her own business and has plans for the future operations of the Empty Bobbin Quilt and Fabric Shop.
“I would definitely love to continue to grow the business,” said Baskier. “I have a list of sewing and craft supplies I would like to carry in the store and to be able to bring that in would be exciting. I would like to hold more classes, but I have four kids. One is graduated, one will be graduating and there are two more behind. I can see in the future, being able to have more time to dedicate to hosting regular classes.
“The classes I host right now are just sporadic and would like to host regular ones in the future. I’ve held three annual quilting retreats and have 50 quilters come. It’s always an exciting time to prep for that and experience it over three days, but it would be nice to experience that energy more regularly.
“I have enjoyed the new friendships I have made since starting up the business,” said Baskier. “Whether that is customers or other quilt shop owners or people I’ve met from going to quilt shows, that part to me, has been the most exciting. I’ve met so many different quilters and learned from them as individuals. I like to get to know people. As I am helping them pick out fabric, it’s really interesting to hear their views and way of life, while getting to know them. It allows me to expand my horizons without having to leave my shop.
“I can’t get over all the different people I’ve met in the last five years through the shop. It just blows my mind sometimes.”