Posts Tagged ‘What’s In Store…’
Overseas Fabrics
It has been a REALLY long time, since I have encountered a business that made me want to write about them. That changed last weekend, and was confirmed today, when we visited Overseas Fabrics, a fabric store in Abbotsford.
Yes, I’m going to let you think about that for a minute…
Bob is writing about the fantastic retail experience he had at… “A Fabric Store.“
Think about EVERY experience, or just the expectations you’ve had while shopping for fabric. It probably goes something like this:
You wander aimlessly through a maze of seemingly endless circular tables, which are often sorted by pattern-based themes or colours, rather than by fabric type… until you finally find some appropriate fabric, at which time you take the fabric to the cutting table, and then start searching anew, only this time, looking for an employee… any employee… to cut the fabric. You finally find someone, who, amid heavy sighs, begrudgingly cuts your fabric. You pay, and leave, grateful that the ordeal is over.
Overseas Fabrics is a COMPLETELY different experience.
They do check all the boxes you would expect…
• A huge store, full of beautiful fabrics, notions and accessories.
• Well organized, so that you can shop easily.
Nothing really unusual, or blog-worthy, there.
Where Overseas Fabrics separates itself, and pulls away from its competition…
• Great prices, every day.
• Their people – who give a warm greeting when you arrive, and offer service with friendly enthusiasm.
Overseas Fabrics is a family-owned and run business, and you feel that, from the owners and staff alike, in the quality of service they provide, and care that they take in ensuring their customers leave happy, having bought quality products, at great prices. They have been in business for 26 years, and they are now working on a web store to help those folks who can’t make the drive out to Abbotsford, but still want quality fabrics, at great prices!
Their website says they have over 90,000 fabrics in stock in their store, and that they are the largest fabric store of its kind, in Western Canada. I believe it!
When we arrived at Overseas Fabrics for the first time, we were enthusiastically greeted by the gentleman at the front, like we were long lost friends. We got similar greetings from all the other staff, as we moved throughout the store. Several times we were approached, and asked if we needed help.
Shortly after we arrived, we were asked if we had shopped there before, as Overseas Fabrics have a different approach. They don’t play the “wheel of discounts” game… they buy in volume and pass it along, every day… No inflated prices with bogus discounts. On every roll of fabric, there are two prices and a quantity. That’s it. (For example: $7 for buying one metre, and $5 for buying over a metre.)
The reason we found Overseas Fabrics, Lorie needed some brightly-coloured material for a project, and thought Sari fabrics would be perfect. She searched the web, and on a sunny Saturday, we headed for Abbotsford.
I drove her out there, and when we got there, I wasn’t treated like a husband and ignored, I was treated as if I might be the customer. (Stranger things could happen!)
All in all, I cannot recommend Overseas Fabrics more highly. If you are looking for fabrics or sewing supplies for a project, check them out!
Their store is located at 32853 Ventura Avenue in Abbotsford, and is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed Sunday.
Their website is OverseasFabrics.com
Edited April 2020: Their Online Store is now up and running… and fantastic!
You can find them on Instagram, and Facebook (where they have amazing reviews!)
Here are a few photos, to try to give you a sense of the immense variety of products they carry… (Click on any image to open a pop-up window)
 |
 |
 |
 |
* I have said it before, but it bears repeating: The endorsement of this business was not bought. Nor was it paid for, by credits, free goods, discounted products or anything else. Any outside businesses, which are endorsed on the “What’s In Store” category of this Blog, are endorsed, because they are good businesses, that I frequent (or have frequented) and believe they are worthy of mention.
I do not accept payment or remuneration of any kind, for any of my Posts.
Firefly Fine Wines & Ales…
I don’t know what I’m doing.
When it comes to wine pairings… I don’t have a clue.
My usual practice, is to ask our guests if they would like wine with dinner, and if they say yes… to tell them what we are having for dinner, and ask their preference.
However, those days are behind me, because there is now a store to help folks like me, out.
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales has opened a store in Maple Ridge, and they organize their wine the traditional way (by Country), and also by suggested food pairings (chicken, fish, steak, etc).
They are also refreshingly current in Social Media, being present on Twitter and through their Blog.
Of course, they also have a website… http://www.fireflyfinewinesandales.com/
But, in my mind, what sets these folks apart, is their connection with their customers.
I had been in the Maple Ridge store about three weeks after it first opened, and was there on a bit of a fact finding mission. As regular readers of the BobSongs Blog will know, I like the odd Dram of Scotch, with a predilection for Single Malts.
When I walked in the store, I was struck by the friendly helpful attitude of the staff, and the unique way of organizing the wines.
As I perused the shelves, I was again asked if there was anything they could do to assist me… and as I had almost made my way entirely around the store, I confessed I must have missed the Scotch section, and sure enough, I had… despite being a quite substantial selection.
The lady who guided me suggested that Eliana would be better to assist me, as she knew more about Scotch, and she surely did !
She spent quite a bit of time, asking my likes and dislikes, and discussing with me the different tastes and finishing of some of their selection.
With a lot of information to absorb, I left with my head feeling like I had been drinking, rather than discussing Scotch… but it was a good “buzz” !
A few weeks later, I got this Tweet…
As luck would have it, I was available that evening, and dropped by. The Robert Burns Scotch was relatively “young”, but mature for its age, and Firefly had brought in Michelle, a Representative from Blue Note Wines & Spirits, a Distributor, who was very knowledgeable, and delighted to share her information about many different regions, finishes and the resulting Scotches.
When I left that evening, I brought with me a Welsh Whisky, Penderyn Single Malt, with Madeira finish, which I am enjoying tremendously.
They seem to have events and tastings quite regularly… as I write this, there are three coming up in Maple Ridge, in the next while… January 22nd, 23rd & 24th.
Next time you are wondering what to get, whether it be Wine, Beer or Spirits, I suggest stopping by Firefly Fine Wines and Spirits to see What’s In Store !
For selection, product knowledge, and customer care with that little bit extra… I think they are pretty tough to beat !!!
Firefly Fine Wines and Spirits is located at 21755 Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge.
Check it out, next time you drive by!