The Yarn Barn of San Antonio, Texas - Page 2 Click Here to go back to Page 1 of this Shop Feature The YARN BARN OF SAN ANTONIO was born of Bobbi's passion for weaving. She needed supplies for classes and selling from her own stash left her high and dry. She decided to accompany Richard on a business trip to Mexico and buy in volume, with the intent of reselling the surplus. Once embarked on this strategy, she had to apply for a resale #, name the business, get a business phone, etc. She moved her studio-workshop into a barn-type structure on their property...hence, the name, Yarn Barn. Concurrently, a cousin enrolled in a Bargello needlepoint class and asked Bobbi to obtain the yarn (Paternayan Persian wool) for her. Bobbi relates, "I nearly flipped because that was a yarn that I had always wanted for my weaving endeavors." When contacting the company, Bobbi learned they had a minimum order of 200 lbs. for each type of yarn, which translated, in 1971, into a hefty $2000 investment, "I swallowed that bitter pill, deciding that if I didn't have enough interest in the yarn for needlepoint, I could always use it myself and sell it to weavers." When word spread that Bobbi had needlepoint yarn, increasing numbers of customers, delivery men and industry reps of every stripe were to be seen traipsing across her yard. Bobbi decided she had two alternatives: to go retail in a commercial location or to operate a mail-order business out of her home. She opted for the former, but this brought its own problems: high-rent, employees, etc. She realized she needed to court a large and varied customer base and began stocking yarns which could be employed for weaving as well as other crafts and products which had potential for a variety of uses. She admits, "Twenty-nine years later, I'm still keeping my ears to the ground... the business grew by listening to people's needs and moving from one logical extension to another." She further confides, "I have a very nasty habit...if I choose to stock a particular fiber or yarn, I want the whole line of colors it offers...The Caron Collection is a good example...the Yarn Barn carries the entire line of Watercolours, Wildflowers. Waterlilies and Impressions...Because of the all-inclusiveness of its inventory...the Yarn Barn has become known as a Department Store devoted strictly to Needlework!" And when Bobbi says "all-inclusive," she means it literally: they inventory supplies for needlepoint, knitting, crochet, cross stitch, counted thread, smocking, silk ribbon embroidery, crewel, blackwork, tatting, weaving, etc. The saying goes that, "If the YB of SA doesn't have what you're looking for, it probably doesn't exist!"
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Over the years Bobbi has acquired another obsession: rare and unusual needlework books. She began accumulating an extensive library of these in the mid '80's and elaborates, "Once again, customers played a key role in my operation: I am extremely indebted to the serious sampler-makers who began asking for rare out-of-print books...Thereby began a quest of a totally different nature... You might say that the "Back-room Book-room" is the "Crown Jewel" of the store." Bobbi is currently working on a comprehensive book-list. Call if you would like to be put on the mailing list. She emphasizes, "If I don't have a title in stock, I promise to scour the "backroads" for it!" Stitchers - Forget Amazon.com! Just ask Bobbi!
By 1975 Bobbi had created her own competition by teaching needlepoint to women, who would then ask for her help in opening up a shop! But Bobbi, aided by Richard's business acumen, turned this "cheeky request"to her advantage, "I took my idea of becoming a distributor of Paternayan Persian to NY...Ultimately, they took to it and to this day, I am the only distributor to other retail shops in the U.S. of that yarn, other than the manufacturer." She also wholesales other needlework supplies: frame stands and a huge selection of sight-saving magnifying lamps. Working as both a wholesaler and retailer keeps Bobbi very busy but she philosophizes, "Oftentimes when I bemoan the fact that I have very little time to USE the products I sell, my husband tells me that my creativity has to be the running of my business..."With a wry smile, she adds, "Some days I say, "Just when I thought I knew all the answers, they changed the questions!"
San Antonio is no longer a sleepy little cow-town, but a history buff''s and tourist's delight. Original Mission structures have been preserved in an authentic manner; the Alamo and nearby RiverWalk speak for themselves. One can shop Mexico, eat Mexican food, sip a Margarita and listen to Mariachis at the famed Mexican Market. In fact, San Antonio is so well known for its Mexican Fiesta flavor that many people overlook the city's German influence, yet another historical dimension to explore. But if you find yourself in San Antonio, why not save the best for last - a visit to the YARN BARN of SAN ANTONIO!
Yarn Barn of San Antonio
4300 McCullough
San Antonio, TX 78212
phone: (210) 826-3679
fax: (210) 826-6722Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.- Mon., Wed, Thurs. and Fri.
9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.- Tues.
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.- Saturday
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