Relevance of the Scottish Store?

[ManuFortiDB]

Greetings, gentlemen,
This is a most interesting conversation, and timely for a few reasons. I had recently visited the shop in Alexandria VA (previously mentioned) and though they stock a few items (and I had previously purchased a nice sporran there) I found the attitude of the 'help' on my last two visits to be indifferent at best. For those who haven't visited, it's a combination Scottish store and tobacconist, and I think most of their sales these days come from the Saturday night strollers who want a cigar as they walk up and down King Street. As I stood there looking at the Argyll jackets and a few kilts (hung way up on the wall out of reach) and sporrans (inside the glass case, to be shown one at a time as if each were the Hope Diamond) the gent minding the store was intent on his newspaper and never - ever - even looked up. This experience was repeated on a subsequent visit.
To my entrepreneurial mind, of course, the red light was flashing "opportunity" as I know they do some rental business as well - if their attitude toward that is the same, I could see how *someone* (ahem) might step in to the fray and do well. As far as I know they are the only Scottish shop of any kind in the area. Which gets me to wondering about that - does anyone on this board do rentals as a business and is my experience unique? I'm just wondering if someone who truly was service-oriented could do well and spread the gospel of kilting at the same time! Or maybe I'm just looking for a life in which wearing a kilt would not only be encouraged, but seen as part of the advertising budget (ah, think of the tax write-offs!)!



Douglas

PS not trying to hijack the thread, if I need to pose this question separately let me know - cheers to all.

[Cawdorian]

It still continues to amaze me that in a city as large as Atlanta we do not have a Scottish Shop here (that I know of). My nearest Scottish Shop is the Scottish Tartans Museum, I buy most most everything from Matt or Ronan at the Museum. They have always been very helpful, provided excellent service and last but not least, they are both a pleasure to deal with.

Everything I have purchased from them has been a good value for the money and their prices are competitive and our purchases help support the museum.

[McMurdo]

I have many Scottish, or Tartan shops around me all I have ever bought from them is kilt hose, and flashes, everything else is to my mind far to expensive, also there is the attitude of those at the shop to consider.

My younger brother was married this summer, and he wanted to wear a kilt, it was decided to go for the Royal Stewart, as my mom is a Stewart, and my twin brother wore the Graham of Mantieth, from my father's side at his wedding.

Well the storekeeper at the tartan shop asked him in a very snooty way if he thought he was royalty, she would not even fit him for a rental. In the end we did not go for kilts instead we wore tuxedos all because of the attitude the woman behind the counter had.

[McClef]

Clearly the storekeeper at this tartan shop isn't interested in running a successful business!

Nor are they knowledgeable about who is entitled to wear the Royal Stewart tartan!

Have they seen any pics of royalty in it? I can't say that I have!

[Colin]

Clearly the storekeeper at this tartan shop isn't interested in running a successful business!

Nor are they knowledgeable about who is entitled to wear the Royal Stewart tartan!

Have they seen any pics of royalty in it? I can't say that I have!

No, but I have seen everyone else in it!

I was under the impression that Royal Stewart was to celebrate the 300 or so years that the Stewarts/Stuarts ruled Scotland.

Unfortunately there are plenty of people like this shop keeper that are lacking in general knowledge and operating on an forced snobbery. Luckily I have met way more personable people than this.

[McMurdo]

Clearly the storekeeper at this tartan shop isn't interested in running a successful business!

You are quite right, funny thing is this Tartan shop is owned by friends of my parents.

Nor are they knowledgeable about who is entitled to wear the Royal Stewart tartan!

Have they seen any pics of royalty in it? I can't say that I have!

Quite right again, I think that she was having a bad day, however to my mind there is no excuse for treating a potential customer that way, nevermind that he would have brought all of his groomsmen there as well.

[MrLion]

The Kilt & Thistle shop (kilts.com) here in Salem, OR is reasonably priced, but not so much for just-starting-out. They DO have "casual kilts", 5 yd wool, for $325. Very nice owner/spouse. They teach bagpipe lessons out of their shop as well.

[gilmore]

[QUOTE=Cawdorian;319427]It still continues to amaze me that in a city as large as Atlanta we do not have a Scottish Shop here (that I know of). My nearest Scottish Shop is the Scorrish Tartans Museum, I buy most most everything from Matt or Ronan at the Museum.
QUOTE]

Do you, or anyone, know anything about

Across The Pond
118 Main Street Suite 9
Gainesville, GA 30501

770 297 6446

[macwilkin]

Clearly the storekeeper at this tartan shop isn't interested in running a successful business!

Nor are they knowledgeable about who is entitled to wear the Royal Stewart tartan!

Have they seen any pics of royalty in it? I can't say that I have!

No, but pipers of "Royal" regiments wear it, such as the RHR (Black Watch) and the King's Own Scottish Borderers. And the Sovereign's piper wears it as well:

On ceremonial occasions, the Pipe Major wears the Royal Stewart tartan.

During The Queen's stay on her private estate in Scotland, the Balmoral Tartan is worn. The Royal Stewart and Balmoral Tartans are recognised as 'royal' tartans, The Royal Stewart is considered the tartan of the Royal House of Stewart (or Stuart).

-- http://www.royal.gov.uk/OutPut/Page3370.asp

Regards,

Todd

[Zardoz]

Colin asked; "Out of curiousity, how many people have a Scottish shop that sells Highland wear near by?"

I live in (near) the third largest city in the US, As far as I know, the nearest highland wear place is in Scotland!