This month we’re celebrating our Sixth Loopy Anniversary! We officially opened our virtual doors on August 1, 2006. We’ve shared a few of these photos before, but celebrations are all about pulling out the scrapbooks and fondly reminiscing, right? Here is a peek at our Loopy (virtual) scrapbook.
The shop started in a tiny corner of our basement, not much bigger than what you can see in this photo – about 90 sq. feet. This was our first group of in-store shoppers. This corner worked well for the first couple of months, and then someone (that might be me …) just kept ordering more yarn and we needed more space.
We decided “who needs a basement?” and expanded from the little corner, into the rest of the finished area that we had.
We had to stack boxes on our front porch and in our front hallway, waiting for the mailman each day. Some days, there were a lot of boxes!
After a year at home, we made the move to office/retail space a few blocks away, and that was our Loopy home for the next 4+ years. After our first year there, we doubled the space by knocking down the walls and taking the offices next door. That was fun, although it made for a bit of an interesting (weird) floor layout.
Last December, we put everything on two large moving trucks, and moved to our current location here in Fort Collins, CO, about an hour north of Denver.
With 4500 sq. ft. here, I’m hoping we will have enough room to put off any other moves for the time being. You all need to come visit so that you can walk in here and look around that corner. It goes down a long way, and every bit of it is filled with yarn! (Here’s a peek down one of our four long aisles.)
Of course none of this would be here without YOU and your incredible support. We love hearing from you, we love pulling and packing orders for you, and we love seeing what you have made when you finish your projects. So often, our yarn companies and indie artisans tell us, “You guys have the BEST customers!” and we totally agree. You are the best. We sure appreciate you.
In celebration of our six years, we will be doing a few different blog contests this month, in addition to a couple of other things. This week’s blog contest question is: How long have you been with us at The Loopy Ewe? I know we have six year Loopy veterans who ordered that very first week, and one day Loopy newbies, who discovered us today when they saw the sign on the building and popped up to see us, hoping “The Loopy Ewe” had something to do with yarn. Leave your answer in the comments below, and we’ll do a random drawing next week for some Wollmeise Lace, that I saved just for our anniversary contests. 🙂
Sheri thinkingLoopymightneedtowearapartyhatthismonth
I have been reading the blog for a couple of years at least. But my first order was placed in October 2011. I got caught up in a Wollmeise feeding frenzy and managed to score some. Sweet rewards. Still consider my self a newbie knitter but enjoy reading all the great posts and tips from others.
I am just a toddler…at 1/2 years. My first order was January 2011. I love your store and love being a loopy groupy! This year (2012) was my first year of camp….it is not even over and I cannot wait for camp next year.
Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!
I just went on TLE and checked…my first order was 10/31/07. I remembered it was for a pattern, “pretty as a peacock” shawl that I coveted (and sadly had yet to knit, as my skills weren’t there at that time) I really should get that pattern out and actually knit it. I’ve come a long way, as did TLE!
I think I discovered Loopy in 2009. I was heavily into mini swapping and quickly bought all the sock yarn that my local yarn shops carried. They didn’t have much…no Mal, no Mad, no Claudia, no Lorna, etc… And then there was you. A yarn shoppers dream! Because of you I learned what it meant to have a stash!
The best part of my summer 2011 vacation was visiting you in St. Louis. We were heading to Branson to meet up with my husbands family. I said we are stopping in St. Louis for a night. He said, “Are we really going to detour our vacation so you can go yarn shopping?” To which I responded, “We are going to Branson of all places to meet with YOUR family for a week. You better believe I am stopping at The Loopy Ewe for a day!” BEST PART OF MY VACATION TOO!!!
My very first order was on 9/23/08. No, I did not remember that, but you keep great records on the website…lol.
Congratulations on your 6th anniversary! You continue to provide wonderful yarns, superior customer service and a personal touch which makes us all feel like part of the family. 🙂
My first purchase from The Loopy Ewe happened because I couldn’t find Beige Cascade 220 in stock anywhere else online. This was over a year ago. I found myself getting hooked with Camp Loopy 2011 after that. My yarn selections have been a bit more colorful since the Beige 220. Thanks for a great community and store!
I have been with you about 4 years. When my husband was alive he was as excited as I was when a package came from Loopy because the candy was his bonus gift.
I’ve been following your blog for a couple of year, but didn’t actually place my first orders until this summer for the three Camp Loopy projects. If I had only known the joy of receiving Loopy packages, complete with scrumptious yarn and lots of cool surprises, I would have been addicted long, long ago. Looking forward to many more Loopy treats.
2 or 3 years–I’m not sure; either way, I love your yarns and your fast service!
Almost five years! You are my fav online retailer.
Two years although I just became a Groupie. Love your yarn selection and wonderful service.
I’m not exactly sure when I first found TLE, Sheri, and the Elves. Its been a few years for sure! My husband tells me i am paying for one of the elves salary. The postwoman wonder’s what could be so necessary to my life that I get weekly orders from a place called The Loopy Ewe, entitled “A BOX OF FUN! LOL….I don’t tell her; I just let her mind wonder:-) hehe. TLE IS MY #1 on-line store; you’re the best!
I knew it had been a while, but I was surprised to see August 2007 when I logged in to look at past orders! I must really love you all!
Have just been ordering since you moved to CO and I did camp loopy this year, and visited a few months ago where my 3yo son loved running up and down the long long aisles of yarn. It won’t be our last visit, I’m hooked 🙂
Wishing you many more times six!
3 years already, wish I had known you were in st. louis earlier than that, of course, before you made the big move! Congrats on 6 yrs!
About a year now…. got hooked when I visited your store when you were here in STL!
See what happens when you don’t read the whole post? I missed the part the first time about your contest!
I remember you from near the beginning. About the same time, Wendy posted about buying yarn from you .
Congratulation on all your success!
Congrats! I still remember how excited I was to get my loopy groupies welcome package ( and my first skein of wollmeise)! I hope we all have many more years together, making beautiful things with fantastic yarns! P.S. Ive started packing for our vacation this year to Alaska. I found Loopy hiding in my suitcase the other day. We had so much fun last year that I think I’ll let him go again this year.
Almost 2 years now! My favorite online yarn store!
Just over four years for me!
I discovered you back in 2009, not too long after I started knitting again, and set up a wish list at that time. My cousin used that wish list to give me a skein of sock yarn for my birthday. My first order was about a year later, in March 2010. My favorite purchase so far is two skeins of Sanguine Gryphon Skinny Bugga, both of which made gorgeous shawlettes.
I’ve never ordered, but I’ve been sorely tempted many many times…like that Fleece Artist BFL Sock in Blomidon that you blogged a while back. but I already have 135 km (84 miles) of yarn stashed, so I try to keep myself in control!
Ooh boy, I’m not sure. I’m thinking… 4 years? I think it was about when we moved into our current home, and that’s 4 years.
I remember seeing pictures when the Loopy Ewe was in your basement, Sheri! I think my first order was in early 2007. You folks are my favorite place to shop for yarn!!
Happy Anniversary and here’s to many, many more!
I heard about The Loopy Ewe about two years ago, maybe closer to three. But it wasn’t until spring of 2011 that I finally placed my first order. I have been hooked ever since!
Four years. Your speedy shipping and service are outstanding! Congratulations!
I’ve been a loopy groopy for about two years longer than my husband likes! I love you elves and hope to get to Fort Collins some day. Thanks for being there!
Happy Anniversary! I’ve been shopping at TLE since early 2009.
I found the blog the summer of 2010. It was exciting to follow the move to the Colorado location just one hour from me. I did visit the Fort Collins store the first day it was open and have been back — including several knit nights!
Happy Anniversary TLE!
I’ve been reading you online since you were operating out of your basement but didn’t order until about a year after you moved into the office building a few blocks away that I drove past a couple of times a day. Congratulations on 6 years, best wishes for many more!!!
I have been catching your blog for about a year now. Judy Laquidara’s blog (patchwork times) mentioned your blog several times. When I decided to get back into knitting I already knew where to go. Happy Anniversary.
Im a loopy newbie!!
I’ve only been ordering since Dec 2011 and was so thrilled with the yarn and service that I decided to do Camp Loopy just to try new yarns and have some fun with projects I might not otherwise get done. Sure wish I had remembered about the shop when I visited Fort Collins in May but it was a super quick visit — next time for sure.
Congratulations on 6 great years – I hope there will be plenty more.
I have been shopping with you since 2008. There is no other site with your service as well as your selections. Hope to be buying from you many, many more years. Happy Anniversary!
What a wonderful synopsis of the history of the business! I loved it! I have been with you now for about three years or more…I love your blog…facebook, twitter and website…service is great….Congratulations on the 6th Anniversary and I wish you many more!!!!!
I had to check, and can’t believe it’s already been four and a half years! I found you when I started knitting socks, and haven’t looked back.
Congratulations!
My first order was April of 2007…..wow! Due to economy my orders have pretty much stopped for awhile, but I still look at every Mondays posts! Don’t worry….I’ll have more money in my pocket soon!
I found out about The Loopy Ewe by visiting my LYS! They did not have the pattern that I needed to replace but said there was an on-line store that did and gave me the name so that I could look it up. Now when I open up my browser, The Loopy Ewe is always one of the top 10 listed (Ravelry being first!). I have enjoyed looking at all the yarn and dreaming since May of 2010. Sheri what wonderful things you have shown me and all your elves have been spectacular both back in St. Louis and now Fort Collins!
January of 2009 is when my account says my first order was placed. And luckily for me it was done by my wonderful sister, who introduced me to TLE and I’ve continued to shop both in person when you were in STL and online. Thanks for everything, Sherri and her fantastic Loopy Elves that have kept me happily supplied in yarn and fiber.
March 2007! Happy Anniversary 🙂
3 years and 9 months. I can still remember how hard it was to choose that first sock yarn from all the wonderful options. Happy Anniversary!
A very happy anniversary! I cannot wait to visit the Colorado store for the first time in a few weeks.
How long have I been with Loopy? Not long enough!
Very Happy Anniversary! You’re my favorite on-line store and I love the new location as it’s just that much closer to Edmonton, Alberta Canada that I could possibly come see you all in person!
I just had my first visit to your beautiful, amazing store today!! Let’s just say it was love at first sight! 🙂 <3 Amazing store, amazing staff…can't wait to come back!
Happy anniversary!
I placed my first order in May of this year.
Happy anniversary! I’ve been stopping by a couple of times a week fora coupe of years now.
I’ve been shopping with you since December of 2007.
Happy Anniversary!! I placed my first order in March of 2007 and I have been loopified ever since! Thanks for all your great inspiration!!