Well we are one of the lucky ones as far as alot of fabric stores around....unfortuantely you need coupons to really afford to shop...
Walmart superstore here cut their fabric department to just on little isle and not a whole lot of pickins....sure wish they would of left it the way it was....
Walmart in Memphis no longer has any fabric. All we have is Hobby Lobby and Hancock.
None of the Walmarts in Central Texas have fabric anymore. Very little in the way of craft supplies either. But we have JoAnn's, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby has some decent fabric, and they put it on sale regularly. I think I miss the notions dept most of all. I love sewing notions.
Same here, got rid of all the fabric. Their management is really dumb, because inexpensive fabric can be profitable if you do it properly. Also, for people on my side of the county, there is now NO where to go for fabric except for real quilt shops, which have lovely fabric at $10 per yard. Yep, I'll sure be making pot holders out of that. The only chain we have is JoAnn Fabric in the Mall, which is more than 20 miles for me, and is not even a superstore. I think their fabric is WalMart quality at quilt shop prices. Never been very impressed with them. Would love to see a Hancocks, Rag Shop, anything move into the area!! Hugs, Marji
WOW!! Too bad the higher ups at WalMart don't read CuteEmbroidery! You CAN go on their web site & send a message. I think it would help to MAYBE open their eyes to the fact that so many shoppers get OTHER things when they are in there to get fabric & crafts. The lady at our local WalMart said it was because they had to buy someone to be there on the floor to cut fabric. Their stores are arranged so strange you have to wander all over it to find anything..& I guess they hope you will impluse buy! Guess what? I don't even BUY now as I can't get any crafts or fabric! AND I walked out of JoAnns last week because they had "redone the store" and I couldn't find a thing! Was looking for felt sqs..used to be with the kids crafts & foam..NOW they are back in the back near the class room, so I was told. I didn't go all the way back to get any..I went to Michaels. You can go on almost any site & send an email. You will usually get a form reply..but makes you feel better to know you tried!
Nothing new, everything changes. Remember when Mervyn's and Liberty House had fabric? Now we don't even have those stores. The local TG&Y (a five and dime)is where I bought my first cotton fabric for 33 cents a yard.
I remember buying fabric at JC Penny's. And later at a local upscale department store. All gone for years now. It's so interesting to me that this is happening now, because so many of my daughter's friends are sewing. We need more fabric stores in the world! Seamstresses unite! LOL
It is my understanding that all Walmarts are scheduled to "upgrade" their stores over the next year or so. All fabric departments are closing; some stores will stock 2 yard packs of fabrics, but nothing by the bolt anymore. A lot of people (consumers) are upset about it, but the managers have absolutely no control over this decision; it was made much higher up the food chain.
I'm very unhappy about it, too; but everything is profit driven in the marketplace. At least we do still have a Hancock's and a Michael's; otherwise I would have to drive into the Atlanta area.
Blessings and feeling your pain,
Diane
I've been told our local Wal-Mart is also supposed to lose their fabrics also. I believe this month. Luckily for me, there is a Hancocks and a Hobby Lobby even closer than the Wal-Mart. Our Michaels doesn't carry fabric. Otherwise, I would have to drive 40 miles away. I also try to stay away from Wal-Mart unless I absolutely have to.
I was told the Wal-Mart close to us will be closing their fabric department too. That is the only place close by to get things unless we want to travel 30-45 minutes. Even the Bernina store moved away so we can't go there to get fabric. But, I don't think that the fabric they are now carrying is of the quality it used to be - so guess I look up other selections. But, if I worked on my stash, I bet it would last me a couple years. LOL
Wal Mart is doing the same thing in Canada. I live in Leduc, Alberta and the closest Wal Mart was in Edmonton - about 15 min. away.
They opened a Wal Mart here a few years ago and I think it was two years ago that they took out the materiel and craft section but kept a little bit. Not much choice of thread (only reg sewing thread)and some notions. The craft area is larger than the sewing, but not like it was.
Although we had had a Fabricland here but they closed it as apparently the lease was up and the owners wanted a huge increase in rent so they closed (store is still empty - he he - now they get no rent from that space).
I have quite a stockpile of materiel so that's not a problem for me.
It's just when you need some little thing then I have to go into the city to get it and the best place is Fabricland which takes 20 - 25 min. to get to.
Edmonton has a few materiel stores but they are so expensive.
Also, the place I bought my sewing machine from carries a lot of materiel, but again epensive. So I'm glad I have always kept a stockpile - I've always been told I have enough to start a stor of my own!
For craft supplies I also have to go to the city as the only real good place to get anything is at Michael's - again a 20 min drive - all one way of course.
I've never shopped on line before but have now started as that's how I got my first bunch of embroidery thread and one of the stabilizers and it was so much cheaper even with the shipping (and I pay more as I get dinged at the border) - but it's still cheaper that way.
I am no fan of Wal-Mart. They under price the locals so they close and then drop the "unprofitable" areas. Two super wal marts came into the North Dallas area and the closest JoAnns and Hancocks closed. Now the super Wally Worlds don't carry fabric but I doubt the Hancocks or JoAnns will come back. Fabric requires a dedicated employee and so is not cost effective. And by dedicated I don't mean loyal I mean one employee full time for just the one area. I too was assured the fabric section was not going to be dropped. I avoid Wal-Mart unless I have no other choice.
They have done this in all the Wlm-Marts that I live close to in North Tex. There is a quilting store in my small town but they only carry cotton thread and almost no sewing notions. Of course their fabric is all cotton. There is a JoAnn's about 30 miles away as well as a Hobby Lobby. But Hobby Lobby doesn't seem to carry a lot of embroidery supplies. JoAnn's seams kinda iffy on embroidery supplies. There is a Hancock about 50 miles away and also a supper JoAnn and they carry some supplies. So needless to say I have to dive quit a distance for supplies.
Where I live in West Texas there is a baby Wal-Mart & they still carry some fabric & notions but if I have to go to JoAnns or Hancocks it is a 100 mile trip one way. I really do dread when they make the Wal-Mart there a super one.
I have noticed that there just aren't any really good fabric stores like we use to have. I am fortunate in that I don't live too far from Dallas, Tex. and there are some really neat fabric outlets or warehouses that sell to the public.
May be this is an idea for someone to start a new business that just specilizes in all types of sewing needs and fabrics like the old Cloth World. Then take it international to all us ladies & gents who love this type of artistic expression.
I was upset about it also. But as they update the stores they delete the fabric section. I have 4 Wal-Mart stores closes enough to shop at and the last one remodeled last summer. So now I have JoAnns and an expensive quilting shop to buy fabrics. I really try to make use of coupons!!
Yep, most of the WalMarts have closed their fabric/craft sections. Ours did so about 3 yrs ago. I do have a Hobby Lobby where I get my supplies. I'm not thrilled with Michael. But go there if necessary. I have a quilt shop about 25 miles away, another HUGE fabric store called Mary Jo's which is 45 miles away from me. When I go there I make it a day. I've been there so much, and STILL haven't seen everything. It's the size of a Hobby Lobby with nothing BUT fabric. It's heaven for us fabriholics. hehehehe... Hancocks and Joanns have been closed around us. I think there is too much stress on designer clothing which makes it harder for we who enjoy sewing.
In my town Wal-Mart have fabric at this time and for a change it's bigger but the other day the lady in charge of fabric told me that in January when they star to remodel they will close fabric. They said they dont sell fabric but in my town they sell a lot.
The same thing happened here in my town too. I guess I'm lucky there is a Hobby Lobby still here but their prices are a lot higher than Walmart's were. The closest Joannes, Michaels, or Hancocks would be in Oklahoma city or Tulsa, and both cities are about two hours away!
Our Wal-Mart here on the West Island in Montreal are also down to the bare minimum in fabric and they say it will be the end of that department very soon..too bad as we lost Bouclair, our quilt stores are closing and we are left with Fabricville...who knows who makes these decisions, obviously not a hobbiest- have to stock up in the winter in Florida at Hancocks and Joannes......*4U
The Walmarts here in NJ are doing away with the fabric departments too. I don't think they realize how much of my business is due to the fabric department. While I'm there for fabric and craft supplies, I shop the other departments.
I'm sure it is just a matter of time before we lose our fabric dept here. And I have to drive about 40 miles or more to visit Joannes, Hobby Lobby or Hancock. I take advantage of their coupons when I can but it is not like I can pop into those stores every day and the coupons are limited to one per visit. I will be most unhappy when it closes.
Walmart in my town still sells notions such as rik rak, zippers, buttons, minimal thread. A half an hour away the Walmart still has a full fabric dept. I rarely shop there. I go to Joanns for fabric and occasionally will check out hobby lobby's fabric dept. I normally buy my stabilizers, threads, and needles in bulk online.
I had stopped going to Walmart for anything about 3 years ago for several reasons. I found much of their fabric to be of poor quality, usually end of bolts or with joiners somewhere in it, because they stretch the fabric when measuring and very serious problems when ordering a bolt of fabric. Many of us had measured our fabric when we got home, measured it before throwing it in the washer and finding it short as much as a 1/4 yd for a 5 yard piece. I do very well without spending a penny in the place. Sorry about my tirade. I think Walmart is horrible. I watched stores with better quality and selection close their doors when Walmart came into town.
I think Wal Mart is making a big mistake. But their people in high power do not. They are still selling fabric and crafts here in two of their stores, but I was told it would be gone in April of 2011. What a shame. Maybe they need to open a Craft store close to their grocery stores/home goods. somebody has not a clue what they are doing. we have a Hobby Lobby but but it is 20 miles one way and another is about 30 miles away. Help!!!!!
Our Walmart did a redo and added the groceries. When they did that the got rid of the craft section and material last year. Now I have to go to Joanne and Michaels. The Hancock shop here closed several years ago too. Oh well Suzanne
I travel about an hour to Hancock, Joann's and I just found out there is also a Hobby Lobby that I must check out. However; they are getting a SUPER Joann's next month and I will be saving up for that great spending day...I hope ;> Walmart here been shut down it's fabric section. I don't even know how much other items is there because I no longer look ;D *2U
The Walmart that is 2 miles from me closed the fabric department this month. Now I have to go about 10 miles for a spool of thread or a zipper. I don't think that Walmart realized that sewing has become very popular again. We have 2 Hancocks and 2 Joann's. I sure wish we had a Hobby Lobby!
One of the Super Walmarts by me now has prepacked material in 2 yard cuts. I guess they received a lot of complaints from crafters. They had nice fabric. So, it does matter which store I go to now. They are opening a Hobby Lobby next month. I do have a Joann's and some quilting stores.
This happened to all our K-Mart stores in Australia, I never go there for anything any more.
So terribly disappointing.
Hugs n roses, Meganne
If you'er fortunate enough to still have fabric in your Walmart store you are among the very few. Walmart is doing away with the fabric and craft lines. When ever they do a renovation in a store is when they take it out....sure hate it as they do carry some very nice fabric. We still have one store in our area with fabric but not for much longer...so sad.
Our walmart took their fabric out in the past month. Had a great sale & I stocked up but I'll miss it. Just recently I had spoken to the mgr & regional mgr & they assured me they were not taking fabric out. So much for being truthful
Our Wal-Mart in NC took fabrics out - before I left three years - the Wal-Mart in UT took it out two years ago - there is a JoAnn's about a mile down the road and a Michael's and a Hancock Fabric about three miles away - if I want to go to Hobby Lobby - I have to go about 15 miles. Not that i have had any time to go shopping or doing any crafting at all. So who knows - maybe none of them at there now.
We lost our Wal-Mart fabric last year. They said they were going to add more toys. That there was more people buying toys than fabric. I have to drive over 50 miles to get to a Michaels.
I mostly take coupons and go to Joann's. We also have a Pat Catan's but they closed my Michael's store and I miss it. Some craft things I can find at the Dollar Tree.