Wal-Mart Update
Monday March 12, 2007
Like many of you, I got extremely excited by Kathy's report from a Texas Wal-Mart Employee in the Has Wal-Mart Stopped Selling Fabric? Comments.
Today I spoke with Marissa, a Wal-Mart representative at Wal-Mart Media. She verified that Wal-Mart is continuing its pilot program of Celebration Centers and that they are listening to their customers concerns.
So as much as it saddens me to say... Keep writing and calling my friends... we haven't won the war yet! We need to let them know that we want our fabric departments!
If anyone from fabric stores is reading this... please consider the areas of the country that are depending on Wal-Mart and give us other choices. The comment sections of the Wal-Mart posts give you an idea of the many places in the country that are being held captive by Wal-Mart for fabric purchases. We need you!
Comments
Walmrt in Salem, Ohio has already announced that it will phase out its fabric department when it remodels the store. The girls that work in that section of the store are aways busy and know enough about sewing that they are very helpful to inexperienced sewers and enthusiatic about project for all levels of sewing. It saddens me greatly of the immenent loss of our fabric department, the next nearest place to buy fabric is a thrity mile drive. I purchase items in that department everytime my family and I shop there. Shame on Walmart and thier lack of concern of customer satisfaction and selection!!!!
I was told that the Wal-Mart in Clinton, IA is planning on changing their store August 2007. I wrote a letter to the company along with 90 signatures! Just mailed it out today! Hopefully I get a response.
I really like WalMart, but I could not believe that they are not having a fabric department in the new stores. We live in AZ, and were anxiously waiting for the new store to open. It did in Feb. We went right over to check out the fabric department and could not find it. I was so dissapointed we left. I’ve only been back once. What prompted them to decide not to have a fabric department? I hope we the customers mean something to WalMart and can be heard.
Our WalMart has already closed its fabric department. We are a small county,Cooke County in TX, with six schools, numerous 4-H Clubs, quilting clubs, home sewers and crafters. We now have to drive 35 miles one way, to find material for our projects. What a TERRIBLE dis-service WalMart has done to our community and county!
I’m actually glad that there is one area of the consumer world that ISN’T ruled by that Goliath.
our walmart is close and is closing fabric also and the closet place is like 35 40 miles where they sell it we need walmart fabric i buy alot there and hate to see it go
I shop at Wal-Mart for ALL my fabric. If they should eliminate it, I would have to drive 45 mins. one way to purchase my fabric. Will be quite expensive fabric when you figure in the cost of gas !!!!
I am wondering what will happen to the WalMart in Cocoa,Florida ?.I ,too,buy all my fabrics at WalMart.I make doggie outfits,my own curtains,dolls for the grands,pillows.My sewing machine is always busy making something..I can’t see us without a fabric debt.I feel bad for the ones who lost theirsalready.We are probably soon.How can we get them to listen ? This is an important part of WalMart.I would have to go to Hancock Fabrics.We know what they charge!I don’t think they will listen.All the WalMart kids got too big for their pants.Too bad for them.
We have a few other stores in the area that sell fabric, though they are 20 to 30 miles away, but their prices are a lot higher and their selection is limited. I first heard about Walmart phasing out the fabric departments online around Christmas time and was very upset. I haven’t heard a peep about it where I live yet, but I’m sure it will happen. What a shame!
I think as well as being an opportunity to let Wal Mart know how you feel, we should band together to contact major fabric retailers like JoAnn’s, or maybe some of these stores that are 30-45min. away and urge them to bring a store to the area. It’s one time you can honestly say there won’t be any competition, and I’ve never felt that Wal Mart had the best prices on any fabric (with the possible exception of the $1.00 and $2.00/yd fabrics).
I don’t understand why WalMart is even thinking of taking their fabric out of the stores.
Those of us that live in smaller towns don’t have any place to buy fabric other than the places that are so much more expensive.
Those of us on fixed income are having problems. Please consider those of us that still sew and make quilts.
Thank you for your consideration of us that need fabric in WalMart stores.
That’s the danger with these big stores, people get to count on them. And look what happens when something changes. It says a lot about modern ways of thinking. I think the big stores don’t care for what people want, if it doesn’t sell enough, it has to go. Buy from little stores, or online shops, much better for society, at least in my opinion.
I don’t know if ours is closing or not-so far we still have it! I was so excited when Wal-mart opened here about 2 yrs ago-Yes you guessed it!! Mostly for the fabric department! I usually go to Wal-mart in every place we visit to check out the fabric departments!! And most always purchase something. ON a more immediate note, without Walmart, I will have to drive 30-45 minutes just to buy a spool of thread or a button!!
The worst is, Wal mart probably helped squeeze out the small fabric stores in the South of which there were so very many 20 years ago!
With Walmart not having fabrics, all is not lost. When I was sewing for my children, there were no discount fabrics. I accepted hand me down clothing from family and friends , , and made them over. As my mom did, I took them apart, ironed the fabric and made things…even clothing for the small children. Men’s white shirts are lovely material. Don’t despair. Make do. How did the old timers make quilts? Not by going to the store!
WalMart is not considering the people on fixed incomes. They shop WalMart for most all their needs, and if they eliminate the fabric departments, there will be many who no longer will enjoy their pastime of sewing. It’s one thing some seniors can still participate in and be very productive. But they need the WalMart prices and the locations in rural areas.
I was in the Burlington, IA super Wal-Mart yesterday and they are definitely phasing out their fabric department according to the clerk who waited on me. I asked her about the pre-cut fabric lengths that have been mentioned taking the place of the bolt fabrics? She said they have had too many customer complaints against the pre-cut fabric lengths, so as far as she’s been told, Wal-Mart is eliminating all fabric from their stores as soon as the current stock is gone. The entire craft department had been moved to another area of the store and is much smaller. Even the amount of yarns and craft supplies appear to have been reduced. I’m wondering, since it appears that Wal-Mart has decided to eliminate fabrics, will they eventually also eliminate patterns and sewing notions? I told the clerk I had seen the on-line petitions asking Wal-Mart to reconsider and she said something about that they were only customer petitions. I have no idea what that means. Is it possible that some of the Wal-Mart craft department people will lose their jobs since so much elimination and downsizing appears to be happening? Hopefully the petitions will get to the right Wal-Mart executives, they will see what their customers prefer and they will reconsider.
I will not miss Walmart fabrics. I rarely buy anything from them as I feel most of the fabric is junk or lower quality. When I am spending my precious time sewing, I prefer to use quality fabrics to create works that I am proud of…one of a kind creative garments. I wish that with less Walmart fabrics, we would see a resurgence of independent fabric stores. As much as I love to touch fabric, I do shop online, staying with fabric brands that I know are excellent quality such as Fabric Finders, Spechler-Vogel, Heirloom Imports, and Nashville Cottons.
for the people,what a joke..fabric is a way of life for many crafters. do you the big company not realize if you don’t supply what people need or request then they have no need to visit your business for other things . moat of the products you can be found elsewhere but because of the fabric I could make it a one stop shopping trip, Needless to say this letter will be treated to the file 13 as I’m sure all request are treated..after all we are the ones who pay your salary.we are the one’s who make your projected yearly income a little hard to spend if you don’t get it .
I just hate what has been done with the fabric dept. My mother is one of those that shops Wal-mart for everything and now there isn’t any place close for her to do fabric/notion shopping. She is on a fixed income and also doesn’t need to be driving the distance she would need to in order to get to a fabric store at age 89. Wal-mart has done a real disservice to some of its most loyal shoppers!
If WalMart does away with the fabric and notions dept., then why should we as customers continue to shop there. Why should we give Walmart our business when they surely don’t care about us. Local grocery, hardware and other business will get my shopping money.
I have really enjoyed having fabric at WalMart. It has been fun to search through and find the unusual fabrics as well as bargains. I certainly hope that WalMart will reconsider doing away with their fabric departments. I know many beginner sewists who will quit if they can’t get reasonably priced fabrics to learn with. That will be the biggest loss.
My nearest fabric store i.e. Wal-Mart is 35 miles one way. If it closes I will be driving either 70 miles or 90 miles one way to a JoAnn’s. I am very disappointed in the decision Wal-Mart has made. I will not be shopping there if the fabric dept. is dropped.
Simplicity and McCalls have dropped their contracts with Wal-Mart. When the fabric goes, so do the patterns.
Our WalMart has already gotten rid of their fabric dept and are remodeling. While I urge everyone to keep emailing and writing them, don’t hold your breath on them really listening & bringing them back. I used to work for them and they will tell you anything to keep you coming to shop there, but they will do what they want in the end. I have stopped shopping there completely. The stores I am shopping at don’t have fabric either, but it’s my way of letting WalMart know how I feel. Yes, I am just one person, but if we all do this, it WILL hit them where it hurts. This is the only way to make our point. Keep those emails and letters flying.
Our Wal Mart is in Livingston, Texas, closest fabric store is 50 miles away. I was told by the Manager that he was told by “higher up” that all fabric departments would be closing. am retired and not willing to drive 50 miles one way for fabric or notions when Wal Mart has no logical reason for closing their fabric dept. I shop for all my needs at Wal Mart, it is convenient, reasonably priced and does meet my needs. It is sad that the “big guys/higher up” have lost their commitment to the consumers to provide not only goods but good service and are not listening to us.
I sew for a living and depend on Wal-Mart for my thread and other supplies. Whenever I go to buy thread, I usually buy groceries, too. If I can no longer get my thread at Wal-Mart, I will go to Food Lion, which is closer, for groceries. Wal-Mart will probably lose a lot of other business by not having fabric departments.
I live Covington Washington and they told me since the store is still new they wont get rid of ours.
Folks! You have Internet access! Do you have any idea how many fabric companies are available to you? Dozens! With an incredible selection of fabrics that are delivered to your door! Just type in “fabrics” on your search site, and be prepared to be surprised and pleased. I am fortunate to live about one mile from the largest Hancock fabric store in the nation, but I buy most of my fabric from a site that is in Atlanta, GA. Fabric.com. I invite you, on their behalf, to check them out. There are lots, lots more!
Poo on Wal-Mart!
I live back in the National Forest in SWVA. The WalMart that I deal with is already 13 miles one way and that’s where I do all of my shopping at one time. I went in last night to look at the new SPring material and all the spaces are empty!! I was devistated–I do alot of sewing for my family through out the year as gifts or school clothes for my granddaughter. Can anyone tell me where they are taking all of the material and if they are doing a big sale at certain stores or what?? Now my only option will be to go at least 90 miles one way.
This is not the first time Wal-Mart has attempted to do away with its fabric line. They wanted to do it about 4 or 5 years ago as well.
Wal-Mart is about money. By forcing its supplier to provide stuff quickly and to have shelves full, each square foot must generate a lot of money. Staffing a fabric area is expensive. You must have staff there to cut fabric and answer questions. There were usually two staff members there most of the time (not sure about the 10:00 pm- 8:00 am time slot). Add the cost of labor onto a $6.00 yard fabric, it becomes expensive for the low-price discounter. While butchers and produce clerks are also on the floor, meat and produce produces more income than fabric.
Sam Walton’s vision does not exist. Wal-Mart’s primary business is to make money for its owners and stockholders. It is the way of most big business in America today. One person said that new businesses can now form. This is true. A business that offers crafts, scrapbooking, and fabric would probably do well. Can it sell fabric at $6.00 a yard? No. But if one has to travel 60 miles round trip, $8.00 a yard isn’t so bad after all.
But like many of you, I also go to Wal-Mart primarily for a notion or some of the other fabrics for quick projects. So, I’ll go to Wal-Mart less frequently. I did pick up one or two items besides fabric when I go. Maybe we’ll finally get a Hancock’s fabric store– this town of 90,000 (Round Rock, Texas) could use one.
Did anyone else notice the Finance section of the paper said Wal Marts profits were down… because of ice storms and their restocking spring clothing too early and not having the winter items available in the cold weather. I believe they need to think about that. I believe we are making a statement. If you don’t carry the items we want - WE will go elsewhere. Money talks - I say give them the SILENT TREATMENT…..
I buy fabric in our Wal-Mart store all the time.It makes shoppimg easier for me.I can buy many things I need there.
I live in North Bergen,N.J.
Sorry Walmart doesn’t respect its customers any better than to close the fabric area. Our Walmart’s fabric department was always busy. Maybe Walmart won’t miss the $300 to $400 per month that I spent there for groceries, etc. Food Lion is still here in Appalachia.
25 miles one way to Walmart here in Northern PA. Mighty glad to read in the paper that a group of Mennonites have applied for a zoning to open a fabric store. 3 miles is a lot closer. And the food I get from their store doesn’t rot the next day like the rubbish from WalMart. WalMart has become too big for its britches anyway. Wonder if they’re dumping fabrics from stores outside the USA?
I wrote a letter when our Walmart started closing down our fabric dept. Never heard a word back from them. I am a senior citizen who cannot drive to nor afford the prices of the other fabric stores. Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed in Walmarts for eliminating the fabric department.
In the city where I live, two independent fabric stores have gone out of business, in the past 3 years. These stores were within 2 miles of my home. Now I must drive at least 7 miles to one of the biggest, most congested & dangerous intersections in Nashville. Needless to say, I very, very rarely go there. (I’ve only stepped foot in that store 2ce in 6 yrs it has been opened.) Walmart needs to keep their fabric departments in ALL of their stores. When I go to Wal-Mart for other shopping needs, I ALWAYS end up in the fabric department buying something that wasn’t even on my list. Please, please reconsider this unfavorable and selfish choice! I’ll bet that most of the people who have made this decision are men looking at numbers on a piece of paper, who know nothing about the sewing needs of creative women all over the country. Or perhaps they are women who can afford to buy whatever they need and don’t even know how to sew on a button, much less, thread a needle! Did y’ll even ask any of us for our input or suggestions? Try it.
We live in the hurricane channel here in Fla. and without Wal-mart and the fabric dept post hurricane re-building we will be out of luck and have to travel and pay high prices for the same fabric that Wal-mart sells— we NEED the fabric dept 100%
I live in East Tn, and the nearest Walmart is 20 miles from me, as well as the one and only fabric store, Hancocks. A brand new Walmart just opened and there is no fabric there. We had a Jo Anns about a year ago but they would not renew a lease and sold off lock stock and barrel, and now the nearest one is in Knoxville, about 45 miles frm me. I happen to be an employee at Hancocks for over 3 years. They too, are undergoing some big time changes and closing stores seems to be the ticket. We did Ok after Jo Anns closed and Walmart still had a full time fabric department, but now we are getting nothing but complaints against them. Unfortunately, a lots of times our prices are higher since we are a specialty store, and that deters people from shopping with us. The area has lots of quilters, sewers and medium to low income folks, and I know they won’t be traveling to Knoxville for a spool of thread if they don’t have to. It is big business and like all the big business nowadays, the customer’ s opnion or needs don’t matter.
Walmart…no fabric? How dare they do away with the fabric department. I believe it will be a big mistake. I like many others always end up purchasing fabric whenever shopping at Walmart, even though it was not the intent. No fabric at Walmart; “Cindi no shop at Walmart anymore”, and I will save lots of money! Remove the fabric section at my Walmart and Walmart will be the loser!!!
I am very unhappy about Walmart doing away with fabric and decorative trim! I have shopped there because it is easy to get to. I am so mad I am tempted to stop shopping there all together. There are many “customers” that I believe will no longer bother spending their hard earned money at Walmart!!!
Our Wal-Mart remodeled and down sized the fabric dept. This was horrible to me. They down-sided the whole craft department in fact. There are lots of retirees in our area that depend on them for things to do. We are in south east Georgia and I think Wal-Mart planners need to rethink their thoughts and remember that the nation is build on things like crafts and sewing especially the south. If they close ours..hopefully a JoAnns or Hancock’s will move in.
I went to the brand new just opened Lincoln Il Walmart yesterday…2nd day of being open. The staff there told me that everyone in the area is up in arms and that Walmart is not answering the 800 number because of too much backlash over the no fabric decision. The STAFF told me this…now how sad is that? they are as upset as we are!!!
I cannot believe this Wal-mart is the only place in the area I live that carries fabric and other sewing notions. I enjoy going there just to buy all my fabric needs. The only way I can buy fabrics now if they close is to drive over 50 miles. Why? are they doing this. Please lets all band together and make them listen to the consumer We want our fabric department!!!
This is a shame Wallmart like Sheetz came in and monoplized everything, so all the other stores closed .Now we are left only to deal with their actions or pay a fortune somewhere else.I am sure our store here in Pennsylvania, will do the shame.
There are other sources for fabric in our town. But I still go to Wal-Mart’s fabric department. They have a great selection, and the staff there is always eager to offer suggestions or help. Of course, while I enter the store for fabric, I always leave with several other non-fabric items. Why end a good thing? Doesn’t make good business sense. Please keep our Wal-Mart fabric dept. Lydia
In Eastern Washington we have many quilt shops that sell the higher priced fabrics, but the lower income can’t afford $9 to $10 per yard fabric, we have come to rely on Walmart fabric department for our sewing needs, here on the West Plains the new Walmart supper will be opening late 2007 or early 2008, we have been counting on the store having fabrics and crafts available to us. I for one will not shop at Walmart if the fabric and crafts are taken away.
There are many many fabrics available online for 8$ a yard, and most shops have a sale section. Try it. Support the individual mom & pops who love crafting like you do. Clearly this audience has a computer, buy online. Save gas, shop on your own time, let the fabric come to you.
Try these (and I’m not affiliated)
www.sewmamasew.com - www.reprodepot.com - www.fatquartershop.com They have excellent customer service and nice products.
For those who can’t afford 8$/ yard - consider this, how much are you spending in gas to go and buy fabric? Is it a half tank of gas? Is it 15$-30$. Maybe you’ll actually save by buying online.
I shop Wal-mart because I can buy material for $1 to test a new pattern. I am just beginning to sew for myself. If they remove the fabric department my trips to Wal-mart (Where I normally buy my groceries also.) will be sharply curtailed.
I,too, sent an e-mail. The reply said the fabric department would be continued in some stores, on a smaller scale and in others it would be done away with.
I live in Conway, SC and I haven’t heard if our walmart is taking out its fabric department yet but I am going to look into it. I’ve been doing crafts for a few years now but just recently got into sewing. My mother just bought me a new sewing machine for christmas. I am 23 years old and I’m on my own, so walmart is like heaven to me. I can’t afford to go to those expensive crafts store. I hope that something can be done about this. I think Walmart is making a big mistake. Not only will they be loosing a deparment they will be lossing all of my service.
The two Wal-Marts in my area have already phased out their fabrics…Now I have to drive over 60 miles one way to look for fabric. Our department was always busy,thus showing the need for it. Why they closed it is a mystery.
Shame on you Wal Mart!!! The reason a lot of people shop at your store is that they can get so many things at a lower cost. You don’t realize how many people depend on your prices to keep a family going. Eliminating the fabric department is a travisity!! These families that are in the lower income bracket also depend on the lower cost fabric to keep their families clothed. Your stores also have a lot of prints that can’t be found anywhere else. I do a LOT of sewing, and I, for one, am terribly disappointed in you.
The ones making this decision don’t have to struggle to get through each month like some of us.
We still have our fabric dept. I have talked to the employees that work in that department and they haven’t been told anything about it closing. Now on the other hand my best friend lives in Gardnerville, NV and their’s is closing and they are having sales on all of their fabric. She was told that what is happening is that scrapbooking is a big thing and they need more space for that and the other crafts such as knitting and crocheting that is coming back. Why can’t they share as they are now? I think it sucks for the people that have to drive 30 plus miles just to get to another Walmart. I have expressed my opinion to Walmart as well.
Personaly, I have purchased fabric only once from Walmart because it was the only fabric store in my area that carried the one fabric I needed at the time - batiste. it was my last stop after going to five other places that carry fabric. I shop in my local quilt shops (I have 4 within a 30 mile radius). When they don’t have what I want, I go online and shop at several other “local” quilt shops online around the country. I have even purchased notions from Australia because that was where they were available. I want and am willing to pay for first quality fabric. I want the higher thread count and I want flawless printing. I am lucky that I can afford to spend the higher dollar for my fabrics, but I am not the typical local sewer. I live in a very low income area and most of the women and men that sew in this area can not afford the specialty shop fabrics. They need the discount shops like WalMart and JoAnns to be able to afford to sew at all. My mother and her sister were both couture level sewers and they would never have paid specialty store prices for their fabric. They grew up in the deperession and still shop conservatively and watch prices and they are comfortably well off for their age group. I took them into a quilt shop and they had to walk out of the store before I wrote the check because they were afraid to see the total after seeing the per yard prices. They represent the majority of sewers in this area. Walmart needs to realize that the greater majority of people rely on them to provide affordable fabric.
IMHO I agree with those of you who have mentioned that searching online for affordable prices is the answer to the Walmart crisis. There is fabric everywhere at any price your willing to pay available on the internet. Many places even wave shipping at a certain price point. Spend your gas savings on a better quality fabric.
Or, start supporting your local fabric stores, If they make more money, they can buy more fabric at a better price point. Put the little shop owner in the position of driving the big box store out of town. The Walmart owners don’t care about you, so why should you give them a dime. Don’t go there for anything.
shame!shame!, apparently the new “young bucks” management only have partying on the brain, as they will be putting party goods in place of fabric. i say let’s boycott all walmart’s for a day, and see how they like that!!!
Wal-mart is not listening to the little people who shop at their stores. if they cared - they would update the fabric dept.and try to get sewers more interested. the young people need to learn the basics of sewing.i hope they begin to care.
Here in Kona Hawaii we are limited to fabric stores. WalMart has been the main store for a majority of us. When they remodeled the store corporate stopped selling a lot of products that I use and now have to go elsewhere. I hope they read this list and listen to the customer who is always right.
I feel Wal-Mart’s failure to carry fabric will bring about the end to the wonderful American hobbytradition of sewing. Soon sewing will be an expensive hobby only enjoyed by those in higher income brackets. Once again, the litte guy looses!
Jody Shelbyville IN
I would like to see the yard goods department continued—especially in smaller towns, as yard goods stores are getting less available. Wadsworth Ohio definitely needs to continue theirs.
Our walmart in Exton, PA sells fabric, however, I have started taking a sewing class at a a fabric store and was told not purchase the fabric from walmart because of the quality of the fabric. You get what you pay for. It’s cheap and it does not last long.
I work for a large chain of fabric stores. Do not look to them to provide you with a real fabric shopping experience. They have also forgotten who pays their salaries We also have new corporate management that knows nothing about the business. We are being discouraged from spending time helping the customer with their project, in order to push non-fabric merchandise on the customers, to raise the average “ticket”.
We need to find a way to revive the small merchant, who knows and cares about the customers. We need to patronize the few who are left, or go on line, where there are many small enterprises who care about what you need and want.
Moving to Fallon NV and Walmart is the only fabric store for 50 miles. I hope that they don’t stop selling there as it will be a long trip for fabrics.
Walmart, please do not close the fabric department as that is the only place some people have for shopping for fabric. You would be serving your customers best to leave it open and improve it. I go there myself. Please, consider the poor who can’t afford to pay a lot for fabric and those that live a long way from ANY fabric source. Obviously, people enjoy shopping at Walmart, so please, remember your customers.
I go to Walmart for my fabrics and enjoy their sales and regular prices; as well as the quality of the materials. Taking the fabric section will make a great negative impact for me beacause I dedicate a lot of my free time to sewing. I live in Central MA and have not found stores nearby with the same prices. I really hope they don’t remove the fabric section. Thanks.
I’m upset with walmart too! I’ve decided I’m not shopping there at all. If I have to go 40 miles to get my fabric, I will by other products else where too. Walmart comes to town and runs out other stores, puts radiation in their meat, done away with layaway and now fabric, what’s next? Some people were saying that walmarts fabric is cheap, yes but for some things it doesn’t matter. Small craft items or decorating horse stalls for 4H, or trying out a pattern to get the correct fit. If I’m making something to wear for good or for my daughters proms, yes I’ll go else where.
If EVERYONE would boycot Walmart for ONE week, they would see the clout and buying power we women have! (This would have to be coordinated throughout the country so that we ALL boycott buying the same week!
keep the fabric in walmart and do not remove it I am on fixed income. and i need the fabric. i can only buy it from you everywhere else is a lot more expensive.thank you evelyn c. st catharines ont.
This week I sadly said goodbye to the clerks who cut the fabric at the Wal-Mart closest to me. I had shopped the last of their fabric on clearance, not to be replaced. I would like Wal-Mart to know that I will probably never go back into this store, and I had probably spent between $200 and $300 a month in there. I had bought all kinds of items in there as an excuse to go in and check the fabrics! I will buy elsewhere now.
Several of my friends and I wrote to the Wal-Mart main offices and voiced our concern on the possibility of doing away with the fabric department.
I talked to the lady in our Hopkinsville, KY. Store today. She said they were told in December that the fabric Department in this store will be cut out this year….They will not carry patterns either…..what else can we do. I purchase fabric every time I walk into a Wal-Mart store. Today I spent $48.00 on fabric, notions, and some craft items. If anyone else can think of something more we can do, please let us know.
We buy all our fabric from Walmart for our Hospital Auxillary projects and spend big money each month. Boo on Walmart!
Shreveport, Louisiana - All of the Walmarts in my area have reduced the size of their fabric dept significantly and the fabric there is very poor quality. I think they are trying to make their fabric depts. loose business so they can close the dept. It’s sad that they came to town and ran all the small shops out of business and now they own our souls. Well there’s always the internet, but I love seeing and touching the fabric I purchase. WalMart is very aware of what every inch of each store brings in profit.
It seems that not many women in our part of the city sew and JoAnn’s is the only fabric store even remotely close to me. I drive about 10 miles plus to go to the nearest Wall Mart for the discount I get on thread, fabric, needles, pins, etc. I hope they reconsider closing the fabric department. I will never buy fabric over the net. I like to see what I am getting.
Every time you buy fabric and notions at Wal-Mart, make it a point to find the manager. Tell them what you bought and how while you were there, you bought other tiems too. The store manager needs to know–as that is where the decisions come from.
I do that every time I go to the store. Sometimes, it is the same person I talk to, but sometimes, it is an assistant. Numbers count. Don’t complain–do something proactive. SPEAK UP.
Closing the Fabric Department in the Wal-Mart Stores by the Current Executives I feel is a SLAP IN THE FACE to SAM WALTON and his wife who started the Wal-Mart Chain. They were creating a store that would be for all people in all walks of life.
Closing the Fabric Department will hurt those of us who are on a fixed income. I am one of those who is on a fixed income and try to spend wisely. With no fabric department their store is no better than the Meijer Store we have in our town.
They just recently built two (yes, 2) super wal-mart stores in our town and now they are talking about closing the fabric department. WHY SHOP There for anything?
Shame on Walmart—for years I have purchased fabric at our local Walmart and now you want to shut it down. A group of us gals do a lot of quilting for our church and for the missions and we really appreciate the prices at Walmart. If Walmart quits the fabric dept. we might just as well forget about shopping there for the rest of our stuff also. No sense running all over town to get everythnig. We’ll just find a new source or go on the internet. I doubt if they will re-think their decision, the “big wheels” have their minds made up and us simple ones will just have to make do!!
Wal Mart has just opened two stores in our city. I have just heard they may open a third. No fabric? I buy almost all my groceries there. I use a special bus since RP has destroyed my peripheral vision. I cannot drive, however, I can still sew. Several other ladies I know also buy their fabrics, yarn, etc. from Wal-Mart. You had better believe they will lose my business. I sent an e mail immediately upon hearing this news and the same afternoon, a clerk was passing out slips giving the address to write to to protest. Hope it works!
Ruthanne
I had no idea Wal-Mart was phasing out its fabric till I read about it here. I can’t believe it! Now, I’ll admit that I don’t buy that much fabric at Wal-Mart anymore, but I do shop around and Wal-Mart does have a nice variety. When I first started sewing, the Wal-Mart staff were less intimidating than staff at a quilt or fabric staff. It’s a shame. I’ve moved around a lot and I know that some places don’t have that many fabric stores and for those areas, having a fabric section at Wal-Mart is wonderful. I hope they change their mind.
Wal-Mart has the best quality fabrics for the money! The $1 & $2 tables have been a God-send for me! I will be writing letters to Wal-Mart! I do NOT care for the Jo-Anne’s near me and now that Hancock is closing…. YIKES!!!
I live in a large city with lots of fabric stores now, but I Love Love the selection at the Walmart Stores and tended to buy a lot of fabric and notions there as they had a great selection and the prices were reasonable.
I used to live in a very rural area in Colorado. Had it not been for the Great Walmart we had in town, I would have DIED without fabric!
Sad, sad day for all of us Fabriholics.
If, after all the petitions, phone calls,and complaints the Walmart corporation has received, they STILL close our beloved fabric departments, then they will be sending a loud and clear message to us all that they could care less what we,as consumers, want.I’m all for sending them a loud and clear message by avoiding their stores altogether. No fabrics? Then I’ll take my grocery and clothing money elsewhere!
Well I tell you Wal - Mart thinks they are all that they have there money coming they are not worryed about it but if they dont sell it here in our little small town of ada oklahoma we will have to go all the wat to Norman witch is a long ways off they already did away with the layaway plan and a lot of people were very upset about that they just need to get off there high horse and back down and stay put
I live in Knoxville, TN and the Walmarts here are also planning to close out the fabric departments. All of the fabric stores in this city are on the West side of town. The majority of the African American population in Knoxville is on the East side of town. Therefore we will have to drive over 30 minutes across town to do our sewing business. The Walmart fabric department is very convenient for us, so please please do not get rid of the fabric department in Knoxville, Tennessee. If there is anymore I can say or do please e-mail me.
I really depend on the sewing department of wal-mart. I just can’t believe that they are closing. The prices are right for me to keep up with my quilting. I am really hurt.
I live in a small town that does not even have a Wal-mart I have to drive to another town that is 20 minutes away. Wal-Mart is our mall!!!!! The closest fabric store is 2 1/2 hours away! I hope they do not take the fabric out of this wal-mart as I do sewing for a living and get a lot of fabric from them!
I am fortunate to have many Wal-Marts available to me in the Sacramento area. I find that if one of the stores runs out of the fabric I need, I just drive to one of the other Wal-Mart stores to find it. I thoroughly enjoy going through the $2.00 tables of fabrics. I am disabled and retired and my income is limited and I find very good yard-goods at Wal-Mart and do hope they listen to our pleas and keep selling fabric, notions, patterns, etc.
HERE IN MIDDLETOWN, NJ WE HAVE NO FABRIC STORES, I DEPEND ON WALMART FOR MY FABRIC PURCHASES. I’D HATE TO THINK WERE I’D HAVE TO GO FOR FABRIC,IF WALMART CLOSES ITS FABRIC DEPT
One of the employees told me they have (the Big Guys) have gootten someone who helped Target & they had the idea of losing the fabric. He said they need to change the “type” of people who come in the stores. They need to remember who has been loyal to them, just us regulare peple. I don’t think we will see any “Millionaires” going in either store!
I always shop at Walmart in Renton, Washington. The fabric and crafts section is my first and most lengthy stop with my shopping card. Please do not close the fabric dept down. PLEASE!!!
I live in Dunnellon, FL. I’ve heard three of our walmart’s in Marion County have already stopped selling fabric. Hopefully if this rumor is true the Dunnellon store is keeping the fabric. However, that isn’t fair to the stores that will stop for everyone’s interest to purchase. I am so steaming hot mad with walmart if they do this. Its bad enough they put so many private business owners out of business. Not everyone can afford shopping at a fancy fabric store. So many folks still make clothing for cost purpose aside from doing it for pleasure of sewing. Another thing I’m getting so tired of alot of walmart’s in FL and GA staff. They are SO lacking politeness and help to THEIR customers. Door greeters? Ha! They barely aknoweledge you walked in the door. Their restrooms are getting worse than a gas stations. I do all my shopping from A to Z at walmart to save my hard earned money. Go ahead and stop selling fabric even if its not in my home town. I think everyone should STOP shopping there to prove out point. Walmart will see they are making a mistake. For the men out there that are probably thinking us women are making a fuss over nothing and laughing. Here’s one for them….tell them the sporting goods dept is also leaving!
For the men… I have heard that they will be discontinuing guns in the sporting goods dept… another place that requires manpower.
The more I have thought about it… as soon as there is no fabric… I quit shopping at Wal-Mart! As I look around the house, there are WAY too many things “on-hand” because it was convenient to pick up at Wal-Mart BUT we never would have spent the money if it hadn’t been so convenient… so in the long run, I will save by not shopping where everything is so convenient. If we get back to buying just what we need it would be much more economical.
An interesting point that someone brought up in one of the Wal-Mart threads… K-Mart used to sell fabric… and when they stopped selling fabric she stopped going to K-Mart… I had never thought about it but I also stopped running in to K-mart. It’s been years since I’ve been in a K-Mart.
Correct me if I’m wrong… but I believe Woolworth’s also used to sell fabric… where are they today?
Fabric may not be a “main stay” to these store’s bottom line but if history shows anything, it brings customers in the door… ans let’s face it.. getting customers in the door is how they make money.
Here in the Broken Arrow, Bixby, Tulsa area two huge new superstores have just opened, leaving the old stores vacant as is the company’s practice. A clerk at another WM told me that fabrics will soon be a thing of the past, so I wrote to Wal Mart. I reminded them, as if anyone cared, that now that they have run out of business all of the small town fabric stores, making WM the only remaining outlet for millions of small town/rural customers to buy affordable sewing supplies, they have decided to sell party items instead because that will bring in more revenue! (in our nearest WM that’s the plan) The company policies have already angered me to the point where I very seldom enter the store, choosing to shop at Walgreens, Dollar Stores, and the like whenever possible. I’m fortunate to live in an urban area where I have more choices, and can now go to Jo Ann’s or Hancock’s, but for many years faced the same dilemma that many write about — long driving distances to any source of fabrics. As for the suggestion to shop online, my experience has been that the real bargains are difficult to find (to suit your need at the moment)but it can be done. Google “fabric” and start shopping. Wal-Mart, I’m an ex customer — for whatever you are selling.
Has anyone heard that several of the Hancocks are closing down. One in Enid and one in the Tulsa area…..?
See Hancock Fabrics Bankruptcy
I was shocked to learn the SuperCenter being built in my town will have “Celebrations” instead of fabrics despite the manager of the current store supposedly fighting to keep fabric on the bolt. I love the prices of the fabric at Walmart (although our $1 section stinks) but the service is horrible; it’s never staffed and numerous times I’ve left bolts on the cutting table and left rather than buying the several yards I went in for. Maybe they’d make more money off fabrics if they actually staffed the department to sell the product!
The sad fact is, fewer and fewer people are sewing, knitting, etc. so there are fewer stores for us who do handiwork to shop. I am fortunate that I do have a JoAnn’s nearby but it is tiny and the prices are outrageous.
I am sad to think I will no longer be able to afford for my children to wear clothes lovingly handmade by mom. I feel like a way of life I’ve learned from my mother & grandmother and hoped to pass on to my daughter is being killed. At this point the only thing Walmart is good for is cheap shampoo and I don’t need to save a nickel that badly.
I hate the idea of Walmart to stop selling fabric, also about Hancocks. So why not let a Walmart in the area sell fabric? They don’t have to remove it from all their stores. In Louisville,Ky they have already closed all their fabric depts & they don’t have a Joann’s, I am not sure about Hancocks, but if they do have one it is only one. Louisville, Ky is a big city!!! I just don’t understand, it is so clear to me they sell lots of fabric, I am never in that dept that are so many people buying! I have always been a Walmart shopper, not sure if I will shop there after they close the fabric dept, I will go somewhere close to my other shopping. And everyone wants to know if they ask the people??? No they ask a person who never goes to a Walmart or a fabric store…so my question..What do they know?
I also am on a fixed income and live in a very small E TX town and the closest walmart is 15 miles away but it is one of the origional stores. I have seen no signs of it doing away with that dept. I can drive two super Wallies, dont know yet if either will be closing since i dont get there often. I agree it is a shame that they are doing this to every one that so depends on them.
Our Wal-Mart is going to be remodeling this summer, have not heard if the fabric line will be done away with or not, like others this is the only place in our town to be able to purchase fabric. Phyllis 4-13-07 West Central Minnesota
Walmart gives us fabric and notions, then takes it all away. They get us use to certain things and in the end takes it all away. What kind of way is this to do business? They run all the mom and pop business out of town, so you have to drive 35 to 40 miles away from your home to get the sewing items you need. When that task was complete, raised their prices on everything. Now they just take it all away at a whim !!!!! Walmart doesn’t care if we (THE CUSTOMERS) want the fabric dept. or not and expect us to keep on shopping at there stores. It’s sad the way (THE CUSTOMERS)make Walmart rich and treat us (THE CUSTOMERS) like dirt~!~!~!
I work at a Las Vegas Supercenter, and our fabric dept. is staying until we remodel;1-3 years. But, keep writing and calling,ladies!
I have been cleaning out the computer and came across your site about Wal-Mart. Our Wal-Mart ( Lakewod N.Y. ) has decided to keep fabric for two years. This descion came after pressure from Home & Career Teachers, 4H Leaders and the General public. I hope they keep th0eir promise and then revaluate each store for the popularity of product and participation from customers. Nancy
I am deeply disappointed that our local Walmart has discontinued selling fabric. It was the only store in the area where yard goods could be purchased. It makes no sense to stop selling something that is regularly being purchased and is not available anywhere else. Sebring Florida ia an aea inhabited by mostly mature citizens. We still sew and do crafts. You have a large craft dpartment, but no yard goods to go with it. Please, please return this mechandise to our store.
Our Fabric is no longer in McMinnville, Tenn. We need it back. Please WAL-Mart bring it back to everyone ever where. We need it.
So far they have phased fabric out of the Canandaigua, NY Super Center and have started the phase out process in Geneseo, NY. These fabric managers had no “warning” that this was going to happen. It was simply announced one day. So even if YOUR fabric manager says their fabric is staying - doesn’t mean it will.
I always bought my material and sewing notions at Walmart. I really was upset that they took that dept and trashed it. I suppose they needed more room for Chinese crap. I bought a set of yard lites and had to take them back 4 times because of cheap wiring, and yes, they were made in China! China must not make cotton fabric? Walmart just increased the electronic dept when they took out the fabric. Now, at 65 I’m just not into ipods, etc, so little of this interests me. Must be trying to put Radio Shack and others out of business now that they’ve put all the fabric stores out. I guess the sales of electronics brings in more money to feed the insatiable appetites of all the ceo’s and the drinking habit of Sam’s alcoholic daughter. That’s why Walmart has no concern for its customers! I think they have a lot of nerve trying to sell sewing machines! What other businesses are they going to send “down the tube” next?
I was so very shocked to learn that the Fabric Center of Wal Mart has been discontinued. This was a total disaster for the town of Athens, Tennessee. We have no material stores within 58 mile radius in any directions. We needed this material center in this area, and also to accommodate the soundering areas. Pleas consider putting this area back in the Wal Mart stores.
You open a new store in Kenedy, Tx. The store is great BUT!!!! there is no fabrics whatsoever. I have to go over 40 miles to buy fabrics. I wish that you would open a fabric department even if its small one at the Kenedy Store (Texas)
Thank you,
Mary Katherine
I hope Walmart doesn’t do away with there material. I live in Ohio & have done over 20 quilts with the help of the low cost of material at Walmart this past year. PLEASE DON’T DO AWAY WITH THE MATERIAL AT WALMART!