I received this response to a recent post about Wal-Mart's reduction of craft supplies in many stores.
I live in Australia and have a daughter who lives in Vermont I have visited several times. As she lives in a small village, being a cross stitch fanatic, when out shopping the first places I make sure I head for in whatever town/city I visit are Wal-Mart and Jo Ann Fabrics & Craft stores to pick up items that have not yet made it 'down-under'.
However, on my latest visit in September, not only was I disappointed to find that Wal-Mart was 'downsizing' their craft supplies - in particular needlework, but was devastated to find that Jo Ann Fabric & Crafts also appear to be fazing out needlework supplies and any items I did pick up while in the USA came from mail order - which I might add - is very efficient.
I realise that specific crafts seem to run in cycles, but, have others noticed that it is not only Wal-Mart that is reducing needlework supplies?
What do you find? Is it harder to find stitching supplies everywhere, not just at Wal-Mart? Use the comment button below to express your opinion on this topic.
I live in Australia and have a daughter who lives in Vermont I have visited several times. As she lives in a small village, being a cross stitch fanatic, when out shopping the first places I make sure I head for in whatever town/city I visit are Wal-Mart and Jo Ann Fabrics & Craft stores to pick up items that have not yet made it 'down-under'.
However, on my latest visit in September, not only was I disappointed to find that Wal-Mart was 'downsizing' their craft supplies - in particular needlework, but was devastated to find that Jo Ann Fabric & Crafts also appear to be fazing out needlework supplies and any items I did pick up while in the USA came from mail order - which I might add - is very efficient.
I realise that specific crafts seem to run in cycles, but, have others noticed that it is not only Wal-Mart that is reducing needlework supplies?
What do you find? Is it harder to find stitching supplies everywhere, not just at Wal-Mart? Use the comment button below to express your opinion on this topic.
Comments
I usually purchase my needlework supplies at my LNS (Local Needlework store), but Hobby Lobby and A.C. Moore both have large craft sections.
Since I don’t have many places around me that do sell Cross Stitch items…I usually have to depend on Online Stores that I have found a lot of the things I use.
I was told yesterday by a Walmart store employee that Walmart is completely phasing out any craft item that needs to be cut such as lace, trims and material. Here in Texas this is suppose to happen in April. She said all the other craft supplies would also be reduced in quantities carried. She said the sewing notions would fit on a 4 foot section when completed.
I have also noticed that cross stitching materials are harder to find. Even the Michael’s in my area have cut their needlework merchandise by half. I am having to find most of my supplies online which increases my cost with postage, and sale items and coupons are not available.
If I want more than a couple supplies I have to drive 50 miles. Even then the supplies are getting less & less. I have written to Wal-mart about reducing craft items. I am looking more & more on-line whick makes it really hard when you need something right away. We all need to e-mail or write our craft stores and let them know how we feel. CRAFTERS UNITE!!!!
Yes, shops are closing down all around me. We do not rely on large stores to carry needlework supplies in South Africa, we have to use the little stores. But more and more I am getting my supplies from thru’ the internet. But you have to do your homework!! Happy Hobbits (happyhobbits.com) in the UK sends out with free postage for purchases over 20 pounds sterling. Easy to do, but they don’t always carry the supplies I need / want. DMC thread is easy enough, I have 2 shops within 5kms of my home. But yes – it is getting more difficult to get supplies.
Yes, it’s getting harder to find what I want in ‘real life’. On-line has become the way-sometimes I even use E-Bay for hard to find patterns. It’s pretty disappointing but I’ve found that these tings go in cycles. When demand increase again, more stores will carry more things again.
All the small craft stores in my town have closed due to the large company stores. They in turn are reducing their supplies of cross stitch kits and products. Michael’s A. C Moore, Hobby Lobby and Jo Anns have all done this
I completely agree – it seems all craft and variety stores are cutting back on needle art supplies. In my area even AC Moore has put the needle arts to the very back of the store – in the corner!!! I have begun shopping more and more at online shops!
l DEPENDED ON WALMART FOR MY CROSS STITCH SUPPLIES.IT IS ALMOST INPOSSIBLE TO FIND WHAT I NEED.PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION, NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR THE MASSES OF OTHER CROSS STITCHERS IN THE SANE SITUATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wal Mart never had great needlework supplies in my opinion. I rely on A.C.Moore and Michael’s. The stores I shop in my area have not cut down. I have purchased many cross stitch and needlework kits so I am set for a while. It is a shame that Wal Mart is cutting back on crafts. This is one of the reasons I did shop there as that is my first stop!
I too am dismayed at the reduction in needlework supplies. We have a new Walmart in our town and they have downsized their supplies also. I was visiting my daughter in Colorado Springs last month and they have a beautiful Super Joann Fabrics and Craft center, but even here their needlework section is greatly reduced and is stuck in the back of the store. Internet and catalog shopping seems to becoming all we have to rely upon. I hate that because I like to see, in person, the products, especially books, before I buy them. I used to love going to fabric stores in the malls.
Times they are a changing and not for the best I fear.
I have found it more dificult to get supplies in my area. The one Xstitch store’s prices are way too high (over $1 for DMC) and I noticed Michaels has really cut down its craft centre also. Lately I have been ordering on line aslo. Even trying to find xstitching mags is next to impossible.
I work at Joann’s and we have not reduced our needlework section. However, it has been moved around and my daughter went in looking for something and came out and said they didn’t have it anymore. I went in and found it; it had been moved and the new location didn’t make a whole lot of sense.
What a shame: wal mart used to have the best fabrics. Of course many years ago major department stores had wonderful fabrics, including JC Penney. Gone are the days when we can step into a fabric store and smell the dye…and shop to our hearts content. I miss that!
I thought I was going crazy because I noticed right away that Wal-Mart was decreasing their stock, but the employees would never fess up. All of the local stores have closed up and like others have said, the craft stores are decreasing their selection as well. On-line or stitching shows are increasingly becoming the only options. I was recently in Iceland and they have the most wonderful, small stitching shops that carry a bit of everything. There were no large box shops for crafts or fabrics, everything was independently owned. I agree, things are not changing for the best.
I too have noticed a decrease in the number of cross stitch shops. Only 1 in the Orlando area. Another thing, the cross stitch magazines that used to be so popular have also gone by the wayside. And the Christmas Craft mags are not being published any more either. Seems scrap booking and card making has taken over all the other crafts. That is sad, because even though I do enjoy SB, I enjoy cross stitching even more.
I find Spotlight in Western Australia is not as well stocked as it was, and find differnt items unobtainable
I too am disappointed in the cross stitching supplies offered by Wal-mart and Joann Fabrics and have now decided to deal with my online suppliers. Patternsonline.com has a fantastic array of patterns and supplies and I deal with 123stitch.com also. The prices and mailing costs aren’t that bad.
Our local Wal-Mart has downsized their crafts and fabric department too. Spoke with the clerk a week ago and she said Wal-Mart is eliminating this department altogether within a year. Support your local needlework shop (if you have one) and shop online. It’s getting harder and harder to find supplies at local craft retailers.
I an very disgusted with the extreme changes at the several Wal-Mart stores in Southern California. They have been our main locations for purchasing needlework, yard goods, and sewing notions. They have always had good quality merchandise and their pricing is almost always less than the Jo-Anns, Michaels, and other individual stores in the area.
I have tried to register a complaint with Wal-Mart but all of a sudden they do not have a “contact us” anymore and their website.
I live in the Newcastle District in NSW, Australia, and shop for needlework supplies at Spotlight, Newcastle, Pins’N'Things at Boolaroo, and a shop at Glendale. If you check around you can usually find at least one store in your area who will have supplies. Regards, Jasmine
hello I am French& am living in Switzerland for the job .I enjoy crosstitching and patchwork .In my city the needle- craft shop closed down 2 years ago .In France also in smallcities supplies for arts are disappearing . You must go to exhibition in some famous places : Salon in Paris or LYON orGEneva . Even most of the times people are buying on/via internet
I feel very sad because it is not possible for everybody to go to these salons or internet . It is also very expensive
Needles women works seem a minor art to main people. It is frustrating.
Ienjoy to visit this site . Thank you very much Connie
Thanks for the kind words Michele and thanks to everyone who has expressed an opinion!
I work for a Michaels and our selection of x-stitch stuff has actually increased in the last year or so. I know they’ve got more changes coming, but I don’t know what they are at this point. I can’t speak for Walmart, but I know that the decisions that are made for the Michaels stores around the country are made in Texas. We’ve frequently commented that the needs/wants of people in North Dakota are probably quite different than what the corporate HQ thinks based on what’s happening in TX.
If you can email, call or write the corporate HQ of the stores you like to shop at (JoAnns’, Walmart, Michaels, etc) let them know what you think. They don’t listen to the employees, but they probably will listen to the public. I’ve seen things come into the store we’ve been saying they should have for years, but all of a sudden we get a notice from HQ “Customers tell us they’re looking for xxxxxxx product. This will be shipping out to your stores in the coming weeks.”
Your voice does matter.
Yes we have a new super size Walmart just 5 minutes from our house. I was so excited because I have bought material, crafting items at Walmart for years. But sadly the dept is so much smaller. Thankfully we do have a store not far that sells nothing but cross stitch. Hurrah for them.
Within the past six months I have moved here to Northwestern Arkansas (Benton County) from Columbus, Ohio and the first thing I noticed at local Wal-Mart that I shop at is how disappointing the selection of craft supplies were.
I thought maybe the people in this area were not into crafting like they were in Columbus, so hence the reason they were cutting back on what they carried.
I am so disappointed that they are cutting back as I had wanted to take up quilting and cross stitching again and wanted to get my supplies from there.
I know at one time the Wal-Marts up in Columbus had a good selection of fabric that was at a reasonable price. I imagine the situation up there is the same as it is down here.
Like other ladies that have posted I am now having to purchase my craft items on the internet. I really don’t like purchasing fabric for quilting this way as I have gotten some poor quality fabric in the past this way.
Well at least now I know why Wal-Marts craft section sucks.
There is a fantastic store called Hobby Lobby, and they carry a wide line of cross stitch items, accesories, a wider variety of DMC thread than I’ve ever seen, and have frequent sales. I live in the South, and I’m not sure if the store has locations in the northeast,
but they are on the web at http://www.hobbylobby.com. There is also a wonderful supplier by mail and online called Herrschners. They are at http://www.herrschers.com.
Hope this helps! I know how you must feel. There is nothing more frustating than not being able to find what you need locally.
Sincerely,
Carmen
I became aware of the Wal-Mart situation this past week when it came up for discussion among members of the Yahoo Group “Crochet Partners”. It seems that some Wal-Mart locations have decided to continue the crafts because petitions, calls and letters deluged the corporate HQ and the local store itself begging that the fabric/yarn and crafts department not be closed or depleted. It worked. Advice? Yes, follow suit make a stink and gain the support of other crafters to help in the campaign.
I have found shopping online and on ebay way better than the stores. There are so many cross stitch and needlepoint patterns, and most stores just can’t carry that amount of items. It is frustrating not to go to a store though and browse through and feel the items as so many of us addicts like to do. But if you haven’t shopped on ebay or on line store, give it a try, the shipping for most items isn’t that expensive and most places will ship worldwide too. There is still a lot of interest in these hobbies, it’s just the way of selling them that has been changing. There are new items coming out all the time.
When I was growing up, there were at least two or three needlework shops in every surrounding town, so we had a large selection of yarns, fabrics, cross stitch, needlepoint, etc. to choose from. Over the years they closed down, one by one, until now there weren’t any shops around. Since then I’ve lived in various parts of the country and the same is true. Now I have to travel many miles to a shop if I want to see yarns,before buying. A lovely cross stitch shop closed down overnight, just a few months ago. So now, I have to buy online, which is not always satisfactory as the feel of the yarn, fabric, etc. is often important. The women in my family have always done lots of handwork; it is really discouraging to see supplies dwindling.
Hobby Lobby is going to decrease their fabric department by 2/3 and phase out ALL needlework – they have already reduced their cross stitch books by 80%; they used to have an entire wall full of books – now it is in with all other needlework books and the combined books only take up no more than 20 slots..down by at least 80%. I think it is going to be a lost art since it is does not IN THEIR $$$$ EYES bring in the big bucks. But what IS big bucks..anything they can scam a larger profit on. I was shocked with Hobby Lobby since it is owned by a man that SAYS (but working in his stores tell a differenct story) he is a “christian”. Seems it is all about going from MILLIONAIRE to BILLIONAIRE and not what the public needs and wants. Sad how the entire world has gone green with greed.
S
So, WalMart and the other big box stores drive the small needlework business owner out of business by offering lower prices. Then, they close their own needlework departments! Go figure!! Support your local businesses – you get what you pay for. IMHO, the big box stores never could offer the wide selection and the personal service that comes from having a salesperson who really knows the craft, whether needlework, sewing, or just about any art/craft you can think of. Once you get beyond the dabbler stage, you need to have a supplier who knows what they are talking about.
I had no idea Hobby Lobby was also decreasing their needlework sections — and so severely! Let’s hope that, like every other hobby and craft, x-stitch and other needlework arts come back again. I’ve seen knitting, crochet, quilting, x-stitch, rug hooking, etc. all come and go over the years. I can’t believe crafting will ever go away. In the meantime, however, it looks like it’s going to be “slim pickins” until our particular craft comes back in style. Maybe we’ll have to dig into our stashes, which I am certainly going to have to do since my local X-stitch shop closed recently.
I have noticed that the walmart stores in my area have downsized too. I just had a baby girl 2 1/2 months ago and we did her nursery in butterflies and I wanted to cross-stitch something with butterflies and I can’t find anything. I was going to look at AC More or Michaels to see if they had anything with butterflies but now that I have read all these comments, I’m not sure if that will be a wasted trip or not.