Protest Walmart Fabric Closing

16 years ago

I just returned from a trip to Wal-mart in Hinesville, GA. The very friendly sales clerk told me that they had been told about spring time they would be closing the fabric department.

They were only ordering limited amounts of material and they had been moved to a smaller section of the store.

So many people protested the closing that they were told this week the closing had been postponed and they could now order a larger variety of material, etc.

COMPLAINING DOES WORK!!!!!!!!!!

Rosa

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

User
16 years ago
It worked with our Walmart too.
caroline1947
16 years ago
same here,,,ours is so packed they keep re arranging the stock to add more stuff...
Related Discussions
Well hate to think about it...but no fabric at our walmart after
Q
Comments (14)
"Ugly modern 60's look" Shag carpeting is back in a big way. So is the decor of the late 50's and early to mid 60's ranch style houses that some of us remember from our childhood - I figure if you already lived it, you are *so* done with it. But, all that stuff is very big with those who were born after all that stuff got thrown in the trash with a big sigh of relief. My first brand new washer in the early 70's and dryer was Harvest Gold. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven, it was be-u-ti-ful. It really wasn't bad as far as colors go, but oh lord, that avacado green was pretty terrible, even for that time. I haven't seen any signs in our Wal-mart yet - will have to try to notice it next time I go in. I would think in these harder economic times, people would be doing more things themselves.
...See More
wal-mart closing fabrics
Q
Comments (5)
Check with someone at your Walmart that REALLY knows what they are talking about! I talked to my two fav ladies today and we are not on the list to close! YEAH!!! They said they are closing 10 fabric centers locally this year, then after that they will do a yearly evaluation of each store. They are saying for us right now, 2009! I had gotten a totally different answer from someone else there, that apparently didn't know the right info! These two ladies are like the dept manager and her right hand woman. So..check with your local store! Lisa
...See More
Walmart---no more fabric?
Q
Comments (28)
I hardly ever buy fabric from Wallies. Most of it is pretty lousy. The only time I have a substantial amount of it in my home is when there is a community theater project going. I doubt our two or three productions a year will make or break Walmart. The same goes, actually, for Joann's. The fabric there is more expensive, but except for home dec, there's hardly a natural fiber to be found. Making clothing is more expensive than buying it, and has been for years. I'd only want to make something I can't buy. See "natural fiber" comment above. (Those communities in Utah are seriously misguided! if they really are sewing that much) So-Fro fabrics went out of business by refusing to admit that the days of garment sewing were virtually over. They continued to sell garment quality linens, silks, and wools, while Joann's sold junk and became wildly successful. Our Joann's has as much floor space devoted to candy, lawn ornaments, and plastic dishes as fabric. One wag has commmented that the Joann's, Etc. name stood for Joann's, Experience The C**p. For all those abandoning Wallies for Target: actually, Walmart is changing to be specifically more like Target. Walmart's sales are backsliding, and the surveys say: people want wider aisles, more attractive, fashionable, merchandise (less stodgy, less utilitarian) Hmmm...sounds like...Target. I replaced a zippers in jackets yesterday at work, three or four of them. At least two of the jackets were made in Bangladesh, and one of those two was from LL Bean. A lot of companies who used to proudly tout their merchandise as "made in America" have begun to quietly do otherwise. Since American worker won't sew for twenty-five cents an hour, and since the people who ask me to sew for them are shocked! shocked! at what I charge per hour, I don't see a quick fix.
...See More
Another fabric store closing
Q
Comments (6)
The Wal-mart employees I talked to said that Wal-Mart was trying to do away with departments that required personal service, like cutting fabric and notions. They still plan to have the pre-packaged notions and such. Most stores seem to do away with them when they undergo a remodel. It looked like to me that JoAnn's was strong but I heard something about the upholstery fabric portion. It is odd to me that they have survived when so many of the others that I considered much, much better have had to close. I don't really like JoAnns, but it may be all we have left in the retail market.
...See More
nana24
16 years ago
Did not work for mine. I know there were a lot of us that emailed, etc but our fabric dept is gone.
Glad it worked for some of you.

Sally
irishdancersgram
16 years ago
It must have worked at mine, we have lots and lots of fabric. Of course they are building a new one closer, so who knows what might happen there..
Dorothy
maryliz
16 years ago
The Super Walmart in Brighton, Michigan was supposed to close its fabric department. At least, that was what I was told several months ago. Curiosity got the best of me. On a recent trip to Brighton, I had to stop and see for myself. Ya know what? The shelves were full of fabric. What a surprise.
tuppermom
16 years ago
Our local WalMart is closing the fabric dept. All fabric is 50% off...great deals for us but now have to travel another 15 minutes to next town. I live near highway 401 (Trans Canada Highway in southern Ontario) and there are stores along the highway corrider every 20 minutes or so
but still it is a shame. I was very surprised at their decision since this store is to become a Super WalMart within a year.

I am going to Illinois for my family reunion in a couple of weeks so can't wait to get my Joann Fabric "fix" lol

Mary
scraphappy
16 years ago
I don't usually shop at Walmart (fabric stores are closer to where I am in the city) but I'm happy for you all who made your voices count! I wondered what made them decide to abandon their fabric departments in the first place - it just didn't make sense as home sewing and quilting is definitely very popular right now - glad the right people got the message at Walmart!
cannahavana
16 years ago
The Walmart closest to me said they were closing when I asked back in the spring, but just today I noticed that they had new fall fabrics in stock. It doesn't look like the shelves are getting bare and the prices haven't changed. Just about the only thing I buy there anymore is their 108" wide backing that is cream or white on white with a vine pattern. I have used it on two quilts now and really like the feel of it...and the price at $5.96 a yard :).

Rebecca
red_clay_soil
16 years ago
One Walmart near me got rid of their fabric department, but another is keeping theirs. I guess it matters who complains, or how many complain. Walmart has driven hundreds of mom & pop stores out of business, fabric stores included, just because they couldn't compete with the low prices. Bet prices start going up on the fabric in the stores that DO keep it in stock.
User
16 years ago
You're right Red Clay. As far as I know, there has never been a fabric store in my town. There is a quilt store, but no where to get anything else. We used to have a Motts, and they had a little fabric, nothing great, but I think Walmart put them out of business.
foxykitten350234
16 years ago
The one Super W*Mart around here tried to close its fabric department. According to the news paper they had a ton of complaints so they decided to keep it open. A new Super W*Mart was built on the south end of town without a fabric department. The new store is doing so bad they are talking about converting it to a Sams club. I wonder if it had a fabric department would it be doing better. Makes you think W*Mart might be under-estimating the power of fabric!

I don't tend to buy my fabric at W*Mart since my LQS is much closer and has a better selection of fabric, but it is nice to know it is there just in case.

Foxy.
calliope
16 years ago
Fabric departments require customer assistance to cut and measure and mark material. If you look at their meat cases in the super stores, the meats are not cut in store, but come pre-packaged from the processor. It's cost effective to cut work forces as much as possible. I suppose box stores consider the decision to keep a labour intensive department based more on how much business they'll lose if they shut one, than how much their customers complain. The ironic thing is I suspect they'd be more likely to keep the department open if there is a competing box nearby. If there isn't, then they know they got you coming back, fabric department or not.
busyannie
16 years ago
In the store near me the clerk said they want to close the fabric out of all the stores because one of the family members of Walmat wants to open her own fabric stores. That would be nice because the only stores we have around the Seattle area is JoAnn's and they don't have that good of quilting fabric.
laurainsdca
16 years ago
FoxyKitten -- it does make you wonder. I know it's just anecdotal, but I will go to WalMart when Target and Kmart are both closer to my home because I want to check out the fabric. Once there, I buy all the other stuff I need. Were they to get rid of the fabric, I'd just go to Target or Kmart for those other items.

Protest Walmart Fabric Closing

Comments (14)

User

caroline1947

Related Discussions

nana24

irishdancersgram

maryliz

tuppermom

scraphappy

cannahavana

red_clay_soil

User

foxykitten350234

calliope

busyannie

laurainsdca

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US