Thread: New JoAnns Store

I'm just back from checking out the new Joann's opening today in nearby Burlington, Iowa. I didn't have too high hopes as the old store was small and not impressive. I could not believe what I saw the minute I stepped inside. We were actually handed a map. Yes, a map! It was that big and carried so many more items. I was overjoyed to see they even had the retro toweling with stripes. 3 towels / $10.99. After using a coupon, that'll be a really good. It was too busy today to buy anything(check out lines were 20-30 people long), but I can't wait to go back after the crowd slows down. I'm thrilled to have such a store within a few minutes of home.

Originally Posted by joyce blint

I'm just back from checking out the new Joann's opening today in nearby Burlington, Iowa. I didn't have too high hopes as the old store was small and not impressive. I could not believe what I saw the minute I stepped inside. We were actually handed a map. Yes, a map! It was that big and carried so many more items. I was overjoyed to see they even had the retro toweling with stripes. 3 towels / $10.99. After using a coupon, that'll be a really good. It was too busy today to buy anything(check out lines were 20-30 people long), but I can't wait to go back after the crowd slows down. I'm thrilled to have such a store within a few minutes of home.

I used to like JoAnn's, but for the past several years it seems that they have more "stuff" than fabric. Their fabric has become very expensive, right in line with a lot of quilt shops but without the quality to back up the price. I really wish they'd go back to the way things used to be and let the craft items to places like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I'm just sayin'.

Originally Posted by oh munner

I used to like JoAnn's, but for the past several years it seems that they have more "stuff" than fabric. Their fabric has become very expensive, right in line with a lot of quilt shops but without the quality to back up the price. I really wish they'd go back to the way things used to be and let the craft items to places like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I'm just sayin'.

Yes, they certainly have expanded in their categories...everything from a-z......I want to know who buys greeting cards there? Or dust brooms? This last visit I found quilting books in fabric dept. ( in two different places), then in pattern section, and near checkout section? And not only quilting books, but other craft books in those same places.......along with cookbooks! I guess the idea is to snare every kind of crafter.........

Originally Posted by oh munner

I used to like JoAnn's, but for the past several years it seems that they have more "stuff" than fabric. Their fabric has become very expensive, right in line with a lot of quilt shops but without the quality to back up the price. I really wish they'd go back to the way things used to be and let the craft items to places like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I'm just sayin'.

Ditto on expensive and ditto on quality at JoAnns. Much of it is from China. Two shops I frequent, and it isn't often enough because they are a distance, have fabric made in other countries and most from Japan, which is less cost and feels so wonderful, great quality.

Glad you had a good experience with your new JoAnn's. Our store relocated last year to a booming new shopping area and the store is twice the size of the old one. But I kind of hate it. All the old, familiar employees are gone, the new ones aren't helpful and don't seem to know anything about fabric, including how to cut it, and while there's a lot more "stuff" in general, the fabric selection seems poorer. I was there just yesterday looking for hardware for bags (strap connections, fasteners, etc.) and it's all in different areas, according to manufacturer, apparently. One display was against a far wall, another in a center aisle. I suspect this is part of the new marketing ploy--I see the same thing in many stores now, including supermarkets-- in order to make customers walk around (and buy) more, but it's annoying to those of us who go in with a purpose and then waste time trying to find what we want. What's more the new store is farther from where I live .

I find I shop JoAnn's less and less, whereas in the old, smaller, shabby, nearer and more comfortable store I was in there at least once a week and sometimes several times a week. JoAnn's, for me, may be going the way Penney's did when it "improved" its stores, in that I just don't darken their doors as often. Shopping online gets more and more tempting.