The reason WM is discontinuing the fabrics is the dollar to square foot of floor space profit. WM has a designated dollar per square foot of floor space profit margin and fabrics do not meet that $ line criteria. As a shop owner I did not mind when they closed three of the local WM fabric departments within 30 miles of me. I just started stocking closeouts and bought some fabrics in quantity (50 bolts/line) to be able to offer a marble fabric at $4.00/yard. Granted you are not going to get the latest and greatest, but if you quilt and like nice florals and marbles it is easy to put together a large quilt for around $50.00. I have some lower income customers (which, by the way, are treated the same as the large spenders) that just love these fabrics. They don't care that it's not the latest print. I have tried to accomodate ALL of my customers as best I can afford it. They keep coming back and buying and that tells me they do appreciate my efforts. It's a "best of both worlds" as they get better quality fabric for their dollar and I get the sales. Most of the time they buy other items as well. As I tell my customers, "Buy the best fabric you can afford and take into consideration the final product you are making." If you are making a quilt that is going to be around and passed down from generation to generation, then buy top grade fabrics, if you are making a quilt you know may end up under Dad changing the transmission out in the family car, then re-think what fabrics you are buying. Happy Quilting
Thanks OzarksGma