Did Walmart contract with Jo Ann's?
 

A friend told me that our local Walmart has contracted with Jo Ann's to run the fabric dept. Anyone know anything about this?
Ann

Sorry, I have not heard that. I can't believe Wal-Mart would someone else run one of their departments. But you never know.

I haven't heard that, but I have noticed many of the same fabrics, even quality wise in our newly redone WallyWorld fabric dept. What I like is the Walmart prices are better...

While I don't know the specific answer to that - it is done. Years ago, I worked for a store similar to Walmart cld Zayres....they had a fabric dept and it was leased by another company. Those of us who worked back there were still employees of Zayres, not the company that had leased the dept.

I remember Zayres! Ours had a pretty decent fabric dept and so did Penneys. The good old days.

Many of the large department stores do lease out space for the different products. Sometimes the shoe or appliance departments, etc., are leased by others but the stores employees service them. It's like the food concession, (Mc Donalds, Subway, etc.) in Wall Mart is owned by others.

I too remember Zayres. I used to buy my fabric there for sewing the girls' clothes

We're getting a new WalMart in Gardnerville. It's under construction, but I haven't heard of it having a fabric department. I guess I'll find out once it opens!

I have worked for WalMart for 18 years and the last 2 years have been in the fabric department. I have not heard one word about this. I think it is probably not true.

I work for JoAnn and have not heard of it ether.

I remember Zayre's, too! I remember when the major department stores in DC all had fabric and a notions dept. A loonnnnggggg time ago! :-)

I was security in our local Zayers store! We didn't have a fabric department though.... I sure did have a lot of fun in that job! Loved grabbing thieves.....

In the case of the Newburgh Indiana store---------that would be a blessing. Next time I'm in there-------------I'm going to cut the fabric myself and let them deal with it later. Two different times I've found something I wanted and been unable to get it cut. Guy refused to call a cutter last time---------------the service department heard about it and so did corporate.

I think that's just the current variation of the stubborn, but totally untrue, rumor that WalMart bought JoAnn's.

Yup, I'll probably cut my own fabric too. It is incredibly frustrating - when you finally find some fabric that is of a quality that you can work with, and have to stand there ringing that danged bell over and over and over and still nobody comes to the fabric department!

Many of the department stores had fabric departments. I do remember as a child going with my Mother and watch the saleslady run the fabric through a little machine attached to the counter. This machine would measure the fabric being purchased and then she would clip at the correct measurement and then cut away. If you were charging the item, she would then write up your charge, fold it and slip it into a medal cylinder and place the cylinder into a chute sending your charge for approval..very similar to the bank drive-ins of today.......
Those were the days...or were they ????

but...it does give away my age !!!!!!!

Oh my, I had almost forgotten about that experience! What memories!

I haven't heard that. But I sure wish our walmart would put in a fabric dept! Whoever runs it!

Perhaps what everyone should do when there is no cutter is to cut, write the price and quantity on a slip of paper and take it to the register. That will get someone's attention. Evil thoughts this morning.

I don't care who runs it...the new lay out is wonderful. We never lost our fabric but now the selection is fabulous. All price ranges, all fun stuff.

It could be. Some times not ALL stores in a chain are able to run a department (due to staff, best value, etc). Also some BIG stores are trying different things for areas that have not done well for them in the past (not ALL the Walmarts lost the fabric dept, so maybe in the ones that Walmart felt they lost money before they could be leasing them out). I'm sure Walmart will try anything to see how it works in an area. I live in any area that Walmart had to FIGHT!!!! to get into, so over by my house the ONLY put in a SMALL store (food only), to try and get people to love them (I still want a BIG Walmart). I feel that a lot of stores are trying a lot of different things to make more money as well as make more people happy.

I solved the problem of no cutters at the fabric departemt along time ago. I pick up the phone and keep punching buttons until someone answers and then I let them find me a cutter. I have found the stores that have the best fabric selections usually have a dept manager and I quickly find their name and have them paged directly.

I bet this rumor got started by someone who was doing some wishful thinking! I cannot imagine why Jo Anns would do this.

It could be possible. I worked for WM for 11 years before I retired. They may contract that department out to save them money by not having the liabiltiy,responsibilty, and the manpower to run the department. They do that for the book nook, the subway,etc (remember the Radio Grill?), the Hair Salon, etc.? So it wouldn't surprise me that they are trying it out in different stores

My M-I-L owned a fabric store for many years and would complain long and loud about the chain stores and their prices as compared to the quality. Evidently, JoAnn's has A, B, & C stores with comparible fabric quality. Most were C stores, but I have noticed them bringing in some higher quality fabrics. And they are charging prices that seem to be either comparable or a bit higher than the local quilt shops.
All the stores have buyers that go to the markets. Of course, the larger chain stores can purchase in giant lots for a much greater discount so the fabrics at JoAnn's and Walmart are bound to come from the same companies.
The other thought is, as some one else mentioned, they may be leasing space to a fabric vendor much like JoAnn's leases to a sewing machine vendor.
A new super Walmart just opened not far from me, but they don't have a fabric department - bummer. Just a handful of yarns, but great groceries!

The city were I live does not have a Wallmart or a JoAnns......the closest of each is either 15 minutes or two hours away, depending on the traffic on the freeway ..but...they are right next to each other, LOL.

only at 2a.m. when it is a 15 minute drive.....the stores are not open :(

The Joanns has a sewing machine section that is not run by them and you even pay at a seperate register

The Wallmart has a McDonalds and an eyeglass center and a photography section that are inside the store but have seperate register and not the same type of reciept.

Have not heard that

I was in Bentonville, Ak (WalMart home office) last year when they announced the return of the fabric dept. to many stores. Nothing was said about anyone taking over the fabric except WalMart. I do not think WalMart subs out anything anymore. I would say it is just a false rumor.

Would you beleive I still have fabric that I bought from Zayres when they were going out of business?

I may take the bolt and the scanner thingy, too!

our Walmart had a hair salon, a bank, a cell phone place--can't even tell you what brand, and an arcade that is not Wal-Mart's.

Oh boy, I remember every big store had fabric depts. so fun. Now, it's a job to find anything you want. Also tools etc. Now it's all stuck into a totally wrapped package with 3 or 4 more pieces. Oh well, a sign of the times.

I remember Zayres! My first job.

Walmart probably just orders fabrics from the same companies as Hancock and JoAnns.
I do know that Hancock Fabrics and JoAnn are the same owners.

Most Walmarts do have these services just like Meijer's and other superstores. Although they are under the same roof they are separate from the store. You can't shop there and include it in the bill from Walmart merchandise.
But ask one of the gals at Walmart that question.

Hancock and Joann are not owned by the same people and Joann does not run the fabric dept at Walmart I work at Joann's and none of these statements above are true they are just rumors

I don't think so ours is ran by the regular workers from Walmart
I can't see walmart giving any money too any one else but in their own pockets.

Most of the small "outlet" business that were in WalMart are being fazed out. The Jewelry department is now owned by WalMart and it was a sub. Our bank has been taken out and they are not replacing it.

It sure will. & they will not be very happy. Ask me how I know. :D:D:D

What bell? They got rid of the one here at ours years ago and they only show up if they feel like it.

Walmart is NO LONGER #1 in this country for type business it is and have been losing revenue for a few years now and they wonder why? Wouldn't surprise me any if there were no more Walmarts in the next five years. At the rate they are going it may happen sooner than that.