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-   -   New Walmart fabrics...the way of the future.... (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/new-walmart-fabrics-way-future-t122714.html)

betlinsmom 05-15-2011 09:56 AM

We used to have WM stores i could get to once a week or so and they had bolt fabric; some of it very good and some not so much. The point being : I COULD CHOOSE!! Now there are pre cut bundles in the stores around here and some are pretty on the top layer, BUT, when you open the bundle I find the other fabric is miss cut, thin as cheese cloth and UGLY!! I feel they have added insult to injury!! I have made lots of phone calls, signed petitions, you name it, WM powers that be just do not care!! I feel like yelling False Advertisement !! when they talk about their caring for their customers!! i am disgusted with them and I dont even bother tosee if any of their stores carry ANY craft or fabric offering any more!!

gypsylady5 05-15-2011 10:07 AM

I think we will see the fabric returning to Walmart. New CEO realizes the mistakes previous creap made to take out things people wanted and is working to put it back. Keep an eye on your Walmart and see if they are trying to get us back as buyers. If not, our choice is to buy online or go to our local quilt shop and get the good stuff at prices we can hardly afford. Or resort to tearing up old clothes from the Goodwill!

nonymac 05-15-2011 10:50 AM

I quit buying material at Walmart - I didn't even like it for crafts. The quality - terrible. Because of that I haven't looked at fabric there for a couple years - think I should check it out again?

Parrothead 05-15-2011 11:13 AM


Originally Posted by gypsylady5
I think we will see the fabric returning to Walmart. New CEO realizes the mistakes previous creap made to take out things people wanted and is working to put it back. Keep an eye on your Walmart and see if they are trying to get us back as buyers. If not, our choice is to buy online or go to our local quilt shop and get the good stuff at prices we can hardly afford. Or resort to tearing up old clothes from the Goodwill!

The "creap" you refer to is my cousin. Perhaps we should be a bit more gentle in referring to people.

fouxy 05-15-2011 01:46 PM

Wonder if there fabric selection will get better. In our New SuperWalmart in Ithaca,NY, it stinks. No batting, etc. I am so disappointed.

montanajan 05-15-2011 01:49 PM

Ours in NW Montana has pre-cuts and bolts.

MissBarbQuilts 05-15-2011 04:55 PM

The Walmart near me has the precut fabrics and they are the cheapest, loosest weave I think I have ever seen. I wonder why some Walmarts have good fabrics and others have cheap junk. And, no, we are not in a depressed area. Quite the opposite.

stevendebbie25 05-15-2011 07:34 PM

I travel alot around our state. And I noticed in Williston & Dickinson, both smaller towns, they had beautiful nice fabric. In Minot it was not as pretty a selection. And where I live in Bismarck it was rather ugly for most of it.
Then they shut down our little WM at opened two super stores both had fabric, then they shut down one fabric and kept the other. They shut down the store closest to JoAnns, Hancock & 3 fabric shops. But I think the choice in the remaining WM got a lot nicer. And I haven't seen "cheep" fabric there in a couple years now. I've seen the same fabric I have found at Hancock & JoAnns. I've also seen JoAnns go lower grade on fabric. We have 4 local fabric shops, and one in my little town that closed over a year ago..she had really cheep thin fabric for a fabric shop, and not cheep prices. The other owners carry pretty good fabric, but the prices are very high. You just have to look & feel fabric, no matter where it is, what chain or private fabric shop. Decide if what your buying is worth the price. I just spent a few hundred dollars on a very special fabric my mom picked out for a king quilt for her.
Not what I'd normally do. If your working on something very special, or quilt show/contest quality, then I think I'd be looking at the high end fabric's. If I'm making gifts, charity, childrens & baby(get washed lots), wall hangings, lap quilts for holidays, then I tend to go for the lower prices and just "feel" for quality. I like to quilt, and if I could afford it or not, why waste money on higher prices for no reason? I can buy name brand & kits online cheeper than local quilt shops, including shipping.

Now, I have nothing against quilt shops, hoped to open my own, but realized this economy is hurting too much now for the risk. One local owner said unless your also selling machines & service, he wouldn't make it today on fabric alone either. Our only shop with fabric only, is for sale now. He also told me, banks (at least here) are not loaning for quilt/fabric shops, and only current businesses, they'll only loan .05cents on the dollar for fabric. Example to extend their line, or rotate, businesses usually do a revolving loan, not any more, not for fabric anyway.

It's not the shop owners fault, cotton crop failed, fabric prices go up, they have overhead. But those who do online business also, have a chance, and seem to keep prices down.
I think it's better to have a lower profit margin and rotate your inventory, then keep prices too high and lose customers when economy is not doing well.
ALL business has to respond this way, in order to continue...including WM, JoAnns, etc.

MaryAnna 05-16-2011 03:52 AM


Originally Posted by fouxy
Wonder if there fabric selection will get better. In our New SuperWalmart in Ithaca,NY, it stinks. No batting, etc. I am so disappointed.

The WM in my town got rid of all fabric, BUT they kept the batting, pillow forms, thread, and notions.....go figure! So I suppose they think we'll buy the batting, thread etc at this WM, and then drive to the neighboring town to buy the pre-cut fabric? By the time I waste all that gas & time, it's cheaper to buy at my LQS!

Joan Gaddis 05-16-2011 06:52 AM

our walmart in canton ga. is in remodel and they are keeping the fabric!! i guess all our complaining did some good


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