Am curious as to how many quilters use this Board, and how
we as a group can petition WalMart to please, please restore
a quality fabric department, with accessories.
It seems they are testing us as to how many will actually buy
what is currently being presented in the stores, and then maybe, maybe! they will once again have fabric we need and want.

According to the info at the bottom of the Home page there are 18737 board users (that's up about 3000 since I joined).

I just sent off an email to Walmart yesterday about a local WM that is getting remodeled in February and may lose their fabric dept. I am curious as to whether they will even respond.

We can also be heard by not purchasing anything from Wal-Mart. If the good fabric dept is removed from my local Wal-Mart than I will have no reason so spend my money at this store.

There is a petition for Walmart that you can sign. I am not sure how to get to it, but search previous posts for this. So far it hasn't done any good but we should keep trying. I have heard that Walmart is trying to be more responsive to customers but have not seen it here. Our older Walmart still has fabric, but new one doesn't. Probably will lose it if remodel happens

I think this would be a waste of time. We and I am sure no one can stop WM from doing exactly what they want to.

Keep bombarding them with emails. IMO, that is much better than a petition.

We had a petition when our local walmarts discontinued fabric sales, and it did no good. But I'd be willing to sign a petition that included a clear statement that we won't be shopping there without the fabric department. I don't know if a threat will help, but being nice and explaining things politely was useless.

In Canon City,Walmart is takeing away alot of money from the smaller shops and there closing

Hi Connie, Yes and when all the mom & pop shops are gone WM will then discontinue their fabric depts. Then what will you do? Come to Denver and shop with me!!!

That's a delema, I don't like seeing mom/pop shops close, but also know local quilters, older who are on fixed income, younger with kids and budget income, who can't afford the high end prices of quilt shops and count on Walmart for fabric. Considering all ends of quilters, Walmart does hold a useful place for some.
Our old WM closed, rebuilt 2 super WMs now, and one has and one don't have fabric. In the few larger towns in our state that have a WM, of 8 only 2 have fabric and are 200 miles apart.
JoAnns has nice sales all the time, and coupons if your not in a hurry to buy some each months coupon.
But I agree, even though now I can afford the quilt shops (kids grown and not retired yet), I like having a choice, and still buy 'good' fabric I can feel at Walmart, especially for children quilts, donation quilts, craft projects. I save the high price quilt shops for my fancy quilts & large sizes I know won't need washed often. Children 'outgrow' their quilts, wear them out, why invest big money there.

There's a petition here:

http://www.petitiononline.com/savefab/petition.html

It has been signed by over 48 thousand people. Walmart has seen it (or at least heard about it) and has done nothing about it. Unfortunately, they are not interested in hearing what we have to say.

I sent an email to Walmart requesting fabric be returned to the store in this area. Closest fabric shops are 45 min away so no competition for Walmart. I rec'd a very nice letter in the mail from corporate hq that there are no plans to return the fabric to this location. I can't believe they sent a letter!
I also got 2 follow-up phone calls from my local Walmart thanking me for my interest.
BUT-the answer was still "no".

I second that!!!

I know we are wasting our time!!! It will do NO good!!!

There may be some hope on the horizon . See this thread

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-70077-1.html

Well, I'll be - I have never looked below the area at the top with the main menu. I didn't know there was more towards the bottom!

Thanks for opening my eyes!!!

Dumb-as-a-doornail - Kathy

one of the local walmarts has done away w/ the clerk actually cutting the fabric, but they have pre-pkged yardage. I actually miss walmart because it was a good place to pick up trims that i use for pillows and window treatments that i make.

nothing like be forced to add to my stash!! :roll: :-P

wal mart will make its decision based on profit alone, as would any business.

Ditto. Already is that way for the WM closest to me.

Those peitions are working. I signed the last petition because the Pace, FL Wal-Mart had discontinued fabric. Recently the fabric dept is back. Sales have been good and they are planning to expand the dept. Don't give up..by sending another peition you may get your fabric restored...just remember to give the store location.
dottie

I went to Walmart for some groceries this am and needed some fusable pellon. I couldn't believe how much more fabric they had, especially fleece. But I also saw some nice Springy looking bolts still wrapped in saran or whatever. I really don't know where they are going to put it all.

That is why I do not care if Walmart has a fabric section. Walmart has made it too difficult for the smaller businesses to compete. Walmart will survive without a fabric department. There are online fabric stores with great prices and local smaller stores that I only support these days. And I do support JoAnn's since I don't wish to see it close because of Walmart. I understand that some of you live in areas where you only have a Walmart (and it is nice to see and feel the fabric). But, America needs the little guy too. So, that is why I will not support a petition like this. My support will be in helping America's smaller business thrive.
Sorry for my rant, but this is something that upsets me very much.

my local walmart, in Benson az. has a fabric dept, and get in new stuff all the time, the trouble is you can't get anybody to help you. they call over the intercom for help and maybe a guy from hardward will come when and if he wants and he never knows what your talking about.!!!!!!

We have one left with fabric. And when they do a remod in May of 2011 no fabric either. I won't shop there either.

Well, I signed the Petition .... and hope it gets their attention. ( Go "Norma Rae")
Am now considering totally discontinuing grocery shopping there .... Prices
seem to be creeping up in all areas, so might as well patronize the local
independent grocers and just be more selective in items I have
to buy.

I am with you. I hate that store. They are changing everything to Great Value brand except the companies they are finishing out their contracts with. I like my local Food Lion and they have or can get all I need in groceries. I am as close to Hobby Lobby or Hancocks as I am to Walmart.

I called 1-800-walmart and told them I really miss the fabric since they relocated my local store in Oct. Gave my name and phone number and the whole process took about 10 minutes of my time. If no one out there wants fabric at their Walmart, you can give them my zip code (99163). We have two fabric stores for a population close to 30,000.

I live in a large metropolitan area, we have 7 Walmarts and 8 LQS, so the LQS are winning.