I live near Bentonville, Arkansas which is the corporate headquarters of Walmart. Yesterday, I was in a local store that carries fabric and spoke with one of the store managers. I asked him to please support fabric departments in the stores. Having worked at the corporate office several years ago in the architecture department, I have some understanding of purchasing logic. As we know, building costs are computed on a square foot basis. Walmart is no different. The cost of the building is compared to the square foot sales of the department. The GOOD NEWS is that he said that they are putting fabric into every "from the ground up" store due to customer demand. I personally know that store planners are not some obscure group in an ivory tower. They are local neighbors who do the best job they can with the stats in front of them.

But this is our chance. If we want to see fabric there, we need to support it. Call 1-800-walmart, go to walmart.com and say that we want it. Point out that no one goes in and just buys fabric but that every fabric purchase is usually accompanied by grocery and other purchases that catch our attention on the endcaps or Action Alley. (shelves at end of aisle and big center walkways geared for impulse shopping) These calls are answered by real people and sorted into categories and compiled for senior management. I did a temp job a couple years later in that dept. Not that I would ever want to do that again! It was really hectic. Let's use our forums to be proactive. I told the manager that I had just seen batik in Hancocks for 12.99 a yard, and we discussed how many people depend on Walmart's prices which he said would have been about 4.99. They are in a position to get it for a lot less. Maybe it is not the fabric we use for the heirloom masterpieces, and it may come prepackaged, but it sure works for all those wonderful baby blankies and everyday quilting. And, it never hurts to discuss this with your local store manager. It doesn't do much good to complain to each other, but together we can be a strong enough voice to accomplish the changes we want.,.;;

As they say- strength in numbers! You could be helping a lot of quilters and I say kudos to you!!
I had to laugh at one post earlier this month where someone was told by an employee at WM that quilting is a "dying art form"
Yeah, right!!! :D
I do have a question: Does that mean new stores being built or what??

Wow, that is good news for all. I know it cetainly worked when we bombarded them a couple years ago when the 'get rid of the fabric' bug first reared it's ugly head. Our local Wal-Mart has a good variety of fabric in various quality levels and price points that seems to be doing well, as the stock on the shelf is updated at least every month or so...gets kinda sparse in the cheapie stuff sometimes right before a new shipment is due. And my friend at the cutting table table said they even asked(!!!!) what they were wanting more of, to which she of course replied quilting cottons.

That's good news. I shall do it.

Thanks for the info--our Walmart has NO fabric, not even FQs or pre-cuts. I will send an email and encourage my other quilty friends to do so. Our store isn't that old but underwent a remodel and that's when they eliminated fabric and made it a crafts aisle. I have never seen any one in the crafts aisle!!

I believe "from the ground-up" means a newly built store in a new location. I am not sure if that means a whole new store number or also an old number with a new, not remodeled building.

That would be really great! I'm lucky enough that my WM still carries fabric. I just found some very nice quality VIP prints there for 4.94 a yard. The same type of fabric at the hancock's here would cost much more.

Thankfully, they are beginning to listen!! I just sent an email to the corporate office. Hopefully it will add to the list of those wanting the fabric departments. I am lucky to still have 1 Walmart close to me that still sells fabric. But it seldom ever changes, except for holidays.

I will try this again. I shop very rarely in Wal-Mart since they removed the fabric. Thanks for posting.

This is so nice to hear.

I love looking at and buying fabric from Walmart. And, yes, I usually buy more items than just fabric.

I am lucky as my Walmart that sells fabric (we have 4 but only one sells fabric not prepackaged) is undergoing a renovation of the whole store and the clerk in the fabric department stated that they are keeping their fabric but it is njust moving to a different location in the store. Her manager knows what she is doing because in the interim (sp? - I've become too accustomed to spell check) she is buying fabric, including 100% cotton, and selling for $1.50/yard.

With the price of fabric going up all the time, it is nice to see that Walmart will still be selling fabric at their great prices for those of us on a budget.

Thanks for sharing! I have called, but will sure call again! I would really miss the fabric if they take it out!

Sherri, could you please post the email address to corporate Walmart? I have hunted all over their site and guess I'm just too blind to see it. Thanks

That address is www.walmart.com and when you get there scroll down to the bottom of the page and see "contact us". On that page is a place to click on comments to corporate headquarters.

Yes, please.

Thanks for the info I will definitely do my part!

I hate the fact that none of the Walmart's around my area are carrying fabric anymore. I bought $100's of dollars worth when they clearanced it all. I now have to drive 100 miles away to even find a Walmart that carries fabric. I am going to send an e-mail right now to Walmart headquarters! Going to Walmart for groceries is not as fun as it used to be when I could spend a few minutes browsing at all the fabric!! Thanks for the news!

Its not just the quilter out there. Its the mother of school kids that need fabric a days notice to make a outfit for a play or suplies to do school projects.
Don't get me wrong I like to buy my fabric at where ever I find some I like. There are still mothers and grandma that like to make clothes for the kids. When you live in the country and have to drive 40 + miles one way to a shop that has material and other supplies.
Walmart came into town and drove the Winn's and other fabric store out of business. And now that want to stop carring the stuff the public need. They can make it up in other area if sales are down in the fabric dept. This is the last i will say on this topic.

What does 'from the ground up' mean? (I feel stupid).

New stores

Where you might have a smaller store they will come in and build a biger store and rent out the old store.

Nuts....I don't foresee any new stores around here.

I just went online to WM and voiced my opinion. Thanks for the tip.

I also just sent off an email expressing my thanks for continuing to carry quality, less expensive material for those of us that love to sew and are on limited budgets.

Thanks for posting this information.

Hopefully as the number of emails continue they might consider adding fabrics back to some of the stores that stopped carrying it.

This is good news. I have bought fabric from WalMart in the This first top is done (mnaterial from JoAnns and it is cute, colorful and looks similar to the pattern that was chosen. We have a new WalMart going in about 4 miles from our house - hope it has a fabric dept from the start! It will open Aug 18th.

Looks like all of my post didn't make it. I started to say I had looked for quilt material in the local quilt stores for the neighbor's quilts - and just couldn't justify the cost for quilts for little ones. The material I ended up using for the quilts came from JoAnns - it is cute, colorful and looks similar to the pattern.

Somehow I hit the back/delete key in the previous post. Oh well, time to get off the computer and go quilt!

I totally understand where you are coming from! Joann's and Hancock were driven out of my town when Walmart went in. Now I have to drive about 15-20 minutes to just get to a fabric store. I too have purchased fabric for last minute costumes, plays, etc. I have also ran to Walmart for fabric for a quick tablecloth, back drop, etc. for a church/school function. I really miss that $1 a yard fabric!!! It seems that Walmart is not the "people's store" anymore. Since Sam died, I believe his dream went with him!

I was at walmart the other day and they are still adding bolts of fabric, saw some cute Halloween and Xmas stuff.

:)

I was in my local Walmart the other day and checked for fabric and voila, a whole aisle on both sides!!!

Oh! I forgot. There were no bolts. Just fats and half yards in packages.

That is great news! I do hope that my Walmarts will still carry fabric. We have about 6 Walmarts within a 30 min driving distance and 3 of them have great fabric departments... I was at one over the weekend and was told that their fabric department was going to go away in March when they get remodeled. I was sad as it is probably the best Walmart fabric department in town... maybe they will change their mind before the restructure happens (fingers crossed) I do hope that at least ONE of our stores will keep their fabric department. That would be at least a small consolation....

Thanks for the info!! I will def write them and pass it on -
Our WM's here have NO fabric, only odd fats that have been thrown on the craft aisle. Scissors and rotary blades are the only quilt notions they have left -
and like Texas Granny said, it isn't just Quilters who need fabric - it's also the sewers and Moms who need fabric & items for kid projects, school projects, church projects, Girl Scouts etc I was a GS leader and shopped WM then for craft & sewing supplies
Hopefully they will realize that there are LOTS of quilters AND sewers out there !!

Thank you for that info. I know I don't go to Walmart as much as I used to. I always spent too much money ( my DH says. I guess he's a little happier now.

Where are you at in Louisiana?
Ours stopped carrying fabric about 6 months ago. :thumbdown:

It took a bit of surfing around the walmart.com site to find the right place to send an email. Look at the bottom of the page and click "contact us". Then go to "email Walmart Stores" and there is a comment section. That's the only place I could find but I think that the email only goes to the actual store and not to corporate.

But anyway, I did my best and complimented them on the good service, value and selection at the fabric department.

Same thing in ours. I wish the fabric was back.

It's about time WM started to listen. Some of us have been emailing them for over 2 years. That was one thing I pointed out to them, I don't shop KMart, Meijers,or Target because they don't carry fabric. Seems to me if a retailer wants to make it, he needs to be different than the competition. Besides, where else am I going to get the thread at 2 in the morning to finish my project?

A walmart.com
click at the bottom Contact Us

Then select the box that is titled Walmart Stores (not Walmart.com) at the bottom of the box click email Walmart stores
then select Company feedback and questions. After writing your email, then select send to corporate office.

I sent my email about fabric. I stated that quilters are willing to pay for quality fabric and they are buying it, just not at Walmart. Walmart is missing out on a multi million dollar a year business by not stocking quality fabrics and notions. I also said not one fabric dept. manager I have spoken to, except one, had any knowledge about sewing and no intention to know about it and that is hurting the sales of the sewingitems that are stocked because they are items not wanted by the sewers in the first place.

Hi, I just emailed them. That was a great idea. Now we wait to see the results.

I am emailing them right now!!!! Thanks!

Thanks for cluing us in about this. I just went to ww.com and sent them a LONG letter telling them how much business they have lost because of taking fabric out of their stores.