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-   -   WalMart's Decison to Discontinue Carrying Fabric (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/walmarts-decison-discontinue-carrying-fabric-t66159.html)

Sadiemae 09-22-2010 12:09 PM


Originally Posted by ptquilts
I find it hard to believe that WM is "for the community" when the wages/benefits packages they pay cause most employees to need food stamps and other benefits.
It's all about the money. If Sam Walton were alive today he would just spit, seeing what it has become.

http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch...2_profiles.cfm

I read this complete article, and it just brings up a whole lot of questions for me. For example, if only a fraction of these statements are true, I cannot immagine why some of the attorneys out there haven't jumped on a chance to sue a large corporation like WM. Or have they and it has all had secrecy clauses? I am not saying they aren't telling the truth, I just have a lot of quetions. Also, don't they have accident reports that have to be completed when on the job?

moonwolf23 09-22-2010 12:13 PM


Originally Posted by missionslady
I think you are right. In some stores they will offer cut fabric in the form of fat quarters and panels. However what most of us need for charity quilts would be sold by the yard, especially for quilt backings. I think you are right in their wanting to eliminate someone to be available to cut the fabric. But then that provides someone a job too! That certainly benefits the community!

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of Fat quarters, I'd rather buy my stuff by the yard.

missionslady 09-22-2010 02:16 PM

I do not feel that WalMart is evil, and I certainly don't want to portray that. I do feel that their decision to discontinue having a fabric department in their stores was unwise, and hurt a lot of people. To my knowledge Target never carried fabric. I remember K-Mart carrying it many years ago, but at that time there were many other stores who did so it was not an issue.

The reason for this emphasis with WalMart dropping fabric departments is because of the way in which they began, which was in small town America. That is where they grew and established such a firm foundation. Their advertising has always focused on how they strive to better the community and the many ways they help their customers. When the decision was made to discontinue carrying full-size fabric departments with fabric on the bolt, it left women living in small towns with NO SOURCE in which to purchase fabrics unless they drove long distances or ordered fabric online. I do that too, but there are times when you need to see what you are buying beforehand in order to match it. Also, you incur shipping charges. I have acquired a lot of scraps which I use when making charity quilts, but we need lengths of fabric from the bolt for the backings. Also, I would sometimes purchase a pretty, colorful panel when when making quilts for children and then go to my scrap bag to find coordinating pieces. I am the primary buyer for the baby quilts our church makes for a charity, and I cannot count the many yards of fabric I purchased from WalMart for this project alone. We also made cloth books for the children, and WalMart carried a good selection of those. I don't feel that they have broken any laws here, and I don't feel that the company is bad. But I do feel that they let us down in a big way. Their actions hurt small town America that had made them great, and they do have imposed a hardship for those of us who delight in making quilts for charities. I wish the people at corporate headquarters could see the face of a child undergoing chemo treatments, when they are given a colorful quilt of their very own; or people who have lost their jobs and have been forced to live in a shelter. They literally cry when given a handmade quilt. I could go on and on. I guess I just wish that WalMart could go back to their roots, to the things that made them great. I'm not on a campaign to down them. I just wish they would hear us and recognize the repercussions of their decision. Thanks to all who have written. I appreciate your comments and it is nice that you care too!

Beth 09-22-2010 02:19 PM

I live in Arkansas and there are many of that have tried over and over.

quiltnmom 09-22-2010 03:47 PM

Well I sent yet another email politely asking that Walmart reconsider the decision to take out the full service fabric department. It would be nice if they would send me an acknowledge of my email this time. I have emailed them once a week for the last 2 months politely expressing my discontent.

cizzors 09-22-2010 03:54 PM

Ok, what I scanned was one of the Fabrics of the Month, two of the Christmas, and two of the fall. None of these were on Clearance. Prices ranged from $2.44-$5.44. The mark up range was between 45% to 63%. They are making great profits on this. But anymore, Walmart is all about change.

Sadiemae 09-22-2010 04:23 PM

When they put the first Wal-Mart in Jerome, there were only precuts. All of the women in the area sent them letters, and about 6 months later they brought in fabric.

I wonder if snail mail would get more attention. I have no idea. I just wonder if all of a sudden corporate got snail mails bombarded to them if they would notice...

moonwolf23 09-22-2010 05:05 PM


Originally Posted by missionslady
I do not feel that WalMart is evil, and I certainly don't want to portray that. I do feel that their decision to discontinue having a fabric department in their stores was unwise, and hurt a lot of people. To my knowledge Target never carried fabric. I remember K-Mart carrying it many years ago, but at that time there were many other stores who did so it was not an issue.

The reason for this emphasis with WalMart dropping fabric departments is because of the way in which they began, which was in small town America. That is where they grew and established such a firm foundation. Their advertising has always focused on how they strive to better the community and the many ways they help their customers. When the decision was made to discontinue carrying full-size fabric departments with fabric on the bolt, it left women living in small towns with NO SOURCE in which to purchase fabrics unless they drove long distances or ordered fabric online. I do that too, but there are times when you need to see what you are buying beforehand in order to match it. Also, you incur shipping charges. I have acquired a lot of scraps which I use when making charity quilts, but we need lengths of fabric from the bolt for the backings. Also, I would sometimes purchase a pretty, colorful panel when when making quilts for children and then go to my scrap bag to find coordinating pieces. I am the primary buyer for the baby quilts our church makes for a charity, and I cannot count the many yards of fabric I purchased from WalMart for this project alone. We also made cloth books for the children, and WalMart carried a good selection of those. I don't feel that they have broken any laws here, and I don't feel that the company is bad. But I do feel that they let us down in a big way. Their actions hurt small town America that had made them great, and they do have imposed a hardship for those of us who delight in making quilts for charities. I wish the people at corporate headquarters could see the face of a child undergoing chemo treatments, when they are given a colorful quilt of their very own; or people who have lost their jobs and have been forced to live in a shelter. They literally cry when given a handmade quilt. I could go on and on. I guess I just wish that WalMart could go back to their roots, to the things that made them great. I'm not on a campaign to down them. I just wish they would hear us and recognize the repercussions of their decision. Thanks to all who have written. I appreciate your comments and it is nice that you care too!

Any reason y'all can't ask Target to carry fabric? They are a business, if they can make profit, I can't see why they wouldn't do it, especially if y'all were specific and got a bunch of people to sign stuff.

If one store won't carry stuff, why not go to another?

Candace 09-22-2010 06:06 PM


Originally Posted by cizzors
Ok, what I scanned was one of the Fabrics of the Month, two of the Christmas, and two of the fall. None of these were on Clearance. Prices ranged from $2.44-$5.44. The mark up range was between 45% to 63%. They are making great profits on this. But anymore, Walmart is all about change.

Actually, the typical mark-up is 100%, so that's inexpensive.

suzieQ 09-22-2010 06:36 PM

I GOT FABRIC AT HOBBY LOBBY IT WAS CHEAP AND GOOD QUIALITY SUZIEQ


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