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This sure is a timely topic for me. We made a quick 3 hour trip to see our grandson for his birthday--left home Tuesday and returned home the next morning. On the way home, I was looking forward to stopping at a Wal-Mart in a little town in the Ozarks, which is/was the only one I've seen in the last 4 years with a fabric department. When I went to the place it should be--no fabric department any more. Lots of beads, wires, tiny pliers, etc., but not one thing having to do with sewing or quilting except some needles and straight pins. I was disappointed and downright mad. I wonder how many people string beads as compared to the number of people who sew and quilt?
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Sadie Mae, it was encouraging to read your e-mail, how they did eventually begin carrying fabric in your store after repeatedly receiving letters requesting it. Someone suggested that snail mail may be more effective than e-mail, and that is a good point. I plan to write a snail mail letter, and I'm going to take some pre-addressed and stamped envelopes to some of my quilting meetings for any who will take them and write letters requesting Walmart to bring back fabric. Thanks again to everyone who responded. Your suggestions have been wonderful!
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Originally Posted by Flying_V_Goddess
I work at Wal-Mart and sometimes they have to do things they think would be good for the business and focus on what would be more profitable in the long run. Everyone here probably goes to or holds at least one party a year whether it be birthday, graduation, wedding, baby showers, or anything else that requires decorations, cards, gift bags, wrapping paper, party favors, napkins and cups, etc. If you take pictures than you might want stuff to scrapbook all of it. That's all the stuff they include in the Celebrations section. I think that's why Wal-mart would be phasing out the fabric section in favor of expanding the Celebrations because not everyone quilts or sews, but mostly everyone goes to parties that needs supplies or want to make photo or scrap books of those moments. I know...it sucks. I hate that Wal-Mart got rid of our fabric section not long after building the Super Wal-Mart across the street. I either have to go to the quilt shop here in town (her shop is small so she doesn't have a large selection to choose from) or wait until someone goes to La Crosse or Eau Claire and go to Hancock's or JoAnn's.
I don't like how some people on here have said that Wal-Mart is all about the money. True in a lot of aspects, but not always the truth. Our Wal-Mart has donated over 6,000 lbs of food to the community this year. Off the top of my head they donated $1000 to Boys and Girls Club and I think $2000 to the "green" school as well as smaller donations like to the library, the highschool's FFA club, a couple baseball teams, etc. Wal-Mart's involved with the Children's Miracle Network which raises funds for children's hostpitals. When employees donate enough of their time to volunteer work, Wal-Mart will make a donation to that organization...as a result, last year Wal-Mart gave a $2000 donation to Project Christmas, a group that collects donated food and presents to give to the less fortunate (can't remember how many employees and how many hours they put in). Sorry to get all preachy, but I don't like it when people make the company I work for to be an evil cooperation when they've given a lot away for charity. |
Originally Posted by Bobby's Girl
This sure is a timely topic for me. We made a quick 3 hour trip to see our grandson for his birthday--left home Tuesday and returned home the next morning. On the way home, I was looking forward to stopping at a Wal-Mart in a little town in the Ozarks, which is/was the only one I've seen in the last 4 years with a fabric department. When I went to the place it should be--no fabric department any more. Lots of beads, wires, tiny pliers, etc., but not one thing having to do with sewing or quilting except some needles and straight pins. I was disappointed and downright mad. I wonder how many people string beads as compared to the number of people who sew and quilt?
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----"Thank you for posting this. I am a former WM employee and frankly I'm getting sick of all the WM bashing that goes on this board. I'm on the brink of leaving the board over it. Why does everything posted on this board have to turn into a controversial topic?" ----
I didn't want to offend anyone in any way when I complained previously about Wal-Mart's eliminating the fabric department, so I'll try to clarify my complaint. According to reports on TV, Wal-Mart is the only store that runs the "little guy" out of business, and no one is fat except the people who eat at McDonald's. THAT is bashing, and I don't like it. I talk back to the TV every time I hear one of those reports. What I say about WM is just friendly griping. I love Wal-Mart. We shop there almost exclusively. We spend thousands of dollars there every year. We want WM to make a profit. We own a small amount of Wal-Mart stock, have friends who work there, and know that our local WM budgets a certain amount of money each month to donate to community organizations. Yet, some of the company's marketing decisions aggravate me, such as taking out the fabric department, no longer selling embroidery supplies, not selling Creamettes pasta and Act II popcorn. Maybe they do sell lots of scrapbooking, party, and bead supplies, but when they sold fabric, I always had to wait my turn to get fabric cut. I haven't seen anyone waiting in line to buy beads. Some things just bother a griper like me. |
When WalMart discontinued the fabric department at my local store, I started phasing out my shopping. I changed my Rx's to a drugstore and began grocery shopping at BiLo and Publix. I only go to WalMart when absolutely necessary since they obviously do not care about their customer's needs. And I'm glad I stopped...we have more food and more $$ in our pockets since we started couponing and shopping at real grocery stores.
I hate WalMart. |
I send an email to corporate Walmart headquarters once a week with my opinion about the Life Celebration dept instead of a fabric dept. I get the same rote reply every week. That tells me no one that can make a difference is reading the emails. I figure if Walmart can send atuo response I can send auto mail. I send the same email every week.
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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? A fabric dept isn't Hip or Cool enough for Target !! :roll: |
Originally Posted by mosquitosewgirl
Here are the comments that I just sent to Walmart:
It is my understanding that Walmart is planning on closing the fabric departments in all or most of their stores over a period of time. I sincerely hope that this is not true. Many of us in rural, outlying areas depend on Walmart for all of our fabric and sewing needs. Not only does Walmart carry a good selection, the quality has continued to improve. I purchased fabric, patterns, notions, other quilting and sewing supplies, as well as yarn on a regular basis from Walmart. Not only for my personal sewing and quilting, but also for charity quilts that I make. If the fabric section of my Walmart store closes, I will have to travel about 60 miles to get to the next closest fabric store. In addition, when I come in for fabric I always buy other merchandise as well. When I no longer have the draw of the fabric section to draw me in to the store and I am traveling to a large city for my fabric, the other purchases will end up being made elsewhere as well. The impacts of the alleged closures, due to lack of access to decent quality/affordable fabrics and related supplies, are: 1)personal - I won't be able to sew as much or as often; 2)community - I won't be making as many charity quilts; and my overall shopping at Walmart will significantly decrease. If it is due to lack of robust sales in this department, it may be that there hasn't been targeted marketing...Walmart, in our area, doesn't do any advertising for fabric, and certainly has not tooted it's own horn about the improving quality of fabrics and sewing supplies. Please, if this is the direction that Walmart is planning to take, rethink this decision. Do some outreach to local sewing/quilting guilds and find a way to continue to serve those of us in otherwise underserved areas. Thank you. One thing that I have noticed is that their fat quarters and jelly rolls are VERY reasonably priced. At least that is something. WM is also selling 5 yard bolts, but fabric is of undetermined origin, and, so far the ones I've seen are butt ugly. I wonder if we organized a 'boycott Walmart' day for quilters, whether they would notice the decrease in sales. Now it's happening on a onesy/twosy basis, so probably our departure isn't noticed. |
Originally Posted by TexasGurl
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? A fabric dept isn't Hip or Cool enough for Target !! :roll: How many people in the younger generation are into crafts? A bit more then you would think. They are also into "green" stuff. I think it would be accepted. |
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