I know that there has been a lot of discussion regarding WalMart phasing out fabrics. Recently someone posted that they heard they may bring back fabrics. I decided to e-mail the company to see if this is true, and it is not. They do not plan to bring back fabric on the bolt; their new craft centers will carry fat quarters and notions for quilters. I then contacted the corporate office expressing how their their decision to phase out full service fabric departments will hinder our source of finding quality, affordable fabric to make charity quilts. I received a response saying that they were in the process of phasing out fabric departments and replacing it with a larger craft section they call 'Celebration Life' which is items for birthdays, weddings, etc.

WalMart takes much pride in what it does for the community. I think if many of us would contact the company expressing in a kind but firm manner what a hardship this will be to quilters across the United States who make quilts for charities, it may make a difference. To contact their headquarters, go to WalMart.com.At the bottom of the page in little print you will find several columns. Look at the one with the title--help. Under this heading click on 'contact us.' This will take you to a new page with two boxes. The second box has the heading: WalMart Stores. One of the options under that heading is to contact WalMart Corporate Headquarters. Click this and it will provide you a space to write your comments. Hopefully if they hear from enough of us across the country, they will take us seriously and reconsider their decision to cut or reduce fabric to focus instead on "Life's Celebrations!" I plan to share this information with my local guild as well. At least we can give it our best try!

People have tried, and tried, and tried, and tried!

I know, but I'm hoping that coming at it from the angle of helping charities will make a difference. I appealed to the company that if not for us who quilt, at least would they reconsider for the sake of the charities we help.

Sad to say, this probably won't work. There have been several petitions that have thousands of name on, both on the net and in stores and they have not made a difference with corporate Wal-Mart.

I stopped buying most of my fabrics there a couple years ago and started buying from sales online and the sale section of my LQS. The quality is better with comparable pricing.

Good luck to all that need their Wal-Mart fabric department getting them to understand.

I have signed more than one petition over the years for WalMart to bring back fabric. I guess the thing that disturbs me most is how WalMart says they are all about the community. Even in the reply I received from them, they made this statement. Yet when I told them that the quilts we make would help the community, and proceeded to list a number of the charities. They were silent on this.

I've begun trying to purchase my fabric for charity quilts on the clearance table at my LQS and as you said, on line. But for many women living in smaller towns, WalMart was their only source of fabric. When you order on line, you have to pay shipping unless you can catch a deal when they offer it free.

And, we are going to keep on trying until we succeed.

I'm not a rebel rouser, and usually don't get involved in this type of thing. But I really feel passionate about this. It is simply not fair to say you are all about the community, then by their actions cut the source of fabric for thousands upon thousands of women living in smaller towns, and also hinder the main source of fabrics for making quilts for charities. When making gifts and heirlooms, I always go to my local quilt store and sometimes buy on line. But I belong to several quilting groups all of which make charity quilts, and this has really impacted us and what we can do. I don't ever want to stop trying to get WalMart to reverse this decision, because I know it is the right thing to do---for the community!!!

Sorry, but you will not change their minds. It all comes down to $$$$$.

That is the real truth. It is not about the community at all as they would say. So very sad. But I will continue to try to keep this matter before them, because I know it is right.

Have you noticed since Walmart has been phasing out fabrics the prices at JoAnns went way up. Unbelieveable. I went to JoAnns one day and the same fabric at the nearby fabric store was cheaper. :shock: I went to the new JoAnns in Spokane and the fabric department has shrunk to other crafties. Whats up with that? :?

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.

Excellent letter Heidi!!! Thanks so much! Hopefully if they hear from enough of us, it will make them rethink their decision. I am the same way. Many times I would drive past other grocery stores to go to WalMart solely because of their fabric department. Without that, I have little reason to go to WalMart. I've found that I can many times do better shopping the sales at other grocery stores, plus I like giving them the support. Thanks again for writing!

With possible lawsuits in the future for WM over selling 'counterfeit' fabric, I don't think this will help your case any.

I used to email them each and every week voicing my complaints about their plan to remove the fabric department. They really don't care what their customers want. Someone somewhere with some letters behind their name came up with a hairbrained scheme and they went with it. They've invested so much money in doing away with what customers want that they are finally starting to realize through nosediving sales figures that what they actually did away with are their customers.

The only way I can imagine that they would change their minds is if you all boycotted them and they lost enough money. Other than that I can't see them changing their minds, but wish you good luck. It will all depend on their profit or lack of...

Try writing to Oprah!

I have been told that the reason Wal Mart is facing out the fabric dept. is because the cost of fabric has gone up and will increase again. They cannot afford to sell their fabric at low prices as before.

Wal-Mart began phasing out fabric way before prices started increasing.

You should write letters to Oprah, that is a great idea. I am not a fan of hers, but she does get things done.

I was at a wal-mart that had pre-cut yardages of fabric. They also had quilt kits and panels, fat quarters and jellyrolls etc. They weren't on the bolt but they still had fabric. I think they are trying to cut out the need to have a person in the fabric section.

I've seen some of JoAnn's fabric for as much as $12 a yard!
:shock: If you've noticed that the prices for many things they sell are more expensive than other stores. When things go on sale, they are now at what everyone else sells for the regular price. :thumbdown:

Last night I sat across from a student from Germany who is spending a year in the US interning. As we chatted, I asked him if they had WalMarts in Germany. His answer really surprised me! He said they used to, but that they went bankrupt! He said I guess Germans shop differently than Americans:-) I don't know, but I've never heard of a WalMart store going bankrupt! I do not wish them any ill will. I know that they do a lot of good. But I don't think they realized how their decision to phase out fabric departments would adversely affect quilts for charity purposes. I would love to see them turn this into Lemonade. They could do a big advertising campaign saying how they have joined ranks with quilters across the United States by providing quality, affordable fabric to make quilts for charities. They could even list some of the charities. I don't think they realize what a huge difference this would make to their image as a company. I would love to see this be a win/win situation for all concerned.

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!

If Walmart in Rapid City, closes their fabric dept. I won't do any shopping there for anything. There are plenty of other stores that will take my money gladly.

Yes. Sadly I have noticed this too. The fabric department is growing smaller as they give more of their space to other crafts. With home economics no longer being taught in the schools, most girls do not have exposure to the world of sewing. If there was a way to give them that exposure I think it would bring in a whole new generation of sewing and quilting enthusiasts. Years ago I started a sewing group at my church. My greatest joy is to see the excitement young women have when they sit behind a sewing machine for the first time and sew. We usually start them off doing strip piecing. At first they are intimidated, but after sewing a few strips, they begin to get it! Over and over I hear "Its too much fun!" "I never knew sewing could be this much fun!" I tell them, "That is why we do it!:-)"

You motivated me to send a kind but firm e-mail to Walmart. Unfortunately I thought that I was sending it corporate HQ but at the end it directed my message to my local WM. At least I feel like I have done something.

I am always fascinated by this topic and see many threads on this issue on this board. My spouse has been a manager of 2 different Walmart stores and they are NOT "all about the community" - that is marketing hype.

Walmart has done an excellent job of marketing, even down to giving titles to their employees. For example, "greeters" are not there to say hello as the title would make you think - they are supposed to be there to 1) make sure carts are ready for you to take in the store so you buy more and 2) to make sure you don't walk out without paying. Yes, the nice greeter actually is a marketing and security person.

Stores have little say on what merchandise they get - that is dictated by corporate offices in Bentonville. when our local store ran out of popcorn poppers in January they were told they couldn't get more because corporate Walmart says they are a seasonal gift item. Walmart is constantly changing what comes into the stores from year to year and customers complain all the time about not being able to find something they used to get at Walmart. Even complaints by the manager to corporate get nowhere.

Getting rid of bolt fabric is about staff time and space. Walmart's biggest flexible expense is employee salaries so not having to have someone cut fabric is a real cost savings. Walmart also is starting to downsize its new supercenters by 20-40,000 sq feet, which will leave little room for bolt fabric that isn't high dollar/high profit.

Thanks Gramma Nan. You have made my day! We can each do what we can to make a difference. Hopefully someone at WalMart headquarters will hear us. I appreciate you taking time to contact them again.

I've discovered that when I buy fabrics at Walmart, then I do a little more shopping there.

With no fabrics, there is no reason to even go there for me, so if no fabrics, no more money from ME. There are far too many other places to get "things" that are made in America and not in China.

I know that this is true. My brother-in-law was manager for Sam's for many years before he retired. I have a sister-in-law who works as a greeter at Walmart (and she sews!) and a brother-in-law who works in the gardening department. They have shared similar stories. This is why I directed my letter to the corporate headquarters rather than the local stores. I only hope that they care about keeping a strong image as far as serving the community. Their actions have significantly impacted the lives of thousands of women living in small towns as well as hindered our source for finding quality, affordable fabric to make quilts for hundreds of charities.

i did that and got a form letter tell me about the "celebration department" - like we don't already have celebration departments for christmas/easter/halloween/etc, etc, etc. - i'd even be glad for fat quarters & notions b/c i mostly applique.

The big issue of WM leaving quilters in our small towns and more rural areas without any local fabric source is just as important or even more than, the charity fabric issue.
We all have stashes and our scraps abound, so having fabrics for charity quilts should NEVER be a problem for quilters and quilt groups. I've donated mucho to my local bee & guild for our projects and made numerous tops from my stash.
Who I really feel for are all the quilters & sewers who don't have local sources anymore. I live in a suburb so it's not a problem for me. Yes we have the internet - but when we need something right away or just want to see & touch before we buy, a lot of people are out of luck ...

Wal-Mart is not the lone ranger when it comes to donating to the community. I don't know of a single business where I live that does not donate. The bottom line is still money, or how would they have the money to donate???

If fabric doubles in price at the first of the year I won't be purchasing any fabric. So this subject may become irrelevant.

Flying V Goddess -
I have to differ on one point - I don't think there are as many Scrapbookers out there, as there are sewers and quilters. The only Scrapbook shop around closed a few months ago, and I see less of it in the stores. I think that craze has peaked. By contrast, there are 4 good quilt shops within 5-10 miles of me. They all seem to be doing very well too
Quilting continues to be a multi-billion $$$ market and more young sewers are becoming quilters as well.
The International Quilt Festival held here every year is the largest convention (of any kind) in Houston - and probably one of the largest in the US I'd bet. Every year the attendance tops 50,000 + (in just 4 days) and it keeps growing. I think WM has missed the boat in their market research !!

Walmart is so big it's in charge. They dictate the price they'll pay to a manufacturer for the goods they make. In order for the goods to be placed on the shelves at Walmarts around the country, the manufacturers have to accept that price. If they don't, then they lose the possibility of being sold at Walmart.
Walmart's charitable giving is small compared to what it should be considering the business they do. It's just big enough to be more than that of smaller chains and stores.
I used to buy non-food items at Walmart rather than the grocery store to save money until I realized that I wasn't saving enough to make it worth my time. I have a big Walmart less than a mile from me, but I don't set foot in the door as often as monthly. I hate to see them run smaller stores out of business. I try to buy locally.

I certainly didn't mean to knock Walmart for trying to make a buck - that is what they are in business to do. And I am happy that they do contribute money and jobs to the community. I do have a problem with the hype about Walmart being such a good community citizen when I know that as a percentage of sales and profits, many local businesses, including my recently closed LQS, gave a much larger percentage of income to the local community than the $6,000 my local Walmart gave last year.

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

Personally, I would like to wee then do away with all the Wilton products and less party products. It's so easy to order party products on line and fabric I like to feel the texture which you can't on line. It's like Wal Mart is trying to be a high priced retail store now and not what they were when they started out. I have written to them about the fabrics also and spoken with some clerks about it and even they feel it should be brought back . It's so hard when you live in the country and have to drive at least 160 miles round trip just for fabric.

We can't forget that America's economy is based on capitalism and the freedom for a business to do what they want. On the flip side...we are free to shop where we want. I too get tired of hearing how evil Wal-mart is..how come K-mart and Target aren't branded as such and why aren't we in an uproar about them not having fabric sections. It's a free country which is way better than the alternative.
Piece or Peace! :D

Sorry, but Walmart IS all about the money. So we donate a few thousand to the communty every year. This town is about 45,000 now in population. This store makes about $95 million a year. Whoop tee do - so they donated $10,000. Just a drop in the bucket to me.

Never thought about it but when I go back to work, I'll grab my gun and see what the mark up on some of the fabrics are-I'll just check a few so I don't get caught ;).

Be back later to let ya know.