Originally Posted by MoMoSews

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

Originally Posted by Virginia Smith

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.,.;;

Originally Posted by Retired

Here is the reply I received yesterday:
"Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding the fabric department in your local store. As with any merchandise decision that we make, we have based our decision to reduce the stitching and fabric departments on customer demand, which does not appear to be as high today for a full stitching and fabric offering in some markets as it may have been at Walmart in the past.

In keeping with our emphasis on being a store of the community, Walmart is converting the fabrics and crafts department in some stores to a newly expanded assortment of merchandise that focuses on life's celebrations. We are thrilled to offer our customers this exciting new crafts and celebrations center that makes available craft and party planning needs along with information on current trends and new ideas in the area of life's celebrations, such as holidays, weddings and birthdays.

In those stores where the new crafts and celebrations center is placed, merchandise commonly referred to as 'notions' will be included in the product offerings - such as sewing machines, yarn, needles, thread, etc. As a part of this conversion, most of our new and remodeled stores that opened earlier this year, as well as a small number of existing stores, will feature the new crafts and celebrations center in place of bolt fabrics. Walmart will continue to carry cut fabric in most of our stores. Due to the continued evaluation of our stores, we are unable to share a list of existing stores scheduled to receive the new crafts and celebrations center at this time.

Sincerely,
Walmart Customer Care"
I don't know who they are listening to but it sure isn't me.
LOL

Originally Posted by Retired

Here is the reply I received yesterday:
"Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding the fabric department in your local store. As with any merchandise decision that we make, we have based our decision to reduce the stitching and fabric departments on customer demand, which does not appear to be as high today for a full stitching and fabric offering in some markets as it may have been at Walmart in the past.

In keeping with our emphasis on being a store of the community, Walmart is converting the fabrics and crafts department in some stores to a newly expanded assortment of merchandise that focuses on life's celebrations. We are thrilled to offer our customers this exciting new crafts and celebrations center that makes available craft and party planning needs along with information on current trends and new ideas in the area of life's celebrations, such as holidays, weddings and birthdays.

In those stores where the new crafts and celebrations center is placed, merchandise commonly referred to as 'notions' will be included in the product offerings - such as sewing machines, yarn, needles, thread, etc. As a part of this conversion, most of our new and remodeled stores that opened earlier this year, as well as a small number of existing stores, will feature the new crafts and celebrations center in place of bolt fabrics. Walmart will continue to carry cut fabric in most of our stores. Due to the continued evaluation of our stores, we are unable to share a list of existing stores scheduled to receive the new crafts and celebrations center at this time.

Sincerely,
Walmart Customer Care"
I don't know who they are listening to but it sure isn't me.
LOL