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.

TexasGurl

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 ...

Sadiemae

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.

TexasGurl

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 !!

Pat and pups

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.

e4

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.

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

joyceelaine1951

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.

quilterjody

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

cizzors

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.