Uh oh. I've been here only a day and I'm afraid I'm going to make some enemies already. I suppose I could simply not reply, but that's not me. Sorry.

WalMart, after pulling their fabric and inconveniencing hundreds of thousands crafty customers, is now going to put it back in 700 stores> Did I get that right?

I've bought fabric from them for over 20 years When they got rid of it about 5-6 years ago (can't recall exactly when) I had to drive 50 miles one way to a fabric shop - or, use what I had accumulated.

I whined and cried just like everyone else about not being able to buy fabric for $1.50 to $3.00 a yard anymore... not to mention, floss, buttons, thread, trim and everything else they got rid of.

Fast forward>
I lost my job last August. Considering all my options, I decided to go in debt for a considerable amount of money to start a sewing supply shop - for me and everyone else in the area.
I buy mostly from one supplier because I can sell the fabric they have for around $5/yard. Good quality quilting cotton. There are plenty of other distributors I have accounts with, but I know for a fact No ONE around here will pay $9 and up for a yard of cotton. I won't either.

If I hear one more customer say, "Oh, I wish WalMart still sold fabric!" I WILL SCREAM!

So, for all of my customers who will stop shopping with me and start buying fabric from WalMart again, should they decide to do so in my area, I have two words. They're not nice ones.

I liked the convenience, selection and price of shopping for fabric from them in the past, but now I see things from a different perspective.

I Will NEVER, ever buy fabric from WalMart again. I hope all of the others here will kindly consider how this change to WalMart will affect your local, small quilting shops.
Too many small shop owners are struggling now. Are we going to let the whims of a conglomerate, who is able to sell cheap because the buy bulk directly from overseas, or are we going to support our local Mom & Pop stores?

And, what about all of the well established fabric distributors that folded when WalMart decided to pull their fabric? I read about one that had been around a long time that folded because they had a contract with WalMart. WalMart cared as little about them as they did their customers.

I know what I'm going to do... and I'd do it even if I didn't have a shop. I'm tired of being jerked around by WalMart.

Okay. I'm finished. I'll go away quietly now. :oops:

As has been posted previously, this is not a thread to bash WalMart. Please post elsewhere.

This thread is about "Fabric is Back" and I replied accordingly.
Was I supposed to parrot, "Woohoo" like everyone else? Is my opinion of WalMart's decision not as valid as others?

I don't mean to be argumentative, but if any mention of WalMart has to be followed with, "Praise be upon his name" and other opinions are told to "go elsewhere," say so and I will oblige. I'm not into worshiping idols.

I will repeat though, it's sad to see so many dedicated quilters not consider what this move will do to their local quilt shops.

well at least u said what u had 2 say.and that is what i do, when i get mad.but we only have hobby lobby now..and there fabric is high for me. i can drive 45miles one way 2 a walmart. but the gas is so high. whatta we gonna do.?????/ think i have enough at my age. but, always want another piece.......have a good day.

Hi Lucy,
I understand completely. For folks who don't have any other choice, I can see it being a good thing... sort of. I'm still mad at them for pulling it in the first place. I can also see that I'll probably have to get a job with WalMart to pay off my business/ inventory debt if they reopen their fabric department. :-(
Have a good night.

FYI, One of my distributors, located in NY, has the very same fabric that WalMart carried. They call them "clean seconds". I can get it for less than $1 yard. I have to purchase a 400 yard minimum and pay a substantial shipping charge to boot. How much do you think WalMart pays for their $1.50/yard fabric?
My guess would be about .25 cents/yard.

You can start a new topic titled "I hate WalMart". You will receive support as there are many on this board that agree with you. I have purchased some very nice fabric from WalMart. I have also purchased some very nice fabric from online fabric companies and I have purchased some very, very poor fabric on line.
We have traveled to many cities in the last four years since we are full time RVers. Some of those cities do not have LQS or even WalMart that carry fabric. At one of those locations out of desperation I purchased a sheet to have some cotton white fabric. I also have been in cities that do have fabric and LQS. At the three LQS I have visited I found very high prices, not the best quality fabric (I have been sewing since I was 10 so I know good fabric) and I found snobbish, rude personnel.

Also many people are on limited incomes that do not allow expensive hobbies. If we are forced to only purchase fabric at LQS, then some may have to give up a hobby they love. I have many vintage quilts in my family, most made with flour and feed sacks. I know Grannie did not purchase anything at a LQS.

I understand. I like to watch my pennies, too. And, as a new shop owner, I do the same for my customers. Like I said before, I won't buy fabric that I have to retail for $9/yard and up. I just won't do it.
But, it really hurts when I bust my hiney searching for the most economical, good quality fabrics for my customers only to have to listen to them say, "Oh, I wish WM still sold fabric."
I'm trying to fill the void WM left when they dumped their fabric and left us all high and dry. And now, I should sing praises to them for bringing it back -- now, after I have taken a huge dive into debt to provide a service for the community? Sorry, but I can't do that.

Does anyone at WM sit down with you and take the time to listen to your problems, or get to know the names of your kids? Will they show you catalogs and let you place special orders for things they don't have on the shelf? Will they call you to find out how you are if they don't see you for a few weeks?
You all know the answer to these questions: NO.

All they care about is the bottom line. They are finding out they made a mistake by removing fabric from their stores and now they want to put it back. Jesus didn't tell them to do it. Their accountants did.

Thanks for the good news. Our Walmart is still carrying fabric and I had been asking my ex-SIL if he had heard anything. Would always say Nothing yet. One of the gals cutting fabric said they were receiving fabric from other stores. Glad they listened to their customers.

Amen to that! I just took a trip to my Walmart over the weekend to see if they had fabric yet, and sadly I was disappoint...but this is definitely great news! I guess I'll pay them another trip in September or October to see if my store is one of the luck 700!