What’s Going on with JoAnn Fabrics and the Fabric Industry

[@alanda8109]

I HATE buying fabrics online. The quality, thread count, softness, etc. just can't be understood without actually touching it!

[@kathylee1261]

Buy online trusted brands only. I am quite satisfied with online shopping. The variety available is huge ❤

[@TheSalmonson1]

Is this why my local JoAnns has 70% off everything in the store?

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@alanda8109 amen. I have ordered online and if you don’t know the manufacturer, it is a cotton blend of cheap fabrics. Buyers beware. I can not use low quality in any quilt. And my microwavable kitchen items must be true 100% cotton. Thanks for the comments

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@kathylee1261 yes! And thank you. Just know who you are dealing with

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@TheSalmonson1 hmmmm, mine is not. Where are you? Perhaps we may be loosing that store? They have 70% off “last chance” fabrics which is an isle or two.

[@judyjacobson1615]

A little competition is good for business! But I feel they would have a better chance of survival if they concentrated on fabrics and accessories. Leave the jewelry, cake/candy making supplies, etc. to Michael's and Hobby Lobby. Wouldn't it be awesome if they just stayed a fabric store. One thing for sure is they could lower their expenses by having smaller stores while still giving the consumers a variety of choices!

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@judyjacobson1615 well said. I miss the fabric stores of the past and want JoAnn’s to exist and flourish. It costs so much for quilt stores to profit and exist. I love fabric. I love sewing and quilting.

[@judis.1810]

I create quilted ornaments with cotton fabric and straight pins and a few other things. If I have to buy fabric online, then I will quit making them.

[@bresev8958]

Hobby lobby has been downsizing their paper craft sections. My daughter used to work there and she said they want to move more towards home decor. I’m a paper crafter. It’s getting harder to find the supplies I want.

[@TheThicketof]

True about fabric and notions. Opening smaller stores mans overhead and taxes. I recall a Joann store that was smaller. O loved it. It was also closer. Some jewelry items can be used for embellishing hand sewn items tho.

[@TheThicketof]

If Joann leaves, it will be horrible!

[@davidingram1016]

My wife quilts, sews, embroiders, and crochets and is very good at it! To her the quality of fabrics has gone down since all these manufacturers of said merchandise left the USA 🇺🇸 since they moved to China and the rest of the pacific rim China 🇨🇳 young ppl are not being exposed to quality any more or to be creative ! Cloth made in China, the dyes were changed ( example when Levi’s) too much fabric made from polyester and fleece! The “ grunge look “ went from bad to worse . Cheap, yes, but shoddy! Even walmart had quality fabrics 30-40 years ago when fabric was Made in America 🇺🇸 The government plus greedy corporations have turned us into a junkyard for third world crap!

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@davidingram1016 very sad. The change from denim to non denim has changed the paper industry too. When denim was recycled it made good paper.

[@melviadinsmore38]

Yes this is true and sad. I hate not finding good cotton material or clothes. Thin man- made cheap fabric is all we see and made overseas. All our manufacturing is shut down in our country. Loss of jobs, loss of quality, and loss of revenue for our country and citizens. What about this did government officials think was smart. Low quality is now selling higher than the original great quality and what good did it bring the industry, population, and country. I can't see any good outcome from this, plus natural fabric doesn't harm our health. Modernization hasn't helped but has hurt our health or economy! Pure ignorance to me!😢

[@susangarman9561]

It may be that smaller mom and pop fabric stores will start popping up.

[@user-rl6op9wg9q]

@@susangarman9561 I hope so. Walmart is now selling precut fabric in packages; I no longer buy there, Joann's is too expensive and Hobby Lobby has few choices.

[@sandyp2485]

I know what you mean about denim. My son who has his own home repair/rennovation business needs to wear jeans when he works. He recently complained about some jeans and sock that were labelled cotton enhanced or some such equally absurd thing. I took a look at what he was wearing during a trip to fix a small thing at my house and noticed the fabric was actually just shredding in odd places instead of the expected knees, pockets, etc. He said his girls have attempted repair but I could see that any repair was pretty much a lost cause with the fabric disintegrating so badly.

[@ambercruz3423]

These hobby stores have gotten too greedy with their prices and that's why they aren't getting as much business because people would rather buy food than fabric and yarn. I love to crochet and to quilt but my kids have to eat before any of that.

[@cjchacha1]

Unfortunately they're owned by private equity....they do not put any money back into the business and suck these stores dry. Very sad....I don't believe Joann's will survive sadly 😢

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@ambercruz3423 amen. I love a good sale. Hugs and compliments to you being a good parent. Hobbies come last.

[@Billybloop]

They get it all from China and jack up the price to make a profit. If you buy directly from china you will save so much money. Pure cotton twill is a dollar on taobao per yard. I just made a blouse for myself for under 5 USD. Taobao app is in English now and ships to the usa and shipping between China and USA isn't expensive. Temu is also basically taobao for non Chinese.

[@AndrogynousFatale]

Yeah even on Amazon they jacked up the price of certain yarns due to demand without realizing people won’t but it if it’s expensive

[@nelliebly6616]

You can knit and crochet clothes🤗

[@pattyknoll5818]

I don't quilt, I make garments. And buying fashion fabric online is much more difficult that buying quilting fabric. The weight, feel, stretch, drape, all have to be accessed and even the best description on a web site can't answer those questions.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

You are right about that! Shopping online is not an option. Cotton and quality is known by the brand, but making garments and being successful and creating your art can only come from hand picking

[@cherylbee9899]

Right there is the whole problem! It is manufactured overseas.

[@AnnMcCollum-h8w]

Very interesting and informative. So sad that we shut down all the mills in this country. As a child I bought all my fabrics and clothing at true mill outlets. Shopping in dingy rooms right at the mills. So much fun. I really miss it.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@AnnMcCollum-h8w i never had the pleasure, but is definitely something i would like to do now. What a thought of being able to go to a mill. To see fabric being created or shortly thereafter.

[@sharongilles7536]

We had Minnesota fabrics back in the day that ran into the same financial issue

[@janetpatton5415]

Thank you for all the info, I hope I don't loose JoAnn's, have shopped there for 25-30 years love the store here in N. Fort Myers Fla. all the employees are great and helpful

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@janetpatton5415 we have hope and hope is a wonderful thing. I too, like most of us have relied on JoAnns for our fabric. We are in this together.

[@cherylbee9899]

We travel to Florida in the winter. We stay in central Florida, Frostproof, no Joann’s close to there.

[@AnnieM1971]

Don't believe all the crap she's telling you. I work there. There are multiple offers on the table and nothing is decided yet.

[@StitchingStories7246]

Let's be really honest. JoAnn's got into home Dec and other crap. All their stuff is way, way overpriced. You can't always wait for something you need to go on sale. Walmart cornered the market on fabric sales, putting Piece Goods and Sew Fro out of business within a year of Walmart opening. Now Walmart has eliminated fabric from many stores and the ones that still have it don't have any selection to speak of. They have just a bare minimum of precuts. The Michaels in my town does not sell fabric. Hobby Lobby cut their fabric department and notions to one fourth of what it used to be. There is no selection there either. Amazon used to sell fabric. Now, only marketplace sellers have fabric. The Amazon fabric division closed. Honestly, call it supply chain or whatever. Fabric selections and notions are either priced beyond most crafters' budgets or just non-existent. We are now cutting up clothing and recycling textiles we pay too much for at places like Goodwill, another example of corporate greed.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

It is sad to see fabric stores struggle to stay in business but honestly, as long as they continue to sell low-quality fabrics and compete with Walmart on price, it's going to be hard to succeed.

[@joycef8443]

I just said to the cat…well, we can go back to grandma’s day and cut up our outgrown clothes! I’m 76, my mother made a lot of our dresses (no shorts or pants in school) and I sewed for my kids but fabric is SOOOOO expensive now! I make a quilt now again for my grandchildren, a utilitarian quilt to be used.

[@PaulaBoyle]

I was just in the store today and appreciated the individuals that were there. they apologized for my patience. The individuals that were there Grace and Anne were great. Grace went out of her way to get the foam I needed for my projects. very polite when I knew how stress this time is. Reynoldsburg ohio.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@PaulaBoyle thank you for sharing this. It is so stressful when your future and your income is not secure.

[@twinkles5569]

Big lots in our town is closing..NM. All we have left is Hobby lobby & Walmart. The closest Joann’s is in Texas and I hope they do not close. All these big stores ran out cloth world which actually had cloth, of every kind, these big box stores have nothing compared to an actual material store, now they are all downsizing more. So sad.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@twinkles5569 I share your sadness. I miss the fabric stores of the past and want JoAnn’s to exist and flourish. It costs so much for quilt stores to profit and exist. I love fabric. I love sewing and quilting.

[@bernicedesmond9259]

Our Big Lots in the southeastern area of NC are closing, was just in the one in Jacksonville today, the store was pretty much stripped

[@judyforbes782]

Probably most imports from China!!! We need to manfacture textiles here, in AMERICA. Fabrics are becoming more and more digitally printed, and I so much prefer the woven threads :(

[@melviadinsmore38]

Yes, yes, yes! Agree, agree, agree!!!😮

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@judyforbes782 yes, yes, yes. The United States has turned into a service economy instead of manufacturing. We need to be more in control of manufacturing. I like hands on.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@melviadinsmore38 yes 👍 ❤️

[@Billybloop]

if you buy directly from China yourself it's a 10th of the price. There are american fabric producers on etsy.

[@twinkles5569]

@@judyforbes782 an with all the Cotten we grow in our country you would think we would make our own material.

[@AngelAllis]

the company that aquired Joann's is a liquidation firm. Dont count on it staying around

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@AngelAllis it has not been acquired yet, there is two months approximately that others can bid on them.

[@AngelAllis]

@@WhereWendyCreates No one else wants to take on all that debt. Joann owes Fed EX and it's suppliers so much money it's ridiculous. I read the whole court filing

[@ellenhofer3343]

That company hasn't acquired JoAnn's yet

[@joycef8443]

The history of these private equity is horrible. Think scavenger picking carcasses, think pension funds being raided and pensioners forced to use the federal Pension Benefit .

[@rosabalderrama1443]

I don’t mind ordering fabric from JoAnn’s online but they make you buy 2yards and many times I don’t need two yards, thank you for the information

[@WhereWendyCreates]

It's a shame you can't get just one yard, but it does help bring down shipping costs. Still wrong. Still, I prefer touching and buying in person.

[@marshagegerson8166]

Orlando is Quilting Store Poor. It is a now a yuppie professional population that doesn’t have time for hobbies. Their hobbies are the kiddos sports teams. move up the state to the Villages and surrounding communities with retirees and there are tons of quilt stores in the area. I’m jealous. I know of only ONE in my area! And for the retiree group 12-15 dollars a yard makes it out of reach. Thanks for this info video. ❤

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@marshagegerson8166 i truly understand. Fabric prices have skyrocketed in the last ten to 20 years.

[@patriciaclevenstine-ali4714]

I've waited all my life to quilt, sew clothes & do alterations in my retirement. PLEASE DO NOT go out of business now!

[@beatricebennett2703]

Same here!

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@patriciaclevenstine-ali4714 amen. We stick together

[@mylightofhope]

Great video explaining the workings behind inventory of fabrics, prices and the businesses selling them. I'm just now getting into sewing after doing a few sewing projects in my young adulthood. So probably 15 years or more. I totally was sticker shocked about prices I was seeing and the change from just selling yardage on bolts to all these bundled smaller pieces of material.

[@KathleenLewis-k8h]

Not all Walmarts sell fabric. I've been to several that have gotten rid of that section.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

Yes, me too. Very sad. I like to buy in person.

[@judycorneilson741]

True and it's frustrating .

[@ellenhofer3343]

Whether they selll fabric depends in the department nanagwr. Most are stopping selling fabrics that need to be cut. Yardage will be sold is precut packages up to 2 yards

[@evelynelliott4485]

I love Joanns. I love to touch the fabric, feel the texture, and determine the thickness. Unfortunately, the precuts are much thinner than what I have found Joanns' selections. Please keep my store!❤

[@ellenhofer3343]

JoAnn's sells 2nd quality fabrics. 1st quality fabrics are usually sold at quilt stores

[@WhereWendyCreates]

The feel and texture of fabric is vital. I do love shopping in person.

[@lguajardo1]

If I’m going to put all my energy creating a quilt, I need good fabric. Sometimes I could get a decent fabric from JoAnns but mostly through Quilt Shops.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

I agree with you 100%. But, not everyone has a quilt shop. That makes sense. Good fabric is important to have a successful project.

[@Swrqltr]

The problem is Joann decided to branch out into craft and home decor in those tiny stores They should have moved to bigger stores or stick with fabric and yarns period

[@valeriekushner5003]

I love their having crafts as well as fabric we also lost Handcock fabric. Walmart is carrying less fabric and not great quality.

[@KathyWarren-fj4vl]

I said that in my family and just got my head ripped off. A small amount of stuff is ok but it should be fabric

[@joycegobeille]

Exactly

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@Swrqltr yes, most of us feel that way. I would love to read their corporate paper history and see if this was their downfall. I think they got into scrapbooking real late.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@valeriekushner5003 true, and joanns has a cheap line of low quality fabrics that they just introduced

[@merrim7765]

Is quilting a dying industry? Heavens no!! There are loads of wonderful online stores. My favorite is KCMaker Studio and Fabrics in Kansas but that doesn't matter online. It has an incredible inventory or anything you'll need.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@merrim7765 Hancock’s of Paducah has quality fabrics online too. Great share my friend. Thank you

[@lindalehnert9227]

Same here. No fabric at Michael’s or Walmart

[@susangarman9561]

We have a small amount in our Walmart but Michael's around here doesn't carry fabric.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

Some Michaels carry fat quarters or some precuts, but I have never seen bolts of fabric in stores.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

Walmart is trying to eliminate their need for a cutting table in many stores so they are changing to precuts too. Thanks for sharing my friend. I don’t know what the next few years will look like for getting fabric. I like to shop in person.

[@momistaken]

In my area, the only two independent quilt shops have closed. Fortunately, there is also a local Joanne’s. Quilters always need something, and once we’re there, we usually find something else to buy! So I hope that Joanne’s keeps its doors open!

[@cindygagliano6509]

Thank you, very informative A few of my complaints with JoAnns: They have always been short staffed. They carry more fleece than good fashion fabric.

[@WeQuiltStudio]

Ty for this informative Video. When they stopped stocking the higher quality Quilt Fabric, Legacy Studio, I was very sad. So now, I can't shop there for my quilts because the fabric, even their new quilting line, is very thin and loosely woven.

[@svetlanit]

The biggest problem is the fashion fabric availability. If JoAnn closes, Colorado has nowhere to buy apparel fabric from. Little corner in Hobby lobby stores barely has anything. Walmart is out of it already. Small boutiques focus on the quilt fabrics. Other small boutiques sell apparel fabric very expensive. So sad.

[@barbjackowski2776]

Would like to see classes to come back. They made money. Also craft classes for kids.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@barbjackowski2776 yes! I miss the learning and fun in person. Thanks for saying this.

[@SylsQuiltsandPlays]

Very interesting, sad, but we have to hope. I am a life long quilter and am very passionate about fabric.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

It’s so important to stay passionate and be creative in our everyday lives. Support JoAnns and have hope, keep quilting alive, teach others and support our quilt shops.

[@TheCraftydevilSpeaks]

The truth is, years ago US did manufacture a considerable amount of cotton and linen fabrics. Cotton and flax farmers slowly stopped growing these crops because it was hard to find labor willing to harvest them and turned to easier to grow crops that were higher profit and in the south where most cotton and flax was grown, you can get 2-3 food crops in the same season versus 1 crop a year of cotton or flax. They are labor intensive crops and a long process to turn into fabric. With the price of these crops constantly low and competitive prices from other countries as well as new synthetic fabrics that were cheaper and faster to make, left farmers scratching their heads as to why grow it anymore. Add to that the the looms to weave the threads were eventually sold or moved to lower labor cost countries. Russia, Poland, china, and other countries who also grow flax and cotton bought the looms so instead of shipping raw materials to the US to be woven and then shipped back to those countries to be made into clothing and household goods, if they owned the looms too they could reduce costs, which is the way it is now. So, the majority of these fabrics that the US purchases are bought as either blanks for finishing (printing designs, dying, textured or some other finishing) or custom ordered as shelf ready. JoAnns is flooded with product now because those orders were placed roughly 3-6 months ago. Manufacturing takes a couple of months and then shipping time has to be added to that, then customs, then shipping to JoAnns distribution centers, so at the time those orders were placed, the company probably had not decided to file bankruptcy. The court is guaranteeing payment because they have to protect the banks that fowarded the payments to start production (a proforma) and now the balance is due on delivery. I worked for a light mfg of fabric covered custom made picture frame liners, hand wrapped mats and sold linens and silks by the yard. My boss made several trips to China, Poland, and Czech Republic to establish connections with factories to buy from because they were not available here in the US. You have to commit to a considerable amount of product too per order or they won’t do business with you. It took 3-6 months before we got our orders. We shipped ocean because it was much cheaper than air, but it takes longer before you receive it. Factory Labor costs as well as huge shipping cost increases is the real reason prices increased so much on the price of fabrics. Half of JoAnns demise (and eventual demise of other craft stores) is they are less and less a craft store. They keep shrinking craft space in favor of home decor. I don’t generally don’t go to the craft store for home decor and candy. I go to a craft store to buy craft supplies. That’s what you represent yourself to be. Home decor is not crafts. Ok, have a small selection, but the craft stores are starved of craft supplies.They make huge exclusive deals with only a few brands that will do takebacks, discounts and pay promo fees. Many of the quality companies out there you will see little or no product from the large amount of products they manufacture. why? Because when you go to negotiate your next contract with them, their buyers incoherently pick a very small amount of unrelated items out of your line, demand paying an unprofitable price for them and give you lackluster shelf representation unless you pay extra for an exclusive section that leaves the nicer companies saying no thanks and selling to smaller retailers as well as directly on their own websites and Amazon. I know because after leaving the picture framing company, I worked for 16 years for a small craft company and that was what we encountered. I’ve been a crafter of both fabric crafts and paper crafts for over 30 years and now, I rarely shop in store because the things I want rarely are there and I can find exactly what I want online quickly from Amazon. Would I prefer to be loyal to my local craft and fabric stores first? Absolutely. However I am sick of spending precious time driving around and going to different stores trying to find what I’m looking for only to come out empty handed. JoAnn orders take a week to 10 days and then sometimes something I bought as in stock was not in my order because at the time they processed my order it was out of stock leaving me with hunting for it somewhere else with a longer wait. I also had issues with the quality of some fabrics ordered online the last 5 years, where descriptions were inaccurate or the quality was poor and they wouldn’t accept it back. The 2 yard minimum when I really didn’t want as much was also a deterrent. Hobby Lobby’s fabric selection is not as vast,are closed Sundays and do not use modern scanning checkouts making for long lines which I loathe. Also, my Walmart is fazing out fabrics, their craft supply section leaves a lot to be desired and there really aren’t any quilting shops in my area even though I live in north east NJ where there are a lot of stores and people. I love fabrics and there is something fascinating and satisfying about looking them over, feeling them and getting excited about a coordinated group of adorable prints that just makes you want buy everything, go home and create your ass off! So sad to see a great store come to this, but I think if they downside their footprint, keep a more diverse craft selection instead of flooding the isles with Cricut machines, vinyl, T-shirts and mugs and large swathes of beads, the craftaholics like me will shop in store more often. Otherwise I see a gravestone with JoAnns name on it next to other craft stores who rented oversized store locations and changed to buyers that tried to over diversify with products that deviated away so much from what they were originally were all about, losing the repeat customers that were the bread and butter of their company. It was the demise of companies like Rag Shop, ACMoore, Franks and Lee Wards.

[@melviadinsmore38]

WOW your wisdom and understanding is amazing on this subject. You enlightened me so much and this industry details many more faucets than I realized. Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this subject!😊

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@melviadinsmore38 yes. 👍.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@TheCraftydevilSpeaks you have great insight and I agree with everything. I had an ACMoore when I was in Maryland. They sold most of their leases to Michaels. I love fabric. I love crafting. Hands on and touching is a fun part of shopping and creativity.

[@kathleencoe1058]

The JoAnn’s in my area (not close) is dirty packed with boxes and no bathrooms available. So I don’t go there anymore.

[@tonimarieism]

Mine has been closed for about a week, no heat due to our recent cold snap, before that, yes, dirty, nothing but fleece, haven't had bathrooms for YEARS.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@tonimarieism weird. Maintenance does seem to be a long term issue for the chain.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@tonimarieism hope it warms up for you

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@kathleencoe1058 Keeping an area clean is so easy, when we get depressed, cleaning goes by the wayside. I do think dirty stores are a sign of bad management. I love the selection of fabrics. I was confused over the years why a fabric store turned half their store into other crafts and home goods. We need true fabric stores. I need fabric stores with classes. I need a fabric store that wants you to visit often.

[@alluraromel392]

Not all states require stores open to the public to have bathrooms. Florida is one of those states.

[@elysebenson5806]

JoAnns was my go-to fabric store, but those days are over. My local store was absolutely poorly organized and there was a lot of waiting. Not sorry they are going away.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

I miss the stores that were well organized and offered a fun shopping experience. Stay connected my friend. Any suggestions where we should shop for fabric?

[@TheThicketof]

I purchased online a couple of times. What I thought looked like a lt. brown turned out to be gold. True, nice to get the feel of cloth and the fabric color.

[@knitknack2285]

Love 💕 all your beautiful fabrics❤

[@lindaoctavio734]

Great video.....thanks so much!

[@WhereWendyCreates]

I hope it gave you some insight. It is a sad thing that affects most of us who sew. Thanks for watching.

[@ginaolive4853]

11:45 Joanns may be under contract with their vendors to place orders every so often at minimum amounts. With some companies, the order dept does not communicate with accounts receivable. As long as the credit line is still open, the orders are accepted and filled.

[@sheilawallace8568]

There is no credit line anymore! Shipments that come directly from vendors will no longer be coming! Inventory that is coming is coming from warehouse to empty warehouse.

[@gregc3312]

It is true was today at my Joann in TN and insider friend told me vendors are mad a lot of them did not got paid for their products and some probably will have closed their own wholesale business 😢 27:47

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@ginaolive4853 yes, and terms of chapter 11 says they will still get paid. …. Paid something at least

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@gregc3312 how horrific. Sad. So sad.

[@maryschneider5537]

Quilting not 56.00 that is price gouging. You can get Jelly rolls for 38 to 48 at your local quilt shops.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@maryschneider5537 true. My local fabric stores sell Jelly rolls from $48 to $52. I was disgusted last year when prices increased at joanns, but they constantly sell them at 25% off.

[@gregc3312]

I visit two stores today in East TN - . The employees told me they stop 🛑 receiving new shipments. A lot of fabric in the store was not on sale at all it is like they give up on discount formula and just want to get as much money from the floor inventory! Also employee mention a lot of vendors are angry because J Corporate did not pay them for last orders it is very sad

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@gregc3312 they won’t probably get paid till March judgement or later, but eventually, vendors will be paid something. So sad

[@michellebradley9634]

I tryed to work PT at Joanns in 2021. I'm not a quilter per say: but I've done LOTS OF 'home sewing' plays & halloween costumes, personal, baby & kid clothing and some curtains & MANY other crafts that they carry the supplies for. I THOUGHT I was being hired to help with customers and make sure that they were buying the correct supplies. (Suggestive sales) Oh no;.... I was hired just to cut the fabric the customer asked for (sometimes an uneducated sewer) or just run the register.....& clean.... No real customer service not even really to engage customer service at all. There were three non-binary workers, who I got in trouble for not remembering to not use the correct pronoun .... & got yelled at. 🤨🤐 then my store cut back on hours not less shifts ..... but only 2 plp per shift in the store after 5 pm I just didn't feel safe having to close a store in the busy area I was in. Then they went and changed their cash/register system..... which TOTALLY made the balance never balance. 🤔🧐😟 I'm my opinion the management esp. Upper management doesn't have a clue & is letting Pop-culture deside what is important in their business goals instead of realizing that they (Joanns) needs to focus on is customer sales and service. That will keep the merchandise moving,.... keep the customers happy with their purchases. And keep them out of Ch11.

[@laurishumway5201]

Yes! I expect joann staff to be able to answer questions! I hate that many of their employees are simply cash register operators…might as well have self check outs too…😢

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@michellebradley9634 very well said my friend. You know how a business should run. I share your sadness. I miss the fabric stores of the past and want JoAnn’s to exist and flourish. It costs so much for quilt stores to profit and exist. I love fabric. I love sewing and quilting.

[@julieturley6486]

Wow well i was told at my store we cant return anything with a cord. So just be aware and ask the manager, not staff. You can tell i had an issue❤

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@julieturley6486 so sorry about your issue. I know stores in different areas are saying different things. Sometimes management is a problem. Shopping should be easy and fun and in person.

[@gailbrezinka9766]

There are 2 quilt shops on line tht have quality fabrics. My Favorite Quilt Shop. My Favorite Quilt Store Ones in Texas the other is in Greenbay WI. Ive been buying from both for the last 3 years. I hope thia helps some of you. I have a Joanna Fabric 5 min from my house. I don't shop there anymore. The quality in cotton fabric and flannel has gone right out window 🪟.

[@mewho8714]

At the Joanne by my house, they also said they are still getting tons of shipments in. I have read things where people say they’re not getting in new supplies, but that is false.

[@angelawagnon9778]

So Big Lots is NOT going out of business? I was told in our store that they were in bankruptcy and closing the company. Good to know if not, cause our little town has one and I like it better than the W store. Some things are more pricy at BL though.

[@lswanson3405]

Our Big Lots all closed. I thought they were totally closing all stores.

[@twinkles5569]

They are closing in my town, NM.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@angelawagnon9778 there were just under 900 stores. They will keep about 400 profitable stores open.

[@angelal6700]

Here in Columbia, SC, also says closing. 2 stores been in January. They are condensing the merchandise, blocking off empty aisles.

[@Kim-f2d]

All our Big Lots have or are closing!

[@mskat2648]

My hope for JoAnn is for them to go from Crafting store to more of a Fabric store only !! i really hope they make it

[@bjoyp7463]

I was in my local Joann’s today and they wouldn’t accept my gift cards. 😢 They said today was the first day that happened and we’re not notified of any changes and invited me to call tomorrow to see if they can get an answer.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

That's awful. I hope they figure out what's going on soon! That seams illegal. Sigh. 😞

[@lynoreabbott1010]

The 2 in ABQ are not open. Dont answer the phone. Sign on door says no heat. Even on warm days.

[@kathycoutinho5665]

I use to work for Piece Goods which use to be the top competition to JoAnn Fabrics. Unfortunately they expanded way too fast and ended up going bankrupt. I've been shopping at JoAnn for many years now and I have always found it lacking in the fabrics that they sell. If I never see a bolt of fleece again I will not be sad. It seems like 75 percent of their fabric is fleece.

[@aloramahler1804]

Joann’s is the only fabric store in our area. My local JoAnns used to be such a nice place. Now it is dingy, needs painting, new flooring, etc. we used to have several different fabric stores in the Las Vegas, Henderson area, but they are all closed now.

[@marialeal5090]

Curious, where & how did you get jelly rolls for $16.00?

[@WhereWendyCreates]

JoAnn Fabrics stores. Go today! Kona and one other brand. Unadvertised so have it price checked

[@ad6723]

I live in a small town in SW Colorado. The closest fabric store is JoAnn’s in Farmington , NM, 90 miles away, unless you’re only looking for quilting supplies. I went into that store 2 weeks ago, & it was a complete disaster. Fabric bolts shoved willy nilly, patterns all out of their cabinets in plastic bins (it looked like they were in the process of sorting/culling), the sewing notions aisles were practically empty. There were plenty of plastic storage options, but the rest of the store was a huge disappointment. I have no other choice when I want to feel material before buying it, & that drive is barely worth it.

[@MylifeMyway7283]

The 2 JoAnns Stores that I go to down here in Florida both of those stores are Shelves that ARE NOT filled up like before 😢😢

[@cindygagliano6509]

Where will I get to brows the pattern books if JoAnn's goes?

[@judis.1810]

Did you buy those rolls of fabric online or in store? There's a huge difference if it was in-store or not.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

In store. I do not buy online anymore as i have paid, then been told it was not available weeks later and had to wait for a refund.

[@kristingoettlicher3503]

JoAnn is the only good option. I rarely will pay $13/yard at quilt shops. I want a big selection to pick from. Since covid, the selection at JoAnn is way down. We need fabric made in the USA. Maybe the tariffs will encourage that? I miss the selection. Many of the fabrics I would buy again, but they are discontinued. As for online, it doesn't work because I need to see the color in person. Matching colors online does not work.

[@zevsilver301]

I used to buy at Joann fabric with the brand name "Fabric Traditions" that was made in the USA. They had quilting fabric that I made into skirts (I'm more of a garment sewer) and some pre-quilted fabric that I made into covers for furniture. All of this fabric was available from 2014 to about 2018. There is very little fabric available now that is made in the USA. I even wrote to the CEO of Joann asking for them to carry more fabric made in the USA.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

I know what you mean about fabric selection, I miss a lot of the fabrics, too. I have been in three JoAnns recently and each have just received 100’s of bolts of fabric. I have hope b

[@kristingoettlicher3503]

@@zevsilver301 That is great. I agree it was good through 2018.

[@twinkles5569]

@@kristingoettlicher3503 yes then we had the USA ports backup where ships could not unload their products, some ships got tired of waiting at the ports and unloaded their containers into the seas an left, with the majority of our material imported im surprised we still have any at all. At cloth world you could order specialty fabric from Itally’s a France by the bolt, miss those days.

[@bethelle9099]

When I was younger we had a couple of independent fabric stores here in Connecticut and they were great. I started sewing when I was six. Walmart in my area used to have a fabric section but no more. My Stop and Shop used to have a great natural food section but no more. Things have been deteriorating for really, about 30 yrs. We used to have a small franchise called Benny's. They had automotive, homegoods, toys, garden, but they closed. The plandemic put them into the retail graveyard. They were a smaller store and it was an easy in and out and convenient location. This year will be quite bad. If I were independently wealthy I would have a nice sustainable and affordable village for people. Cost efficient , of course. This system is run by the very rich and everything is with the rich in mind.

[@christinenielsen8438]

My recent experience in Mt. Vernon, WA with JoAnn's is: they are understaffed and I don't have time to wait and wait for them to cut my fabric.

[@ellenhofer3343]

My JoAnn's never had beautiful wrapped jelly rolls or fabrics like this. The jelly rolls were wrapped with a band of oaoer & the edges were a frayed. The store mostly had tons of the chesp Flannel and not many cottons. Hardly any upholstry, hone dec, and the crafting section was very sparse. The JoAnn's where I used to live was huge!

[@debrafischer807]

I wish they would show a list of stores closing…ours closed and wasn’t on the list, but if you look on line…it still shows our store…so If I need to find a JoAnns…I can’t trust the internet to show an open store.

[@hmom5164]

The websites for the crafting store are not very good. I would like to see them get better and as an add on a project plan space with a complete product/supply list/prices so you can do your planning at home have a list of items already prepared and don't need to make a gazillion trips back to the craft store or wait 2 or 3 months/years/decades to finish your project!

[@WhereWendyCreates]

Thanks for sharing! Full lists. Great ideas. 💡 Thanks for this comment. Great food for thought.

[@teresalevingston6390]

I don’t know about other stores but the store in North Florida is full of plush, velour and flannel fabrics. Now I think you know we have very little cold weather.so why is this store full of it?

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

There are no fabric stores in my town, the closest JoAnns costs $8 in bridge tolls. The next closest is 45 miles away. So I do most of my fabric shopping online. It's frustrating buying fabric from JoAnns online because they don't accept multiple coupons but even if I pay shipping it still is less expensive if you factor in gas, travel time, and bridge tolls.

[@countcoupblessings979]

I'd rather keep a local fabric store, thats essential ... but big lots usually runs its places like , a step above a dimly lit, sketchy old gas station bathroom ...& in major disaray

[@billschildt4474]

I have shopped at Joann’s for a very long time. For the past year, I have rarely gone to Joann’s. Perhaps if the company had paid attention to its customers, had better managers, kept their stores better organized and CLEANER, had better quality fabrics and paper products (the change was very evident), it might not be in this position. There is a need to have our own factories here in the USA. Barb Pacific NW

[@ecay]

I don't think this is a dying craft. If anything, I think it's growing but instead of having multiple outlets and places where you can go to get fabric locally, most of those stores went out of business several decades ago when sewing got really low. I think it's picking up now and you're starting to see some smaller fabric stores starting back up again, but your big stores I think have gone. I don't know what this means for the sewing community but something will come in and take its place

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@ecay true. And I like your positivity. I miss the fabric stores of the past and want JoAnn’s to exist and flourish. It costs so much for quilt stores to profit and exist. I love fabric. I love sewing and quilting.

[@ecay]

@WhereWendyCreates I miss going to Hancock fabrics with my mom. I hated going then I was a kid and I just there was nothing for kids there. I and I she'd spend hours but today I think back on those times and think about how much I miss going to those stores with her

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@ so very true. Fond memories. Always enjoyed going to them when I was mature and understood the passion of creating I miss them

[@SewingWithLawayne]

From the information I have gotten is the ones in California will be staying open during the filling.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@SewingWithLawayne yes, 99% of them through decision time in March, then could b 6 to 12 months after that for final decision

[@valmartinez-west9725]

I was told yesterday in my Roseville, CA JoAnns that they are closing the middle of march. I hope that employee was wrong then.

[@SewingWithLawayne]

@ I just googled and it says it’s staying open

[@Gzluweez]

Yes, dying industry and.joann helped kill it. There’s only two teeny quilt fabric stores in 3 counties here- I gave up sewing clothing 30 years ago because Joann fabric was crap and not worth my time.

[@jeanherm1824]

If Joann’s closes I will have to go to Chicago or Minneapolis for clothing fabrics. Both are 4 hours away. An order online but not my preferred way to pick out fabrics. And where will all those crafters get their polar fleece for tied blankets.

[@alluraromel392]

If you go to MSP to shop for fabric look up SR Harris. Their main warehouse in Brooklyn Park right off 169 is HUGE and has great prices. I used to live in MN and when I go back to visit I bring an empty suitcase, a list and spend hours picking out fabric. It’s cut yourself and the 2nd + yard is 1/2 price. They have EVERYTHING.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

So true, so sad. I would yell “road trip”. But that is not practical. Fabric is so important for our passions. I like being hands on.

[@zoeclearwater]

I looked up the bankruptcy filing- it’s public record. It actually involves the LLC of Creative Bug and Ditto . The Ditto I assume has been a big failure for them .

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@zoeclearwater one step forward, 2 steps backward. Sigh. The first to jump on a new technology is not always the lucky one. Sigh. Thanks for sharing.

[@sheilawallace8568]

That was supposed to be done in the bankruptcy in March. They owe $500 million from the last bankruptcy.

[@joquartobeans398]

wow

[@WhereWendyCreates]

You can say that again.

[@joquartobeans398]

@@sheilawallace8568 Who managed Joann Fabrics? Apparently not females who sew and craft.

[@judyjacobson1615]

Thanks for your response!

[@WhereWendyCreates]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@MyraRorie]

I went in JoAnns today in Madison Tn and I was so disappointed. The store looked like some kind of fabric warehouse. The fabric was in such disarray, there was paper and trash all over the floor. It looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. There were only about 4 -5 employees that I saw and this is a very large store. I did make some purchases as I had a gift card and there was a 60% off coupon for today. The place was a big mess. Makes me sad because I have always loved Joanns.

[@reginadaul3513]

They are too pricey for me. I do live closer to Missouri Star than the closest JoAnn's.

[@MsSassySean]

Lucky you! Better quality fabric too!

[@gregc3312]

I do agree Missouri Star is expensive 😮

[@ChrisStandlee]

Lucky you I would love to go to Missouri star

[@reginadaul3513]

@@gregc3312 my time and gas makes a difference. 10 minutes each way vs an hour each way. I'm also close enough to get there for the sales. 🤑

[@WhereWendyCreates]

I am so jealous. I would live at Missouri Star.

[@sheilawallace8568]

If price ends in .47 and .97 is clearance price it will no longer be carried.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

Good information to know. Thanks for the share.

[@loriking4724]

Isn't that what businesses do when they are going out of business? To bring in more merchandise? I am disappointed to find out about this recent bankruptcy. They have also discontinued their St. Jude Fabrics for sale; disappeared from the website.

[@dorisr2832]

Re: Hobby Lobby...at least by me, their stores are SO much neater than JoAnn's which seems to have "junk" everywhere.

[@catbroda3590]

Guess I need to get up to JoAnn's. :)

[@justjersey2048]

If my Jo's closes I'm moving! I have a HL and a M's within 25 miles. I choose Jo's over the competition, any day.

[@dawnbrown9508]

I buy from mom and pop shops the majority of the time. Cali Quilt Co and Off The Rails have amazing stock. I pay a little more but it's worth it.

[@janetpaden8878]

How about taking a poll? Every time I try to use the JoAnn Fabrics site, I give up out of frustration. Every computer I've ever had and tried using their site, I've given up. Do other people have this problem or is it just me? I have contacted them in the past to no avail. In my case, I can be looking at fabric, thread, etc. Once I wish to continue shopping, it sends me back all the way to the beginning. Causing me to start all over again! I truly believe if their website worked better, they would be doing better. What's your thoughts? I love JoAnns. I have found them to have better selections, cheaper on some things. I would hate to see them gone. My little town used to have three stores I could buy fabric, though the town has grown, we have zero stores now.

[@cherylbee9899]

My thoughts: their coupons used to be really good. The 20% off everything was good, however now it is only online use. Every once in a while it is in store. They don’t want people in there shopping apparently. With that being said, I’m not buying fabric online and I like Joann’s a lot better than Hobby lobby fabrics. And rarely do I go into Michael’s They are really expensive and not a lot to choice from. At least not my store.

[@dtharge4082]

My store. To much crammed into too little space. Just do fabric. Also clean your floors. Especially the entrance, currently filthy !!!

[@WhereWendyCreates]

It's so sad, we need more fabric stores. Fabric stores should focus on fabric! And yes! Grab a mop! Respect the workplace. No one wants to work or shop in a disorganized dirty mess. Sigh. 😞. Hope. I have hope. Support your local small businesses.

[@kathiethompson6719]

That fabric in the foreground is not at my local Joann store. Quilt shops online have better quality fabric, as well as garment fabric. I quit ordering online with pick up in store at Joann's because so many times they are out of the item after I have ordered. Very disappointing. Coupons are great as long as the item is full price, but they have a huge discount coupon with everything on sale.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

I am told that these items are discontinued. Which makes me upset. They are quality quilters cotton fabric. I found the same problems when ordering online. The discounts and coupons have gotten silly.

[@charlottebarnes6761]

Blame Corporate for the closing and bankruptcy of Joanne.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

I do. Poor judgement on changes. They were bought out and broadened their craft side instead of fabric in 2019

[@eileenalmeida]

I spoke to the manager at my Joanns in Kissimmee Fl yesterday and he told me that they will close their doors on March 15th.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

NO! Screaming in sadness. I have not heard this from other stores. That decision had to have come from the first bankruptcy. So sorry to hear.

[@christophernejman]

JoAnn went from beautiful garment fabrics to a quilt and fleece factory.

[@wingbunny]

They will declare bankruptcy and sell the business to a buyer for a profit, lose very little money (if any) and prices will go up. And employees will either stay on possibly with a pay raise or quit or retire. Isn't that how this works?

[@dtharge4082]

Hoping Trump brings fabric manufacturing back to the US.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

That would be wonderful.

[@casey0613]

For those of us who witnessed this firsthand… Joanne sewing machines are walking out the door without being paid for. That’s right people are walking in grabbing a sewing machine and walking out the front door. And for whatever reason we refused to chase down thieves in this country, their inventory is walking out. This is shameful.

[@TideandTailwind]

I just started my small business and posting on KZbin. It’s alot and now I have to worry about my supplier!

[@WhereWendyCreates]

I knew w my friend. You are not alone. Good luck with your journey. It sounds s fun, do not stress. I have to tell myself over and over that change can be good. 😊

[@TideandTailwind]

@ thank you for the kind words! Please check me out looking for critiques to do better!

[@sheryld7104]

I refuse to shop Walmart!

[@WhereWendyCreates]

@@sheryld7104 you are not the only one my friend. Thanks for watching

[@cherylbee9899]

I can tell you there are 3 Joann stores around me. And they do not have those large jelly rolls or the large square packs.

[@PeggySue-RL]

All Big Lots in Texas n Maine closing

[@WhereWendyCreates]

Makes me sad. I hate to see businesses close. I miss the independently owned stores. Thanks for the update Sad.

[@TCREGAN1]

Big Lots in Florida are almost all gone! Non around Orlando anymore!

[@florneiers5651]

My Joan’s never has this kinds of jelly rolls and packs of small fabrics. Why?

[@WhereWendyCreates]

That is a good question. I am afraid I do not know. Are you saying n a bad g sewing community? I don’t know why they would order differently.

[@debrabrenneman6904]

Although this is off topic, why does my local Joann's stock a HUGE amount of fleece fabrics? Any thoughts on that would be great. Thank you for the very informative video.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

Good question! I am not a fan of fleece, but comfy pajamas great tie blankets and some people use the for the back of quilts. They make great doggy beds and spreads and couch throws. I am not a fan But i have used them for double sided dignity (adult) bibs and for wheel chair blankets. I will do a tutorial. You can cut edges and tie them to help cup feet and legs for s nice wheel chair blankets

[@MrImog65]

Is there going to be a close on Big lots right here in London Kentucky they were advertising it. But now Joanne's yeah I think they should have hobby stuff for something but not all that stuff like cake making and all that and I just don't think that should be there but who am i .

[@sumeraq13]

Hey if you add fabric material which is indan and Pakistan lady wear or need and accessory like lace it’s business going up bcoz some time what suff we need we couldn’t found in store add print saffons soft cotton and other

[@sarahkelly4026]

Understanding that most of JoAnn’s employees worked there because they love handcrafts, at least they were alternative to the exploitation of the mart of walls and hobby lobby. If you shop hobby lobby your money is going to a company that weaponizes their employees for their religious views.

[@WhereWendyCreates]

Yes. I need us to be critical thinkers and not easily led or persuaded with religious or comical gestures.

[@jbd9507]

Joannes in our area has not been supported by corporate. I suspect this is true throughout the company technologies old and not working. Staffing is never enough to properly maintain store help customers aside from filling online orders. They need to have a panel of actual customers to realign their priorities

[@WhereWendyCreates]

What a brilliant idea. You know businesses used to listen and respond to customers requests/demands. It's very sad. It's unfortunate that Joann's has let their staff suffer too.

[@Bethyj2u]

I was just there today. I can’t stand the poor selection of fabric at hobby lobby. I also don’t want fabric online. You can’t truly tell what you’re buying

[@nancywalker1325]

I'm in Joann Fabrics now, the pre cuts are overpriced for the cheap fabric. Designer fabric is $13 to $15 per yard.