What I heard at JoAnn's store today
#51
Look, WalMart took out most of it's fabric departments, then put a lot of them back in, even if in a limited capacity. They obviously see the value and profit of having a fabric department.
Most Wal-Marts have leased spaces already. Fast food, eye doctor, hair stylists, nail salons, etc. It's not much of a stretch to see a fabric store inside too. Probably depends on how much Joann's is willing to pay to lease the space. Let's face it, it all comes down to money.
Most Wal-Marts have leased spaces already. Fast food, eye doctor, hair stylists, nail salons, etc. It's not much of a stretch to see a fabric store inside too. Probably depends on how much Joann's is willing to pay to lease the space. Let's face it, it all comes down to money.
#52
Look at it from a logistics and accounting point of view. All the mentioned lessors...glasses, hair salons, hearing aids, fast food, etc...are in small, separate spaces on the edges of the Walmart central floor. Any contracted space to something like JoAnn's would also be put on the edge and therefore in a very limited, individually lockable, space.
Walmart isn't going to rent out space in the middle of their retail area, only on the edges. It's too much of an accounting nightmare to do it any other way (and Walmart is all about the accounting). They want them in separate little boxes, with separate space costs, security, cleaning, staffing, hours, etc.
Would JoAnn's agree to set up in such limited edge space? Or, if given the option to lease on the central floor, would they agree to staff 'their' area for ALL of Walmart's open hours (24/7 here)? Walmart is certainly not going to staff it, or secure it, or clean it, etc. It just doesn't make sense from a practical standpoint for either company.
The JoAnn's here is physically expanding, broke through a wall into the store next door, and turning into a superstore. The expansion is for art/craft supplies, not fabric. They're certainly not going to 'dilute' their market by spreading out to Walmart.
Walmart isn't going to rent out space in the middle of their retail area, only on the edges. It's too much of an accounting nightmare to do it any other way (and Walmart is all about the accounting). They want them in separate little boxes, with separate space costs, security, cleaning, staffing, hours, etc.
Would JoAnn's agree to set up in such limited edge space? Or, if given the option to lease on the central floor, would they agree to staff 'their' area for ALL of Walmart's open hours (24/7 here)? Walmart is certainly not going to staff it, or secure it, or clean it, etc. It just doesn't make sense from a practical standpoint for either company.
The JoAnn's here is physically expanding, broke through a wall into the store next door, and turning into a superstore. The expansion is for art/craft supplies, not fabric. They're certainly not going to 'dilute' their market by spreading out to Walmart.
#53
Wal-Mart used to lease space to different business. The shoe belonged to a separate company, as well as several other departments. No they are all owened by Walmart stores. There are not even separate divisions. This rumor was going around about 10 years ago, when most of the stores still had fabric. My Joanns did not know anything about it.
#54
I noticed when I was recently in Wal-Mart fabric department they had added a very small line of Designer Home decorating fabrics. I thought it was kind of odd considering how small the department is now to waste the space with more expensive fabric.
I truly hope it is only a rumor. Our JoAnn's has gone down hill. What they carry is not always great & they are far to expensive. It is rare you can even use an in store coupon, as items are alwasy on sale.
I truly hope it is only a rumor. Our JoAnn's has gone down hill. What they carry is not always great & they are far to expensive. It is rare you can even use an in store coupon, as items are alwasy on sale.
#56
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: The other Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 1,913
hope that doesn't happen here. I like my WalMart fabric section better than JoAnn's. Personally I think JoAnn's has very poor quality fabric except for fleece which is too high priced. I hate the damn coupon scam at JoAnn's!
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Ashtabula County, Ohio NE Corner
Posts: 377
Our WalMart has quite a selection of fabrics, notions, craft and yarn stuff.... and Joann's is so expensive.. most of the time what you want is on sale alittle but then you can't use coupons...
#58
I don't understand this repeated assertion that Wal-Mart has poor fabric. Maybe some Wal-Marts but our stores have always had good fabrics. The oldest store took it's fabric out for awhile but it's back now and the newest store (less than 2 years old) has always had some great fabric, 100% cotton, tightly woven, doesn't shrink excessively.....and it is much cheaper than the VERY SAME fabric at Jo-Ann's. About a year ago I bought some 100% cotton (green background with white dots) for $2.00 yd at Wal-Mart. It cut and sewed up beautifully. I loved it so much I went back and bought more just to have in my stash. Six months later Jo-Ann's had the same fabric at $5.99 yd. Fat quarters bought at Wal-Mart compare in every way to those bought at Jo-Ann's except in price: $.99 at Wal-Mart; $1.99 at Jo-Ann's.
Having said all that I still shop at Jo-Ann's; it's nearer and I can use coupons. But I don't hesitate to buy fabric at Wal-Mart, either. Some of it is better than fabric available at Jo-Ann's, and most of it is at least equal and much cheaper. We no longer have LQSs nor a Cloth World (do they still exist?) nor a Hancock's so those are not options. We do have Hobby Lobby--not very convenient to me--and of course if we choose to, we can drive 35 miles to Dallas--and get anything we want there. But in the meantime, I love that Wal-Mart has fabric!
Having said all that I still shop at Jo-Ann's; it's nearer and I can use coupons. But I don't hesitate to buy fabric at Wal-Mart, either. Some of it is better than fabric available at Jo-Ann's, and most of it is at least equal and much cheaper. We no longer have LQSs nor a Cloth World (do they still exist?) nor a Hancock's so those are not options. We do have Hobby Lobby--not very convenient to me--and of course if we choose to, we can drive 35 miles to Dallas--and get anything we want there. But in the meantime, I love that Wal-Mart has fabric!
#59
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 244
Adding my two cents to JoAnns at WalMart. First of all we do not have any fabric departments at the
Walmarts around me and that includes about six WalMarts. I do not see where there would be a space but I spose the powers that be could squeeze one in. Second thought is my experience with JoAnns is that they have really gone down hill lately so perhaps are looking for a new venture. The store is often out of stock and the fabric has gotten more expensive but the quality is even worse. Could happen but not much of an advantage to quilters.
Walmarts around me and that includes about six WalMarts. I do not see where there would be a space but I spose the powers that be could squeeze one in. Second thought is my experience with JoAnns is that they have really gone down hill lately so perhaps are looking for a new venture. The store is often out of stock and the fabric has gotten more expensive but the quality is even worse. Could happen but not much of an advantage to quilters.
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