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From: MaryW
Date: 03-03-2006, 07:02 AM (1 of 21)
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Is this a sign of what is to come, is this what is happening in your area? http://memphis.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2006/02/27/daily23.html?jst=b_ln_hl MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Sailorliz
Date: 03-03-2006, 07:26 AM (2 of 21)
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Mary, According to the national news this morning, all retail sales were down for the month of Feburary. Stock markets are dropping. Hmmm..  Seems to me they don't want to use the word recession?
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386 
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From: SandyGirl
Date: 03-03-2006, 08:26 AM (3 of 21)
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Maybe we should ask the question ,....why are their sales down? Is JoAnns up? Maybe JoAnns is doing something "right" over Hancocks....I end up shopping at JoAnns much more than the Hancocks. They are within a few miles of each other...thoughts anyone? Could just be a competition issue... sandy |
User: SandyGirl
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 97 |
From: pretnichols
Date: 03-03-2006, 08:36 AM (4 of 21)
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I never shop Hancock. There staff is extremely rude and never want to answer questions. Now I realize their are days when the store is busy and they are overwhelmed, but typically when I have visited them in the past, there were maybe 2-3 customers in the entire store. I also have a "regular" Joanns & a Joann Superstore the same distance from my house. The regular one needs a major overhaul! It's filthy dirty; the stock is soiled; you cannot walk down any "main" aisle without bumping into something. The last time I was there, one of the staff was on a cell phone -- ignoring everyone, but rearranging the clearance fabric. If you asked her a question, she just turned and walked the other way. I know it was a personal call, since she talked about getting a huge $$$ settlement and what she was going to do with the money. They even lost their sewing machine section who moved to a separate store. So, I have been only going to the superstore. Sorry, I didn't mean to vent....I just could go on & on.  But either way, both Joann's always have a lot of customers in them, not like at Hancock. Maybe they should take a hard look at why....!!!
Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 03-03-2006, 09:40 AM (5 of 21)
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JoAnn's I do not think is down by that much, by they are down too. Traffic in many of their store is lighter than normal. People are just watching their pennies and spending on what they need and not what they would like. Hancocks around here, we have about 3 of them, seem to be in such a mess. I do not shop there often, I don't like having to move bolts of material to see what is under them. I think if they cleaned up the stores and made it more shoppable, more people would come. Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: MaryW
Date: 03-03-2006, 09:50 AM (6 of 21)
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I know some of the fabric stores around here are hanging on by a thread. One has turned almost exclusively to craft products. Now, Michaels has moved into town. It will be interesting to see what happens.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Sherri
Date: 03-03-2006, 10:10 AM (7 of 21)
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The ladies at our lacal craft shop that sells fabric say there fabric sales are better then ever. But only a tiny little corner is dedicated to fabric and 90% is scrapbooking. Sher My website
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User: Sherri
Member since: 02-07-2001 Total posts: 357 |
From: Magot
Date: 03-03-2006, 12:19 PM (8 of 21)
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I find it very hard to buy fabric - very few places in the UK. I would long for a Joanne or Hancocks to sneer at.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: beachgirl
Date: 03-03-2006, 12:38 PM (9 of 21)
| I don't like to bash anyone or place but I seldom go to our Hancocks store here. The store is clean but it seems if your not a real regular customer your ignored. I really don't care for the fabric there either. There sale items aren't worth checking out. Their notions department here is quite small also. It just isn't my place to shop. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 03-03-2006, 12:58 PM (10 of 21)
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We do not have Joanne's here in Charlotte.. We have several Hancock's and their employees are very helpful and very knowledgeable about the merchandise.. I have no complaints.. We now have a Hobby Lobby , but they haven't been here very long.. They are OK, but never have enough help on duty.. (in the fabric dept.)
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: paroper
Date: 03-03-2006, 01:56 PM (11 of 21)
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We have a strange retail market in OKC. Many stores that thrive in other places (well known stores) have failed to do anything here. We've lost a few Cloth World's over the last several years and only have 1 Joanne's in the entire OKC area (don't know about Tulsa). I used to shop Joanne's a lot, but with the closing of 6 stores and locating the last one some 35 miles away, it just is no longer convient. We have Hobby Lobby (as far as I know it is based here) and they have excellent fabrics (as much as they have), but we still have several Hancocks stores. I think all of the fabric stores are in trouble. They are all looking to add/reinvent themselves and have been having that problem for years. I know someone whose family member works for a major Hancocks in our area. She fears they will close and he will loose his job. It is a bad time for fabric sales everywhere. You don't have to be an economist for that. Not many people make clothes any more. The pattern books are much smaller and have fewer designs...and the designs are often "wierd". The fabrics that fit those designs well are hard to find and hardly anyone you know sews. There are groups of people who do embroidery who have never sewn and there are plenty of quilters who haven't a clue how to construct a dress (go figure...I always though quilters used left overs from sewing). All that aside, the fuel prices and the credit changes are killing our economy. We're about to come to a grinding hault if things don't change...soon!!! We have five cars on the road...I get physically ill when I think about how our gas prices have skyrocketed over the last year. The only thing that is almost holding me together is that the twins are about to graduate and will be getting jobs. The winter heating bill changes and gas charges this year have just about haulted things too. If this keeps up, there are going to be a lot of heat strokes and exposure deaths over the next year because people won't run their heat and air (can't afford to do that and go to work.) There is no way that average people will be able to purchase sewing machines and "toys" if this keeps up! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 03-03-2006, 03:33 PM (12 of 21)
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Pam, I sure agree with you. Last week it was on TV that they figure we'll have this plus worse for at least over the next 5 years. We haven't had to use any heat so far this winter but I sure do dread when we'll need the ac. Gas prices are expected to go up as they always do during the summer when so many take their vacations. There is just DH & I as all kids are grown so we can cut back somewhat more than some. That doesn't make it pleasant though. Somehow I'm sure we'll all get through this. We are losing the JoAnns close to us. A new ETC is opening farther away in town. I won't be going quite as much. There are some wonderful fabric shops here but really high prices as they are small & cater mostly to the decorators. I think that's everywhere though.I really feel sorry for the young couples with small children, the single parent & the eldery on fixed incomes. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615
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From: paroper
Date: 03-03-2006, 05:51 PM (13 of 21)
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Mom used to say that the people who did well during the depression were the grocers. People cut back on everything but had to eat. The first problem that I see that people live so far from where they work and shop now so as gas gets tight it is going to be hard to get people to work. Our immediate area is virtually undeveloped for jobs. I've talked to local community planners about this problem but is not something that can be fixed quickly.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Sancin
Date: 03-04-2006, 03:21 AM (14 of 21)
Maybe no one needs to buy fabrics because we all have stashes!  Seriously, sometimes it is cheaper to buy clothes. Some things I couldn't buy the material for what I pay for light weight and leisure wear. Now if only bathing suits were cheaper!  Fanny's Fabric closed here in PG and I believe elsewhere. They carried some fabrics one couldn't get at Fabricland, like knits. Before they closed they started to carry a lot of home decor stuff. I don't know about you, but all that stuff looks alike from one store to the next and it looks cheap. I wonder who buy the stuff. 
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: pretnichols
Date: 03-04-2006, 08:51 PM (15 of 21)
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I'd forgotten that Hobby Lobby sold fabric. We have that & Michaels & Joann Superstore within 1 mile of each other from beginning to end. I don't know many people who shop Hobby Lobby, especially for fabric, but they have lots of other cool decorating "stuff". I'll have to check them out! As for prices going up -- it's unmerciful. My parents live 15 miles from me and pay 15-20cents more for a gallon of gas. They love to come & visit me just to fill up their tanks! I have not worked fulltime in almost 5 years and yet I faithfully keep track of the job market. I will most likely need to find a full-time job within a year and I'm afraid that I won't have skills needed to get one, since so many others will be laid off. I know it is the same all over the country, but it is still scary. My Mom lived through the depression and she said that in some respects this is worse, since we always seem to be teetering on the edge (the economy, not me personally). More store closings are to be expected. Maybe we should all go out and build up a huge fabric stash now! We won't be able to afford it in years to come! 
Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: LoveSewin
Date: 03-05-2006, 12:05 PM (16 of 21)
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I live an hour away from the city which only has Fabricland now (our Fanny's is gone as well). I tend to sew only when I need a special occassion dress etc. I find it cheaper to buy my everyday wear - but I can save heaps when I sew nice skirts etc. Fabricland is hit or miss though. Sometimes you really have to hunt to find what you are looking for, and I've bought fabric that was less than perfect. I once had to shorten a jacket I made from knee length to waist length because there was a twist in the fabric! I'm not surprised fabric sales are down - where I live the only sewing people do is quilting. They buy all their fabric from the local quilt shop - which does very well by the way. The have no problem speding a couple hundred $$'s on fabrics. When people find out I sew they are amazed - it's like no one does it anymore! I have 2 dd's who I hope will learn to sew and keep the craft alive! Kim
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User: LoveSewin
Member since: 01-31-2006 Total posts: 103 
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From: Sew-Enchanting
Date: 03-05-2006, 05:44 PM (17 of 21)
I think between prices going up and fewer people actually knowing/learning how to sew, it is causing the problem of a serious lack of fabric stores!  I actually prefer our Hancock's to our JoAnn's. The Hancocks has a wider selection of fabric and in most cases it seems to be of better quality. Our JoAnn's is very small, and about half is devoted to seasonal, crafts & frames (but no frameshop). It is often dirty...the material is uncared for (often on the floor, etc), which really shows more that (1) the customers there are slobs, and (2) there aren't enough workers to take care of them! They also don't seem to have as much fabric turnover - I could go today and find the same things that were there two months ago. 'Course, I guess that also shows that people have stopped buying fabric! The Hancocks' gets in special shipments twice a month, which I like to look through. I don't get any of my special occasion fabrics from either of them, though. I go through my suppliers - JoAnns' has a better selection, but that only means that they have two carrels full instead of one. What a tangent! My original thought here was that there are so many people who never learned how to sew, and I can see that in how many people are at either store at a given time. I usually have Hancock's to myself, which is kind of nice for any questions I might have, and JoAnns is usually empty in the fabric part. But that might just be because of the blue collar town I live near. I can't tell you how many people are surprised when they find out my sewing experience - at age 36, I've been sewing for myself for 26 years, and for others for over 16 years. People are astounded that at my young age, I actually learned to sew. That's sad. Kris
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User: Sew-Enchanting
Member since: 12-28-2005 Total posts: 53
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From: paroper
Date: 03-05-2006, 08:19 PM (18 of 21)
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Well, even the adults who do garment making are finding it cheaper to purchase than make the clothing. It is our own fault..that and the prices just keep rising. PLEASE...tell me why anyone would put 28-29 dollars on a pattern...and we still often pay half of that!!! We are nuts! Well, I single handidly have kept the industry going to many years. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 03-05-2006, 08:40 PM (19 of 21)
| Kris, I think it depends on the manager of each store on how it looks. The Hancocks & Jo Ann's are very clean here & well organized. Jo Ann's I do like the best here. Just personal preference. My sister in-law in Omaha said their JoAnn's was dirty but Handcocks was clean. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615
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From: blanken6
Date: 03-07-2006, 06:03 AM (20 of 21)
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I have both stores relativly close to me. Jo-anns, just moved out of a little tiny store into a huge store. Maybe Hancocks should try this? Hancocks is still in it's same location as it has always been. They are trying to upgrade it a bit, but the same cranky and often times over stressed ladies work there. The store policies of closing very early and not having enough staff can't make it a great place to work at? I do find on occasion that they have things I can't find elsewhere. But that is getting less and less as the store tries to re-vamp. They are re-vamping themselves right out of business though. I do like the store, I hope it figures out it's problems so it can still compete with Jo-anns.
Proverbs 31:10-31
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User: blanken6
Member since: 08-11-2004 Total posts: 41 
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From: SandyGirl
Date: 03-07-2006, 06:20 AM (21 of 21)
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Another thing...the big box stores get greedy and over-build. Just watch the ones that expand quickly...then a couple of years later they close up the "underperformers" Duh! I think sometimes they are their worst enemy....we can't shop at all of them! Oh, I agree that Hancock's is disorganized, etc...just never looks well kept. In my retail career many moons ago..."image" and store cleanliness was a priority....We had to keep things neat,organized, clean! Short staffing doesn't help either. It has to be a managers' priority at least some of the time.. sandy |
User: SandyGirl
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 97 |
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