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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
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From: sewerzzzzzz
Date: 01-13-2007, 09:32 PM (1 of 9)
Walmart will be either reducing or eliminating their fabric dept. (story changes, depending on who you speak with). Walmart employees say dept. will be eliminated, Walmart customer service says dept. will be reduced in size to make more space for birthday and wedding stuff.  In any event: please call 1-800-WALMART and voice your opinion.  Thanks!!! |
User: sewerzzzzzz
Member since: 02-27-2005 Total posts: 81 |
From: esrun3
Date: 01-16-2007, 12:10 AM (2 of 9)
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Not real sure what they are doing but I know I walked into my nearest Walmart the other day and the fabric dept is just about gone...only thing left is some tacky fabric at 50% off and not much of that. I had heard the rumors but was shocked to see it gone-I had just been in there a week ago and they had a fully stocked fabric dept so where did all the fabric go?
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-20-2007, 01:53 PM (3 of 9)
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I found out yesterday that the one closest to me is removing the cutting table.. The employee said I would have to watch for fabric markdowns, they will not tell her when they will start.. She said all the notions , etc.. will be kept, just no fabric to measure and cut.. BUMMER ...
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: LoveSewin
Date: 01-20-2007, 02:43 PM (4 of 9)
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Is it just a US thing? I was just at a Walmart in Calgary the other day and it didn't look like they were clearing out....unless I missed something. Does anyone know?
Kim
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User: LoveSewin
Member since: 01-31-2006 Total posts: 103 
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From: pretnichols
Date: 01-20-2007, 11:02 PM (5 of 9)
It's interesting to see the differences in Walmart stores. I was in 2 last week. One -- well I wouldn't buy anything from the store! It was beyond filthy, and the fabric department was pretty much wiped out. It's not in a great area anyway, so that might be why it was so bad. Then I went to one in an "upscale" area, and was stunned at how loaded they were with fabric & notions. It is a fairly new store (2-3 years), and they did not look like they were going out of business. As a matter of fact, they are remodeling the store front, to make it a Super Walmart in the near future. Guess I'll just have to keep visiting them.........
Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 01-21-2007, 12:02 AM (6 of 9)
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The little Walmart that I go to in Amite is full of fabric. The one in Covinton they tell me will close but the one in Amite will stay open. The lady at the Amite store told me they are getting rid of some and some are staying. There is no Target around the Amite store to compete with but there is one in Covington maybe that is the key to all this mess. I dont' know but they are going to be the loser here. But again the small fabric shops will gain business here. There is a lot of Fabric stores around here that sell quilt fabric but not many that stock garment fabric or deco fabric.
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: grandma C
Date: 01-21-2007, 01:25 PM (7 of 9)
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I shop in Scottsboro, AL and that Wal-Mart fabric dept is 1/3 the size it was. Very little selection. The nearest place to get a selection of fabrics and patterns or sewing notions is 40 miles away in Huntsville or Boaz. Bummer. Grandma C |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-22-2007, 07:25 AM (8 of 9)
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I'm sure it is a boardroom decision...and it is not likely that the common person will be able to change any minds. The only thing they understand is when we vote with our check books. I was in a very nice, larger-than-usual fabric departrment in a Wal Mart the other day where the department was quite large but not well stocked. The lady said they were expecting more fabrics, just sold down because of Christmas and inventory. I asked if they were going to close she rather avoided the question but said that she had wanted to move to a newer Wal Mart closer to home and they had told her they wouldn't be needing cutters at the newer Wal Mart store. 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: Carol in ME
Date: 01-22-2007, 06:53 PM (9 of 9)
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I worked at Walmart over the 2005 Holiday season. I really wanted to work in the craft and fabric area, but was told that there is a waiting list to get into that department. Doesn't explain why, half the time, no one is there to wait on customers... Anyhow, shortly after I left, I read in the business news of Walmart's new direction. It's been decided that customers were leaving and going to stores with wider aisles, more fashionable clothes, a smaller selection of merchandise with a more modern look. If that sounds familiar, it should - it describes the store with the red and white bull's-eye logo. Fabric and crafts takes up a lot of room, but the sales per square foot are abysmal. I suspect letters aren't what would save the department, but actual sales. All over the net, folks are complaining and saying they're going to start shopping at Target. Ironically, Walmart is changing to get back some of the the customers they've already lost to Target. Target's merchandise mix is growing the company - WM board would be absolutely idiotic to ignore that simple fact. Be thoughtful before you pull out the "almighty buck" argument. Plenty of little old ladies, (and men) and working folks putting money in retirement plans (those mutual funds, that's stock, too) to say nothing of the employees still there with investment in the profit-sharing plan, benefit from the stock doing well. It isn't just "the rich." We're very lucky. We have a couple big "surplus and salvage" businesses here. I thought everybody had something like that, but I learned recently it is unique to our geographic area. One of those businesses does stock fabric, but only in locations where it sells well. Only three of the twelve locations have fabric. It puts WM to shame. Almost puts Joann's to shame, too, 'cause I can go to the fabric department and not have to root through lawn ornaments and Pez dispensers to look at fabric. It is entirely possible that some other store will step in and fill the gap where WM downsizes or eliminates it's department. But so many people make the decisions based on price alone, I wonder how some one would ever make that work. |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
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