Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

[shelbylovesmelby]

I've heard on a few forums now that Wal-mart hired some new guy from Target. Whom feels that the fabric section & sporting goods should be on the chopping block.

I'm especially miffed that now they want to get rid of the fabric section & add a rumored "celebrations" area (extended party supplies ect) because NO ONE SEWS ANYMORE. I don't know about some of you but I do a lil bit of quilting & other misc projects. And since JoAnn's has turned itself into a big box store w/ shotty customer service, other than the small stores still floating about I would rather go to Wal-marts' dept. They know what you are talking about when you ask them, & take you directly down the asile, rather than the.... take a ticket @ the cutting table cause there's no one around who can answer your question & then they tell you there may be something down this asile....& it's not even close

What do the rest of you think about this?

[pearlieq]

Re: Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

Eh. Sewing really isn't all that popular anymore. It often costs an individual or hobby sewer more to sew a garment themselves than it would be to just buy it.

I wonder if they'd make the decision on a regional or store-by-store basis.

Customer service depends on the actual people working at the store. Your Wal-mart must have really good people whereas your Jo-Ann must not. That obviously won't be true across the entire chain--it's very hit-or-miss.

I can imagine it's frustrating if you do like to shop for fabric there, but I can see how it might benefit Wal-mart to remove it. It takes up a lot of space, and I would guess that party supplies have a higher margin than fabric.

[disneysteve]

Re: Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

Sorry, but I have to agree with pearlieq. There is an awful lot of floor space taken up by the fabric and sewing stuff and I rarely see any customers there. We do by yarn there, but they could probably keep that as it is self-serve. From a business standpoint, I'm surprised they've kept the department this long. Jo-Ann's and Rag Shop have far better service, more knowledgeable staff and a better selection anyway, at least around here.

[JBinKC]

Re: Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

I think that would be a very big mistake especially in Walmart's small town markets.

I boycott Target based upon the fact it turned into just another soft goods retailer without a decent sporting goods department, automotive department and took away their own brand of items that were of high quality and very low priced (i.e. bratwurst).

Although I hate defending Walmart as I do not like the fact it generally killed a large portion of the industrial base in this country. I do prefer a centralized place to shop for all of my needs instead of wasting my time traveling from store to store.

[rduell]

Re: Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

I just heard on the national news in the past couple of days that sewing is the new hobby that teens are really getting into. I wouldn't think that Walmart would discontinue that area if sewing is really coming back in style.

[rob62521]

Re: Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

I remember years back when we had three or four sewing stores. We now have JoAnn Fabrics and that's it except for Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby and their departments. I hope rduell is right and sewing is coming back in -- so many people can't even sew on a button!

[Pupart]

Re: Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

I just made some drapes with fabric I purchased at Wal Mart.
I hope they don't stop selling fabrics.
I can't believe anyone would say NO ONE SEWS ANYMORE.
As long as there are sewing machines for sale and people who like to design their own things, I think sewing will continue.

[shelbylovesmelby]

Re: Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

A friend of mine's aunt said that her aunt's store in Ohio will be phasing out the fabrics & craft dept within the next 2 yrs.

I agree I like the one stop shopping & a store that carries hardline items as well.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Re: Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

I thought Wal-Mart went through this controversy about 3 years ago. Wasn't there a big backlash when they wanted to close down the fabrics, causing Wal-Mart to change their minds?

[simpleyme]

Re: Rumor: Wal-mart Getting rid of other depts

evryone I know sews to some extent,I can almost always buy things cheaper than I can make them ,but the problem is I cannot find things I like that are premade so I just make them myself