WalMart

The fabric section at ours closed quite some time ago. One day I went in and it was just gone! They still carry some notions, sewing machines, fiberfill, yarn, and that kind of thing, but no fabric at all. I seldom bought fabric there - primarily because we have several quilt shops close by - but I still enjoyed looking when I went in, so I miss it from that standpoint. We're fortunate, though, that in addition to the LQSs, we have Hancock's and JoAnn's within about 5 miles of my house, so we still have quite a few options available.

I've heard this also and it makes me sick. It's the only place in our small town where you can buy sewing supplies. The next closest store is 10 miles away and it seems a shame you have to drive that far to buy a yard of lace! One other thing, have you noticed they have cut WAY back on merchandise? In our small store, the aisles are much wider, the shelves lower, and not stocked half as deep. That started maybe 4 months ago here in WI. Donna

There's gold in them thar words...

That's bound to change along with the economies, both local and overall. When things get better, so should selections, though they may be different (i.e. something in place of fabric).

Doc

In most cases, that would be true. But the start up costs to open a fabric/notions store would be prohibitive.

Maybe in a few years when people wouldn't compare the prices one would have to charge with what the same product had cost when WM sold it.

We've had several nice quilt shops go out of business in our community. Maybe without the competition of WM, it would have been different.

I will have to drive 30 miles to buy any kind of supplies.

Cindy

There's gold in them thar words...

Love them or hate them you have to agree that having a Walmart store makes living in a small town more feasible. I saw the drastic change it brought to the small southern town where my relatives lived. Before Walmart major shopping meant a trip over the mountain.

Susan

That's exactly the scenario I ran into where I used to live. It was a very small town, and to buy almost anything we had to drive 120 miles each way before WM arrived. Needless to say, we made extensive use of mail order, but that's sometimes iffy, since you can't really see/touch what you're ordering before making a decision. :S I hardly ever go to WM these days -- probably a reaction to *having* to use them so much before -- but I was grateful to have them at that time.

Someone said the Material Possessions quilt store in Orange County closed. Now that is one of the more affluent areas I can think of. They were not near a Walmart, rent was for an industrial not higher end retail and they always had a lot of business. I think small stores just tend to come and go a lot. The amount of work compared to the amount of profit just makes it prohibitive. I think as the economy and associated changes come we are going to see more small businesses close than we are even used to seeing. That is a guess and only time will tell on that though. All the discount internet buying that we choose doesn't help local stores either. Taria

Maybe. I doubt it, BTICBW.

That or shop online, and I commiserate.

Doc

The WalMart here has begun stocking an increasing range of precut fabric. The whole range of strips and such are filling more and more of the space devoted to fabric (a tiny fraction of what it was five years ago). Of course, if you buy a $20 roll of 2.5" strips then you don't need an employee to do anything for you. I suspect that in some areas that concept will completely replace the traditional fabric section complete with nice ladies who will talk to you about your projects and generally be human and fun.

That said, our LQS here (with which I have a love/hate relationship) is struggling. I've been making it a point to buy from them, even when it costs more or the selection isn't quite what I want. I recently decided I needed (wanted) a bottle of Bubble Jet and had them order it for me rather than ordering it myself. It's taking lots longer and it will cost more. But it will maybe help keep a "real" quilt store in our town. They became a Husqvarna/Viking dealer a couple years ago and I'm not sure if it helped or hurt them. Ah well.....

We live in hard times. Maybe it doesn't feel like that all the time, or even often. So many distractions available to us. But make no mistake -- we live in hard times.

Sunny

IME, it has to be viewed on an individual Case by case basis.

Yet a couple of LQS here are expanding.

My most recent sources claim the current recession ended in June. Of course the recovery period takes time and there is often a lag.

Been saying that for years. It killed all the model RR shops & boardgame shops, & most other hobby shops here. The LQSs are likely to follow eventually. It's that touchy/feely aspect and added value (classrooms, etc.) that's keeping them alive. I've no crystal ball; I just watch what I see...

Doc

Hi Sunny,

You know I'm an optimist - I HAVE to be - even when I don't always sound like one. ;-) I believe that we live in *changing* times - not to say they can't be both.

Which just reminds me of the reputed* Chinese curse/proverb (depending on the source): "May you live in interesting times."

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  Doc

Yeah, that would be why unemployment is still spiraling upward.....

I think that's a lot of trying-to-manipulate-people sort of talk. When economic conditions haven't improved and unemployment is rising, it's absurd to say a recession/depression has "ended". (And if it's the worst since the Great Depression, how come it's just a "recession" and not a "depression"? More psychological manipulation.....)

Bottomed out, maybe. Ended, horse-hockey.

--pig, unemployed, month seven.....

Yes, and it will likely continue to rise before it gets better. Unemployment is not the first indicator of an upturn.

Please don't shoot the messenger for trying to share a glimmer of light; if you'd like to debate the facts, figures, and opinions, be my guest. I don't forecast/write 'em. ;-)

Doc

This particular store expanded a few years ago. Debbi might know more, she is from that area. I grew up there and visit often but am out of the loop. I just wonder if the workload is more than folks expect? The amount of energy or puch the particular shopkeeper has makes a big difference I guess. In the last few years we have gone from no LQS to 3 that seem to be holding on. The valley here about 35 miles from 'the big city'. There are a couple of Walmarts and a Joann's along with Home Fabrics. There are a couple active guilds that help stir interest.

Taria

IME, it has to be viewed on an individual Case by case basis.

Yet a couple of LQS here are expanding.

My most recent sources claim the current recession ended in June. Of course the recovery period takes time and there is often a lag.

Been saying that for years. It killed all the model RR shops & boardgame shops, & most other hobby shops here. The LQSs are likely to follow eventually. It's that touchy/feely aspect and added value (classrooms, etc.) that's keeping them alive. I've no crystal ball; I just watch what I see...

Doc

I watched part of a show on Walmart on MSNBC. They have reduced the number of items the stores carry by 1600. They have also planned to have a more "friendly" store with lower shelves and no overstock up above on the top shelf. Having shopped there recently, I found a large number of items that are no longer available at Walmart. They are carrying fewer brands, and fewer items in each category. They have also "rebranded" their store brand items. The new "Great Value" packaging is white with blue printing. The name is so large on each package, that you have to hunt for the part that tells you what is inside! In a row of canned goods, they all look alike! Our Walmart in Zephyrhills still carries a bit of fabric, but most of the neighbouring ones don't have any. I remember that they tried pre-packaged fabric lengths a few years ago, but they were un-popular. Now with people buying pre-cut strips and squares, maybe that will be they way they'll go. Personally, I like to cut my own fabric.

Having owned/run a successful business for 10 years, and having many associates who still do, I can safely say, yes, the workload is ALWAYS more than folks expect. Whenever the subject comes up between small business owners, there's invariably a LOT of mutual eye rolling... ;-)

You guess correctly!

Doc, who speaks from personal experience on this one...