no yarn at wal-mart

[Beaglelady]

YIKES!!! I was in the Wal-Mart last night and I guess what was said is true. No more 'craft department'. All the material, sewing machines, yarns, scrapbooking, etc is all gone. GONE!!! They are re-arranging the WHOLE store.

[Lucki721]

Which Eastern Connecticut store was that?? The Waterford store on I-95? They just recently remodeled there (before I moved down here, it used to be a regular store, then they turned it into a 24 hour Supercenter, lol..but this was over 2 years ago). I moved to Florida last year..the Wal Marts I shop at still have fabric and crafts, but one seems to get more craft merchandise than the other..sorry to hear that about your store, that stinks..but at least there is an AC Moore!! I miss that store!

[terrijo]

There are 4 Walmarts within 20 minutes of us. They are all superstores and all have yarn but not like they used to. I grocery shop at Walmart and always have to cut down the yarn lane. Because of the lack of any new colors of yarn there I'm getting into my tubs and bags of stash---I swear I have more yarn than Walmart does! If I get desperate I can go to JoAnns or Michaels which both have stores within 15 minutes. I'm really not as innocent as I sound, I just got a pacakage of yarn from Lions Brand on Thursday. Where there's a way I WILL get yarn!

I sure got off topic....sorry.

[granny sunshine]

In our hometown we have the 5th largest Wal-Mart in the USA. Still nothing to shout about with the yarn section. I was talking to a clerk and she assured me our store would keep the crafts sections, since we are the only one within a very long driving distance.

 

Still it makes my heart quiver when I hear of stores closing their crafts sections. And I hope it doesn't happen to us. I would have to order off line, because we are very rural and Wal-Mart forced the mom and pop stores to pack it in. I can't understand why they feel they have to close the crafts section.

[caitlinsmom]

We had a regular Walmart here & when they built a new supercenter they cut the yarn section to just 1 little aisle. Not even both sides of the aisle-just 1 side! I was talking to a lady from Elmore-Pisgah about peaches & creme yarn & she told me every Walmart can order any color of their yarn for you. Go to the website & get the correct numbers for the shades & Walmart can order it & it will be the cost of the yarn only -No shipping cost. I'm glad Walmart still has lots of fabric & patterns.

[CraftyShannon]

So far, the craft section is still at my Wal-Mart, though every time I go, I am scared because they have a whole aisle of clearance stuff. Once it clears, they seem to add more. I do have to say they are adding some newer things. The craft section looks a tad less full as it used to and they did put camping stuff out in the main aisle where their promotional/seasonal crafty things used to be.

 

I haven't asked the women who work there if the deptarment will be done away with. Everyone seems to be told something different, so they probably know as much as we do. I just try to think the fact at least one of them is stocking every time I go in is a good sign.

 

The fact they move around the entire store is a HUGE peeve of everyone in town. It's a given. Once you learn where something is, you can bet it will be moved the next time. I have heard customers complain about it. The workers say they hate it as much as we do. They can't find stuff either, yet have to point people in the right direction.

[boksie]

Our Walmart in KY still carries yarn and bolts of fabric. When I visited a Walmart in Arkansas over Easter time the associate at that store said that if there are Amish communities near a Walmart then they will continue to carry yarns and fabrics.

[Paper Bag Princess]

We still have a crafts department with fabric and yarn, but that's not saying much.

 

A full half of the yarn aisle is devoted to fun fur/novelty yarns. On the other side are the regular yarns, half of which are baby yarns/pastels. The Simply Soft is ALWAYS heavily picked over. So you're lucky if you can find enough skeins in ONE color you want, much less two or three colors.

 

There is some Red Heart, too, but I don't think our Walmart carries all the colors they offer. Plus the quality of Red Heart has gone downhill so much in the past couple of years, I won't buy it any more unless I have to. It seems like one out of three skeins of Red Heart has tons of knots, inconsistent thickness (really thin in spots, way too thick in others). Red Heart has never been soft, but lately some of their yarn feels like they made it out of steel wool -- it's that scratchy!

 

I will say that my Walmart does have a nice selection of Leisure Art pattern books. That is the only positive thing I can say. There's a Michael's in the next county, but they aren't much better. So these days I pretty much buy everything online.

[Beaglelady]

I don't know......?????? It's a Super (grocery and store). They moved some sections around......but I didn't see, materials, sewing machines, yarn, scrapbook stuff - nada, gone, kaput!! I'll keep my eye out.

It's the one here in Lisbon. There's an AC MOORE about 45 minutes away. Not that I need any yarn right now anyways. I was wondering more than anything if any ladies here had run across the same situtation.

[Lucki721]

Oh yeah, we used to go to that one in Lisbon!! I used to live in Norwich, then we moved to Groton. Wow..so no more crafty department. You must be far from New London then. Unfortunately up there, Wal Marts were few and far between.

 

I know this doesn't help you..but recently there was a remodel at one I shopped at in Tampa, and the craft department was moved around several times. Now it's just a few rows of stuff, and one tiny row of yarn. The one I shop at now is the same thing, but they still have fabric and yarn, just a lousy selection of both.

 

There is a JoAnn Superstore in Manchester I used to go to as well, but very rarely..and I used to work at the JoAnns in Norwich (old...not sure if it is still there or not, right off the I-395). JoAnns has really stepped it up with the yarn selections, some people would disagree..but when I worked there, it was really slim pickings!

[jasmom]

I'm friendly with the lady that works the craft section at Walmart. She told me that they were going to get rid of the craft section. It must of been in the papers, because a LOT of people complained so they decided not to get rid of it! Thank GOD!

I'd be in BIG trouble if Walmart didn't carry yarn. As it is, I drive 30 -40 minutes to buy yarn. There's no where else closer than that!

[Jan-Knit]

It may be different in your area, but we were told here that corporate decided to do away with anything that had to be measured (fabric, trims by the yard, etc.) in order to save on labor costs. The yarn will be scaled down, and they are adding a party supply section. hmmmmm....

[CrochettingMama]

They re did our wal mart to a super wal mart and we only have one aisle of yarn now too. i am sooo disappointed.

[Maggie1956TN]

I Have Three Wal-marts Close To Me. The One In Dyersburg, Tn Has Very Little Yarn Now At All. They Still Have Some Fabric And Sewing Machines But Not For Long. Union City, Tn And Martin, Tn Still Have Yarn But Not As Much And Fabric And Sewing Machines For Now. First Wal-mart Stopped The Layaway Program And Now The Crafts Department For People Like All Of Us Here At Crochetville That Do Crochet And For All Of Those Who Knit. It Seems That Wal-mart Only Cares For People Who Have Big Bank Accounts Because The Prices Of Their Clothing Is Going Up And Up.

Sam Walton Has Probably Turned Over In His Grave At How The Wal-mart Has Gone Downhill From The Way He Did Things.

[Luvtocro]

Dear Beaglelady,

While your Wal mart may be phasing out their yarn section, this could be a blessing in disguise! I have found the most fabulous, and inexpensive, and better selection of yarns online than I ever have in any store. Stores that sell inexpensive yarn don't have the selection. And stores that have a big selection many times are yarn boutiques (one of a kind) and it gets very pricey if you do a big project like an afghan. Online is the way to go! Start surfin now!

[Jan-Knit]

Dear Beaglelady,

While your Wal mart may be phasing out their yarn section, this could be a blessing in disguise! I have found the most fabulous, and inexpensive, and better selection of yarns online than I ever have in any store. Stores that sell inexpensive yarn don't have the selection. And stores that have a big selection many times are yarn boutiques (one of a kind) and it gets very pricey if you do a big project like an afghan. Online is the way to go! Start surfin now!

True, but I like to "pet" the yarn before I buy it! Can't do that online!

[Beaglelady]

Oh yeah, we used to go to that one in Lisbon!! I used to live in Norwich, then we moved to Groton. Wow..so no more crafty department. You must be far from New London then. Unfortunately up there, Wal Marts were few and far between.

 

I know this doesn't help you..but recently there was a remodel at one I shopped at in Tampa, and the craft department was moved around several times. Now it's just a few rows of stuff, and one tiny row of yarn. The one I shop at now is the same thing, but they still have fabric and yarn, just a lousy selection of both.

 

There is a JoAnn Superstore in Manchester I used to go to as well, but very rarely..and I used to work at the JoAnns in Norwich (old...not sure if it is still there or not, right off the I-395). JoAnns has really stepped it up with the yarn selections, some people would disagree..but when I worked there, it was really slim pickings!

 

We're not far from Norwich. DD used to skate at the Ice Rink. JoAnns is still there. Last I was in there I didn't think thier yarn selection was all that great. Between the AC MOORE in New London and the one in Warwick, RI......I like the Warwick one better. Going to be pretty sad day when we will all have to buy yarn on-line.

[Beaglelady]

True, but I like to "pet" the yarn before I buy it! Can't do that online!

 

 

[noQcrocheter]

there are 7 (soon to be 8 from what I hear) walmarts withing 50 miles of where I live the 2 I go to most often still have the yarn and the bigger of the 2 just rearranegd so I guess they are keeping it in my area

[mamabear10]

What I would like to see from this situation is Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's, and Michaels picking up the slack and improving their stock, particularly in yarn and fabric. If they do not, I'd hope someone would open more LYS in my area. In Wichita Ks, the largest city in the state, there are two yarn shops listed in the phone book, and neither are in good locations. Perhaps if the demand is there, some good will come of this.

[Tracey4610]

there are 7 (soon to be 8 from what I hear) walmarts withing 50 miles of where I live the 2 I go to most often still have the yarn and the bigger of the 2 just rearranegd so I guess they are keeping it in my area

 

Yeah, I'm in a similar situation, where there are lots of Wally Worlds near me. There are at least 8 in the metro Columbus area, not to mention the ones that are in Marysville, Heath, Newark, Delaware, and Mt. Vernon, among several others 30 miles outside the city. They just built one near me, about 3-4 miles away, but it's a small Super Center, and have very little to choose from, including the groceries I like to buy--they did, however, vamp up the organic produce dept. and doubled the prices on everything! (Don't know why, because there's a Sunflower Market down the road from them, and a mile away from me is Whole Foods!) I'm not griping too too badly, because I buy almost all my thread from Hobby Lobby and Michael's, which are both just down the road, and my fabrics and stamping supplies from JoAnn's. Even before the company started revamping everything, the Wal-Mart I used to go to (about 10 miles away) still had a stinky yarn selection. Once they got rid of Mainstays, that was it for me. The only store I've seen that had Mainstays in a big skein like several of y'all mentioned, it was in my parents' hometown, about 40 miles away, and it was in this really bright, ugly yellow. Mind you, I like yellow, but this was one that very few people would like. It's no wonder they had a lot of it!

[kazily]

That is such a bummer! In some areas WM is the only place for buying yarn yet they are skimming & eliminating it! Fabric bolts I might be able to understand since they have to actually pay someone every hr to be there, cut, measure etc. but yarn can just sit there & sell itself to us It just doesn't make sense.

 

We have one WM & one Hobby Lobby. No JoAnn within 40 miles & no Michael within 50 miles. I guess we are lucky there are some Amish families here or our WM crafts would die altogether. It's already small. One yarn aisle with half of that novelty stuff that I don't use much. Then there is a very small thread section next to it. I've been getting really unhappy with the skimpy selections.

[CraftyShannon]

Update on my store: Let me just say wah, wah, WAH!

 

Yes, the craft deptartment is still here....for now. I was back there today buying fabric, and there were 2 other women besides the one waiting on me. The one helping me was trying to get my attention away from the other two. They were furious, talking loud enough for people to hear. Apparently, the store is talking about removing the fabric. I couldn't tell when, but it sounds like soon. At least half of the fabric was already on "clearance" Bascially had a red sticker with maybe 40 cents off. Whoo hoo! Big deal. I bought what I needed today, but will probably head back tomorrow or the next day to get a few extra things I was eyeing.

 

As for yarn and such, from the way they were talking, the other crafts were remaining. The main issue seemed to be getting rid of anything that needs to be cut. Both women were very upset about their jobs. The older woman was told she could become a cashier, but she said if that happens she will have to quit because she "can't deal with money". The other was told she would be moved to another department she didn't want to move to.

 

I can't believe they are actually going through with this. I know they've put many things on clearance the last month or two, but they have been restocking a lot of new things too. I go back in that section at least once a week. There are always women back there buying fabric or trim. Can't imagine how much business they will lost just from women not having to go to Wal-mart anymore. Ugh! I know when they ditch the fabric, I won't have as much reason to shop there anymore.

[Beaglelady]

Well, now. I stopped at Wal-Mart which is going through a 'face uplift'.

Moving things around - typcial mess. Found the craft dept. A whole

6 small isles - big woop! The yarn section is about 5 long and as high as the isle. Still having sewing machines - no fabric that I saw.

 

Disappointing I say.

[cshort]

I was at one of the WalMarts near me 2 days ago and overheard a customer ask the lady in the fabric/craft dept. if they were keeping the fabric/craft dept. The lady said yes, that they were the only one in the district that would still be carrying fabric.