Ever since Walmart decided not to carry fabrics in over 2500 of their stores, the fabric industry has been in a frenzy. With Walmart sprawling across the county, they have managed to push out over 80% of local fabric shops. Today, as local Walmarts are closing down their fabric departments, what are the fabric suppliers going to do?
The buzz in the textile industry right now is as to who is going to be the first fabric manufacturer to close their doors. This "honor" goes to a great company, Shamash and Sons Fabrics. Shamash has been around for over 50 years and has provided millions of yards of fabric to customers all over the globe. Everything from cotton velvet, batiks, novelty fabrics, designer fabrics and dress goods was produced by Shamash, though they are most known for manufacturing the Betty Boop Fabric line.
The impact Walmart's decision has had is attributable in large part to manufacturers' structuring their fabric lines around Walmart. Walmart would order thosands of yards from different companies. Their orders would provide revenue. The revenue would provide the manufacturers more money to spend on developing new designs and products. These novel designs would be shown at quilt markets and then sold in quilting stores. Sans the presence of Walmart, manufacturers such as Shamash lost their main source of revenue. Therefore, since some of the manufacturers neglected their previous buyers - which had since gone out of business - there was no place to turn to to replace what they had lost in Walmart. Sadly, once proud companies like Shamash are now withering away.
As Shamash closes its doors, what change - if any - does this indicate for the fabric industry? How will this closure affect fabric shoppers? Will Shamash be merely the first of many fabric manufacturers to close their doors?
Most people enjoy Walmart and the amenities that they offer. Walmart is a one-stop shop to get everything needed. What most people do not realize is that as Walmart sprawls across the US and the rest of the world they are putting small business and companies out of business. So when Walmart decides not to carry a certain section or product this decision hurts many businesses, jobs and industries.
Although it seems like a prosaic concern, Walmart's decision to drastically reduce its retail fabric business has already had an important impact on the fabric industry. The effect it will have on millions of quilters and sewing enthusiasts shouldn't be underestimated. It will take more time to better understand the full impact of Walmart's decision, but J&O will keep you posted with further developments.
Fabric. . . it's just delicious. It's soft, comfy and warm. It can be bright and pretty and draw you to touch it. Stretchy or stiff, snug and homely, here at J&O we just love fabric. At our store in New Jersey, it's literally all over the place. We have huge rolls of decoratives stacked on top of each other, a wall filled with tapestries of all kinds, and additional rolls on the floor display. Not to mention our aisles and aisles of novelty cottons from every manufacturer imaginable.
There's something about seeing rolls of beautiful fabric that signifies potential; a raw material with "sew" many possibilities. Could be a summer dress, a pair of slacks, a quilt, drapes, the possibilities go on and on. Meditating on all the possibilities could make a fabric lover go crazy.
Just think, we spend our whole lives wrapped in some kind of cloth. From the moment we arrive in this world to when our fragile shells deteriorate and become apart of the Earth, fabric is apart of our lives. Cotton, linen, cashmere, wool, silk and including polyester and rayon, fabric can be used for everything from apparel, to sails on a sailboat, to becoming a base for a lamp. Every group of people on this planet use fabric, so it can almost be put on the same level as food and shelter (or maybe not, lol).
From another perspective, if you sew, you're appreciation for fabrics may be on a more conscious level than everyone else. Someone who sews is constantly working, touching, manipulating and shaping fabric. So it's normal for a sewer to absolutely LOVE fabrics. Some sewers walk into our store in New Jersey and become overwhelmed at the amount of fabric we have. Who doesn't adore gorgeous fabric, that not only has an awesome surface but is pleasant to the touch? It's perfectly all right to buy fabric just because you think its gorgeous, without any immediate use in mind.
If you're an avid sewer, building up your very own "fabric stash." is an excellent way to stimulate your creativity. There's just something about looking at neatly folded stacks of beautiful fabric that will provoke a sense of calm and serenity. On a side note, we'll let you in on a little secret. . . the fabric industry is in many ways like the ever-changing fashion industry; styles come and go, prints come and go; items go in and out of style. So, if there's a print you just absolutely love, get it before it's gone and discontinued. Even the most popular prints have a cut off point.
J&O Fabrics is dedicated to doing all we can to keep your sewing possibilities fresh. If you LOVE fabric, celebrate it! Teach someone how to sew, make someone a quilt, or sew your own drapes. Allow yourself to reconnect with something that's very closely woven into our lives.
J&O Fabrics. . . sew many possibilities _______________________________________
If you're in the area, visit our store in Pennsauken, New Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia. The size of a supermarket, we have the largest selection of fabrics in New Jersey! Everything we carry is not on our website, so if you're in the area, check us out and browse our fabric aisles.
J&O Fabric Center 9401 Route 130 South Where Rt.73 and 130 meet Pennsauken, New Jersey 08110 info@jandofabrics.com
First Walmart starts phasing out their fabric departments. Now, Hancock fabrics said its six subsidiaries - including their website, HF Enterprises Inc and HF Merchandising filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday April 28th 2007. Hancock has defaulted on a $115 million credit line. The company has stated that they are going to close at a minimum of 100 of their 400 stores.
Today, it seems like fabric stores are a dying breed. Putting the kids into the car and going to the local fabric stores, is something of a quaint notion as today you can purchase anything pre-made from curtains to tablecloths. Is it the case that Americans are too busy to sit down with their sewing machine and create with their own hands. Is that the case?
We believe that there is a slight resurgence of sewers and crafters. HGTV and other design shows maintain interest in the fabric industry. These shows are not enough to support a fabric store in each community. Also, community and school sewing classes will help insure that sewing and other fabric arts do not fade into hobbies of the past. By stressing both fun and practical sides of sewing, both sewing classes and network design shows demonstrate that there are still plenty of uses for sewing abilities, abilities that almost anyone can develop. In reality, the only limits will be those imposed by your imagination. We still need sewing classes from grade school to high school. Sewing is not a hobby of the past but a ability that anyone can achieve. Sewing can help you make anything you want with any fabric you can find. One is not limited on what they can do or make.
Furthermore, because of the internet new fabric stores have emerged. The selection of fabric is bigger than the sewer of 30 years ago could have imagined. If you need a floral tapestry just go to a search engine and type in floral tapestry and there will be a vast selection of fabric stores and fabric patterns to choose from. If you need a dog fabric just go to Google and type in dog fabric and you will see 50 or more sites with all different kinds of dog fabrics to choose from.
Do the Hancock store closings and Walmart scaling down their fabric department affect you as a sewer, quilter, seamstress or designer? Will you even notice they are gone?
J & O Fabrics is a leader in online fabric stores with hundreds of discount fabrics including: upholstery, quilt, quilting, drapery fabric, fleece, decorator, felt, retro, upholstery fabrics and more!
