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
Tulle, also known as Bridal Illusion, is a staple fabric for any wedding. Never overdone, it's inexpensive and beautiful. Tulle will add the perfect feathery light touch of elegance to any event decor.
Below we have a few practical suggestions on how to use our beloved tulle for your wedding and other decorating needs. _____________________________________________
Most people may not be skilled enough to make their very own bridal gown, however you don't have to be an expert to make a decent looking bridal veil. Some bridal veils can be pretty expensive. . . in lieu of the fact that a yard of tulle on average cost about $1.49- $1.98!
With wedding costs on a rise, making your own veil is an easy and practical way to save money.
How to Make a Bridal Veil * drape and fold over according to preferred length * if needed, round out bottom edges of tulle with sharp dressmaker shears * according to preference attach sequins, rhinestones, silk flowers etc. using fabric glue and toothpicks * once dry, take hand-sewing needle with threa and work your way in and out (over, under, over, under) of the fold * Pull and gather * Hand sew gathered edge onto a clear comb
Soften Party Lights * If you want to add a little touch of class to white party lights, take a few yards of tulle and wrap around the lights for a soft glow.
Decorate Pews, Chairbacks & Use as Table Skirts * With tulle, all you have to do is simply drape, fold or gather however you please. Unlike organza, chiffon or organdy, which are other popular wedding fabrics, you don't have to finish the edges of tulle because it won't unravel. * Have a ball dressing the ceremonial area with elegant drapes of tulle. * Wrap around chairbacks and tie in a bow. Attach flowers or other decorative elements * Drape over guest tables or adorn face of head table
Wrap Wedding Favors * Usually done with tulle circles, use tulle to wrap wedding favors * Better yet, nix the over-priced pre-cut tulle circles and easily cut your own squares to hold everyting from mints to rice ___________________________________________
In case you didn't know, tulle doesn't only come in ivory, off white, cream or white. Check out our assorted color line up of tulles and nets with more on our website, jofabrics.com
Whoever said tulle was only used for wedding decor and ballerina tutus? Take a look at our list of unique uses for tulle and net.
Beekeeper Veil Mosquito Net Parachute Skirt
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If Tulle and Netting isn't your thing, check out our website, jofabrics.com, where there are sew many possibilities. If you're in the area, visit our store in Pennsauken, NJ, 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 fabrics aisles.
J&O Fabric Center 9401 Route 130 South Where Rt. 73 and 130 Meet Pennsauken, NJ 08110 info@jandofabrics.com
Today, almost all of the Fabric store chains are disappearing. We her at J & O Fabrics would like to know how to keep the textile industy alive. Today we are reaching out to fabric customers across the world. Customers are the best people to help the fabric industry understand what changes need to be put in place. At J & O Fabrics we base most of our business on what the customer needs. Example, if a few customers ask for a certain fabric that we do not carry we take it upon ourselves to find a manufacture to supply us with that type of textile.
J & O Fabrics would like to be a store that represents the sewing industry. What do we need to do in order to help you as a customer want to continue to shop at our store or on our website? We also want your insight on what you like about other fabric store website along with fabric stores that you visit. You can use this blog to either vent your frustration or add comments to help us change to suit your needs.
Here at J&O we're constantly thinking of new ways to help our customers and make their shopping experience on JOFabrics.com simple and as effortless as possible. In case you haven't noticed, J&O Fabrics is currently in the process of adding coordinating fabrics to each type of fabric we carry. Everything from our most popular Cotton Novelties, to our wide selection of Upholsteries, will now be featuring two to six coordinates, in addition to washing tips and J&O's very own fabric dictionary.
Take note that the fabrics we choose as coordinates are not always coordinate sets straight from the manufacturer. Noooo, the coordinates we choose are selected with care irregardless of designer or manufacturer and are rarely apart of a collection. However, in some cases if a certain print is apart of a collection, we make sure to let you know.
Shopping for fabric online is a very different experience than wandering through the cozy aisles of a local fabric store. When at a store, you can see the fabrics' color, feel the weight and place it next to other prints to make a judgment. Relaxing at home on your computer, (or at work), you don't have the experience of seeing the fabric for yourself; feeling its' texture and weight. For this exact reason, J&O is implementing a new idea that we hope will help our customers make decisions about purchasing fabric. Allow us to be your eyes and hands by trusting our selection of coordinating fabrics.
Each fabric coordinate we feature on a given page was selected by walking around our huge store in New Jersey with charts and fabric samples; squinting our eyes, saying hmmm while holding prints up next to each other. . , going through the exact process of a shopper. This is the kind of dedication J&O Fabrics has for its customers.
On the contrary, shoppers typically already have in mind what type of fabrics they need for a particular project. We don't know how someone may be using the fabric they purchase, so on the most basic level, while coordinating fabrics at J&O, we first look for solid fabrics that are exact color matches of a similar weight. We know that upholstery fabric is not always used to upholster furniture, and decorative cloths aren't always used to make curtains. So, with some Home Decor fabrics we may add a dress fabric as a coordinate, to offer range in case you may be making something like a handbag or a hat.
Since we have such a huge selection, we at J&O don't assume that we know our customers' taste. While coordinating, we don't infer that all our customers are daring enough to put apples with oranges, if you know what we mean. Our most important goal is for you to know that there are other fabrics that we carry in the same color range. Many ideas of coordination matter on opinion and level of artistic expression. For example, if a lightweight cotton fabric print is black and white, we'll show you other coordinating fabric prints that are black and white. We won't automatically throw in an upholstery weight hot pink floral that doesn't have a hint of black or white, even though under certain conditions it may coordinate great. You see? Most of our suggested coordinates are on the safe side. To see a few examples of our new Fabric Coordinate feature click on a few of the following links.
Overall, J&O Fabrics' goal is to continue to bring the widest variety of fabrics on the Internet at affordable prices. We really hope that our new Fabric Coordinate feature is helpful. If you have any questions don't hestitate to send us an email at info@jandofabrics.com or call us at856-663-2121.
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 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
Have you ever looked around your house and thought to yourself……I’d love to give this place a new look, but I don’t want to spend a fortune replacing furniture or flooring? We have five inexpensive and easy ways you can freshen up any room in your house simply by adding fabric!
1. Pillows: Pick out a bright fresh color, you can go with something wild, like an animal print, or more conservative, possibly a toile fabric. Pillows are a fun way to add spice to your room. Remember you are not committed to a certain look, pillows are an easy change. If one day you want blue put out your blue pillows, the next day put out your yellow ones! For this section we would recommend looking in the novelty fabric section along with the upholstery fabric and decorative fabric sections.
2. Seat covers: This is the best and easiest way to freshen up your dinning room or kitchen. Take the seat off of your dining/kitchen chairs and staple your new fabric around the bottom of the seat…..and like magic, you have new chairs! You can go with an ultra suede, or maybe an upholstery fabric that blends with your décor. 3/4 of a yard will cover 2 seats. 2 1/4 yards will be enough for 6 seats. We recommended any fabric in the Upholstery fabric section or Decorative fabric section.
3. Window swag: This one is so simple. Just pick out a fun or colorful fabric. Go to your local hardware store, even Target will do. Get 2 hooks, one for each side of the window. Once the hooks are up just drape the fabric from hook to hook and now you have just added a little flare to your window. We recommended sheer fabric, but chiffon is also a nice inexpensive cloth that has an elegant look and feel.
4. Window Shades: This is my favorite. Go to your local hardware store and purchase blackout shades (approx $5.00 per window) and they normally cut to size. Pick out a fabric of your choice and then glue the fabric onto the blackout shade. Now you have custom shades that would normally cost hundreds of dollars. Any of our novelty fabric would be fun along with the upholstery and designer fabrics.
5. Wall hanging: Simply pick your favorite fabric and staple it around a wooden frame that you can purchase at any craft store. This is an easy and low cost way to add artwork to your walls. Recommended fabrics: anything goes in this category. If you want to go a little wild, check out the retro fabrics or you can even go with tropical fabric.
Stay tuned for our future blogs for step-by-step instructions on how to create each of the five home décor fabric projects!
For generations of fabric shoppers in the Delaware Valley and Tri-State areas, the only place to go for fabric was the famous "Fabric Row" located on South Philly's 4th Street. At the time, those shops must have seemed like the only game in town when it came to fabrics. Fabric Row isn't quite what it used to be and it might take hours of searching through small fabric shops to find what you are looking for. Where can you go for a family business environment that is at the same time convient?
With J&O Fabrics you get an ideal combination of family business values and modern ideas. One of the ways this can be seen is at our online fabric store: www.jandofabrics.com. Behind all of the technology that goes into running the web site, however, is a staff with many years of experience that is capable of helping you with virtually any fabric project you have in mind.
The convenience of our web site can't be beat, but if you prefer to see the fabrics in person feel free to pop into our store in South Jersey. We are minutes from the major bridges such as the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross and Tacony-Palmyra. We are also only about 45 minutes from the Commodore Barry Bridge.
Once you find your way here you will find a larger selection of fabrics than we have even on our web site.
Wal-Mart has initiated what it is calling a national pilot project by closing the fabric centers in many of its stores across the country. Many of Wal-Mart's fabric-buying customers are upset at the decision; the convenience and prices that attracted them to Wal-Mart are now gone for the foreseeable future.
The impact on the retail fabric industry
Nevertheless, there are those that stand to benefit from Wal-Mart's decision. Industry analysts estimate that up to $540 million in annual sales could be channeled to other fabric retailers. A portion of the sales that were formerly Wal-Mart's could find their way back to smaller fabric stores and encourage their resurgence. Consumers may rediscover the unquantifiable benefits often found at smaller shops, such as higher levels of customer service and knowledge.
Furthermore, the void left in the fabric retail market by Wal-Mart's withdrawal is certain to be filled with innovative online fabric retailers. This possibility seems very likely as an ever-growing number of consumers discovers the convenience of shopping online. In addition to convenience, online shopping opens up a much more extensive fabric inventory for the perusal of quilters and sewing enthusiasts.
Customer response to our earlier Wal-Mart post
When we first heard that Wal-Mart could potentially be eliminating their fabric departments, late last year, we issued a post detailing some of the questions both we and our customers had. Since that time, Wal-Mart has initiated said pilot project much to the chagrin of many quilters and sewing enthusiasts. Here is what some of them said in response to our earlier post:
One anonymous customer "wrote": "Since they are the only fabric store in my area I AM OUTRAGED!!!! (emphasis theirs).
Another reader vented: "The manager of the Wylie, Texas Wal-Mart told me today they are definitely closing the fabric department and that most other Wal-Mart stores in the area are closing their fabric dep[artments] too.
In response to this development many customers have taken to writing letters of protest or initiating petition drives, while others have begun to look for alternative retailers.
What J&O Fabrics is doing
In light of Wal-Mart's growing withdrawal from retailing fabric, many consumers have been left to look for a new resource from which to purchase their fabrics. What all too many consumers don't realize is that the most convenient alternative for all types of fabrics is J&O Fabric's online fabric store: www.jandofabrics.com.
At J&O Fabrics, we hope to be able to help fill the void left by Wal-Mart's vanishing fabric departments. Far from being an ancillary concern of ours, fabric is our primary business and we continually strive to have the widest possible selection of designer and discount fabrics in a variety of styles available to our customers.
In a recent post we detailed some of the measures we are taking to enhance the shopping experience of our customers. Within the next few months you will discover at J&O Fabrics a completely new way to shop for fabrics online. The innovations we are in the process of implementing will put more fabrics before you than ever before.
Moreover, our selection of such essential items as trim, notions, quilted fabrics, feather boas, sewing accessories and so on is increasing as well, so that with one online stop you will be able to take your project from beginning to finish.
The advantages of shopping with J&O
What are the advantages of shopping with J&O now? Our company began operating over 40 years ago and has established itself as an important part of the surrounding community. Therefore, we strive to maintain the hallmarks of family businesses, namely customer service and an extensive knowledge of our products.
Furthermore, as mentioned above J&O is constantly investigating new ways to improve your online shopping experience and expand your fabric horizons.
At J&O Fabrics, we combine the family business's emphasis on the customer with a keen eye for online innovation. In this way, we bring the tradition of the local fabric store right to your computer screen.
