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12 
Member since 4/17/06
Posts: 1724
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Posted on: 11/20/07 11:59 PM ET
I just learned that our local Joann's store in Sioux City is closing in January. I haven't talked to the employees yet to know why. I wondered if this is just a local situation or if other Joann's are closing, also. We lost our Hancock's earlier this year, so now we will be down to 2 quilt shops and Hobby Lobby. It's going to be impossible to even buy thread or simple supplies. I so enjoy strolling through fabric stores and feeling the fabrics. The nearest stores are 70-100 miles away. Deeply, deeply depressed.
  
Member since 1/12/04
Posts: 6312
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Posted on: 11/21/07 0:29 AM ET
Apparently they are closing some stores in response to weak sales and opening others.
hoovers

Yahoo finance
-- Edited on 11/21/07 0:32 AM --
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Marilyn

January 2009 to January 2010 81 yards out and 71yards in January 2010 to the present 106.7 yards out and 146.5 yards in. January 2011 to the present: 47 yards out and 69 yards in.
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 2164
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Posted on: 11/21/07 5:06 AM ET
In reply to dfsews
Two closed near me a few years ago only to reopen as one large super store.
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www.missceliespants.com
  
Member since 4/17/06
Posts: 1724
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Posted on: 11/28/07 0:04 AM ET
Today I was really proud of my sewing guild friends-they protested the closing of the fabric store. One of the Joann's employees called 2 TV stations, and they both came and talked to the employee and some of the guild members, as well as the owner of a tailoring business. We were on the news on 2 stations. The guild president is also hounding the City commerce people to offer an alternative location or get another fabric store in town. (Joann's is closing because their rent is increasing 50%.) I don't know if it will do any good, but it should be obvious that women in 15 degree weather protesting outside are serious!
  
Member since 6/22/04
Posts: 4602
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Posted on: 11/28/07 8:28 AM ET
From the hoovers profile mentioned: "Recognizing that sewing these days is more often a hobby than a necessity, the company is luring creative customers with arts and crafts and home-decorating items."

Seems like they will kill their own business with that kind of thinking. They have the opportunity to create the new mindset in their customers that sewing is a necessity. If one wants clothes that fit and are unique and one does not want to settle for so so quality and fit RTW and the limited selection.
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Liz

thefittinglife.blogspot.com
  
Member since 9/29/04
Posts: 1204
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Posted on: 11/28/07 10:34 AM ET
Business is bottom-line oriented, or profit and loss oriented, whichever term suits. I complained this summer, during the 100-degree days about all of the fleece that is in our Jo-Ann's year around. The saleswoman said it is their top selling "fabric" (if you can honestly call something made out of recycled plastic bottles fabric) so it will definitely not be going away or even be reduced in the amount of space given to it. Jo-Ann's executives do not care whether sewing is a hobby or a necessity. They care about their bottom line. If they are in the black because of crafts and fleece, then that's what they will give the most space to. We have a very busy Jo-Ann's store and we have Wal-Mart (and everyone knows what Wal-Mart is doing with a lot of their stores' fabric depts.) and we have Hobby Lobby. Jo-Ann's has already closed quite a few of their stores in this general area which has caused women from bordering states and other towns in our own state to make a day trip, or longer, to our Jo-Ann store. Hopefully that will keep us alive because I'm not going to drive 60 miles to Columbus to shop at the Jo-Ann's stores there. For me, if they close our store, it will either be online shopping or giving up sewing.
  
Member since 12/3/06
Posts: 10072
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Posted on: 11/28/07 12:06 PM ET
In reply to llr23
Quote: Loiry
Business is bottom-line oriented, or profit and loss oriented, whichever term suits. I complained this summer, during the 100-degree days about all of the fleece that is in our Jo-Ann's year around. The saleswoman said it is their top selling "fabric" (if you can honestly call something made out of recycled plastic bottles fabric) so it will definitely not be going away or even be reduced in the amount of space given to it. Jo-Ann's executives do not care whether sewing is a hobby or a necessity. They care about their bottom line. If they are in the black because of crafts and fleece, then that's what they will give the most space to. We have a very busy Jo-Ann's store and we have Wal-Mart (and everyone knows what Wal-Mart is doing with a lot of their stores' fabric depts.) and we have Hobby Lobby. Jo-Ann's has already closed quite a few of their stores in this general area which has caused women from bordering states and other towns in our own state to make a day trip, or longer, to our Jo-Ann store. Hopefully that will keep us alive because I'm not going to drive 60 miles to Columbus to shop at the Jo-Ann's stores there. For me, if they close our store, it will either be online shopping or giving up sewing.

I drive as far as you mentioned to shop at a Jo-Ann Super Store in Miamisburg (Dayton). It is worth the trip for me as our local Jo-Ann stores are pitiful.

Thankfully, my husband likes to shop more than I do and is always ready for a road trip!

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OLD CHINESE PROVERB: I HEAR & I FORGET; I SEE & I REMEMBER; I DO & I UNDERSTAND.
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 2164
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Posted on: 11/28/07 1:46 PM ET
In reply to dfsews
Congratulations on getting the word out!
-- Edited on 11/28/07 1:46 PM --
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www.missceliespants.com
  
Member since 5/3/07
Posts: 55
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Posted on: 11/28/07 2:15 PM ET
In reply to MissCelie
Quote: Cidell
Two closed near me a few years ago only to reopen as one large super store.

This is what happened where I live, and the new super store is fantastic. I'm so sorry to OP that your JoAnn is closing, but way to go with the protests!
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Lindsay
  
Member since 9/14/02
Posts: 2707
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Posted on: 11/29/07 9:46 AM ET
We have a little store-front Jo-Ann's here, and although I'd love to have a superstore closer to home, I kind of hope we don't get one. The reason being that the little store is so very close to my house. It's literally down the street and around the corner. I love being able to take a quick trip there to pick up a notion, or stop on my way home, to browse, after a long day at work.

If they move it to the big shopping area across town, I'll have to fight traffic to get there and I won't go as often. Or worse, if they just close it and we have to drive to the next city to shop, I'll just never go.

  
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