Are you one of the lucky ones with a Jo-Ann's "large format" store in your neighborhood? (photo provided by Jo-Ann's)Note: On March 12 I wrote about my frustration with the tired and disheveled retail establishment that is my local Jo-Ann's. The post caught the eye of Leigh-Anne Dennison, a member of Jo-Ann's marketing staff, and I told her I'd be happy to feature a response from Jo-Ann's here on LindsayTSews.com. While what follows from Leigh-Anne is a little more corporately sanitized than I'd like, I take it as a positive sign of Jo-Ann's willingness to participate in an online dialog with its customers. Feel free to leave comments here for Leigh-Anne and Jo-Ann's.
What’s in store for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores? Just Ask Jo-Ann
By Leigh-Anne Dennison
The following is a response to Lindsay T’s post, In Which I Rant About the Difficulties of Buying a Pattern at Jo-Ann's, that applauds the best and laments the worst of Jo-Ann store conditions.
An introduction seems in order to start. My name is Leigh-Anne, and I am the content specialist for Joann.com. Among my responsibilities at Joann.com is writing the Jo-Ann Blog. I was thrilled when Lindsay asked Jo-Ann to contribute a guest post to her blog to talk about our stores, warts and all, as they say.
My first draft was an inspired piece about my personal addiction to fabric, fiber and food crafting. A confessional of sorts filled with creativity and puns written by an obsessive member of the DIY community who also just so happens to work for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Of course, while full of wit, it was also a little too full of me – not so much Jo-Ann. So a second draft was penned or typed to be more precise. That version was more cut-and-dry (emphasis on the dry). It focused on disseminating the information about our history and growth, store openings, supporting community demographics, blah blah blah. You get the idea and probably would’ve stopped reading it by now.
Hopefully, this post – like a well-executed watercolor – is a beautiful blending of the humor of the first draft and the necessary details of the second to inform (and possibly entertain) you – Lindsay’s audience – by telling you know what you can expect from Jo-Ann via a quick peak behind the curtain.
As you may have read online or in one of our press releases, Jo-Ann plans to open 19 new stores this year; to-date we’ve opened 8. Some may include a consolidation of small-format stores in adjacent communities into a single, more efficient, bright, shiny and new large-format store. Not only do our large-format stores offer an expanded selection of merchandise, they contain more inspiration, are better organized and include a space for classes and crafting socials; socials being a trend as old as quilting bees and as new, hip and happening as the knitting meet-ups that are popping up across the country.Another 26 Jo-Ann stores are scheduled to be renovated this year. These remodels improve the shoppers’ mobility and the store’s “shop-ability.” Aisles are wider and less cluttered, lighting is brighter, signage is clearer and the pattern drawers (wait for it) actually open without risk to life or limb. Often more merchandise can fit into the same space through reconfigurations, benefiting the shoppers and store alike.
In addition, throughout the year, Jo-Ann conducts what we call “refreshes” to address minor repairs and cosmetic issues (i.e., stores in need of a facelift but not reconstructive surgery). Basic improvements can include repainting, repairing or replacing outdated systems and revamping of existing shelf structures, etc. Not quite the scale of a remodel nor as exciting as a new store opening, Jo-Ann doesn’t make a big fuss about these improvements – although we do hope you notice them when you pay a visit.
Finally, let me share with you that there are a plethora of Jo-Ann team members for whom sewing, crafting and artistic expression are a key component not just of the hours that make up our work days but the DNA that composes our very (creative) beings. Like many of you, our hearts skip a beat when we see fabulous fabrics or scintillating scrapbook papers. We can wile away hours of our lives browsing stamps, stickers, patterns, paints or polymer clay tools. Our spouses give us a confused look when we justify the need of another six skeins of self-stripping sock yarn or too-cute candy molds.
We enjoy our stores’ merchandise (and LOVE our employee discounts!). We take pride in our work, classes and stores and hope that you have the best possible experience every time you visit. While you may not encounter one of us on every visit or even in every store, please know that we are here and truly believe in our mission – to inspire creativity.
94 comments:
Great post. We are a city without a Jo-Ann Fabric store and we are getting a superstore in September.
Interesting. Can we talk about why my Joann has no knits?
So, I know I'm one of the lucky ones. My Joann's is pretty phenomenal (you've been) and there is another equally great within 40 mins of me. So, IU have no Joann's complaints. I support them by buying my thread, patterns and other notions.
But, I buy my fabric from indie retailers for selections and quality.
That being said, guess where I was at 9:30 on Saturday night when I realized I didn't have lining or a zipper? Joann Fabric.
Hmmm.
My store is the one with the dust bunnies. Nothing has been "refreshed" at my local store; I doubt they'll renovate it because of size constraints, but I'd be happy with a good cleaning.
I was horribly disappointed when my (Fairview Heights, IL) JoAnn's opened last month. We don't need another store that sells greeting cards, picnic supplies, or lawn chairs! And with a Hobby Lobby and Micheal's so close, we don't even need more craft supplies, although that's a little more reasonable. What we need is garment fabric. So much square footage wasted on junk that has nothing to do with sewing....I leave annoyed every time!
My local Jo-Ann (Fremont, CA) is a superstore, and as such is a marked improvement over the older store which closed 2? years ago. It is bright, clean and an attractive place to shop. And WOW, you've actually hired HELPFUL sales people. They were snarly in the old location, but the exact same people are now wonderful - what drugs did you put in the water fountain to transform them?
That said - the only actual FABRIC I buy there is home dec. The quality of the fabric they carry is EXPLETIVE DELETED.
Jo-Ann: get better quality fabric that is suitable for sewing clothes, and I'll buy more. I'm willing to spend a buck or two more per yard - in fact, I often do, on-line and at my (relatively) local independent fabric retailers.
Alas, I'm probably a minority. But thanks for giving me a chance to vent.
Thank you, Lindsay, for the opportunity and for posting our response en toto.
I will be passing along your (i.e., Lindsay T's readers) comments to the appropriate people at Jo-Ann HQ. If a comment or complaint is store-specific, it is always helpful if you include the location (city and state is sufficient unless there's more than one in your area -- then a street or plaza name helps).
Thanks sew much,
Leigh-Anne
1st the good - I love the 40% off coupons and regularly stock up on notions. I also love the pattern sales often buying 10 at a time! I sew a lot of costumes for my kids and buy most of my novelty fabrics from JoAnns (usually using my coupon!) JoAnns also has fun cotton flannels that I regularly purchase for the kids.
JoAnns has built a nice super Joanns nearby that is very clean, bright and well organized.
Now the Bad – The staff at JoAnns never has more than a rudimentary knowledge of sewing. I have given up asking for the location of items because the employees never have a clue what I am asking for. I am sure JoAnns is losing business when they can’t point customers to the products they are trying to purchase. I also cringe when I hear employees giving out sewing tips to beginner sewers that are wildly inaccurate and I’m sure will cause the “newbie” nothing but angst.
There are never enough employees to cut fabric. I have walked out of a JoAnns several times (with lots of other people) rather than wait in line for 30 minutes to get my fabric cut.
The fabric is such a low quality (which is usually not a problem for costumes that are worn 2-3 times). I never purchase plaids from JoAnns because of several bad experiences where I actually had to throw out projects because the plaid was so off grain. Dyes are often unstable and fade to gray after only a couple washes. A large majority of the fabrics are blends which tend to pill and not wear well. If I am purchasing “fashion” fabric for an outfit I want to last more than a season, I tend to go to fabric stores like GStreet or other independent stores.
Lindsay, thank you for starting and hosting this conversation - and Leigh-Anne, thanks for responding. I do hope you take these comments back to Jo-Ann for action.
The Jo-Ann store in my neighborhood (98117, Seattle, WA) is, sadly, of the crack-den variety, at which the employees know next to nothing about fabric and sewing, the patterns are rarely restocked and most of the garment fabric is synthetic.
I love having a fabric store in my neighborhood that I can walk to, and where I can buy notions and supplies. I would love it even more if I could find the fabric, patterns and notions I need to make high-quality garments, and if I could buy them from people who give a damn.
Thank you Linsay for opening the debate and Leigh-Ann for your response. My little Joann's in Dallas (Mockingbird) is fantastic and I'm so grateful for it. The staff is, by and large, helpful and those that aren't don't seem to last long. There's some great knits buried amongst some ... less than great knits and I love the Symphony Broadcloth and linen look staples that are always in stock. The notions aisles are clean and well-stocked and the craft area is only 40% of the store so I can ignore it. My only wish is that there was a classroom area but, hey, nearly perfect isn't bad.
I'm so very, very thankful that, so far, Joann corporate hasn't noticed that we have a Superstore just a few miles away and tried to consolidate. I've found that my little one usually has BETTER (though not more) fabric than my superstore and the small-shop atmosphere is just so much nicer. The superstore has me feeling like I'm at a mall while at the little store the sales associates know me by name and ask about my projects.
And I've been to a few of those stores that need full-on reconstruction surgery or that are wanna-be Michaels (why!?!?) and so I know what a great store mine is.
If only all could be like this one.
Key ingredients to it's success (from a shopper's standpoint)
- Good fabric (even if you have to dig a little)
- Friendly, moderately knowledgeable staff
- Great prices & sales
- Clean and bright (though there's a few dust bunnies)
- Well stocked with the basics
- Easy to navigate
please keep up the great work with this little shop!!
This is my first visit to your blog and I just love this post. I teach sewing in Hollywood Fl. I send most of my students to Jo-Ann's. I tell them so sign up to receive coupons in the store and online.
The good = I love how you put the notion wall, patterns on sale every few weeks. My students and I stock up when the sales happen.
The bad = people feel lost in the store that I have now a "field trip to the fabric store" class because the employees have no idea how to answer the simplest questions. When I do tell my students about Jo-Ann's they tell me they don't like the fabric there and it's very expensive. I want to know why you have no knits too. Most of the fabric isn't for garments - its for quilting.
The ugly = my store is a mess. I don't think they have ever dusted or cleaned it in years. It's not a pretty site. It's old and worn out in bad need of a make over. And you really do need to make it more of a fabric store than craft store because there really isn' any other place to buy fabric (besides the $1 a yard or going down town Miami)
I live in Overland Park Kansas I go to the Jo-Ann's on 105th and Metcalf. I am always so excited to go but when get there I remember this is never a happy trip. I have 4 little boys so I try to go when they are in preschool and school. Preschool runs for 2 1/2 hours. I can walk in go find exactly what I want and I go to the counter to have it cut I pull a number and I stand and wait forever. it usually takes 45 minutes for someone to cut my fabric, as I see it not enough help. Then when it is my turn at the counter it is not a smiling happy face who helps you because on Jo-Ann's application they have a special spot to fill out if you are nasty. Those who fill out this spot get hired. I have my fabric cut and no one there can cut a straight line sometimes it even ends up being a few inches too short for my pattern by the way they cut. Then I go up front to pay and I have to wait in line again forever to check out. That line also moves at a snails pace. I can barely make it back to the preschool in time. It is only 1.5 miles away. The store is very dirty and the help is not nice they don' t know where anything is and they really don't want to help you because it is a bother. I spend about $200.00 per month on sewing and supplies I sew daily and I love to shop but I hate to go to Jo-Ann's because of the agony the staff puts you through. Kindness goes a long way. I purchased an expensive sewing mannequin and paid for it they had to order it and they called me to come pick it up. I waited 45 min to get someone at the counter to help me order it when my number was called { they told me to take a number} I got to the counter and was told I had to go to customer service. I went to customer service they told me to go back to the cutting table. By this time my husband and 4 kids were tired of waiting. I begged them all to stick it out I went back to the cutting table and was told when I asked to take a number. We stood for another 30 minutes. If I could have taken my husbands temperature it would have said boiling. So when we got to the counter the only lady who knew how to order one was at lunch. So I asked for the manager and he came really with an unwilling attitude. He did not know so he went to the lunch room to talk to the lady. We waited and waited. I think he was hoping we would leave. Well we waited and after her lunch she ordered the mannequin for us this was a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes of our time. Then we had to wait in line to pay 20 min. So when we came back to pick it up after they called us. It was just my husband and I we learned our lesson and got a babysitter. We had the same experience.
Thank you, Lindsay and Leigh Anne for the opportunity to express our opinions here.
I have said it before and here I go again. The only fabric store within 75 US Miles up here near the border is our tiny Joanns in Malone, NY. This store is ALWAYS clean, ALWAYS well organized, and the staff are all very knowledgeable, more so with quilting than garment sewing. Quilting is very big around here, garment sewing not so much so I guess that is OK. I do regret not having finer fabrics or even just a larger choice of garment fabrics. But I am glad that when I do need to get to the sewing store this is a positive experience. I have been to quite a few different JAs in several states and know they aren't all as nice as the one up here. I hope one day they will be. Much could be learned about customer service from the staff at this store. Just thought I would pass this on.
continued.... So when we went back to pick up the mannequin we had the same run around . It took 67 minutes for someone to help us and fid it. We had a receipt for it that was marked paid and they wanted us to pay for it again. I asked for the manager and this time I got a woman who had the IQ of a slug. Finally she decided that we has paid for it since we had the order form marked paid and a cash register receipt stapled to it. Now before I go I pull a tab from the cutting table as I walk in and then go get what I need it does help some but not a lot. Sunday I was at Jo-Ann's by myself my mother's day gift from my husband, and I saw a friend that I know and I was telling her about a class that I had taken at the Bernina store we both have several Bernina machines. A lady who woks at your store started yelling at me because Jo-Ann's doesn't sell Bernina and I was bad mouthing the machines they sell. I never spoke about any machines, All I had said was that I took a My Label class at Bernina. And I was talking to a friend who wanted to take it but had to work the day of the class. I think at my store in Overland Park Kansas on 105th and Metcalf you need to close the doors Clean from top to bottom and hire all need staff starting with the managers. You need to increase the amount of staff you have and you need to focus on customer service. Then you should reopen. It would be well worth it.
Thanks for the topic. I must be one of the lucky (??) few. I have more than my fair share of JoAnns near me. I do love the coupons, pattern and notion sales and kids crafts. Lately though, I have been discovering online fabric shopping. It's so much easier. I have walked out of a few JoAnn stores in the recient past because I refuse to wait in a 45 minute long line to get my fabric cut, just to wait in line to pay. Staff is rude, slow or just incompetent. I write email after email to corporate, and they don't seem to care. As far as i'm concerned, JoAnns doesn't want my business. Online retailers are more than happy to take my money. Now that Maxi-Lock serger thread has been discontinued from the stores, I can just order that online too. There is one store in my ara that is not a superstore. It's a little dark and dirty, but it has everything the big stores have, sewing wise, AND they have a good staff. Well, the store is closing, and the good staff people are just being let go of. Nice.
I am a person who likes to see and touch what i'm buying. I also have been the victim of 'impulse' buys on more than one occasion. ;) However, I am having a harder and harder time going out of my way to go to a JoAnn store these days.
Hi, thanks for giving us an opportunity to respond.
I currently live in Utah, however, I have been to the same store in Overland Park, KS that anonymous is talking about and everything she says is true. They are abominably rude and very unknowledgable. I refuse to go there when I"m back home.
As for the Jo=Ann's locally, they are ok, however, they have a poor choice of garment fabric and very poor quality with higher prices than I'm willing to spend. If it was good quality I wouldn't care.
The staff is friendly. The store is relatively clean. My main gripe is not being able to finda pattern I need, they are always out and the store is more craft and quilting. We need good garment fabric stores, there are too many craft stores. Thank you.
I have a store that is more craft and quilt than sewing. I don't buy fabric there. It's not to my taste, or the quality that I prefer nor is there a good selection of non quilt fabric. The pattern drawers were finally fixed and I can open them again. But, like Cidell I only buy zippers, notions, thread and patterns at Joann's
I do appreciate having a Jo-Ann in my neighborhood(Kent,Washington), since there is a superstore not too far away and I would hate to lose it. But, the staff, except for one salesperson, is not knowledgable, the management is not helpful and the fabric selection seems to be getting worse as time goes on. The ads are not posted and new patterns are not put out in a timely manner. In fact, the staff was not aware that new spring patterns and books had been released, even though they told me that there were boxes of new patterns in the back room. They were not concerned that they got out for the current sale. Several of the drawers will not open and lots of the patterns are misfiled. The store is busy at certain times, but staff scheduling does not take this into account. I am sure that this stores sales are down,and unfortunatly it is due to the attitude of the management and staff.
My Jo-Ann (Dayton OH, South Towne Plaza location) is a new-ish Superstore (2-3 yrs old) that replaced a smaller one. In general it is a pleasant place to shop - clean, bright and well-organized. The staff is helpful and at the fabric cutting counter, they are at least familiar with the basics of sewing.
I regularly use my coupons to purchase patterns and notions. In my area we also have a Hancock's and a HobbyLobby. I much prefer JA and am forturnate because it is close to where I work so I can visit often :).
That's the good. The bad is the fabric, or lack thereof. My JA has tons of quilting cotton, and more than enough fleece to clothe an army. I buy both, but I really wish the garment fabric selection was better. Knits are very limited and mostly solid colors. Where are the fabulous patterned knits that are all over the place in retail fashion these days? The apparel cottons are mostly "juvenile prints". Adults want to wear cool cottons too! And the Red Tag clearance fabric section is huge, but the fabric is really junky. I wouldn't even use them for muslins. Why not reduce the Red Tags, and increase the better fabrics? I don't expect JA to carry high-end wools or silks, but I do wish there was a better selection of mid-range fabrics.
My only other beef is that sale signs are rarely posted in my store. I get my flyer in the mail that says something is on sale, but when I get to the store, there's no sale indication. On anything. A minor thing I guess, but frustrating nonetheless.
Thanks for listening!
I shop at the Ontario, CA superstore. This store is clean and bright. Love the 40% coupons, the notions, linings, books, magazines. I always buy my patterns there when they are on sale. Love the sales.
My only suggestion to Joann's: PLEASE stock better garment fabrics. You'd be surprised at how many people don't mind paying more for quality.
First ... I want to thank both Lindsay and Leigh-Anne for providing this opportunity. I frequent regularly the store in Moorestown, NJ (08054). Overall the store is clean and well-stocked, especially for basics and most of the staff are knowledgeable. The 40% coupons and pattern sales are invaluable (as my overrun basement can vouch for).
The issues that I have deal with customer service and fabric quality/selection. I've been in the store on several occasions, where I've left due to the long lines at either the cutting or check-out counters. We all know the saying, "it takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch" and it's quite true with customer service. I've been at the cutting counter numerous times when a customer asks an employee a basic question as to store stock/item location or basic sewing information and the response is rudely given or not known. I shouldn't know more about the location/inventory of the store than an employee, but often find myself providing the information in these cases. Given, in most cases these seem to be younger employees that do not last overly long (at least I don't see them there on future visits), but that one bad customer experience could keep customers away.
And the fabric selection ... there are definitely some gems hidden in the piles; however, with apparel sewing on the rise, please consider stocking better knits, interfacings, RPL's and finer dress fabrics. I know that our store carries the “vault” special order line; however, I can purchase the same quality fabrics on-line for more reasonable pricing. I have noticed that the fleece has been reduced in recent months, but it may be due to the seasonal changes.
Overall, I appreciate having the store close-by and will continue to shop there for basics and to use my 40% coupons :).
Thanks for this opportunity.
A new JoAnn's superstore opened last week near me on Manchester in Ballwin MO. I haven't been there yet, but I am looking forward to going there. I too use JoAnn's mostly for notions, zippers, and pattern purchases.
The good: I'm happy to see higher quality goods occasionally on the shelves. For instance, Once in awhile I see a bolt of Ambiance lining. Generally though, I choose to buy my fabric from independents who carry a higher quality fabric.
The bad: JoAnns carries yarn, and I was happy to hear that they were carrying the Lion Brand Fishermans wool yarn - it is primarily used for aran sweaters. What baffles me is why they won't stock enough quantity in any one color to make a complete sweater. I went to 3 different locations and none had more than 3 skeins, which is not enough to make one sweater.
I've been in many JoAnns in Michigan, Illinois, and Missouri and while some are better than others, I've yet to come across someone working there who actually has more than a rudimentary knowledge of sewing.
It's generally been my experience that the help is more surly when they're overcrowded and there isn't enough help on the floor to take care of all the customers waiting in lines. I see that as a staffing issue. It would be a good thing to have enough help on the floor on sale weekends so that lines don't get 1 hr long.
My local Joann's has good sewing notions but terrible fabric for garments -- in fact, the only good fabric they carry is Ambiance bemberg lining. I've noticed the sales aren't plentiful as they used to be, and the staff is sometimes rude. Whenever possible, I order my fabrics and supplies online from Fabric.com and Cleaner's Supply because the selection and prices are much better.
This is really a great discussion. I will join the previous posters in asking why there are not a better selection of knits - I would love some ITY jersey, if I can get specific in my requests. I will also agree with the others about not wanting a lot of other "crafting" type stuff in the store. At the JoAnn's (non-superstore) in Downers Grove, IL on 75th Street, the employees are very helpful, pleasant and just a joy to interact with. At the one in Villa Park, IL, not so much. I spend a lot of money at online fabric retailers and would love to give you my business if you would offer the selection of knits that I want. Maxi-Lock thread would be nice too.
There are two Jo-Ann's within about 5 miles of me (Walpole MA and West Roxbuty MA)...both are pretty much craftdreck-home dec-trinket stores, pretty tired, wornout and I go into them only to buy patterns on sale or for notions. As a serious fashion sewer, I must say the fabric is very low quality - okay I'll say it - the fabric is JUNK. It's been at least three years since I bought fabric at Jo-Ann's.
Thanks, Leigh-Anne and Lindsey T. This is a great opportunity to be heard.
I shop at the Springfield PA superstore. It's a very nicely stocked store. I love the 40% off coupons. I love the selection of notions. I love the 40% off button sales and the 50% off thread sales. I wish they occurred more often.
Unfortunately, the sales staff at the Springfield store is only fair. A few of them sew, most don't. There is an African-American man who is fantastic - I wish I knew his name. He's got at least a dozen little scissor pins - awards for good customer service I understand.
I'm disappointed with the quality of fabric. I don't buy a lot of fabric from Jo-Ann's And why so much FLEECE!!!! I never see anyone buying it, yet it takes up quite a bit of shelf space. Maybe get rid of the fleece and add a little bit of better quality fabric.
Overall, I'd give the Springfield, PA superstore a C+.
Today I visited the Jo-Ann Fabric store in Bellevue, WA. This is one HUGE store. Very clean, very well stocked and nice people. I also spent time chatting with the VIking Corporation employees in the Viking section, looking at machines and entering their contest. They knew I wasn't going to buy a machine, yet they were very nice.
This store is a huge difference from my own store in Burlington VT which is like several crafting trucks crashed into it. It isn't the best, but is is our only fabric store, so now and then I shop there. PLEASE Jo-Ann's folks - pattern your stores after the one in Bellevue! Thanks for the forum in which to comment!
Thank you Lindsay and Leigh-Anne.
I've been shopping in Jo-Ann stores in Central Illinois as long as they've been in our area, through all the name changes and permutations.
I would say that the Peoria store is cleaner and has much better service and friendlier employees recently than they have had in years. In the last few months the bathroom is even unlocked and usable and clean, with a way to dry your hands. (Seriously, I live more than an hour away and by the time I get to the store, I need a bathroom; this locked bathroom business was what kept me out of the store for years, except for when my MIL wanted to stop in to buy netting for the scrubbies she makes to sell.)
I rarely look at the fabric any more as I am unable to wear most synthetics, especially polyester. I do check out the patterns and am happy to find some Green Pepper patterns and Burda. The pattern drawers are almost always neat and usually well stocked, even on the last day of the pattern sales.
When this particular store was newly remodeled (maybe 8 or 10 years ago) I stopped by one spring day to find the formaldehyde levels so high that I could not remain in the store more than 5 minutes. Evidently all the air conditioning/circulation/cleaning mechanisms were off that day. The air was oppressive; if employees have to work daily breathing that sort of air pollution, no wonder they tend to be grumpy and distracted, not to mention living with the documented long-term health consequences of breathing those chemicals. (Recently the air quality has been much better.)
Anyhow, I will be watching Lindsay T's blog for updates on all the improvements that I assume are coming to her local store.
I also live in Overland Park Kansas. I also shop at the store on Metcalfe. I have had a terrible experience with customer service or lack of I should say. No one wants to help you if you walk by a sales person and say hello they don't respond. I would also like to see nicer fabrics for garments and things that match or coordinate so you could make several seperates you could wear together. I have found some nice garment fabrics from time to time but never can I find anything to make more coordinating pieces. Leigh- Anne please help us in Overland Park. We the customers would love to work with nice people and nice management at our local Jo-Ann's.
Thank you Lindsay and Leigh Anne for your time and space!
I shop at the Auburn Hills, MI (Auburn Mile) store at least once a week. I always have a coupon, and usually need thread, zipper, lining or pattern. Buying fabric for myself there is rare now (low quality), but I do purchase more fabric there to clothe my kids (sundresses and jammies).
The staff is pleasant, the store is clean, and I can usually find the pattern I'm looking for.
I would love to see higher quality fabrics and interfacings.
One tip: The clothing in your circular is god-awful. If you're trying to attract newcomers (or veterans) you need to do a better job inspiring them, showing them that you carry a selection of fabric and patterns that are stylish and easy to work with for any level sewist. Half the reason people I know are surprised that I make my wardrobe is because they've never seen my fabrics in your store.
The Madison, Wisconsin east side store is a disaster. Messy and disheveled. None of the staff seems to know anything about sewing. They all seem to be 20-something punk rockers, or friends of the manager. There are more CRAFTS and candles than sewing classes or fabric. Sure needs re-modeling and a better level of employee!
(I worked at a Bernina store that closed and they won't even consider me -- age 62 -- for parttime work. I KNOW I would make a difference in the store!)
Eileen O.
I have wondered this about JoAnn's stock: Where did the sweat shirt fleece go? Not fleece. Sweatshirt fabric, the material you would make a sweatshirt out of. It's an American traditional fabric.
Did a great top, got ready for another - and then it was gone from JoAnn's. Puzzling.
Thanks for the chance to comment. The superstores are nice but the commute and lack of quality fabric keeps me from making more frequent trips. I live in Baltimore, MD and there are no stores close to me. There are a lot of people who sew in the city but don't have anywhere to buy fabric.
I rarely buy fabric at one of the superstores because of the 30 or more minutes I spend waiting at the cutting table and lack of quality fabrics. It is really your financial loss because I spend a good deal of disposable income on fabric from online stores.
Last weekend, I lucked up at the Severa Park store and bought some fabric. It was a pleasant experience for a change. I try not to go to this store because the sales staff is not always nice. The nearby competitor gets more business because the staff is nicer. It would be really nice if I could go to a store nearby and pick up a great piece of fabric without it being a half-day adventure.
I used to travel 35 minutes on a toll road to cross over into NY to go to Joann's in Nyack. One weekend I drove up only to find the store had been closed! Now I travel the same distance on the same toll road to a much smaller Joann's in North Jersey. I do make the trip for patterns and notions. I have grandkids, so I can usually find fabrics to suit their needs. If I could have my fabric wishes come true, I wish my Joann's could add basic wardrobe fabrics such as jersey knits, double wool knits, wool gabardines, etc. in easy to wear colors like black, brown, gray, beige, taupe and the like. Such simple items are no where to be found at my Joann's.
I'll just chime in to say that that the JoAnn Fabrics store in Batavia, NY...is a disgrace. It is a depressing store to visit with little selection of fabrics. It is not clean. All in all, it's a sad experience.
The only bright spot is the staff..who are at least friendly.
I go there to use my coupons for the occasional spool of thread, zipper, or other notion.
Lindsay, thanks for opening up your blog for the post from Joann's. My Joann's is okay, I can sometimes find some good fabric, appreciate the pattern sales and notions. I do get so tired of taking forever to get the fabric cut and then another forever to pay. A trip to Joann's shouldn't take all morning, a trip to Joann's shouldn't be one your entire family objects to because it takes forever, a trip to Joann's should be enjoyable and fun, not how long should I allow, am I going to make my appointment, can we make the movie?
This problem isn't the managers fault, I am sure corporate hands down the scheduling hours.
What a can of worms!! IMO customer service means more than anything, but you get what you pay for when it comes to employees. I do realize JoAnn stores have to sell the 'junk' stuff ie; mugs, floral things, baskets, etc... because these items are where they make their money. And as stated in another comment, what ever happened to sweatshirt fleece, and I would faint if I ever saw fun baby knits and ribbing; how can I make baby sleepers without it? Go online that's how. But back to customer service and I won't name a store because I would hate to get an employee (no matter how awful)in trouble, but there is one worker whom I labeled 'The Beast' after my nasty cat, she goes out of her way to be mean. I was getting my hair cut one day and mentioned a bad experience with her and everyone in the salon knew who I was talking about! Up the pay scale a couple of dollars and get people who WANT to work (I'm looking for a part time job and would love to work in a fabric store but not JoAnn's!)and maybe that would increase the bottom line. Who knows? BTW I do like the notions section and I always use my coupons, Beast or not!
As others have said, thanks to Leigh Anne and Lindsey T for this opportunity.
I really like Joann's seasonal fashionfusion magazines with wonderful coupons on the back. The prettiest fabrics available at Joann's seem to be featured there and I love to see how the styles are accessorized -- e.g. the beautiful lavender Patricia Underwood hat and all the R.J. Graziano jewelry in the most recent one. I'd also like information about the shoes.
Fortunately, the store where I shop seems to have knowledgeable and helpful staff (West Knoxville, TN).
When I went to the store recently, I'd just read a couple of the newest BurdaWOF issues and I think an Ottobre Design. I think that with those fashion forward patterns that I could achieve some designer looks if ~only~ I could get similar fabrics. As Slapdash Sewist asked, why so few knits, especially print knits that have some lycra or spandex that aren't juvenile? I am also very interested in organic fabrics and would be willing to pay for them if available. They are available online, but I'd really like to see the actual colors and to feel the texture of the fabrics. (Anyway, after reading the comments, I think I will try the linen-like material at Joann's that one commenter likes so much.)
Again, thanks for guest blogging, Leigh Anne and LIndsey T, always enjoy your blog.
This was a great post, I love your blog :-) I live near 2 Joann's and they recently redid one of them. It's soooo much better than before. I'm hoping they redo the other one. I have been to a superstore and that was great too. I'm glad to see that Joann's is going to be renovating or opening new stores, I'm always afraid they are going to close the ones near me! Thanks for such interesting posts!
I live in Philadelphia, and these days, I would like to have a Jo-Ann's to complain about. We haven't had a store here in a while, don't know why, but the nearest one in NJ is too far for me to get to without leaning on a fellow sewist with a car, and most of the time if I travel for fabric I'd rather go to NYC.
So I'd like to know where all our Jo-Ann's went, and if maybe we're going to get at least one of them back.
I have a small size Jo-ann's in San Ramon, CA. I don't like going there but I do sometimes for notions and patterns. My problem with this store is 1) they never have any sales flyers and 2) they never put up sale signs. So basically I never know what is on sale. I'd like to know what is on sale so I can stock up. Don't even get me started on the inadequate staffing...
Thanks so much to Lindsay and Leigh Anne for the opportunity to provide feedback about JoAnn.
I'd sure like to know where that Joann store is that's pictured on the blog. There appears to be actual fabric in that store!
In the South Puget Sound area of Washington State where I live, there are at least six JoAnn Fabric stores within a 40 mile radius - five of which are Superstores. The closest to me is a $4. toll bridge away, so i have to make a visit count. I wish I could say I love the Joann Store, but most of the time I come away frustrated, and vowing never to return. I almost never buy fabric there, only notions and patterns.
For styrofoam seasonal decorations and baskets, JoAnn is the go-to store. For actual fabric - not so much. I can't even buy non-fusible interfacing there, and the staff has no idea what I'm talking about when I've inquired about it. This is a basic.
Unavailable at JoAnn.
Speaking of the staff, it would be nice to have people at the store who have training and sewing knowledge. Too many times, I've encountered the deer-in-the-headlights look when I've asked simple questions about what's available in stock - I wouldn't dream of asking an actual sewing question.
The new Spring 2009 Vogue Patterns were available in the closest JoAnn store almost a month after they were available elsewhere - conveniently after the Vogue pattern sale. I called every store in the area asking about them - no one knew what I was talking about. Patterns? In a fabric store?
I also feel like the store is looking for any excuse to deny my coupons, and each store has little nutty rules about using competitors' coupons, like only for items on aisles 5-8, or only one per day - and each store is different.
I live in a city where Joann's opened a superstore last fall. As a fashion sewer I had high hopes for more and better quality fabrics (wool jersey, etc). While my store does have alot more trims and buttons than the smaller size Joann's, the fabrics are pretty much the same. In fact, the smaller store across town often carries fabrics that my store never gets. I wish Joann's would concentrated more on the fashion sewer than the crafter!
I forgot to add, why doesn't the superstore sell BWOF magazine? The closest that I can find one (without subscribing) is King of Prussia! Maybe Joann's could put a customer wish list on their website. Then they would know what we want!
Lindsay - kudos to you for getting this post and getting their attention. Most of our local Hancock's closed when JoAnn came into town - they really cleaned up the Hancock's. Unfortunately that cleared the competition for JoAnn's and our stores have become "dry". Although they do have an excellent selection of basic notions. We are lucky in that the stores that we have are clean, roomy and well-stocked with basic sewing products. I'm just very spoiled about wanting very best fabrics and supplies for my efforts in my studio.
Longtime lurker...
While i appreciate that Jo-Ann is expanding to include 19 other stores, why are most of located in the suburbs?
I live in Philadelphia and the closest stores are 40 min to an hour away. The stores that were in the city proper are closed.
The closed stores while not the best (i agree with other commenters), they were convienent and when stocked served a need.
Other than the fabric quality, i love the superstores in the area. Nice staff, well stocked with patterns and notions. But there is a need for Jo-ann in Philadelphia.
There are at least 5 fashion design programs in Philadelphia and many indie fashion & interior designers AND many home sewists like me who need and miss having a Jo-Ann close by.
Angie R.
Thank you, Lindsay and Leigh-Anne, for this dialog. As others have mentioned,
1). Ridiculous waits and poor service seem to be the norm.
2). Basic notions available but fashion basics ARE NOT. Before the craft invasion, silks and wools were available in Dallas area stores, including the 75229 store which closed and took over the old MJDesigns at Preston Forest. Knits? The few decent bolts disappear and are not restocked. Fleece is a sore spot across the nation apparently- I have mentioned this to store managers, who assure me that it sells even in steamy Dallas. I assumed that the orders nationwide are placed from Ohio without considering local climates.
Performance fabrics? Has anyone in Ohio stumbled across that concept?
3). Burda patterns but no BWOF? Why send customers to Borders for this?
4). As Marji said--where is the full complement of yarn? Not everyone knits scarves, and can make do with two or three skeins.
5). If I had known that Huskvarna-Viking would strike a deal with JoAnn, I never would have purchased a Huskylock serger. No service is available in Dallas, and service/repairs requires shipping the machine to a repair facility in OHIO. When I went in to test drive the sewing machines, one salesperson was conducting a serger class for three owners and the other salesperson did not know enough about the Sapphire line to help me when I was stuck during the test drive, manual in hand.
6). Finally, as nice as this store is, the bathroom is a train wreck. Worse than the MJDesign days. You would think that a facility with training space could do better. Give us a stall door that closes.
My Jo-Ann store is in Palmdale Calif. It is in a fairly new shopping center. If I was a crafter, quilter etc., I would love the store. However, I am none of these people. The fashion fabric section is deplorable. The quality of fabric is awful. I buy fabric there but have to really hunt for decent stuff. We live in the desert it's currently close to a hundred degrees and there are rows and rows of fleece and flanner! Jeesh, we are into the hot weather here. The knits are mostly childrens prints and very few. Virtually no natural fabrics. If I'm lucky I can find some linen. You want polyester silkies? Please most are winter prints and too hot to wear here in the summer. The pattern drawers are half empty. I can't tell you how many times, the pattern I wanted was not in my size. The staff are nice enough, but I asked where the serger thread was and they looked at me as if I had 3 heads. Most of the people who wait on me do not sew. The interfacings are behind the cutting tables so you cant check for weight etc. You had a bolt of muslin on sale. I asked the person at the cutting table to hand it to me. She told me she didn't know what it was used for. Zippers, what a disorganized mess, can't find what I need in the size I need. I feel that the fashion fabric section is an after thought in this store. I miss the independent stores. My grandmother worked in one she could tell everything you needed to know about any material in stock and help with any issues you might have.
My closest JoAnn's is an hour away in Rutland VT. It is a smallish store with a limited variety of fashion fabrics. I did recently get some lovely turquoise denim there. The thread selection is pretty good. If I cared about quilting I would probably be happy. I mostly order fabric on line because I can't find the quality I want at JoAnn's, and it is too far to go often.
BeccaA
JoAnn just needs to change their name to "JoAnn Crafts and a very little bit of quality Fabric store"
Whether big or small, new or old, craft crap is overtaking the fabric in JoAnn. Michael's and A. C. Moore here in NJ do a much better job at craft selection and prices than JoAnn's. JoAnn's would be better off letting go of the crafts and concentrating on the fabrics. Supposedly, sewing is making a comeback - quality fabrics are essential to this - JoAnn, you could help make life easier for all of us by improving both the quantity, quality and range of your fashion fabric selection.
Cloth World - JoAnn's predecessor in Northern NJ (Ramsey & Wayne) were just that, fabric stores and they were wonderful. How I miss them!
The Joann's in Durham, NC actually has friendly staff, but sometimes there are only two people to run the register, cut fabric and give customer service. It's a great place to shop for patterns and notions although some of the pattern cabinets are difficult to open.
I never buy fabric there. The quality is horrible and why is everything synthetic?
Blah blah blah. Somewhere there's a "plethora" of qualified Jo-Ann staffers. Clearly their plethoras are smaller than mine. Times are tough all over, but well trained staff make the difference in keeping stores attractive and stimulating sales. Based on posts on many sewing blogs, Jo-Ann doesn't spend time or money to recruit top notch staff. I'm a long-ago So-Fro store manager and can tell you how good staff increases sales in "tough times."
I'm going to be brutally honest:
My local Jo-Ann store is horrid. Aside from being beat up and run down, the staff lack knowledge or apparent interest or motivation.
Example:
"Hi, do you guys have freezer paper?"
response: "What's that?"
me: "it's something quilters and crafters use to make templates and it's really a food item but sorta taken over by the crafting/sewing world."
Joann staff response: "oh, if you want craft items, go to Michael's. we don't have crafts here."
????
Lines are atrocious, floor and walls are dirty.
I go only when I have to, and that's not what I'd prefer. It's conveniently located and has good notions (never buy fabric there) and patterns.
(my local joann's is in glendale, ca)
The store closest to me is a dump! It is crowded, messy, and disorganized. The younger associates seem to be quite nice and helpful but are overshadowed by the rude older woman who works there (and I'm an older woman, too). It definitely needs to be refreshed or replaced. I really only go there for notions or patterns because of the poor selection of fabric. The store on Highway 6 in Sugar Land has always been clean and much better organized. I don't get to visit that one very often but these two stores are worlds apart. I would also vote for more fashion fabric. Michael's and Hobby Lobby have plenty of craft stuff.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on Jo-ann stores. I have 2 Jo-ann stores, both are an hour away from where I live. The one in Cedar Rapids, Iowa I get to regularly (I work in Cedar Rapids). It is a small store, so the aisles are VERY narrow. However it is reasonably clean and I haven't yet had a bad experience with grumpy/unknowledgeable employees or long lines. The other store is in Davenport, Iowa and I may get there about twice a year. It's about 4 times the size of the one in Cedar Rapids, but most of the added size seems to be in the crafting items and wider aisles. I don't think I'm qualified to comment on the employees, or wait times, as I don't get there that often. However - I have to agree with others as far as the fabric - TOO MUCH FLEECE!! I have that same complaint about Hancock fabics also. I'd love to find some good old fashioned cotton sweatshirt fleece in colors besides white, gray, black and pink. As far as the quilting fabrics - yes there are a lot of them, about half the fabric area in both stores, however they do make nice shirts, and curtains. More knits would be appreciated, as would more types of natural fibers - wool, bamboo, silk, etc). A larger Cedar Rapids store would be nice maybe - but not if most of the increased size went to crafts. We have a Michaels in Cedar Rapids, which is where I go for baskets, and craft items.
Thanks for the platform to let us tell someone at Jo-ann what we think. It may have more impact to have them combined in one place.
JustGail
I have noticed the same comments over and over but I would like to take that one step further. I live outside Boston. I can easily get to four stores, Natick, West Roxbury, Burlington and Walpole. The differences are like night and day.
The store in Walpole is dark, dingy and has very little useful anything. The Natick store is slightly better. It at least is clean and bright. But neither of these stores have staff that know what they are doing. Nor are they helpful.
The West Roxbury store is better. At least on the weekends and evenings that I go in the store is mostly staffed by what appear to be high school and college student who actually know how to sew. I was floored when I recently bought embroidery thread and the cashier asked if I knew it wasn't for construction.
The Burlington store also has knowledgeable staff. But all the things that the prior comments have said about fabric, patterns and notions exist in these stores too.
BUT and this is really big, Jo-ann is missing a phenomenal opportunity!. Last year a small local chain of fabric stores went out of business, leaving all of eastern MA with mostly quilt and home dec stores. Almost no fashion fabric anywhere! Three of the four stores that I mentioned have a "vault". One store, concentrating on fashion fabric with a decent selection, (no fleece and limit the polyester please!) would draw lots of consumers. Most of us fabric junkies want to touch the material before buying. It makes the on-line experience just not satisfying.
Lindsay has given s the opportunity to comment on what for some of us is the only fabric resource left. Thank you.
My closest JoAnn's is in Shawnee, KS so people from Overland Park might want to try that store. The large store is clean, tidy and the employees are generally pleasant. A few have more than basic sewing knowledge.
However, like the others have mentioned, the apparel fabric selection, while reasonably large, is nothing short of appallingly bad. Junk polys at high prices, ridiculous amounts of fleece and some quilting cottons. The selection is so pitiful that I can rarely find anything that I can use even for wearable muslins. Getting to the store is a forty five minute one-way trip for me so I'm making few trips to Joann's for patterns and notions, opting for buying online.
I do, however, appreciate the 40% off coupons and frequent sales on notions.
Leigh-Anne, I commend you for your bravery in taking all these comments. I'd like to share why I no longer shop at my local Jo-Ann's in Corte Madera, CA. The fabric selection looks like it came from the 70's, and I don't mean in a hip and funky retro way, I'm talking "even Good Will didn't want this stuff!" way. The colors are gaudy, the hand of the fabrics is cheap and tacky, the quilting fabrics are second-rate, and I believe they have a low thread count - not up to par with what I can buy at local quilt shops. Why do they cut fabric with scissors instead of rotary cutter? Every piece of fabric I've purchased is shorted in some way, and cut at such a huge angle that I end up chopping off up to 1/4 yard when I grain the fabric. And the sales - please stop that business! A good deal means I don't have to wait once a month to get something at 40% off. If there were reasonable prices all the time, you wouldn't need to create the 'mad craze' that ensues on the big coupon day. When I go on coupon day, everything I came for is out of stock, and the lines are so huge it makes a very frustrating shopping experience. Life is too short for such things!
OK, I've got it off my chest now. A pretty, cleaner store is one thing, but I still won't shop there until merchandise is improved. I'd prefer a warehouse setting with decent merch than a pretty store with the substandard fabrics. I appreciate your bringing this message to HQ. I'd love to be Jo-Ann's customer again, but you're going to have give me really good reasons to shop there!
Reading all the unhappy comments about Joann stores really make me feel bad. Why? Because I am a Joann employee--I work the cut counter. When I was hired, I was so excited to have a job that was 'up my alley' so to speak--I've sewn for yrs, knit & crochet, scrapbook--and have been a Joann shopper for yrs. I've worked there over a yr, and am really becoming unhappy with the work environment. I don't mind working hard--rather, I enjoy it. But there is so much expected from an employee there--I feel somewhat in a 'damned if I do, and damned if I don't' position. The customers want and desire good, knowledgable service, given with a smile and friendly attitude. We are told by management to provide exactly this, yet when a customer takes more than a few minutes of our time, perhaps we step away from the cut counter with the customer to help them, we are called over the walkies to give our location, what are we doing, and can we come back to the cut counter as there is a line. It's like we just can't make anyone happy. We have all these other duties in addition to working the cut counter, that we are supposed to get done between customers, yet at my large superstore, the cut counter is always so busy you can't get anything done other than work the counter. And when it's time to go home, you are not supposed to go over your assigned time, but you still have to do all these other duties before going. Then customers get mad and want to know why you've stopped cutting and are working on other duties. There is a problem with the way employees are scheduled(at least at my store)--you can't stop cutting to do other duties because no one has been scheduled to come on until you are scheduled to leave--which makes you go over your time. I hear it's a typical retail problem--customers want lowest prices, leads to less revenue, leads to less hours for employees, leads to less customer satisfaction. But there's got to be a better way to run things. Please, find a better way to run things.I'd better just stop now.
I'm "lucky" to have a Hancocks and a Joanns directly across the street from each other. My Joanns was once a Cloth World. Now it's mostly Fleece and Crafts. The employee attitudes are questionable. I have been sewing for over 35 years. I "retired" from my 18 year, part time job about 2 years ago. I had a similar experience as the poster before me....About a month ago I was in the Hancock store and there were only two employees on the floor. I'm pretty much a regular in both stores, so they know me. The Hancock manager was complaining about lack of help. I asked if they were hiring. She said "yeah, you interested". She hit me on the right day. So excited, it was my kinda job! I started two weeks later. The first day I was shown how to cut fabric and write up the ticket(and for the following 3 weeks, was shown little else!). There was never more than 3 employees scheduled to work at the same time. I helped a lot of customers with their decisions and purchases. I was told by almost all of my customers, what a pleasure it was to have someone in the store who was friendly and helpful, not rude and full of attitude. That is the one reason I could not work with the Joann's people(loud and rude). I guess Hancock was the lesser of the two evils. I was treating people the way I want to be treated when in the store. Later I was told by my Hancock Manager, "you need to learn how to NOT hold the customer's hand". OK, are these stores customer service or what!???? I was hoping to give these ladies an alternative place to come and get the attention they deserved. I quit that job after 3 weeks. I'm fully capable of working in these stores. But if being helpful and following through with your customer is not acceptable, then I'm not what they want. I've gone on a lot about Hancock, but it's to show that we are really hurting for a friendly place to do our shopping. I was also told by more than one Joann employee, that they have been told to limit the amount of time and help they give to the customers. On another note, I'm not like some of the posters who are willing to "pay a few dollars more for quality fabric". We are already paying $9.99 a yard for simple cottons. I'm looking for bargins and variety. The red tag material is a joke. Who in their right mind is going to shell out $12.00 for RED TAG???? I've seen some of the same stuff on the Wal-mart dollar table! Reduce it down and sell it cheap. It's one more reason to get us into your store. When you put notions on sale, put ALL the notions on sale ie: zippers, thread, bindings. Thanks for the opportunity to vent. I don't want to loose my fabric stores, but they are shooting themselves in the foot.
I live in Houston, TX and the store on Weslayan is close to my house. When I go, I always feel like I'm walking into a cave because it is so dark in there. The employees are snarkish and/or completely ignorant. There have been times that I was tempted to cut my own fabric rather than try to inconvience an employee to do so for me. I'd rather drive 35 miles to the nice JoAnn's in Clear Lake, but rarely have the time to do so. Thank you for listening to our complaints! I hope some things start to change for the better soon!
Speaking of the Red Tag fabric, oh come on, let us use our coupons on this stuff. I have difficulty believing that this is fabric that was in the store at a more expensive price at some point.
Strangely though, I find more knits there. The Red Tag section appeals to my scavenger nature, and might be what often gets me to browse.
I'd like to see better bathing suit fabrics in the general merchandise. I don't know if anything I find on the racks in Jo Anns passes the test for opacity.
I'll chime in with the "more knits" chorus. And not just juvenile prints.
I consider myself lucky in that I have a variety of Jo Anns as options (and even made a trip to check out a further one, just to see). There are two very convenient to me, one near home, one near work. Plus a superstore not too far away. I prefer my smaller stores (Westmont NJ, Marlton NJ). Maybe it's because I'm often there, and therefore am a familiar face, but I find the staff more personable at these, more interested.
I was just in the St. Peters, MO store yesterday, and left empty handed and sorely disappointed, as is often the case. The store itself is a little sad, but not awful. The staff is generally pleasant, but not always helpful or knowledgeable. The lack of decent basics (shirting cottons, knits, fashionable colors) is just mind-boggling. The prints in the dress fabrics are so often dowdy and not even close to what is being produced in ready-to-wear, not to mention mostly polyesters. Too often I go in excited with a plan for a wardrobe update, and leave deflated and discouraged, and end up buying from an online source instead.
Lindsay I love your web site and just used it to make my recent trip to the city a pleasure. I found all the fabric and notion shops that you have listed on your site. A big thank you goes out to you!!!!
Thank you Leigh-Anne for posting and I do hope that all of these posts make their way to people who are in position to actually make some positive changes in our local JoAnn stores. I only use my JoAnn's store to purchase just the very basic of supplies (because that is all that they have - basic stuff) and patterns. This store caters to the quilters and crafters in our area. There are never any nice selection of knits or really any fabric that I would consider wanting to make something out of. I purchased fabric at JoAnns to make test garments only. The fabric is not of any quality and the "fashion" fabric that is available looks like its dated in that their patterns and the colors choices are just bizarre. I feel that the Buyers for JoAnns need to work with their suppliers to obtain the higher quality fabric that the home sewer would want to purchase to create their garments . I think the JoAnn Buyers considers only their bottom line and lets the bottom line direct them to what actually gets put on the shelves. I prefer to purchase my fabric and supplies on line only because there is nothing available locally. I also knit and the yarn department is also lacking in quality yarn. I do like the coupons and the staff are nice and somewhat knowledgeable although I rely on PR to get any of my questions answered.
My JoAnn store is in Kingston, NY 12401.
Thank you so much for posting about this topic. I know I am a little late but hopefully the JoAnn people will continue checking back. Sorry if this is all over the place, i am just so glad to have a place to say how I feel and I hope I am able to get everything out.
I shop mainly at the JoAnn Fabric in Orange, CA off of Tustin. I have a superstore nearby (maybe 5 miles in Tustin) but I really prefer my smaller store. This store was remodeled last year and it was a HUGE improvement. They have much more inventory, the lighting is better, and they gave it a good cleaning. The bigger stores are better for buying buttons at because they carry more stock, but that is really the only reason I go there.
When I first started sewing I thought JoAnn Fabric was the best thing in the world. I mean I didnt know where else to go to get fabric. Now that I sew more I have found such great resources online for fabric and I have seen the amazing quality of fabric that local quilt shops carry. I really agree with everyone who has said that JoAnn's really needs to sell higher quality fashion fabric. I do have to give them props though for coming out with more lines of quilting fabric! They are higher quality than the Calico prints are are much more modern.
I love the coupons and sales. I buy all of my Kona cotton, thread, buttons, interfacing, and most of my patterns there.
The sad thing about my store is that the majority of the staff are old, unhelpful, and slow. There are a few (mainly Evelyn) who are very nice and helpful. I tend to only go into the store in the evening because the morning crew is not as nice. There are also two guys who work at the store (they dont cut fabric) who are SUPER helpful! I can tell when I walk in and see who is working if it is going to be a good trip.
I agree that the lines at the cut table are way too long, and that they do not cut accurately. Why is this? Why do they call out each number on the loudspeaker at the cut table. This just takes more time!!! we are all standing around waiting - no need to call the number when we have it in our hand right in front of you.
I cant count how many time I have helped someone in the store find what they are looking for after a staff member has given them a short or incorrect answer.
I think it would do them very well to give a little more customer service training to some of the "seasoned" staff members. Perhaps if they started tracking transaction times this would help the speed at the checkout counters too?
First and foremost, many thanks to Lindsay and Leigh-Anne for their ideas and time.
I would like to speak on behalf of an underrepresented population here in the comments: JoAnn employees. Thank you to the previous employee-poster who addressed some areas of frustration for employees. I, too, have shared many of these frustrations - as an employee and as a customer. I'll save the customer ones for another time. :)
Late last summer, I decided to get a part time job for a little extra spending money (really I was saving up for a new serger *smile*). As a sewer and crafter, my mind immediately snapped to my local JoAnn (Concord, NH). I filled out an application, and after I made 4 follow-up calls, I finally got an interview. The manager was excited to have me, and I was excited to work there until she offered me minimum wage. Really? Seriously? Granted it was a part-time seasonal position, but I felt I was bringing so much to the table: sewing experience, pattern drafting experience, and needlework knowledge just to name a few things. I pointed this out to the manager interviewing me and also mentioned what I had received at my last part-time seasonal job (which was significantly higher and also listed on my application which I don’t even think she looked at it). She then proceeded to laugh at me and tell me I would never get that wage there. So, I left a little down, but still excited about the prospect of working for the company. In my mind, I was doing it for fun, not because I needed the job, and I was hopeful to gain a lot of experience and meet people in the area who share my passion.
Working the Halloween holiday was a hoot. You get all the ambitious inexperienced people who want to make costumes for their families. Now, here is where my knowledge came in handy. I was able to help a “newbie” sewer leave the store with ALL the items they needed to complete their project (perhaps this is considered “up selling” in the rest of the retail world, but I call it being a happy customer who can finish a project). More than once, I listened to Suzie-I-don’t-sew working the cutting counter give an “I don’t know” answer when someone asked a basic sewing question. These customers are in the store willing to spend their money, and there’s NO ONE qualified or who has enough time to help them. And with respect to the horrid quality of the fabric, I can count several times where I actually talked a customer out of buying a particular fabric for a particular project because the fabric was so off-grain that tying it between two truck bumpers wouldn’t stretch it back.
Also, of significant note is the number of people who asked for classes: sewing classes, knitting classes, scrapbooking classes – you name it. Why JoAnn doesn’t offer any classes in the state of New Hampshire is beyond me. The store in Hooksett used to offer classes, but doesn’t any more. Classes are a great way to draw people into the store and transform them into repeat customers. I'm not saying it's practical or reasonable in every location, but if people are asking for it, then there's probably a reason to visit the idea. I even know a handful of people who would be willing to teach if there was just a place for them. Sewing is making a comeback, and as the company who is committed to inspiring customers, shouldn’t there be a commitment to inspiration through teaching?
Well, fast forward 3 months, and I just couldn’t take it any more. Like the previous poster mentioned, it’s too much work for too few people, and you don’t feel valued for the hard work you do manage to accomplish. Our store is a small-format store, but being the only one around the Capital region of New Hampshire, we had quite a bit of volume – especially around Halloween and Christmas. I finally went to the store manager and gave my 2 week notice. She told me that I was an asset to the team, and she offered for me to come back any time. I bluntly replied not without a pay raise. She said that was highly unlikely so I honestly stated to her that I could make more money with less stress hemming pants out of my house. It might take a few more dollars to get better staff, but the amount of sales they’d be able to make would offset that very quickly.
So JoAnn, if you’re listening, Customer Service, Knowledgeable Staff and Quality Fabric are the key factors in the equation.
Great Customer Service + Knowledgeable Staff = HAPPY REPEAT CUSTOMERS
Hire people who know, or at least train the ones who don’t. Better quality and selection of fashion fabric (less quilting – PLEASE) will draw people. I'm happy to talk more if you like.
I'm the ex-Hancock employee who posted earlier. I agree completely with the two Joann employees who have just written. Although, the pay was never a problem for me. I new it was going to be minimum wage. I was doing this as a fun job as well, so the money didn't matter. I have listed my self as Anonymous on this site, because I once wrote a scathing letter to Joann headquaters, stating a lot of what has been written here. When I went in to my Joanns a few weeks later, I was approached by the manager(a great guy)and he told me that if I ever had a problem to please see him first, before going through headquarters. He side the Managers hear about the complaints from the top and he didn't want that. Here's the kicker. I never told them which store I was referring to! I don't think I ever gave my address or State I live in. How did they pin point this one store? I told the manager it was not a personal affront to him, on my part. I was just fed up with a lot of the on going problems that seemed "unfixable" through store level. He and I did discuss some of the personnel attitude. He knew exactly who I was referring to(one being the Assistant Manager). He said he tries to stop it when it happens. That Assistant manager has been there for well over 10 years and it's still happening. I don't want to get him into trouble, and as Joanns go, I suppose mine is better than most(better stocked with the basics than the Hancocks across the street). But to this day, I'm still wondering how they figured out which store I was referring to. So as not to get my Joann's manager in hot water, I will remain Anonymous;-)
My local store (Champaign, IL) has been in the process of updating but is still pretty cramped and dirty. There are a lot of craft and party supplies but I’m not sure they do much business on this merchandise since Hobby Lobby and Michaels are within a mile.
Fabric wise—they still have the same yucky fabric. The knits are so thin you can see through them and I usually only buy them on the red tag clearance to use for muslins—I’ve only found one knit that was decent enough for ‘real’ sewing. Maybe they are stocking for the demographic area but I end up buying most of my fabric online—it’s often a very comparable price and the quality surpasses Jo Ann’s.
The staff can be snarly and uncommunicative but every once and awhile they are nice and friendly—never know what to expect when you walk in the door. Is it gonna be the nice people or the moody people!
I like the 40% coupons, the notion sales, and the fact that they carry Burda patterns. Just wish the fabric was more up-to-date and quality
I am a 45-year-old woman who has been sewing off and on since junior high school; a college-educated, middle-management professional with a strong interest in fitted garments that last for more than one season. I would classify my sewing skills as intermediate.
The only time I set foot in a Jo-Ann chain store is when their notions are on sale for 50% or better.
Jo-Ann's has proven to be the Microsoft of the sewing world: Driving out small, local competitors through predatory business practices, then selling low-quality products and services to clients left without alternative vendors.
Even though my area has both a small, established store and one of their new "superstores," the only items of consistently useful quality are those products mass-manufactured to the standards of known brand names, such as Gingher scissors, J&B buttons, and Guterman threads. (Even Singer quality isn't what it used to be.) The rest performs like secondary-market dreck sourced from barely regulated factories in developing nations.
I won't bother rehashing the issues of fabric quality and selection. Suffice to say that if I happen to catch sight of a printed cotton I like, I'll try to find a manufacturer's number on the bolt, then look for the same design in a local fabric shop. Quilting is very popular along the Wasatch Front, so I'm lucky to have well-made, basic cottons available at a reasonable price. I'm saddened for those of you in more isolated regions.
I am thoroughly disgusted by the way Jo-Anns has encouraged the dumbing-down of sewing skills on a personal and national level. By focusing on short-term profit rather than the long-term investment of educating an unskilled customer base, this chain has driven away the skilled teachers and semi-skilled students. Their marketing tactics also spread false information. A hint: Linen fabric is NOT a poly/cotton in a one-over, one-under weave. My niece is better off learning to sew on scraps from my stash than taking a class or a field trip to Jo-Ann's.
If I want craft supplies I will go to a craft store. Silk flowers and scrapbooking are no substitute for basic woolens. Racks of sugary, sticky snacks at the cashier lanes do not belong in any sewing store.
I'm glad that Ms. Dennison has opened her time and attention to the building resentment of her company's reluctant customers. I believe, however, that unless managment at every level of this corporation does an immediate about-face, we will see only the most shallow cosmetic changes to the way Jo-Ann's conducts business. The "insiginificant inch" will continue to rule over the insignificant customer.
Dawn Tavares
Salt Lake City, Utah
I shop at a large JoAnn's in Ft. Worth, my only choice.
Your Redlines stay around for most of a year--get rid of them and offer us something new every 3-4months.
WHERE are the cute apparel prints that we see in RTW? WHERE are the cute knits for summer desses?
Is all product in China?
Employees are often surly, reluctant to stop sorting and cut fabric for you, and don't know sewing. Once I was the only person at the desk and the clerk told me I still had to get a number, then she had to go to the phone and call it out. She said, "It's policy." How stupid is that?
At checkouts we always have to argue over your confusing coupons and double-check our receipts.
And we love the clerks telling us to, "Stand behind the line until you are called." What are we-first-graders?
Why do you buy so much FLEECE everywhere? This is Texas, you can wear it twice a season!
Enough of crafts-everyone sells scrapbooking, beads, party supplies,and flowers.
BE FIRST a fabric store.
I second some others' comments:
I'd rather you just have clean warehouse-style stores with racks of great fabrics instead of trying to put money into building "pretty" SUPERstores carrying everything for every craft.
I loved shopping in the NC fabric outlets, the floors just simply stacked with bolts of drapery/upholstery fabrics from their furniture industry, at great prices.
Up your wages and get rid of the teenagers and we experienced Grammas might want to work 20/hrs. week. I worked in a private shop years ago and we built many young girls into life-long customers because they would bring in their projects and ask, "What do I do now?" and we could help them.
PLEASE be a FABRIC store or re-name yourselves!
My closest store is in Gaithersburg Md and I've been there three times in the ten years I've lived here. It's filthy, things are on the floor, bolts are trailing their ends, out of place, covered in dust. The yarns are pulled out of their skeins, lots of things in the craft department are out of stock.
The staff is on another planet and just capable of operating a cash register and nothing else. Same cheesy fabric quality. The last time I went it was because I needed some children's licensed prints and Hancock's was under construction. The very same fabrics were a dollar more at JoAnn's compared to Hancock's. For all other fabrics I buy online or at G Street.
JoAnn's location is in an out of the way, hard to find spot. I get lost each time I try to get there or get back to the main road. I can't think of a reason I will ever go there again.
Thank you for taking the opportunity to share your perspective from JoAnn's side. I really appreciate it.
I'm really fortunate to have three stores within 45 minutes driving distance. I've had mostly positive experiences with Annapolis, MD location. And there's a new Superstore that opened in Waldorf, which I visited during opening weekend. I will go there when I need a wider selection of fabrics to pick from.
Now . . . the Bowie, MD location, which is the closet to me, being about 10 minutes away. The positive side is that I can usually get notions there, and find patterns especially when there are pattern sales. The downside? The location is rather gloomy and depressing. And cluttered with all those craft junk (which I could just as easily get at Michaels or A.C.Moore which are also in Bowie, with a much wider floor space and better lighting). It's not entirely JoAnn's fault for being in a depressing location - the shopping mall owner has let it get kind of run down.
I would suggest either moving the Bowie location to a better area, give it a refresh, or close down the location downright.
Now, the craft junk. I never, ever, ever buy craft items not related to sewing from JoAnn. I knit and I don't buy yarn from JoAnn, either, but rather patronize the yarn stores, of which there are at least 10 within 1 1/2 driving distance from me. I don't do acrylic yarn, so that's another reason why I don't get yarn from JA.
I think JoAnn needs to repurpose in order to focus more on sewing. I'd like to see a better selection of fabric, especially for garments. I'd also like to see more pattern lines offered. And please carry BWOF! Yes, I know about G Street Fabrics, but that's about 45 minutes away from me and it means driving on the Beltway to get there.
Hi Leigh-Anne -
I already posted above, but I wanted to add that it would be great to hear back from you about how the folks at Jo-Ann HQ are responding to our feedback.
Thanks for listening!
I second the love of the coupons and notion and pattern sales. That's about it. I too would like to see quality fashion fabric that a woman under age 50 would wear. I buy my fabric online instead.
My store in Bradenton, FL, actually has good staff right now. Linda is the best.
I worked for Joann's in 2002 when I lived in Milwaukee, WI. I was promoted to supervisor within about 2 months. Between the 20 year olds they hired who knew nothing about sewing and didn't want to learn, and the old timers who'd worked there for years and were crabby hags, it was most unpleasant. Your business model of not giving the stores enough hours to distribute to staff based on sales is ludicrous! How were were supposed to increase sales when we didn't have enough staff to provide good service? There would be 2 employees in the whole store on most occasions. I'd be running back and forth between the cash register and the aisles trying to stock the shelves or put the fabric away. Then our district manager would come and scold us for having a bell at the checkout counter for customer to summon us. Well, if I have to stand there and wait for customers the new merchandise won't get stocked! It was the epitomy of frustration to look at cartfulls of merchandise in the back room that couldn't be put on the sales floor because we couldn't schedule our staff to come in and stock it due to a lack of payroll hours! We were set up to fail, and of course a couple years later I learned that the store closed.
My degree is in education, not business, but even I can tell you that if you run a business that way, it won't be successful. You have a golden opportunity to really be a great company. If you pay for knowledgeable staff who want to share their love of sewing, and provide quality, current fabrics, you could really increase your bottom line. And that, obviously, is your company's only concern.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on my Austin, TX Joann's (Arbor Walk): although the store is nice, bright, clean and well organized, beyond buying notions with a coupon there's very little reason for me to shop there.
On the bright side, the trim, ribbon and button selection in this new store is quite good! Well done!
Number One Problem: The garment fabric selection is of poor quality and ridiculously over-priced for what it is.When I have bought fabric for costumes or such, more often than not the cuts are short, mostly b/c they're crooked--partly b/c of fabric quality, partly b/c of poor technique and, what I expect, are cost-cutting instructions from management. I, too, wish the cutters would rip wovens so the grain is obvious and so we only pay for what is actually purchased.
And the fleece: tons and tons and tons of icky fleece. Don't even get me started about the volume and quality. I'm beginning to think our dependence on foreign oil has nothing to do with cars....
While I'm complaining, I should also mention my disappointment that Maxi-Lock serger thread is no longer being stocked. Can still get it at Hancock's, so guess where I'll be going when I need notions.
Re: the staff; although this isn't the case for all the customer service staff, there seems to be a preponderance of surly. (One notable exception: a young African American woman named Michelle in framing; what a lovely, happy, helpful person!) Perhaps the staff need a retreat, or maybe a raise, or maybe simply a reminder that the customers pay their wages.
But in their defense, if I had to cut nasty fleece and poly silkies all day, I'd be surly, too. Just imagine their moods if they got to cut real linens or pretty jersey knits!
I implore you, Jo-Ann. Pick up your game. You're the first stop for a lot of beginning sewists. Offer them good stuff and they're more likely to become fabricoholics and be lifelong customers. And just think how much more of my dual-income-no-kids money you'd get.
Signed,
A woman who just flew to Portland to buy way more fabric than she needed.
There are two Joann's stores within driving distance of me.
I have nothing but praise for the Joann's Etc. store in Porter Ranch, CA. Even though half the store is crafts, picture framing and home decor, the fabric department is spacious and well organized. The employees are helpful and pleasant. I feel welcome in the store, and I'm sure I buy more because of that. The sale signs are always posted. They usually have two people at the cutting tables when I've shopped there. One thing I really like about this Joann's is that they seem like part of the community, not just a big impersonal store. They always have a schedule of classes for kids and adults. It is a fun place to shop. They don't have any fashion fabric I would buy, but I buy notions, thread, patterns, interfacing, and sewing books there.
The other Joann's near me is not so good. It is a much smaller store. The aisles are cramped and difficult to navigate. The pattern drawers are so close to the pattern book table that people have to scoot their chairs in when someone wants to get a pattern. The sale signs are sometimes not posted in the store. A couple of times, I actually pondered whether that store was being closed down, since they didn't seem to stock the shelves regularly, except of course for the voluminous amounts of fleece. The employees seem overworked and disinterested, and there's often not anyone at the front cash register. Nowadays, I try to avoid this store whenever possible.
When I first started shopping at Joann's stores back in the mid 1980s, my local store stocked some good quality silks and woolens. I made a number of blouses and skirts from nice fabric bought at Joann's, but those days are long gone. I'm still here, and I haven't stopped sewing. But Joann's stopped selling the fabrics I use. I don't dare hope for silk or wool anymore, but I would love to see just a small selection of nice cottons, knits, or cotton sweatshirt fleece. Aside from the quilting cottons and juvenile prints, I see few natural fabrics at Joann's.
Thanks for this post! In general I like JoAnn's. I like the coupons, the notions, and the patterns. However, I buy less and less fabric from the store. I live right between Philadelphia and Amish country in Lancaster, so getting great fabric is not too difficult, and worth the extra time. I would buy it at JoAnn's if it were available though. I have to also very strongly agree with people who have mentioned long lines and sloppy work at the cutting table. I too have walked out of the store, just leaving a stack of bolts after waiting at a cutting table for close to an hour (this has happened more than once). I now look at the line and how well the person cutting the fabric is doing before I even browse the fabric. I have had fabric cut crooked, and I have been shorted fabric more than once. I have often thought all people who cut at JoAnn's should be sent to any quilting store in Lancaster county for lessons. Those women are VERY FAST, efficient, and fair.
I'll admit two things: 1) that I really came into this discussion a little late, and 2) I was very spoiled, living in Washington, DC with regular access to G Street Fabrics. I also lived outside of Atlanta, where we had one of the "large format" JoAnn's ETC, that had everything under the sun.
That out of the way, I definitely echo the sentiments of the previous commenters. I currently live outside of Houston, TX, and have two JoAnns close to me -- the Copperfield and the Willowchase locations. Aside from purchasing thread, interfacing, zippers, and the occasional muslin or broadcloth, most of my fabric has been ordered online. There's simply too much synthetic on the shelves in the two stores for me to really find anything worth working with. I'd especially love some better quality cottons with a higher thread count and softer hand; I wouldn't even quilt with most of the cottons in store at the moment.
The shopping experience overall leaves a bit to be desired as well. The Copperfield store is okay, if a little dark. I do appreciate the large storefront windows; they provide great light for seeing "true" colors. Just a few rows removed, however, and it's not unlike being in a cave. Most of the staff have been pleasant, if a little harried. They always seem a bit short-staffed.
Comparitively speaking, the Willowchase store is a great improvement. It has recently been remodeled, and it shows. It's a great deal brighter, better organized, and offers a marginally better selection. It's also considerably larger. Still, despite all the improvements, I've walked out at least twice with only notions because the line to get fabric cut was just taking too long.
I suppose I can't expect JoAnns, as a chain store, to be as good as G Street or even High Fashion Fabrics, but something a little closer would be nice.
I am another current Joann employee in Texas-they continue to cut our hours (even tho my store shines on sales consistently every week)-Only two people per shift-no exceptions-so don't ask me how we are supposed to get all our merchandise out-other stuff clearanced-new product set up-plus cut & ring. I am a sewer-I have a college degree-work like a DOG-and we still get killed by our DM every week no matter how good our week has been. Our customers love us-we are on first name basis with so many of them-Our store looks so much neater than it did a few years ago-but corporate refuses to spend any $ to really clean the place up- It is an old old building-have no clue when it was last painted-but I'm guessing at least 15 years ago-A/C is sporadic-light fixtures burn out on a regular basis-so some aisles are like caves- our public bathroom is a total embarassment to me. I think part of the problem is there are too many layers of upper management-and I don't think they have a clue. We had a "honcho" in the building a while back and I just wanted to say -When was the last time someone told you the truth? They swoop in like a bunch of vultures-crab about everything that is not done to perfection-give no additional hours to help train people better and disappear never to be seen again for another couple years------------
I generally find what I want at JoAnns. My disappoint is that there is next to zero selection of knit fabrics. In general, they could carry more fabric period. There are definitely too many nick-nacks, craft stuff and seasonal items. The stores that I go to (Tigard Oregon and McMinnville Oregon) have helpful staff. I disappointed in the lack of fabric stores overall in relation to the population. With all the hoopla over sewing lately (Project Runway...wannabe designers and such) - where's the FABRIC??
After reading all the comments about other Jo-ann stores, I am so thankful for the Annapolis, MD store! The staff there are the greatest! Very knowledgeable, always willing to help. The store is clean, bright and well stocked.
Thank you for this opportunity!
I been often in joann at louisville, ky , and I am very disappointed, because their employees are very rude, and more if you look hispanic. They don't want to make any effort to help costumers, and from now on I will be buying in other stores, I think they don't deserve my money.
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sara
http://smallbusinessgrant.info
I am yet another customer that has been treated poorly. I won't be going back to Jo-Ann's anymore either, and trust me, they will be losing some money over that! =P
I'm a Hancock's girl now!
I shop Jo-Ann's only for pattern sales, or with the 40% off coupon. Most recently, I was in the store to exchange a number of patterns I had purchased on sale ($1.99/ea.). Several of the patterns I had bought were too large - I was shopping with my four-year old and must not have been paying very close attention as I pulled my limit of 10 pre-selected patterns from the drawer. (Back in the day, when I worked for the Cloth World chain out in AZ, we always filed the patterns in the drawer by size, from smallest to largest - I just assumed this was a standard practice. My bad.)
All I wanted to do was swap the unopened patterns for the same ones in the smaller size. Seemed like a fairly straightforward task, and when I explained it to the woman at the register, she took my patterns and I returned with my list of numbers to the pattern drawers in the back of the store. Two minutes later, I was back at the register, where it took (I kid you not) 25 minutes and three clerks to enter the exchange at the register. By the end of this process, this brain trust determined that I owed then more than $60 - the difference between the retail and the sales price for the patterns. (But it was just a straight exchange...WHY on earth did it need to go through the register at all?!?) I told them I would rather take my patterns home and throw them in the trash! After another go round where I explained VERY S-L-O-W-L-Y what I wanted to do, one of the dim bulbs got it, snapped "oh, just take them" and handed me the smaller size patterns. No apology, just a pile o' attitude like I had wasted THEIR time.
If I'm desperate for a notion, I'll occasionally buy something from them that isn't on sale. Otherwise I try to stay the he** away from the place. The way I see it, sooner they go out of business, the sooner a *real* fabric retailer will come along to fill the void.
WOW! I have had my fair share of bad experiences at Jo-Ann's but I thought it was just me! I am currently researching Jo-Anns customer service and managerial tactics for my Business Management Class Final Project. I am truly dissapointed in all I have heard, 1 out of 10 reviews are positive on average! That is disgusting, I cannot believe they are continually opening more stores with such a huge customer service problem. Imigine how much money they could make if they got a clue!
I am thinking about opening a fabric store myself now, with a wonderful selection of garment fabrics, knits and the most awesome customer sevice ever! By the way I live in Southern California and go to the redlands Superstore as well as the Corona one. Customer Service is missing completely froom both and the idiots working there are so clueless I anever ask for help. if I can't figure it out or find something for myself I won't get it there.
Jo Ann Fabrics is an abomination. I pray that people new to sewing do not fall into that pit. There are still lovely fabric stores to be found in America. Search for them before they die of neglect in a culture that opposes quality and fine craftsmanship. Even small stores that care about providing quality sewing fabrics patterns and notions will far surpass the megabaloney that JoAnn's epitomizes. In the Houston area I'd love to mention Button's and Bows on Westheimer. Even a phone call, mail order, or visit to the website will result in better service and quality. Over the past 15 years they have been a true blessing by providing everything I needed to sew as well as lessons and friendly service that really means something rare and fine. It has meant the world to my four daughters, countless friends who received lovely sewn gift, and to me.
I often go to the Joann in Bellevue, WA, and finally, tonight, I HAD to leave a comment, SOMEWHERE, about the deplorable state of the so-called "customer service." SPECIFICALLY, a woman named Barb, who barked at customers, "We're not doing numbers!" when customers started to take a ticket number for getting their fabric cut. Why not just nicely inform them, why not take 30 seconds to write a sign on the back of some paper, any paper, "No Numbers," why so rudely snap at unassuming customers for doing what they usually do? However, when another employee came to the cutting counter, Barb was suddenly all cheery and thus started these two employees' ongoing criticisms of one of their fellow employees and management as well as a previous customer. Whether it was because she was sick or because her mouth had constant negativity coming out through a "smile," I found her to be a little too slow at cutting fabric. When a call came thru asking to speak to a person at the cutting desk, she turned it away, saying the desk was too busy but her mouth kept on spewing negativity to her fellow employee. Even disregarding all this, I found Barb's use of some crumpled up tissue or handkerchief which she whipped out of her apron, blew into, deposited back into apron, then continued smearing of her germs all over the fabric she was cutting absolutely DISGUSTING. It is flu season, and this year there's the added possibility of Swine Flu and as someone with a compromised immune system, the LAST THING I NEED is someone to smear all their germs on my fabric!!!
Continuing on, I stopped at the checkout which had recently been remodeled and the new layout makes it hard to know where the line starts and ends when only the customer service desk is open. When a customer behind me failed to see where to stand in line, SIANNE, the cashier, angrily pointed to a spot behind me, said in an exasperated and condescending manner, "Back there!" then rolled her eyes and let out an, "Ugh!!"
Joann has also recently changed their sale tactics, and guess what? I do know how to do basic math and I do know their sales are no longer as good as they used to be, and that was the only thing that kept me shopping at this chain store.
I've been a regular customer at this store for years, and well, I am ready to say goodbye and do my shopping online or even at pricey craft stores with employees who are knowledgeable and actually know even just the basics of customer service.
My only comment is that if you want respect, you have to give respect. Coming up to the cutting counter and throwing a bolt at the employee while screetching your order is not a good way to get service. It wears a person down after being treated like trash for an 8 hour shift. This does not excuse the behavior of some of the employees mentioned in these comments. Just saying that it's a two way street.
P.S: It's called JoAnn Fabrics AND Crafts. Not just fabric.
I would like to comment to the benefit of "teenagers" working at Joanns. It was my first job at sixteen and I worked in four different stores all over the country for ten years. I was constantly referred to as "the little blonde girl" even though I wore a name tag. I was very knowledgeable but no one believed a word I said because I was so young. I'm glad you had this opportunity to comment about the fabric selection (it was always something I was disappointed in especially all that expletive fleece)because as an employee you have absolutely no say in what comes into the store. I guess I am saying go a little easy on the little guy(girls)all big coporations are like that. Try finding someone with knowledge of the products at walmart. If you want respect you MUST give respect.
Well here we are, it's 2010 now and I was relieved that it wasn't just me who had horrific experiences at Jo-Ann's.
Years ago when Jo-Ann's first became "Etc.," I mourned over the loss of pure woolens, cotton voiles, batistes, silks and other fabrics that I simply got a high off of because they felt so good in hands and fingers. Now it's polyester and poly-blends and horrid avalanches of fleece!(these avalanches have even fallen from their high shelves on me, so you might want to invest in a hard-hat if you come here).
As we age we want to dress better and opt for quality over quantity. Many small shops of quality were run out of town by the big boxes (no new news there!) I miss the joy of silk charmeuse sliding coolly through my fingers.
Then there is the horrid cutting skills and the pinching-IN technique used at the cutting table (hey, don't they want to get rid of this fabric/sell it??) Then it's challenging to find something at regular price so you can use your coupon(signs not posted). I like that the coupon can be used for any regular item, BUT, why can't we use it on a book or $14.99 magazine? (It's because they "offer" 10% off on these reading materials all the time. People sew partly to save $ and want an occaisonal break on the books/mags!
Oh God, then there's the clerks from Hades...they almost never say "Thank you" even though we subsidize their paycheck. Many have been rude, but last night at JoAnn's really took the prize: A fabric marked Red Tag had rung up at regular price, my gold seal (50%current promo) wouldn't take it off of the item (most expensive) that I asked for and my 40% coupon went to a different item. I believe the powers-that-be there neglect to correctly plu in correct markdowns and current sales and screw up whole transactions to make up for their "loss leaders"/current promos. It gets so complicated that the meek just go home depressed that they were duped into thinking they were saving money.
Getting something corrected on your receipt is a big nightmare. You will have to return all the fabric (return won't show on your bank statement for several days),be charged again for the corrected price (swipe that card yet again) it's h3ll with the worst clerks I've ever encountered anywhere! My card has a safety feature that shuts it down if it's swiped too many times at one place in a short span of time. Your online bank statement will show two charges but no crediting until three or four days.
Andf then you are so wiped out from that rigamarole that even when you discover other mistakes on the receipt, you just give up. Jo-Ann COUNTS on that!
I have sewed since I was a child and am an art teacher. I need things here but the stress of dealing with clerks-with-an-attitude fills me with dread.
I come from generations of home sewers and remember that long ago, Woolworth's and even the early dime-stores carried some quality fabric. I'll have to adapt to online I guess.
I have to make every penny count these days because no one anywhere is getting a raise at their job any time soon. My receipt HAS to be accurate to justify sewing vs. buying. The parting words HAVE to be "Thank you" from the clerk, without ANY prompting from me. (yes, it's gotten to that) What's so hard about thanking every customer? Is Jo-Ann's worth my time anymore?
Change the pitfalls that many have mentioned here quickly before Jo-Ann's goes the way of the dinosaur!
Do Jo-Ann employee's take a crash course in grumpiness? And what about product knowledge? I went in to find a boning tool and had to explain to two clerks what it was. I finally found one, after they both agreed they didn't carry anything like that. (It's to help fold paper and it's with the Martha Stewart Crafts.)
Can we talk about why the Jo-anns in Fresno's River park has totaly gone downhill. They changed the store around and it's horrible.
It is dirty and unorganized. Empty isles. Product pulled out and on the floor. I can't find anything.
It used to be an enjoyable experience to shop there. It was clean and nice. Now it's like a low class K-mart and I think I will never shop there again.
Soooo sad! I used to love my Jo-anns.
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