Monday, May 16, 2011
Two Cents- Michaels Craft Stores
I visited Michaels today and noticed the cross-stitch isle was pretty much gone. In its place was yarn. This is what I think has happened to our craft and why I think these stores are shooting their selves in the foot. First, When the recession hit I think almost all crafts were affected. I think many people turned to knitting/crocheting/quilting because it gave them something to do and they had a useable finished product. "Useable" as in not just something to look at and enjoy. They made blankets, clothes etc. I think these craft stores saw a drop in sales for floss etc. and an increase in sales for yarn. Well, how long do they expect that to continue? People will stop going there for stitching supplies (because they don't carry them) and eventually get tired of knitting and crocheting and stop buying yarn. Personally, I can only crochet for a couple of months before I have to switch to something else. Embroidery is not a dying art. Every time I get an email, from a fan, I know this to be true. I see the excitement in their words and when I see people in the stitch shops I hear the excitement in their voices and see it in their eyes. Those who haven't picked up a needle and thread don't know the feeling. Those who haven't felt the linen and oohed and awed at the variety of colors don't know the history behind it. Michaels....you're killing yourself and when you're dead and gone you will have no one to blame but yourself.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Crafting goes through phases, and unfortunately while knitting is holding it's own, cross stitching is going "out". it's not just Micheal's losing out, but a lot of brick and mortar stores that were dedicated JUST to cross stitching are closing all over. Scrapbooking and Stamping are all the rage with the mainstream right now. Micheal's is supply and demand. No demand: they won't supply.
ReplyDeleteThe economy really messed things up. It will all come back and some areas will be stronger than others. I really thought scrapbooking was gone. Many of the stores dedicated to that went out of business years ago.
ReplyDeleteI guess it depends where you live. I'm west coast Canada, and there is only one stitching shop left in my Province (and even then, it's more knit than stitch so I have to online shop for my materials), but in places like Michigan, they seem to be doing well and have more brick and mortar shops.
ReplyDeleteI think shopping for these supplies is changing. I think cross stitch is alive and well but people are buying on-line. That's where I shop most of the time now (partly because the stores are closing and partly because I can get a better selection on-line). The only needlework supplies I buy from Michaels is DMC thread as up here in Canada they don't have anything else I want. I do really miss the only needlework store that we had in the Vancouver area as it closed last year. The times they are a changing, but the hobbies aren't.
ReplyDelete