Well, peeps, today is a sad day. I'm a Walmart shopper. You can judge that as you may, but it's been a necessity to get as much bang for the buck as possible. We're not rich people and most of my adult life, we've struggled.
That said, I've been sewing since I was 6. And Walmart has been the primary source of fabric for my family for the last decade or so. So today, when I went into Walmart of length or royal blue ribbon, I was dismayed to find the fabric department GONE. An assistant manager was kind enough to explain to me that "corporate" is changing the way Walmart sells fabric. Instead of having bolts of fabric cut to the desired length, they will have precut lengths.
In other words, one will only be able to buy fabric that is too LONG or too SHORT. Buy too much or too little. F*ck you very much, Walmart.
What IDIOT thought this BRILLIANT plan up?
One who doesn't SEW, I bet.
But, I also bet that if Walmart gets enough complaints from avid sewers, they might just rethink their idiotic "new plan." (Have you noticed the shoe department has been reorganized to make it HARDER to buy shoes?) Apparently the stores are already fielding a lot of vociferous complaints from fabric buyers who ALSO think this is a dumb idea. They are also, BTW, "re-doing" the craft departments nationwide. You can bet that THAT will also be a dumbass redesign. So if you do crafts, be afraid. Be very afraid. Stand up for sewers, because crafters are next.
If you shop at Walmart (and even if you don't). Could you take a moment to send some feedback to Walmart Corporate about this situation? If you sew, or know someone who sews, maybe post this request to your blog (leave a link in the comments) so that your readers might also give Walmart a heads up that they are doing something dumb and we customers DON'T LIKE IT.
Contact Walmart here: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=542393.
Click "Email Us." You will have to choose your store and then fill out a short survey about cleanliness etc. Then you click "Send email feedback" (or something like that) on the return page and they will allow you to send a letter.
Please! Take a couple minutes to lend a hand. Costuming is a fair sized part of skating. I learned to sew making my own costumes (helping mom, really). Affordable fabric is crucial for many, many sewers.
On the other hand, my husband will be CHEERING. He hates me buying fabric anyway.
4 comments:
I don't skate and I don't sew figure skating costumes, but I do sew and craft other things. I'm horrified that Wal-Mart is changing their fabric departments, and have taken your advice and written to them. Thanks for publicizing this issue! I hope they get a ton of responses to this ignorant scheme.
I cannot believe that ANYONE who makes anything by hand and knows the value of labor can show at Walmart. Remember that your cheap prices undermine the worker all across the globe. Good that they changed their fabric department. Maybe now you will shop somewhere else.
You have got to be kidding me! Complain that WalMart is reducing its presence in the sewing arena? HOORAY! Why anyone with an ounce of integrity would shop there in the first place is beyond me. They are responsible for the demise of all the wonderful old fabric shops I remember from childhood. Instead of complaining to management, why don't you take your business to a deserving independent merchant and help revitalize our economy?!?!
From a life-long sewer and consumer of QUALITY merchandise.
Carolyn and Adrienne, I'm glad to hear that you're both well off enough to put your money where your principles are. People shop where they can afford to shop. For people without money to match their principles, Walmart is an invaluable resource for inexpensive fabric.
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