So guys, in case you didn't know, Hancock Fabrics (direct competitor to JoAnn's) is closing 70 stores across the country, as part of a restructuring. One of them is the place I've worked for 3.5 years. Yeah, it sucks. If you're around one of the closing stores and want to pick their bones, now's a good time to do it. Things are not normal at these stores, though. As a PSA, here are the rules we now have to follow:
THE STORES THAT ARE CLOSING ARE NO LONGER PART OF HANCOCK FABRICS. They are owned by the liquidation company. We're not connected to Hancock's system anymore. This also means that fixtures like pattern cabinets, cutting tables, and pegboards will be up for sale, too.
ANY HANCOCK COUPONS, DISCOUNTS, MEMBERSHIPS OR CLEARANCES DO NOT WORK ANYMORE. I don't even have my employee discount and this includes the "spot the dot" graduated clearances and 40/50% off coupons that everyone liked. Those're gone gone gone.
WE CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT COMPETITOR COUPONS, obvs since we're not even accepting our own.
WE CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT CHECKS. Cash, debit or credit only.
WE CAN NO LONGER CUT FABRIC AMOUNTS SHORTER THAN 2 YARDS (5 FOR DECO). Yep, it sucks.
EXPECT TO SPEND AT LEAST DOUBLE YOUR USUAL AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE STORE. We are swamped, even doubling our normal amount of workers and we have to take the discounts off the items individually at the register, which requires going through at least 3 screens. per item.
DISCOUNTS ARE TAKEN OFF THE RETAIL PRICE. As of this writing, the baseline discount is 20% off retail -- some things are off more (thread is 30%), but nothing is less (remember the normal sales are gone so this includes clearance -- it's back up to retail, then the percent off). The base will increase over time, but of course, as the discount increases, selection decreases. We're not being restocked, obviously. The deals are there, but you're going to need to math them out.
what i'd consider a "good" deal right now -- glues, flat folds, remnants, buttons, maybe fat quarters. I will say that the fur we carry is pretty basic (but ymmv, depending on the size of your store. mine's pretty dinky) and it's only middling to decent in quality. Everybody needs notions, though, and those we have in abundance.
afaik, there is no list of closing stores. If you're near a Hancocks, just call them and ask. A question like "Hey, I heard Hancocks is closing like 70 stores -- are you guys okay?" would be fine.
Good luck and Happy hunting!
[EDIT] Accuracy not guaranteed, but someone in another group i'm in posted this list of closing stores -- http://imgur.com/a/n5WM3
THE STORES THAT ARE CLOSING ARE NO LONGER PART OF HANCOCK FABRICS. They are owned by the liquidation company. We're not connected to Hancock's system anymore. This also means that fixtures like pattern cabinets, cutting tables, and pegboards will be up for sale, too.
ANY HANCOCK COUPONS, DISCOUNTS, MEMBERSHIPS OR CLEARANCES DO NOT WORK ANYMORE. I don't even have my employee discount and this includes the "spot the dot" graduated clearances and 40/50% off coupons that everyone liked. Those're gone gone gone.
WE CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT COMPETITOR COUPONS, obvs since we're not even accepting our own.
WE CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT CHECKS. Cash, debit or credit only.
WE CAN NO LONGER CUT FABRIC AMOUNTS SHORTER THAN 2 YARDS (5 FOR DECO). Yep, it sucks.
EXPECT TO SPEND AT LEAST DOUBLE YOUR USUAL AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE STORE. We are swamped, even doubling our normal amount of workers and we have to take the discounts off the items individually at the register, which requires going through at least 3 screens. per item.
DISCOUNTS ARE TAKEN OFF THE RETAIL PRICE. As of this writing, the baseline discount is 20% off retail -- some things are off more (thread is 30%), but nothing is less (remember the normal sales are gone so this includes clearance -- it's back up to retail, then the percent off). The base will increase over time, but of course, as the discount increases, selection decreases. We're not being restocked, obviously. The deals are there, but you're going to need to math them out.
what i'd consider a "good" deal right now -- glues, flat folds, remnants, buttons, maybe fat quarters. I will say that the fur we carry is pretty basic (but ymmv, depending on the size of your store. mine's pretty dinky) and it's only middling to decent in quality. Everybody needs notions, though, and those we have in abundance.
afaik, there is no list of closing stores. If you're near a Hancocks, just call them and ask. A question like "Hey, I heard Hancocks is closing like 70 stores -- are you guys okay?" would be fine.
Good luck and Happy hunting!
[EDIT] Accuracy not guaranteed, but someone in another group i'm in posted this list of closing stores -- http://imgur.com/a/n5WM3