Crafty dopers: Can I get your input?

In My Humble Opinion (IMHO)
1

Think about your favorite craft store:

  1. What do you like most about your favorite craft store?
  2. What do you dislike most about your favorite craft store?
  3. What would you like to see it carry?
  4. Anything else you’d like to see change?
  5. What do you dislike most about about your least favorite craft store?
  6. Male or female? (I was going to say “sex”, but I know what would happen then!)
  7. Do you do one or two crafts, or lots of different things?
  8. Any other comments?

Disclaimer - I do work for a craft store. However, I’m not trying to sell them - I just want to find out what people think about craft stores. And my apologies if anyone saw this in LJ.

2

I am not too into crafts, and when I do something like that, it is generally simple and bizarre.

(Michaels)

  1. Selection of stuff I rarely shop for, but really need
  2. The prices for a blank, plain t-shirt
  3. Individual bead styles
  4. Not particulary
  5. The price for individual beads, cant get a good price on a bunch of them
    6.Male
  6. A few crafts (generally making shirts with wintergreen oil or beadwork)
  7. Hobby Lobby’s layout isn’t very aesthicallly pleasing.
3
  1. They carry a wide variety of craft items, from wood to stained glass to yarn to beads and so on.
  2. They don’t carry a wide selection within that wide variety - for example, they carry yarn, but only a couple colors of “good” yarns - they’ve got some pretty Paton’s, but only two or three colors from each line. Second example - melt and pour soapmaking supplies, but only glycerine soap and no coconut oil soap.
  3. Obviously, I’d like to see them refine their lines a bit - since you can get cheap yarn at WalMart, the craft store should carry the fancier ones. And I’d love to see more instruction booklets (like Suzanne McNeill-type booklets.)
  4. I think this is probably very elitist of me, but I’d love to see employees who actually DO crafts, and understand the questions their customers have. When you ask someone where something is, you often have to first explain WHAT it is.
  5. Bad bad bad lighting and “crappy” craft stuff - they carry more popsicle sticks than all the Sunday Schools in the area could ever use, but very little in the way of decent adhesives.
  6. Female
  7. Lots and lots and lots!
  8. As a (semi)professional crafter, I wish they’d honor my wholesale ID. Sometimes I need something right now, and they don’t do “professional courtesy” that way. I can skip paying sales tax, but have to fill in the paperwork each and every time because they don’t keep a record, and more than half the time it’s a lot less hassle to pay the retail price and the tax.
4

  1. I like that it’s bloody there. I live in a small-ish town and when WalMart opened 13 years ago, nearly all the craft & hobby stores closed up shop. I wept openly.

  2. With so few craft stores about; the lines are long, the employees overworked and the store is kinda messy.

  3. I wish they would carry a goodly selection of greenware. If I want ceramics I have to order off the 'net, or cruise Ebay.

  4. I’d like to see the independant or “Not WalMart” craft stores grow strong. And blossom. And continue to add variety to their stock of raw materials for crafty people to utilize. Materials for stained glass, etched glass, painted glass, and paint and glazes for those of us that like to refinish furniture. I would love to go into my local craft store with a chip of paint and say “Jeeves; mix me two gallons of this to match and a quart of ochre glaze while you’re mucking about. There’s a good fellow…”

  5. My least favorite is WalMart, which doesn’t really qualify in my case. I shall never return there after trying it once. It’s mayhem, baby! I like to be viewed as an artist when I go shopping for supplies, not as cattle (customers) being led into squeeze chutes (the register lines.) But maybe I’m just an uppity-snob, or sumpthin’.

  6. Female

  7. I do many, many things. I work with native materials, store-bought material, and paint & refinish old crappy furniture. Make candles, soap, paper and spin yarn from my own Alpacas & sheep, you name it. And I am always looking for new things to do. I look for inspiration, and that’s why I patronize my favorite craft store. I always see something new that I didn’t think of.

Great thread, Zyada!

5
  1. it’s near my house.
  2. it carries C&C titles.
  3. blizzard dolls - i mean, action figures!
  4. they should add a lifesize hydralisk standee.
  5. they still carry the original price for Dungeon Keeper.
  6. the staff can be either, so long as they play the games too.
  7. i do both starcraft and warcraft.
  8. when is wow coming?!
6
  1. It’s really close to my apartment.
  2. It is, for all intents and purposes, the ONLY craft store ANYWHERE NEAR my apartment.
  3. FABRIC, dammit. The only fabric store around specializes in upholstery and charges far too much for it; the craft store has everything BUT fabric. I have to go to Walmart for fabric, and you know their selection is rotten, especially since I want to do historical costuming.
  4. They’re not very well-organized.
  5. Given that there’s only one in town, I don’t have a least favorite.
  6. Female.
  7. Um, actually, so far all my crafts are hypothetical. I know how to crochet, do several types of beadwork, sew, make candles, and paint crafty little things, but I haven’t done any lately. I’m hoping to find some leather for a not-anally-expensive price soon so I can make a “possibles bag” to carry all my black powder shooting supplies , though.
7

I don’t really have a favorite craft store, but I tend to go to Michael’s first for most stuff because it’s nearest the house.

  1. Proximity to my home for convenient shopping, and the fact that I can find at least the basics for most types of crafting. I also like the project section on their website.

  2. The fact that for some things, the bare basics are all they have, and that it can be damn hard to find the stuff their website projects call for. When I can find a better selection of soapmaking stuff at the fabric store than at the craft store, it seems a bit ridiculous, you know?

  3. I wish they carried some sewing stuff. Not a huge variety, but some quilting fabrics, sewing machines, a few notions, that sort of thing. And some soapmaking base besides that glycerin stuff.

  4. I wish they were better staffed during the day, so the lines weren’t so long. I have, once or twice, just put my stuff down and left because the huge lines just weren’t moving at all.

  5. Pitiful selection of supplies for the stuff I do and staff who know next to nothing about what they’re selling.

  6. Female

  7. I piddle with this and that and the other. I’m not heavily into anything, but I’ll tackle just about anything once or twice.

8

  1. What do you like most about your favorite craft store?

    My two favorite craft stores, which were semi-independent or small chains, have gone bye-bye. Wahhhh! I liked them because they have a wide variety of all sorts of crafts. I always enjoyed looking over everything, even the stuff I’m not likely to do. The aisles were clean, organized and well lit. It was easy to find what you needed.

Now I go to Jo-Anne Fabics or Hancock Fabrics, which are well kept up too, but I’m not much into sewing. Though they both carry a lot of yarn for my crochet projects, they don’t have as much in the way of cross-stitch as they used to.

  1. What do you dislike most about your favorite craft store?

    I dislike that my two favorites closed down. :frowning:

  2. What do you dislike most about about your least favorite craft store?

    The Michael’s in my area has narrow, cramped aisles. There’s a general overcrowded and somewhat disorganized feel to the place. I don’t feel as comfortable there.

  3. Male or female? (I was going to say “sex”, but I know what would happen then!)

    Female.

  4. Do you do one or two crafts, or lots of different things?

    I do a bunch of different things but my mainstay is crochet. I also do beading, papercrafts, cross-stitch, and whatever else that catches my fancy.

  5. Any other comments?

9
  1. What do you like most about your favorite craft store?

It carries 10-pound slabs of wax at a cheaper price than I can get them online.

  1. What do you dislike most about your favorite craft store?

The rest of their candle-making supplies are crap and way overpriced so I need to buy everything but the wax online.

  1. What would you like to see it carry?

A bigger selection of dyes, fragrances, and molds at cheaper prices.

  1. Anything else you’d like to see change?

Nope.

  1. What do you dislike most about about your least favorite craft store?

They don’t carry candle supplies at all.

  1. Male or female? (I was going to say “sex”, but I know what would happen then!)

Female.

  1. Do you do one or two crafts, or lots of different things?

Just candles.

10

1. What do you like most about your favorite craft store?

I don’t really have a favorite craft store. I go to Michael’s, because it’s the only one around. I will go to any quilt store, all are different, and I am very fond indeed of our local one. I have a couple favorites in the Big City, too.

Michael’s generally has about 60-70% of what I need, though. I like the fact that it carries stuff I never thought of.

2. What do you dislike most about your favorite craft store?

That it doesn’t carry all of what I want, and generally only a basic selection of items in a given range. There is no needlework store here–Michael’s is it–but it doesn’t have more than a basic range of threads and generic patterns. To get anything remotely interesting, I have to drive for two hours. And, there aren’t enough people to help out well.

3. What would you like to see it carry?

I would like basic dollhouse stuff (usable for actual children, that is). A particular magazine that I never see. Oh, and classes on knitting, 'cause I wish I could knit.

4. Anything else you’d like to see change?

I would like two specialty stores for needlework and fabric. A yarn store wouldn’t hurt, either. This will never happen.

5. What do you dislike most about about your least favorite craft store?

There is only one store, so n/a.

6. Male or female? (I was going to say “sex”, but I know what would happen then!)

Female

7. Do you do one or two crafts, or lots of different things?

Several different things: quilts, embroidery, scrapbooking, and candymaking are the major ones. (I would not be caught dead with any of the candymaking supplies at Michael’s. I hand-dip fine chocolates, thankyouverymuch.) And kid-friendly crafts.

6. Any other comments?

I guess not.

11

Hobby Lobby- here (Illinois) their prices are better than Michael’s.

  1. Price and selection go hand in hand for me.
  2. This is difficult, because they would almost have to be a specialty shop to provide the selection I would like.
  3. Glass beads, real yarn beyond acrylic and one brand of wool.
  4. as dangermom said, I would like to see some specialty stores.
  5. Joann fabrics makes me frustrated. They are barely a fabric store and not quite a craft store.
  6. Female
  7. A little bit of everything (you know jack of all trades, master of none.) Knit, crochet, tat, sew, woodwork, chain maille, candles, etc.
  8. If I wasn’t so impatient, I would probably order a lot more of my supplies on-line.
12

I go to three different stores: Michaels (M), Stitchville USA (S), and Frames & Stitches (F&S) with regularity.

  1. What do you like most about your favorite craft store?
    (M) because if I’m looking for things OTHER than stitching supplies, they tend to be the only place to go. I can dig around for what I want and LilMiss can entertain starting craft-y stuff there also.
    (S) It is a stitchers HEAVEN. Platinum needles? Bingo. BEAUTIFUL fabric? Got it. Obscure books? Yep!
    (F&S) Truly lovely people. Is is the only place I will go for framing. Also, if they don’t have whatyou need, they will do what they can to get it to you.

  2. What do you dislike most about your favorite craft store?
    (M) I have a Michael’s about 5 minutes away. If it’s something simple like plain DMC floss, they have it
    (S) Even though I have been sewing for over 25 years, and have sold numerous pieces, they tend to make me feel like a novice.
    (F&S) Can be a bit pricey, depending on what you’re looking for. I bought a piece of Belfast linen there that I could have purchased at (S) for a few dollars less.

  3. What would you like to see it carry?
    (M) I understand their limitations, and shop there for what I can.
    (S) Again, they have EVERYTHING
    (F&S) A wider selecion of books. They carry many standards (samplers, animals, folklore), but nothing newish.

  4. Anything else you’d like to see change?
    (M) Nope. Okay, maybe more than one cashier.
    (S) Nope.
    (F&S) Nope, just as stated above.

  5. What do you dislike most about about your least favorite craft store?
    See #2. I won’t go to mass merchandisers (like WalMart) for craft supplies, but that’s about it.

  6. Male or female?
    Female

  7. Do you do one or two crafts, or lots of different things?
    I primarily cross stitch. Also do “regular” embroidery, some hardanger, and have recently learned to crochet. I have made stabs at candle making

  8. Any other comments?
    I wish my hands would allow me to work as much as I desire. I know that has nothing to do with the OP, but still.

13

Like Marks 1st wife, I live in Illinois … and after reading the posts above, I realize we’re RICH in craft stores! haha :slight_smile: We have Jeffrey Allens, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and then the specialty stores like JoAnne Fabrics, Scrapbooking Your Story, The Ribbon Shop, etc. So … having said that …

  1. What do you like most about your favorite craft store?

My favorite of the three “biggies” is Hobby Lobby … as they have such a wide variety of items from fabrics to painting supplies … I could spent my whole paycheck there! What I love about it is that it is RARE that I don’t walk in there and find exactly what I need … and then some.

  1. What do you dislike most about your favorite craft store?

I dislike the checkout area and customer service … and that’s at all THREE stores. If you walk in, you’d better know EXACTLY what you need, because they certainly won’t be able to tell you. For instance, I’m looking for red-heeled socks (I make unique sock monkeys … i.e. a Lord of the Rings “Legolas” Monkey for a Christmas gift this year) … Hobby Lobby used to carry them but was temporarily out. I went to Michaels and the girl I spoke with looked completely puzzled and asked why I thought a craft store would carry socks. <sigh>

  1. What would you like to see it carry?

Well, obviously red-heeled socks at this point … haha :slight_smile: Besides that, Hobby Lobby has me covered. Michaels … it could use more fabric-doll kind of stuff … Jeffrey Allens … hell, it’s barely a craft store anymore … it needs EVERYTHING.

  1. Anything else you’d like to see change?

I’d love to see the front of the store change … the checkout area is always complete pandemonium … there’s always six or seven people in every line … and nobody up front seems to care.

  1. What do you dislike most about about your least favorite craft store?

Well, that would be Jeffrey Allens … as they carry almost NOTHING I use anymore. I remember buying hundreds of dollars worth of illustrators markers there YEARS ago … now, they mainly carry greenery and candles. Michaels … well, I love Michaels but ours needs to move into a BIGGER building. The isles are WAY too crowded. They could fill up a building TWICE their size right now. :slight_smile:

  1. Male or female? (I was going to say “sex”, but I know what would happen then!)

Female

  1. Do you do one or two crafts, or lots of different things?

I do a lot of different things … sewing, painting, drawing, doll-house stuff, crocheting … jack of all trades … master of none. haha :slight_smile:

  1. Any other comments?

Anybody know where I could buy those socks in bulk? LOL

14

You might try the Sock Company. They sell six pairs for $21.97 (each package contains two pairs of socks).

15

I usually go to a craft store (Hobby Lobby or Michael’s) to pick up art supplies. The thing that I don’t like is that the employees don’t usually have a clue what I need, and don’t always have it in stock. Like, for instance, 00 Rapidograph nibs. I could use those. Nope. They only have 0 Rapidograph nibs.

I suppose I shouldn’t expect too much from a craft store, since, after all, it isn’t a real art store. But I sure would like to be able to find 00 Rapidograph nibs. And decent oil pastels.

But, oh well. That’s what mail order is for. (www.dickblick.com is the way to go!)

Oh, and I hope you can tell from my user name that I’m a female. :slight_smile:

16

Drat. I posted last night and it didn’t come through. Good thing I saved it!

1. What do you like most about your favorite craft store?

I only really go to one small-but-packed jewelry supply store in Toronto, but I love it very much. They carry an enormous selection of beads, findings, jump rings, and semiprecious stones. And Delica beads from Japan, yay!

2. What do you dislike most about your favorite craft store?

I wish they had more fine jewelry supplies like silver wire, and a better selection of clasps.

3. What would you like to see it carry?

The abovementioned clasps and it would be great if they’d start selling chainmail supplies, too, but that’s just a dream. They won’t.

4. Anything else you’d like to see change?

The store is very small and crowded. I wish they’d relocate to a larger store in the same area- they could carry a larger selection.

5. What do you dislike most about about your least favorite craft store?

Practically everything. I really like specialty stores.

6. Male or female? (I was going to say “sex”, but I know what would happen then!)

Female.

7. Do you do one or two crafts, or lots of different things?

I do sewing and costume design, applique and needle-and-thread beadwork (daisy chain, brick stitch etc.), chainmail, eyepin jewelry (beads on wire), and spinning. I don’t think i’d want a store that covered all of those. It’s too confusing.

6. Any other comments?

I get my things at very different stores, and I’m fortunate to have a large number of specialty stores in my city- off the top of my head there’re ribbon and trim stores, bead stores, and fabric stores all in the same area. Most of them are great. I really do prefer stores that focus on a small part of the craft spectrum (leatherworking, soapmaking, plastic-net-providing, whatever) and offer high-quality things.

However, I do recognize that that requires a largish market, and that diversifying is more economically feasible.