Michaels Craft Stores Shake Up
March 8th, 2008 Jenny
Posted in Craft News
I may be the “Jenny-come-lately” here on this topic, but it seems that there’s been a HUGE shake up with the Michaels craft stores. According to Craftgrrl, they have basically laid off all of the teaching staff, and have canceled all of their craft classes in beading, scrapbooking, knitting, etc. It seems that even the kid’s parties have been suspended indefinitely.
I also belong to a number of Yahoo Groups, and I’m hearing the same thing everywhere: classes are gone (except for Wilton’s cake decorating classes) and “corporate” has decided to homogenize things by dictating that every store will offer the same projects. And they will be taught by the same folks who run the cash register and unload the boxes.
In short, no more “experts.” You’ll have to buy the pre-packaged kits and follow the directions. And from what I found on the Michaels website, it looks like the only thing they are focusing is kids crafts. There’s is branded “the Knack.”
So isn’t that just like Oriental Trading? Where’s the creativity in that?
And what about what the local market wants? Like folks who want polymer clay classes over, say, crocheting?
This is a sad state of affairs for the crafting/arting community. What to do?
Well, two things. One - and the most important - is patronize your local, independent shops. The bead shops, scrapbooking stores, the yarn shops, etc. It’s hard to run and brick-and-mortar business in a virtual world, and dollars to doughnuts those shop owners are happy to run classes that meet your interests. They often struggle and lose a lot of business to online vendors and big box craft stores, so they seek to find an interesting niche. (For example, our local bead shop realized that no one was doing polymer clay classes so she hired me!)
Secondly, ignite your “craftivism!” Time to contact “The Man” and let them know what we think of it…. click here to use their online question form.
For other weigh-ins on the topic, visit ceejay on Etsy, Micheals online message board, The HGTVcraft forum, and the forum for SplitCoastStampers.
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March 9th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
The same thing is happening in many venues. Big box stores find it easier to let their stock clerks pretend to be experts. Petsmart is an example. A stock clerk looks at a few videos, takes an open book test, and viola! he is a “certified Petsmart dog trainer” Eventually, they get a bad enough name, do a poor enough job, that fewer and fewer people fall for it. It tends to level out eventually.
Just went to Michael’s and found that JoAnn’s was much better stocked in polymer clay supplies.
Isn’t that extruder fun? Wait till you get the tube attachments!
Nancy Link
March 10th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Where I’m from the only place you can get anything polymer clay, is at Michaels. The problem with a big store like Michaels is that it is impossible for the employees to be ‘experts’ at all of the different crafts that they offer.
This is why the Internet has become so important to your crafting education. With a good Google search you can stay on the cutting edge of most craft techniques and materials information, although it can be sometimes quite a difficult search… especially for beginners.
That is partly why I have decided to teach all my polymer clay techniques in video online. When you get excited about learning a new craft like making polymer clay beads, nothing is worse than going into a big box store like Michaels and getting all the wrong information! It can be really discouraging, and worse yet may even cause the newbie to quit trying!
Cindy Lietz
“I learned by making mistakes… Now you don’t have to.”
March 12th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Michaels is overpriced on most items, and it is showing definite signs of a big downturn. In addition to cutting classes, they seem to have reduced the amount of stock they carry overall; I noticed this especially in the beads (which used to be an aisle and a half plus numerous endcaps and a freestanding spinner in my local store but is now reduced to one aisle and half as many endcaps, no spinner) and in the seasonal home decor section (last year you couldn’t move without tripping over a plant stand; I went to look for one last week and couldn’t find a single one). This wouldn’t be a big deal if they had eliminated some of the junk, but they seem to be concentrating on cheap mystery metals and poor-quality Chinese glass. I haven’t purchased anything there in months because they’ve eliminated the few things I did buy there. There’s also a lot less random stuff in the main aisles, but I won’t complain about that — I hate it when stores junk up the aisles and make it hard to move around.
March 12th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Oh, and I’m not a big user of coupons, but I’ve noticed that there hasn’t been a Michaels flyer or coupon in the Sunday paper in the last couple of months.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I have heard that the reason for the cut backs was because of the lack of attendance to the classes. The whole reason they started offering the classes was not to bring crafts to crafters but to draw you into the store to buy their products. When only 2-4 people sign up to take the classes it doesn’t bring enough profit in to pay for the wasted space the classroom takes up. I am against the whole mass-produced one-craft-fits-all type just as the rest of you. I just don’t see them changing their minds. China wins again.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Michael’s is on my black list. Last month they had a 50% off coupon and I bought a large canvas that I had been looking at previously. Paid for it and arranged to have it picked up as it would not fit in my car. Went back to shop for 37.00 worth of beads and when I presented my 30% off coupon, the cashier said that it was only good “tomorrow”. I paid full price as it was not worth another 17 mile trip the next day. A lady ahead of me in line had the same thing happen. We both walked out the door with a negative feeling toward the store. In addition, there is a Hobby Lobby in town that has coupons that you can print online….and a very sweet cashier who always says Blessings as well as Thank you. I usually drive a bit further to receive those blessing and use those 40% coupons. Thanks for letting me vent!
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
That’s why I hate these silly coupons.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I saw this this morning and just have to comment. My daughter and I went into Michael’s last night to look for summer crafting supplies, and walked out with nothing. We won’t be returning again.
We looked and looked to find a heat gun and shrink plastic, but couldn’t, and went to find a sales lady.
The first sales lady had never heard of a heat gun, and could not tell us where or even *if* the store carried them (they are a common craft tool used in embossing and stamping).
She really just did not know what we was talking about at all, even after I explained what they were used for.
Then we tried to find “shrinky” plastic sheets and they don’t carry that, either, or maybe they do, but who knows? Because once again, the sales lady (a different one, though) looked at us like we’d grown second heads when we asked for them and said she didn’t think they carried them and went right back to straightening stuff.
Hands empty, we walked down an aisle to leave and lo-and-behold, there was a stack of heat guns, but not on the stamp aisle or anywhere I would have put them or thought to look.
At that point, knowing that they Michael’s either no longer carries basic craft supplies or doesn’t care to help customers find them, we didn’t buy one.
Hobby Lobby had a ton of both, right where they should be, and they ended up with my $55.00+ sale. They also had sales staff to tell me where to find felting supplies.
I like Jo-Ann’s, too; even though the one nearest my house is always packed, they are just as helpful & sweet as can be.
At this point, if it isn’t at Hobby Lobby or Jo-Ann’s, I’ll get it online and avoid Michael’s.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I’m here in Canada and we have the same problem with Michaels staff not knowing anything. I have regularly helped people who were looking for things or needed advice. And have learned to look for things myself, instead of asking for help.
My biggest problem is that there are no other craft stores to go to. All of the little stores have shut down because they couldn’t compete in price. But no other competition has arrived to save the day. Lucky I can answer my own questions and have learned to examine every single aisle, to find where stuff is. They better be careful though, someone will eventually come in and kick their retail butts!
July 18th, 2008 at 1:32 am
I work at a Michaels, and honestly a lot of what you’re saying is true, but the sales associates really aren’t to blame. There are some people I work with who know a deal about crafts, knitting, etc but they are the managers or lead sales who have worked there for years. For the come-and-go staff, they don’t teach us anything and they treat us like crap. They throw us in with no training whatsoever and we are ALWAYS understaffed. Add to that a huge portion of the customers being rude/sloppy/inconsiderate/what have you and I think you can understand why the staff you encountered may have been a bit touchy. And no, just because I work at Michaels does not mean I am expert on knitting, beading, and floral arrangements. Please don’t expect me to be and get mad when you realize I’m not.
As far as not knowing whether the store carries something or where it is, generally if I do not know I will ask someone else - but then, I have had managers tell me we did not carry something only to then come across it later. Similarly, items are always coming and going and moving around, and the store doesn’t provide a way to keep up. Because I am usually in the memory books/crafts/wood depts, I have a good idea of what we carry there, but as far as the art supplies or kids crafts or whatnot - how am I supposed to know? wander up and down the aisles on my days off?
and to the person complaining about not being able to use a coupon a day early - if we allow customers to use expired or not yet active coupons, we get written up. don’t blame your cashier. though I’m not sure I understand why you expected to be able to use it a day early in the first place. Michaels does the coupons like that to keep you coming back: come in Sunday (or whenever) for the 50% off, then come back later in the week for the 30%. If you live far away then I’m sorry but you’re SOL, and Michaels as a whole does not care.
July 27th, 2008 at 8:42 am
I am a worker in Michaels, we we’re all shocked by what corp. did with the classes. We are owned by a new company and they are chaninging a lot of things in the store. We don;t agree with it but we have to follow the policies.
The new company took away the coupon to sign for, took away the classes. We always had customers signing up for the classes, the customers and the instructors were very disappointed when we found out they were canceling everything but the wilton classes.
as for the people that ring on register and “unload the boxes” we are very qualified to help the customers, at least in my store. We, as the workers have to do everything in the store. Unload the truck, put out the stock, so when you come in it’s on the shelves, ring you out when you are in a hurry to leave. let you in at 8:57 pm to get that much needed product for a project.
There are employees that also do crafts, so we help our customers figure out what is best to use and tell them if we’ve used a certain product and it sucks. We go so far as to look at the schedule and tell the customer the employee that can help them and when to call or come in and that employee will be there. So, we the unloader of boxes and cashiers do the crafts that are in our store and if we can’t help the customer we find someone who can.
So, next time you visit a michaels know that the employee is willing to help. Most times, I ignore a register call to stay with my customer and provide the help that is needed and make sure they fully understand what it is they are going to do with the product.
August 15th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I’m a framer @ Michaels, and, yes, Michaels has implemented a “no overlap” policy, which means no more than one employee on duty in any department at any time, and no longer allows part timers to work shifts longer than 5 hours (though I’ve noticed a few exceptions). You’ll also see a very unpopular dress code a/o Sep 1.
On Corporate’s behalf though, customers CAN print coupons from the website, and there are coupons at the registers now most of the time. Classes were eliminated b/c of low attendance, but you should see demonstrations closer to the Winter holidays.
I’d like to repeat other employees’ reminders that not every employee should be expected to be an expert in every craft. Use common sense: why would a framer know whether we carry Batman stickers or a Scrapbooking associate know whether we carry self leveling acrylic extenders? And would a real “expert” be working for less than $10/hour anyway? Let’s be a little more realistic in our expectations.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I had the same problem as some others where you try and go into an isle and there are 6 people working and chit-chatting and look at you as if to say “go into another isle” I have spent thousands in this store and no longer will be shopping there. I spent 215.00 last week and then they throw a coupon in your bag for 20 percent off sale 2 days later. Then they don’t want to give you a refund. Fifty dollars is what I could have used to purchase other items. They gave me a big stink and I will not go back ever again. My MOTTO is Customers first…they are putting food on their plates and we are paying their salaries. Looks like there are not too many happy people here.