Class is in session

February 10, 2025

Last Saturday, we began our series of beginning sewing classes at the Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum in Carrollton. It was also a Quilts of Valor quilt presentation and sew day. My students and I were invited to attend the presentation ceremony. Very moving.

Yes, my classroom is missing about half the tables because they were pulled for the QOV festivities. Not to worry – I have four students in this session – 3 adults and one ‘tween. (The kiddo was a surprise!) Everything was precut for our placemat project, so we didn’t need those extra tables. We’ll definitely need them next time!

The unexpected surprise was having the director inform me that the class tote bag sample had gone missing. She had the bottom insert, but not the bag. Very strange. Believe me, I took every other sample home that afternoon!

Students were all smiles as they posed for pictures with their completed placemats.

Sadie and I went shopping for more fabric to make another tote bag. Hopefully, I added in enough to make strap and boxed corner samples for class, as well!

Meanwhile, BOLO for our missing tote bag:

 

No looking good for Joann

February 3, 2025

Today, Sadie & I went to the Alpharetta Joann store. Our mission was to find fabric to make another sample tote bag for the beginning sewing class at the SQTM. We ended our shopping trip with Sadie saying good-bye to several staffers we’ve gotten to know from previous visits.  Joann received a lot more business from me because of its pet friendly policy once the local quilt shops in the area that were pet friendly closed.

Employees didn’t say much about the future of the company. One did say she hoped a new buyer would be found so that the fabric and sewing part might return after the bankruptcy was over.  I agree.  Joann fills a niche that Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Wal-Mart don’t.

This store reminds me of what Hancock Fabrics stores looked like before it went out of business (i.e. liquidation sales began).  There are posters in the check-out area reminding staff not to accept any more deliveries. Lots of holes in the shelves where merchandise would normally be. Disorganized bolts of fabric set out in big cardboard bins in the middle of the floor.  (The bins resemble the Gaylord boxes I used at the end of the school year to discard weeded library books and outdated instructional materials. They came in on pallets and were hauled away once full.)

WARN act notices (about pending layoffs) are being filed in states where Joann does business.  The one filed in Ohio, where Joann is based, shows that the business wind down will happen quickly, with most staff being gone by the end of March/April.

Joann has agreed to sell itself to Gordon Brothers Retail (who has indicated its plan to liquidate the company) should another buyer not be found in the next 10 days.

You read correctly. Joann has about 10 days before it goes back to bankruptcy court and sells itself to the highest bidder.  If you have a gift card, get to the store NOW to redeem it while it still has value and there’s some inventory left from which to shop.

And should Joann not rise from bankruptcy, we’ll figure out other ways to get our fabric and craft fix.

We always do. 

Got Joann gift cards for Christmas?

January 21, 2025

Redeem them ASAP!

Last week – January 15th to be exact – Joann and its sibling companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection again. Yep, it’s the second filing in less than year. This time, though, it’s to ask the court for permission to sell itself to the highest bidder.  Joann apparently has a deal with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC, which has indicated it will liquidate and close all 800+ Joann stores unless a higher bidder is found. FYI, this is the company that is currently overseeing the closing of Big Lots stores across the country. 

How does this impact you?

Joann stopped selling gift cards as of the date of the bankruptcy filing.  The bankruptcy judge signed a flurry of first day orders to allow the company to continue operating as usual during the sale process. Joann’s website states that it is currently still accepting gift cards as a form of payment, but its ability to continue accepting gift cards is up to the court.

 

Once upon a time, I worked for a bankruptcy trustee. The whole Chapter 11 bankruptcy process is very convoluted. No final sale date has been established yet.  Once the sale closes, you can be damn sure those gift cards will be rendered worthless!   According to the docket, the parties return to court in mid-February for more fun and games.  Go redeem your Joann gift cards now. 

This evening, I redeemed a gift card for quilt batting that I’ll pick up in-store tomorrow.  I’ll also be checking my purses and SUV for any random cards I may have forgotten about. 

On a personal note,I hope Joann’s finds a buyer that wants to downsize and keep select stores open in major markets. I realize that businesses come and go, but this one, like Hancock Fabrics, was a part of my childhood. 

For more information:

joannrestructuring.com