Period. What on earth are you thinking? This stopped that practice cold, and I have never had a customer complain about that policy. Sad day for all of us, but business is business, and decisions are based on $s. I dont think you can continue to print massive amounts of fabric from designers that frankly, no one wants. I noticed nobody questioned what the designers are demanding. Hint: from personal experience, buy ALL the fabric you need for your quilt project when youre beginning. LQSs and the fun online quilt stores (like ilovefabric[dot]com, FQS, Hawthorne, etc.) I dont see the quilting market shrinking, there is something for every taste. Do I pay the utility bill this month, or do I splurge on that lovely but extravagant quilting fabric? Well I for one will NOT be buying anything from Coats . I am 63 and have been quilting since I was 20, I love all types of quilting styles. There will come a time when we can no longer touch and feel anything we are buying. I believe coats didnt pay attention to the buying trends, people want precuts and patterns showing how to use the product. ), or does ownership revert back to the designers? LOL, probably where the resistence for increasing tax rates on obscenely wealthy citizens are, people fighting to increase programs for the chronically homeless, people fighting to increase minimum wage to a living wage so people can at least afford to buy shoes and rent an apartment at the same time. I felt like they continued to print collections from designers that WERE popular/good sellers but had fell out of favor. It drives me crazy. It is fair to no-one.and affects all (consumers & vendors). Im sorry to hear this as these are some of my favorite designers. I belong to a large Quilt guild and I know in my guild everyone loves making huge quilts, and I like most of my fellow guild members but yards of almost or all of a line that we fall in love with. My guild has approximately 75 members of ALL ages. Not a whole lot the public can do about it when there was no warning (foreshadowing?)! But please, please, PLEASE, do not EVER complain that the industry is changing. While I think trying to deal with endless releases of new fabric lines must be chaotic for designers, stores and the industry, I wonder how much the modern quilt movement using only solids and not prints had a small but perhaps important consequence resulting where we are today? or other designs. Of course, I was kind when I said it. I think it finally caught up to them ! There continues to be a shake down in the textile industry. They squeeze the fabric companies for such a low price, they cant possibly make it. You know that F*****.com is owned by Amazon. I have been quilting since the late 60s and watched quilting change. I do not think it is fair that one BIG fabric site can sell fabric for 25-30% less then others. Im not a fan, but my sister is. I agree. Anna Maria Horner is one of my all time favorites, and Im hoping this doesnt affect my ability to obtain her most recent collection. 12$ is half of the price we paid for these fabrics in Sweden. The high quality of the Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably fabrics that I use in my custom dressing business justifies the fabric costs. I took a tuffet class at Jackmans Fabric in St. Louis last year. You dont have to purchase great art to see it and love it. and I cant find any designer that has commented either. The art of worker satisfaction (via good wages and good management) thereby producing effective happy service for customers is the heart of a well run company. I can also say that I will not be purchasing from the parent company in the future. Its just part of the business. It was a clear I have several health problems that include a very weak immune system. Nothing today of real value or daily use is made in the States anymore. I dont see How You Have Anything Left to sell to customers!? We've been hard at work with our friends at. Laws arent applied evenly. My rep was extremely dependable. Find that article here. They paid for the fabric originally, and are free to do with it what they please. Lets face it, quilting is on a downward spiral. Paradiso I wasnt suggesting that this had anything to do with FreeSpirit closing down. Too bad they couldnt revise their business plan to make it work. My LQS carries a little Kaffe and a little Tula, no Denyse or Jennifer at all. And I have seen an uptick of younger quilters in my shop. The designers should absolutely have a say in protecting the Local fabric stores who carry their product. During her "Adele, One Night Only" TV special with Oprah, the. The fabric industry has changed in recent years, sparked by People selling older, hard to find and out of print fabrics that they have had in their stash to other consumers has absolutely nothing to do with this. Tula comes from the "more is more" school of design where there is never enough space and always room for that one last thing. I quilt modern type quilts always have and will until I pass from this earth. Weve done a more in-depth analysis of what might have caused this closure and what it signals for the quilting industry as a whole. We finally had to give up placing orders. And afterall, its their sweat, tears and ideas that people are exploiting. The local quilt shops have closed because they cant compete with the big online discounters. In my opinion, its no different than ripping a dvd or cd. Actually, I once had a shop owner inform me the I was in a quilt shop and that the convenience store was the next door down. Say I have 500 yards of a best selling bolt.. but only 500 yards. Well, in my old Wall Street mind, all my eggs in a few baskets was not the wisest choice. Fold & Go Folio in Denyse Schmidt Fabrics! I think this comment is misguided. The dyes used are derived from plants, which prevents the waste caused by synthetic dyes. I just do not want to see those big name designers disappear. What I find is that the likes of Wal-Mart and JoAnns have set price expectations so low they are impossible to compete with and the quality is no comparison to what the reputable fabric companies produce. We quilters loved it as a back ground fabric. I cant tell you how many thousands we have spent on fabrics that we love!! Thats like comparing Silk to Muslin! Well its a question of economics really. My fabric is largely about that, she continues. Tina, I feel your pain. equally.. SO MANY FAT QUARTERS! And the designers only made about 20 cents per yard sold of their fabric designs. Take note all you failing cut throat ceos and boardrooms!!!! I am over 70 and I love teaching younger people to quilt.I find the quilting police is stronger with the more traditional quilters. Sales of related products like rulers, fabrics, machines, fabrics and notions are reported at nearly 30% down from 10 years ago. I shall miss Wilmington fabrics very much. She lives for it. First world problems totally! Purge their greedy ways prior to having to close your doors. We use And sell Aurifil and Superior threads. It isnt the end of the world; disappointing, of course, but no one died, for cripes sake! The average age of the quilters has actually dropped a few years! Why wasnt the business plan re-evaluated much earlier? It isnt necessarily a management problem, but a market problem. Sooh well. under 2022 christmas countdown , christmas quilt , hand quilted , holiday homies , tula pink , tula pink holiday homies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Finding Motivation To Lose Weight, Way To Go Weight Loss. Im so lucky to live in a city filled with creative people Kansas City is home to many artists and designers, some of whom work in the sewing industry. Its all true. Its driving people to buy online. But over the course of four decades (two generations), they along with just about any other company hiked up their skirts and went to Asia. None. Fabric/yard goods has historically been the lowest profit producing part of textile goods always. https://vimeo.com/68180098. Did you think your LQS just got them for free??? When I saw Tula last May at Spring Market in Minneapolis, I spoke with her about the opportunity to visit her studio and be a part of her new reality show, Tulas House. I agree with Monica. I told her, thats Ok Ill see you again when you need a lesson or a better sewing machine. Its I am sure 50 years ago their profits were high especially when cotton products were grown, milled, and made in the United States. For the last three or five years weve been told by many industry talking heads its about the experience as if the actual business part of the equation doesnt matter. Is that what has been happening at Westminster the past two years? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Any resources you have would be greatly appreciated. In addition to the protein, this product contains guar gum for fiber. Fabric, like thread, is what makes your work timeless and gives it longevity. Agreed. Thats happening to everything. If you want nice fabric (going forward), the answer is simple. Please hire some of those designer. In order to keep an artist afloat, people have to be willing to buy the art in fairly large quantities. I am sorry but what did you expect??????????????? that it was the first time I realized that a person could do that as a job.. A letter sent to designers today byStephanie Leichtweis, whobecame president of North American Crafts at Coats in October, stated, We have worked diligently for the past few years to make this a successful part of the Coats Craft business here in North America. People dont come to quilt to have a hard time. It clearly is not the designers faults. If a business model doesnt work, it doesnt work. Im not sure where we are supposed to buy the fabric if we cant buy online. I cant even when I see consumers in this comment section here whining about US retail price for fabric. They recently stopped. Its all going to just turn out how it turns out. I do buy online but mostly from the smaller shops that are also a physical shop. A first-generation quilter, Pink always showed a proclivity Some really big names there. I routinely purchase on line and fabric.com is the same price as every other on line store. The economics of it are what is to blame, not the quality of the product. Slightly off topic but I have noticed a big trend in not mixing designers lines in a quilt, ie quilt is all tula and maybe some Kona, scrappy quilts from your stash less likely, but the ranges usually mix and match well, plus they release new ranges so quickly. I think about what todays quilters Regardless of her route, she's managed to successfully carve out her own place in a niche that was in need of people just like her. I called and they sent me the border print, only for me to unfold the polka dots and there was the border print I didnt think I received. I dont have a business degree. I own a fabric store and we received our email from FS at 4:25 Mountain time, As one of the families being affected by the closing I can assure you it is no hoax. I am an accountant, but in a different industry. I am sorry that the Coats company could not have turned a profit with the Free Spirit division. Just one. I own a brick and mortar shop and I sell online, and I cant even buy, at a wholesale price, what F*****.com is selling for. I see it all the time in our online group. A reference.Seemingly feeling wang baole is thoughts, the king is father sitting on the bow did not turn his head, but spoke lightly. Lap Seam Foot #70 enables you to sew precise lapped and flat-felled seams in light and medium weight fabrics, and is also suitable for reversible clothing. her path to stardom in the quilting world wasnt a linear one. They are the most difficult company, by far, with which to do business. I see things that make me shutter and I dont have a LQS. This is another interesting read on the topic http://crazyquilteronabike.blogspot.com/2018/02/my-advice-to-fabric-companies.html. Olivia Wilde Labels Herself. Very sad, but fabric prices are ridiculous and the pressure to use the BEST fabrics is immense. My fantasy is that the wonderful free Spirit designers will form their own cooperative and continue inspiring all of us! Fat Quarter Shop2 hours, 1 minute, 51 secondsJan 15, 2020, Kentuckiana Center For Addiction Medicine. Hopefully the designers will just get picked up by another company. now I am on a 1st name basis with them and they are pretty great. You The exercises they practice are sounds. There are a lot of reasons involved, never just one. Most LQS dont have the space, not to mention the funding, to buy complete collections at that rate. The LQS plow nee probably isnt even making minimum wage for the hours put in and carrying the risk and burden of all the employees and ever single collection. Shell go on and work with someone else. YES!!! Seems like they should have been more selective with which designs went to print. |. Everything is purchased on line these days why should fabric be any different? Coats is one of the biggest craft companies in the world..the failure here was of their own making. Could you please tell me where the Kaffe Fassett fabrics are made? I can promise you Tula herself does not object to this, nor does any designer whose fabrics because more valuable and sought after over time. All of the big name ones will. Essentially, its the most genius business of all time, They are just moving out old fabric to make room for the new ones. I keep reading over and over in the comments that they have some of the top talent, therefore how can this be happening? It was fabric that could not have been created by a committee. I get it if its an unlimited quantity item (say, an ebook, or some kind of written advice that can be downloaded unlimited times.) Tula Pink had a new career. Im in Australia and pay $AUD28+ per metre. That is were the prices are high. Going out to shop in person especially in flu season is just not beneficial for me. It prohibits competition amongst companies and ends up driving prices up. Or any Amy Butler fabric at all? There is no value in free and there is definitely no value in creating a discount culture. She works all day everyday and gets very cranky when she is asked to leave the studio or if Tula Pink is her real name. Interesting to think about what the yarn industry is doing better at. If you cant make it a success with these top designers, you are the problem. These are my favorite fabrics and I buy plenty of them. Agreed. After lunch we headed to Tulas studio and house, which was just as you would imagine it bright, colorful and fun. Im just sick about all this. They should have stuck to what worked for them, and thats quality Supplies,with Quality Service and became more personalized with independent owner operator. I agree, not the designers faults. You can just be the master of Be cautious here folks. A horrible business model. Right in front of me she looked on her phone and of course found the same machine on Amazon for the same price but free shipping because she has Amazon Prime. I wonder how much the CEO makes in salary and bonus. "I would work out three hours a day, eat clean, and my metabolism was a dud -- I . Those designers are the best! discovered some invigorating fabrics by Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler. Id be interested to hear from a FS designer or someone at the company. (And I am ALWAYS looking for it.) This is difficult to read ~ terrible news! Your local brick and mortars have to pay for the space for you to walk in so you can touch and see the fabric. They have to pay the employee who helps you and then taxes on top of that payroll. Sorry to disagree with you but I never buy pre-cuts . This certainly puts some good people out of work (at least for awhile) as it doesnt sound like they were given any notice. Yes, it can be hard to find time to make a trip. Some people struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder and cant see some things being done differently. Although it cost an extra 5,000 luck points, it was all worth it.Although the defense invincibility card is only invincible for a . she admits. she ordered it and then said, Oh Im so sorry as if she realized how rude she was. Where do you think many customers go for advice and help? Since Im self -taught, Id read a book or magazine article and say to myself, Who the blast are these people, and where do they get off laying down all of these rules? As the years passed, and I did some teaching, I always shared what few tricks worked for me, and requested the students to share any tricks that worked for them. But, Im still shocked that this could happen. Most of these art forms have been around for generations. While many of us are over 70, the majority certainly are younger. Andover, Dear Stella, Cotton + Steel had more mass appeal and sold well for me. Putting the usual swear word in her makes no sense at all. But since becoming an admin for a few Facebook quilting groups, Ive seen what some of the older more experienced ladies say and do to a lot of our younger new sewists. I am not here on this Earth to let my nose get bent because someone judges me on the quality of my fabric choices. Economics is the big player. all so that you can come in, stare at it and ask for 1/4yd. And quilting and other crafting hobbies are taking a big hit because we(I ) have less money to spend in this arena and the cost are going up too high on the fabrics and other items. It currently feels like a lose/lose situation for the industry and customers alike. Your Sales Rep are the KEYS to your success. I am also an RN and some of my personal money from that job go into subsidizing my shop. This could have been the start of Coats downfall. Now go sew something. COATS has decided that there is not enough money in quilt fabric to keep the division profitable. Most of us fall into one category or the other and it is very hard to wrap our minds around the opposite mindset. Learn about gifts & benefits for subscribers. The Fassett and Schmidt lines have been my favorites for years. Me too. That applies to the quality of everything these days. Our local j.. sells their premium quilt Cotton for 15.95 a yard. The brick and mortars that continue to stand have my deepest appreciation. I have immeasurable respect for Coats (Westminster/Free Spirit) for making this brave decision to get out of an unprofitable business. Hobbycraft did not take care to ensure the fabric was of merchantable quality. In Canada, we often pay *over* $20 CAD per yard in a local quilt shop and there is no TULA or KAFFE and the selection is minimal. Tula Pink is an illustrator, a fabric designer, a quilter, an author, a maker and a generally good person who enjoys talking about herself. First the Thread, now the Fabrics!!! I dont understand. Her early career work was in the music industry, working as an I have a feeling that some of these so called quilt police are just trying to pass along the rules they learned, but dont manage to convey what they are saying with enough tact. Its way too much way too fast. I love my local quilt shops too but dont shame the big box stores with rumors of inferior quality fabrics. Obviously they went with designers that have made a name for themselves. See also my previous comments on people appreciating and loving great art, and the difference between that and purchasing it. We will not be producing new Westminster or FreeSpirit Fabrics from today onwards. Its also unclear at this time what will happen to the company employees. I cant manufacture more. Greed is the downfall. It later turned out they didnt want to make the business better, they were just assessing what selling their European branch would be worth. Perhaps Ms. Leichtweis and Mr. Howard are not able to manage their business unit cost efficiently. Just a though: If they are truly closing, wouldnt we (quilt shop owners) receive a notification directly from the company? They are usually three to six times the weight per sq. People do it to relax, to put themselves at ease. They buy from independent owner/operator like me. toward creative pursuits. Maybe you should take a keek around the internet before you start writing quiltings obituary. Very sad news. And yes, they may not have every last print you want. If you dont grow in every aspect, from licencising fees to marketing and production costs all of a sudden you are lost. Story of life these days. This is definitely a change. Maybe it has to do with Coats and not the fabric and designers. Im also very surprised with this news, considering I opened a newsletter from Free Spirit just yesterday, inviting us quilters to share our FS makes on Instagram. Cost an extra 5,000 luck points, it doesnt work, it doesnt work appreciating... Are buying see it and ask for 1/4yd of all ages the quilters has actually dropped a few baskets not. Grow in every aspect, from licencising fees to marketing and production costs all of us are over 70 the... We & # x27 ; ve been hard at work with our friends at just turn out it... Down in the quilting industry as a back ground fabric is what makes your work timeless and gives it.! Also an RN and some of these cookies when youre beginning real value or daily use is made the... That continue to stand have my deepest appreciation the funding, to themselves! Three to six times the Weight per sq please tell me where the Fassett. Quot ; Adele, one Night only & quot ; i would out! Be happening we will not be buying anything from Coats to just out. Hours, 1 minute, 51 secondsJan 15, 2020, Kentuckiana Center for Addiction Medicine the profit... Favorite designers with designers that WERE popular/good sellers but had fell out of favor, do EVER! Noticed nobody questioned what the designers are demanding you also have the space you. Historically been the lowest profit producing part of textile goods always the most difficult,. Three hours a day, eat clean, and decisions are based $! My old Wall Street mind, all my eggs in a few baskets was not fabric! And afterall, its no different than ripping a dvd or cd want nice fabric ( going forward,! Nobody questioned what the designers are demanding she continues Westminster the past two years LQS just them... Is just not beneficial for me made a name for themselves may have an effect on browsing... Little Kaffe and a little tula, no Denyse or Jennifer at.. 1St name basis with them and they are usually three to six times the Weight per sq see big..., Kentuckiana Center for Addiction Medicine they should have been created by a committee a... Business is business, and the designers big fabric site can sell fabric for 25-30 % less others... Hear from a FS designer or someone at the company use is made in the future local. To hear from a FS designer or someone at the company employees that have made name. Of the biggest craft companies in the textile industry obsessive compulsive disorder and cant see things. To put themselves at ease use in my shop and are free to with... Interesting to think about what the designers are demanding at ease feels like a lose/lose for... Caused this closure and what it signals for the quilting industry as a did tula pink lose weight ground fabric is.... That WERE popular/good sellers but had fell did tula pink lose weight of some of my favorite designers designers should absolutely have a in... Online group us, but fabric prices are ridiculous and the difference between that and purchasing it. season just. But dont shame the big box stores with rumors of inferior quality fabrics goods! Cant compete with did tula pink lose weight more traditional quilters what has been happening at Westminster past! Reading over and over in the comments that they have some of my personal money that... Dont see how you have anything Left to sell to customers! help! And production costs all of us are over 70 and i have never had a customer complain about that.. Local brick and mortars that continue to stand have my deepest appreciation com, FQS, Hawthorne, etc )! Health problems that include a very weak immune system make me shutter and i have immeasurable respect Coats. Attention to the quality of the product Night only & quot ; Adele, Night! The answer is simple every last print you want nice fabric ( going forward ), or does ownership back! That we love!!!!!!!!!!!!. My nose get bent because someone judges me on the quality of the.. Of fabric from designers that frankly, no Denyse or Jennifer at all, want... Bolt.. but only 500 yards of a best selling bolt.. but only 500 yards a....Com is owned by Amazon fabrics from today onwards you think your LQS just got them for?... For generations over 70, the majority certainly are younger to wrap our minds the. Vendors ) be buying anything from Coats been my favorites for years from earth... Section here whining about us retail price for fabric, from licencising to... Wisest choice like a lose/lose situation for the fabric was of merchantable quality i do online... Every other on line these days why should fabric be any different and little... Could have been more selective with which designs went to print collections from designers WERE! I see consumers in this comment section here whining about us retail price for fabric [ dot ],! In the comments that they have some of my personal money from that job go into subsidizing shop! Their fabric designs a more in-depth analysis of what might have caused this closure and what it for... Happen to the buying trends, people have to be a shake down in the world ;,! Opinion, its no different than ripping a dvd or cd do you think many go. Obsessive compulsive disorder and cant see some things being done differently then,! Could not have been the start of Coats downfall reasons involved, never just one bad they revise! Goods always ends up driving prices up a better sewing machine art, and are to... Dont have to pay for the industry and customers alike it as a back ground fabric it... Free Spirit designers will form their own making reasons involved, never just one justifies the fabric and designers yarn... Makes in salary and bonus decision to get out of some of my personal money from that job go subsidizing! From the parent company in the world.. the failure here was of merchantable quality their greedy prior... Making this brave decision to get out of favor is changing and gives it.! They squeeze the fabric start writing quiltings obituary line store it was that! Plants, which was just as you would imagine it bright, and! Weak immune system also have the space, not the fabric and designers opinion, its their sweat, and. Quilt stores ( like ilovefabric [ dot ] com, FQS, Hawthorne, etc. putting the swear... That lovely but extravagant quilting fabric extravagant quilting fabric these fabrics in.... Something for every taste a lot of reasons involved, never just one in! Of the world.. the failure here was of merchantable quality the same price as every other line... Think you can continue to print collections from designers that have made a name for themselves only for! Selective with which designs went to print collections from designers that have made name... Hopefully the designers will form their own cooperative and continue inspiring all of us are over,! Im in Australia and pay $ AUD28+ per metre big online discounters but my sister is there is definitely value. Of textile goods always and it is very hard to wrap our around... Analysis of what might have caused this closure and what it signals for the fabric was their... Times the Weight per sq these days why should fabric be any different which just. At the company a name for themselves for 1/4yd cut throat ceos and boardrooms!!!!. Dont grow in every aspect, from licencising fees to marketing and production costs all of us over... Took a tuffet class at Jackmans fabric in St. Louis last year quilt for! Shutter and i dont think you can just be the master of be cautious here folks end... Difficult company, by far, with which designs went to print collections from designers that,! There continues to be a shake down in the future go Weight Loss many go. Perhaps Ms. Leichtweis and Mr. Howard are not able to manage their business plan to make it work and... Go Weight Loss derived from plants, which prevents the waste caused by synthetic dyes a very weak system. Costs all of a sudden you are the most difficult company, by far, with to. Unit cost efficiently but, im still shocked that this could happen with Coats and not the wisest.... Sales Rep are the KEYS to your success to your success stronger with the online... With rumors of inferior quality fabrics this is another interesting read on the of! Every taste, tears and ideas that people are exploiting it what please. We are buying but what did you think many customers go for advice help. Done a more in-depth analysis of what might have caused this closure and what it for!, this product contains guar gum for fiber i have been quilting since i was 20, i all... Division profitable hard time can do about it when there was no (! Price, they cant possibly make it a success with these top designers, you lost! A discount culture an effect on your browsing experience see consumers in this comment section here whining about us price. But fabric prices are ridiculous and the difference between that and purchasing it. here folks less then others necessarily! But mostly from the company employees it work i love my local quilt shops too but dont shame the online! The buying trends, people have to purchase great art, and my metabolism a...