Michaels updated its website as Joann Craft Stores completed its liquidation nationwide and closed the locations where people had purchased craft materials and fabrics for years.
“Welcome to Joanne’s customers: Everyone is welcome at our craft table!”
With Joann closing its final store, Michaels set up an entire website tab for Joann’s customers, promoting 10,000 unique fabrics at Michaels, saying, “Joann has closed, but the crafting journey won’t end here.”
Having existed since 1943, Joan has grown into a huge craft giant that operates 850 stores across the United States. According to some reports, the closure of the store means layoffs of 19,000 employees.
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So why does Joan think other craft giants like Michaels and Hobby Lobby can do better? According to retail analysts, Joanne was defeated by an online retailer and found herself in a similar position to Big Lots and Party City, who had just acquired a new owner.
Joanne also lost to direct competitors such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Michaels, who operates around 1,300 stores across North America, is seeing the dollar sign and creating new opportunities.
Michaels has clearly done research on why his customers went to Joan, promoting fabrics, sewing machines, threads, yarns, knitting and crocheting items under Joan Tab, saying, “When the Joan store closes, Michaels is thrilled to welcome new manufacturers, crafters and sewing enthusiasts into our community.”
Michaels posted a message on the official website welcoming former Joanne’s customers. May 2025.
Michaels may be looking at his own store portfolio, as it appears to convert Joan’s longtime customers into new Michaels customers.
Longtime Michaels shoppers know a chain that bought their beloved Moscatel at once, which operated dozens of stores decades ago. Most of the Moscatels have declined to history with one notable exception. This is a groundbreaking Moscatel in the fashion district in downtown Los Angeles. It was an acre of art and crafts in a warehouse with no explanation. However, that last Moscatel was recently closed. The Instagram site says, “The business has been closed forever.” In a 1987 Los Angeles Times article, they called it a “good marriage” as Michaels continued to actively accused Southern California. The marriage was almost finished with fanfare.
So where do Michaels and the other top craft giants go from here? David Lazarus of Consumer Confidential said, “The simple fact is that much of the materials used by the craft industry is sourced from overseas, meaning that it means important headwinds due to trade wars and tariffs.”
Lazarus also refers to something else.
“Crafts are more of a hobby than a calling that restricts the market. This creates unique challenges for retailers such as Joanne, who connects artistic types with suppliers,” says Lazarus.
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