Very interesting blog post about the labor practices of Joann's Fabrics

[demigoddess]

It seems just about all the corporations of the US use Walmart employee practices. I was shocked to learn

http://thebitchystitcher.blogspot.com/2014/09/behind-bolts.html#disqus_thread

Read all the comments, you may learn something horrible.

[Warpy]

1. People there don't look happy to be at work

Fortunately, there's a Hancock Fabrics across the street. That's where I go.

[demigoddess]

2. unfortunately, Joann's

bought out their competition here, and ran out the rest.

[KT2000]

3. hideous store

not the employees but the way they have bought or run everyone else out and then reduced quality. They are making a bundle on their own fabric line but still want to squeeze the employees.
As the largest retailer they are accepting poor quality fabrics and notions from their suppliers too.

I think we can thank our MBA schools for a lot of this crap. They come up with more schemes to control employee behavior and are probably rewarded with a bonus. This private equity firm that owns Joanns has not a clue what this business is about.

[msongs]

4. they have a clue: make as much profit as possible and quality be damned nt

[A Little Weird]

5. Wow

I didn't know this about Joann's. That seems like a crappy way to do business but I guess that's what they teach in business school these days.

[drmeow]

6. Now I feel guilty

I wish there was somewhere else to buy fabric where I live other than Joann's and SAS. I was in NYC the other day in the fabric district and salivating! Nothing at all like that here.

[politicat]

7. It's never been a great place to work, but I hear it got worse after private equity purchase.

They were public until a couple years ago. That's when I noticed most changes -- when FTC regs started to be flaunted (fabrics must be labeled according to content; I've been seeing more labeled 100% cotton that melts, "wool" that burns like polyester, etc), employee turnover went from high to constant, store chores going undone and customers ignored.

I sew for us, but it takes an emergency to get me into the chain craft and fabric stores. The locals and the independent online retailers are better both for their employees and customers.