Information

[mgehrke]

Both our Michael's and Joann's still have a huge scrapbooking section which I am happy about. Oh I still spend my fair share here too, but it is nice if I run out of something I can just hop in my car and be gone and back in half an hour. We are getting a HL too. The building it is moving into is huge, so I am hoping for it to have a good size scrappy section too. Yes, we are loosing achievers, but I didn't really shop there too often due to the prices. The one nice thing was I could stop in and look at something like BO Bunny and such. If I liked it, I would come home and order it from ACOT  

[CarrieG]

Both our Michael's and Joann's still have a huge scrapbooking section which I am happy about. Oh I still spend my fair share here too, but it is nice if I run out of something I can just hop in my car and be gone and back in half an hour. We are getting a HL too. The building it is moving into is huge, so I am hoping for it to have a good size scrappy section too. Yes, we are loosing achievers, but I didn't really shop there too often due to the prices. The one nice thing was I could stop in and look at something like BO Bunny and such. If I liked it, I would come home and order it from ACOT  

gonna be interesting...they are putting ours in two adjoining buildings at our mall..........the former old navy and gottschalks buildings.......AYE AYE BIG!!!!!!

[citygirl22]

I buy more from ACOT than I do from J's, M's and HL combined!

Same here.
The Michaels in my area has a huge scrapbooking section but I just find Michaels insanely overpriced. I'm not sure if it's like this in the States, but here the items at Michaels are often 40-50% more expensive than at a LSS or online shop. I don't know why anyone would shop there, other than convenience. I only shop there if I am absolutely desperate for adhesive or have a great coupon 

[DN in MN]

Our Michael's section is ok but nothing changes... We have a Hobby Lobby which is better but still nothing like the stuff here at ACOT  

[DN in MN]

I buy more from ACOT than I do from J's, M's and HL combined!

Same here.
The Michaels in my area has a huge scrapbooking section but I just find Michaels insanely overpriced. I'm not sure if it's like this in the States, but here the items at Michaels are often 40-50% more expensive than at a LSS or online shop. I don't know why anyone would shop there, other than convenience. I only shop there if I am absolutely desperate for adhesive or have a great coupon 
 

That is just crazy overpriced!  Michaels and HL in my area are priced close to here but just don't carry a good selection.  I can't believe they can get away such pricing

[emmapaige]

I was at a Michael's this weekend while in Delaware (tax free shopping) and their SB section was pretty big and they had some great stuff.  Of course I only spent a fraction of what I spend here at ACOT because while some of their stuff was great.....ALL of ACOT stuff is great!! 

[Charleneanne]

I noticed the same trend when I was in Hobby Lobby back in December.  Both the SB section and the yarn had been downsized. 

[anazelia]

the one here has gotten a bigger scrappy section. 

[kate W.]

I used to shop all the time at my local M's and J's but that was before I knew there were such companies as Echo Park, American Crafts, MME, Bo Bunny, Crate Paper, etc etc. I had no idea all these companies existed. I thought the only Scrapbooking companies were Jolees, K&Co, and DCWV.  I just discovered online Scrapbooking stores a couple months ago. Since then, M's and J's just don't cut it for me anymore. I still go to hopefully stumble upon a rare find. I was super excited when I walked into J's last month to find they had the whole MME Chalk Studio collection. I bought it ALL!!  I went to M's a few weeks ago and walked out without buying anything except a punch and adhesive. That never used to happen. I did go to J's today looking for some Washi. They had so many empty racks in the SB section. Rows of nothing but empty hangers. The acrylic stamp section was down to just a few items. I did score big though. They had pretty much all their acrylic stamps on clearance plus 40% off. I bought what they had left of TPC studios and Fiskars-huge stamp sets marked down to $1.97 plus 40% off !!!    I hope the reason they had all the empty shelves and the clearance was because they were making room for all the lines I like to buy. I mean J's sells all the great lines online-why not in the store too so I can touch before I buy?!  Probably wishful  thinking on my part.

[Ayla]

We have a Michaels, and the scrap section is quite large. What I don't like about them is that they have built their own Reflections line and made everything look like the usual scrappy names we are used to...even packaged the same. I haven't been in Hobby Lobby in ages, but I always found them good for embellies, not so good for paper because it's either all in packs or the lightweight paper, and I am an admitted paper snob. Joann';s again....good for embellies, not so great for paper for much the same reason. I am spoiled though...if I want paper, there is a local stamp store that has a limited selection of nice papers (mostly geared towards stamping projects, but she has a wonderful selection of Tim Holtz and Graphic45), and I have 3 extremely nice LSS within a 20 mile radius. Plus ACOT....I live in scrappy heaven lol. There were 2 Archivers downstate, but not close enough nor better than what I have locally so I've been to one of them twice, and the other one never!

[suslvgeo]

It makes me feel good that other Michael's are still the same or bigger!! MAYBE they downsized this one when Archiver's was still open and they felt they couldn't compete?? Not sure---and don't really care that much---I just want my happy scrappy world to keep chuggin along!!!!

[ernstem]

We have a Michaels, and the scrap section is quite large. What I don't like about them is that they have built their own Reflections line and made everything look like the usual scrappy names we are used to...even packaged the same. I haven't been in Hobby Lobby in ages, but I always found them good for embellies, not so good for paper because it's either all in packs or the lightweight paper, and I am an admitted paper snob. Joann';s again....good for embellies, not so great for paper for much the same reason. I am spoiled though...if I want paper, there is a local stamp store that has a limited selection of nice papers (mostly geared towards stamping projects, but she has a wonderful selection of Tim Holtz and Graphic45), and I have 3 extremely nice LSS within a 20 mile radius. Plus ACOT....I live in scrappy heaven lol. There were 2 Archivers downstate, but not close enough nor better than what I have locally so I've been to one of them twice, and the other one never!

 

Michaels buys the big name stuff with the companies' permission and repackages it as Recollections and renames paper collections. One that are usually a year or two old. A lot of AC paper packs and the like. Same with some MME stuff.

[sdwhru]

We got a new Michael's right at Black Friday time.  The store is so pretty & bright & clean!!!  However, I'm not sure if the scrapbooking section was as big as it used to be.  That's okay.  I do have a HL, Michael's & Joann's.  Of course, I got to admit don't do just a whole lot of shopping at them.  

[cajenkins81]

the last time I was in this Michael's, there was no change to their scrapbooking section and still plenty to choose from, a pretty large selection it seemed. 

[Ayla]

We have a Michaels, and the scrap section is quite large. What I don't like about them is that they have built their own Reflections line and made everything look like the usual scrappy names we are used to...even packaged the same. I haven't been in Hobby Lobby in ages, but I always found them good for embellies, not so good for paper because it's either all in packs or the lightweight paper, and I am an admitted paper snob. Joann';s again....good for embellies, not so great for paper for much the same reason. I am spoiled though...if I want paper, there is a local stamp store that has a limited selection of nice papers (mostly geared towards stamping projects, but she has a wonderful selection of Tim Holtz and Graphic45), and I have 3 extremely nice LSS within a 20 mile radius. Plus ACOT....I live in scrappy heaven lol. There were 2 Archivers downstate, but not close enough nor better than what I have locally so I've been to one of them twice, and the other one never!

 

Michaels buys the big name stuff with the companies' permission and repackages it as Recollections and renames paper collections. One that are usually a year or two old. A lot of AC paper packs and the like. Same with some MME stuff.

Ahh!! That explains it. But I guess I still wish they were honest about it and left the original manufacturer name on it! lol

[karensay]

I want the NEW stuff.  I can't find the new products I am interested in at M's, J's or HL.  Simple Stories, and BoBunny to name two.

[Sandi0805]

We have a Michaels, and the scrap section is quite large. What I don't like about them is that they have built their own Reflections line and made everything look like the usual scrappy names we are used to...even packaged the same. I haven't been in Hobby Lobby in ages, but I always found them good for embellies, not so good for paper because it's either all in packs or the lightweight paper, and I am an admitted paper snob. Joann';s again....good for embellies, not so great for paper for much the same reason. I am spoiled though...if I want paper, there is a local stamp store that has a limited selection of nice papers (mostly geared towards stamping projects, but she has a wonderful selection of Tim Holtz and Graphic45), and I have 3 extremely nice LSS within a 20 mile radius. Plus ACOT....I live in scrappy heaven lol. There were 2 Archivers downstate, but not close enough nor better than what I have locally so I've been to one of them twice, and the other one never!

  I have 3 extremely nice LSS within a 20 mile radius. Plus ACOT....I live in scrappy heaven lol.  Nancy, I am so jealous of you.  Right now we only have the big box stores and one LSS about 20 miles away.  Not sure how much longer it will be there.   I heard through the scrappy grapevine here that she is looking for a buyer due to health issues.  But, one of the workers at Archivers here is opening up a LSS of her own.  Hope she can make it.  But, I still order mostly here at ACOT.   They carry the best selections and their customer service is top-notch.

[Ayla]

We have a Michaels, and the scrap section is quite large. What I don't like about them is that they have built their own Reflections line and made everything look like the usual scrappy names we are used to...even packaged the same. I haven't been in Hobby Lobby in ages, but I always found them good for embellies, not so good for paper because it's either all in packs or the lightweight paper, and I am an admitted paper snob. Joann';s again....good for embellies, not so great for paper for much the same reason. I am spoiled though...if I want paper, there is a local stamp store that has a limited selection of nice papers (mostly geared towards stamping projects, but she has a wonderful selection of Tim Holtz and Graphic45), and I have 3 extremely nice LSS within a 20 mile radius. Plus ACOT....I live in scrappy heaven lol. There were 2 Archivers downstate, but not close enough nor better than what I have locally so I've been to one of them twice, and the other one never!

  I have 3 extremely nice LSS within a 20 mile radius. Plus ACOT....I live in scrappy heaven lol.  Nancy, I am so jealous of you.  Right now we only have the big box stores and one LSS about 20 miles away.  Not sure how much longer it will be there.   I heard through the scrappy grapevine here that she is looking for a buyer due to health issues.  But, one of the workers at Archivers here is opening up a LSS of her own.  Hope she can make it.  But, I still order mostly here at ACOT.   They carry the best selections and their customer service is top-notch.

I truly am very lucky. One LSS has a cat that lives at the store...and his name is Scrappy! He's a black and white cat....and one of the laziest cats I've ever seen lol. That one is in Midland, about 18 miles from my house. 2 are in Saginaw, both within 3 miles or so from ACOT. They are also very nice, each carries their own styles. The owners at all of them know me well lol. Then of course there is ACOT...they know me well too! lol  That'll be the hard thing about leaving this area when the time comes...leaving scrappy stores!

[JillinIN]

Our Michael's has been reducing for a while, but they still have several isles. Our Joann's has really cut back too.
It is sad to see the industry fading away.
Go ALCOT!!!! We need you!!!

[PezKat]

I was last in Michael's in December & scrap section was as huge as always & still just inside the door.  I love Recollections stuff - often better priced than similar things elsewhere.  And all 3 (M, J, HL) usually have tons of stuff 40% off plus weekly coupons for 40% off 1 item - definitely less expensive than Archiver's, it's weird seeing so many people who think Michael's is the most expensive!

Laura when did your Archiver's close??  The emails that go out look national, not local - advertising the increasing clearance prices (now 85% off!), last crops, etc.  I thought all the stores were closing tomorrow.

I'm glad to hear there's more MME at the chain craft stores now; hopefully that trend will continue.  Oh I also saw a recent ad for Tuesday Morning and they had 2 scrap brands that I thought were out of business - Chatterbox (!) and Heidi Grace I think - somebody found a stash somewhere, lol!