Textile Studio's Sew Long Sale
I have the BEST clients in the world,
and that's why it's hard for me to tell you
that I have to wind down the fabric side of my business.
I've tried to hold on during this economic downturn,
but higher costs and the lack of reasonable available credit
has made it impossible for me to continue. This saddens me,
as I've made many good friends over the last several years
and I will miss you all! It was always a treat for me
to see the gorgeous garments you created from your Textile Studio purchases,
and to receive your thoughtful thank-you notes.
I'd like to thank each and every one of you for the support you've provided
since I opened my webstore 5 years ago.
I need to clear my inventory, as I will be vacating my studio shortly.
So EVERY FABRIC on my site is 25% to 60% Off
with many marked down well below my wholesale costs.
This inventory clearance sale will run through Sunday, April 26th.
I have the BEST clients in the world,
and that's why it's hard for me to tell you
that I have to wind down the fabric side of my business.
I've tried to hold on during this economic downturn,
but higher costs and the lack of reasonable available credit
has made it impossible for me to continue. This saddens me,
as I've made many good friends over the last several years
and I will miss you all! It was always a treat for me
to see the gorgeous garments you created from your Textile Studio purchases,
and to receive your thoughtful thank-you notes.
I'd like to thank each and every one of you for the support you've provided
since I opened my webstore 5 years ago.
I need to clear my inventory, as I will be vacating my studio shortly.
So EVERY FABRIC on my site is 25% to 60% Off
with many marked down well below my wholesale costs.
This inventory clearance sale will run through Sunday, April 26th.
Another amazing fabric vendor is closing up shop and I it makes me so very sad for Marsha, for myself and for all the other sewists out there. This darned economy is really taking no prisoners, is it? All this makes me wonder: When we come out of this downturn, what will be left when the dust settles? Will all the fabric resources have evaporated by then?
Aside from feeling blue, I also have a measure of guilt. I haven't exactly been a good textile consumer lately - if you look at my stats on the side, you'll notice that I haven't bought any fabric this year. None. Yeah, I know - me, the ultimate fabric ho and I haven't bought a thing. For one thing, I have a lack of storage space - after filling a guest bedroom closet, packing an armoire and placing rolls under the master bed, I am a bit pinched for further storage. I can't help but realize that I could probably consistently sew for the next decade and still have fabric in the stash. Secondly, although the economy hasn't changed the money flow into my home yet, it could in the near future. My husband is a manager at Chrysler and we all know how that's going (here's hoping that it all works out). So, I have cut back - severely - even though we are actually in great financial shape right now, I can't help but plan accordingly for any possible future. Gotta keep the hound in biscuits, you know!
So, tell me, how has the economy affected you and your hobbies? Have you made big changes or has it been business as usual?
9 comments:
It is very sad about Textile Fabrics, I have bought from them in the past too. I know I really think through every purchase I make these days, I have a good stash and 2 kids to put through college
I know what you mean...when I got the email notice I felt sad too...even though I have made considerable fabric purchases this year, I haven't purchased anything from Marsha.
It is a dilemmia for sure...how to support our fabric vendors but still save and be wise with our pennies...because quite a few of us probably have enough fabric to sew for several lifetimes. I know I do...
The walmart stopped doing fabric ,also bouclair.I used to always check their $2-$3 bins and found some goodies.But this year the only purchase has been patterns from fabricland and only when they are on sale.I'm also a tactile person,i like to go round the store feeling the fabrics before i even choose colours etc.The recession hasn't hit our jobs yet but everything...food ,heat etc is sure getting expensive now so we are being very carefull about every penny we spend.
The economy hasn't hit me and DF too much yet. However, we are consolidating households so I'm losing some of my fabric storage space. I've cut back as a result although I bought several yards last month from JoAnn's, Textile Studios, and Gorgeous Fabrics. I also participated in Marsha's clearance last night when I got the email. I'm still trying to work down my collection, but I'm not very successful at it.
As you already know, the economy has affected my household. I am fortunate and blessed to have found a part-time job quickly. As others have told me, I'm very lucky. I no longer participate in pattern or fabric sales. That was something I started late last year.
I'm trying to work enough hours to pay for utilities and groceries. So far, I won't have to touch our emergency funds. That's my goal for this year. I've also been working on reducing monthly expenses like canceling newspaper, removing long distance, removing 2nd line, getting better rates, etc. So far, I've managed to cut a few hundred dollars a month. Every little bit is helping. :)
I think everyone should look at being pro-active in saving where they can right now. You never know when a lay-off might occur. Having gone through one now, I'm glad DH & I have been saving for our emergency.
I think twice now and have put a stop to the impulse buying. But I do feel sad everytime one of the fabric vendors has to pack it in. Textile studio has always been great with the sample swatches. When the brick and mortars became a thing of the past, the on-line stores were great. I wonder how many more will feel the pinch? Around my way Hancock's, Fabric Place and Sew Fro are all just a memory.
We're retired, and very fortunate, at this point to have pensions and health care, and don't owe anyone anything. We can tell a difference in the cost of everything, but still doing ok. In other words, I still buy fabric! Like others, I have so much already that I need to sew.
IMVHO, those of us who reasonably don't expect to be hurt drastically by the downturn really owe it to the sewing community to keep on buying so that vendors can weather the economic storm. (How's that for justifying a fabric addiction?) The economy will swing back up, we just need to keep good vendors solvent (aka buy from them) until our hard-hit sewing sisters recover and can splurge again. Viva la stash!
I would like to think that sewing might take on a new luster with the downturn in the economy. Prom dresses in my neck of the woods are getting into the $1000 range, when the fabric is $100 - those kind of economics make it almost essential to sew. But hopefully sewing hasn't lost so much of its art that people have forgotten how much fun, rewarding and freeing it can be. I'll NEVER forget the day when I realized, I didn't have to depend upon designers, buyers and magazine editors to determine what would be available for me to wear - I could make my own decision about what I wanted and go make it! That's what I hope is renewed and gets found out, with this down turn.
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