Local small business owners’ reaction to Joann closing

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The closure of a local fabric store has left some businesses looking for a new supplier.  

Business owners I spoke to say they have to find a new way to find their supplies, and they are worried this makes finding the products they need more difficult. 

“It’s heartbreaking, and most recently, I went in there to kind of just one last round of the closing out sale,” said Felina Martin, Fashion Designer and Artist, Pamoja na.

Joann was a spot where many local crafters go for the supplies they need for their work, and people I spoke to say this will make getting some of these items more inconvenient.

“It’s an easy access to be able to go there if you forgot something or if you need something. They had everything from zippers to accessories and buttons. I mean, all those things are not necessarily available at your other local competitors,” Martin said.

“I only teach sewing. I’m not a store where I sell fabric or products, but my livelihood is based on what I can buy locally,” said Jordan Datin, Owner of My Best Friend’s Sewing Room.

They say getting products online can be unreliable because they can be the wrong color, texture, or not what you want.

“If you order fabric online and sometimes it arrives, it’s completely not what you’re looking for, and so that is going to be the biggest challenge,” said Martin.

While we have other craft stores here with business owners, business owners I spoke to said they weren’t the one-stop shop they are used to and want to start shopping locally if they can. 

“Let’s think of our local shop owners now. Let’s support them,” said Datin.

The owners at Three Crows Fiber, a local yarn store, are sad to see Joann go, but they’re working to fill those big shoes.

“With Joann’s closing trying to expand our services from luxurious specialty yarns to a lower price point. So, we’ve added some new crochet cotton,” said Jeff Pullium, Co-Owner of Three Crows Fiber.

Three Crows Fiber is starting to carry more types of yarn to fill in the gaps for people who bought from Joann.