Michales will close down Darice, its wholesale division, at the end of November. The arts and crafts retailer will layoff 146 employees from the Darice distribution and support center in Strongsville, Ohio effective July 18 with more layoffs to come later in 2020. Michaels already laid off 77 Darice employees in early February.
Michaels acquired Darice when it purchased Lamrite West in 2016 for $150 million. At that time Lamrite owned 36 Pat Catan art and craft stores. Michaels subsequently rebranded some of those stores to be Michaels and closed others. Darice will be the last of the Lamrite West assets to be wound down.
Darice had over a 60-year history and was a family-owned business before the Michaels acquisition. Headquartered in Strongsville, Ohio, Darice’s origins date back to 1954 when founder, Pat Catanzarite, returned home from the Air Force and opened Lamrite, a display and props shop serving Cleveland department stores. That business grew into a craft store, Pat Catan, and subsequently expanded to include Pat Catan stores all over Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Indiana. In the mid-1970s Lamrite added a wholesale crafts division that Catan named Darice, a combination of his children’s names.
Darice had an extensive catalog of over 50,000 craft products including beads, jewelry supplies, pompoms, glitter, embroidery hoops, feathers, paint, and nearly every other art or craft supply imaginable. Small businesses, clubs, and other groups could get wholesale prices with a minimum order of only $75. In the past year, Darice made ordering even easier by not requiring a business license in order to open an account. Customers included independent retail stores, grocery stores, and hardware stores as well as non-profits, teachers, and makers.
In the first quarter earnings call last week CEO Ashley Buchanan said, “We took a strategic view of it and in the long-term plans, we decided to close the wholesale business. Over the years they had lost some large clients.”
“We reviewed it going forward and we saw no viable path to profitability long term. We didn’t see how it fit in our long-term strategic approach.”
Buchanan said Michaels will be keeping the Darice sourcing offices in China in order to continue to create private-label craft supplies for its stores.
Thank you for the detailed report. I met with the VP of sales last year in Ohio hoping to sell my patterns, and toured their showroom. It was very impressive. I noticed Darice had many buildings and all I could think of was the massive overhead it takes for their business. I’m sad that they are closing.
You lost a whole lot of buyers when you downsized your line of miniatures!!!
I bought a wide variety of miniatures for a few years now thru Darice and with each passing year the variety has decreased significantly!! VERY, VERY disappointing to say the least.
Now that Michael’s bought Darice, Michael’s selection of miniatures has also gone downhill. And of course prices have gone up significantly. Very sad overall!!!
There were things that Darice had that never made it to the store and my small craft business doing craft shows are now over. It was my income and now I have nothing and no products to sell… thank you expensive Michaels … you took out MJDesigns and ACMoore…. what else do you plan to be the only crafts supplier and retailer in the business? You haven’t learned from history …… you lost a lot of customers to Hobby Lobby
I too, share your disappointment for the array of products and great prices. I feel that my maker days are far behind me now, but I will not be buying from Michaels expensives stores for sure.
I am so disappointed you did not find a way to help Darice survive. They had great products and good prices, so of course you had to get rid of them. They had decent prices and nice supplies. I want no part of Michael’s if they are not keeping the Darice company going. I feel for all their employees, and all their customers including me you have let down. I was shocked to find out you closed them down because they don’t fit in your scheme of the future of the monopoly you are trying to create. Thanks for you service Pat Catanzarite, and thanks for creating a great company many of us will and are already missing!
FWIW, Michaels had absolutely *nothing* to do with the closing of the AC Moore stores. I worked there for several years, and was a manager and merchandiser. The CEO (‘Pepe’) turned over the business to his son, who ran it for a while. The son decided he no longer wanted to work for a living, and decided to sell some of the stores ‘back’ to Michaels if the leases would transfer, and the remaining stores were closed, all other assets (products, etc.) were liquidated by a liquidation company. In essence, the son took the money and ran. Pepe was heartbroken, and broke down in tears when he relayed to the top staff and warehouse crew what his son had done, but by that time it was too late to stop it. My former manager was on that conference call, and he told me (and the rest of his staff) the next morning.
Side note: I agree with you about Michaels being high-priced, and JoAnn’s is by far worse; Hobby Lobby appears to be in a decline especially with regard to their scrapbooking section. I am buying most of my supplies online, prefer smaller retail sites if possible, but of course Scrapbook.com has the most extensive variety, excellent customer service, and reasonable shipping.
That’s right,Hobby Lobby, and Tuesday Morning have All my business, now, with their Momenta dies, embossing folders, and ink/stamps. etc.
When I’d heard my favorite online store,Consumer Crafts closed (because of Michael’s, then found out later that Michael’s quit carrying dies altogether, I decided there wasn’t really anything at Michaels to go there for, anymore.
I will only go, if my grandkids ask to go for their crafts. But, not for myself.
I was really sad to see Darice get shut down.
Michael’s has become waaaay too big for their darn britches.
ABSOLUTELY!! This is so true!! Darice was the best for small businesses!! Michael’s is pricey with limited selections.
If anyone needs items sourced direct to your door feel free to send me a link or photo. We can source anything and everything and will handle the logistics to your door (freight, duty and brokerage). Special designs and fabrication are no problem. Minimums will apply but are reasonable.
Thanks,
Catan Global Imports
440-785-2687
craigc@catanglobal.com
Yes. The demise of small craft store operations because of bully buy outs by Michael’s. Ugh. Shameful.
Hi Joyce, There is a new sourcing company called “Catan Global Import” filling the gap for some of the product Darice used to carry, The minimums are higher and the lead time is longer but the pricing is fantastic! They are currently working on their web site but you can contact them for questions and information at 440-785-2687. Hope this helps!
Thanks for the info Craig! I will keep checking back on this!
Craig I hope Catan Global Import is ready to go soon, I just lost many of my Darice miniatures in high winds this weekend due to Eta Storm in the Gulf. Did call and left a message.
Hey guys. Let me know what items you are in need of. I will get you delivered costs and minimum requirements within 5 days. I will just need your contact information, description (or old Darice item number) and shipping address. craigc@catanglobal.com 440-785-2687
Thanks,
Craig
Thank you so much for including this information. I like so many others relied on Darice for their wholesale pricing as I buy in bulk a lot of cardstock used in cricut designs for my business. I bought frequently from both Darice and Michaels, but my wholesale was mostly Darice. I only go to Hobby Lobby for 2 very specific ribbons when they’re on sale. I used Michaels as my way of going into a store and sampling colors as they are rather than buying online and seeing that it was completely different when it was delivered than what was shown on their website.
Even with Covid 19, they should have found another way. Such is life, when things change, you adapt to the change, not give up. There were other ways they could have remained profitable and not lost so many employees and business to boot. First they took our local Pat catans and now this, I’m sad to say I actually have to go look into things now at Hobby Lobby which I’ve been avoiding except for extreme circumstances. They should have taken that PPP loan to ride out this mess of a year rather than sacrificing the rest of us.
Thank you again Craig for sharing that bit of info for the rest of us unsure what to do now.
Will they be carrying Luminaras and battery operated Christmas lights?
Hello Craig, My name is Susie Dodson, owner of Susie’s Favorites in Zanesville, OH. I have had my store for 20 years. I am thrilled to see that you are going to have a new sourcing company. Being a small business has become more and more challenging. I have never been a Michael’s store fan and hated to see Darice go! We do seasonal in our store with our main products are bereavement. I had purchased many of your adjustable shepherd’s hook, Item number 6563-53. I am anxiously waiting for your reply.
Sincerely, Susie Dodson
great your advertising your company, lol
Save your time with contacting Craig. I’ve been bounced around with no direct information for the items I requested that were sold by Darice. I originally contacted him back in Oct and he wanted to know the quantity I was looking for. “I” prefer to know the pricing upfront, so I can figure out how much I will be ordering. He said he would get back to me, that was last in Dec. I reached out again a few days ago, he asked me again what quantity I was looking for, I gave him a number off the top of my head of what I did order from Joanns or Consumer Crafts, again, my quantity could be more, depending on the pricing and considering he does say it’s a long lead time, I might order what I need for the year.
Which he referred me to another vendor, whom doesn’t carry Darice’s line. Said that they could possibly get what I am looking for in the quantity I desire.
I am still on a mission and if I find someone who can give straight information. I will come back to this post. I have a friend who lives in Phuket and I know at one point he said he could put me in touch with people who can make what I am looking for.
Glad to here this as a former wholesale customer if darice ..contact me please when your website is up
Why would anyone shop any Catan at this point anyway? You sold out to Michael’s. My loyalty now lies with Amazon and Walmart for craft supplies, sadly.
Where can I buy the electric censored candle lights?
I am looking for Welcome Candle Bulbs for my Electric Candle Lamps. Where can I find them. The only place I have ever found them was at Pat Catans and Michaels bought and closed them. I have never seen them in another store including Michaels.l
Try Catan Global Imports at
440-785-2687
craigc@catanglobal.com
http://www.catanglobalimports.com
Im not able to pull up the website. Is it up and running yet?
they lost a lot of customers as michaels sucks, darice was a great company(i am sure the family who sold it are sorry they did), sad they sold to a shady company like michaels but here we are, they wasted 150million to but a company and now have closed all of the companies. i never liked michaels, very shady, unprofessional ran and the stores isles look like trash dumps.
I am looking for the 20 strand of teeny lights with white cords. LT60-1
Unless Michael’s drops their prices SIGNIFICANTLY with their new program for business crafters and increases their selections of miniatures, I know I wont be buying from them!!!
I, for one of MANY, will NEVER SET FOOT in Michael’s again & I will delete the Michael’s app from my phone. You have done a horrible disservice to crafters, as well as their buying public/ followers !! Your prices are totally out of sight and your inventory of miniatures is absolutely horrendous! You do NOT in any way compare to Darice and I doubt you ever will!
You’re just another greedy corporation..eventually you may lose your customers!! As for your suppliers..more than likely are all China… I am doing my best NOT TO BUY ANYTHING MADE IN CHINA!! Companies in the U.S. should help fellow Americans by having their manufacturing done by American people!!
Good bye, Michaels!!
You took all of the words from my mouth. I too, will no longer be setting foot in Michael’s. Shame on them for only thinking of the almighty dollar! Good bye, Michaels for good! You just lost a great crafter customer! RIP!
I agree with everyone’s disappointment on Darice closing. I was SO upset. I have a serious dislike of Michaels. I bought SO many of my ‘makers’ supplies on Darice and am just sick about them selling out to Michaels 🙁 I never step foot into a Michaels store.
I got a phone call I guess when I think about it, it was last spring from Darice. I am a business customer and thought it was nice they took the time to reach out. I remember them asking me what I thought of Michaels and I quickly replied “expensive, horribly staffed, don’t like their merchandise, don’t shop there”. There was an uncomfortable silence. I now understand why.
I don’t shop at Michaels. and of course now never will. AC Moore was fantastic, and I was a regular customer of Darice. Now to see all of this is so unsettling. I wish Michaels would have disappeared, I don’t think anyone would have missed them!
I’m done with Michael’s. It’s Hobby Lobby and Joann’s for me.
Joanns had a great wholesale program for a while Joanns Plus. Then about a month ago they combined with joann.com. They said it would be seamless, blah blah. I get on there to order the blanks I usually get and they are not coming up at the wholesale price I had been paying. Sent a message to the plus rep. Oh sorry only our fabric comes up right now with the plus pricing. Ok so how to do I order the things I got before. Sorry they are not part of the plus program right now. Ok when will they be back? “I don’t know. There has been on discussion about readding them” So basically all you can get now is fabric for plus pricing. I don’t use fabric so that STINKS! 🙁
👍👍👍👍
Joanns save you money with using multi coupons at one time hobby lobby against lgbtq plus people Michael’s closing stores you pick
👍👍👍👍
Hate Michaels!! Prices are exorbitantly high and customer service stinks. Michaels does not carry any miniatures or unique crafter products we use everyday. Michaels has ruined Pat Catans products and now Darice. I no longer shop Michaels. My go to will always be Hobby Lobby! I hope HL puts Michaels out of business.
Where can I buy the electric censored candle lights?
If you want a great price and can support a larger minimum order with a longer lead time contact Catan Global at 440-785-2687 or craigc@catanglobal.com for price, minimums and lead time.
Where are all of the miniatures that Darice used to carry? There is no information on your website.
Please contact us direct with specific item numbers and quantities and we can look at a direct order or I can put you in touch with one of the wholesale distributors we work with.
Thanks,
Catan Global Imports
440-785-2687
craigc@catanglobal.com
Are you able to provide some sort of catalog or listing of miniatures of items yet I can access? Seems kind of shady to send you all of our information first.
If you are able to provide the specific item numbers you are looking for we can research the price delivered to your location and MOQ (minimum) form the original Darice factory. We are more of a sourcing company with direct ship to the customer as opposed to a holding warehouse. Minimums will be a bit higher and the lead time will be around 90 days. I can also try to connect you with some of the other wholesalers we are currently working with.
So, will you be selling Plastic Canvas products in Michael’s again then?
I am extremely disappointed in this move. I bought a LOT of Darice supplies over the years . Now I cannot find many of the supplies that were available from Darice. Supllies I dofine are of inferior quality. Here again we see China taking over😠
Depending on what you need and quantity we may be able to help. Just need the old Darice item number, image or a similar link. Catan Global may be able to track down the old Darice factory. Minimums are larger and the lead time is about 90 days. We can handle the logistics and give you a delivered price. We can source anything and everything from Asia and India and have helped many customers who are able to work under these parameters.
Craig Catanzarite
Catan Global Imports
craigc@catanglobal.com
440-785-2687
http://www.catanglobalimport.com
I am sad to read this news about another long-standing (previously) family-owned business shutting its doors. 2020 has been a rough year for sure.
Same here all the miniatures , are gone most all paints , the acrylics I use to use are gone , paint brushes , woods what’s left , michial stores are down , they have nothing I can use anymore
Went to Michael’s 2 days ago.,. Checked out the miniatures section. Extremely disappointed…plus the prices are outrageous!! Their selection of other items leaves much to be desired!!😥😣
And now I will have to go out of business. Thanks Michael’s. Way to look after the small business owner. Pretty sure I won’t be supporting your retail stores.
I’m truly disappointed to read this. As a very long time Darice customer, this makes sourcing wholesale products that much more difficult. My other wholesale source is struggling, as we all are to keep their shelves stocked due to the tariff challenges and now the virus issues. Selling craft assembly products to consumers just got that much for difficult.
I agree. Darice was a really valuable resource for craft supply sellers, kit makers, clubs, and makers in general. It’s a big loss to see it close.
And actually, they didn’t lose JoAnnes’ business until Michaels took over. No matter how you try to sugar coat it, it’s simply a move to corner the market.
I was shocked and saddened to discover today that Darice is no longer in businesss. I was wondering why when I went to Darice.com, it kept taking me to Michaels.com ! Finally I googled it and came upon this site. What a disappointment to lose that wholesale site. We are a very small non-profit garden Club that makes Christmas ornaments throughout the year to sell between thanksgiving and Christmas. All our proceeds go to the library, volunteer fire dept, EMS and scholarships. We keep our costs down as best as possible…I will be checking out Catan. I wonder why the Darice customers were not notified that this was happening! Good luck to all those crafters out there!
I’d like to know why the Darice customers weren’t notified either so I could do a final order to stock up. But I’m sure Michaels didn’t want us getting a final good deal on our supplies.
If you are looking for a new vendor ONLY FOR WOOD ITEMS, I found one at Craftparts.com Much better quality than Darice too!!!
Why can’t they close the office in CHINA? Find a way to make it in America.
Penny, Because they’d have to pay everyone a living wage. We have lost so much manufacturing business to China. I do believe in free enterprise, but pulling jobs away from America hasn’t helped the economy one bit. I’m so sad to see Darice go… it’s just being assimilated into Michael’s conglomerate. And Michael’s puts a high price tag on everything. Just like the cosmetics industry, what was once easily accessible and affordable has become a Wall Street commodity with fat cat backers who don’t care about the consumers. Just my two cents.
It’s called a venture capital roll up (monopoly). Corner the market basically. We have laws but they’re not enforced.
TOTALLY AGREE..BUT it probably boils down to the $$$$!! More money in Michael’s coffers if it’s in China!!
“Why can’t they close the office in CHINA? Find a way to make it in America.”
MUCH easier said than done. First, most crafting supplies are small handiwork manufacturing, not done by machines. USA does well with machine manufacturing, not handwork on cheap items. IF they actually found workers to make these little items, the prices would be through the roof where literally nobody would ever buy them due to manufacturing costs such as, but not limited to: MUCH higher worker wages, worker comp costs, benefits, payroll taxes, low worker productivity, property taxes, utility bills, and lest we forget insurance, because the lawyers are just lurking to sue the pants off any manufacturer that doesn’t have excessive rules and regulations baked in to their operations. Does it sound like a nice idea? Of course, but not at all feasible given our current work force environment.
I am an owner of an on-line crafting store and our customers frequently request made-in-America, but it simply doesn’t exist for most small, inexpensive craft items. These won’t come back to the USA until the rest of the world has either raised their labor wages to a comparable rate as the USA or we lower ours…
I totally agree! But they can’t pay workers in the United States $2 a week and work them 80 hours a week. It’s all about the money and that’s it! No care for the customer!
What a GREAT idea…”Made in the USA” sounds good to me…think of the jobs you could create!!!
There are items that ONLY Darice sold, not through other sources, that I no longer will be able to acquire. Cant find them through their Michaels stores or anywhere else. This is awful. I had been buying these for a decade and they were great sellers. Now I just lost huge amount of sales due to just these particular products being lost. Not a good way to handle your customers at all. In addition, the Michaels stores in Metro Detroit are doing terribly. Hobby Lobby came into town, with better items and a wider variety, and completely wiped out Michaels business. I am shocked that Michaels moved in this direction, since it seems like they are next to go. y the way, Darice never had wholesale pricing, unless they had a sale. Their prices were lousy. Bye. Bye. to both.
Try Fire Mountain Gems for beads!!
Hi Lulu. May I ask what products you bought from a Darice?
They did have wholesale pricing… I have been buying from them for over 20 + years only recently things have changed and now they’re out of business which really sucks because like you said they had things at the stores didn’t and now my small business has to close because the good sellers of things that I would buy and make a no longer available
What was your product?
I agree. There are several items I could ONLY find at Darice and now they are gone.
So Michael’s is closing the USA division and laying off workers, but keeping the China division open.
They’re keeping the part of the company that is sourcing in China in order to continue to produce its own in-house craft supply brands.
Doesn’t that always seem to be the case? Really sickening.
Sure! Buy cheap, sell high! For them it’s strictly.business. Americans losing jobs? Not an issue when you’re lining your pockets!
Very true!!
I grew up shopping at Pat Catans. It was a great store and its flagship store in Strongsville, OH had a well stocked fine art supply section. I am sad to see the last vestige be shut down. The family that ran the business did a lot for the community.
But not so much for their loyal employees.
I shopped Pat Catan’s in Strongsville also and am sorry to see this happening. Craft supplies are getting harder to locate and more expensive to buy.
I moved to NC after living in OH my entire first 70 yrs. of life. Hollo’s in Brunswick is a great place to shop. I just had my grandson pick up an order when he ran up to OH for a short visit. It was like opening a Christmas gift. Check them out, you will be glad you did.
This is heartbreaking. I have been a regular customer since discovering them a couple years ago. I have not been able to find another good source for my doll joints and I’m not sure what I’m going to do now. Will Michaels still supply the items that Darice supplied, just not at wholesale prices, is that the plan?
Hi Michelle! Dolls Parts and CRCrafts Doll/Bear are suppliers of doll joints. The Doll Mercantile is a good source for referencing other companies. Colleen is the owner and is terrific. She specializes in doll repair….. vintage, antiques and porcelain. Attention to detail is impeccable. Her shop has antiques, all sources of dolls/books. Located in Petaluma, CA, Sonoma County! She also carries supplies an doll clothing!
What has happened in 2020 has nothing to do with the stores closing. Catans sold-out to Michaels 4 years ago. They knew then that they’d be firing all the Catan employees.
Pat catnas made a deal with Michaels. They were not allowed to close anything for 3 years after the purchase. Ensuring employment for an additional 3 years. Michaels closed pretty much exactly 3 years to the month, all locations. Darcie lost all “Big” accounts after Michaels took over. Walmart, Joanne, because in their contracts, they can’t buy from a main competitor . Michaels knew this would cause their main competition to not be able to use Darice as a supplier. Killing 2 birds with one stone. Cutting off the supply to main competitors and closing down Darice and consumer crafts to small companies. Ensuring they are the Last man standing . Terrible company. No moral compass. You would think they would see what the main sellers in Pat Catans were, and carry those items. Nope. Can’t imagine the logic behind that. As a crafter, i didnt shop at Michaels because they are waaaaaaay overpriced and no selection. That’s why people shopped at Pat Catans. They haven’t gained all the Catans shoppers, just pissed us all off. I shop online now.
Michael’s is a joke, they treated their employees like crap. The higher ups walked in and fired half of the company with no warning. They bought the company just for the China connections. So you will pay higher prices for the same merchandise. I will never buy from Michael’s again.
I will not shop at their store. Got rid of jobs for Americans and support China. WOW
Well they are now on my “Will Not Shop There” list along side Hobby Lobby!!
It’s not because their Chinese products, but because of how they treat people!!
This one closes US company connection over the China one & the other company didn’t want to pay their employees during Pandemic because Wife/Owner says God spoke to her & told her not to!!
All greedy jerks!!
Mary L
Might want to recheck your information about Hobby Lobby.
I’m not a crafts person, so have seldom ventured into their stores.
But what I found on a simple Google search showed the opposite of your impression. They wanted to stay open and only closed when state refs required them to do so.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hobby-lobby-coronavirus/
Don’t forget Hobby Lobby’s long history of anti semitism, anti LGBTQ+ and oppression of women’s reproductive rights. I would never shop there.
Regarding Hobby Lobby. MPI Wood has been a major supplier to Hobby Lobby for 15 years. They have been a fantastic retailer to work with. All our products are made in the USA. I have only good things to say about Hobby Lobby both as a vendor in their wood dept and as a customer.
Can you advise if Michaels plans on maintaining the same inventory of products as Darcie currently offers. I have ordered from Darcie for several years With excellent relations. It would be prudent for Michaels to retain the same online inventory and I will definitely support this. I have a rag doll business and I spend a very large amount yearly from Darcie and Michaels. Our local Michaels is convenient and has transformed its business and inventory tremendously over the past few years. As a cottage crafter with a home studio, business licensed and California tax exempt status I will offer this. The resurgence for home cottage business has had a huge resurgence. People like us have ordered thousands of dollars in supplies. Moreover, in addition to home cottage work, we partake o
In professional art and wine festivals, art and garden shows and fall and Christmas shows. These shows are extremely popular and are supported heavily by our consumers. Consideration should be given in polling your customers. I strongly believe that Michaels should carry some products that Darcie currently offers through the online web ordering. You need to listen to those of us interacting daily with consumers. We are the frontline for information. I took my oil and acrylic tole painting by certified artist of Priscilla Hauser and Jo Sonja. My sewing skills were taught to me by my grandmother and mother born and raised in Italy. Living in the heart of Sonoma and Napa County we are a huge cottage business industry and many of these business have supported Darcie, Consumer Crafts, Factory Direct , etc for many years. Don’t let this opportunity go! Please continue to offer products. The positivity and support of your clients now carries over to your future success as a business.
This is a huge problem to the independent craft store. It leaves the consumer with three large corporations choosing the craft trends, it was hard for the little guy to compete before, but you can’t compete when you can’t get the merchandise.
I’m sorry to hear another original family owned business to close. Luckily I had the rare opportunity to visit Darice showroom in Strongsville, Ohio, while visiting family there in my hometown. The staff were exceptional and the showroom was clean and well organized.
I will miss there products, especially the wall resin Skully’s 💀, floral supplies, and fabric mesh. I sincerely wish all Darice members good luck and prayers in finding a new work home and family.
That’s terrible news. Darice is a great company for small businesses such as my own. I refuse to buy from
Michaels when they jack up the prices and then say ‘use our coupons’. Only shop clearance when I go there. Too bad too because many people shop there and won’t anymore.
Another giant gobbling up a family business so sad. I also know there is no way Michaels is going to give us the prices Consumer Crafts did. Very, Very sad!
This really stinks for the makers. We can not make a profit if we have to buy our blanks and pieces at retail. I used Darice for quite bit of my unfinished wood blanks I used in my sales. And then I sell in a lot of consignment type stores around my state and that makes it basically impossible to do that anymore if I have to buy blanks at retail. Not sure what to do.
I have purchased some blanks on amazon and was surprised that I could find competitive prices. Have you tried Notions as a supplier?
Now I know why Darice was not filling my orders or even responding to my inquiries. I’d go through the order process and get the confirmation but my card was not charged nor the order shipped. Very confusing.
Darice was a great supplier of ours, until we hit JULY! Then, I place an order online and we got damages and missing items. I’ve sent multiple emails to customer service and only get one person…Maria. She plays games with me, sending me old credit memo’s hoping I don’t see the dates. Then she says “did I get stuff I didn’t order, bc her inventory is correct. ” I don’t care if your inventory is correct. We didn’t get it! If there are shipping damages and I sent you 11 photos showing the OPEN shipping boxes, that were ONLY HALF full, then do a claim with your shipping company and give me my money back! I’ve got over 20 emails with this woman who is just playing games bc she doesn’t want to give us our money back!!! This company is garbage! I reached out to Michaels and asked who could help me and OF COURSE it’s not their order so they can’t do anything! Michaels and Darice…garbage!
This kind of thing makes me so mad! Of course Michaels is gobbling up distributors and making it so those products are only orderable through them. First Aaron Brothers, now this. It’s so shady.
This is terrible for us independent crafters. Hate to hear this.
Really a shame Michael ‘s is shutting down Darice!! As a home based business, I bought from Darice for a few years. They had a great selection of “miniatures” but over the past few years the selection grew smaller and the prices grew higher for what was available. 😥 I am glad I “hoarded” a number of miniatures before they were discontinued but I know what I have will be the end of them soon enough.
Makers and crafters are part of the problem if after a grotesque move like this they continue to shop at Michael’s. I honestly hope the entire business goes down including the greedy owner of the company who claimed that he made these moves for his family. As if he and “his family” doesn’t have enough already. Of course corrupt greedy Americans always need more and more and more no matter who they hurt along the way. Having corporate America in OUR craft community is an oxy moron.
A board of directors & money hungry leeching, blood sucking pests such as CEO’s have absolutely NO BUSINESS IN THE CRAFT COMMUNITY.
And shame on small business owners for just handing off their employees to be gutted by a corporation. I hope he enjoys his retirement while all of his loyal employees suffer with no jobs during a pandemic. What kind of business owner even does that? He should have been lining up buyers so that he didn’t screw his people when he left. What a piece of work…
m
Now I’m finished. Sorry for the rant but I am about fed up of all of this and even more fed up with the American people who stand idly by and allow it.
Michaels is trying to push out the independents! shame on them ………I have seen them all come and go………we are still here.
Corporate greed hurts small businesses yet again.
This is just horrible! AC Moore closed and Michaels took over their stores and now Darcie. I’ve purchased literally hundreds of clear glass blocks from Darcie and now this source has dried up. Can’t buy them at michael’s prices and then resell. It all crumbles down to us the consumer probably being put out of business also. Very sad…
I feel the same, Linda! Plus a LOT of the products Darice sold, I dont think Michael’s will have be available…if they are, its doubtful the prices will be as good.
I am sad and very upset at the same time! Pat Catans was and always will be my favorite store and Michael’s are too high priced and vendors can’t make money on their items when they are paying too high of a price for items to make their crafts! I’ve ordered bulk items from Darice and now I’m asking myself where am I gonna get my items now??? Just sad!!
I am so sad about this. I just heard from Stacey from “Scrapbooking Made Simple” that Darice was bought out. They were the only place I could the 13X13 pocket folders (other than Hobby Lobby, I don’t shop there anymore). I have bought alot of the pocket folers over the last couple of months. What will I do now? Will Michael’s keep the item in their inventory or are they gone forever?
So very sad for the Darice employees. I own a small business and had been doing business with Darice for over 20 years. I still use many of the same products I purchased 20 years ago. I have used their tiny christmas lights in my home for over 20 years. Another casualty of 2020.
Glad to see darice failed, they’ve been screwing their customers for years by selling their products on their retail website for prices just above their wholesale price.
Who on earth spends $150 million to buy a corporation and then shut down most of it? Poor business model. They have tried, since the purchase, to make Darice into their own Michaels image by reducing bulk inventory items and only carrying the small retail packages, then eliminating the item altogether when people refuse to pay the higher per item price. Quality has plummeted in a cost savings move along with poor management decisions have driven away some of the big buyers and they are now using the buyer evacuation as their excuse to discontinue the company. I mean, what would you do if you had something you have bought for years and the quality was good and then Darice was having a clearance on it. Nothing new, Darice had been reducing their inventory for a while now so you order a lot because the price is amazing and they quality had always been good in the past right. Nothing was said about any defect. Nothing was said about seconds. They were just having a clearance of that particular quantity of item. They were still producing the smaller retail size packages. So you order a ton. Happy to get a great price for something you use all the time. It comes, you turn around and resell or you use in the production of your item. Then WHAM. You are getting complaints about the quality. IT IS GARBAGE. Over 25% defective. Darice won’t take them back because you didn’t open each package within their return window to check them. Trust has been lost. Bye, bye, big buyer. They know where to go for replacement product. I don’t have that luxury. I’m still looking for a reasonably priced replacement.
I too, have had an order that was placed and “accepted” that never got processed. Now most of that inventory is totally gone and I am unable to get most of what was in that order. Then, I actually got a shipment. Since the decision to close they have gotten incredibly sloppy. They use incorrect bags for some of their products. And then there are the extras in the box. Like about 20 lbs of scrap metal, some plyers, a childs t-shirt, and a vest. ???? And I was ordering beads and craft cord.
I checked out Michael’s Pro. It is just their regular items sold in a quantity discount. Not everything. Just a few items. Certainly not a replacement for Darice’s products which will be discontinued soon. However, I stopped shopping at Michael’s years ago. Their selection dropped drastically and their prices went up. The only time to buy was during their deep discount sales or with a coupon. It became such a hassle as I found more and more I was leaving the store with the coupon still in my hand and nothing in my shopping bag. Not worth my time. I only check Michael’s as a last resort, desperation option. Most of the time it too, is worthless. Their prices are so much higher than Hobby Lobby or Joann’s.
Anyone know of a good wholesale replacement source for beads, pins, sequins,
I have been a Darice customer for as long as I can remember. I am so sad and upset that they are going away. I will not be supporting Michael’s period. Their prices are extremely too high in comparison to of course Darice. Even Hobby Lobby is cheaper than Michael’s. Pat Catan’s was great too……until Michael’s took it over. Our local Michael’s, a huge part of the building isn’t even being used, the choices are limited and the store looks like a dollar store for crafts excepts the prices are high. I typically walk out empty handed and feeling sad because they’ve just ruined it. This move is a bad one, they know how many people depend on Darice for their small businesses. They believe those people will continue to buy from them by forcing the choices to be limited and thats simply not the case. Thank God we just got a Hobby Lobby here! I called Michael’s to try to get answers to questions about this change and their employees didn’t even know who Darice was. So I see the company has launched MichaelsPro, which is a limited list of things you can buy in bulk, that anyone can buy for the same price. This doesn’t help businesses. So, Hobby Lobby…..I will gladly spend my thousands of dollars with you each year that I normally spend with Darice. Just like everything else, they always take the good away. Darice was an amazing company that was extremely helpful, dependable, their shipping was great and their customer service was too. Thank you Darice for providing such a wonderful experience many are so upset by this change. As for you Michael’s I wish you would’ve just left everyone alone.
I just called Michael’s Pro to find out about my Darice order after Michaels forwarded Darice’s website to the Michael’s site. I spoke to Hailey from Pro. She was indignant that I was calling her about a closed company’s order. She said if the company is closed, you probably won’t get the order. It seems she did not get the memo that Michaels owns Darice. Finally she called Darice a partner and then a sister company but offered no help with my circumstances. Forgot, she went on the web and found their phone number for me. She never transferred me to a supervisor. Clearly Michaels does not want my business!
Michael’s will suffer from this strategy.
Darice going out of business is a very sad day indeed. I run a local candle company and we relied on them for all of our glass holders and jars. Michaels is 3-4 times the price per piece and I simply cannot turn a profit on such a thing. If anyone has any suggestions for where to go as a replacement for Darice please let me and everyone else know thanks!
This morning, 10/16/20 I Googled Darice. The link immediately connected to Michaels, and the first page is about Michaels Pro….. buying in bulk. On an in store $3.49 skein of yarn it is listed as $3.24 and to receive this price of $3.24/skein you must buy 12 skeins. If you have tax exempt status, you don’t pay tax, but you pay shipping. Thus, you are receiving a .25 cents off per skein. The whole sell in price is $1.75/skein. I looked up additional items I purchased at Darice, and the same calculations of minimal discounts are noted. No advantage to bulk buying. I then googled Darice again and found a link to log in. Did so and when I logged into my Darice account I was immediately at Michaels! It would have been nice for Michaels to notify Darice account holders in advance and inform them of the changes or provide account holders an option that any account holder can opt out of the transfer of account information. So the assumption was made by Michaels that any Active/open account holder at Darice would transfer business to them. The Alibaba and Wish Apps assist with whole seller search and you can also navigate on your own to find information. If you also have any SKU or UPC numbers google these and in many cases the whole sellers were identified. It was worth time and money to do this and secure wholesale accounts directly from the whole seller at substantial savings. Good luck!
My experience was exactly the same. I can’t even see all of my invoices on Darice’s account info anymore…there are one or two of maybe 10 that I had. So poorly handled. And my heart goes out to the 150 people that are displaced — I hope Mr. Catan shared some of his $150 million with them! Great idea with the UPC / SKU search elsewhere — much better than my generic search terms. Thanks for your post.
A new Michaels statement indicates …”MichaelsPro…wholesale prices….” has launched. In searching again under MichaelsPro plan, you buy “bundled prices“ ( typically 6 packs) and I have found no, absolutely no wholesale pricing. The only thing that you sign up for under MichaelsPro is tax exempt status relative to your own state. I have compared the same items purchased under my Darice account and there is absolutely nothing close to wholesale. I have calculated an average of $.25 cents off one skein of yarn. At that savings, I would save $1.50 for 6 skeins and if purchased at Darice my wholesale per piece price was $1.50, with a discount of $2.25 per item. A total expense of $7.50 for 6 skeins of yarn. I called Michaels several times over the course of three weeks inquiring about wholesale pricing and securing an account. In each instance I was told there is “ currently no wholesale program, and right now we just have MichaelsPro”. Darice has ceased operations early October. I logged into my Darice account, and it immediately brought me to Michaels. To say Darice is closing by the end of November is an understatement. Moreover, they did not sell out all of their total inventory. Michaels needs to be more pro active in continuing the wholesale pricing for existing Darice account holders. I have been successful in securing direct manufacturer buying information w/patience and searching. If you have a UPC or SKU number google it and you will start to see distributors and manufactures. Additionally, for small wood turnings I have now been ordering from Crafts Parts. As an example, 100 1 1/4” round wood knobs are $21. If you buy an 8 pack at Michaels you will pay $5.99.
Michael’s was a great store when they had the recollection stores and recollections products. I mostly shop at Hobby Lobby as they have a wide variety of products and a great line of quality home decor. I also shop at Joanns. I rarely have any need to shop at Michael’s.
I am the owner of an independent Party Store and used Darice to stock our craft section. I will never be able to compete with pricing of craft stores like Michaels if I have to buy FROM them
now that Darice.com is out of businees where are crafters going for there supplies?
I went to log into my Darice account and it kept going to Michael’s. It would have been nice to get a notice ahead of time.
There’s distributors available out there but I am afraid I will not find anything that was like Darice. Very disappointed!
Do you know of any wholesalers out there similar to Darice that I can get accounts with? I have a number of home decor accounts but can’t seem to find any good wholesalers for votives, ribbons and craft supplies
Hi Tonya, Catan Global Imports is sourcing all of the old Darice product. Just let them know the items that you are looking for. They can source it for you and give you a delivered price to your door. Lead time is about 90 days from date of order and the minimums are a little higher. However, the prices are usually at or below the Darice price you were paying. 440-785-2687 craigc@catanglobal.com
I cannot imagine having to wait 90 days. Really????
We can buy directly from China if that’s what we want to do, and not everyone needs 1000 of an item.
Sad you closed Darice./ Michaels won’t stay around much longer.
Tonya try Ali Express. When I looked at Catan Global Import it’s pretty much a broker, so they’ll charge you more than what the item will cost.
Search AliExpress or Alibaba.com
You will have the same opportunity to buy direct from these companies without paying a middle man (Catan Global in this instance)
Actually I placed an order with Cantan Global and the quoted price was the exact price delivered to my door as Darcie was. Keep in mind it was a 1,000 pc order but I would definitely recommend Cantan Global if you need large quantities.
Thank you. What is the contact information for them?
Here is the contact information:
Catan Global Imports
440-785-2687
craigc@catanglobal.com
http://www.catanglobalimport.com
That is how I found out that Darice had been shut down. And they were the only place I could find my 32″ twig cloud swags and twig star baskets.
What happened to all the Michaels stores near me? Website says they are all open, but the stores themselves are all closed and the light up Michaels signs are all down off the building front, and the windows and doors are all shuttered and covered with brown paper.
This really stinks
I did not realize Darice had been sold until reading this. I used to get supplies for my Etsy business from Darice. The last time I placed an order, I bought a dozen spools of what looked like the same steel craft wire I had been getting for years. It turned out to be copper, not labeled as copper. It’s pretty, but completely unusable. I combine it with aluminum beads for Christmas ornaments, and aluminum and copper react to form a fuzzy blue crust like you see sometimes on battery cables, ruining the ornament and the tree it hangs on. The 9mm tinsel stems I used to buy (not available anywhere else) to use for miniature tree branches turned out to be so flimsy now they droop under their own weight, let alone with ornaments hanging on them. I had to give up on my Barbie-sized aluminum Christmas trees, and I’m stuck with a huge case of unusable tinsel stems. I’ll try Catan Global and see if they can get me what I need; I’m definitely not shopping at Michael’s!
Michaels has completely lost my business. Darice was my go to for my shop and now I have lost it. Buy a company and close it so there’s less competition for your retail venue. Nice.
Hobby Lobby has always been my favorite anyway and it Joanns will be my go to along with a couple other suppliers I have.
Very disappointing, maybe Michaels should join the ranks of closings because of lack of business like many of us become.
I am also sad to see Darice to be closed down. I do a lot of needlepoint and crocheting because I no longer work. I had ordered my plastic canvas from Darice because I can get it in bulk; but I guess that won’t be happening again. I do shop in the local Michaels for other supplies but they no longer carry plastic canvas in the store. If any one knows where I can find bulk supplies of the artist stiff plastic canvas in 13.5″ by 22″ sizes please let me know. I use this size for my bible covers.
Hi Elizibeth, the old domestic Darice Plastic Canvas factory is still producing plastic canvas. Give me a call and I will get the information to you. 440-785-2687
Craig
I have bought from Pat Catans for 20 years plus. Last 3 or 4 years i bought in bulk from Darice in Strongsville Ohio.
I do have the original item numbers froma lot of items i bought for my crafts. How do i contact another company to see if i can still get these same items??
Catan Global Imports
440-785-2687
craigc@catanglobal.com
http://www.catanglobalimport.com
I am so dependent on Darice to provide the STRONGEST magnetic attachments that I can’t find anywhere else…I wish I had bought a ton more before the closed…sad days
I am in the same boat Diane.
This just saddens me, I have so many items of Darice and have been looking for more of her embossing folders and now I see why I can’t find them anymore :(.
What really upsets me is that you send everything to China WHY we have people in the US that just lost there jobs to China, is it you can pay them 20 cents and hour, this is shit I’m sorry to say I will not step another foot into a Michael’s store again. CHINA OVER THE USA where are the brains of this company?
The products Darice carried were also produced overseas.
I *wish* I would have known about this before Darice was shut down. An email stating this was happening would have helped so I could have done a final order for items I can NOT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE. I have a small, home based crafting business and I DEPENDED on being able to buy wholesale in order to keep my prices down on completed items and to stay afloat. Michaels prices are HORRIBLE so no one who does craft shows like I do would be able to make any profit at all on what we create except for closeouts on seasonal items but by then, I would no longer need the item since the season would already be over with (like Christmas). I just got to thinking a few days ago that I hadn’t seen any sales emails from Darice for a while so went to their website and found it just sends me to Michaels webpage so I did a Google search and found this article. Darice was the only place I could find 32″ twig cloud swags to make my floral wall swags (I use the twig cloud swags as the base for them) as well as star baskets since Twigs went out of business YEARS ago and I used to buy most of my grapevine and twig bases from them. I also can’t afford to spend $50.00+ for the silk floral wreaths I used as a base for my own wreath projects when I was spending $20.00 or less for similar wreaths from Darice. I just do NOT understand them shutting down Darice when Darice was the main supplier for MOST craft stores including Michaels, Joannes and Hobby Lobby as well as online craft websites like Factory Direct. It seems to me that Michaels would have been much farther ahead to keep this wholesale company in business. I lost all but one of my craft shows last year to co-vid and now that things are slowly starting to re-open, I am NOT going to have the craft items I need to start doing craft shows again.
Hi Liz,
I may be able to help you get set up with a few wholesale distributors we are working with. Let me know what you are looking for. Here is my contact information:
Craig Catanzarite
Catan Global Imports
440-785-2687
craigc@catanglobal.com
http://www.catanglobalimport.com
I had the same problem when I contacted Catan Imports. Twice I have asked for pricing and heard nothing back.
Not sure we are getting your requests? Did you email or call?
It would be helpful if you would supply us with the complete wholesalers list of the providers of the Darien products. Then at least all of us could try to get the inventory we were used to purchasing. It would be much appreciated since you blind sided us all without warning. I would have purchased at least one last time if I had known. Now I don’t have access to my Darien acct so to have the item numbers etc.
Receiving the list makes sense as a solution at least.
Thank you!
Unfortunately no one is responding to our comments!!! Such good customer service!
Hi, feel free to reach out direct with your needs and we will be happy to see what we can do for you. We are more of a direct sourcing company working with the former Darice factories vs a warehouse distributor with a large “on-hand” inventory as Darice was. The minimum order quantities are a little higher and the lead times are about 90 days. HOWEVER, the pricing is great and true wholesale. We can also handle the logistics directly do your door as well as the brokerage and duty paperwork. In some cases we may direct you some of the wholesalers we are currently working with if the MOQ’s are too cumbersome.
Regards,
Craig Catanzarite
Catan Global Imports
440-785-2687
craigc@catanglobal.com
http://www.catanglobalimport.com
I would like to know where and how I can purchased the Darice safety eyes no other company can compare to this brand?? Without the quality of Darice it’s impossible to make stuff toys for children and be safe!!
Hi Jim,
Let me know specifically what you need and I will track it down. If you can provide the old Darice item numbers and your shipping address I will get you the required minimum information and delivered cost to your location.
Best Regards,
Craig Catanzarite
440-785-2687
craigc@catanglobal.com
Craig is a joke. I have contacted him and after 5 months of no information. He directed me to another shop who clearly doesn’t carry what I am looking for.
Save yourself time as all he will do is waste yours
My apologies Sara. We are set up for direct product sourcing from the factory’s and handle all the logistics. Long lead times and high minimums are a challenge. Unfortunately we do not carry inventory for smaller, immediate orders as Darice was set up for. The item you inquired about has a 2,440 pc minimum.
I used to find a lot of my wood crafting stuff here so I am sad that it is closing, but silver lining: This forced me to look elsewhere and craftparts.com has come to the rescue!
My friends and family didn’t understand the frustration and hatred towards Michaels when they closed down Darice. Like many, I’ve used them for YEARS for everything imaginable. The prices were spot on and most of what I bought had great profit margins! Where else could you buy a ceramic fairy garden house for $2.38 and resell it for $15.95? I mean, really! I get they wanted to corner the market and remove a major supplier from their competitors, but what this did to the small business has been horrible. You know what? The Joann’s and Hobby Lobby’s will still survive. The small mom and pops and crafters will not.
I will never support or walk into a Michaels ever again. As far as I’m concerned, Covid didn’t put me out of business. Michaels did.
I have the same thoughts and feelings as you do. As a crafter of craft shows for over 28 years…. my business is slowly coming to an end, wreath making is getting to be more expensive than it’s worth. Who is going to buy a wreath for $60 and I make $10…. it’s sad that there is no Darice and all of the little guys are getting squeezed out of business…. I tell people the story about Farice and it’s employees in Ohio and DO NOT G O T O MICHAELS!!!
The really sad part part is the staff at Michael have no crafting experience they can send you to the correct isle for item but knowledge of a product have no idea. I have stood by and heard conversations. Shame on you.for not putting staff with crafting in their souls in your stores. Hey Joanne your awful to. The girls at check did you find what you were looking for lol and neither did any of your staff.
People are the most important factor in the craft industry tree. Without them you do not have connections. Like a fruit tree with deep roots, you will have a fruitful harvest when each person supports the nutrients that supply the tree. Darcie was that tree and Michaels the lumberjack that cut it down.
I know some folks prefer to buy American. And Darice was one of the last American wholesalers with a great product line. But, you may want to look to Chinese wholesalers for some of the products you want through Alibaba.
As a maker I am saddened by the loss of Darice, with other crafting supplies from American companies being very expensive, Darice had great unique products or comparable products that were well made and reasonably priced. Since Michael’s clearly wasn’t interested in the Darice asset, they should’ve spun it off as a separate entity. And Darice could’ve looked into dropshipping as a viable income stream for small online businesses.
Please keep in mind that the majority of Darice products were made in China.
Thank you. I miss darice as I ordered constantly for my bead/ craft store . Will look into Catan global for sure
Kat
There was never a safer eye then Darice safety eyes for toys I can’t find a comparison anywhere! It’ sad they are gone and I’m very disappointed that no other company can compare!
I went to Michael’s. I rarely shop there since they bought out and shut down their competition, therefore increasing my costs as a crafter. I thought going to the 70% off sale would be okay as long as I wasn’t paying retail. Well, apparently I am not the only one not willing to pay retail. On the day after Christmas, there was so much merchandise! You might have mistaken the store for pre-Christmas. Yes, most of the large trees and ornament sets were gone but there was a ton of ribbon, so many garlands, and a lot of tabletop trees. Before Christmas, their ribbon price had gone up dramatically and instead of the standard 30 feet, their ribbons are 25 feet or less. This store may be the exception but this is the first time since they closed Darice and Consumer Crafts that I have had a little satisfaction. I will buy more if they go to 80% off.
I received an email about their 70% holiday items – bragging on what great prices they had. HA HA HA. Their sales prices are HORRIBLE and WAY higher than Joann or Hobby Lobby’s holiday closeout prices. It’s no wonder they still have a TON of holiday items available while Joanns and Hobby Lobby are almost sold out.