Michaels to Close Darice By the End of November
Michaels will be closing Darice, its wholesale division, by November 30, 2020. Michaels acquired Darice as part of the Lamrite West acquisition in 2016 along with Pat Catan stores.
Big Challenges Ahead for Michaels’ New CEO
Michaels CEO Mark Cosby was ousted after a disappointing third quarter in 2019; Ashley Buchanan has a tough year ahead as coronavirus ravages retailers.
Michaels CEO Believes the Tough Times Will Pay Off
Is Michaels’ new strategy of focusing on core makers paying off? Michaels Stores Inc. saw sales decline again in the third quarter of 2019 and downgraded its overall outlook for the year. And yet the company reported progress on its e-commerce and community initiatives.
A.C. Moore is No More as Parent Company Nicole Crafts Exits the Retail Market
A.C. Moore’s parent company, Nicole Crafts, is getting out of the retail crafts business. Some stores will reopen as Michaels in 2020.
Michaels Promises More Attention for Core Makers
In the company’s second quarter 2019 earnings report Michaels CEO Mark Cosby promised to serve the dedicated maker rather than the novice.
Michaels’ Retail Sales Down 5% in First Quarter
The craft store giant blames the drop in sales on closing Pat Catan’s and Aaron Brothers stores. Michaels’ new CEO is pushing e-commerce and concerned about ongoing tariff disputes with China.
Michaels Embraces the Gig Economy With New Community Classroom Program
\In a step towards embracing the gig economy, craft chain Michaels has revamped its in-store classes turning instructors into freelancers responsible for designing, pricing, and marketing their own workshops. The new Community Classroom program, which rolled out to 1,258 Michaels stores nationwide in March, allows any creative person to pitch to teach at their local Michaels store.
Michaels Launches Program Encouraging Local Makers to Teach Their Own In-Store Classes
Michaels, the Irving, Texas-based craft store chain, launched a new program last month encouraging local makers to teach craft workshops in the stores’ classrooms. Called MAKERS Nation, the program is currently being piloted in five areas: Los Angeles, Chicago, Kansas City, Northwest Florida, and Salt Lake City.
A New Partnership and a New Marketplace Show Promise for the Craft Supplies Market
Craft supplies are a $44 billion industry and two big players in the market, Michael’s and Etsy, have made recent moves to capitalize on that potential.
Pay Cuts for Michaels Teachers Put a Damper on an Already Frustrating Job
Over 1 million people took a class at a Michaels store last year. Michaels is the nation’s largest art and craft retailer and customers can take classes in painting, drawing, scrapbooking, cake decorating, knitting, and crochet at their local stores. But what is it like to teach those classes?