Michaels Vs Hobby Lobby

[Bianca and Bernard]

Let's take our minds of political debates and focus on what's important: Crafts.
If you're a true, DIY-or-die crafter, it's crafts for you all year 'round. As we enter the holiday season, craft stores are going to just get busier.
Which is your craft store of choice?

Myself, I like some of the deals that Hobby Lobby has, but they are not fans of Halloween. They no longer offer the 40% coupon, so you have to watch the weekly flyer for something to be discounted. Holiday stuff is often discounted very early, which is a plus. However, some days the lines are long and they have only two people working registers.

Michaels has great stuff, but the only downside for me personally is the distance. Last time I was there, they still issue coupons, and they had plenty of people on register. I prefer Michaels overall.

*I'll go ahead and add Joann (Jo-Ann, or whatever) as well, even though they're mainly focused on fabric. Good selection of Halloween stuff, the app gives you coupons/deals.

I prefer JoAnns. Good selection and sales.

Michaels is second, even though I rarely find what I'm looking for in stock at the stores around here, simply because of reasons I cannot discuss here.

 

[SC Minnie]

For transparency, I do work at Michaels part time (a couple of weekend a month to keep my discount). I knit/crochet and have a little side business with that so the discount comes in extremely handy.

Where I am all 3 craft stores are within a 10 mi radius. I shop Michaels the most of course but will go into the other 2 if they have sometime I need that Michaels doesn't have. I wait for sales there too.

 

[Uncle Coaster]

I don’t craft but I do shop at all three stores for giifts and the occasional decor item. Hobby Lobby is my first choice because I find their selection and service to be the best locally. I like Michael’s too but just not as much.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

You need an "other" - All of the above.

It depends on what I need. I like Michaels for scrapbooking/yarn/other crafty stuff.

Don't have a Hobby Lobby close by, but I usually just went there when looking for models (trains/planes/etc).

JoAnnes - quilting supplies, fabric.

 

[mumto3girls]

I used to be much more of a crafter than I am now. Back then we didn’t have Hobby Lobby around here. I would probably say Michael’s because those stores were all usually about the same and I had one close to me. I have to drive farther away to get to JoAnne’s. Most of those are smaller and light on decor and crafting items that aren’t fabric related, however, there is one that must be a supercenter because it is huge and rivals Michael’s in their selection of craft supplies/scrapbooking items/home decor. We do have Hobby Lobby now but I’d have to pass by several Michael’s to get to one. I’ve stopped in and was definitely impressed with their selection, but not their company values.

We spent a year in Boston about 20 years ago. They had an AC Moore that I loved. The closest one to me now is about an hour away.

 

[easyas123]

We used to have a AC Moore, not sure where the closest one is now. They had a fairly good selection of stuff. I bet it's been gone 10 years now that I think about it. Glad to hear they are still around-

 

[Mysterian]

I've never shopped at either of them and probably never will. Not much of an arts and crafts kinda guy.

Then this thread is perfect for you!

 

[sailorstitch]

I don't know how to vote. I shop at all three. I dabble in lots of different arts and crafts. What store I go to depends on what I'm looking for.

I do hate the CEO of Hobby Lobby. And I do feel somewhat guilty for shopping there.... But the store also has so much stuff that I literally can't find anywhere else. For example, I spent at least 5 years looking for tear drop pearl beads in a particular size. I couldn't even find what I wanted online. When I finally did find them, it was at Hobby Lobby.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hobby Lobby is a beautiful store. We just got our first one a few years back. But honestly, I don’t shop much in any of them as I’m not really a crafts person. I might go in for picture frames, mainly. I dislike going in JoAnne or Michaels.

 

[DisneyOma]

The fabric from Hobby Lobby is crappy, scratchy and thin. Someone gave me fabric from there to make masks at the beginning of the pandemic. Fabric was so thin and loosely woven that I had to buy better, denser woven fabric at JoAnn's to use as a lining. I've never shopped in there myself, but find the stuff other people buy there to be of much lesser quality.

I buy most of my crafting supplies and holiday decor at Michael's, and my fabric at JoAnn's.

 

[DisneyOma]

Hobby Lobby is a beautiful store. We just got our first one a few years back. But honestly, I don’t shop much in any of them as I’m not really a crafts person. I might go in for picture frames, mainly. I dislike going in JoAnne or Michaels.

What makes it beautiful? The one near me, from the outside, is messy and has nasty lighting. It's relatively new (like only a few years old) but seems like a discount store; nothing beautiful about it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

What makes it beautiful? The one near me, from the outside, is messy and has nasty lighting. It's relatively new (like only a few years old) but seems like a discount store; nothing beautiful about it.

I find their decor displays (the ones that are usually at the front of the store) as well done they seem to take time to piece it together in a pleasing way but other than that it's not like amazing amazing in aesthetics.

I agree with you on the lighting it's not welcoming at Hobby Lobby.

Like here's the difference between the two closest stores top photo Hobby Lobby bottom photo Michaels





I guess it gives Hobby Lobby more of a dingy feel??

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What makes it beautiful? The one near me, from the outside, is messy and has nasty lighting. It's relatively new (like only a few years old) but seems like a discount store; nothing beautiful about it.

I found it colorful and organized inside. The outside is average, I wouldn‘t call it messy or dim.

It’s probably like supermarkets or other chain stores - some are better than others even within the same company.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

I'd never shop at Hobby Lobby.

 

[Seahorse17]

I buy a lot of crafts at Lobby Lobby. Waiting now to have them finish my picture framing.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Michaels was my go to until Hobby Lobby came to town. Not one Hobby Lobby, but two. I think the Michael's in my area is in trouble. I've gone in a couple of times for different things and it's practically empty. Stock and customers. All those wreaths they would have for each holiday....haven't seen them in ages. Can go down some aisles and it would be completely empty. I'd still go there if they had stuff but it's a wasted trip for me now. Hobby Lobby is always busy and has plenty of stock. I guess they've taken over.

 

[VandVsmama]

I don't know if the Dis can handle a gun debate and a Hobby Lobby discussion all in 1 week!

 

[Boopuff]

Michaels is really close by, Joann’s is a bit of a drive, there’s one closer but it’s a hot-mess. Hobby lobby being closed on Sunday is a p.I,t.a So I don’t go very often

 

[TippyThomas]

Then this thread is perfect for you!

Sorry my participation bothered you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't know if the Dis can handle a gun debate and a Hobby Lobby discussion all in 1 week!

And don’t forget the parenting thread!