AIBU to want to shop at John Lewis for buttons, not a Brazilian?

[Quandry]

OMG. Never mind Brexit. If anything is likely to drive me out of the UK it's this:
John Lewis to swap haberdashery for bikini waxes and prosecco bars under new boss

The last bastion of Middle England is to be RUINED by some new upstart boss who thinks we care more about our minge than our muslin!

I'm warning her - there will be rioting in the streets...

[Ilovetorrentialrain]

I think it would be a shame - I love looking around haberdashery departments - however I rarely actually buy anything there. Does everyone on this thread who objects to the idea of closure actually patronise JL haberdashery much? How much would you spend there in a typical year?

[MaudOnceMore]

Yes, they've confirmed they won't close the departments, but surely that's always been a red herring. The interview said they would be downgraded and, as they're already small and poked away in obscure corners of the shops, that's worrying enough.

[Ilovetorrentialrain]

Possibly. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37908223

I guess it's use it or lose it though.

[Floggingmolly]

More like they've underestimated the strength of public opinion and decided to back track. If it's a "rumour", it's one generated by their own publicity department

[Ilovetorrentialrain]

John Lewis have said this is a false rumour and they have no plans to get rid of haberdashery!

As an aside my local JL has bikini waxing (full salon with other treatments too), right next to haberdashery.

[maggiethemagpie]

In my local JL there is already a clarins beauty salon. Right next to the haberdashery department actually. Don't see why they can't have both?

The prosecco bar is a nice idea but how the hell would I drive home? (it's an out of town JL)

[JennyHolzersGhost]

Dearie me JL. This is a bad idea and a half. You've been my staple (and my mum's, and my sister's) since Marks sadly declined. That's three households that are counting on you not to change ! Please reconsider what your brand is supposed to be. It's certainly not waxing and prosecco . Reliable, no-nonsense quality is what you're there for. As others have said, the haberdashery may not have the biggest margins in the company but you're not taking into account all the other things we buy when we come in for a couple of balls of wool and a pair of knitting needles. If you accounted for your cashflow on that basis you'd see it as more of a profit driver

[MaudOnceMore]

I want to go to Fabbadashery just for its name alone.

[OneFlewOverTheDodosNest]

West Yorkshire: Fabworks in Dewsbury, Fabbadashery in Halifax

[KnittingPearl]

Borovick in Soho.
Heathcoat in Tiverton.

[blitheringbuzzards1234]

In the East Midlands there's a warehouse/shop that you can join (membership required) with I believe a one-off payment (then you get regular invitations on particular days - Friday and Sunday morning). It's called Kisko and is on Cobden Street in Leicester - moving to Oadby in 2017. It sells fabric by the metre or what we quilters call 'fat quarters' and it has some haberdashery.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Ray stitch in North London.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Keep them coming.

[AnnieNoMouse]

I get the impression there's a very thriving online sewing/knitting/crafting presence - bloggers/tutorials/retailers; and small savvy shops can take advantage of the interest out there to get people in their shops.

[AnnieNoMouse]

Truro Fabrics in Truro
Truro Wool Shop in, yes, Truro

[TapStepBallChange]

Going regional

Sew Creative - Cambridge
Sew much to do - Ely

[MaudOnceMore]

Yeah, you're right, Chardonnay, so I'll continue the listing with

Wimbledon Sewing in, err, Tooting
Fabrics Galore on Lavender Hill
Simply Fabrics in Brixton

Not to mention the charity shops that have a rummage basket of other people's abandoned craft projects and leftovers.

[StubbleTurnips]

Worlds gone mad.

[SomethingOnce]

fondling the wool in the haberdashery

Is that what they're calling it now?

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Come on Maud, work with me...
It's all too depressing otherwise.

M&S down the pan, JL shrinking their wool dept and Trump in the White House, not to mention the ruin of all things chocolate.

[MaudOnceMore]

I'm not at all sure it works like that - without the big stores like JL promoting sewing and craft by having decent-sized, well-stocked departments, I suspect the whole market will shrink. The lovely, knowledgeable staff in our local haberdashery told me that the Great British Sewing Bee initially caused a surge in sales but they have now dropped back again. If JL shrink their departments, sewing and craft will be perceived as even more niche than they are currently, so it's unlikely to help independent shops.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Maybe there's a silver lining there.

More support for smaller haberdasheries?

Delicate stitches in Kentish Town.
Klein's in Soho
Village Haberdashery in West Hampstead.

Please add to the list.

[blitheringbuzzards1234]

I'm annoyed about this and hope they backtrack. JL isn't what it used to be on haberdashery and it has been deteriorating for some time. I'm going to write a proper letter to the CEO and see where it gets me.

[NameChanger22]

The haberdashery department is the reason I go in there. Even if I don't buy fabric I walk past the perfumes, kitchen stuff and kids's clothes and buy something. I wouldn't go in half as much if it weren't for the lovely fabrics.

I've never had a bikini wax in my life and I never will.

[TollgateDebs]

I don't want to eat and drink myself into a stupor or have my body hair ripped off, I want to enjoy a retail environment that stocks quality, innovative, stylish items and is not trying to do what every other establishment on the high street is. Why do retailers no longer want to sell items, but provide services and utter the words 'you can get it on our website!'