Coming to a major department store near you.

The haberdashery in John Lewis used to be on the ground floor and take up a large part of it. Now they are a small department stuck out of the way. They have obviously found profits dropping and had to do it but it is a shame. I am not a big fan of Hobbycraft. Although it is massive it tends to sell very cheap wool.

We were very excited about JL opening a store in our town and then they changed their minds. Our local paper reported that they said we were not affluent enough for them or something like that. I do buy from them on line but thinking about it I should spend elsewhere after what happened.
We have a local independent wool shop and an Abakhan that I use.

Jaycee I buy the WI wool from Hobbycraft it knits up very evenly. They have some lovely cotton yarns too. I know what you mean though, there are fabulous yarns but where to find them?
I'm going to the Knitting and Stitching exhibition in Harrogate, there'll be hundreds there.

I am a true 'Essex girl' actually born in Romford Hospital to working class parents so I am boasting of no social pretensions. But 'Prosecco and bikini waxes'. How vulgar!

I have had problems in two John Lewis stores with Anchor threads - Kingston and Brent Cross. In Kingston it was implied that Anchor had gone into receivership and the assistant tried to sell me tapestry wool for 50p, saying it was good for darning socks! - not really useful for cross stitch! At Brent Cross I was told that it had been recalled and would be in stock again soon. We have a Hobbycraft near us but it doesn't stock all the colours and I used to make use of visits to my son in Kingston to stock up.

Sounds like the Fent shop in Lynn, Rosesarered. I cannot get up the stairs (no lift) but they will bring things down for me to make my choice.
Not only JL making unsuitable changes. Local Sainsbury have changed their fresh meat and fish counter to pizzas.

Thank goodness haberdashery is staying. When the going gets tough, the tough get sewing! I'm a bit rubbish at it but I do love haberdashery!

I do love the big departmental stores, but to be honest, it's really only worth going into the big ones which tend to be in the cities. Unfortunately, they are mostly full of big chain franchises now. Disappointing!! smile

Sadly it's a chicken-and-egg situation. The department sells less and less so fewer people buy, so it sells even less so even fewer etc etc etc.
We have just had a new John Lewis open in Chelmsford a couple of weeks ago amid much fanfare of trumpets. What a disappointment generally but Haberdashery is mainly knitting wool with a very small area of wall for fabrics (mostly boring uninspiring designs) plenty of sewing machines, a few patterns and not much else.
Apparently it's regarded as a small store so according to the local paper it isn't big enough to stock anything over a size 20 (obviously no-one walked down Chelmsford High St before they decided that) or have a decent haberdashery. Even that Mecca store in Cambridge has a much reduced hab section. Has no-one told them that crafting is in resurgence?

I have never lived in a town where there is a John Lewis, or even near. The nearest to me is at Cribbs Causeway. But we have a lovely shop here in Burnham that sells all sewing and knitting stuff. I haven't seen one like that since I lived in Cheltenham in the 1970's

I agree about Hobbycraft Jaycee5. Ours opened about 3 years ago and was very good to start with. My particular craft is jewellery making. That section started off as 2 full aisles on both sides but it's gradually shrunk till it's barely even one aisle. It has also proved more expensive for many things than the local fabric/haberdashery store.
If anyone lives in Essex, I thoroughly recommend The Cheap Shop (yes it is called that) in Tiptree. Like the Tardis it goes on forever. Loads of different crafts covered, best range of fabrics I've seen in one place in years and incredibly helpful staff. No, I'm not connected in any way except as a regular customer.

I like wool to knit with. My local wool shop recently closed. I had been using it since I was 15 and I am 77 now. They stopped selling wool they said people would not pay the price. There is still a shop in Formby about 8 miles away from me. I am surprised about the closure of these stores as I know lots of people taking crafts up. They have started buying on line but it is not the same you do not see the shades properly.

On the M&S issue we have been saying that their quality is bad. I have just ironed a fairly new garment and found stitching coming undone. My friend also complains that they do not line their skirts. If they improved the finish and did not try to be like Primark they might sell more.

A couple of things I find annoying lately about department stores is that they no longer have mirrors. (Marks and Soarks have bronzed ones which are useless.) also its policy now not to have seating in major stores. We are an ageing population and I feel it's customer care to provide a few chairs, particularly at check outs.
I like to hold a garment up and look in the mirror to decide on colour before I head for the changing rooms. And I accompany my elderly sister who would like a seat occasionally. Anyone else get itritated about these things?

ha ha yes!!

to Prosecco before the wax...

Prosecco, yes; bikini wax, NO!

I would need the Prosecco afterwards

In the Cheadle store, which is one of their largest, there's a 'Beauty Retreat' which provides all kinds of treatments including waxing, though I don't know if that includes the bikini kind. So far, there's no sign of Prosecco. There's a similar spa facility in the Reading store.

www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/cheadle/john-lewis-cheadle-beauty-retreat

Oh and the Beauty Retreat is right next to the Haberdashery which is well stocked.

I could drive for 15 mins to our nearest 'Park and Ride', sit on the bus for another 20mins to Leicester city centre, and then walk to JL. Or, I could drive for 10 mins to a village,not too far away,and shop at the most amazing wool, haberdashery etc., etc. and leave my dry-cleaning too!!
No contest really, unless you are the person who loves big city shopping, and that definitely isn't me! (Although we spent most of our lives living in the said 'big city').

Abakhan have a website, too.

A few years ago SIL wanted about a yard of fine cord to mend a toy. The girl in John Lewis spent ages finding different thicknesses of cord for him to try and he was only going to be spending pennies.

The enhancement to JL service I'd like to see is an IT department that has an assistant who can see things from an older persons perspective who is not all that familiar with the techy stuff. One you can make an appointment with - who will give you the time, answer your questions as you fumble after enlightenment, and not try to fob you off. I'd love it if they provided an after service - by appointment - to help and advise with any techy problems. The IT department at my local JL is staffed by young men who cluster and chat and not ask if they can help. They are keen enough to deal with other young or old male customers and attractive young female ones, but do their best to not catch my granny eye.
Down in the kitchen and electricals - looking at new ovens - I am delighted with the help and advice - as I am in the haberdashery.

Lupin totally agree about tech departments in general, all staffed by young people all interested in talking to each other (or well informed customers) about tech stuff. Let's have some older tech advisers, please.

learn a bit about it first and you can run rings round those young lads . I do know a bit, and I see them looking for the young girls too. So I get hold of one, and ask him questions, which, as they are about serious computer use and not games, have him losing the script. I usually am in those shops with my partner, who is very knowledgeable about computers, but listens to the conversations with great enjoymennt