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I Went to Joann’s End-of-Days Clear Out to Turn Deals Into Home Decor Projects
The article chronicles the author's experience visiting a Joann craft store during its liquidation sales following its bankruptcy filing. Prompted by a team message about potential home design bargains, the author, Sarah Buder, a Manhattan resident, describes the logistical challenges of reaching a Joann store, as none are located within Manhattan or Brooklyn. She and her girlfriend planned a trip to Paramus, New Jersey, combining it with a regular out-of-city grocery run. This personal mission was fueled by a desire to explore DIY opportunities amidst the store's financial restructuring.
Buder reflects on her childhood memories of Joann (formerly Jo-Ann Fabrics) in Corte Madera, California, where she purchased materials for sewing classes and costume-making. She notes the significant shift in the store's offerings, contrasting the past focus on fabrics and crafts with the current, more diversified inventory that includes home decor items akin to those found in Target or Home Depot. She acknowledges her lack of recent engagement with Joann stores, having relied on competitors like Michael's or Blick Art Materials for occasional craft supplies in New York City.
Upon arrival at the Paramus location, Buder anticipated a somber and depleted shopping environment, similar to her past experience with Bed Bath & Beyond's closing sales. However, she found the store to be surprisingly active, with more shoppers than expected, though largely older demographics. The clearance sections, marked 25% off, appeared disorganized, suggesting either rapid customer turnover or hurried stocking by employees. Other sales included 50-70% off fine art canvases and 10 for $5 on acrylic paints.
Operating within a $200 budget, Buder and her girlfriend strategically acquired various items for planned and spontaneous DIY projects. Their purchases included 15 bead strands and a roll of cord for necklace making, a bead organizer, a 10-pack of 8x10 canvases, two 5x5 canvases, a 24-tube acrylic paint set, larger paint tubes, black spray paint, and wooden semicircle cutouts for a mirror project. They also bought fiber filling for couch cushions, three collapsible bins for kitchen storage, an 11x14 black picture frame, and a five-pound bucket of air-dry clay. These selections reflect a clear intention to transform these raw materials into functional and decorative home items.
The article details the immediate DIY projects undertaken with their haul: refilling couch cushions, decorating a glass vase with beads, repainting a picture frame with acrylics, spray-painting wooden semicircles for an Ikea mirror, and crafting a foot-shaped catchall from air-dry clay. These projects showcase how the discounted items were effectively utilized to enhance their home decor. The author highlights the inspiration drawn from previous travels and observations for these creations. The narrative concludes with the realization that their purchases provide ample supplies for many more future DIY endeavors, and the possibility of utilizing an online promo code for further purchases without needing another physical store visit. The experience underscores the potential for finding value and creative inspiration even in the context of a retailer's financial struggles, turning liquidation sales into opportunities for home improvement and personal expression.
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