TRURO - Staff at Fabricville's Truro location have never been sew happy.
The retail store's head office has reversed a decision to cut its ties with the community, at least for now.
Store manager Debbie Pyke said staff at the store are elated the business will continue its relationship with residents in Truro and the surrounding area, as well as relieved they will retain their jobs.
"It is wonderful," said Pyke. "Amazing. Amazing. We are hoping we have the continued support of all the customers that have been very caring."
The community rallied to keep the retailer in Truro following an announcement last November from the company's head office that the Fundy Trail Mall location would be closing, coinciding with the expiry of its lease.
Ricki Carr, vice-president of operations for Fabricville, said during the past few weeks they have been deeply touched by an unexpected flood of emotional letters and comments, along with several petitions containing thousands of signatures.
"We just felt with an overwhelming response from our customers it was really a difficult thing to say, 'I'm sorry' to all of these people. So we talked about it and we said we'll stay a little while longer but we absolutely need the support of our customers," said Carr.
She said the company made a business-based decision to renew the lease for the next two years after negotiating a new rate with the landlord. But ongoing support is imperative to keep the business viable.
"We're hoping that all of these people who wrote us will help make the cash registers ring," said the vice-president.
Fabricville customer Cecilia McRae said she travels more than an hour to shop at the store and was thrilled to hear it would remain open.
"I couldn't believe it when I first came in here and heard they were closing," said McRae. "This is fantastic. It's really something positive in a time of a downswing in
the economy that they are going
to reopen."
Carr said traditionally when an economic downturn has occurred sales would increase. However, she is unsure if the result will be the same this time around with today's generation of two income families having little time at their disposal.
Fabricville will continue to clear stock until the end of the month to make room for new goods. In preparation for the grand reopening of the store, it will temporarily close for five days from March 4 to 8 to re-stock and revive the store with new spring merchandise.
The grand reopening will be Monday, March 9.
Change of heart
Change of heart
- Published on Febuary 13th, 2009
- Published on December 31st, 2009
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Sherry Martell
Popular Truro fabric store will keep its doors open, after all
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Comments
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- AJ
- - January 18th, 2010 at 10:18:54
While the quality may be better and the selection far greater, the sales people are far better at wal-mart. I had gone into the Fabricville store with my infant son in a cart from Sobeys, I was informed by a salesperson that their store was not designed for carts and I should come back when I didn't have him with me....I have never set foot in the store since and never plan on going there again.
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- s
- - January 18th, 2010 at 10:14:27
I agree about the poor service..I find it very hard to get good service in this town. I worked in the customer service industry for alot of years and I can't believe how rude some people are!
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- c
- - January 18th, 2010 at 10:10:41
I for one am glad the store remains open. I do not shop there but i know people who do and are happy. But they also shop at walmart. I know this is a fabricville piece but walmart has been brought up. ....
How rude to say minimum wage employees. Half the town is minimum. sorry we all cant be at your level whatever that may be. but your rude.
ever think of if you come off with an attitude you will get one back???
i work in retail and i cant stand the customers who think they are better than us. It is fustrating.
as for the greeters. it is their choice to work there or not. they are there to help you access your carts and to stop people from shoplifting. They are busy doing their job.
just my 2 cents
please be kind to others. -
- gregg p
- - January 18th, 2010 at 10:09:49
I dont shop here because I can get most of my material cheaper at walmart
you should leave the country... it is people like you that is responsible for this economic crisis ... buy a canadian flag and put it up in your yard post haste!!!! -
- Dawn
- - January 18th, 2010 at 10:05:20
I agree...you might pay less at Walmart - but you will probably not get a consultants who is actually from the fabric department waiting on you....you will get someone who says Ummmmm....I'm not really sure...I'm just filling in for the one you usually works here , not to mention selection. You can walk into FabricVille and pass you school supplies list to one of the employees...and within minutes you have everything you need! It's wonderful!!! :)
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- Auntie Walmart
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:58:59
I do not like shopping at the W Mart. Has anyone else noticed that the stock never changes in most departments, that the stores are confusing to get into and getting out is just as bad. Also has anyone ever noticed the the greeters are uaually treated like dummys most people don't even glance at them. I would crawl on broken glass before I would let my dear mother work in a situation like that. I wonder if The W gets tax benifits for hiring these elderly.
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- Well...
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:58:24
While I'm glad that the store can stay open and these people can maintain their jobs, I must say that the last time I was in Fabricville (about 2 months ago) will be the last time as we were treated very poorly. The person helping us even audibly sighed more than once while helping (not helping) us. It was incredibly unprofessional and enough to turn us away from the store.
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- PJ
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:53:13
I think by trouble leaving the store she means the ridiculously long lineups, aprox. 16 checkouts, I've never seen more than 5 or 6 open at once, even during the christmas rush..... correct me if i'm wrong
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- S
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:50:27
I am so happy to see this company stay in Truro at least for two more years. After reading the comments above, I can't believe that I shop at the same store as they do. In all my years of going to that store, I have never been treated rudely. I appreciated people like Sheila who was always happy to answer my questions and give suggestions. The other stores may have a few of the notions and fabrics that I use, but they do not carry the up to date items that I need nor do they carry fabrics for garments, at least the kind with which I want to sew. Great news from a long time sewer and quilter.
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- Leanne
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:47:15
You might get your fabric cheaper at Walmart. But you won't get the quality of both the fabric and the sales staff that I and alot of others get at the Fabricville store. Congrats to all who had a part to play in keeping the store open.
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- d
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:46:08
shop at wal mart and you get what you pay for
you pay for crap, you get crap -
- Kat
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:45:02
I used to travel to Amherst to shop when Atlantic Fabrics was there.Why? Because I was so rudely treated by former staff of Fabricville!! Now I go to Margolian's and second stop is New Glasgow.
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- Truro_NS
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:40:22
To Auntie:
Yes, I've noticed some stock remains until it sells. I can't say I've ever found entering or leaving the store confusing - The doors are clearly marked ENTRANCE and EXIT. The greeters, in most situations, love their job. They are typically older or retired looking for a way to spend some time and get out with the public. Many appreciate the opportunity given to them when many others overlook them.
This is not to say Walmart doesn't destroy small town economies with often sub-par products, but for the most part I have to say I've not really spoken to anyone who hated working there. -
- Liam
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:38:02
the I can get it at walmart cheaper mentality is the reason why all these local and smaller chains are closing. I would much rather fork over an extra 25 cents then even attempt to go across town to a far too busy and crowded store full of minimum wage employees run by a company that barely follows labour laws and imports a vast majority of its good price products from sweat shops. Think about it the next time you're proud to save a few pennies. Meanwhile I am going to try to keep the rest of the town with jobs.
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- s
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:37:59
I think the companies do this on purpose...say they are going to close and then at the last minute...they have miraculously recovered and can now stay open!...what ever!
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- Angela
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:37:50
I dont shop here because I can get most of my material cheaper at walmart
