What happened to Jo-Ann (the massive fabric/craft store chain)?  In many places, it was the only game in town.  It had a captive audience.  And sewing and mending are on the rise.   So Amanda set out to find out who killed Jo-Ann.  It’s a lot more complicated than you think! In this episode we take a journey full of twists and turns:<ul><li>Was it just private equity? And WTF is private equity anyway?</li><li>What do Jo-Ann and Red Lobster have in common? Unfortunately it's not Cheddar Bay Biscuits.</li><li>How has society's relationship with sewing changed over the last 80 years?</li><li>Who is Faith Popcorn and why is Amanda obsessed with her?</li><li>Where are the mechanized hugging booths?</li><li>Does anyone remember Cargo Express?</li><li>Where did Jo-Ann's leadership go wrong?</li><li>How would Amanda "save" Jo-Ann?</li><li>What is the future of fabric stores? And how are we all a part of it?</li></ul>So many sources and so many links for this episode.First: some suggested fabric stores from Amanda:<a href="https://www.firecrackerfabrics.com/">Firecracker Fabrics</a><a href="https://letoffefabrics.com/">L'Etoffe Fabrics</a><a href="https://www.nachoanns.com/">Nacho Ann's Fabrics</a><a href="https://makeandmendshop.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooi0KUUiyIpFSgZltYg8S2Ud5-NXjqdmoFfbDMBWGY2Amzd4wmv">Make & Mend</a><a href="https://www.meredithlynch.com/podcast">Check out Oddly Specific with Meredith Lynch </a>Sources and additional reading:<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/private-equity-rolled-red-lobster-rcna153397">"How private equity rolled Red Lobster," </a>Gretchen Morgenson, NBC News.<a href="https://www.cityam.com/how-trend-forecasting-keeps-biggest-brands-top/">"How trend forecasting keeps the biggest brands on top,"</a> Peter Firth, City AM.<a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-popcorn-predicts01-2008oct01-story.html">"Faith Popcorn’s predictions five years later," </a>Patrick Kevin Day, Los Angeles Times.<a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-07-vw-1202-story.html">"The Essence of Cocooning,"</a> Beth Ann Krier, Los Angeles Times.<a href="https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/10/29/cloth-world-stores-sold-to-chain/">"Cloth World stores sold to chain,"</a> Alan Goldstein, Tampa Bay Times.<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/19/business/fabri-centers-agrees-to-pay-3-million-to-settle-charges.html">"Fabri-Centers Agrees to Pay $3 Million to Settle Charges,"</a> Leslie Eaton, The New York Times.<a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/amberjamieson/jo-ann-joann-fabric-masks-coronavirus-staff-speak-out">"Staff Said The Free Mask Kits At Jo-Ann Fabrics Are Just Scraps From The Clearance Bin,"</a> Amber Jamieson, Buzzfeed.<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91287686/joann-fabrics-closing-private-equity-kill-reason-market-forces">"Did private equity kill Joann fabrics?"</a> Sam Becker, Fast Company.<a href="https://fortune.com/2025/03/29/joann-fabrics-transformation-retail-darling-bankruptcy-disaster/">"How Joann Fabrics went from a cult-favorite retail darling to a bankruptcy disaster," </a>Lila Maclellan, Fortune.<a href="https://www.cleveland.com/pdextra/2010/12/the_history_of_jo-ann_stores_i.html">"Sixty-seven years of fabrics and crafts,"</a> Janet H. Cho, The Plain Dealer.<a href="http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/nys/jas/inforequest/JAS_Mag_60th%20Anniv_0703.pdf">"Sixty Years of Serving Creativity,"</a> Marsha McGregor.Get your Clotheshorse merch here: <a href="https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/">https://clotheshorsepodcast.com/shop/</a>If you want to share your opinion/additional thoughts on the subjects we cover in each episode, feel free to email, whether it’s a typed out message or an audio recording:  amanda@clotheshorse.worldDid you enjoy this episode? Consider "buying me a coffee" via Ko-fi:<a href="https://ko-fi.com/clotheshorse"> ko-fi.com/clotheshorse</a>Clotheshorse is brought to you with support from the following sustainable small businesses:The Pewter Thimble Is there a little bit of Italy in your soul? Are you an enthusiast of pre-loved decor and accessories? Bring vintage Italian style — and history — into your space with The Pewter Thimble (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thepewterthimble/">@thepewterthimble</a>). We source useful and beautiful things, and mend them where needed. We also find gorgeous illustrations, and make them print-worthy. Tarot cards, tea towels and handpicked treasures, available to you from the comfort of your own home. Responsibly sourced from across Rome, lovingly renewed by fairly paid artists and artisans, with something for every budget. Discover more at <a href="http://thepewterthimble.com/">thepewterthimble.com</a>St. Evens is an NYC-based vintage shop that is dedicated to bringing you those special pieces you’ll reach for again and again. More than just a store, St. Evens is dedicated to sharing the stories and history behind the garments. 10% of all sales are donated to a different charitable organization each month.  New vintage is released every Thursday at <a href="https://wearstevens.com/">wearStEvens.com,</a> with previews of new pieces and more brought to you on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wear_st.evens/">@wear_st.evens.</a>Deco Denim is a startup based out of San Francisco, selling clothing and accessories that are sustainable, gender fluid, size inclusive and high quality--made to last for years to come. Deco Denim is trying to change the way you think about buying clothes. Founder Sarah Mattes wants to empower people to ask important questions like, “Where was this made? Was this garment made ethically? Is this fabric made of plastic? Can this garment be upcycled and if not, can it be recycled?” Signup at <a href="https://decodenim.com/">decodenim.com </a>to receive $20 off your first purchase. They promise not to spam you and send out no more than 3 emails a month, with 2 of them surrounding education or a personal note from the Founder. Find them on Instagram as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deco.denim/">@deco.denim.</a>Vagabond Vintage DTLV is a vintage clothing, accessories & decor reselling business based in Downtown Las Vegas. Not only do we sell in Las Vegas, but we are also located throughout resale markets in San Francisco as well as at a curated boutique called Lux and Ivy located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jessica, the founder & owner of Vagabond Vintage DTLV, recently opened the first IRL location located in the Arts District of Downtown Las Vegas on August 5th. The shop has a strong emphasis on 60s & 70s garments, single stitch tee shirts & dreamy loungewear. Follow them on instagram, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vagabondvintage.dtlv/">@vagabondvintage.dtlv </a>and keep an eye out for their website coming fall of 2022.Country Feedback is a mom & pop record shop in Tarboro, North Carolina. They specialize in used rock, country, and soul and offer affordable vintage clothing and housewares. Do you have used records you want to sell? Country Feedback wants to buy them! Find us on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/countryfeedbackvintageandvinyl/">@countryfeedbackvintageandvinyl</a> or head downeast and visit our brick and mortar. All are welcome at this inclusive and family-friendly record shop in the country!Located in Whistler, Canada, Velvet Underground is a "velvet jungle" full of vintage and second-hand clothes, plants, a vegan cafe and lots of rad products...

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Episode 234: Who killed Jo-Ann?

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