Latest news with #HobbyLobby
Atlantic
3 days ago
- Business
- Atlantic
Lament for the IRL Craft Shop
On a trip to my local Joann craft-supply store recently, I felt a cheap thrill. An extremely cheap thrill. Huge signs posted on the front doors read STORE CLOSING and ENTIRE STORE 30%–70% OFF. One screamed NOTHING HELD BACK, which struck me as both desperate and alluring. I walked in and wandered up and down the picked-over aisles, skimming my fingers across the flannels, fleeces, silks, and satins. Buckets of yarn beckoned. I was even tempted to add a bathrobe, one of those items that places like Joann inexplicably stock alongside craft supplies, to my cart. And soon, in true Millennial fashion, I was lost in nostalgic reverie. When I was 10 or 11, I started a summer 'business' selling friendship bracelets to kids at the local swimming pool, the crafting equivalent of running a neighborhood lemonade stand. That diversion blossomed into a lifetime love of hand-making all sorts of things: blankets, clothes, bags, and many, many hot-glued monstrosities. Since then, I've spent countless hours in craft-supply stores of all kinds, including Joann, which this weekend was expected to finish closing all of its nearly 800 stores, after twice filing for bankruptcy. Joann's shutdown may sound trivial, or even inevitable—the chain is just the latest in a parade of stores that have marched to the graveyard of big-box brands. But many people in creative circles are worried about having fewer places to stock up. Over the past several decades, the expansion of chains such as Joann effectively snuffed out numerous mom-and-pop craft shops, and now many cities and towns may be left without easy, in-person access to a dedicated craft-supply store. This isn't the end of crafting, obviously. People still have Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Even Walmart and Target sell craft supplies, though hard-core crafters will point out, rightly, that those chains don't come close to offering the selection of fabric and other materials that Joann did. Smaller specialty shops exist, but their products tend to be more expensive. And yes, items can be ordered online, but that's always a gamble: Crafting is an intensely tactile experience, and when you can't see or touch supplies before buying them, the reality frequently fails to meet expectations. But the death of a reliable institution such as Joann isn't just about the demise of a business. Its closing creates ever more distance between materials and makers. Plenty of people aspire to indulge their creative side, yet some struggle mightily to find the space and time amid the pressures of day-to-day life. Joann, affordable and accessible, made all of that easier. Take it away, and people might not even try. Joann's disappearance also has, perhaps, an unintended consequence: the loss of yet another outlet for building customs and community, at a time when society could benefit from having more of both. Although crafting is frequently a solitary pursuit, even a kind of invisible labor, it can be a way to form deep, personal connections with other people. I've bonded with a friend at sewing class and spent a weekend with another making Christmas ornaments by covering plastic dinosaurs in Elmer's glue and dipping them in glitter. (Very fun, very messy.) Crafting is also, for many, a matter of family tradition. I learned to crochet from my mother, who was taught by her mother. When I crochet a blanket, I'm participating in, and perpetuating, a loving legacy. And the end result is something I can hold on to for years or even generations. One of my most treasured possessions is a pink, blue, and white afghan blanket my mother crocheted for me when I spent a winter in Chicago. Crafting isn't necessarily a frivolous pursuit (though it can be). Indeed, it occupies a storied place in America's cultural and political history. During the Revolutionary War era, the 'homespun' movement saw women spinning their own yarn as American colonists boycotted British imports. (One of the country's most famous creation myths—that Betsy Ross sewed George Washington's sketch of the first American flag—is of course a story of craft.) Sewing circles have long been a gathering space for political conversation, activism, and agitation. In 1846, Frederick Douglass wrote a thoughtful letter to an antislavery sewing circle in Massachusetts, most likely after its members had reached out to him regarding their interest in abolitionist movements. 'Craftivism' has also led to significant public displays. During the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, thousands of people contributed panels to the AIDS Memorial Quilt, an homage to people who had died from the disease. In 2017, people knitted and wore pink 'pussy hats' at the Women's March on Washington. For the talented and deeply dedicated, crafting can morph into a sustainable livelihood or be elevated to fine art. But it is also, quite simply, fulfilling. I don't know how many hours I've filled reading patterns and sewing (and tearing out) stitches. I've crafted so many handmade gifts: some truly beautiful, such as a cream-colored fisherman's afghan I loved so much, I was sad to give it away; and others, such as an uneven, lumpy quilt I sewed in my early 20s, that were cute at best. Ultimately, losing a store like Joann means losing two of crafting's most necessary elements: inspiration and serendipity. Feeling the weight of a particular yarn, seeing the subtlety of certain colors in certain lights, spotting a finished product on a shelf—these tangible interactions are what move many crafters to experiment with something new. This rich display of possibility is part of what makes crafting feel worthwhile. Which is why, as I tried many different projects over the years, to varying levels of success, I never felt bad about giving a new medium a go. It's also why, on my recent—and most likely last—trip to Joann, as I walked toward the checkout with several skeins of discounted yarn, I stopped and picked up a beginner's cross-stitching kit. Maybe now I'll finally master it.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Basic Corporate Error Of Maximizing Shareholder Returns
Word dividends on calculator display. Payments to shareholders. Profit from trading securities. ... More Business concept. Finance revenue. 3d render Chief executives typically look to improve the fortunes of a company and returns to shareholders. Many take to heart the argument Milton Friedman made in a 1970 New York Times op-ed that the 'social responsibility of business is to increase its profits.' That has been further interpreted as meaning the responsibility to maximize return on investment to shareholders. The presumption has become the foundation of many arguments of what businesses should do, the degree of legal constraints that ought to be taken removed from their behavior, This is both legally incorrect and strategically troubling and mistaken. Experts in corporate governance have, across many years, tried to find a legal basis for the prescription. It has yet to appear. In the 2014 Supreme Court decision in 'Burwell, Secretary of Health and Huma Services, et. al. v. Hobby Lobby Stores,' the Court addressed whether a for-profit corporation could give money to religious causes. 'While it is certainly true that a central objective of for-profit corporations is to make money, modern corporate law does not require for-profit corporations to pursue profit at the expense of everything else, and many do not do so,' Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the Court. Corporate law and governance also recognize that a company's board and executives have duties to the company Are shareholders legally important in a corporate structure? Absolutely. They have rights and corporate law ensures them. The corporation has duties. Harvard Business School Professor Nien-hê Hsieh explains the concept of fiduciary duties to shareholders in an online course. 'Rather than require specific outcomes–such as achieving maximum share price–fiduciary duties are largely about conduct, process, and motivation,' she wrote. A company has the responsibility to provide relevant information about corporate performance, to act in good faith, to act with diligence and prudence. Corporate managers and boards are charged with strategy and operations for the company's benefit, shareholder's benefit being an offshoot just as profit is a result of intelligent business operation that makes customers happy. In basic calculus, math students learn that you cannot maximize for more than one variable at a time. That doesn't mean one factor cannot benefit while another does as well. However, the definition of maximization means that one thing requires precedence over others. Something has to come first; everything becomes subject to that desire. The tenet of shareholder interest maximization would require managers and boards to do things that were detrimental to the success of the company. They would need to consider shortchanging workers, business partners, and customers. Every decision would be based on how to extract more value from every source — actions that would ultimately turn every broader concept of stakeholder into enemies. Many of the best potential employees, partners, and customers would go elsewhere, a terrible outcome for a business. The maximization tenet also assumes that every shareholder has identical interests. This is far from true. It is perfectly possible for a company to have shareholders that vary widely in their investment strategies, like a Warren Buffett looking to hold shares for a long time and see the company develop, and a Carl Icahn who would be comfortable splitting a company up into parts and selling them off to get a quicker return. That's the irony of maximizing shareholder value, because it's impossible. Shareholders have different outlooks, want their investments to do different things, expect increased value through different ways. Why spend time defending and using something that makes no logical or legal sense?
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Hobby Lobby Open on Memorial Day? 2025 Holiday Hours
Hobby Lobby is a party lovers haven. But it's also paradise for crafters, parents of kids who love to create, anyone who likes to decorate, knitters, those who love macrame, and home decor aficionados. Need a new frame for an amazing photo? It's here. Need some candles (of course you do)? Plenty here as well. Speaking of the party lovers ... Hobby Lobby has everything for any kind of bash — from birthdays to family gatherings. Perhaps you're having family and friends over on Memorial Day and need some last minute items. Is Hobby Lobby open on Memorial Day? Related: From paper plates to reusable plastic cups, Hobby Lobby has an incredible selection. They also have party banners, tablescapes, and festive summer specific items. And Hobby Lobby is open on Memorial Day so you can shop, shop, shop. If you're having kids over for the start to summer gathering, don't forget to check out the dessert aisle where there are plenty of fun treats to top cupcakes and ice cream that will sure to be a hit (with the adults, too). Related: Hobby Lobby has 1,000 stores in 48 states, employing over 46,000 people. It's one of the largest privately owned arts and crafts stores and began back in 1970 when David and Barbara Green saw their vision become reality with a 300 square foot store in Oklahoma City. Hobby Lobby will be open from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 26, 2025. The retailer is very accessible for folks wanting to shop on holidays, only closing on Thanksgiving and Christmas. So if you find yourself needing some beads for crafts, a needlepoint set, paint supplies for the kids, or a new fun kid-activity for your bash, this place likely has it. Up Next:Is Hobby Lobby Open on Memorial Day? 2025 Holiday Hours first appeared on WeHaveKids on May 25, 2025
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Enthusiasts enjoy Cars and Coffee on Memorial Day Weekend
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — Cars and Coffee was held in front of the Hobby Lobby on Emily Drive Sunday afternoon, allowing car enthusiasts to show off some of their best rides including convertibles, antique cars, sports cars and more. Organizer of Cars and Coffee Joseph Vaughn said of the event, 'Seeing all my friends that I've met through the hobby of cars and just hanging out really is the big thing I like about it. It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.' High school senior wins $1,000 scholarship from Genealogical Society As many as 200 cars have come to a single event. If you want to see some sweet rides, you can follow when the next Cars and Coffee is happening on their Facebook page 'Cars and Coffee Bridgeport'. They typically do 'Cars and Coffee' once a month on Sunday in front of the Hobby Lobby from 12 p.m. to 2p.m. Along with the Sunday 'Cars and Coffee', there's also sometimes the Saturday evening 'Cars and Cold Treats'. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Your Stories Q&A: What's next for closed Big Lots in Oswego?
OSWEGO, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — You ask, we answer! Is another store planned for the closed Big Lots in Oswego Plaza? The Big Lots in Oswego was one of several to close in our area, after the discount store filed for bankruptcy last year. The Big Lots was located in the Oswego Plaza off NY-104. It's the same plaza where Hobby Lobby and Texas Roadhouse are located. A 'For Lease' sign can be seen on the window, as well as a note on the door from Big Lots, thanking the community for its support. The plaza's property manager, Tim Kerstetter, said the Big Lots store was cleared out about a week ago. He said right now, nothing is lined up to replace the closed Big Lots, but they are actively looking. He said they've spoken with a few companies, but want to make sure the next business to sign a lease is the right fit for the plaza. There's at least one Big Lots in Central New York that is slated to reopen. Earlier this year, discount retailer Ocean State Job Lot acquired 15 former Big Lots stores across eight states, including the one in Clay. According to Ocean State Job Lot's website, the 15 stores they acquired are slated to open by early summer. Submit a form. Your Stories Q&A: What's next for closed Big Lots in Oswego? Your Stories Q&A: When will Thruway exit 34A in DeWitt reopen? Your Stories Q&A: Uncle Chubby's in Clay reopening after being closed for 18 months Your Stories Q&A: What documents do I need to bring to DMV to get REAL ID? Your Stories Q&A: Is my Social Security number shown when a store scans my REAL ID license? 'Why do you have to live in a war zone if you're not part of the war?': Syracuse landlord frustrated by bullets on his block Your Stories Q&A: When will the new Chick-fil-A open in DeWitt? Your Stories Q&A: When will the rough ramp near Destiny USA get repaired? Do you need a REAL ID by May 7? What to know Your Stories Q&A: Is Byrne Dairy still replacing former TK Tavern in Camillus? Your Stories Q&A: An update on the future of Beck's Hotel in Mexico Your Stories Q&A: When will new comfort food restaurant open in Bridgeport? Your Stories Q&A: $100 million golf course community planned at former Syracuse country club Your Stories Q&A: Utica bakery known for its half-moon cookies opening spot in Manlius After nearly two weeks, hot water returns to Nob Hill Apartments building Your Stories Q&A: A burning question about a flame in Oneida Nob Hill Apartments tenants continue to live without hot water after two weeks Your Stories Q&A: Opening date announced for Salina Starbucks Your Stories Q&A: Something new on the menu for the former Ponderosa in Salina Your Stories Q&A: When will construction finish on the old Hilltop Restaurant and bowling alley in Skaneateles Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
