Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Employee Reviews

The people there were very kind and understanding! As a cashier (under 18) I would mainly ring people up for non fabric items and to put away unused fabric. If you are under 18 you cannot cut fabric which is a big part of what people come there for. While it was nice working there, there wasn’t much to do since people were mainly buying fabric.

Pros

Very nice management

Cons

Not very much to do

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Fun workplace with some questionable leadership

Import Coordinator (Former Employee) - Hudson, OH - September 20, 2023

Work life balance is decent, but pay and benefits range from standard to below standard, compared to competitors. Lack of direction from leadership and overconfidence from COVID have lead to increased stress.

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Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores insights

Based on 2,957 survey responses

What people like

Inclusive work environment
Supportive environment
Feeling of personal appreciation

Areas for improvement

Fair pay for job
Sense of belonging
Overall satisfaction

Worked at the Cutting Counter

Team Member (Former Employee) - Gilbert, AZ - September 19, 2023

I love to sew, so I got a summer job at JoAnn working at the cutting counter. There never seem to be enough people working at the cutting counter (especially during big sales & busy times), and there are always long lines of people waiting to have fabric cut. I found it to be very stressful!

Pros

Crafty Environment

Cons

Short-Staffed

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Fun place to work

Merchandise Manager (Former Employee) - La Vale, MD - September 19, 2023

Customers are the best part of job. Part time shifts are only 4 hours. Full time shifts arei40 hours 8 hours shift. Learned a lot . 2 person team usually everyday

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Fun workplace,corporate policy is terrible

Shift Supervisor (Former Employee) - Chico, CA - September 18, 2023

Pros-The staff and customers are fun. Learned a lot about sewing and fabrics. Cons-The company likes to keep your hours just under full time so they don’t have to pay benefits.

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Started working during COVID, company gone downhill

Sales Associate/Customer Service/Cashier (Current Employee) - Gilbert, AZ - September 18, 2023

I started working during the COVID-19 pandemic. They had the social distance and mask rules in place for everyone, and also had a plexiglass barrier between cashiers and customers. I worked as a cashier and the job itself was super simple. The hardest parts in my opinion were trying to open the plastic bags and dealing with missing tags/sale signs. The 'Karen' customers were few and far between IMO. But it changed as time has gone on and not for the better.My state is above federal minimum wage so I was making decent money for being part time (20-30hrs weekly). However one of the key holders, who was a 10yr+ employee and had been there longest was told they had to either accept severance or go back to minimum wage pay and be part time instead of full time. It broke my heart to see such a dedicated and hard working employee devalued like that. They ended up quitting.The manager, assistant manager, and key holders (at least at my store), worked their butts off and deserved much better treatment and pay than what they were getting. We worked skeleton crew shifts in a large store - meaning one cashier, one fabric cutter, and one manager on duty. As a MOD they were expected to do WAY too much. Restocking shelves, cleaning and organizing, pulling orders for shipping or pick up, assisting customers, being backup for cashiers and cutters, making the schedules, assisting with freight, and probably more that I don't know of. Just watching my coworkers run around like chickens with no heads was heartbreaking. It's a great concept of a store and has done well in the past but recent -

Pros

30% off discount, including sale items. Paid 15min break for 4-8hr shift, unpaid 30min mandatory lunch after 6+hrs

Cons

Corporate stupidity, fine print coupon and sale exclusions, skeleton crew

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Fun place to work

Notions specialist (Former Employee) - Denver, CO - September 15, 2023

Working at Jo Ann Fabrics is okay, it’s long hours on your feet for low pay but it’s all about providing fabric and craft supplies for creative people. It’s definitely a better store than Hobby Lobby.

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Good work environment

Customer Service Representative (Former Employee) - New Jersey - September 14, 2023

All of my coworkers were nice, everyone got along and worked well together. The only problem was that I wanted to spend my paycheck in the store because there was always great stuff there!

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Bad management

Team Member (Former Employee) - Frisco, TX - September 12, 2023

While coworkers are typically nice, management is really terrible and the pay is way too low. It’s a pretty boring environment and the AC doesn’t work.

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Very hard work with very little pay

Freight Supervisor (Former Employee) - Indianapolis, IN - September 12, 2023

Worked for the company for 12 years. They exploited everyone during covid, we made them millions of dollars and then they laid off all the FT employees. You’re expected to do multiple jobs but they want to pay very close to minimum wage.

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Jobs at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores

Part Time Team Member

Nice place

Cutti (Current Employee) - Burton, MI - September 12, 2023

It’s nice and the people are nice. Cutting counter is confusing though. The cashier is easy to get the hang of. Have to wear black, white or navy plain shirts and jeans/khakis.

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Good coworkers bad management

Store Associate (Former Employee) - Reynoldsburg - September 12, 2023

The management here is very bad some majority of them are mean and condescending. I have gotten multiple complaints from customers about managers. You get treated like a object and when you try to have a conversation with a coworker they will stop you immediately.

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Run away

District Manager (Former Employee) - Salt Lake City, UT - September 12, 2023

Overworked, underpaid. No work life balance. Low pay for hourly associates makes it hard to hire and stay staffed. Minimal payroll creates messy stores, angry customers, and high shrink. You will fight a losing battle every day.

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Unrealistic expectations in a not so welcoming environment

Assistant Buyer (Former Employee) - Hudson, OH - September 11, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?- Great managers in the departments I worked in- Access to free samples from vendors- Great connection opportunities with vendors- Nice Outdoor SpaceWhat is the most stressful part about working at the company?- Minimal to no training. Switched processes multiple times in the year I was there. Caused many errors and problems in processing orders, updating data and practically all other daily tasks. Even some of my coworkers who updated the processes had no idea how to fix some of the errors we were running into which ended up in severe delays in getting orders placed. This caused a massively negative domino effect that lead to my resignation - While the management was fantastic and very considerate and motivating, the work environment in the offices was full of workplace gossip. Every time it was addressed, it continued happening. I worked in several different departments and it was pretty brutal no matter which department I worked in. Overall: Upper level management was great to get along with, but we had constant turnover of other coworkers due to gossiping. This lead to high stress by adding on so much extra work with zero direction on how to get it done.What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Upper Management - Extremely warm and inviting. But the majority of your coworkers are not as welcoming. This lead to very long and isolating days at the office.What is a typical day like for you at the company?Having back to back meetings that overlapped while also being expected to draft up and place -

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It was fun working there

Customer Service Associate (Current Employee) - Portland, ME - September 10, 2023

I got to meet some awesome people and learn about a bunch of cool projects. My coworkers are great when it comes to supporting each other. My manager is easy to communicate with and is really understanding. I feel lucky getting to work with great people and appreciate them and the regular customers we’d get.

Pros

Coworkers are like family

Cons

Sometimes we’d get questionable customers

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Company in debt. Fired all full time employees with little notice. Severance pay was a joke. All so they don’t have to pay for benefits

Full Time Key Holder (Former Employee) - Indianapolis, IN - September 10, 2023

Employees were over worked and burnt out. Staffing issues. Fired all full time employees with little notice. Does not take care of employees. No benefits with all offering part time.

Pros

Team members were nice. Corporate doesn’t care about general staff

Cons

No breaks, staffing issues, no benefits

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Lots of Cranky People

Part Time Key Holder (Former Employee) - North Canton, OH - September 10, 2023

Most customers come in with a chip on their shoulder already. You cannot make most customers in Joann's happy if you give the them exactly what they ask for.Staff stay at the place forever and they are set in their ways and they do not care if you need help, want advice or just need to learn your job as long as it doesn't interfere with theirs. Just stay out of the way.

Pros

A lot of areas to learn new skills

Cons

Cranky people everywhere

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Terrible experience

Sales Floor Associate (Former Employee) - Bourbonnais, IL - September 8, 2023

This job doesn’t contact you about anything even when your schedule needs to be changed and they will hire someone else to take your place which isn’t right this job was terrible and the pay was small

Pros

Nothing

Cons

Nothing

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chill workplace

Inventory Coordinator (Former Employee) - Alexandria, LA - September 7, 2023

It was my first job and honestly it’s a good starting job. i loved the people i worked with at the time. Some customers can be picky with fabrics but overall not too bad of a job.

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A second home at Team Tallahassee

Key Holder (Current Employee) - Tallahassee, FL - September 7, 2023

I work at Joann's almost full time at this location. It's a fast paced and rewarding work environment fill of colorful customers and career building skills.When I joined this location I had minimal retail experience outside of grocery stores. I was deathly afraid of the register at first and the finality of cutting fabric yardage, but everyone here wants you to succeed. The main store manager especially is very kind and patient.I have mental health issues that impact my day to day life, the manager, along with the assistant manager have been beyond helpful and accommodating in my long journey surviving.I started frightened of retail, but now almost two years later know the store like the back of hand, have developed crucial social skills, time management skills, customer service skills that are invaluable for anyone pursuing a career that involves communication.Yes, there are high highs and lows lows, but so will any job anywhere.I can firmly recommend this location for anyone looking for a starter job, just be prepared to work, have comfortable shoes, and great creative.

Pros

Hands on learning, training on fabric, strong relationship with customer base

Cons

Lots of standing, heavy lifting

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Low Budget Retail

Key Holder/Sales Associate (Former Employee) - Bellevue, NE - September 6, 2023

There are a lot of better options if you are looking for a retail job. They pinch pennies and offer no real benefits or incentives. The amount of product that is throw away makes my heart hurt.

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