Sad news from local Woodcraft

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Monty

Monty

Group Buy Coordinator
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
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Location
Pearland, Texas, USA.
Stopped by the Woodcraft on the south side of Houston this morning to pick up a few pieces of Patagonian rosewood they have on sale. As I was checking out they informed me that both Houston stores would be closing September 30.
 
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Wow. I hope it just has to do with the costs of brick and mortar retail and franchise costs in particular locations and is not a company wide systemic problem. There is only one Woodcraft within reasonable driving distance to me and I would hate to see it close down. Omaha only has a population of 490 thousand compared to 2.4 million in Houston. - Dave
 
In the past decade, Woodcraft has closed a couple locations in Chicago and opened a couple in different suburbs.
Franchisees can be really good business people or "not so good".

I needed bushings (I forgot to bring them to MPG one year). Walked into a WoodCraft and the guy at the desk argued with me about why I would need six sets of bushings. Dean (AlphaGeek) was with me, had a heck of a time keeping from LOL!!!
 
Very sad to hear... Hope our local Woodcraft will be ok. It was the happening spot since I started wood turning, and up until the last year there were always plenty of people in there. However, over the last 10 months, it seems foot traffic has diminished significantly... I think part of it is prices. The cost of everything in those stores has gone up significantly, and regular consumables like finishes, sandpaper, etc. and also in particular wood, may be out of reach for many woodworkers now. :'(

The staff that used to run the store also seems to have completely turned over, and the guys who run it now are just not of the same caliber, in any respect, as the ones who were running for the 3-4 years prior. The current staff talk amongst each other, don't really interact with the customers. The store is generally very quiet. There are usually only two out front (when there used to be four) and one in the back (when there used to be more.) Back when I first started turning, there were always at least 4-7 customers in there and sometimes a lot more, and the four guys out front, all older guys who had plenty of woodworking experience, were ALWAYS chatting with customers, either to help, or just talk shop, and it was a pretty lively place. The last time I went in there a few weeks ago, there was only one other customer in the store, and it was DEAD SILENT.

Its been my go-to place for any woodworking supplies since 2020. Very worried its going to be closed now, though, based on the above news. I loved going in there and chatting with all those experienced woodworkers! I had hoped that the lull was more just a seasonal thing, but...I'm really wondering now. I'm a real brick and mortar guy. If I can buy locally, I MUCH prefer that, than ordering online. We've lost so many brick and mortar stores around where I live the last few years though....it feels like its becoming a ghost town around here now. I think a lot of it has to do with Amazon, they have become so wildly overcompetitive with their cheap or free shipping, and same-day distribution, etc. Its no wonder that local stores cannot compete. Wish something could be done about that...but, I won't be holding my breath...
 
Toledo indicated it is closing down because the owner could not find anyone to take it over. As I recall, both Houston stores may have ended up under the same owner, also. All three of those stores are in what became prime commercial locations.

Louisville store has changed hands and the store has greatly benefited. Cincinnati is a corporate store so it should be safe.

The Bolingbrook area Rockler closed down a couple of years ago. Again, the area around it was beginning to boom.

The Houston Woodcraft off 1960 was a little small and packed, but had good business. The one on the south side of town had a nicer layout, but seemed to have much less foot traffic. Toledo, as I recall, is very near the airport. Sometimes location location location can have a downside, too.
 
I got an email from WC about the closure, so I stopped by there on my way home from work yesterday. Project & pen kits are 25% off & supplies are 15% off. I bought a couple of bottles of CA & some project kits for Christmas presents.

I suspect the discounts will increase as the closing date gets closer, so I'll stop by about once a week until then to see if there are some good scores.

I don't shop there as often as I used to, but over the last couple of years, there's no doubt that foot traffic has decreased, staff turnover is high, & quality of service isn't as good. I don't know the exact reason they're closing, but the insane inflation is making it difficult to run any kind of business these days.
 
I try to purchase from the local Woodcraft in Harrisburg PA. They have a nice large store and it has a good selection of pens. The reason? I want them there when I need something. They tripled their floor space about 5 years ago and I go in there regularly. Our local Woodturning club meets at the store and we make time for them to give us info on upcoming sales.
 
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randyrls said:
I try to purchase from the local Woodcraft in Harrisburg PA. They have a nice large store and it has a good selection of pens. The reason? I want them there when I need something. They tripled their floor space about 5 years ago and I go in there regularly. Our local Woodturning club meets at the store and we make time for them to give us info on upcoming sales.
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Yeah that place is like my second home LOL, I'd hate to see it go away
 
My WC store in Chattanooga is about 30 miles away. No big deal to visit since I have doctor's appointments in the area. Even so, it is a good excuse to get out of the house. Wife goes a few doors down to Ollie's while I browse WC. The store opened several years ago in another location but the economy tanked and a lot of retailers either closed or cut back. IMO, the location was an out-of-the -way place. Chattanooga has probably doubled in size- lumber yard, room for finishing products, class rooms and larger stock room. I have had great CS and find the staff to be most helpful.
 
I am located in the middle of 3 Woodcraft stores, all about 1 hour away. The one that is the closest (by about 10 minutes) is one of the worst stores I have been to in regards to customer service. Most of the time it seems like I am bothering them when I ask a question. If I am just browsing to see what might catch my eye they question what I am doing. The other 2 stores are very helpful and engage with the customer. One on them has a Rockler 5 minutes away. There have been cases from both stores where they did not have what I was looking for and recommended checking the other even though it was their "competition".
 
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