Same Product, Same Store, Same Day, Different Aisle, WAY Better Value!
This happened just the other day… I was in Walmart looking for craft glue to use in some jewelry making projects. Went to their craft department and found a 5oz tube of Weldbond for $6 and change. Tossed it into my cart and moved on.
While continuing to shop (on a mission to find some resin), I went up every aisle looking at all the products. Over in the paint area of the store, they had a section for glues and adhesives. Sure enough there was some Weldbond there as well. Only this bottle was an 8oz size for only $4 and change!
Same product, same store, same day, different aisle, better value! Looks like they have figured out their customer. Someone using the glue for a hobby is willing to pay more than some one using it around the house.
Of course I put the smaller, more expensive tube back, and grabbed the larger one. This is just one of the reasons I like to look for cheap jewelry making supplies in places other than craft stores.
On a different but related note, there has been some chat in a few forums about Walmart stores clearing out their craft departments… especially the jewelry making supplies and scrapbooking materials.
This had me concerned. What if it meant that Walmart was anticipating a downward trend for handmade jewelry, and beads, and all things crafty? I’m guessing they must do a ton of market research before making changes like that.
So when I was in the store the other day, I hunted down a clerk to find out what was up. She informed me they are revamping the entire craft department to make way for a bunch of new products. Old stock is being cleared to make way for the re-do. Good news :)
What’s happening in your local Wal-Mart store? Are the crafting isles looking thin? Any new product lines yet? See if you can hunt down a manager to get some input. Would love to hear what you find out.
I have a friend who’s daughter did a summer internship at Wal-Mart head quaters in Arkansas and they do extensive research about adding new product lines. The Wal-Mart in my area have done away with all of their fabric but still have crafts supplies. That is unfortunate in communities that do not have a local fabric store but maybe thy are being making some decisions based on locality. I have been surprised they have not carried Polymer Clay in the past. Maybe Michael’s as been including Premo in their sale in anticipation of Walmart’s new craft department. That would be great for people who do no live close to a large Craft store such as Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.
Hi Cindy,
Our local WalMart is in the middle of a remodel and they are definitely down sizing the craft department as well as the fabric selection but are not eliminating fabrics. They are putting emphasis on the grocery area.
If Michael’s is having sales on PC in anticipation of a change at WalMart, we had better stock up now because at least here there is no threat to Michael’s.
MJ
Having just returned home from a trip to the States and many stops in Walmarts all along the way – we noted that many Walmarts were bare in the fabric and craft department.
In our own Walmart here the jewelry section is just about bare.
We were told by a staff member somewhere in the States that Walmart was going out of fabric. She didn’t mention the jewelry.
It is often very difficult to get a staff person to help in the fabric section. I have bought bags and bags of their polyfill for my bears and it got to be quite frustrating trying to find it there – which is sad because it was such a good price.
Oh! I am looking forward to reading what you are going to be using Weldbond for. It’s fabulous stuff. I’ve used it on floors and fences and tables…..now jewelry? I can hardly wait!
I’m curious too about what you use the Welbond glue for. I haven’t tried that particular brand with polymer clay. Is it similar to the instant type glues or is it more slow drying?
@Anna: That would be good if Walmart included clay. Right now the only place to buy clay around here is Michaels. I’d like to see more competition… prices usually get better that way.
@MJ: You might be right. I always assume that when clay goes on sale, there may not be another sale and make sure I have what I need.
@aims: I pretty much assume I’m on my own when I go to any big box store these days. I don’t go to them for customer service, just price. I use Weldbond when gluing anything to anything. It works like regular white glue but holds like cement. Very resistant to water and temperature fluctuations.
@Arlene: I just use it when I’m gluing a baked piece to something metal like a bail, spoon or pendant base. I hear there are other ways to use it with clay but haven’t experimented with that so can’t pass anything on as of yet.
hi! i want to now which the best glue or Adhesive for polymer clay with metal?
because Im using krazy glue and is not working!
thanks!!!
The area I live in has 4 Wal-marts within a 30 minute drive…only one still has a fabric department. The 3 that no longer have fabric said it was because the area was saturated with fabric stores. (Hobby Lobby and Hancock Fabrics and now Jo-anns) There are NO fabric stores near the 4th store. I am very lucky to live in a craft store rich area…in addition to the above we also have Michael’s. But I too would love to see Wal-mart carry clay…I’m all about getting the most for my money! :-)
None of the new Wal-Marts near me carry fabric and the craft isle is very small. My daughter works there in the office says if it is not selling well it is gone. Our Hobby Lobby has a good selection of craft/bead supplies. Marlowe
Our Walmart is just about out of jewelry making stuff. We asked about it and they said they were going to be bring in a bunch of new products too but that was months ago and still no new stuff so I am not sure what is going on.
I live in Miami and the Wal-Mart by my home has clay. Not Premo, or Kato but Sculpey Original which is white and a 1 LB box was under $6. They have the sample packs of Sculpey III with the colors and you can make lots of colors with those 1oz packages.
You can also get a box of many 1oz bars of colors including some pearls.
In addition they have colored craft wire, and while not a huge selection of beads, buttons, findings, chains, cords, and other fashion accessories they do have a little bit of very unique looking and very beautiful to select from. Whoever does the purchasing for the craft department in this store has excellent taste :) They even had a few Steampunk pieces.
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Yes, they are redoing the craft department. Before I moved to Michigan, in South Carolina they had already done it. We had fimo in the sampler packs. When I moved to Michigan it was already done, and we have fimo as well. But again only in the sampler packs.
About a year ago our super walmart revamped and added a lot of jewelry making supplies…they revamped again about 3 months ago and went from 1 full (both sides) aisle to about a half an aisle of jewelry stuff and it’s mostly plastic type beads..I was so disappointed….!
I live in San Diego, CA. None of the 3 WM around us carry clay, only Michaels. I did notice a change in the jewelry department, they’ve gotten some new and pretty decent items in. I was duly impressed. I’m fortunate to have such a big craft section in the WM around me but I wish they’d carry clay. Michaels has the monopoly on it – but I’m always in WM and it would be great to just get it there.
Hi, there is a Walmart here in Tennessee(Knoxville area) they used to carry clay way back when. Then they quit carrying it. I was sad to see that. I had stared to get into polymer clay and it was sad that they stopped. I had to travel to the west of where I live (north) to get the clay. I was so stressful too. They drive so crazy out that way, alot of wrecks cuz people do not know how to wait, they are all in a hurry. Lynn Watts
@Daphne: That’s weird, it should work. Maybe there is too big of a gap for the glue to fill. Why don’t you try Weldbond? It is an excellent glue for use with polymer clay and metal.
@lynne: Nice to hear from you again… it’s been awhile! How are you?
*Thanks everyone for the Walmart craft department updates! I can’t wait to see what they end up doing here. I hope it’s good!
NEW PHOTOS ADDED… that relate to the theme of this page… Weldbond Craft Glue. Click on the link by my name for the full “Spotlight Story” featuring Marsha-G.
Hi! I just started using Weldbond glue for jewelry. I read your comment on another site about how good it is. Does it hold up well for metal to metal? Just as strong as e6000 you think? Can I fill gaps with it? all my best! thanks!
@Lisa P: Hi Lisa, Weldbond does beautifully for gluing any surface, porous or non-porous to each other. It will work great for metal on metal, as well as fill gaps if you need it to. I really love it! You would think I was a rep for it but I’m not.
Hi Cindy,
So my newest creations are involving glue on bails. I have been having some difficulty with the bails being secure. I tried all types of glue and just purchased Welbond to give that a try per your recommendation. Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong? I tried traditional super glue (yuck), E6000, Sculpey bake and bond and Lisa Pavelka Polybonder. The pendant has been baked, sanded and buffed with a flat bond surface. I am attaching a plain sterling silver bail to the back. The only thing I don’t want to do is add the bail before baking into the pendant, some are too thin to try that. I watched all your videos and it seems pretty cut and dry. What are your thoughts and success with pinch bails?
Thanks for all your videos and knowledge. You make all our creations that much better.
Regards,
Kim
Hi Kim, usually when there is issues with gluing things together it is because the glue is having trouble grabbing a hold of one or both surfaces. Make sure that the pieces are clean (rubbing alcohol works great) and that there are no finishes at the glue point. You can try scratching the polymer clay where the glue is to help it grab on. With E6000, treat it like contact cement. Put some on each piece… let dry till tacky and then press both glued sides together. Hopefully that does it!