Crafters United Against Hobby Lobby

[BainsBane]

Last edited Wed Jul 2, 2014, 12:50 AM - Edit history (1)

Are you a crafter? Do you know any crafters? Hobby Lobby is a business like any other. They depend on retail sales to survive. The SCOTUS ruling today is a blow to women, and many of us craft. If you do, spread the word to your crafting friends. Find other options for your supplies.

Get those Martha Stewart punches using a 50% coupon off at Michaels.
Get your K&Company paper stacks using one of Joann's 40% off coupons.
Go to Scrapbooking Warehouse for your Tim Holtz inks.
Buy your Bazzill Cardstock at Scrapbook.com
Check out Archivers.
And don't forget HSN crafting days for fantastic deals on a range of paper crafting and sewing supplies.

There are many, many other options, so whichever you choose, make sure it's not Hobby Lobby. If you go to crops, tell everyone you'd like them to boycott Hobby Lobby.

Hobby Lobby needs to learn that actions have consequences. We have purchasing power. Let's use it!



Also I don't Tweet much at all, but we need to come up with a Twitter hashtag. #craftersagainsthobbylobby? It needs to mention crafters because that is who generates Hobby Lobby's profits.

[gordianot]

1. Hobby Lobby will lose buisness as they should over this fiasco.

[Kablooie]

14. Unfortunately it's usually just short term losses.

Americans lives in a constant state of Alzheimer's and tend to forget last month's news regularly.

[BainsBane]

15. Short-term loses hurt

and are worth promoting.

[Kablooie]

18. let's hope they do.

[roguevalley]

26. let them know about this and their other 'questionable' practices

http://www.hobbylobby.com/customer_service/contact_us_process.cfm

their retirement program invests in companies that make contraceptives, etc

dated December 2012—three months after the company's owners filed their lawsuit—show that the Hobby Lobby 401(k) employee retirement plan held more than $73 million in mutual funds with investments in companies that produce emergency contraceptive pills, intrauterine devices, and drugs commonly used in abortions. Hobby Lobby makes large matching contributions to this company-sponsored 401(k). Several of the mutual funds in Hobby Lobby's retirement plan have stock holdings in companies that manufacture the specific drugs and devices that the Green family, which owns Hobby Lobby, is fighting to keep out of Hobby Lobby's health care policies: the emergency contraceptive pills Plan B and Ella, and copper and hormonal intrauterine devices.

These companies include Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which makes Plan B and ParaGard, a copper IUD, and Actavis, which makes a generic version of Plan B and distributes Ella. Other stock holdings in the mutual funds selected by Hobby Lobby include Pfizer, the maker of Cytotec and Prostin E2, which are used to induce abortions; Bayer, which manufactures the hormonal IUDs Skyla and Mirena; AstraZeneca, which has an Indian subsidiary that manufactures Prostodin, Cerviprime, and Partocin, three drugs commonly used in abortions; and Forest Laboratories, which makes Cervidil, a drug used to induce abortions. Several funds in the Hobby Lobby retirement plan also invested in Aetna and Humana, two health insurance companies that cover surgical abortions, abortion drugs, and emergency contraception in many of the health care policies they sell.

In a brief filed with the Supreme Court, the Greens object to covering Plan B, Ella, and IUDs because they claim that these products can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in a woman's uterus—a process the Greens consider abortion. But researchers reject the notion that emergency contraceptive pills prevent implantation the implantation of a fertilized egg. Instead, they work by delaying ovulation or making it harder for sperm to swim to the egg. The Green's contention that the pills cause abortions is a central pillar of their argument for gutting the contraception mandate. Yet, for years, Hobby Lobby's health insurance plans did cover Plan B and Ella. It was only in 2012, when the Greens considered filing a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act, that they dropped these drugs from the plan.

A website Hobby Lobby set up to answer questions about the Supreme Court case states that its 401(k) plan comes with "a generous company match." In 2012, Hobby Lobby contributed $3.8 million to its employee savings plans, which had 13,400 employee participants at the beginning of that year.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/04/hobby-lobby-retirement-plan-invested-emergency-contraception-and-abortion-drug-makers

[ladym55]

2. I haven't given Hobby Lobby my business ever

I shop at Joann's mostly because the company is local.

I won't shop anyplace that makes a big noise about being Christian because that is usually code for "We are narrow-minded bigots."

[BainsBane]

3. I lived near one years ago

they didn't have much compared to Michaels. Someone is shopping there though, and they need to stop.

[chervilant]

4. They will not get my business.

And, I used to shop there often.

[BainsBane]

5. Great, write to let them know

That you are switching because of the law suit.

[greatlaurel]

6. When ever a company pushes religion, it means they are cheating customers.

If I go into a business that is putting on a big show of how righteous they are, it is a huge warning sign that they are using their religion to cover for bad business practices usually involving ripping off customers and/or employees.

[KT2000]

7. the internet has lots of resources too

for finding craft items.
homesew.com
fabrics.com
amazon.com

[BainsBane]

8. Definitely

Beaders are long used to using catalogs and on-line vendors since those stores have nothing good for beading. You're right there are all kinds of online vendors selling great stuff, from yarn, to paper crafting, general crafting, art supplies, etc.... You can even find vintage beads online. I love vintage German glass beads,

[SoCalDem]

45. ebay is a great place for crafting stuff as well

[JI7]

9. i have gotten some interest in crafts because of my work

but most people i know who are into crafts are liberals. it could just be i mostly get to know liberals though.

i have also noticed there are many small indie type businesses which sell craft supplies that are the same as the big stores.

i have never been to hobby lobby and it's not in my area but i assume it's similar to joanns/michaels.

plus i remember something about how they wont sell everything such as jewish holiday items that you will find in other stores.

[homegirl]

22. Never been to Hobby Lobby

I have never shopped at Hobby Lobby but I intend to organize ongoing demonstrations outside the local Hobby Lobby.

Remember to vote against conservatives in November.

[kysrsoze]

10. I NEVER shop at that shithole. Jo Ann and Michaels are just fine for me.

HL sells utter crap anyway. Last time I was there (well over a decade ago), I marveled at the general worthlessness of their offerings. It's all hobbies for 80 year-old grandmas.

[BainsBane]

11. I used to live near one that was pretty meager as well

and then they closed, so I never knew if that's how all their stores were or if that one was just particularly bad.

[Zambero]

33. Crap made in China

Where abortion is officially sanctioned by the state, and often mandated. But I suppose the Hobby Lobby clan, given their deeply held pro-family religious beliefs, will stop doing business with this country right away.

[Leith]

12. I Go to JoAnn Shop

It's much nicer than HL. HL sells junk and it looks more like a shoddy dollar store. The people who work at JoAnn are knowledgeable about sewing and crafts and they can give you good advice. There isn't a Michael's near me.

[dem in texas]

13. Yes, I seldom went to HL because of the cheap things

The only thing I really liked there was the novelty fabrics. The knitting yarns and beading materials were inferior to Michaels and Joann's, most of the beads were plastic. Doesn't matter now, I haven't been in one in over a year and will never go in one again.

[BrotherIvan]

16. Unfortunately, Michael's is owned by Baine Capital

I just found that out today. Whenever I need anything, I look at Etsy first and buy vintage if possible. The quality is AMAZING compared to the cheap crap in those stores. There are lots of ways to find what you need from indie stores of great quality, but it does take some work.

I don't think they have Hobby Lobby in my area, but if they did, I wouldn't go near them to spit on their door.

[BainsBane]

17. Really?

You know Etsy's craft supplies are the same thing. They are resold. They aren't made by hand.

The best deals are at HSN, especially on their crafting days.

[BrotherIvan]

19. That's why I buy vintage

It's easier to find something from the seventies or before that is not Made in China. Some things, but not always. I deal mostly with fabric and ribbons. The bigger companies I buy fabric from now are Made in Korea, Japan or USA. I buy in bulk so that gives me the opportunity to deal with companies directly. I buy thread from a company in South Carolina that is part of the Living Wage Certified organization. There are many groups that will allow you to hook up with others to buy directly from the company to do the same thing.

Many fabric companies have moved from China to Pakistan or Vietnam to go even lower in quality, such as Coates. I also buy from EE Shenck as they are wonderful people and have an office in my city. I just bought vintage Petersham ribbon or miliner's ribbon from Etsy that was the most beautiful I have ever seen and Made in the USA. If you ask your Etsy seller where they got it, they will tell you, and I do ask. There are direct sellers from Korea and Japan as well which on the whole have much better labor and production practices. I also buy knits that are made in Los Angeles as that is still possible. I don't scrapbook or other crafts, so that may be harder. I do know there are many boutique companies for American or New Zealand yarn that are to die for. Like anything else, Made in the USA or a responsible country is important for me so I have to budget accordingly--a less is more attitude I use in all my purchases including food.

[BainsBane]

20. That's very informative. Thank you.

My mother buys some really high quality yarns that are beautiful. I think some come from N. Zealand.

May I ask what you do with the ribbon and fabric?

[BrotherIvan]

21. My side business is a company that manufactures in the US

Our sewers are union, small business in California. It's been an eye-opening experience to find that most customers don't care. They just want the cheapest possible items because they are so used to disposable goods. Over half of our sales are overseas because the wages in the US have driven prices to the bottom. It's very sad. But many of our customers love the quality and durability of what we make so they are repeat buyers and buy for family and friends.

I don't link to our company because I shoot my mouth off too much on DU and I promised my partners I wouldn't But since our industry was basically union busted, we enjoy working for ourselves on a labor of love. I love finding beautiful fabric and notions to make something. We just started working with a new vendor in Georgia that is custom printing fabric for us and it's wonderful.

[JI7]

23. what do you manufacture ?

[BrotherIvan]

27. Stuff for babies & kids

Branching out to home goods. We are a bunch of costume designers and film artists, so we are trying to make things that aren't as generic as Made in China stuff. Our prices are very reasonable for the quality and durability, it's just very difficult to fight against foreign made slave labor goods.

That's why I always try to tell people that buying Made in USA is a great VALUE. Because labor is the most expensive part of USA goods, you can be extravagant with the ingredients. Foreign made goods are all meant to be as cheap as possible. So we use the very best fabric, durable thread, incredible sewing techniques and reinforcement. Also, because we are a small business, we rely on repeat customers and word of mouth to keep going. We always talk about how we want our products to be handed down or used for decades until they fall apart. I remember in the 80s when holes in the knees of your jeans meant you'd had your Levi's for ten years and the knees finally gave out. Now they sell them pre-ripped because if you can get your jeans to last more than a few years, you're lucky. I've bought shirts that the thread popped the first time I put it on, that's because they try to save every tenth of a penny on the cheapest possible thread. After doing this for a few years, I can't tell you how much I recommend buying Made in the US whenever possible because the quality is worth it.

[JI7]

30. there are people willing to pay a bit more for made in the usa

i think people have enough experience now to see that very cheap is not worth it because you end up spending about the same because it doesn't last long.

i have my own business and have been able to get a few made in the usa things which were reasonable in cost and are very good quality.

i think people sometimes think that more things made in the USA would mean much higher cost when that is not true. it will be a bit more but in the end it will all work out when you take into account everything like quality and jobs .

[BrotherIvan]

31. Very true

I can't wait until consumers figure it out so more businesses move back. People are willing to pay more for designer names or organic but don't realize they're still cheap slave labor goods. I just had to replace our three year old oven when I remember my mother's lasted thirty years. That's a huge cost difference. I shop on etsy now for anything I can find as some of the craftspeople are amazing. We just bought a redwood coffee table that I think will outlive me.

[JI7]

32. another thing is some people are making a point to try to shop at small indie businesses

my place is in a tourist area so that helps but i would like to see a come back of the indie shops that were common in the old days all across the country.

when we hear about the big chains going out of business i always see it as a chance for small businesses to replace them. one advantage we have is that we can try to be unique as we want. that's how i got interested in crafts . just doing little things to try to design and make things appealing.

things like this help many people as we often get locals and other individuals who make things themselves. because they do this we can even try to provide custom made items to customers. if you see a necklace but want it in a different color, length etc we can get the person to try to do this.

[BrotherIvan]

35. Excellent Idea

I think consumers have been trained to shop only in big box stores and they don't know the beautiful, unique things they can buy for almost the same price. We appeal to gift buyers as well because they tend to want something special. I think the rat race/high stress makes people want to buy everything in one place, but I do know a lot of people are looking for something different. I just hope Made in the USA becomes a label that people want again.

Wishing you the best of success! I wish there was a way for DU, a large community, to support small US business. But like I said, I tend to be, shall we say, opinionated, so I try to keep my business separate out of concern for my partners. But I do try to incorporate my principles in my work, because if I didn't I wouldn't have a reason to do it. I know many people who when they turned halfway successful turned into fiscal Republicans, thinking that supporting a few social issues got them out of the dog house. But I truly believe that liberal principles are good for society as well as business, so we feel very comfortable being flaming liberals--we sleep great at night, everyone actually likes the work, and we have a lot more fun

[JI7]

46. yes, it's the same reason i don't put out the info

online. i don't think it would matter too much but at least this way i don't have to worry about saying something and people finding out something. especially if it concerns other people.

i hope you do well with your business also .

[BainsBane]

49. Yeah, associating one's business with politics isn't wise

As Hobby Lobby will discover.

[BrotherIvan]

50. I really hope so

They count on us not being organized.

[BainsBane]

24. It sounds like a wonderful business

I wish you continued success.

[BrotherIvan]

28. Thank you so much!

Good luck with your crafting and I hope you will share some of your projects!

[blogslut]

37. Not neccessarily resellers.

I've seen numerous, lovely handmade lampwork beads, hand-fired ceramic beads and hand-tumbled cabochons for sale via Etsy.

Yes, there are many craft-supply resellers on Etsy but often, those individuals offer comparable-to-better prices on items I simply can't find at my normal, go-to shop, FireMountainGems.

[DesertDiamond]

25. I don't tweet but would love a meme with a Share button for FB!

[BainsBane]

29. Let me see what I can do

[BainsBane]

38. It will be tomorrow until I can figure this out

I don't know how to use photo editing tools and am trying to figure out an online one.

[BainsBane]

54. Here is the meme

I also added it to the OP so you can use the FB share button there. Thanks!

[The Traveler]

34. My wife is a crafter

Knows many crafters. Guesstimates 70% of her friends are pissed as hell and many are already staying away from the place. So this could have an impact ... the mood is there.

Trav

[BrotherIvan]

36. That's great news

I'm lucky enough to live in one of the bluest possible states, but every woman I know, especially mothers, completely supports a woman's ability to plan her family and make her own health decisions. Anyone who has ever been through labor knows its not something to choose lightly. That's why we have to support whatever choice a woman makes and take the shame out of it. This decision makes employers the decision makers over a woman's body. It is wrong in every single imaginable way. I truly hope with every fibre of my being that this company is put out of business and a very strong warning is given to any company that thinks they are going to take advantage of this.

[BainsBane]

55. I made a virtualy flyer

Meme type thing. Perhaps she can send this around to her friends or post it on Facebook?

[The Traveler]

59. I am passing this on!

Thanks!

Trav

[Cha]

39. Thank you.. much needed post, BainsBane.

It's Martha Stewart, though. btw, I wish I were crafty!

[BainsBane]

40. OMG, I know my Martha

I love her glitter! That was a typo.

[Cha]

41. It happens.. I just had

to say something. I buy her sheets.

[BainsBane]

42. I'm glad you did. nt

[Cha]

47. I figured.. I would want to know. Put my post in wrong place.. fixed it.

[NanceGreggs]

43. Fanatical knitter/crocheter here ...

As such, I am a member of many on-line sites devoted to those crafts.

Many of these sites have discussion forums - and they're a good place to start spreading the word about boycotting Hobby Lobby.

I know that on a few of the sites I frequent, the discussion about HL started awhile back - and many members were/are completely ignorant of the facts. i.e. that HL is invested in companies that manufacture birth control devices and/or pharmaceuticals, and their major purchases are from China, where forced abortion is the norm.

So if you are a member of any on-line crafter communities, please make these facts known to your fellow members. I've found that many members react very negatively towards HL once they are informed of the truth of the company's practices, and have vowed not to shop there any longer as a result.

It's a good place to start spreading the word among those whose boycotting of HL would have the most impact.

[BrotherIvan]

48. Another excellent idea

Crafter forums are very active, so this would be the perfect place to spread the word. Their hypocrisy is the best argument against them. I really really hope that Hobby Lobby loses their shirt because who in their company didn't figure out that the majority of their client base is women? They must be so deluded that everyone thinks just like them. I can't wait to hear they've gone bankrupt. There has to be some message that other employers can't take advantage of Scalia Law.

[NanceGreggs]

53. Exposing the hypocrisy ...

... is key.

One of the crafter sites I am active on tends to be comprised of right-leaning, older, conservative women. When the HL discussion began, many were of the "nice to see good Christians standing up for their religious beliefs" train of thought.

After others posted the facts about HL's business ties with China, and the facts about their investments in companies that manufacture/produce BC pharmaceuticals and devices, many of those same women responded with, "Oh, dear Lord - I didn't know that. I see things quite differently now."

I doubt that Hobby Lobby will go bankrupt - but putting a dent in their bottom line will serve as an example of the financial consequences of blatant hypocrisy.

[BainsBane]

56. Here is a kind of flyer

If you want to post it on any of the sites you frequent.

[Raksha]

58. Thank you for this, BainsBane

When I moved my cursor over your flyer just now, I received a prompt to "Pin It" on Pinterest, which is exactly what I'm going to do. Last night I reactivated my Twitter account, so I may get some use out of your hashtag too. I'll definitely check it out anyway.

[BainsBane]

61. awesome

Hopefully this can have an effect.

[NanceGreggs]

60. Well, there's a handy little graphic!

Thanks!

[theHandpuppet]

66. I wonder if I could enlarge that to the size of a small poster

Am hoping to attend the protest in Maryland this weekend and that would be a perfect sign!

[BainsBane]

67. why not try?

Do whatever you like with it. If you tweet, send it that way too.

[Warpy]

77. Are you on Ravelry?

I tend to gravitate to other lefties online there, but I'm told there are quite a few bedrock conservatives who post there. Membership is over a million, so there tends to be a little of everybody.

There is a #knitabrick project started by the SCA, so if you're on Farcebook, visit their page for the instructions and directions. It looks like half an hour of a way to use left over yarn scraps.
The idea is to rebuild the wall between church and state.

The "knit a uterus" was a success a couple of years ago.

I'm a spinner, dyer, weaver, knitter, and I crochet new potholders when the old ones catch on fire.

[NanceGreggs]

80. Ravelry devotee here!

Spend waaaaay too much time on that site.

Thanks for the info about #knitabrick!

[BainsBane]

51. kick

[Heidi]

52. Kick!

[davidpdx]

57. I hope the boycott has some affect on them, but I'm pretty skeptical

I don't live in the US, so participating isn't something I could help with.

[BainsBane]

62. You could post the graphic above on websites you frequent

to encourage others to participate.

[davidpdx]

65. I have on Facebook

But besides this site that's pretty much it.

[BainsBane]

70. fantastic!

[pamela]

63. We need to spread this on Pinterest.

Pinterest is the big social media venue for crafters. I just started a thread about this. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025185939 Do you mind if I steal your graphic and add it to my thread? If we could get this pinned on Pinterest, that would hit Hobby Lobby where they live, so to speak.

[BainsBane]

64. Please do

Spread it far and wide!

[nolabear]

68. Don't buy anything on Etsy without a promise the supplies didn't come from there.

Yes, people can lie. But the point will be made.

[BainsBane]

69. good advice

[BainsBane]

71. Feel free to use this graphic to spread word of the boycott

[William769]

72. kick & recommended.

[Tree-Hugger]

73. I think I have craft ability

I try very hard to be crafty, but fail a lot. I am hell bent on learning to knit, crochet, and sew and to do it well. I have certain things I want to make and attempt to sell to a couple of segments of the population. We've struggled with poverty, so any extra income we can generate is awesome. I'm slowly learning and working towards my goal. As such, I spend a lot of time in craft stores (usually just to drool). I know a TON of crafters, though. Many of my friends run their own successful Etsy shops and other craft-based businesses.

We don't have Hobby Lobby in my area of PA, as far as I know. If we did, I would avoid them. As such, I'll spread your graphic and hashtag and I'll Pin It. Pinterest is a great way to get the word out amongst crafters.

I'd like to add one other store. I don't know how national this store is, but there is a place called JOMAR. It's slightly scary and a lot of their merchandise reminds me of stuff that may have fallen off a truck. However, they have an amazing fabric section with very, very low prices. They don't have craft items, though they sell a large variety of fabrics and trims as well as other things used in sewing. The downside is the stock changes daily. It's not like JoAnn's. It can be an option for those who need fabric and who operate on a much tighter budget.

Also - local yarn shops!! Support them over Michaels/JoAnns/AcMoore if at all possible. Sometimes, the prices are competitive. There's been a resurgence in crafty stuff over the years, especially among the younger crowd, and I've seen yarn stores popping up.

[BainsBane]

74. Practice makes perfect

No one is good at anything unless they work on it awhile.

I'm not familiar with the store you mention. I wonder if it regional to your area?

[Tree-Hugger]

75. Sorry about that

I thought I read they are in multiple states. I just checked their website and they are only in the Philadelphia region. Well....that sucks. Still...cheap fabric for people in this area.....but not a blow to Hobby Lobby.

I keep practicing. The skill will come eventually. YouTube is AWESOME for learning these things.

[Tikki]

76. We should insist that all 'church run companies' clearly post a sign at their doors stating..

that they control their workers health care decisions and that by entering their premises
you are agreeing with their stance.

Tikki

[get the red out]

78. Absolutely

I already blasted this all over FB so my crafty friends would notice.

So many alternatives, as a feminist they wouldn't want my unGodly money anyway, right?

[BainsBane]

79. Awesome!

We need to make them feel the consequences of their behavior toward women.