Of Quilts and Giving

Many of you know that I like to make quilts. While I don’t consider myself adept enough to call myself a quilter – that’s a title I give to people like my friend Becky Pickett who has made hundreds of quilts over the years – I do enjoy the process. I especially enjoy giving the quilts as gifts and seeing expressions of delight when the recipient opens the package.

But this blog post isn’t about me. I want to give a shout-out to JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores where I buy most of my fabric and quilting supplies. Their prices are a bit higher than some big box stores, but it’s worth paying extra for the great customer service. And during this time of health risks and uncertainty, they’re doing some good things.

On April 4th I received this message from Wade Miquelon the President & CEO of JOANN Stores. I was particularly impressed with how the upper management is supporting their employees.

PROTECTING OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, TEAM MEMBERS & COMMUNITIES

Giving Back
As you may know, JOANN has been encouraging customers and partners to help fight the severe shortage of personal protective equipment, launching our Make to Give facemask program nationwide. Customers are able to pick up a facemask kit at any open store, free of charge, to create masks to donate to healthcare systems and organizations in need.

We’re also proud to have launched a mask- and scrub-making partnership with Neiman Marcus Group. To date, we’ve donated enough materials for alterations facilities to create thousands of masks and scrubs.

In addition to customer mask-making, and the Neiman Marcus partnership, we are working directly with hospitals and organizations nationwide to get them materials and finished items. For example, we’re producing more than 130,000 masks and 20,000 scrubs for a major hospital system, and another 300,000 masks for a large senior living facility.

Store Safety
We continue to ensure we are protecting our facilities, customers, and teams across the nation, relying on the guidance of the CDC and local, state, and federal governments. We’ve taken proactive measures to protect all who visit and work in our stores, including:

Curbside Pickup: We are offering contactless Curbside Pick-Up at all stores, and in many locations, we have restricted to Curbside Pickup-only. Simply make a purchase via Buy Online, Pick-Up In-Store, and call the store when you arrive. Customers can simply open their trunks, and we load the package. We also offer convenient Ship to Home on joann.com and on the mobile app.

Limited hours: National store hours are temporarily changed to 10am-7pm, to allow for additional cleaning and re-stocking. Some stores may be closed or have further limited hours, depending on local restrictions and recommendations.

Social Distancing protocols: We have posted social distancing protocols in all stores, and will limit the number of customers we allow to shop at one time to help enforce this standard. Key areas of the store have been taped off to reinforce the acceptable distances for customers to stand.

E-Learning: All in-store events, classes and gatherings are postponed, and previously purchased classes can be rescheduled free of charge when Creators’ Studios reopen. We are also offering more inspiration at home with thousands of free projects, video classes and an offer of 2 months free of Creativebug, a creative learning service.

Sanitization: Team Members are regularly disinfecting door handles, counters, keypads, shopping carts, baskets and restrooms, and we are monitoring all stores to ensure they remain stocked with enough appropriate cleaning supplies.

Team Member Support
We are doing all we can to support our amazing Team Members, especially those who are cleaning our stores, stocking our shelves, and bringing Handmade Happiness to customers. Our People are what set JOANN apart, and they are always our first priority.

Increased Pay: In recognition of all they are doing, we have implemented a $2/hour increase for hourly store Team Members working in our stores. This increase also applies to hourly Team Members in our Distribution Centers, who are working to get product to our stores, partners and customers safely and efficiently.

Leave Options: We’ve offered Team Members a variety of leave options and Employee Assistance Programs, and have granted more than 1,500 requests to-date. We have also instituted remote working options for corporate Team Members, to comply with local guidance.

Health Protection: All Team Members have been encouraged to take precautionary health measures, including frequent hand washing, wearing handmade masks if they wish, and reporting any contact that leaves them uncomfortable or concerned. Our maintenance partners have been engaged to close and deep clean any store immediately if a potentially ill person is reported to have been inside.

We are incredibly proud to be a part of a solution to this national health crisis. The engagement, generosity and resilience of our communities and Team Members is truly inspiring, and exemplifies how we are all in this together.

Let’s raise a glass to Wade Miquelon and his management team for the wonderful policies they’ve adopted. That’s all for me for today folks. Be safe. Be well. Be happy.