Michaels offers several benefits to consider when it comes to finding a similar and worthy store. Luckily for you, Jo-Ann, Hobby Lobby, and Blick exist to offer you evenly great deals, discounts, and even lower prices. Stay tuned to know all about them!
Michaels Overview
Michaels is probably the first store that comes to your mind when you think of buying arts and crafts. This chain, also known as Michael Stores Inc., is comprised of more than 1200 locations in both the United States and Canada.
Michaels was founded by Michael J. Dupey in 1973, and ever since then, the store has been the country’s largest provider of merchandise for both DIY makers and professional decorators, who get extra assistance by buying from Michael Pro. The store also sells some of its own brands, like Studio Décor, Creatology, Recollections, Ashland, and Bead Landing.
The products categories you can shop from at Michaels are art supplies, office supplies, holidays and occasions, home decor, painting supplies, storage, floral, as well as fabric and sewing supplies.
Reasons for Shop at stores like Michaels
Offering a broad variety of products is not the only reason why Michaels is preferred by arts and crafts enthusiasts and professionals; the store attracts customers because it has plenty to offer to them, like:
Free shipping on online orders over $49. Same-day delivery service for just $9. 99. Incredible deals like regularly added coupons, a whole clearances section, and weekly ads to stay tuned. Online free or premium crafts classes, as well as in-store events, at which you can learn to do many crafts, seasonal arrangements, home decor, food crafting, and more!Buy in bulk option as part of Michaels Pro. Returns within 60 days after purchase, with or without a receipt. Michaels counts with teachers, military, and senior discounts. Types of payments accepted are VISA, American Express, MasterCard, and Paypal.
In case you’re intrigued about one of the above benefits, visit michaels.com to check further details.
Some important factors to consider when looking for a valid option where to shop instead of Michaels are the store’s product categories available, the deals offered, and the return policy (if applicable). You already saw what Michaels offers, so let’s review how these factors apply to other similar stores.
Option 1 To Shop At Instead Of Michaels: Jo-Ann
Jo-Ann specializes in crafts and fabrics and operates 855 locations in the country. The store was founded in 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, but now it’s based in Hudson. One of the many attractive offers of Jo-Ann is that you can design your own fabric and have it delivered to your door.
When you visit Jo-Ann’s website (joann.com), you can enter your mail address to unlock 20% off on your first online order. Just like at Michaels, you can buy in bulk at JOANN+, which is a section available on the website. Besides, payments with VISA, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and PayPal are accepted.
Product Categories
Some of the product categories you can shop from at Jo-Ann are Fabrics, Home and decor, seasons and occasions, storage, crafts, arts, and painting supplies. These are pretty much the same as those available at Michaels, which gives you plenty of options to buy from.
Additionally, you can attend in-store classes or $10 digital classes in the following areas: sewing, quilting, knitting, crochet, ad kids classes.
Deals Offered
Jo-Ann also features a weekly ad to see deals released each week. There are online deals offered on Jo-Ann’s website and a whole section dedicated to coupons at joann.com/coupon/. The type of purchase required by each is shown in the same coupon.
Return Policy
You can ask for a refund with or without a receipt (except for electronics, which need the purchase receipt), although depending on the refunding quantity you can have your money back in cash or a check. Orders paid with PayPal are refunded with a gift card.
Option 2 To Shop At Instead Of Michaels: Hobby Lobby
Also known as Hobby Lobby Creative Centers, is an arts and crafts retailer. Hobby Lobby was founded 49 years ago in Oklahoma City. Now, it operates 969 locations as of 2022. This store is strongly rooted in conservative and Christian values, which can be appreciated even in Hobby Lobby’s media.
The payments accepted here are American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and PayPal. Something important to notice about Hobby Lobby is that it does not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or Vermont. The store can’t accept international orders either.
Product Categories
Hobby Lobby divides its products into departments, some of which are Home decor & frames, crafts & hobbies, fabric & sewing, party & baking, scrapbook & paper crafts, seasonal, among others.
Every department comprises several categories, including very interesting ones like dollmaking or glass crafting. These options make Hobby Lobby a highly recommended store for specialized crafts.
Deals Offered
There are tons of products on discount every week, and the way to catch all of them is by checking the weekly ad on hobbylobby.com. By clicking on the side button that says “Shop Ad” you’re redirected to the site where you can start adding on-sale products to your cart.
Return Policy
Like Michaels’ return policy, Hobby Lobby accepts returns made within a broad range of time (90 days) after the original purchase and you may request a refund even without a receipt.
Option 3 To Shop At Instead Of Michaels: Blick Art Materials
Blick Art Materials is an art supplies retailer. It is relatively small in contrast to stores like Jo-Ann, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby. As for 2022, Blick counts with only 62 stores, which are scattered in states like Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and California. If you’re wondering if there’s a Blick store near you, visit dickblick.com/stores/ to find out.
When you visit dickblick.com you have the chance to subscribe to receive notifications of the store and also get a $5 e-gift coupon to use on online purchases of more than $45.
On additional information, Blick accepts payment made with Discover, VISA, PayPal, MasterCard, American Express, and (surprisingly) Apply Pay.
Product Categories
Unlike Michaels, that specializes in selling to DIY customers, Blick attracts artists that are pretty aware of what they’re doing and, thus, are looking for specific materials to work with. Some product categories at Blick are Canvas & surfaces, drawing & illustration, ceramics & sculptures, as well as easels & furniture.
Deals Offered
Apart from releasing new deals every season, Blick features “free offers” which consists of select free supplies that are added to your order when it meets specific requirements. For example, when buying any 6 Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Half Pans, you get a free Winsor & Newton metal travel case.
Other deals on drawing and painting supplies are available too. Likewise, there’s a whole clearance section to look for on-sale items.
Return Policy
Blick recommends returning items within the first 30 days after purchase. It requires both receipt and original packaging. For both shipping and in-store returns, you should fill in a return form available at the store’s website.
Price Comparison
Let’s talk about prices and what is the best option for you if you’re looking for arts and crafts supplies within a budget.
A 10” x 8” canvas, which is the standard size for a painting canvas costs:
$8. 49 at Michaels (by Artist’s Loft). $3. 99 at Jo-Ann (by Artsmith)$3. 99 at Hobby Lobby (by The Fine Touch). Package of 2 pieces. $4. 39 at Blick (by Academic Cotton). Also a package of 2 pieces. The Prismacolor Premier set of 24 color pencils costs:
$54. 99 at Michaels. $39. 99 at Jo-Ann. $35. 99 at Hobby Lobby. $21. 77 at Blick. A package of Primary colors craft thread costs:
$4. 99 at Michaels (36 skeins). $4. 39 at Jo-Ann (36 skeins). $5. 99 at Hobby Lobby (36 skeins). $35. 68 at Blick. A clear plastic storage box costs:
$10. 19 at Michaels. $8. 49 at Jo-Ann. $9. 99 at Hobby Lobby. $6. 99 at Blick.
By creating a pattern with these products, you can make yourself an idea of the prices managed by each store. They indicate that Michaels is overall the most expensive option. In contrast, Jo-Ann is more likely to be the cheapest option.
Conclusion
Michaels is not going anywhere any time soon, so it will mostly remain as America’s favorite place to buy art supplies. However, now you have plenty of information about stores that sell the same products as Michaels and, even for lower prices. So, next time you’re planning to get extra provisions for your newest artistic project don’t hesitate and check in advance which is your best option among these stores.
In which states is Hobby Lobby not at?
Up to today, Hobby Lobby is in every state except for Vermont, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Do any of these stores offer a healthcare workers discount?
Only Jo-Ann does. Visit joann.com/healthcare-worker-discount/ to check it out.
