A Year of Change

Whoa! Somehow, it has been a full year since my last website post.

In terms of my upholstery work, including both official and independent, there have been a number of occasional chairs, cushions, recliners, sofas, and many pairs of wingchairs. I’ve learned several techniques from my co-workers (thank you friends!), and found reasonably priced supplies for my independent work without needing an EIN, resale certificate, etc. In this past year, despite working with many pointy objects, I’ve only experienced one flesh wound that required stitches – ironically, from fixing a dog toy.

In Central Ohio, the number of places you can walk in and buy upholstery fabric yardage has declined dramatically.

We have lost a major supplier of consumer textiles, JoAnn Fabrics. In 2011, JoAnns was purchased by a private equity firm that used JoAnns itself as collateral for the $1.6 billion purchase price. In the years since, there were leadership changes, changes in operation from a fabric-centered store towards a general craft store, loss in market to online sellers, two bankruptcies, and declining sales. By May 2025, all JoAnn Fabrics stores were closed, including those in Columbus.

Fabric Farms Interiors has changed both its name and business model. It is currently  Upheld by Fabric Farms, and changed from a walk-in sales and service storefront with online sales presence to solely a services by-appointment- only model.

Hobby Lobby Stores carry some upholstery fabrics. Michaels Arts and Crafts Stores carries a few vinyls in their recently acquired Fabric section. Other than that, I don’t know of any other physical storefronts supplying a range of upholstery appropriate fabric in Central Ohio.

Change is inevitable, growth is optional. Adaptation is the key.