INDEX: Michaels Retail Fixtures

INDEX:
Michaels Retail Fixtures

Michaels Where Creativity Happens Store Branding

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This Michaels Retail Fixtures index page aggregates links
to all post and photos of the brand’s retail merchandising and outfitting.

BACKSTORY: Michaels Stores, Inc. is an American arts and crafts retail chain. It currently operates more than 1262 stores (consisting of 1,145 Michaels stores in 49 US states and Canada, 118 Aaron Brothers stores and 34 Pat Catan’s stores) as of May 31, 2014.^[2] In addition, Michaels produces 10 exclusive private brands including Recollections, Studio Decor, Bead Landing, Creatology, Ashland, Celebrate It, Art Minds, Artist’s Loft, Craft Smart and Loops & Threads. The corporate headquarters are located in Irving, Texas.

The average Michaels store now contains 40,000 different products in 18,200 square feet (1,700 m²) of selling space. The stores sell a selection of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall décor, bakeware, beads, scrapbooking and seasonal merchandise for hobbyists and do-it-yourself home decorators.

Michaels is the largest such chain in the United States. Competitors include Hobby Lobby, Ben Franklin, Jo-Ann Stores, A.C. Moore and several smaller chains. Canadian competitors include DeSerres.

In April 2012, Michaels filed for a $500 million initial public offering (IPO), but it was put on hold due to the chief executive’s illness. In June 2014, the IPO was scheduled again.

In 1973, Dallas businessman Michael J. Dupey opened Michaels in the former Northtown Mall in Dallas, Texas. The location closed in the 1990s and is now a technology building.^[3]^{[unreliable source?]}

In 1982, Dallas businessman Samuel Wyly bought controlling interest in Michaels,^[4] when the company’s annual revenues were around $10 million.^[5] After the sale, Dupey founded MJ Designs which was later bought out by Michaels.

In 1984, the Michaels chain was first publicly traded. At the time it had 16 stores.

In 1994, Michaels acquired the Treasure House Crafts chain in the Northwest United States. It also acquired Oregon Craft & Floral Supply, as well as H&H Craft & Floral.^[6] In July 1994, Michaels acquired Leewards Creative Crafts, a 101-unit store chain, which gave Michaels a “solid footing” in the Midwestern and Northeastern regions of the United States.

In 1995, Michaels acquired Aaron’s Brothers Holdings, Inc., a specialty framing and art supply store.

In 1996, sales were $1.24 billion and the company opened its 450th store.^[5] By 2003, the company’s annual sales were in excess of 3 billion dollars.

In 2006, two private equity groups, Bain Capital and the Blackstone Group, purchased the company for $6 billion.^[4] The two own equal shares^[5] and 93 percent between them. Highfields Capital Management owns another 6.2 percent of the company.^[7]

Michaels opened its 1000th store in Texas in the fall of 2008.

In 2010, Michaels Arts and Crafts started bringing back a revised class program. These classes include beading, knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, painting, and cake decorating. In addition, Michaels introduced two bi-monthly do-it-yourself craft nights allowing customers to bring their projects into the store where Michaels provides tools, supplies, and a workspace for crafting. Bead Night for jewelry makers and Crop Night for the scrapbooker both launched in 2010.

In August 2016, Michaels announced its intent to acquire Hancock Fabrics‘ intellectual property and customer database as part of its bankruptcy and liquidation.^[8]

Michaels sells a variety of arts and crafts products, including scrapbooking, beading, knitting, rubber stamping, home decor items, floral items, kids’ crafts, paints, framing, greenery, baking and many seasonal items. Michaels produces 10 exclusive private brands sold throughout its stores including Recollections, Studio Decor, Bead Landing, Creatology, Ashland, Celebrate It, Art Minds, Artist’s Loft, Craft Smart and Loops & Threads. In April 2007, Martha Stewart teamed up with Michaels to launch a line initially available exclusively at Michaels called “Martha Stewart Crafts”. The line features over 650 different products for the craft enthusiast. In May 2010, Michaels was the first retailer^{[citation needed]} to feature Chef Duff‘s Duff Goldman Collection in its store. The baking line features more than 70 products including fondant, sprinkle sets, color spray, cake tattoos and color paste. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)