Wednesday night February 3rd 2021, I visited the shakopee location and had an experience that will stick with me forever. It sadly makes me no longer want to do business with Joann's.
I've been seeing in multiple groups and online advertisements for black history month inspired prints. So I looked around and I couldn't find any. So I asked a consultant there with the name tag "Carmen" on. I asked her if there were any black history month prints and she had no clue what black history month was, or what I could be implying by the type of fabric I was looking for and why I'd be looking for it at Joann's. I told her that multiple places have set dedicated an area for black history month merchandise and she wanted me to tell her which stores could possibly be doing that. I named a few including JOANN'S! So she asked around and was told that that location doesn't carry BHM prints which in itself is very disappointing. But then she could tell I was annoyed by her ignorance and lack of care when I was looking for something that COULD be carried by the company she works for. So she followed me to tell me her father knew MLK.
So she knew the relevance of the impact of MLK but was unaware of what black history month was or that there was dedicated merchandise the company offered. Her questions about why I wanted it and explaining in detail how BHM could be illustrated felt like she was trying to intimidate me out of wanting what I came to the store for. After realizing I was upset she spoke with a manager who told her only the larger stores carry it. She kept excusing her ignorance when that wasn't really the case at all. She KNEW what I was looking for and if she didn't and genuinely cared about what the inquiring customer was needing she wouldn't have tried to intimidate me about why I would think they carried something for "what is it called again? Black history month??" I couldn't even believe it.
Another African American woman over heard our conversation and set down the items she had and left. I also can say I have no interest in supporting a company that advertises something but doesn't even inform/educate their employees on how to hold conversations with people on retrieving what's being advertised.
I will also let people know if they're interested in support black communities and having representation in our fabrics maybe Joann's just isn't the place to purchase from considering their employees don't support what you say your company wants to be "known for". How can you make money off of black people and your employees don't even want to sell it to them because they don't know about the history, culture, or that the company they work for actually offers the options to have the representation ?? read more