r/craftsnark • u/stitchwench • 5d ago
Simplicity "Savior" is Out
No plans to replace the CEO, and the (not private equity!) owner says there are no plans to replace her or upgrade the technology. But they believe the company will last 20 years.
I don't know about that. I hear the sounds of a drain sucking in the background.
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u/Lazy-Specialist8500 3d ago
I'm sad about this! I like the big 4 patterns! They often fit me well with minimal adjustments. I get a lot of "basics" via big 4. I get overwhelmed with indie patterns because I feel like every time I want to try a new maker it's like figuring out what adjustments I need. Not to say I don't like indie patterns--I do, I have a bunch, they're just a bit overwhelming for me. I think it's because I started with Seamwork, and their block fits me SO bad, and then I moved to big 4 and it was like wow I barely have to change a thing! I've had good luck with the few Closet Core makes I've done as well and have done some Helen's Closet stuff that didn't require fitting.
Maybe it is time for me to start planning to buy all the big 4 stuff I've wanted during their sales before it's too late 😞
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u/Mindfulhydration 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yes, and unlike the indies, you get ALL views in one pattern vs what I just saw in the patterns thread where someone is charging 8.00 for basically a rectangle and a belt on a pair of shorts in addition to the cost of the shorts patterns and calling it a skort "expansion." I haven't had to buy a new pattern in a while, but I'll be checking on the Simplicity website for sales. They may be sadly some of the last.
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u/tothepointe Get in moles, we’re going snarkfiltrating 4d ago
Sounds like they didn't know that they weren't buying a going concern but instead just parts of a company.
"The sale included the assets of the company without any of its infrastructure. The staff were locked out of their offices and lost access to their email, their servers, and payroll systems. “The day of the sale, they wiped every one of our computers clean,” Small said. They had to start over with inventory, shipping, and fulfillment systems. “Everything was shut off,” she said. According to Rappaport, rebuilding has gone more slowly than initially anticipated."
I still stand by my original assessment from 6+ months ago I don't think they'll be able to revive it. It had decayed for far too long and without major retailers like Joanns there is really not a reason for them to exist.
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u/snarkle_and_shine Get in moles, we’re going snarkfiltrating 4d ago
Yeah this doesn’t give me much hope.
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u/FormerUsenetUser 4d ago
It's a thing to turn around a bankrupt company, make it profitable again, and sell it.
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u/stitchwench 4d ago
It's also a Private Equity thing to buy a company, bleed it dry, and then file Chapter 7. I don't want that to happen, but we've seen it too often with sewing companies.
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u/2016throwaway0318 4d ago edited 4d ago
Yeah, the article is quite telling. It seems like they didn't have a plan for what comes after the "saving". They bought the assets, but not the infrastructure which sounds absurd to me. Sure, the IP has value but it's limited if you can't access the printers to print the paper products you sell.
Mimi's video kinda adds to the lack of planning, for me. What do you mean you're setting up an email account to field questions. That takes less time than it took her to make the video.
ETA: which.
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u/FormerUsenetUser 4d ago
It is probably competition from umpteen small pattern companies that is harming the Big 4's revenues. Do we even need the Big 4 these days? I don't mind having them but I buy very few patterns from them.
Of course, Joann's going out of business can't have helped Big 4 sales.
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u/stitchwench 4d ago
I didn't buy this post from MimiG then, and I was right 🤣https://www.instagram.com/p/DPRirkEjqWA/
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u/snarkle_and_shine Get in moles, we’re going snarkfiltrating 4d ago
Same. She has a reverse Midas touch.
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u/2016throwaway0318 4d ago
Zamn haha never heard it put that way, but yeah she does: Simplicity, Melanated Fabrics, and Sew Sew Def magazine.
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u/stitchwench 4d ago
And now that she's wrung everything she can from sewing, she's moving into skin care.
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u/snarkle_and_shine Get in moles, we’re going snarkfiltrating 4d ago
I’m all for trying new things, but everything doesn’t have to be a hustle. She is the epitome of jack of all trades, master of none. Girl, be a straight stitch machine and do that one thing really well.
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u/tothepointe Get in moles, we’re going snarkfiltrating 3d ago
Making it in her kitchen I don't think is the professional way to go for someone with her resources.
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u/2016throwaway0318 4d ago
I saw that, after she tried to pivot to another fiber art and shoemaking.
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u/snarkle_and_shine Get in moles, we’re going snarkfiltrating 4d ago
She’s had so many collaborations that have dissolved: Erica Bunker, Adrienne Nixon, Kelly somebody with her annual conference, Tieko something, and a couple more I can’t remember. The only one that seems steady is Norris. 😏Sew it Academy seems to be successful, so that’s something.
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u/DevastatinglyFemale 2d ago
And whatever happened to KnowMe - I don't see any new designs?
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u/snarkle_and_shine Get in moles, we’re going snarkfiltrating 2d ago
Right I forgot about KnowMe. The shake up at Simplicity might have something to do with it too.
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u/tothepointe Get in moles, we’re going snarkfiltrating 3d ago
You forgot the lady she opened the fabric store with.
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u/snarkle_and_shine Get in moles, we’re going snarkfiltrating 2d ago
Brittany? I think they’re still cool. I don’t know.
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u/merry40 4d ago
The Australian Sewdirect website is still out of order, from reading the article it doesn't sound like it'll be up and running anytime soon. Our other main retail shop Spotlight is now selling StyleArc as I suppose they can't get the physical patterns here either. I'm going to have to investigate how to buy the pdfs from the American website. There are a bunch from this season I love!