Let me start by painting you a picture. Years and years ago when I lived in Goldston, the nearest craft store was a Hobby Lobby in Aberdeen. My cousin Kelsey and I would make trips there whenever we got the chance and stock up on markers and paints and pipe cleaners (back before they were chenille stems) and whatever else we needed to make whatever craft we were obsessed with at the time. And despite it being so far away and closed on Sundays we became Hobby Lobby loyalists.
Then I moved to Chapel Hill. The nearest craft store to me was Michaels at Southpoint. I didn't get to go there very often but I got used to a life without Hobby Lobby. Being a college student with no money really helped.
After college when I moved to Raleigh, Michaels stores were rampant. By that time there was a Hobby Lobby in Sanford closer to my hometown but I had moved on. Michael's filled the Hobby Lobby-shaped hole in my heart.
And then I moved to Apex. Michaels was no more. A.C. Moore was now the craft store du jour. I have never been fond of A.C. Moore. There was an A.C. Moore like 4 stores down from the Michaels I frequented in Cary. A.C. Moore? More like A.C. Less, am I right? They always seem so bare compared to Michaels. So sad. I held out for a few months but by Christmas break I broke down. I was crafting all the time, making Christmas gifts and some adorable reindeer ornaments.
And as much as I wanted to stay true to my second love, Michaels, I needed something closer. Driving to Holly Springs twice a day 3 days in a row wasn't the most convenient. A.C. Moore wasn't much, but it was close. Walking distance even if you believe in that sort of thing.
A.C. Moore wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was pretty similar to Michaels. Not quite the same but I could make do. They even had the plastic ornaments I needed. Color me impressed with discount Crayolas and acrylic paints.
For over 6 months I used A.C. Moore regularly. Michaels was and still is my favorite but I stopped going out of my way to find a Michaels when I could easily drive a mile to A.C. Moore. No need to be a diva about it, right? But I recently ran into an issue with A.C. Moore that I do not think can be remedied with some special patterned duct tape or store brand permanent glue.
Before I explain the events of last night, allow me to share part of the reason I frequent craft stores. Most teachers I know spend a good amount of money out of pocket for their classrooms. I am fortunate enough to work in a county and in a school where I don't have to, but I still want to.
I am luckily not required to buy my own pens and paper, my school has enough of the basic supplies to go around, the PTA is generous with grants and my church collects school supplies free for anyone to take. I'm very thankful that every time I have purchased something for my classroom it has been optional.
But I still spend quite a bit each semester. Because my kids are worth it. Because when they make a poster on colorful cardstock instead of printer paper or even construction paper, they're really proud of their work because it looks so professional. When they see that I have provided them with every shade of marker they can think of, some of them will take the time to organize them by color because they know I love that. When they can use the multicultural colored pencils I ordered online, they can actually draw themselves. When they walk into my class on October 1st and Halloween decorations are everywhere they know that I really care about making my classroom a fun environment. When we have candy for no reason they know that I am a glutton, but a generous one. My high schoolers still smile when they get a sticker on their paper or a Jolly Rancher with their homework.
So I go to Michaels and A.C. Moore and Walmart and Target and I try to stretch my money and turn it into erasers inside their desks so they can quickly get over a mistake. Or Starburst for a Monday when they need some excitement. Or posters and canvases to fill the walls with color. Or cardstock and markers and scissors so they have the tools to do their best work and be creative. Or rulers and Wite-Out so my perfectionists can do and then redo.
And I don't regret any of the money I have spent on my students. But making that money stretch is made harder by stores like A.C. Moore whose business plan revolves around placing a large portion of the inventory on sale to avoid honoring coupons. I understand how sales work and I don't expect to be able to use a 50% off coupon on top of a 40% off deal. But when most of the store is on sale or otherwise excluded from coupon use, you have to wonder...what's the point of handing out coupons?
I went to A.C. Moore last night to get a poster frame for a large poster that I planned to hang up in my classroom. I had a 50% off coupon and I was relieved I could just go to A.C. Moore instead of driving across town to Walmart. Picture frames and poster frames and document frames and probably bifocal frames too were on sale. Buy one get one free. I was buying one, therefore it rang up full price. And I was told I could not use my coupon, which ironically enough, would have equalled 1 frame at 50% off. I could get 2 for the price of 1 or none. Those were my options.
And, being Missy's daughter, I did not buy that poster frame. Because that is ridiculous. I'm not trying to star on season 6 of Extreme Couponing. I'm not trying to be the next Joanne the Scammer. I'm just a teacher. Trying to make her classroom a nice place where kids want to be. And trying to use coupons that I was awarded for spending so much money at this very store.
So I drove 10 minutes to Walmart and got a poster frame there. Because my kids deserve it. They deserve that effort from me and they deserve to have something besides 4 white walls and my beautiful face to stare at. But I will also talk to them about A.C. Moore and pricing and business strategies and customer experience and public relations.
Because I'm a MARKETING TEACHER suckas! This is part of my curriculum now. I will be happy to sell my brand loyalty - should A.C. Moore meet a list of demands - for 50% off.
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