Michaels — Local services in Woodland

I love this Michael’s. Let me make this clear before I go on. As a crafter/DIY’er and also as a student in the California teaching credential program- they are lifesavers. Teachers/Educators & Active/Retired/Reserve Military with ID get 15% off ON EVERYTHING INCLUDING SALE discounts! Thank you! The sales clerks/staff are great. Very sweet and knowledgeable. They DO try to help you to the best extent they can with locating items and the best prices. They can even present you with the weekly ad and tell you at what time/what day new stock comes in so you can “make like Gollum from “Lord of the Rings” and grab your precious” (Michael’s Products).

It’s a pretty clean store - at lunch time on a middle of the week day. Don’t expect perfection or full attention on a busy Saturday afternoon with a sales clerk - they are typically helping 3 other people while helping you. Don’t ask them where each and every kinds of “frog” stickers are. Look for yourself in the sticker aisle. However, this is a WELL organized and well stocked store for a) the size of it and b) for the fact that their workers aren’t standing around. I see them neatening up constantly, re-stocking popular areas and you’ll never have to search for a cashier - there is always one at the front.

Michael’s is great for beginners to intermediates in most crafts. They carry great calligraphy pens like Staedler & TomBow. They have different sized knitting needles and crochet hooks. Mason jars and spray paint to make those cool colorized carnival glass jars? They’ve got it. Last minute project? They carry California mission models, poster board , display boards and most shades of thick Sharpies. Need a TomBow Dual Paint Pen in Shade N15? They very likely have it. Paints? They’ve got a great selection for beginners in watercolors, acrylics, spray paints, etc.

If you need more advanced in certain DIY- go to a local paint store or a fine art store near Sac State to pick out your exact shade of coral paint, the exact grit of sandpaper at a hardware store, 100% acrylic yarn in a particularly dyed shade? Go online to OfficeDirect.online or to a local Joann’s. They don’t carry very much fabric, much in sewing needles, etc at this store - that’s all fabric stores and sewing stores or the bigger Michael’s Stores in Sacramento.

Be prepared to pay for those last minute items and kid projects that are due the next day. Michael’s is just so expensive on brand name products like Martha Stewart & David Tutera. You can get around this by three ways: 1) They do have their own brands of journals, journal decor, cardstock, patterned paper, paints, pens, canvases, (ArtistLoft & Recollections) wood cut outs, soap molds, wooden plaques, miniatures (ArtMinds), kid friendly crafts (Artology), paper crafts, stencils, paper embellishments, wedding DIY, home accents, photo frames and decor (Studio Decor, Home Decor, Celebrate It) and for general craft storage, photo boxes & containers (Ashland & ArtMinds) 2) DOWNLOAD the Michael’s app onto your smart phone and JOIN “Michael’s Rewards”. You’ll get the famous “40% off Any One Regular Price Item” coupon, the ability to “Buy Online/Pick Up In Store” for 20% off your total amount, and be able to look at all of the sale items to figure out what’s included/not included in those coupons: Books, Magazines, Doorbusters, Bulk Buys, Everyday Values, Aaron Brothers Framing, LEGO’s, Cricut Products, Fuji/Polaroid cameras/photo paper and they are limited to “the stock already on hand”. Always read the fine print. I’ve learned the hard way. 3) Walk next door to Target - Crayola markers, Sharpie marker sets, basic posterboard, home decor, and basic art supplies are much cheaper there.

I just had to take a star off for the crazy full priced stuff. Don’t EVER buy them without researching their rewards program or their coupons/weekly store ads because you can save 40-50% off some of these awesome items and for certain frames & framing at Aaron Brothers. I posted a picture of those “prized 40% off coupons off 1 full priced item” so you can see what...

As the mom 'n' pop art supply stores continue to disappear, there are worse choices than this big box retailer. Does it lack the pleasant, feel-good rapport of a smaller store? It may. Are items easy to find and in a place that makes sense? Not really. Is there a ton of eager, excited sales associates waiting in the wings to guide you to whatever it is you seek? Definitely not. But when faced with patronizing this store's competitors, I will choose a lackluster customer experience and user-hostile store layouts to whatever insanity Hobby Lobby is pedaling.

Generalizing aside, this location is fine. Sometimes I can even find what I need here. Will it be in the right place on the shelf with the correct price? Who knows. But to be fair, if I need something specialized to bind books, work leather, etc., I'll probably go to a store that specializes in those products. The only thing I find downright off-putting about this store is the darkened corner of the plaza where it's located. The sign isn't illuminated and there are no exterior lights around the entrance at night. Sometimes it's hard to tell if this store is even open.

If you need some cool paper, maybe some realistic plastic flowers, or an industrial-sized tub of Mod Podge, this place probably has you covered. Bring a flashlight...

My sister and I went in today (not for anything specific) and as we were shopping I noticed that multiple employees were just walking by and watching us. I thought to myself "am I being watched like I'm stealing?" And then I thought no way. I am a manager at a retail store so I know the tricks of watching potential shoplifters. All of sudden, a worker starts following us around like they're doing go backs! Mind you, we dont carry a purse, and we have no pockets (we were wearing leggings) so I'm thinking to myself "do i look like sketchy person?" At this point I'm beyond offended. We did nothing for these people to believe we would steal. Sorry I wear comfortable clothes on my day off and dont look like I have money! Needless to say I will be shopping online and not in store. 2 stars only because I love the backpack...