ACOT Message Board

Each time I go in there they are carrying less by namebrands and more "Recollections"---which is their brand. They even make the packaging look similar--like the flowers I picked up thinking they were Prima--but were Recollections. PLUS, their brand is even a dollar more! Now I see they have ventured into making the punches...


I noticed this also happening at HL--I went to one and they began to slowly switch over to a company branded by them.

kittymomma wrote:Each time I go in there they are carrying less by namebrands and more "Recollections"---which is their brand. They even make the packaging look similar--like the flowers I picked up thinking they were Prima--but were Recollections. PLUS, their brand is even a dollar more! Now I see they have ventured into making the punches...


I noticed this also happening at HL--I went to one and they began to slowly switch over to a company branded by them.

HL has carried their own brand for a long time. I rarely go into Michael's anymore...I don't care for their stuff or how they arrange the store. Their stuff always seems a year behind, too. I was last in there a couple of months ago..didn't notice them having their own brand.

that's too bad but I believe it. I too am not fond of how the store is set up.

I noticed that too. They have their own "recollections" pattern paper, and I won't go near it. I'm sure they won't stop selling all name brand, but I'm sure they make more money selling their own brand. it cuts out the middle man.

they probably make more money on their own brand and with the economy the way it is, that may be the motivating factor.

The only time I go into M's is to take my coupon and buy some adhesive! Once in a while I find a deal on a Cricut cart, but I have always seemed to buy more online. I also feel they don't switch their inventory up at all. It's the same old thing all the time. And, they have one aisle with nothing but stickers!

It is the same here too - and I don't care for their brand. I don't know why I every run in there once in a while - I have a hard time finding anything to use my 40% off coupon on.

It seems to be a trend--you can hardly buy anything at Wal-Mart nowadays that isn't their own white-labeled "Great Value" brand as well.

I've noticed that, too, but I can always find something to buy with my coupons even if it's just ribbon or buttons.

I am not fond of them in the first place...and I agree that their packaging is almost identical.

akba15 wrote:It is the same here too - and I don't care for their brand. I don't know why I every run in there once in a while - I have a hard time finding anything to use my 40% off coupon on.

I won't go unless I have a coupon and then it's only for adhesive or Thickers.

LyndaKay wrote:

akba15 wrote:It is the same here too - and I don't care for their brand. I don't know why I every run in there once in a while - I have a hard time finding anything to use my 40% off coupon on.

I won't go unless I have a coupon and then it's only for adhesive or Thickers.

Wow! Your M's has thickers? I wish mine did. I never go there anymore-they suck.

I have noticed the same, and find myself going there less and less.

IDK, but I have bought a few Recollections bling and even other embellies here and there... no, they are not as good as Prima, but decent enouh and you can't beat the price!

jannyf wrote:The only time I go into M's is to take my coupon and buy some adhesive! Once in a while I find a deal on a Cricut cart, but I have always seemed to buy more online. I also feel they don't switch their inventory up at all. It's the same old thing all the time. And, they have one aisle with nothing but stickers!

That's what I do. I typically use my 40% coupons for the xyron refill cartridges.

We have four M's in a 20 mile radius and each is different. One has a lot of the Recollection stuff, the paper sucks but the flowers and brads are nice. Another has a huge 2 aisle Cricut experience with big displays and lots of carts. The part I like is they each get different name brand line sometimes MME, sometimes Basic Grey, MM, or K&Co and they change them out pretty quickly. They have Thickers and the ATG refills too now. I think it totally depends on the store.

kittymomma wrote:Each time I go in there they are carrying less by namebrands and more "Recollections"---which is their brand. They even make the packaging look similar--like the flowers I picked up thinking they were Prima--but were Recollections. PLUS, their brand is even a dollar more! Now I see they have ventured into making the punches...


I noticed this also happening at HL--I went to one and they began to slowly switch over to a company branded by them.

I believe it is there way to cut corners so to speak. A lot of designers are cutting out the middle man. For example, my sister-in law Jen Allyson designs for MME, but she also does contracting one the side for Michaels and Hobby Lobby. So it's a win win for both, she gets paid more through Michaels and then Michaels owns the designs and doesn't have to purchase through MME, but the down side is that she doesn't get name recognition like you would at MME

What I don't like about this, is that sometimes Mikes and HL don't have the same quality as MME and other companies like Prima do.

I picked up some recollections as well thinking they were prima. Gotta pay better attention I guess....

janello wrote:

kittymomma wrote:Each time I go in there they are carrying less by namebrands and more "Recollections"---which is their brand. They even make the packaging look similar--like the flowers I picked up thinking they were Prima--but were Recollections. PLUS, their brand is even a dollar more! Now I see they have ventured into making the punches...


I noticed this also happening at HL--I went to one and they began to slowly switch over to a company branded by them.

I believe it is there way to cut corners so to speak. A lot of designers are cutting out the middle man. For example, my sister-in law Jen Allyson designs for MME, but she also does contracting one the side for Michaels and Hobby Lobby. So it's a win win for both, she gets paid more through Michaels and then Michaels owns the designs and doesn't have to purchase through MME, but the down side is that she doesn't get name recognition like you would at MME

What I don't like about this, is that sometimes Mikes and HL don't have the same quality as MME and other companies like Prima do.

wow! i did not know that. I think that would be a tough decision to make if I were a designer. And how do you make your designs different enough if you have a unique style, so that someone doesn't claim that you already did that design for them. It could get messy.

Have not been there in ages...when I do it is with coupon in hand and I come out with glue dots, unless there is a border punch that is new and must have - but usually I don't see much new and have plenty of border punches at home.


I will say one thing about the Recollections brand...I bought a pearl flourish, or perhaps it was gem, when I first saw that brand to try it out (all 50 percent off so I did not spend much) - when I went to pull it up off the backing to place on my project gems/pearls popped off. Junk. never again.