Hancock Fabrics
{{Short description|Fabric retailer}}
{{Infobox company |
name = Hancock Fabrics|
logo = Hancock Fabrics logo.svg|
type = Public|
traded_as = {{OTC Pink|HKFIQ|type=noinfo}}|
foundation = {{start date and age|1957}} (Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.)|
defunct = {{end date and age|2016|7|27}}|
fate = Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Liquidation|
location_city = Baldwyn, Mississippi|
location_country = United States|
locations = 185 (at the time of closure)|
key_people = Steve Morgan (CEO)|
num_employees = N/A|
industry = Retail|
homepage = [http://www.hancockfabrics.com/ www.hancockfabrics.com]|
}}
Hancock Fabrics was a specialty retailer of crafts and fabrics based in Baldwyn, Mississippi, United States. Hancock Fabrics operated as many as 266 stores in 37 states under the Hancock Fabrics name. Hancock Fabrics was established by the late Lawrence D. Hancock. On July 27, 2016, all of the stores were closed, marking the end of the chain.
Retail History
=Early history=
Hancock Fabrics was founded in 1957 in Tupelo, Mississippi by Elaine (1922-2015) and Lawrence Doyce (L.D.) Hancock (1913-1998), started out as a cost-efficient retail store and offered a greater selection of merchandise to its customers at lower prices.[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Hancock-Fabrics-Inc-Company-History.html Hancock Fabrics, Inc. -- Company History]
By 1971, when Lucky Stores bought Hancock Fabrics, the chain owned 81 stores and had 265 additional franchise stores in 19 states.Claudia H. Deutsch, [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/29/business/lawrence-doyce-hancock-85-entrepreneur-and-philanthropist.html "Lawrence Doyce Hancock, 85, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist"], New York Times, October 29, 1998. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
=Growth and reorganization=
In 1985, Hancock Fabrics acquired Minnesota Fabrics, which was based in Charlotte, North Carolina and operated over one hundred stores under the names Minnesota Fabrics and Fabric Warehouse. Fabric Warehouse had originally been part of Hancock before they bought Minnesota Fabrics.
Lucky Stores demerged Hancock in 1987, floating it as a public company.{{cite news|last1=Maturi|first1=Richard J.|title=Making money in unmergers|accessdate=May 1, 2015|work=Kiplinger's Personal Finance|date=June 1989|quote=This retailer was a favorite of Bear Sterns analyst Charles Neuhauser, who specializes in spin-off stocks, before its stock soared to more than $22 a share. Hancock operates 366 stores in 29 states under the names Minnesota Fabrics, Fabric Warehouse and Fabric Market. It was spawned by Lucky Stores in 1987 ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EAQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Hancock+Fabrics%22&pg=PA34}} By 1992, the company was one of seven major retail piece-goods chains operating 482 stores in the United States.
=Closure=
On March 21, 2007, Hancock Fabrics announced it would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[http://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/financial-performance/5420751-1.html Hancock Fabrics Files for Chapter 11 Reorganization] {{dead link|date=October 2019}} The company closed 104 stores and emerged from bankruptcy in August 2008.Hancok Fabrics was established by the late Lawrence D. Hancock. Hancock Fabrics Investor Overview]
In 2014, Hancock announced plans to take the company private,[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/26/miss-based-hancock-fabrics-plans-to-go-private/ "Miss.-based Hancock Fabrics plans to go private"], Associated Press in The Washington Times, April 26, 2014. but later withdrew the proposal.{{cite news|title=Hancock Fabrics withdraws bid to go private|url=http://bizbuzz.djournal.com/2014/08/04/hancock-fabrics-withdraws-bid-go-private/|accessdate=May 1, 2015|publisher=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal|date=Aug 4, 2014|archive-date=May 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507032220/http://bizbuzz.djournal.com/2014/08/04/hancock-fabrics-withdraws-bid-go-private/|url-status=dead}}[http://www.wapt.com/news/hancock-fabrics-drops-plan-to-go-private/27331724 "Hancock Fabrics drops plan to go private"], WAPT, August 6, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
On April 1, 2016, the U. S. Bankruptcy Court approved the sale of the remaining assets to Great American Group, who announced that the remaining 185 stores will be closed and their assets liquidated.{{cite news|title=Hancock Fabrics to close remaining stores|url=http://djournal.com/news/hancock-fabrics-to-close-remaining-stores/|accessdate=Apr 1, 2016|publisher=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal|date=1 April 2016|archive-date=1 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401134428/http://djournal.com/news/hancock-fabrics-to-close-remaining-stores/|url-status=dead}} In August 2016, Michaels Stores, Inc. announced its intent to acquire Hancock Fabrics' intellectual property and customer database.{{cite web|title=Michaels buys Hancock Fabrics IP assets, including customer info|url=http://djournal.com/bizbuzz/2016/08/03/michaels-stores-buys-hancock-fabrics-ip-assets-customer-info/|website=Daily Journal|accessdate=5 August 2016|archive-date=4 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804232554/http://djournal.com/bizbuzz/2016/08/03/michaels-stores-buys-hancock-fabrics-ip-assets-customer-info/|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.hancockfabrics.com/ Hancock Fabrics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101143909/http://www.hancockfabrics.com/ |date=2008-11-01 }}
Category:Defunct retail companies of the United States
Category:Retail companies of the United States
Category:Companies based in Mississippi
Category:Retail companies established in 1957
Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2016
Category:1957 establishments in Mississippi
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2007
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2016