Question 1

What is AC Moore?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore was a retail chain specializing in arts and crafts supplies, serving customers primarily throughout the Northeast United States. The company operated over 145 retail locations and offered a wide selection of craft materials, art supplies, DIY products, and hobby items for both hobbyists and professional craftspeople.

Question 2

When was AC Moore founded and who founded it?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore was founded in 1985 by Jack Parker in Moorestown, New Jersey. It started as a regional craft supply retailer in the Northeast and grew to become a significant player in the arts and crafts retail market before its closure in 2019.

Question 3

What products did AC Moore sell?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore offered a comprehensive range of arts and crafts supplies including paints, brushes, canvases, fabric, yarn, beads, scrapbooking materials, seasonal crafts, DIY kits, and hobby supplies. The store catered to various creative pursuits including painting, drawing, quilting, jewelry making, and general crafting.

Question 4

Where was AC Moore located?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore operated 145 retail stores primarily across the Northeast United States before its closure. The chain was strongest in the Mid-Atlantic region, with significant presence in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and surrounding states.

Question 5

What made AC Moore unique compared to competitors?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore positioned itself as a convenient, regional alternative to national chains by maintaining strong local presence in Northeast communities. The company focused on personalized customer service and competitive pricing to differentiate itself from larger competitors in the arts and crafts retail space.

Question 6

When did AC Moore go public and what was its stock ticker?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 1997 under the ticker symbol ACMR. The IPO provided capital for the company's expansion and growth during the late 1990s and 2000s as it competed in the growing arts and crafts retail market.

Question 7

What happened to AC Moore in 2011?

Accepted Answer

In 2011, AC Moore was acquired by Nicole Crafts and taken private. This acquisition marked a shift from public company status to private equity ownership, which significantly changed the company's operational and financial structure during the final years before bankruptcy.

Question 8

Why did AC Moore close its stores?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore filed for bankruptcy in 2019, closing all 145 stores due to increased competition from larger chains like Michaels and Hobby Lobby that had greater scale, buying power, and resources. The company was unable to compete effectively with these national competitors who offered similar products at competitive prices.

Question 9

When did AC Moore close all its stores?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore completed its liquidation and closed all 145 stores in November 2019. The closure resulted in the layoff of approximately 5,000 employees and marked the end of the 34-year retail operation.

Question 10

What happened to AC Moore's assets after the bankruptcy?

Accepted Answer

Following the bankruptcy liquidation in 2019, Michaels acquired AC Moore's assets for approximately $30 million. This acquisition allowed Michaels to acquire AC Moore's inventory, store locations, and customer base, further consolidating Michaels' position in the arts and crafts retail market.

Question 11

Who were AC Moore's main competitors?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore's primary competitors were national chains Michaels and Hobby Lobby, both of which had significantly larger scale, more locations nationwide, and greater purchasing power. These competitors were able to undercut prices and offer wider selections, making it difficult for the regional chain to maintain market share.

Question 12

What was AC Moore's business model?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore operated as a traditional brick-and-mortar retail chain, generating revenue through in-store sales of arts and crafts supplies. The business model relied on store traffic in regional markets, customer loyalty, and competitive pricing to drive sales and profitability.

Question 13

Can I still shop at AC Moore today?

Accepted Answer

No, AC Moore no longer operates. All stores closed in November 2019 during the bankruptcy liquidation. However, many of AC Moore's former locations and customer base were acquired by Michaels, which continues to serve customers looking for arts and crafts supplies.

Question 14

What caused AC Moore to fail despite having 30+ years of operation?

Accepted Answer

AC Moore struggled to compete with larger national chains that had superior economies of scale, lower operational costs, and greater marketing resources. The rise of e-commerce, changing consumer shopping habits, and the inability to match the pricing and selection of bigger competitors ultimately led to the company's bankruptcy and closure.

Question 15

Was AC Moore only located in the Northeast?

Accepted Answer

Yes, AC Moore was primarily a Northeast regional chain, with the strongest presence in the Mid-Atlantic region. While the company may have had limited expansion into other areas, it never developed the nationwide footprint of competitors like Michaels or Hobby Lobby, limiting its growth potential.

AC Moore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is AC Moore?

When was AC Moore founded and who founded it?

What products did AC Moore sell?

Where was AC Moore located?

What made AC Moore unique compared to competitors?

When did AC Moore go public and what was its stock ticker?

What happened to AC Moore in 2011?

Why did AC Moore close its stores?

When did AC Moore close all its stores?

What happened to AC Moore's assets after the bankruptcy?

Who were AC Moore's main competitors?

What was AC Moore's business model?

Can I still shop at AC Moore today?

What caused AC Moore to fail despite having 30+ years of operation?

Was AC Moore only located in the Northeast?

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