Michaels Stores: North America's Largest Arts and Crafts Retailer

Michaels Stores is the largest arts and crafts specialty retailer in North America, operating over 1,200 locations across the United States and Canada. Founded in 1976 in Dallas, Texas, Michaels has grown into a retail giant that serves as the primary gateway to creative supplies for millions of people—from families looking for weekend craft projects to students purchasing their first set of paints to experienced crafters sourcing materials for complex projects. The company's strength lies not in competing with specialty fine art retailers for professional artists, but in making creativity accessible, affordable, and convenient for the broadest possible audience.

With its massive footprint—there is likely a Michaels store within a short drive of most Americans—extended operating hours, aggressive promotional pricing, and one-stop-shop breadth across dozens of creative categories, Michaels has established itself as the default first stop for anyone beginning a creative project, regardless of their experience level or the specific medium they're exploring.

The Michaels Philosophy: Breadth, Affordability, and Inspiration

Michaels operates on a fundamentally different philosophy than specialty art supply stores like Blick or Daniel Smith. Rather than focusing on museum-quality professional materials and deep expertise in specific media, Michaels emphasizes breadth of categories, competitive pricing, and creative inspiration. The stores are designed to serve the widest possible range of creative interests under one roof.

A single Michaels location typically carries supplies for painting, drawing, sculpting, yarn crafts (knitting and crochet), fabric and sewing, beading and jewelry making, scrapbooking and paper crafts, cake decorating, floral arranging, home decor, seasonal decorations, kids' crafts, and DIY projects. This extraordinary breadth means that a customer can walk into Michaels needing supplies for three completely different projects—a watercolor painting, a knitting project, and holiday decorations—and find everything in one trip. For people whose creative interests span multiple categories, this convenience is genuinely valuable.

The art supply section at Michaels focuses primarily on student-grade and mid-range materials from brands like Artist's Loft (Michaels' house brand), Liquitex Basics, Canson, and Royal & Langnickel. These materials are perfectly adequate for learning, practice, classroom use, and casual creative work. The stores also carry some professional-grade options—Liquitex Professional acrylics, Winsor & Newton watercolors, Prismacolor colored pencils—but the emphasis is on affordability and accessibility rather than the premium end of the market.

Pricing and Promotions

Michaels' pricing strategy is built around constant promotions. The company runs weekly ads with significant percentage-off coupons, seasonal sales events, clearance cycles, and the Michaels Rewards program, which provides members with exclusive discounts, early access to sales, personalized offers, and points-based rewards on purchases. For shoppers who pay attention to the promotional calendar and use coupons strategically, the effective cost of materials at Michaels can be remarkably low.

The Michaels Rewards program is genuinely worth joining for regular shoppers. The combination of member-exclusive coupons, birthday rewards, and points accumulation can reduce the cost of a typical shopping trip by 20-40 percent compared to list prices. For budget-conscious artists, students, and families, this promotional ecosystem makes Michaels one of the most affordable options for creative supplies.

It is worth noting, however, that Michaels' list prices on art supplies are sometimes higher than those at specialty retailers, and the promotional pricing model means that the "real" price of an item is often the sale price rather than the sticker price. Savvy shoppers learn to time their purchases around sales cycles and coupon availability.

Custom Framing Services

One of Michaels' most significant service offerings is its custom framing department, available at most locations. The framing service offers a wide selection of moldings, mats, and glazing options at prices that are generally competitive with standalone framing shops. Michaels frequently runs framing promotions—50% off custom framing is a common offer—that make professional framing accessible to customers who might otherwise find it prohibitively expensive.

The framing staff can advise on presentation choices and help customers select appropriate options for their artwork, photographs, or memorabilia. While the service may not match the archival expertise of a dedicated conservation framer, it is more than adequate for most purposes and offers the convenience of being available at over a thousand locations nationwide.

The In-Store Experience

Michaels stores are large, well-organized retail spaces designed for easy browsing and creative inspiration. Departments are clearly signed and logically arranged, making it straightforward to find specific products even in an unfamiliar location. Seasonal displays are particularly elaborate, showcasing project ideas, decorating themes, and creative inspiration that encourage customers to try new projects and purchase the materials to execute them.

The stores are designed to be welcoming to families, with dedicated kids' craft sections, project idea displays, and an atmosphere that encourages exploration. Many locations offer in-store classes and workshops covering various crafts and techniques, from painting and drawing basics to specialized skills like cake decorating, floral design, and jewelry making. These classes are typically affordable and beginner-friendly, making them accessible entry points for people curious about new creative pursuits.

The staff at Michaels are helpful and can assist with finding products and answering basic questions, though they are generally not specialists in any particular medium. For detailed technical questions about art materials—pigment properties, paper weights, brush construction—specialty retailers with artist-staffed stores will provide more informed guidance.

Recent Expansion and Market Position

In recent years, Michaels has strategically expanded into categories previously dominated by competitors. Following the closure of Jo-Ann Stores in 2025, Michaels significantly expanded its fabric and sewing supplies sections, absorbing a customer base that suddenly lost its primary retailer. Similarly, following Party City's struggles, Michaels expanded its party supplies and balloon services. These expansions reinforce Michaels' position as the dominant one-stop creative retail destination in North America.

The company has also invested heavily in its online presence and omnichannel capabilities. Michaels.com offers the full product catalog with options for home delivery, in-store pickup, and same-day delivery in many markets. The mobile app integrates coupons, rewards, and shopping lists, making it easy to plan purchases and take advantage of promotions.

Who Michaels Serves Best

Beginners and explorers who want to try different creative activities without significant financial commitment will find Michaels ideal. The affordable pricing and broad selection allow experimentation across multiple media and crafts.

Students at all levels can build functional supply collections at reasonable prices. Many art students purchase their basic supplies at Michaels and supplement with specialty items from dedicated art supply retailers as their needs become more specific.

Families looking for creative activities, kids' craft supplies, and project inspiration will find Michaels well-suited to their needs. The stores are designed to be family-friendly, and the class offerings provide structured creative experiences for children and adults alike.

Crafters and DIY enthusiasts working on specific projects—home decor, seasonal decorations, scrapbooking, jewelry making, yarn crafts—will find comprehensive supplies and inspiration in one convenient location.

For professional artists needing museum-quality materials, archival-grade supplies, or deep expertise in specific media, specialty retailers like Blick, Daniel Smith, or local independent art supply stores will better serve those needs.

The Bottom Line

Michaels Stores succeeds by being the most accessible, convenient, and broadly stocked creative retail destination in North America. The company's massive footprint, aggressive promotional pricing, one-stop-shop breadth, and family-friendly atmosphere make it the natural starting point for anyone beginning a creative journey. While it is not the destination for professional-grade fine art materials, Michaels excels at its core mission: making creativity affordable and approachable for everyone.