Get ready for the holidays with All About Fabrics
“We’re at All About Fabrics in Williamston, South Carolina,” returning customer Tasha Thomas explained. “I’ve been following their monthly sales for about 2 years now. Everything is always a little bit different every month. There’s always something new to find.”
While its parent company, Phoenix of Anderson, ships products all over the world, All About Fabrics is known regionally for its monthly three-day warehouse sales that offer exclusive items at low prices.
“I’ve been coming [to the sales] for several years with my sister. I grew up in Greenville, but I live in Columbia now, so I’m bringing friends up from Columbia,” Joy Tucker said. “I shop primarily for fabric because the prices are so good, and the quality is great. You can get designer fabrics for a very reasonable price.”
With approximately 55,000 square feet of retail space and 300,000 square feet of warehouse space, there’s a wide selection of indoor and outdoor fabrics, sewing supplies, home décor, seasonal items and much more. It’s that selection, along with pricing, that sets All About Fabrics apart, according to co-owner Eric Cohen.
“The prices are wonderful. You’re going to save over retail stores,” Thomas said. “Even though they’re only open a few days a month the selection is huge, so I would give you the advice of preparing to spend a couple hours in the warehouse because you’re going to want to check out everything.”
“When I first walked through the door, I was a little overwhelmed,” Diane Farr explained. “This is my very first time [at the sale]. My friend, Joy, has been here before, and she knew I was really needing some new fabric to update some things in my home.”
Farr said they left Columbia around 7:30 a.m. and made a “really nice day trip out of it.”
“I’ve really enjoyed it. Just having girlfriends here to bounce off ideas. I just know I made the right decision. I’m just so excited about a new look in my home,” Farr said. “I cannot tell you how wonderful all the staff has been, helping us to coordinate things in such a professional, friendly, and kind manner.”
Employees are spread throughout the three rooms in the warehouse, and they’re ready to help!
“They have a great staff, and it’s an ample staff as well. So if you do need help, there’s always someone within arm’s reach. They’re all wearing the red shirts, so they’re easy to spot,” Thomas explained.
On top of the more than a million yards of fabric, All About Fabrics has a vast selection of art supplies, crafts, toys, and children’s fabrics. Tucker mentioned she always keeps an eye out for birthday gifts and Christmas presents.
It also has seasonal décor. During the August sale, Fall and Halloween items were spread throughout the warehouse.
Co-owner Greg Cohen said they already have more than 1,000 Christmas trees in stock, and they will be expanding their “Christmas Corner” during the September sale.
“It’s turned into something fairly large,” Eric Cohen said. “We have 1,200 to 2,000 people in three days. They drive from all over the Southeast and we’ve had customers from all 50 states.”
The sales are always Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The remaining 2022 sale dates are:
- September 8, 9, 10
- October 6, 7, 8
- November 3, 4, 5
- December 1, 2, 3
ABOUT
The three Cohen brothers represent a fourth generation of textile business owners. Their great-grandfather emigrated from Russia to New York in the early 1900s where he peddled fabrics and earned enough money to open a knitting mill on New York’s lower east side. Their father, Herb Cohen, moved South with the migration of U.S. textile mills, eventually moving to Anderson where he opened Textile Enterprises of Anderson.
“My background is in construction,” Eric Cohen explained. “My Dad had a fire back in 1990, and I came down to help him rebuild for a year, then I was going to get back into construction. My Dad always said when you get into textiles, it gets in your blood. I got into it 30 years ago, my youngest brother two years later then my oldest brother came in 10 years ago.”
After the fire, Textile Enterprises of Anderson became Phoenix of Anderson. The family then opened All About Fabrics.
“It’s definitely one of the reasons that I’ll make the one-hour drive to come,” Thomas explained. “Knowing that it’s a family-owned business and that the money is going to stay in the community.”
All About Fabrics and Phoenix of Anderson are located at 15 Broad Street near downtown Williamston. To learn more or shop online, click here. You can also follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
