Jo-Ann Stores Inspires Positivity and Hope With its St. Jude Holiday Partnership

In episode 380 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Amanda Hayes, director of corporate communications, diversity and inclusion at Jo-Ann Stores, an American specialty retailer of crafts and fabrics operating the retail chains JOANN Fabrics and Crafts and Jo-Ann Etc. Listen in as Hayes discusses Jo-Ann Stores’ annual holiday partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (0:55), and how the craft retailer creates customer and employee awareness around its Thanks and Giving® campaign (3:28). She shares how Jo-Ann Stores sells St. Jude patient artwork fabric on its e-commerce site year-round (8:05), and how the retailer directly interacts with the patient artists (11:09).

In addition, Hayes discusses why corporate social responsibility and charitable giving is core to the DNA of Jo-Ann Stores (14:14), and how its St. Jude partnership creates a feeling of unity and inspires passion among employees and customers (17:30). Lastly, she details the impact that Jo-Ann Stores’ fundraising efforts have made for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (18:03), and how shoppers can support the campaign through the end of the year here (19:45).

Amanda Hayes is a strategic, results-driven and people-first leader with 15 years of experience in all aspects of communications, including public relations, social media, executive communications and charitable strategy. She’s passionate about creating cultures and building brands, and currently oversees all communications for multibillion-dollar retailer Jo-Ann Stores. Hayes works closely with cross-functional leaders on important initiatives such as ESG/CSR, Diversity and Inclusion, and keeping Jo-Ann Stores’ 25,000 team members engaged and connected to their work, to its products, and to millions of customers worldwide.