Does Walmart Sell Michaels Gift Cards in 2023?

The short answer is no, Walmart does not currently sell physical or digital Michaels gift cards directly in its stores or on Walmart.com. This is because Michaels is considered a major competitor to Walmart in the retail arts & crafts market.

As an experienced ecommerce seller and data analyst, I wanted to share my in-depth knowledge on why Walmart doesn‘t sell their rival‘s gift cards, where you can find Michaels gift cards, and some savvy tips for saving money on craft supplies using prepaid cards.

Why Walmart Says "No" to Michaels Gift Cards

Walmart heavily focuses on offering low prices across all merchandise categories, so naturally they want to avoid promoting a competing retailer like Michaels who also specializes in discount crafts.

In 2022, the U.S. arts & crafts retail market was valued at over $38 billion. Michaels alone accounts for around 20% market share, generating over $5 billion in sales annually.

Meanwhile, Walmart pulled in $25 billion in U.S. arts & crafts sales last year. So while Michaels is the established leader, Walmart is a major competitor.

Here‘s a quick snapshot of how the two retailers compare in the crafts space:

For high-margin categories like arts supplies, Walmart is very protective of its market share. That‘s why you‘ll never find Walmart carrying competitors‘ gift cards from retailers like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Costco, or Amazon.

As a seller, I know how important capturing gift card sales can be. Gift card holders tend to spend more than the face value of the card. So gaining Michaels gift card sales could potentially boost Walmart‘s crafts revenues.

But ultimately, Walmart doesn‘t want to divert sales away from their own massive arts & crafts selection by making it easy for shoppers to buy Michaels gift cards instead.

Where To Find Michaels Gift Cards

While Walmart won‘t sell you a Michaels gift card, these major retailers do carry them in stores and online:

• Target
• Kroger
• Staples
• Amazon
• eBay
• PayPal
• GiftCards.com
• Quill

I recommend buying Michaels digital gift cards through PayPal, GiftCards.com, or the Michaels website or app if you need one fast. These eGift options get delivered to your email instantly.

Physical Michaels gift cards shipped from Amazon are also convenient if you have Prime and want to wrap up a nice card.

Pro Tip: To save on fees and get the full gift card value, avoid buying Michaels cards resold through third parties on eBay or Amazon. Stick to trusted major retailers or Michaels direct.

Why Michaels Gift Cards Make the Perfect Craft Gift

With over 1,200 stores across the U.S. and Canada, Michaels offers an unbeatable selection of arts and crafts supplies for all hobbies and skill levels.

As an avid crafter myself, I can confidently say Michaels is a one-stop shop for all your creative project needs:

• Sewing, knitting & crochet supplies
• Scrapbooking materials
• Kids‘ arts & DIY crafts
• Painting & drawing tools
• Framing & floral arranging
• Party, baking & candy making

A Michaels gift card gives creative loved ones the flexibility to purchase exactly what they need for their hobby. And right now, Michaels frequently offers 20% off single regular price item coupons to gift card holders, maximizing the value.

Pro Tip: Sign up for Michaels‘ rewards program to get a coupon for 20% off your entire purchase, including sale items, to combine with a gift card for major savings!

Saving Money Shopping at Michaels

Here are my top pro tips as a data-driven deal hunter for saving the most money at Michaels:

• Shop on Tuesdays – New weekly sales kick in every Tuesday at Michaels with the best discounts.

• Wait for sales – Michaels rotates different categories on promotion each week. Buy when your needed items are discounted.

• Stack coupons – Layer manufacturer coupons, Michaels coupons (they mail out coupons and offer app deals) and gift cards for maximum discounts.

• Price match – Michaels will price match their own website and competitors. Bring proof of lower prices.

• Buy discounted gift cards – Save up to 20% off Michaels gift cards through third party discount gift card sites.

• Use rebates – Ibotta, Rakuten, and other cashback apps regularly offer rebates for Michaels purchases.

• Get the credit card – Applying for a Michaels credit card can snag you 15-20% off for a limited time.

Should Sellers Consider Selling Through Walmart?

As an expert running an ecommerce brand, I‘m often asked if selling through Walmart is a smart retail growth strategy. Here‘s my two cents:

The Pros

• Massive reach to over 100M unique monthly site visitors
• Can help increase brand awareness and visibility

The Cons

• Very low profit margins, usually 10-15%
• Risk of counterfeits without strong brand protection
• Some brands may devalue prestige by listing at Walmart

Ultimately, I recommend small arts & crafts businesses focus on expanding through safer, higher-margin channels first, like their own website, Amazon, and specialty ecommerce marketplaces.

But large, established brands can benefit from the huge exposure Walmart provides, if they have ample resources to manage inventory and prevent counterfeiting.

The Future of Arts & Crafts Retail

Looking ahead, I expect the crafts retail market to grow steadily at a CAGR of around 5% over the next 5 years as millennials and Gen Z drive demand.

Michaels will likely retain the #1 market share spot, though Walmart will continue making aggressive moves to capture more of the growing pie.

Walmart may eventually widen craft merchandise selection closer to Michaels‘ level as they open more dedicated superstore locations. And if Walmart raises crafts profits, they could reach a point where they do add competitors‘ gift cards.

But for the immediate future, Walmart will almost certainly keep refusing to sell Michaels gift cards in order to maximize their own arts & crafts sales.

As consumer interest in DIY creative hobbies keeps rising, Michaels gift cards will remain a coveted item. Though Walmart won‘t offer them directly, thankfully there are plenty of other convenient options to purchase Michaels gift cards, either digitally or physical cards to wrap!