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CRAFTFOCUS
www.craftfocus.com
Issue 19 June/July 2010
www.craftfocus.com
M AGAZI N E
PREVIEWS
• CHA Summer Show
• Home & Gift Show
How ca
n
EPOS
improve
yo
busines ur
s?
BEADING
BONANZA
Stamping: past,
present & future
TRIED AND
TESTED
PAPERCRAFTS
Crafty treats
for little ones
WIN!
Over £600 of Beads Unlimited goodies
PLUS
Latest products
Industry profiles
News & views
June/July 2010 Issue 19
Editor
Emma Zücker
+44 (0)1376 535 609
[email protected]
Editorial Assistant
Rianna Fry
+44 (0)1376 535 613
[email protected]
Sales Manager
Mark White
+44 (0)1376 535 606
[email protected]
Advertising Sales
Tracy Voice
+44 (0)1376 535 618
[email protected]
Design Manager
Vicky O'Connor
+44 (0)1376 535 616
[email protected]
Graphic Designers
Sarah Barnes, Sophie Farage, Laura Perry
Steve Mckea, Hayley Kilminster
+44 (0)1376 535 616
Studio Assistant
Leanne Walsh
Production Manager
Stuart Weatherley
Subscriptions
Alice Henson, Charlotte Tannett
+44 (0)1376 514 000
KD Media Publishing Limited
Broseley House
Newlands Drive
Witham, Essex, CM8 2UL, UK
www.craftfocus.com
Cover image courtesy of Jane Means
Designs (www.janemeans.co.uk)
ISSN 1758-0900
Craft Focus is solely owned, published and
designed by KD Media Publishing Limited.
Whilst every effort was made to ensure the
information in this magazine was correct at the
time of going to press, the publishers cannot
accept legal responsibility for any errors or
omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of
the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial
contributions. The views expressed do not
necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Craft
Focus is published six times a year. Subscription
rates for overseas readers are £40 per annum
(incl. p+p), Cheques should be made out to
KD Media Publishing Limited and sent to
Craft Focus, Broseley House, Newlands Drive,
Witham, Essex, CM8 2UL, United Kingdom.
contents
54
regulars
special feature
industry news
6
We highlight the hottest happenings in the industry
beading marvellous
41
Leading suppliers discuss the beading market
and what products are on trend
brand spanking new
17
Take a look at the latest product launches
the library
Crafty tomes to inspire and inform
features
24
competition
31
Win Beads Unlimited products worth over £600
past, present and future
35
of stamping
Editor of consumer magazine Craft Stamper,
Katy Fox talks about the history of stamping
marketing matters
90
Business Link offers advice on public relations
bright spark
39
We speak to award winning jewellery kit
designer Kirsty Davies
profiles
putting pen to paper
49
We test some new papercraft products
dressing the part
32
Sheri Kingston of Dress It Up Beads reveals why she’s
making a success of the business
child’s play
54
A round up of the best kids’ craft products
creating a destination craft shop 66
We speak to retailer Sandy Weller about establishing her
business The Craft Barn
Appliqué, decorate and adorn
60
Embellishing expert Kayte Terry explains how
significant her craft is in the industry today
buttons, scrapbooks and beyond 74
John Ashley explains how Jones & Co (Nottingham) is
moving with the times
cushions: step-by-step
69
Learn how to make stunning soft furnishings
how can EPoS transform
81
your business?
Kim Sutton tells us about turning failing Blyth Craft
Studio into a prosperous money-maker
brilliant buttons
86
Retailer Anna Hodgson explains why a flow of new
products is key to The ButtonCompany
fancy feltwork
98
We find out about successful felt-making company
Gilliangladrag from its owner Gillian Harris
boys’ toys
72
We show off some male-friendly products
q&a technology
77
Beth Scott answers your questions on how to
get the best out of mail order
thinking big
83
Chris Barling from e-commerce and EPoS
supplier Actinic talks multi-channelling
q&a special
Expert advice on retail-related issues
89
shows
Craft Focus magazine is proud to be
associated with and supporters of:
a big success
27
Figures are already up on last year for the Craft
& Hobby Association’s summer shows
MEDIA SUPPORTER
ANTI COPYING IN DESIGN
41
exceeding expectations
65
We get a sneak preview into who’s going to be
at this year’s Home & Gift show
craftfocus 3
Have your say...
Here at Craft Focus we like
you to get involved – after all,
the magazine is written for you.
With that in mind, this issue is
crammed full of company profiles
and interviews, giving the people
in the know a chance to talk
about what they deem important.
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7)(LQIR#JUDSKLFDLUFRXN
:ZZZ#JUDSKLFDLUFRXN
Aside from all the regular company profile features, we have a special
retailer round up, this time with just one retailer – Kim Sutton of
Blythe Craft Studio – who tells us her story about the money her
company was losing before she decided to implement an EPoS system.
If you’re not an EPoS user or aren’t exactly sure what it entails, I
would recommend turning to page 81 to find out more.
On a lighter note, let’s turn to the wonderful world of papercrafts!
Over the past few weeks, the girls in our office have had great
fun messing around with some delightful new products. Now, we
don’t confess to being papercraft experts, nor do we have much
experience of it, but we did think testing a few would be a great way
to find out just what crafty customers might think.
Now, from cardmaking ladies to crafty men. It’s true – some boys do
like a spot of arts and crafts, but they don’t always get the attention
they deserve. So we’ve gathered a few things which may take their
fancy and coax them into your store.
Stamping is a traditional and long-standing pastime, so we wanted
to find out more about its history. Who better to ask than friendly
editor of consumer magazine Craft Stamper, Katy Fox, to give us an
insight into not only how the craft has evolved, but more importantly
what trends your customers are currently getting excited about.
That has just scratched the surface of this edition of Craft Focus.
Besides a load more interviews and special features, we’ve got the
usual news and new products, as well as previews of CHA’s Summer
Show and Home & Gift – both taking place in the coming months.
I do hope you enjoy this issue and, as usual, I’m very happy for you to
get in touch with feedback or suggestions for future issues – there’s
always a list of upcoming features on our website should you wish to
take a look. Meanwhile, enjoy the start of your summer!
Emma
Emma Zücker
Editor
craftfocus 5
industry news
Find out about the latest industry goings-on in our regular roundup
Autumn Fair International 2010 gets 25% bigger
Hot on the heels of an order-busting Autumn Fair International (AFI) 2009,
one of the largest events of the season for the home and gift trade has already
overtaken last year’s show size, with a major increase in floor space and 25%
more companies expected to participate. AFI 2010 will offer a large and varied
selection of new products and market-leading brands available to the trade in the
run up to Christmas, with many exhibitors also previewing early spring ranges for
buyers with an eye on future trends.
“Autumn Fair exhibitors have already taken more floor space than we went
to show with last year,” said managing director Louise Young. “This is a very
encouraging indicator of how well the trade has weathered tough economic
conditions, and also that our own efforts to support and grow the market are
bearing fruit.”
For further information visit the website at www.autumnfair.com.
The crafty
community
Craft for Life
supports Cancer
Research UK
Since January 2010
the docrafts team
has received fantastic
support from the crafting
community for the Craft
For Life campaign, which
is run in partnership with
Cancer Research UK. Over
38,000 cards have been
sold and £49,000 has been
raised so far, which includes
£11,000 generated from the Papermania rose stamp set.
The campaign calls on crafters with a passion for card
making to support the charity by creating A6 handmade cards
that will then be sold in Cancer Research UK’s shops for £1.
Anyone can join the campaign, whether they are beginners or
existing crafters.
“The response to Craft For Life so far has completely blown
us away,” said marketing director from docrafts Phil Griffin. “A
massive number of cards have been kindly donated to Cancer
Research UK shops so far and docrafts would like to say a
huge thank you to all the avid crafters who have spent time
supporting this campaign. We also would like to thank the
‘do crafts’ creativity stores throughout the country that are
assisting through selling the exclusive clear stamp sets and by
distributing the card bags.”
To find your local Cancer Research UK shop where the
handmade cards are available to buy, please visit the website
at www.cancerresearchuk.org/shopping.
6 craftfocus
CHA’s Craft SuperShow to debut in Chicagoland
The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Craft SuperShow consumer event
will take place at Illinois and the Chicagoland area for the first time this
summer. The show, to be held at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center
in Rosemont, Illinois from 30th to 31st July, is expected to draw over 8,000
crafters from across the country and feature industry-leading exhibitors
showcasing craft products and supplies.
Billed as the ultimate craft shopping experience, expert crafters will assist
attendees with hands-on projects and make-and-take demonstrations both
on and off the show floor. Dozens of workshops from across multiple sectors
of the craft industry will inspire consumers to try new crafts and learn
advanced techniques.
“We launched the Craft SuperShow to promote the benefits of crafting, such
as the value proposition, quality time with family, stress-relief and to introduce
and remind consumers of the pleasure of crafting,” explained Steve Berger,
CEO of CHA. “We are very excited to bring this fun and informative event
to Illinois and Chicagoland.”
For more information on the CHA Craft SuperShow including workshop
details, show floor events, celebrity attendees and to buy tickets, visit the
websites at www.craftsupershow.com, twitter.com/CraftSuperShow, or
www.facebook.com/CraftSuperShow.
news&events
ICHF release show dates for Craft Hobby + Stitch
International 2011
Show organisers ICHF have confirmed that Craft Hobby + Stitch International
will take place from 20th – 22nd February 2011, at the NEC Birmingham, giving
the creative craft industry the international platform it deserves.
“Craft Hobby + Stitch International in February was a great success, attracting
both independent retailers and buyers from companies including Hobbycraft,
John Lewis and TK Maxx, plus big national and international mail order
companies,” said ICHF managing director David Bennett. “Last year the creative
craft industry reached high confidence levels due to an increase in consumer
demand. We are confident that this trend will continue and have already started
the planning, with many new and exciting initiatives and features to make the
2011 show the best yet.”
Craft Hobby + Stitch International is one of Europe’s largest trade shows
for the art, craft, needlecraft and hobby industry, with over 220 UK and global
manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers showcasing innovative
supplies for the marketplace.
The trade show offers buyers, retailers and the media an exclusive opportunity
to source and research new products and offers the perfect platform for
networking and developing new and existing relationships. Popular show features
including the Bright Sparks Pavilion – showcasing the latest designs and products
from fledgling companies – and the fantastic programme of free workshops and
seminars will return in 2011.
For information about booking a trade stand contact Andrew Morton or Troy
Bennett at ICHF on +44 (0)1425 272 711, email [email protected] or visit the
website at www.ichf.co.uk/chsi.
New national insurance policy better for small firms
and jobs
CJ Beaders expand their product offering
CJ Beaders is growing its range of beading products via
a new relationship with the American manufacturer A to
Z Bohemian Glass, whom are advertising heavily in UK
consumer magazines at the moment.
“We are really pleased to be able to offer an additional,
superb range of retail-ready beads to complement our
existing range of products,” said Graham Halls, from CJ
Beaders.
The growing range of A to Z Bohemian Glass products will
be available to order from the CJ Beaders trade only website.
For more information call +44 (0)1934 853 375 or visit the
website at www.cjbtrade.co.uk.
The Forum of Private Business is welcoming the new Liberal Democrat and
Conservative coalition government’s decision to scrap the planned 1% hike in
employers’ national insurance (NI) for many staff members – a policy that had
been met with strong opposition from business groups.
The ‘tax on jobs’ had been scheduled to take place in 2011 – when many
analysts anticipate small businesses will be seeking to recruit in earnest in
order to meet renewed demand.
Although the 1% employers’ NI rise remains for members of staff
earning more than £20,800, the threshold at which they begin paying NI on
employees earning up to that figure will increase by £21 per week – meaning
most will be spared a major tax increase in return for retaining staff and
taking on new employees.
“Small businesses did not want this tax
on jobs because it clearly would have
been a major barrier to staff retention
and job creation and would have hindered
economic recovery,” said the Forum’s chief
executive Phil Orford. “For the majority
of employers it would have proved to be
an unpopular and unworkable tax rise.
Although not perfect, the new coalition
government’s policy on NI is far better and
provides a degree of certainty for business
growth now and in the future.”
craftfocus 7
industry news
Big changes at Ellison Europe
Ellison Europe would like to announce the recent
promotion of Richard Birse to managing director.
Richard Birse joined Ellison Europe over two
years ago as general manager, bringing with him
extensive knowledge in operations, turnarounds
and global supply chain.
Since Richard joined Ellison Europe the company
has seen unprecedented growth in a period of
global recession, reflecting both operational control and development of
multiple regions including UK, Mainland Europe, Middle East and Asia.
“The success to date of Ellison Europe is a culmination of innovative
product and a team passionate in offering clear customer focus,” said Richard
Birse. “With an unrivalled range of new release products to offer in 2010
and 2011, we are all looking forward to building and developing the Sizzix®
product range with our global trading partners.”
For further information on Ellison Europe call +44 (0)871 222 2277 or
visit the website at www.ellison.com.
Creation of European hobby and craft distributor
Kars & Co BV has just announced the completion of the acquisition of 100%
of KnorrPrandell GmbH in Lichtenfels, Germany by the shareholders of Kars
& Co BV which will take place with immediate effect. They will shortly be
integrated in a new holding company situated in The Netherlands, but until
then the organisations will operate under their respective entity names.
The acquisition as been billed as the most logical and compelling within the
craft industry. Mr. Roel Semmelink – who is currently CEO of Kars & Co BV –
is appointed CEO of the new combination.
Kars & Co BV is known as a leading hobby and craft supplier in the paper
industry and papercraft related hobbies, whereas KnorrPrandell holds strong
roots in jewellery, basics and floral ranges. The combination of the companies
will provide their customers, suppliers, employees and shareholders major
benefits in the short, medium and
long term.
The new combination will
benefit significantly from a wellbalanced European presence
and major economies of scale.
It is the companies’ belief that
the integration will provide the
opportunity to face difficult
market circumstances identified by
declining customer spending, the
shifting of both price and demand
to other channels, as well as the
upcoming concentration of the
retail and direct sales via internet
to both retail and consumers.
For further information email
[email protected] or visit Kars &
Co BV website on www.kars.eu.
8 craftfocus
Daylight™ Company and EQS Join Forces
Daylight, designer and manufacturer of dedicated craft lamps
and accessories, has announced that it is working in close
cooperation with EQS, a leading distributor for the needlecraft
market. With immediate effect EQS will stock and distribute
Daylight’s complete range of products, including all accessories
and bulbs and the company’s new Naturalight by Daylight brand.
The two companies are believed to complement each other
well. EQS is a respected distributor of quilting, sewing and
needlecraft products and Daylight is renowned for its innovative
lighting range. Both organisations have an impressive history of
success, with Daylight having recently celebrated 20 years since
launching its first lamp in 1989 and EQS continuing to grow
from strength to strength since it was first established in 1996.
“Daylight is a brilliant new addition to our line-up of popular
and high quality needlework brands,” said Graeme Wright, EQS
managing director. “We are delighted to be in a position to
distribute its full range which is designed with the customer in
mind. The company's flexible lamps have always been the most
adapted and suitable for the needs of keen needlecrafters with
special features such as magnifiers and accessories – parts that
most other lighting brands don’t offer.”
For Daylight’s complete product range, a new trade brochure
or details of its stockist offers, promotions and dealer support
visit the website www.daylightcompany.com or www.eqsuk.com.
news&events
Equifax Business
Failures Report
reveals drop in failures
Double celebration for ICHF Events
ICHF Events enjoyed a double celebration at its popular textile art show
Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch which took place at the NEC Birmingham from
25th to 28th March 2010, co-locating with the long established Sewing For
Pleasure and Hobbycrafts shows from Harrogate. Not only did the show
celebrate its 21st anniversary, it also broke all previous visitor number records.
Visitor numbers were up by 27% on last year to 29,054 over the four days
– confirming that moving the show from the Great Yorkshire Showground in
Harrogate to the NEC Birmingham for the first time was a great success. This
move was much appreciated by the show’s supporters from all around the
UK, with visitors to the NEC making good use of their chance to visit all three
great shows for the price of one.
“We were really thrilled with the number of visitors at this year’s show,”
said ICHF managing director David Bennett. “I think that Fashion, Embroidery
& Stitch added another element of interest for visitors, making the move from
Harrogate to Birmingham a great success.”
For more information on this ICHF event call +44 (0)1425 272 711 or visit
the website at www.ichf.co.uk.
Business information expert,
Equifax, has reported nearly
a 3% drop in the number of
businesses going bust in April
2010 compared to results from
March this year.
Neil Munroe, external affairs
director at Equifax believes that
whilst this drop in the number
of businesses going under is still
relatively small, continuing the downward trend in failures
seen in Quarter 1, it is an important indicator of a return to
business confidence despite a potentially unsettling period
for commerce during the General Election campaign.
“It appears from our figures that uncertainty about
the General Election outcome hasn’t caused too much
distraction for businesses – and they seems to have
concentrated on both generating sales and managing cash
flow,” said Neil Munroe.
“In Quarter 1 2010 we saw a small – just half a
percentage point – drop in failures compared to the end of
2009. We felt this could be an important indicator of how
companies have been managing their operations, from cost
cutting to improved collections, to survive in the current
recession. These new figures for April certainly seem to
indicate a continuing positive trend.”
For more information on Equifax and this report visit the
website at www.equifax.co.uk.
The Knitting and Stitching Show to exhibit some of
Europe’s best textiles
This autumn’s Knitting and Stitching Show – which takes place in various UK
locations during October and November – will be welcoming around 400
specialist exhibitors. In addition there will be an extensive range of workshops
giving visitors the opportunity to learn about many new crafts – from beginners’
crochet to felt making or beadwork.
An entire hall will be devoted to gallery exhibitions which will house this year’s
impressive line up of international textile artists such as Elizabeth Tarr, Deirdre
Hawken, Andrew Schneider, an exhibition from Alice Kettle and Jane McKeating
and a Julia Caprara retrospective.
The prestigious Global Paper Exhibition will travel to London for the first
time to be part of the Knitting and Stitching Show. The focus will be on jewellery
made from paper, however also featured will be collages, sculpted and cut books,
and installations specially assembled for this biennial.
The Knitting and Stitching Show takes place at Alexandra Palace, London
from 7th to 10th October, Dublin RDS from 28th to 31st October and Harrogate
International Centre from 25th to 28th November. Full details of all special features
and gallery artists, plus information on tickets can be obtained by visiting the
website at www.twistedthread.com.
craftfocus 11
industry news
Stationery Show now a standalone buyeronly event
The Stationery Show has become a standalone, buyer-only
event following this year’s successful debut of the ‘100%
stationery’ concept alongside the Office Products Show which
was attended by many leading independents and multiple
retailers. Buyers attended from John Lewis, Paperchase, Harrods,
Bentalls, Amazon, Ryman, Wilkinson, Waterstone’s, WHSmith,
Colemans, Fenwick, Staples, British Bookshops & Stationers,
Stationery Cupboard and Jarrold Stationers.
Admission will in future be restricted to retailers and resellers
and will exclude non-exhibiting suppliers in order to protect
exhibitors’ investment in the show.
“We are excited by the opportunity we now have to create
a significant dedicated UK stationery event for retailers and
other resellers,” commented organiser Chris Leonard-Morgan.
“Stationery is a dynamic and increasingly consumer-led market,
and offers considerable scope for development. It will benefit
greatly from having its own dedicated platform.”
The 2011 Stationery Show will take place at the Business
Design Centre in London on Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th
April. For more information on the show call First Events on
+44 (0)208 462 0721 or email clm@firstevents.com.
Simply Knitting teams up with
Marie Curie for The Blooming
Great Tea Party
Consumer knitting magazine Simply Knitting has
partnered with Marie Curie Cancer Care in
support of The Blooming Great Tea Party campaign,
and they’re asking for knitters to get involved
with the cause. The campaign asks people to get
together and host a tea party anytime from 13th
June to 12th July to help raise funds for the charity.
The magazine is running a competition to design
and either hand-knit or crochet a tea cosy inspired
by the Blooming Great Tea Party, and has provided
two basic tea cosy patterns – one knit, one crochet
– as a guide for designs.
The competition will be judged by Cath Kidston,
Simply Knitting and Marie Curie Cancer Care,
based on entries for Best Tea Cosy and Best
Blooming Great Tea Cosy, with prizes awarded
at The Knitting and Stitching Show at London’s
Alexandra Palace in October. A whole host of
celebrities are involved in the campaign, with
designs from Maureen Lipman, Jane Asher and
Angela Rippon.
For more information on the event call
+44 (0)800 716 146, visit the website at
www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty or pick up a copy
of Simply Knitting.
12 craftfocus
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Eco-Fi: High quality
polyester fibre made
from 100% post-consumer
recycled plastic bottles
used in the manufacturing
process of Kunin Craft Felt.
For further information about Kunin Craft Felt
please contact
Fashion Futures Limited, Units 1 and 2 Mace Industrial
Estate, Ashford, Kent TN24 8EP.
[email protected]
Tel +44 (0) 1233 625227. Fax +44 (0) 1233 612352
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industry news
Sharpie gets a crafty fashion fix
Since launching in the US in 1964, Sharpie markers have become famous for a
wide range of bold colours and styles. Sharpie was first introduced to the UK in
2007, and is now one of the UK’s leading permanent markers.
Now, fresh from the catwalk at New York Fashion Week – with which they
have been involved – Sharpie markers are taking a fashion cue by introducing this
summer’s must-have pastel shades – lilac, boysenberry, pink lemonade and mint.
The Sharpie marker’s ability to write on just about anything means its creative
potential is limitless. From tidying up scuff marks on favourite shoes to sketching
out the latest hot designs, there’s a Sharpie marker for every crafty occasion. The
products are ideal for everything from labelling CDs and writing on containers or
food bags, to creating occasion cards and seasonal decorations.
Sharpie markers are available in 17 bright colours and in a range of modes and
styles, from the Sharpie Retractable, the Sharpie MINI and the Sharpie Fine Point,
to the Sharpie Twin Tip.
For more information visit the website at www.sharpie.com.
New point of sale material for Fimo
Lana Grossa yarn gets a cover shot
From trade fair to front cover of a UK knitting title in just
under three months – a great achievement for Lana Grossa
yarns, distributed by Creative Yarns, as well as for Yarn
Forward, published by Kal Media.
When Kerrie Allman, senior editor at Kal Media, visited
the Creative Yarns stand at the recent Craft Hobby + Stitch
International trade fair, her eye was immediately drawn to
the stunning Lana Grossa Latte yarn on display. She promptly
asked Nigel Morris, buying director at Creative Yarns, for a
design quantity which she took away with her. Kerrie then
made this yarn into a design which is now featured on the
cover of Yarn Forward magazine’s issue 26, out now.
“We are very pleased to be able to work with Yarn
Forward to promote our Lana Grossa yarns,” said Nigel
Morris of Creative Yarns. “Retailers can take advantage of the
demand created by this exposure to sell greater quantities
of their Lana Grossa yarns and patterns to consumers.”
To find out more about stocking Lana Grossa yarn,
contact +44 (0)845 313 0277.
14 craftfocus
Staedtler is launching the latest in its series of free project sheets to support
its Fimo soft polymer modelling clay range in store. Designed to attract
attention at point of sale, the new projects target both child and adult users.
The first leaflet, aimed at children aged eight and above and beginners,
shows a Union Jack bag charm followed by easy to follow, step-by-step
instructions and clear illustrations. A second project in the same format to
make a cupcake bracelet is printed on the reverse. Each project has a skill
rating for user guidance and a list of everything needed to complete it.
The second leaflet features a jewelled wedding cake card and targets
more experienced crafters. Designed to hang alongside the products in store
with a clear indication that
they are free, the eye-catching
leaflets are one third A4 in
size and available in packs of
100. Each sheet is perforated
so that single copies may
be easily detached and is
also hole-punched ready for
storing in a ring binder.
The first leaflets are
available now with more
scheduled to join the
series shortly. Projects will
be featured on Staedtler’s
website www.staedtler.co.uk
as downloadable PDFs. For
further information, please
call +44 (0)845 600 5930.
These aren’t just any ribbons!
These are Ribbon Designs’ original, best selling,
award-winning, eye-catching, frequently imitated,
still the best, pre-packed ribbons.
Available in Silk, Satin, Spark Organdy, Metal Organdy & Rat Tail
Quick, easy and profitable sales
5LEERQ'HVLJQV
PO Box 382, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 7XQ
Tel: 020 8958 4966
Email: [email protected]
www.ribbondesigns.co.uk
Horseshoe Crafts
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www.ladybugcraftsink.co.uk
www.ladybugcraftsink.com
An exciting new British company with a
fabulous brand new range of cling stamps,
manufactured in the UK to a very high standard.
New images coming soon
brand spanking new
Spellbinders™ Paper Arts
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Presto Punch™
+1 602 385 7700 or www.spellbinderspaperarts.com
RRP £46.63
The Presto Punch is an innovative, portable, one-touch, battery operated punch and
embossing tool. Users can punch and emboss effortlessly and store more than 30 designs
in the space of just one standard punch. Operating on eight AA batteries, the Presto
Punch is also power adaptable and seven punch templates are included in the pack.
Retailers have the opportunity to sell a new product with add-on sales for Basic Shapes,
Speciality Sets and Font Sets which are used with the Presto Punch.
The size of Spellbinders’ Presto Punch is 5¼” x 4½” x 7”.
Bothy Threads
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Dictionary of Homes and Dictionary of Gardens
+44 (0)1638 665 149 or www.bothythreads.com
RRP £27.49
The two new offerings from Bothy Threads now mean the dictionary range
comprises 10 options. These designs are based on Helen Smith’s popular pictures,
which she uses to inject her imagination, sense of humour and interesting word play
into the products.
It is an easy add on for those who already stock Bothy Thread products, plus a great
addition to other cross stitch products for retailers wanting something bold and modern.
The designs are all worked on 14 count white Zweigart Aida and measure 26cm x 28cm.
Craft Fairy
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Mulberry Paper Flowers
+44 (0)118 903 4118 or www.craftfairytrade.co.uk
RRP £2.20
This exclusive range of paper flowers consists of colour-themed packs of 20 flowers. Themes
include pink, black and white, and yellow and brown – which add to the flower ranges already
available from Craft Fairy.
The low retail price means that they are an easy pick up for customers so should bring
a constant income. They can be displayed hanging and are attractively packed so also ideal for gifts.
There are nine differently toned packs of 20 flowers available as well as larger packs of 50 flowers.
ArtYarn Trading
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Lang Yarns Mille Fiamme
+44 (0)1529 240 510 or www.artyarn.co.uk
RRP £7.75
The sumptuous colour and texture make this a really striking yarn. Mille Fiamme is the
new addition to the Mille Colori family – it’s super chunky, is best knitted on 9mm needles,
and therefore knits up quicky into irresistible accessories in colourways to suit all tastes. The
knitted fabric has a slubby texture as it is spun in the flammé style – so even simple stocking
stitch looks like something special.
The practical wool-acrylic composition allows the yarn to be easy-care and affordable, while
maintaining a certain artisan appeal. It is presented in a folded and labelled hank which is
attractive to customers.
The yarn comes in 100g hanks, with six colour options and producers Lang Yarns ensure
satisfaction through quality and customer service.
craftfocus 17
news&events
Take a look at some of the latest products around
brand spanking new
Country Love Ceramics
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Foam Clay
+44 (0)1235 861 700 or www.countryloveceramics.com
RRP £1.49 for a 50g pot
This versatile foam clay product consists of tiny polystyrene-like balls in a malleable,
brightly coloured medium. Crafters can break off small pieces which can be smoothed
over objects such as blank bisque or cardboard. Alternatively, it can be free formed
into any shape and leaves no sticky residue or colour stain on the fingers.
Neon bright colours as well as black and white are presented in clear tubs which
attract the eye of both adults and children.
The 10 colours can be kneaded together or glitter can be added, they are suitable for
make-and-take craft projects, and are non toxic.
G J Beads
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Matsuno seed beads from Japan
+44 (0)1736 751 070 or www.gjbeads.co.uk
RRP from £1.15
These high quality glass seed beads are manufactured to a high standard by Matsuno
for G J Beads. They are ideal for beadweaving, stringing, embellishment, embroidery or
even card making.
The beads are available in hangable retail-ready packaging with product codes and
barcodes. All products are available to view and buy online.
The seed beads all come in various shapes, with over 200 colours on offer in various
mixes by GJ Beads, as well as the four most popular sizes – 15, 11, 8 and 6.
SpangleJangle
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Iron-on transfers
+44 (0)2920 521 122 or www.spanglejangle.com
RRP £6.50
The new iron-on transfer designs from SpangleJangle are included in cross stitch
beginner kits ideal for the under 10s. The Easy 2 range concentrates on beginner kits, teaching the basics with simple and
engaging projects designed to maintain interest beyond the first few stitches. The transfers iron on to fabric and garments like
T-shirts, hats and bags and feature six count designs with girl and boy themes such as a dancer, footballer, princess and tiger.
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
The bright and inexpensive designs are a good way of enticing customers to the rest of the SpangleJangle range.
The colourful transfers are machine washable and can be part or fully stitched. All of SpangleJangle’s Tassel Dolly range are also
available as transfers.
Viridian Distribution
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
18 craftfocus
Symfonie Rose interchangeable needles set
+44 (0)117 300 5244 or www.viridianyarn.com
RRP £63.55 per set
The set includes eight pairs of interchangeable needle tips, along with four cables,
eight end caps, four cable keys and one cable case – all presented in a
handcrafted leatherette-covered wooden box. The needle tips are manufactured
using specially developed laminated birch wood designed in exquisite rosewood
texture which are said to create a smooth knitting experience.
The copper tinted metallic parts and brown cables complement the needle tips
making it an aesthetically pleasing product which will attract customers, plus
retailers can now offer it with a bonus product – the Symfonie Rose shawl pin.
Sizes are available in multiples of 0.5mm – from 3.5mm to 8mm.
UK Distributor for
Opal, Sock Yarn
Zitron (Including Trekking Sock Yarn)
Schoeller & Stahl Sock Yarn
Sock Yarn Specialists
WoollyWormhead
Books & Patterns
Lucy Neatby
Books, Patterns & DVDs
Frances Flectcher
Patterns
Susan Crawford
Books & patterns
Knitting Needles
& Accessories
Knitting Needles
& Accessories
THE PACKAGING THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
www.cleartecpackaging.co.uk
[email protected]
Tel: 01952 678822
Trade enquiries
e: [email protected]
t: 0117 3005244
www.viridianyarn.com
news&events
CJ Beaders
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Czech glass retail-ready beads
+44 (0)1934 853 375 or www.cjbtrade.co.uk
RRP from £1.49
This new collection of beads is supplied already strung onto retail
friendly 7’ strands and comes in a wide range of colours.
Large orders are not necessary, so the beads can be stocked in a wide
range of colours, shapes and sizes with a small outlay.
The products are easy to display and have an excellent mark-up potential.
Jane Means
Product:
New monochrome ribbon collection
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
+44 (0)1522 548 900 or www.janemeans.co.uk
RRP £4.99 for 10m roll
Jane Means has launched a new ribbon collection which includes many monochrome
designs as well as updated best-selling designs. Jane tells us more understated and subtle
colours are now available, and the company has increased the range to include many
black and grey designs. Jane Means has already seen many companies ordering the new
monochrome range because it is versatile and suitable for any gender and age.
The silver-grey stitched grosgrain is 15mm wide and comes in various roll sizes. This design
is popular with antique shops and vintage stores as it complements silver, however it
comes in other colours too.
The ribbon range now offers 100 metre rolls of ribbon which have an RRP of £26, but it is
also available in the popular 3m and 10m rolls.
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Payper Box
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Swing card templates
+44 (0)1727 836 665 or www.payperbox.co.uk
Pack of three RRP £7.99, pack of four RRP £9.99, CD RRP £12.99
The company has just launched a range of polypropylene templates to produce swing cards.
Full instructions are written on every template meaning they are very easy to use to give
accurate results. A gallery of swing cards made by Sandy Piercey can be viewed on the
website and all products are available to trade.
The range, developed by Sandy Piercey, launched on the Create & Craft TV channel, when
the supporting CD containing all designs was also presented, so Payper Box hopes this will
become a well-known range within the craft industry.
The templates are available in DL, C6 or 5”sq and each size has an oval, square and oblong
swinging aperture.
Photocentric
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Imagepac Stampmaker kit
+44 (0)1733 349 937 or www.photocentric.co.uk
Price on application
The new Imagepac Stampmaker kit makes clear stamps in five minutes and is
perfect for designers, craft clubs, small shops, or anyone who wants to make their
own stamps. The portable UV unit is easy to use and gives quality results.
The product will support all other stamping accessories and getting crafters involved
in designing their own stamps could create a fresh enthusiasm for the craft.
Photocentric will shortly be launching a new Celebrity Designer Stampmaker range
at CHA where the well-known designer involved in the product launch will be revealed.
craftfocus 21
brand spanking new
Heritage Crafts
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Niagara Falls
+44 (0)1889 575 256 or www.hcrafts.com
RRP £27.95
The new cross stitch design offerings from Heritage Craft give clear charts which are easy to
follow. They come complete in kits using quality components such as Zweigart fabric and DMC
threads and all other necessary items.
The well-known company and designers have been well advertised meaning customers are
familiar with the brands, and the new design themes are popular for summer stitching.
The size of each piece is 31cm x 11cm and the kits contain either 14 count Aida or 27 count
evenweave fabric. All products are designed and manufactured in England.
Fashion Futures
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Embossed Craft Felt from Kunin
+44 (0)1233 625 227 or www.fashionfutures.co.uk
RRP 90p per rectangle
Kunin Felt is a range of innovative craft felt. The process of embossing gives the felt a textured
look, not unlike leather, and it is perfect for handbag making as well as interiors projects such
as cushions and placemats. Kunin is one of few felt manufacturers to offer patterned, textured
or printed felts which are also environmentally friendly.
The embossed collection is available in rectangles of 22cm x 30cm to make it easy for a retailer
to stock and display. Fabric bolts are also available in 137cm x 9.14m.
The new Cobblestone range is available in various colours – Copper Canyon, Ruby and Smoke.
The polyester felt is washable at low temperatures and does not shrink or change shape.
Artesano
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
Manos lace weight
+44 (0)118 950 3350 or www.artesanoyarns.co.uk
RRP £11.99 per 50g hank
The new Manos yarn on offer from Artesano is made up of a cashmere, silk and baby
alpaca mix, resulting in a soft and luxurious yarn, which is then hand dyed.
The product also has official fair trade recognition so will be a great draw for
customers, many of whom are becoming more conscious of how and where items are
being produced.
A 50g hank will provide 400m/438yd of yarn. Recommended needle sizes are 2.75mm,
and the lace weight yarn comes in 12 colours, with nine specially designed patterns.
UFT
Product:
Contact:
Price:
Specification:
Retailer benefits:
Other information:
22 craftfocus
Balsa dowel box – PoS merchandiser
+44 (0)2476 716 500 or www.stentonco.co.uk
Price on application
The balsa dowel box is a striking and affordable merchandiser box containing a selection of high
quality balsa dowel wood rods in varying sizes. Stenton & Co’s balsa is selected and kiln-dried to a
standard suitable for modellers and other crafters. The box comes with easy-to-use gauge cards
which show measurements of the balsa sizes on offer.
The attractive PoS merchandiser is affordable, ready stocked, and top up packs are available to refill
the box which means it can be reused.
There are nine sizes of balsa rods which range from 5mm to 25mm in diameter, all of which are
450mm long. The company is working on other products for educational use and novelty products in
the same merchandiser box style.
PT
Presents a One-Stop Shop for all your Quilling needs
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the library
Rianna Fry takes a look at craft books that
will get your customers’ creative juices flowing...
Complete
Feltmaking
Although feltmaking has only
recently come to the fore as
a much loved craft, it’s been
enjoyed for thousands of
years – even before spinning
wool. Author Gillian Harris
has pulled together 25
fabulous projects for readers
to enjoy. From a petal hair
tie to seamless slippers, the
book incorporates many
designs for crafters to add
individual finishes and decorations to their homes.
Whether you are completely new to the craft or an established feltmaker,
Gillian’s friendly approach, along with clearly set out instructions and beautiful
images, ensures that there is a design accessible and enjoyable for all abilities.
The classification of projects by their difficulty is also useful as it allows each
feltmaker to track their improvement by level of skill.
Complete Feltmaking has an RRP of £9.99 and is published by Collins &
Brown. For more information visit the website www.anovabooks.com, or
telephone +44 (0)141 306 3100.
The Complete Guide to
Natural Dyeing
Natural dyes enable crafters to transform
fabrics and materials using easy-to-find
dyestuffs such as berries, bark and flowers.
The Complete Guide to Natural Dyeing is
a comprehensive guide, covering all the
need-to-know information to get consumers
started while incorporating additional
techniques to allow for accomplished dyers.
The colourful materials used in the
cover images are sure to attract the attention of customers when strolling
around the store. Clear, detailed pictures are used throughout the book,
complementing the step-by-step instructions for simple guidance while also
adding to the character of the book.
The Complete Guide to Natural Dyeing has an RRP of £12.99 and is
published by Search Press. For more information visit the website
www.searchpress.com, or telephone +44 (0)1892 510 850.
24 craftfocus
Simple Recipes
for Stylish
Jewellery
In a generation
that encourages
individuality,
everybody is vying
to stand out,
searching for one-off
accessories that
are reasonably
priced. Simple
Recipes for Stylish
Jewellery is a compilation
of techniques and designs enabling crafters
to create beautiful pieces for any occasion, and without a
hefty price tag.
With over 80 projects, the book provides readers
with a wealth of jewellery making know-how. By inspiring
crafters and arming them with the skills, it allows them to
be creative and create pieces of their own.
Simple Recipes for Stylish Jewellery has an RRP of £12.99
and is published by Search Press. For more information
visit the website www.searchpress.com, or telephone
+44 (0)1892 510 850.
The Gentle Art of Quilt-Making
This delightful craft book
by Jane Brocket brings the
art of quilt making into
your customers’ homes.
Jane shares her wealth
of knowledge in the craft,
offering handy tips on
how to create beautiful
quilts. Introducing each
quilt design with its own
story adds a personal feel
to the book and makes
for an enjoyable read.
The book follows the entire journey, from where to find
inspiration for the designs to tips on selecting, buying and
cutting fabric to create the final quilt.
Whether a seasoned quilter or a complete novice the
reader is sure to be inspired to create a vibrant statement
piece to add some va va-voom to their home. It’s an
essential addition to any crafter’s library.
The Gentle Art of Quilt-Making has an RRP of £20 and is
published by Collins & Brown. For more information
visit the website www.anovabooks.com, or telephone
+44 (0)141 306 3100.
Sew Many Bags Sew
Little Time
Sew Many Bags Sew Little Time
provides a wealth of knowledge,
techniques and skills to create
fabulous bags for all occasions.
The designs are based around
three themes - day time, play
time and home time - which are
split into categories in the book.
A great plus is the green
credentials as the author
encourages the crafter to
waste less by suggesting ways
to use scrap pieces of fabric
to create photo frames, necklaces and other matching accessories.
The clear instructions and friendly, conversational introductions make
the book accessible to a wide range of abilities, and also makes for an
enjoyable read.
Sew Many Bags Sew Little Time has an RRP of £12.99 and is published
by David and Charles. For more information visit the website
www.davidandcharles.co.uk, or telephone +44 (0)1476 541 080.
The Knitters Stitch
An ideal resource
for knitters of
ranging abilities,
The Knitters Stitch
contains 300
original stitch
patterns to inspire
creativity.
The collection is
divided into types of
stitch – for example
knit and purl, twist
or cable – and each
chapter begins with
an introductory
segment explaining
what the stitch
can be used for.
The stitches are
individually marked by the level of complexity, enabling knitters
of ranging abilities to use and enjoy the book.
The ‘knit-stitch’ jargon runs throughout, which could be slightly
tricky for complete novices to pick up. It’s therefore probably
best suited to crafters with some experience in the skill.
The Knitters Stitch has an RRP of £14.99 and is published
by Search Press. For more information visit the website
www.searchpress.com, or telephone +44 (0)1892 510 850. C
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craftfocus 25
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show preview
signs point to a strong show
As the Craft & Hobby Association’s summer show grows
ever closer, figures are already up on last year. We find
out more...
In brief:
what: CHA 2010 Summer Convention &
Trade Show
when: 27th – 29th July
where: Donald E. Stephens Convention
and Conference Center, Rosemont, Illinois
opening times: Tuesday 10am-6pm,
Wednesday 9am-5pm, Thursday 9am-3pm
website: www.chashow.org
This summer also marks CHA’s debut of the
first Craft SuperShow in Illinois. The consumer
event will be held immediately after the CHA
Summer Show, on 30th and 31st July, and will
be open to the public. The Craft SuperShow is
expected to draw more than 8,000 crafters of
all ages. For more about the Craft SuperShow
visit www.craftsupershow.com.
To learn more about the upcoming
CHA 2010 Summer Convention & Trade
Show, including how to exhibit, exhibitor
listings, travel discounts and other key show
highlights visit www.chashow.org. Online
event registration is now open. C
With several weeks still remaining before the
Craft & Hobby Association (CHA)’s 2010
Summer Convention & Trade Show, all signs
point to a robust event. Even at the end of
April this year, there was an 11% increase in
square footage and 11% increase in number of
exhibitors over ‘year to date’ (YTD) figures for
CHA’s 2009 Summer Show.
Among the exhibitors contributing to the
growth of the show, to be held between 27th
and 29th July in Rosemont, Illinois, are dozens
of new companies, including such names as
Dies Direct, Photocentric Inc,
Craft-N-Doodle, Silhouette America and
Theresa Collins Designs.
Fact file:
In addition, notable exhibitors, including
3M Corp, Anna Griffin, Creative Crafts Group,
Darice, Midwest Products Co, and Plano
Molding Co are returning this year.
As well as increases in exhibitor figures,
hotel bookings for the 2010 Summer Show
are also up 54% on the 2009 Summer Show. A
number of CHA room blocks have already sold
out while several more hotels are almost full.
“The line up of new and returning exhibitors
combined with the uptake in hotel bookings
are some favourable signs pointing to another
successful CHA Summer Show,” said Steve
Berger, president and CEO, CHA.
• The CHA Summer Convention & Trade
Show is the world’s largest professional
craft and hobby show
• There will be over 400 US, as well as
a considerable amount of international
exhibitors from dozens of countries
• The show takes up over 85,000 net sq ft
of exhibit space
• Over 5,000 attendees and more than
2,500 buyers are anticipated at the show
• Hundreds of products will be launched
Further information
For more on the CHA and its shows visit
the website at www.craftandhobby.org
or www.chashow.org.
craftfocus 27
signs point to a strong show
May Arts Ribbon
+1 203 637 8366
www.mayarts.com
Satin Pleats ribbon is new to May Arts’ summer 2010
collection and will be launching at the CHA Summer
Show. The elegant ribbon which is formed using
attractive pleats is really versatile and easily adds
to a plain garment. The ribbon is a perfect accent
for projects including pillows, bags, curtains,
and it makes an effective trim when altering or
designing clothing. It may also appeal to crafters
who enjoy album making or scrapbooking,
and is available in 1.5” x 15 yard
measurements. Colours on offer
include burgundy as well
as another 11 rich
colour options.
Beadalon
+ 1 610 466 6000
www.beadalon.com
German style wrapping wires are non-tarnish, silver-plated copper wires, available in
half-round and square and are new products to Beadalon which will be on show at the
CHA event. Square and half-round wires form the structure and create the foundation of
most wire-wrapped jewellery. Complement these great new wires with Wire Wrapping
Component and Stone Setting – the new Beadalon book by Wyatt White which makes it
easy for crafters to find out about the new wire-wrapping jewellery making trends.
28 craftfocus
Katy Sue Designs
+44 (0)1914 274 571
www.katysuedesigns.com
Spring sees Flower Soft® launching its
comprehensive CD Recipes for Happy
Families from the popular Recipes
collection, which can be found at the
CHA Summer Show. The CD provides
everything a crafter would require in the
range including a wide selection of card
toppers, three-dimensional decoupage
and pyramage, accessories, sentiments
and lots more. The package includes
brand new items to the range and
provides designs and sentiments suitable
for every family member. The CD offers
PDF images for simple click-to-print, as
well as JPEGs for those wishing to use
graphics packages. Recipes is designed to
complement the Flower Soft® Ultra Fine
range of colours.
Mode Int’l
Importer and Manufacturer of High Quality Glass Beads
Inspire Me Pape
Papers Essential & Brand New Polka Dot Collection
An inspir
inspiring range of colour papers, card , folded cards and
t hi g envelopes including a new range of colour coordinated
matching
Polka Dot papers ideal for an eye catching instore display.
Contact 0845 120 0155 email [email protected]
www.modebeads.com
5111-4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220
T: 718.765.0124 F: 718.765.0126
Order: 800.MODE.527
[email protected]
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competition
Win!
Beads Unlimited goodies
worth over £600
Beads Unlimited keeps it simple with neat
point of sale display spinners filled with the
well-known and well loved brand of packeted
beads and findings. As seen in top craft stores
up and down the country, these enticing items
are now available to the independent retailer.
The eye-catching flow packaging is both
simple and pleasing in design, showing the
customer exactly what they are buying,
which makes selling easy and reordering a
doddle. This counter standing display holds 80
different lines and starting at just £1.69 RRP,
the products are priced with quick turnover
in mind. Retailers can opt for a standard
selection of proven top sellers or a bespoke
collection to suit their own market. Beads
Unlimited strives to make business a pleasure
by supplying quality products at competitive
prices topped off with friendly, efficient service.
The Guide to Bead Jewellery Making is an
essential reference item for any budding
beader. Its 16 informative pages are crammed
with knowledge on all basic beading
techniques. Beads Unlimited has just released
its new and improved publication with updates
on all the latest beading threads and findings.
At just £1.50 RRP it provides knowledge at
your fingertips. C
THE PRIZE
Beads Unlimited is giving one lucky reader
the chance to win one of its fabulous filled
counter top spinners, as well as a £100
credit to restock. Also included will be
10 copies of their essential Guide to Bead
Jewellery Making.
To enter the competition, simply visit
www.craftfocus.com, fill in your details, and
answer the following question:
How many different lines does the Beads
Unlimited counter display hold?
a) 60
b) 80
c) 100
The deadline for entries is 2nd August 2010.
Terms and Conditions
1. The competition is not open to employees of
Beads Unlimited or KD Media Publishing Ltd (or
their immediate families).
2. The competition closing date is subject to change
without prior notice.
3. The winner will be notified in writing.
4. The editor’s decision is final. No correspondence
will be entered into.
5. The prize is not transferable and has no
monetary value.
6. If an advertised prize is not available, we reserve
the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or
greater value.
7. No purchase necessary, and there is no charge to
enter via the website at www.craftfocus.com.
8. Entrants must be a member of the trade, and over
the age of 18.
craftfocus 31
dressing the part
Sheri Kingston of Dress It Up Beads explains how her young company is
taking on new business and making a success of it
Who founded Dress It Up Beads, and what
prompted them to do so?
Like all great ideas it was born like a phoenix
from the ashes – after a Friday evening
conversation talking about my husband’s
business and what else I could possibly do to
contribute towards the family income.
I initially was looking to source and
distribute a range of funky and crafty buttons
within the UK, but I kept hitting brick walls
as unfortunately all avenues of distribution
were already taken with other companies.
After a while we had our break – Jessie James
Beads Inc, based in the USA, asked us if we
would like to represent them within the
UK and Ireland on an exclusive basis, for all
their pre-packaged bead and embellishment
collections. After extensive research we found
that there was an opportunity in the market
as no one else was offering pre-packaged,
colour-coordinated beads. The rest is history.
How has the product offering evolved since
this time?
Dress It Up Beads is focused on distributing
our pre-packaged colour coordinated bead
packs and semi precious and pendant packs –
we can offer the latest colour trends and bead
favourites to suit the market expectations.
We have also evolved as all companies do
due to customer demand – we now offer a
huge range of findings from our own product
lines which have been carefully selected from
manufacturers around the world. We have
also increased our stock holding by a factor
of 10 over the last six months to cope with
market demand.
What are your best-selling craft lines, and
why do you think this is?
Currently our best selling lines are our colour
combination products and semi precious
packs. We have seen a massive increase in
sales for our findings, tools and bead boards,
but our pack sales still remain strong as they
give the crafter a chance to be as creative as
they like, and with instant results. Our colour
combinations have proved to be a real hit
with beginners because each pack has been
carefully selected for particular colour theme,
with plenty of beads to produce a necklace
or bracelet. Each pack contains a variety of
bead types including glass, acrylic, shell and
ceramic, with a centre piece to work around.
What do you think will be the next big thing
in crafting?
This is a simple one for me to answer – beads
and embellishments!
I think that crafting in general has taken
on a whole new demeanour in people’s lives
– because money is tight and the economy
still has a relevance in the UK, many people
are still looking for things to do, but at a low
cost. An easy way of doing this is by looking
into crafts which can be done at home – by
creating something by yourself, it’s also
something you can be proud of.
How do you support your retailers?
First and most importantly, we invest in our
staff with full and continuous product training
which means that everyone available in our
32
craftfocus
32 craftfocus
profile
office is completely conversant with the
product lines we stock and distribute.
We carry a large stock in the UK so 99.9%
of products will ship the same day as the
order is received, meaning the likelihood is
customers will receive their goods the very
next day.
Our customer support philosophy is simple
– get it right the first time. We have onsite
technical sales staff who can visit a customer
to discuss our product range. We also have a
comprehensive website and are available to
call Monday to Friday.
What’s your take on the current state of the
craft market?
I think this marketplace is reasonably stable
at the moment, but we have noticed our
customers – especially our end users – are
becoming more price-sensitive and productselective with the emphasis truly focused on
value for money.
We have also noted that the average
quantity of individual combination packets
purchased by one customer has fallen to an
average of four packets. However, on the
other hand, our number of customers has
increased quite dramatically, so we are still
experiencing good business and good growth.
What steps have you been taking to weather
the storm?
Well, to be quite honest here, because we
are quite an embryonic business we have no
benchmark to compare it to.
As a business we are quite self critical and
continually evaluate our performance along
with all the customer feedback received. We
always ask for the opportunity to put right
any customer issue, which we always do. You
need to be totally pro-active, talk to customers
and listen to their needs and wishes. To
survive, you also need to have belief in your
own products.
How do you plan to grow your existing
retailer base?
We have recently re-evaluated our
distribution network and are currently looking
for new regional distributors to cover a
dedicated county within the UK and Ireland.
This will mean that no one else can stock
these products, offering the distributor a form
of exclusivity and more protection within
their own territory. We also offer custom
packaging, depending on quantities, and
excellent discounts on volume orders.
How would you like the company to develop
over the next few years?
I’d like to offer a comprehensive quality range
of products which are supplied at excellent
prices and to sustain a level of business that
allows me and my husband Stuart to keep
enjoying and investing in what we love.
It’s important to develop relationships and
friends, and after my family, the company is
one of my favourite hobbies. My ultimate
business goal would be to see a retailer
distributing Dress It Up Beads in every county
in the UK and Ireland. C
Further information
To find out more about Dress It Up Beads
call +44 (0)1460 242 221, email
[email protected], or visit the
website at www.dressitupbeads.co.uk.
craftfocus 33
stamping
past, present and future
of stamping
How has stamping changed over the years? Someone who knows
better than most is editor of Craft Stamper magazine, Katy Fox –
on the cusp of the magazine’s 10th birthday, she explains just how
exciting stamping has become
Craft Stamper is
celebrating 10 years
in print with the June
2010 issue and a lot
has changed in the
stamping world since
the magazine was
launched. I took over
the editorship in 2008
– I’ve been stamping
myself for about six years and even during that
short time I have seen many new products and
trends emerge.
Stamping products
Remember when all stamps were mounted
on a wood block? Not anymore! Increasingly
stamp companies are offering unmounted
rubber and clear stamps. These have some
big advantages over wood block – as well as
being able to see where you are stamping with
greater accuracy, they are easier to store, take
up less space, and cost less to buy – all factors
which mean their popularity continues to
grow. In 2008 Craft Stamper switched its cover
mount stamps from foam-mounted rubber to
clear in response to this trend.
Not only have stamps themselves been
changing, but nowadays stampers are spoilt
for choice when it comes to products. There
is such a huge variety of inks and colouring
mediums available that the list is almost
endless! Recently, spray inks such as Glimmer
Mist have been making a splash, bringing
a whole host of new techniques into the
stamping arena. In addition there has been a
rise in popularity of colouring mediums like
Prismacolor pencils and ProMarkers, and then
of course there are the wonderful gadgets too.
With so much must-have stash to buy, I shall
never be a rich woman!
Technology
This has transformed the crafting world in the
21st century. The wonder of the web enables
people to share techniques, share artwork and
build friendships with like-minded people who
may live on the other side of the world. Social
networking technologies like blogs, Twitter
and Facebook certainly make the craft world
smaller and mean that trends move through
the crafting community faster than ever before.
Blogging is a massive phenomenon for crafters
today – Craft Stamper even has one.
Style and trends
Just as in fashion, trends come and go and
sometimes move full circle. The last few years
have seen the strong resurgence of character
stamps, with Magnolia leading the way for
many stamping companies to break into this
lucrative market. However, in 2010 we are
starting to see the more grungy, inky styles
crossing over to the mainstream, with the
continued popularity of Tim Holtz – or ‘Sir
Tim’ as he is commonly known in stamping
circles! Inks, paints and sprays are hot products
as more people discover the satisfaction of
creating handmade backgrounds rather than
using pre-patterned papers – our readers
cannot get enough of articles covering
background techniques. I predict as the year
progresses more and more ‘cute’ cardmakers
will be straying over to the dark inky side.
Vintage is also a hot trend too – expect
to see more vintage images, lace, pearls and
copper this year. Texture will be an important
factor as stampers continue to incorporate
metal and fabric into their work. 3D is here
to stay too, be it in the form of sumptuous
layered flowers or dimensional designs like
popular easel cards. Finally, it seems budgetary
constraints have made recycling fashionable,
as stampers seek to reuse anything from bean
tins to pretty craft packaging in their creations.
The rubber stamping market is constantly
moving forward with new products and ideas
and its versatility is what attracts people to
this fantastic hobby. There are stamp designs
for everyone whatever their style and always
something new to learn. I love that my job
involves sharing my passion for all things inky
with like-minded people – here’s to 10 more
years of Craft Stamper! C
Further information
To find out more about Craft Stamper
magazine please visit the company’s
website at www.craftstamper.com.
craftfocus 35
past, present and future of stamping
The Stamp Connection
+44 (0)1795 531 860
www.thestampconnection.co.uk/trade
New to The Artistic Stamper range manufactured by The Stamp
Connection are the time-themed unmounted rubber stamps. They
are deep etched in natural red rubber, come packaged at competitive
prices, and all are for use with Kling-On repositionable cushioning®.
The cogs backgrounds come in A6 format – suitable for
card making and collage-style artwork. They can be
matched up with the mini cog designs as well
as A5 sheets of watches and cogs. The
small vintage watch pieces
are also available in limited
quantities from The Stamp
Connection packaged with
watch faces, watch glasses and
small watch parts.
Woodware Craft Collection
+44 (0)1756 700 024
www.woodware.co.uk
Stamping specialists Woodware Craft Collection aims to stock
everything for the avid stamper. The company currently offers
traditional wood-mounted stamps, clear polymer stamps, and
now the hybrid cling rubber stamps. These offer the best of both
styles of stamping – accurate positioning, but with the rubber that
traditional stampers prefer. The company also stocks a wide range
of stamp pads, offering pigment, chalk, die and permanent inks to
suit every need. The embossing powder range has a vast selection
of colours and grades from detail to tinsels, as well as deep
impressions and special powders such as stamp and bond.
Horseshoe Crafts
+44 (0)1691 690 113
www.horseshoecrafts.co.uk
The company products distributes for five American stamp
manufacturers covering wood mounted, unmounted, cling mounted
and clear ranges. Every month Great Impressions brings out a
new range of stamps along with artwork to complement them,
which means there are now over 80 to choose from. They make an
interesting display in shops and prove popular for instant workshops.
Following on from the success of this programme Horseshoe Crafts
has decided to launch two collections of unmounted stamps from
Rubber Romance – Shopping Divas and Beauty Divas. Stamps are
supplied along with a photograph and instructions for four cards to
get customers started. The products have been featured on television
show Create & Craft Romance and have proved to be extremely
popular. The sets are offered with a discount when compared to
single stamps and Horseshoe Crafts will be adding to the collections
over the course of the year.
36 craftfocus
Make stamps, stencils
& embossing dies
Quick Simple Creative
Professional stamps in 5 mins
Tel: 01733 349937
Email: [email protected]
www.imagepacstampmaker.com
profile
bright spark
As the winner of the Best New Product award for Fashion at
Top Drawer, Kirsty Davies is a successful jewellery kit designer
with a very bright future. Read on to find out more...
What is your professional background?
The beginning of my career was in 2000 when
I undertook four years of training at the school
of jewellery in Birmingham, where I gained
traditional design and bench skills. I went on
to work in the jewellery industry for various
companies and in different design capacities,
which was a great lesson in what not to do,
and what to do. The moment that I embarked
on my career in jewellery I always knew that
I would set up my own company – it was
just a matter of gaining the expertise to do
it successfully. In 2008 I briefly went back to
university for one year to complete a degree
in design in which I gained a first class honours
as well as awards from the likes of the British
Jewellers’ Association for best fashion jewellery.
What inspired your current collection?
The inspiration for my current collection was
from the catwalk, although instead of copying,
I like to see where things are heading and
design new and imaginative products that I feel
will separate me from the replica-like, mass
produced items that are available on the high
street. This collection became an obsession
with all things flora and fauna. I collated every
example of floral imagery that I could find and
created a vibrant, movement of designs.
What led you to create the Make it, Wear it,
Love it Kits?
I wanted to create something that is exciting,
fun and versatile. People have such unique
sense of style and I wanted to design
something that the customer can customise to
suit them. I love the fact that everybody wears
it in such a different way and can change it to
suit their mood or an occasion.
What has the reaction been from retailers?
They love it! I think it brings a fun element to
wearing jewellery and it’s a great talking point.
It is also nice to see that buyers love the ‘made
in Britain’ element to my work. I found a lot of
people asking where it was made with buyers
looking to support British trade.
What has been your career highlight thus far?
Winning the Top Drawer fashion award
was great! It’s always nice to receive
acknowledgement for your hard work, along
with a potential order from a wonderful
department store.
What are your plans for the future?
In time, I’d like to start looking at an
international market and explore
collaborations with other jewellery designers.
Its important for me to stay fresh, so I’m always
looking for new projects.
I’m currently working on a bridal collection.
I’m getting married this year and I can’t believe
how difficult it is to find pieces that don’t all
look the same. I think on your wedding day
it’s important not to look like a clone, and
it seems strange to me that people choose
the same hair styles, jewellery and tiaras. I
actually feel panicked at the thought of a wire
and pearl tiara! People need choice! In all
seriousness, I’d like to produce a range that
encapsulates the special nature of your big day
by giving a nod to nostalgia and glamour and
keeping it uniquely classic. Watch this space. C
Further information
To find out more call +44 (0)7950 909 776
or visit www.kirstydavies.co.uk.
craftfocus 39
Create “Magical Spinning Carousels“
Using just card, scissors, glue and your
Computer printer!
Easy to make – fun to decorate!
A computer CD-ROM product that allows you to
print and be creative, over and over again!
Low cost - high margins!
This product is produced domestically both in the UK and USA.
Support your local economy!
Call UK 01246 229208
Email [email protected]
special feature
beading
marvellous
Beading has long since been
a significant craft. Even going
back hundreds of years,
beads were used to adorn
and add detail to clothing,
furnishings, or to make
jewellery, and the pastime’s
popularity has never wained.
So it’s little wonder there is
such an array of products
and materials on offer to
beaders today. In this special
feature we speak to those
in the know about what’s
happening in the world of
beading, and we also find
out what new products
are on offer to tempt your
customers. Turn to the next
page to find out more...
craftfocus 41
beading marvellous
Kathleen Cooper,
La Fourmi
+ 32 2687 7629
www.cordslafourmi.com
How has the market for
beading altered over the
past few years?
Both materials and sizes have changed
considerably. A few years ago, small glass
beads and rather rough designs were perfectly
acceptable, but now things have got big and
products have changed. Large resin or plastic
beads are doing well and are much lighter
than glass beads, while metal is also popular –
particularly charms, pendants and larger beads
mixed with resin and plastic beads, or attached
to chains to make asymmetrical styles.
Which are your best-selling beading products,
and why do you think this is?
Some of our best-selling items are satin beads,
now available in nine different colours. They
have a luminous satin appearance, a rubbery
feeling and are very tactile. Having fairly large
holes, they can be strung onto ribbons and
cords easily. Our metal beads are doing well
because there is such a large choice and very
unusual designs, such as cones, enamelled
beads, Alice in Wonderland and fairy charms,
wired shapes and a lot more.
What beading trends would you predict for
the coming months?
We are seeing more mixing of textiles and
beads – ribbons and silk scarves threaded
through large hole beads. We designed some
kits which include a coloured silk scarf onto
which the customer attaches a dangle with
matching beads, creating a jewelled scarf.
Purple, orange, turquoise, teal and lime green
remain popular at present, and a return of
burgundy, aubergine and plum is forecast for
this winter. Silver and antique silver are also
dominant, but we believe some old gold will
probably make a return next winter.
Graham Halls,
CJ Beaders
+44 (0)1934 852 646
www.cjbeaders.com
How has the market for
beading altered over the
past few years?
The number of suppliers, retail outlets and
beaders has grown significantly. Like many
hobbies, expertise is growing and demand is
increasing for different beads, higher quality
tools and findings to achieve better results.
Never before have beaders been able to
select such a vast range of products to make
jewellery from.
Which are your best-selling beading products,
and why do you think this is?
All products are selling well, but in the past
few months, we have been seeing increased
sales of high quality tools plus a real growth in
quality beading wires such as metallic colours
and 19 Strand wire.
What beading trends would you predict for
the coming months?
We predict a move towards mixed media
beading – combining beads with wire, leather
and chain. As more beaders come into the
hobby and others become more experienced,
it is harder for retailers to stock the range of
components they may be looking for. We are
42 craftfocus
trying to help by not having a minimum order
for our Beadalon, Griffin and Xuron product
ranges, enabling retailers to place small orders
based on consumer demand. Of course, the
downside for bricks and mortar retailers is that
some consumers may turn to the internet for
choice and availability.
Geoff Ellis,
Beads Unlimited
+44 (0)1273 740 774
www.beads
unlimited.co.uk
How has the market for
beading altered over the
past few years?
I don’t think I can remember a time when
our customers have been offered such a wide
range, catering for so many sectors of the
market. Beads Unlimited has always been an
accessible business and we are keen to stock
easy-to-construct items to attract first timers
which always provides a good base to work
from. There has been an explosion in interest
in beads over the last few years with beading
groups, magazines and tutors springing up. We
now have a very talented team working on
press, bead projects and generally mixing it
with the beading community. It is currently a
very exciting time.
Which are your best-selling beading products,
and why do you think this is?
Beautiful hand made glass beads are still
flooding out of China and the choice of
styles is simply overwhelming. These have
been strong sellers for some time now.
Recently there has been a diversification
into spectacular Pandora types which can be
threaded onto chunky bangles. They are doing
very brisk business at the moment. Chunky
ceramic parts have been good for us quite
recently and the glazes are simply gorgeous.
Organza ribbon has become the material
of choice for a very pretty way to set off
these feature pieces. Where things start to
get interesting though is in the demand for
different finishes on our findings. At the time of
writing we are stocking regular silver and gold
plated findings plus black antique and antique
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:HEZZZGUHVVLWXSEHDGVFRXN
beading marvellous
gold. I am still not convinced demand for
variations on this theme are at an end. Watch
this space!
with things like exposed wire design jewellery,
however chain also continues to be a very
good selling product.
What beading trends would you predict for
the coming months?
The major evolution in Beads Unlimited’s
product offer has been in branded products
catering for the more committed beader.
One of Beads Unlimited's major strengths has
been in launching its own branded products
alongside well known US names. This is borne
of a long standing commitment to high quality
products at affordable prices. There has been
such a profusion of products on the market
of late and beaders are tackling ever more
diverse and complex designs. Customers have
therefore become increasingly aware of quality
– this is obviously not a trend that is ever likely
to be reversed.
What beading trends would you predict for
the coming months?
Wire wrapping seems to be the new hot trend
in the beading market. The pool of people
making beaded strung jewellery continues to
grow and as they get to a certain level with
stringing wire wrapping has what they need.
Wire wrapping has a low cost for entry and
once a few techniques are mastered an entire
new world of creativity is opened to an already
successful beader.
Wyatt White,
Beadalon
+ 1 610 466 600
www.beadalon.com
How has the market for
beading altered over the
past few years?
I think the biggest alteration in the beading
market has to do with the economy. Things
were rolling along quite well during 2006 to
late 2008. There were difficult times in 2008
and 2009, but I feel the business is returning
now. The biggest challenges ahead are to
keep the large amount of people in beading
satisfied with new and innovative products and
techniques, and to keep them interested in
jewellery making.
Which are your best-selling beading products,
and why do you think this is?
Multi-strand beading wires continue to be our
best-selling item, since we manufacture the
products and offer a large and varied selection
of this type of product. Beading wire is an
absolute necessity for jewellery making, and
we continue to develop and introduce more
interesting and pretty products like SilverRose,
SilverGold, and Champagne beading wires.
These new wires are perfect for working
44 craftfocus
Louise MacLeod,
Burhouse Beads
+44 (0)1484 655 675
www.burhousebeads.com
How has the market for
beading altered over the
past few years?
Upon reflection it seems over the past few
years we have seen a prominent shift from
the more expensive one-off boutique style
pieces made from the finest gemstones and
original, individually styled jewellery to a more
relaxed daywear look with cheap and cheerful
materials such Millefiori beads, dyed beads
and coloured glass, creating a more casual and
fun look. More expensive materials are being
substituted with cheaper versions for example
9ct gold findings are being outsold by rolled
gold or gold filled lines and as the price of
sterling silver rises, more people are choosing
to opt for plated components.
Which are your best selling beading products,
and why do you think this is?
The winner for this category is most definitely
the Pandora-style charm beads. This trend
started many months ago and is still growing.
People love the mix and match element of
these bracelets and can tailor-make any style
bracelet to match a particular outfit. We offer
a short length 6.6” bracelet for kids as well
as a larger 8.75” size for adults. Also proving
popular is our new range of quality cut glass
which is great for use as either charms or
beads, and also works well with our brightly
coloured products such as the mountain jade
and fossil beads.
What beading trends would you predict for
the coming months?
With the large holed charm beads as popular
as ever, more people are choosing to wear
them on necklaces. Worn heavy and loaded
with a mixture of beads, delicately as a floating
pendant or with or without spacers, these
beads are so versatile and can create a really
striking necklace. Matched with a snake chain it
is effective as a short choker style or worn as
a dangly pendant. Also I predict a trend of ‘the
chunkier the better’ especially when it comes
to necklaces. Bold colours and large chunky
beads can turn a simply summer vest into a
statement outfit.
special feature
most wanted
La Fourmi
+ 32 2687 7629
www.cordslafourmi.com
La Fourmi has created a number of watch kits which they tell
us have become particularly popular. The watch is attached
to a chain bracelet and beads decorate the chain in colours
that match the watch. The kits retail at around £10 and are
available in six colours.
Beadalon
+1 610 466 6000
www.beadalon.com
Upper clasp findings are fashionable, premium quality findings
that mimic the high-end look – they have the feel and
function of more costly, precious metal clasps. A combination
of genuine Austrian crystals, high quality imitation pearls and
cameos, and the intricate piercings, make each clasp one-of-akind. They can transform a design into a true keepsake, or can
be used as the focal point of the design.
Beads Unlimited
+44 (0)1273 740 774
www.beadsunlimited.co.uk
As well as Bead Unlimited’s extensive range of gold plated and silver
plated finished findings, the company now stocks a concise selection in
antique gold and black antique findings. In addition, the depth of the glazes
to its ceramic beads adds a new dimension to beadwork. The rich colours
glow and appear to move under the light. Flowers, doughnuts, rondelles
and round beads all come in three sumptuous finishes. The regular glaze
comes in 12 colours as well as four colours in multi glaze, and the multi
metallic glazed beads are also a favourite.
craftfocus 45
most wanted
Creative Beadcraft
+44 (0)1494 778 818
www.creativebeadcraft.co.uk
Brand new from Creative Beadcraft are the large UV acrylic
beads. The big beads come in seven shapes and six vibrant and
attractive colours. They are mostly made from acrylic but have
a UV coating which gives a subtle but distinctive metallic sheen,
creating a two-tone effect. Shapes include 20mm and 28mm
balls, a 16mm cube and a 35mm flat round.
CJ Beaders
+44 (0)1934 852 646
www.cjbeaders.com
The Artistic Wire Company, now part of Beadalon, produces a pack of wire
spiral embellishments. These are great for gluing on to paper or fixing to
beading components to add interest. They come in blister packs, ready for
retail. Also for beaders are Beadalon Thing-A-Ma-Jigs. Shapes can be formed
by wrapping coloured wire around the different sized pegs to create
any shape of embellishment. To cater for the more experienced beader,
Beadalon has introduced multi-packs of 19 Strand Wire which contain
three reels of metallic or satin finish wires. This means you can offer better
beading wires without having to stock multiple lines.
Burhouse Beads
+44 (0)1484 655 675
www.burhousebeads.com
The company’s ‘most
wanted’ product is currently
the new range of sterling
silver pendant balls. These
accompany the new range
of quality cut glass and come
in a variety of designs. From
antique to contemporary, and
ornate to bold, we’re told
they’re proving quite popular.
Dressing a glass pendant adds
a lovely finishing touch and
will showcase the glass to its
full potential. The eye-catching
new range should appeal to
all sorts of styles.
46 craftfocus
La Fourmi
+ 32 2687 7629
www.cordslafourmi.com
Jewellery scarves are one of the latest innovations from
the team at La Fourmi. The ends of a long silk scarf are
simply gathered into a metal cone. From the cone, a
series of beads are assembled into two dangles. La Fourmi
has reviewed the range, so that the customer can buy a
complete kit which is attractively packed and contains a
quality silk scarf as well as matching beads. The company
also offers the scarves and dangle kits separately for those
who want to mix and match. C
A new and exciting company supplying a vast range of findings
to shops and internet retailers only
We now have in stock 1 ton of lucite flowers and leaves, glass pearls,
crystal rondells, metal beads and findings.
Below is a small selection of our NEW RANGE that has just arrived.
For a catalogue contact Bead Time
Unit 16 Shepperton Business Park, Govett Avenue
Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 8BA
Tel: 01932 244700
You can view our range on our retail website
www.beadtime.co.uk
tried & tested
putting pen to paper
Wondering how to entice papercraft customers? We give a
helping hand by trying out some of the latest products and
telling you just what we think...
NAME: Once upon a time – templates with styles – Fantasy
Colou
r My W
DESCRIPTION: There are six templates – 70 individual
orld
+44 (0
)1527 8
36 565
components – to create shaped cards along with an ideas sheet www.colo
urmyw
orld.co
stored in a handbag. The boxed packaging can also be used as an
.uk
envelope template.
SUITABLE FOR: Children over three years due to small parts.
,,
This product came in sturdy re-useable packaging, clearly
depicting the six templates on the front. The templates are
made from brightly coloured plastic so are perfect for attracting
children’s attention. The templates pop out easily and are used to
draw round before cutting out the card or paper. The card pieces can
then be layered or fixed using foam pads for a decoupage finish. The
step-by-step instructions were easy to follow and also offered tips and
advice about improving the designs using embellishments. I would use
these templates again when crafting with children as there is a good
range of designs and they were easy to use and store. VOC
NAME: Paper shoe template
DESCRIPTION: It’s a
draw-around template to
create a paper shoe.
SUITABLE FOR: It could
be enjoyed by female crafters
of all ages – all girls love shoes,
plus it’s a simple exercise.
,,
VICKY O’CONNOR
NAME: Luxury Occasion Box
DESCRIPTION: Brightly coloured paper, card and envelopes, in
themed packages which make three luxury handmade cards.
SUITABLE FOR: Everyone who wants to make funky stand-out
card designs. Suitable for younger age groups and novices.
,,
,,
Cathie Shuttleworth
+44 (0)1536 373 595
www.cathieshuttleworth.co.uk
I wouldn’t consider myself to be a papercraft
enthusiast, therefore I didn’t hold out much
hope of achieving an end result like that
on the packaging. However, I was proud
Y
R
F
RIANNA
of my efforts as the final product was pretty
impressive. The easy to use template allowed me to create a shoe
fairly effortlessly and in under 15 minutes, as I didn’t need to stop and
start to read complex instructions. The shoe acted as a blank canvas
for me to unleash my creativity – although I had to use my own
embellishments as the pack doesn’t include them. RF
,,
Inspire Me Papers
+44 (0)845 120 0155
www.inspiremepapers.co.uk
The packaging is adequate to protect the paper and card
inside from damage. The printed instructions inside each themed
pack – which include children’s birthday, wedding, valentines and
female-suited designs – list a step-by-step guide to making each of
the three cards. Unfortunately there are no photos depicting the
steps but the finished cards are shown on the outer packaging,
along with a list of other materials and tools required. I was
unsure how to use the templates as they are printed on standard
A4 paper, so too flimsy and detailed to cut out. I think it would be
better if these were printed on thicker paper. The subject of the
designs are quite basic in this pack so I think it is well suited to a
younger age group and novices like me. VOC
,,
craftfocus 49
putting pen to paper
Past T
im
es Q
uilling
+44 (0
)1332 8
www.p
40 582
asttime
squilling
.co.uk
NAME: The Children’s Quilling Workbox
DESCRIPTION: A workbook of quilling
techniques, with all the components for quilling
with cards and boxes.
SUITABLE FOR: Probably from ages seven
upwards, although it doesn’t state on the box.
,,
It wasn’t until I began my quilling
adventure recently that I remembered
how I used to adore it as a child. No other
craft achieves similar results, and while the
EMMA ZÜCKER
finished product looks so detailed and pretty,
it’s actually very easy to do. Included in the pack is The First Children’s
Quilling Handbook, which begins with simple instructions of basic
quilling techniques, and follows with lots of colourful projects to try
out. As the box also contains a vast selection of colourful quilling
paper strips, card and box templates, glue and a number of quilling
tools, crafty kiddies won’t run out of materials for some time. So, not
only is this a fun pack to use, it’s also great value for money. EZ
,,
,,
NAME: The World of Peter Rabbit
DESCRIPTION: A DVD full of
Beatrix Potter crafting fun.
SUITABLE FOR: All ages.
Crafter’s Companion
This DVD has three hours of tutorials and explained
everything along the way, plus it has hundreds of elements to
choose from. I enjoyed using the product and spent lots of time
going through all the different images such as Jemima Puddle
Duck and Peter Rabbit. After learning lots from the DVD, made
my own backing paper with matching envelopes, and in a few
clicks of a mouse I even managed to make a notebook which
I was also able to personalise. There are so many options with
this DVD, I really was spoilt for choice. I can now make a card
for any occasion. TV
50 craftfocus
,,
TRACY VOICE
+44 (0)1388 663 251
www.crafterscompanion.co.uk
,,
NAME: Flower Soft and Cute Christmas designs
DESCRIPTION: A little pot of coloured sprinkles.
SUITABLE FOR: Lovers of card making and scrapbooking.
Katy Sue Designs
+44 (0)1914 274 571
www.katysuedesigns.com
I can’t remember the last time I made a card and had
forgotten how much fun it was until I used Cute Christmas
designs from the I Love Santa range. The sets contain six
decoupage sheets and toppers, and the addition of Flower Soft,
which is very easy to use, gave the card an added dimension. I
was amazed that I didn’t need to use much glue or Flower Soft
to get the three-dimensional effect, which means the small pot
will go a long way. My daughter is 18 this year and I’d already
planned to make her a scrapbook, but Flower Soft is something
I will now use to give a different touch to her special gift. TV
,,
putting pen to paper
,,
NAME: Floral Matt & Layer Card
DESCRIPTION: Two designs of matt and layer diecut cards.
SUITABLE FOR: Not suitable for children under three years.
otBed
RedH
4 8600
)113 22 o.uk
+44 (0
d.c
dhotbe
www.re
EMMA ZÜCKER
Although the packaging carries a safety message that children under
three shouldn’t use this product, it is best suited to older children or
adults. The pack contains two folded cards in differing floral designs, and each
has a page of various sizes of floral diecut and printed matt and layers in order
to construct three-dimensional cards. There is a basic photocopied page of
instructions which gives simple directions on building up the cards’ layers. Also in
the range are teddy bear designs, suitable for children to both make and receive.
The floral card which I tried out was easy to construct, however didn’t include
the sticky buds I was advised to use in the instructions. These patterns would
best suit more mature ladies wanting to dabble in a spot of easy and effective
card making. EZ
,,
B-C-E
+44 (0)1427 810 301
www.b-c-e.co.uk
NAME: Texture Boutique
DESCRIPTION: A fun, easy and
affordable embossing machine, in the
shape of a stylish handbag.
SUITABLE FOR: Young girls and ladies
who love card making.
,,
ELLISON
+44 (0)871 222 2277
www.ellison.com
I think Ellison may be on to a winner here. Now, I know
you should never judge a book by its cover, but this handbagshaped embossing machine from Sizzix® is truly delightful to
look at, and will particularly appeal to young girls, as well as
any cardmaking enthusiast – even before they know what it is.
The Texture Boutique is compatible with lots of contemporary
embossing folder designs, also from Sizzix®, such as plump spring
birds, cute cupcakes, and occasions sentiments. And after the
initial investment in the machine, customers may eventually begin
to save money making cards instead of buying them. EZ
52 craftfocus
,,
NAME: Fantasia stamps and
card templates
DESCRIPTION: A very
different selection of stamps, and
plastic card templates.
SUITABLE FOR: A card
maker looking for weird and
wonderful designs.
,,
,,
Well I certainly can’t say I’ve seen anything like these stamps
and card designs before. The Fantasia range is based on images
which will create four designs on the card front – peacock feathers,
a fancy headdress, a vase of flowers and birthday candles on a cake.
A striking set of greetings cards can be constructed with the stamps
C
and templates, using Pro-Markers to add colour. EZ
child’s play
We round up some of the best craft products
on offer for little ones...
Creativity International
+44 (0)1384 485 550
www.cilimited.co.uk
More and more bright, colourful
and value-for-money craft kits
are being released by from
Creativity International this year.
Mr Men, Numberjacks, Art
Attack, Postman Pat and other
hit favourites, as well as the
successful Mister Maker, are all
on offer for kids. The range of
character craft kits now stands
at more than 40 and each comes in a central display unit which appeals to both
kids and parents. In addition, the products can be ordered easily using Creativity
International’s online ordering system launched this year, making it simple for
retailers to order at any hour.
Fat Cat Cross Stitch
+44 (0)1568 780 183
www.fatcatcross-stitch.co.uk
The Sew Simple bright and fun
designs from Fat Cat Cross Stitch
are ideal for children, or even those
trying their hand at cross stitch
for the first time. The range has a
variety of designs to suit many tastes,
plus the company is expanding and
adding new kits all the time. There
are no fractional stitches or back
stitching in the designs which
are stitched on 11 count Aida
using three strands of thread.
The kits come complete with
full instructions, a symbol and
colour key, a full colour chart,
Aida, plenty of thread and a
large tapestry needle. There
is also a full colour photo on
the kit cover to aid stitching
if needed.
54 craftfocus
Buttonbag
+44 (0)208 525 1640
www.buttonbag.co.uk
The Summer Loving Button Bag is a brand new sewing
kit from Buttonbag and is all about summer fun. With its
breezy mix of denim, chambray, polka dot and gingham
cotton and felt, it feels just right for beach holidays
and sunny picnics. The bag is hand sewn with a simple
running stitch in embroidery thread, but it’s the eyecatching appliqué decorations that will really appeal to
a wide age range, as well as a matching purse in red felt.
The kit coordinates with Buttonbag’s Summer Hearts
sewing kit available from July, which includes chambray,
denim, felt, polka dot and gingham cotton, embroidery
skeins, needle kit, buttons, patterns and instructions.
Buttonbag tells us its kits have won a huge fan base
among children – and adults alike – who love the quirky
designs, retro packaging and and appealing selection of
fabrics and trimmings.
show
preview
kids’
crafts
Country Love Ceramics
+44 (0)1235 861 700
www.countryloveceramics.com
There is a range of kids’ craft projects
on offer from Country Love Ceramics
which have summer holidays in mind.
Little ones can paint their own Funky
Flower Pot which requires no kiln, and
there are also DecoArt Patio Paints
for indoor or outdoor use, available in
a range of bright, pastel and metallic
colours. The DecoArt Texture Paints
together with stencil overlays in
various designs are an easy way to get
effective results. No varnish is required
– DecoArt Patio Paints are weather
and scuff resistant, and can easily be
cleaned up with soap and water, as well
as being non-toxic.
Jolly Red
+44 (0)1460 281 111
www.jollyred.co.uk
The starter tapestry kits from Jolly Red are suitable for ages seven
years and over. The designs are eye-catching to young crafters and
often lead to sales of larger Jolly Red kits. There are 18 designs
suitable for children or adult beginners, and the printed design
areas measure 10cm x 10cm, with a canvas size of 25cm x 25cm, all
in 10 count. There is room to stitch a name beneath each design,
with the alphabet and instructions provided. The kits include wool,
needle and threader, and are presented in a red tube-handled bag.
Krasnaya
+44 (0)1246 208 482
www.krasnaya.co.uk
Following the success of Krasnaya’s range of Painta Pets Paint Your
Own Nesting Dolls, the company has now launched Crafta Pals Kits,
which are great fun for boys or girls and suit a wide age range. Children
can use the ideas sheet and their imagination to create their own fun set
of dolls that reflect their personality and interests. The products provide
a fun group or party activity with numerous possibilities. Children
cut, stick and draw on the dolls using the various materials included
which great for those craft times when paint isn’t practical. The kits are
available as a single unit, group pack for 10, or group pack for 20.
craftfocus 55
show
preview
kids’
crafts
More Than Bags
+44 (0)1248 717 147
www.morethanbags.co.uk
The fun and colourful cover of the More Than Bags kids’ patchwork notebook will
certainly appeal to the younger crafter and it can also double up as a mini scrapbook
measuring 15cm x 15cm. Containing 96 pages, it is ideal for children to use as their
own special book to catch the scrapbooking bug. There are 15 other designs and
colours available in this size which can all be viewed on the company’s website. More
Than Bags’ products are handmade in the rural villages of Nepal and the direct trade
ensures that the social benefits to the workforce are considerable.
Blueberry Park
+44 (0)113 266 2092
www.blueberry-park.co.uk
Design-a-Ring is a new jewellery making kit in the Take-Away Craft
Kits range from Blueberry Park. It’s a great sewing activity for young
crafters, enabling them to design and create two original rings which
they can embellish and wear with pride. The kit comes in Blueberry
Park’s trademark Take-Away box and contains everything needed to
make the pieces – adjustable rings, felt shapes, beads, buttons and
embroidery thread – along with an instruction and ideas sheet to
help the crafter on their way.
The Stitching Shed
+44 (0)845 157 6045
www.thestitchingshed.co.uk
Children’s needlepoint kits from The Stitching Shed are ideal for
sparking an interest in crafts. The range consists of 20 designs, all
4.5”sq, which makes them ideal for small hands. The finished kits
are easily achievable and each design is printed onto 10 count canvas
in full colour, making it easy to follow. The company only includes
full skeins of Anchor wool in the kits, giving plenty of spare wool for
mistakes which eliminates the danger of running out. The Stitching
Shed feels that the key success of its children’s products stems from
their ability to help children produce a piece of work to be proud
of, whilst making the process as smooth and creatively enjoyable
as possible. The designs appeal to both boys and girls and as The
Stitching Shed keeps track of children’s trends in stationery and
textiles, the products will always be up-to-date.
craftfocus 57
child’s play
DMC Creative World
+44 (0)116 275 4000
www.dmccreative.co.uk
DMC Creative World
is delighted to launch
a new collection of
Winnie the Pooh
Disney kits – part of
the DMC Collectables
range. The cross
stitch kits are
simple to stitch
and do not take
long to complete.
Each of the four
collectables stitch up to
fill the 12cm x 12cm piece, giving good value
and collectability. The kits are suitable gifts for beginners or any
Winnie the Pooh fan.
Inspire Me Papers
+44 (0)845 120 0155
www.inspiremepapers.co.uk
A number of
papercraft products
are on offer for kids
with Inspire Me
Papers. Specialising
in different colours,
themes and finishes
of paper and card,
the company works
closely with schools
meaning it has a
strong understanding
of what youngsters
like. The Essential
Box offers a huge pack
of many different
colours of card,
which complement
crafts including card
making, stamping,
and embossing. The
Occasions Box is an array of themed packs, including one aimed at
children’s birthday occasions – with various sizes of brightly coloured
cards, paper and inspiration for designs.
58 craftfocus
Stitchtastic
+44 (0)114 235 3958
www.stitchtastic.com
The Minitastic range at Stitchtastic is fantastic for kids who would
like to stitch something as a gift, such as a keyring or coaster.
The small, simple designs – which will appeal to boys as well as
girls – come with an acrylic accessory to put the stitching in when
finished. The motorbike designs are popular with kids and adults
alike and are a quick and easy stitch. Stitchtastic also offers a VW
camper Minitastic as well as other cars and musical instruments,
which make great impulse buys for any shop counter. C
Cushion kits ♥ Starter kits ♥ Christmas stockings
Teacosies ♥ Needlepoint postcards
Contact Kelly for trade prices + your copy of Kit Book 14, packed
with new designs for 2010 as well as our best-selling favourites.
Tel: (+44) (0) 1460 281 111
[email protected] ♥ www.jollyred.co.uk
Jolly Red, Unit 1, Monk’s Dairy Workshops,
Isle Brewers, Somerset, TA3 6QL
%ROGEULJKWIXQGHVLJQVIRUDOO
Buttonbag has added brand new designs to its
best-selling craft kits for children
and is launching a range of vintage
jewellery kits for adults.
www.buttonbag.co.uk
[email protected]
0208 525 1640
of by children.
Fun designs to stitch for children or
children!
www.fatcatcross-stitch.co.uk
Tel: 01568 780183
appliqué, decorate and adorn
At a time when many customers are taking a keen interest in embellishing garments, expert
Kayte Terry tells us how significantly the world of adorning has changed recently
What I love about embellishing is its rich
history – people have been embellishing their
clothing for as long as they have been wearing
clothes and every culture throughout history
has embellished its wardrobe for both function
and aesthetics.
In early societies when cloth was hard to
find people employed a sort of ephemeral
embellishment, adding seeds, feathers and
reeds to their clothing. In the San Blas Islands
of Panama, the women of the Kuna Indian tribe
make reverse appliqué pieces called Molas that
are incorporated into their traditional dress.
The designs started as body paintings but as
the Kuna women gained access to fabric, they
developed their traditional designs into fabric
embellishment. Today, people might patch their
jeans to prolong wear-ability but they also add
appliqués, sequins, and trims to their clothing
to make them look more special and unique,
to declare themselves as individuals.
To me, embellishing feels like an instinct that
we just can’t help but give into. We all want to
look a little cooler, a little more flashy, a little
more unique and a little bit of embellishing
can make that possible. As big name stores
like H&M become more prevalent it’s getting
harder for people to set themselves apart by
how they dress. Embellishing clothes that you
already have puts a stamp on your wardrobe.
60 craftfocus
Though trends in embellishing change with
every decade and generation, as always a lot
of us look to the past for inspiration. I love
to browse craft books of the 60s and 70s for
graphic images, bright colours and patchworks
as much as I love to see examples of the
intricate quilts of the 1800s. It’s so easy today
to find all of these images very quickly – all you
need is a good Google search – and as a result,
you can see many crafters whose work is a
modern interpretation of crafts from the past.
The biggest changes in embellishment seem
to come with the materials that are readily
available to use.
Fusible webbing is, in my humble opinion,
one of the best things to happen to the world
of embellishing. Fusible webbing is a thin
material that can be adhered to the back of
an appliqué and then fused to the foundation
fabric with an iron, making appliqué incredibly
easy. You can buy fusible webbing that forms
a permanent bond but I still like to sew the
appliqué so it looks more finished.
Templar is a heat-resistant plastic that is
used to make appliqué templates. It is very
durable and sturdy and doesn’t melt when
ironed. It is a pretty amazing material and one
that I find essential for making perfect circles
and other complex shapes.
Fabric stabilisers help keep fabrics from
moving around as you work on them. They are
essential when working with stretchy fabrics or
with two fabrics of different weights. Stabilisers
are available in four different types – tear-away,
cut-away, heat-away, and wash-away. They can
either be ironed or pinned on to fabrics. The
stabiliser you choose depends on the fabric
you are using, for example, cut-away stabiliser
works like a dream on knits, while tear-away is
more appropriate for heavier, natural fabrics.
Further information
To find out more about Kayte Terry, writer
of Creative Embellishment and Appliqué
Your Way which is out soon, visit her
website at www.thisloveforever.com.
trendspotting
Lynda Feeney, Club Green
+44 (0)1483 281 313
www.clubgreen.com
“Bling is in, and a wonderful embellishment to a wide range of craft
and wedding accessories. One particular product which can be
used in a variety of ways is our diamanté ribbon buckle which in the
picture has been added to a favour box, as an example of how it can
be used. The finished result is a great idea for an attractive favour
or small gift by just threading ribbon through or adding another
dimension with stick-on hearts. Combined with swirls of ribbon,
these ribbon buckles are a simple way of making a bold statement.”
Laura Ells, Creative Beadcraft
+44 (0)1494 778 818
www.creativebeadcraft.co.uk
“We are finding that customers are increasingly looking for quality beads
and something a little bit different, which is reflective of embellishment
and jewellery making trends, as well as a sign customers’ skills are
developing. Jewellery and beading for adornment is increasingly
important to create a fashion look and is a great way of updating a
wardrobe. Chain, worn outsize or in layers of different designs will
continue to be in while antiqued metals, big pearls and ribbon and fabric
will also be part of the mix. As we move through the year the traditional
autumn colours will return, particularly black, but they will be contrasted
with bright vibrant colours such as scarlet, orange and strong pinks.
Our large UV copper coated beads are perfect for bold and dramatic
embellishment. The plastic beads are copper coated so they look like
metal but are still light. The coating gives a very reflective finish and they
are available in light gold, bronze and gunmetal.”
Cara Ackerman, DMC Creative World
+44 (0)116 275 4000
www.dmccreative.co.uk
“DMC threads have inspired designers and stitchers for hundreds of
years with breathtaking colours and sumptuous textures. Threads are
now being used to customise and embellish – to create something
from nothing and to jazz up and personalise cushions, for example.
DMC threads are used for stitching, making tassels, making cords and
lots of other things too. Our new Soluble Canvas is being used to
cross stitch on cushions and almost any other material garment.”
Denzil Quick, Ellison
+44 (0)871 222 2277
www.ellison.com
“The eclips™ is a hand-operated die-cutting product, great for
embellishing. It is the first of its kind to combine Sizzix artwork with
amazing cutting precision. The starter kit contains everything the crafter
needs to create completely customisable shapes and letters to embellish
almost anything. The eclips™ was designed by crafters for crafters so that
creative passion helped us unleash a shape-cutting system loaded with
exclusive features that crafters will truly appreciate.”
craftfocus 61
appliqué, decorate and adorn
Kathleen Cooper, La Fourmi
+ 32 2687 7629
www.cordslafourmi.com
“We are very aware of the popularity of embellishment, and as a result, many of our jewellery
items work well with adorning garments. As many people find it hard to fix findings on
necklaces, we now offer a simple satin cord onto which beads can be threaded. The necklace has
a ball and loop ending so that it can easily be attached without using any findings. We also offer
a suede strap with flat crimps and loops at either end. This allows a choker to be converted into
a fashionable long necklace simply by fixing it to either end of the leather strap. A chain, tiger tail,
ribbon and other cords can be fixed to the suede strap. It is very comfortable to wear and the
strap allows crafters to make a very long necklace using a limited number of beads. It’s super
fashionable and all the components mentioned are great for the art of embellishing.”
Ian Lloyd-Jones, Pinflair
+44 (0)1992 582 712
www.pinflair.co.uk
“Over the years as we have developed a range of Pinflair kits, many of which have
been designed using combinations of sequins, beads, ribbons, braids and pins. They
are all extremely popular at this moment in time and are perfect for embellishing
clothes, bags and household garments. We have formed good relationships with
international suppliers meaning we have been able to increase our range of
products on a regular basis. Having such a diverse range of embellishments to hand
is always a benefit when coming up with new ideas, not only for use within the
craft market, but in other areas.”
62 craftfocus
Charlotte Jelley, The Finishing Touch
+44 (0)1926 889 966
www.beadsandcrystals.co.uk
“Looking through a fashion magazine, I saw a pair of
shoes adorned with crystals and with a price tag of £750!
So, I thought why not transform my shoes myself using
Swarovski non hotfix crystals? I used size ss16 crystals and
a tube of E6000 glue, but using the larger ss20 size will
speed things up. With prom season just around the corner,
customers may want to have a go themselves, whether
using the crystals just on shoe heels, on a clutch bag, or
even a dress. We offer a variation of crystals which can be
used on all manner of materials.”
Ticket sales for July’s Home & Gift show in Harrogate are going more than swimmingly.
We look at who’s going to be there as well as what we should expect in the programme
of events
With enough recession-bucking figures to defy
the current trading conditions, Home & Gift,
Harrogate, which takes place from 18th to 21st
July 2010, reported that four months ahead of
its opening the show was already 95% booked.
Last year’s show witnessed an 8% visitor
increase and the optimism and buoyancy
surrounding Home & Gift 2010 has continued
unabated with the final exhibitor count set to
top 900 companies, including a sizeable influx
of newcomers.
“Tough times demand outstanding shows
that help gift buyers maximise their profit
opportunities,” said Naomi Hird, marketing
communications manager for Home & Gift.
“Home & Gift is already providing the besttimed show for Christmas buying and it’s an
event that is attracting the industry’s
biggest names, brands and a huge influx of new
names and major returnees. This means buyers
will have the chance to see the biggest, freshest
choice of Christmas gift launches and gift
trends in one stimulating buying arena, backed
by some of the wisest free business advice via
the show’s seminars.”
The highly anticipated show continues to
command a loyal following of dedicated Home
& Gift exhibitors, including some of the most
recognisable brand names in the industry
showing their key Christmas product launches.
Just a handful of the notable names include
Caspari, Coeur De Lion, Container Group
Buying, De Montfort Fine Art, Enchante, Fairfull,
Garden Trading, India Jane, Libra Company,
One World Trading, Portmeirion, Straits Trading
and The Old Basket Supply.
Just as impressive is the volume of new
companies signing up for the show, together
with a number of important returnees. It’s a
trend that looks set to deliver an invigorating
and exciting edge to gift buyers looking to
complete their purchasing for the lucrative
Christmas season. According to the organisers,
one in three Home & Gift exhibitors will not
be appearing at any other UK show this year,
whilst debut names have topped 200.
Building on the success of its launch in 2009,
Intro North is back bigger and bolder than
before and providing experienced buyers with
exclusive exposure to start-up companies
and some trend-setting new ideas from the
country’s cutting-edge entrepreneurs.
Local provenance continues to be a
key trend in the gift industry and Home
& Gift is celebrating the best of British
craftsmanship with its Product GB trail. For
gift retailers stocking British-made products,
this trail provides a profitable channel which
also supports local economies. All these
manufacturers will be clearly flagged across the
show with the Product GB branding.
‘Christmas profits all wrapped up’ will be
the driver behind a dynamic series of Business
Bite Seminars designed to help buyers
maximise their profit potential during 2010
with expert advice delivered for free on all
the hottest trends, merchandising, marketing
and e-commerce topics. Buyers can then seek
specific one-to-one advice from a number of
experts running free retail surgeries.
With thousands of new products being
unveiled across four key product sectors,
Home & Gift is being billed as the event to
make this summer, offering buyers opportunity
to capitalise on the profitable festive period
and look ahead to trends and profit
opportunities for 2011.
Home & Gift is looking to give buyers
an opportunity to inject some stability and
security into their key buying decisions
during an uncertain 2010. As the only trade
show perfectly positioned for the Christmas
countdown – Home & Gift provides the
prospect of a stress-free and profitable
Christmas 2010. C
Further information
To find out more on Home & Gift 2010
visit the website at www.homeandgift.co.uk
where visitors can register for free entry.
craftfocus 65
show preview
Christmas profit all wrapped up
creating a destination
craft shop
Period craft shop, The Craft Barn has established itself as a popular business during its
20 year history. Sandy Weller tells us how she’s helped it move with the times
When did the shop open?
The Craft Barn was opened almost 20 years
ago by Maggie Wright. Maggie was a real
pioneer in developing the craft market in the
UK and she sold the shop on in 2002. After
five or six years, our predecessors closed the
shop because they wanted to retire and it had
been closed for about four months when we
took over. Although some might see that as a
negative, we feel it was beneficial because we
were able to completely refurbish before we
reopened on Valentine’s Day in 2008. The great
reputation that The Craft Barn had enjoyed
meant that we very quickly re-established it.
Was it your first retail venture?
My husband Ian and I had both been self
employed owning our own businesses. Ian’s
was a landscape gardening business and I had
my own management consultancy but this
was our first retail venture and it has been
a massive learning curve. In truth we are still
learning as we go along and as the business
continues to grow.
Are you an avid crafter yourself, and how did
your interest begin?
I was a crafter before I bought the business
and it was very much my passion and stress
reliever. I started getting into making things
when I was much younger beginning with
knitting and crochet, then moving on to cross
stitch. I cross stitched my Christmas cards one
year while I was looking for other things to
decorate the cards with I started to get into
paper crafting. From there I developed my
hobby and started selling the things I made
through work and my local post office.
What was your personal brief when first
starting out in terms of product lines, aims
and objectives?
I really wanted to re-establish the Craft Barn
as a great destination shop, known for having
a wide range of products and brands plus
friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff. I knew
this would mean a big investment in stock
and ploughing earnings back into the business
over the first two to three years, but I was
looking at the longer term. We have a five
year business plan and we keep reviewing and
updating this to keep us on track.
How important is your location and what is
your main customer base?
Our location is important because it is well
established and we have a solid, regular local
customer base. The shop is also accessible
from transport links so we draw customers
from all over the UK and Europe, and we seem
to be a destination shop for people from as far
afield as South Africa.
What latest craft trends have you noticed?
Punches are trendy again thanks to Martha
Stewart. Copics and ProMarker pens have
66 craftfocus
largely taken over from watercolour pens and
more people seem to be willing to try out ink
techniques and get their hands mucky, which is
nice. Metal art has also been popular as well.
What are your views on the current state of
the market?
I think there are differences in the craft market
depending on where your main geographic
base is, as the recession has hit some areas
harder than others. We have been very lucky
and have seen substantial growth despite the
difficult economic climate. It does feel as if we
have lost quite a lot of smaller independent
bricks and mortar stores in the last year which
is probably due to both the recession, ease of
entry for new internet-only businesses and lack
of buying power.
How do you source new products?
We source from all over the world. We are
very lucky that a lot of people looking to
launch new products will get in touch to ask
retailer
retailerinterview
interview
if we are interested. I spend time each week
looking for new things and our staff and design
team also tell us what new things they would
like to see.
What are your best-selling lines?
We sell a lot of stamps with a number of UKexclusive brands and we have a whole room
dedicated to paper, as well as a large selection
of embossing and die cutting products. Inks and
paints are perennial good sellers but the bestselling products do fluctuate. At the moment
punches are definitely the flavour of the month
right now, particularly Martha Stewart – Copic
pens also remain strong.
Which shows do you attend?
We don’t attend any shows as an exhibitor
but we go to trade shows and I always try to
visit two or three retail shows each year just to
see what is out there, in case we have missed
anything. We have our own events programme
based around The Craft Barn, so we don’t have
the capacity to do more at the moment but
this may be something for the future.
Do you offer a workshop programme, and is
it important to the success of your business?
We offer a regular workshop programme
and there are often waiting lists for the
most popular classes. We have a group of
core tutors who we work with to deliver
our workshop programme, topped up with
occasional special guests. Our tutors work in
the shop every Saturday on a rota basis to
demonstrate how to use different products.
They also help people with other crafting
problems they may be having. We find people
have confidence in buying products if they can
come along and find out how to use them.
What yardstick do you use for measuring the
potential of a new product?
Our newsletter is a good yardstick because
we can see if people are interested in checking
out the product when we send the details, and
if the staff are all buying it too we know it is
going to do well.
What sort of relationship do you enjoy with
your suppliers?
We have a good relationship with our
suppliers, they are always very helpful and
try to give us what we need. We sometimes
work with them to bring products in that
we particularly want or think will sell well.
Inevitably with over 80 suppliers we have
more contact with some than others and we
are trying hard to not increase that number
because logistically it can be a nightmare.
How do you ensure that you can compete
with the larger craft multiples?
By relationship building with key suppliers,
continuing to source new and unusual
products and by making the website and shop
as appealing and friendly as possible. We are
able to be very responsive to market trends so
that also helps.
Describe the style and presentation of your
shop – how important is visual merchandising
to you?
We are based in a 16th century barn so there
is a lot of character to the building. We have
chosen a very simple colour scheme – the
walls and slat walling is all white with pale blue
as the highlight colour because we want the
products to be the star of the show. We have
tried to lay the shop out in a logical way so
that people can find things. Merchandising is
very important to us but with limited space
that is always a challenge.
What steps do you take to ensure the
highest standards of customer service?
We start from the beginning with an induction
programme for staff to ensure they understand
our core principles and approach to customer
service. We have a good staff team who work
very hard to get things right for our customers.
We regularly ask for feedback from customers
and act on what they tell us. We don’t always
get it right but when we don’t we try even
harder to learn from it.
How important is your online presence?
Our website is growing rapidly and is very
important to us. The shop and website feed
each other really. We know that more and
more retail business is being done online
across the board and craft is no different –but
it is still nice for crafters to be able to see and
feel products so I think there will always be
room for bricks and mortar businesses.
What are your plans for the future?
To continue to implement our business plan
and grow our businesses both in the shop and
online. We want to make better use of IT to
improve business efficiency and take advantage
of other opportunities as they arise. C
Further information
For more details on The Craft Barn, call
+44 (0)1342 836 398 or visit the website
at www.thecraftbarn.com.
craftfocus 67
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The
Big Heart
Bike Ride
18-26
JUNE
2011
in Africa
to raise funds to fight heart disease
Join the 4th Big Heart Bike Ride, a magnificent
400kms cycle ride through Tanzania
• Cycle along the Indian Ocean • Experience rural Africa • See fantastic wildlife
For more information and to register online:
www.actionforcharity.co.uk
0845 408 2698 e-mail:[email protected]
Managed by
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lifechangingevents
Acting as agents for
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project
cushions: step-by-step
Show your customers how
to work with a number of
crafting materials to produce
these striking Japanese cherry
blossom cushions
Crafters can breathe new life into their living room
by creating some lovely Japanese cherry blossom
cushions to brighten up a sofa. They simply buy the
items listed below and follow the simple instructions.
By adding a Japanese screen behind a sofa or placing
a vase of cherry blossom on a coffee table, plus some
cherry blossom room fragrance perfume sticks, and
your customers will evoke the heady scent of the
Japanese countryside.
Materials required
• White and pink organza fabric (must be manmade fibre only)
• Brown strung sequins
• Green non-fray fabric such as faux suede or felt
or green sequins
• Clear hot fix gems
• Cushion pads with silk covers
• Dremel Versatip with soldering tip attachment
• Dremel Glue Gun
Further information
For more details on Dremel and their project
ideas visit the website at www.dremel.co.uk.
STEP ONE
Cut out a number of blossom
flower shapes from the organza
fabric using the Versatip with the
soldering tip attachment.
STEP TWO
To create the individual blossoms,
place three organza flowers
together, then pinch them all in
the centre and touch the point
on the back of the flowers with
the Versatip and the soldering tip
attachment to fuse them into one
blossom flower.
STEP THREE
Use the glue gun to glue the strung
brown sequins onto the cushion
cover to form the branches,
planning the design carefully first
if you want it to run across a
number of cushions.
STEP FOUR
Cut out leaf shapes from green
fabric and use the glue gun to stick
the leaves and blossom in place as
shown. Add some sparkle to your
cushions by using the Versatip to
apply the hot fix gems to suggest
blossom buds or more blossoms, if
you prefer.
craftfocus 69
cushions: step-by-step
Pinflair
+44 (0)1992 582 712
www.pinflair.co.uk
Fabrics have long since been one of Pinflair’s
more popular product lines. The company has
found that fabrics can be used in such a wide
variety of projects which offer a completely
different angle to crafting. Over the years,
Pinflair has developed some interesting ways
of using the fabrics, from simple card kits
with panelled fabrics, to creating patchwork
effects. The panelled fabrics offered include
approximately 30 panels of nine designs, and
are available in half metre lengths. All the fabric
packs are 100% cotton.
Dremel
+44 (0)844 736 0107
www.dremel-direct.com
The dual-temperature Dremel Hobby Glue Gun has more features than many other
currently on the market. It has a large, secure foot and kick stand for extra stability that can
be operated with one hand. The glue gun, together with the new Glittersticks, can be used
for all sorts of gluing and decorative projects, such as scrapbooking and flower arranging, plus
decorations on glass, wood and much more. The kit includes six regular glue sticks, 12 colour
Glittersticks and three nozzles.
Korbond
+44 (0)1476 573 227
www.korbond.co.uk
This 1000m extra strong sewing thread can
be used with a multitude of fabrics and is
suitable for both sewing machines and hand
sewing. Korbond thread is polyester-coated
providing extra strength and durability, with
no shrinkage and excellent colour fastness.
A variety of best-selling and popular colours,
with extensive meterage, provides the
necessary tools to carry out craft projects,
repairing, altering or any sewing need.
M Courts
+44 (0)20 8884 0999
www.mcourts-haberdashery.co.uk
When making new cushions, or to liven up existing ones, sequins can be
used to add a dash of glamour. Different widths, colours and textures
70 craftfocus
of ribbon add to the design, and ribbon roses and bows inject colour.
Old zips can also be replaced for a new one in a contrasting shade.
Dye old cushion covers to update them, or tie dye and add mirror
embellishments for a more modern look. Fringes, braids, tassels and
cords can also be added around the edges for texture. C
‡‡‡
/21'2175,00,1*6
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26-28 CAMBRIDGE HEATH ROAD, WHITECHAPEL, LONDON E1 5QH
Tel: 0207 7919766 / 0207 7902233
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
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•
•
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Feathers
Sequin Braids
Buckles
Buttons
Embellishments
Wool
Zips
Threads
Knitting Accessories
Ribbons
Diamante Buckles
Haberdashery
Flowers
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Bows
Dress Net
Handbag Accessories
Scissors
Elastic
Colour Dye
Snap Fasteners
Cotton Webbing
Lace
Cord
Labels
Bias Bindings
Insertion Piping
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Eyelets
Interlining/Wadding
Toy Filling
Trouser Patches
Jeans Buttons & Rivets
Shoulder Pads
Embroidery Accessories
Hook & Loop
Covered Buttons
Curtain Accessories
Toggles
Hangers
Garment Cover Bags
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boys’ toys
Although floral patterns and knitting don’t often
appeal to men, there are many other crafts which
do. We look at a few products which might just
tickle their fancy...
Heritage Crafts
+44 (0)1889 575256
www.hcrafts.com
Relive the age of steam with this collection of classic Welsh
railway designs from Heritage Crafts. The small but detailed
designs feature four well-known little Welsh trains, which have
recently been relaunched after some time off the shelves. They
are available as complete cross stitch kits, including Zweigart
fabric – either 14 count Aida or 27 count evenweave, DMC
stranded cottons, clear charts, instructions and a needle.
Grafix
+1 216 581 9050
www.grafixarts.com
Create, cut and bake your creations with Grafix Shrink Film.
Although it’s perfect for kids, dads will enjoy it just as much.
Grafix Shrink Film is made of special plastic that shrinks to half
its size to create thick, durable embellishments. Crafters can
decorate them with paint pens, permanent markers and rubber
stamps. Make one-of-a-kind key chains, charms, pins, magnets
and more. For even more fun, print photos, clipart or text onto
clear or white Inkjet Printable Grafix Shrink Film for personalised
trinkets. The film is available in clear, matte and white and is sold
in A4 packs of six or 25 sheets.
72 craftfocus
Mosaic Mad Romans
+44 (0)1273 586 181
www.mosaicmadromans.com
The Roman coin kit and
geometric mosaic kit appeals
to boys aged seven to 70 with
a passion for Roman history, or
the man who has everything.
The product contains high quality
marble tesserae, and comes at an
affordable price. It’s easy and fun
to make, and the finished, grouted
article gives an ancient feel. The
grout is not included, but can be
bought separately although both
kits include ancient-looking dust
which can be sprinkled in the
gaps as a substitute for grout.
The Roman coin kit contains a
replica Roman Denarius coin,
which is placed in the middle of
the mosaic for an eye-catching centre piece.
BETTS METAL SALES
Experienced staff to help with your jewellery
project needs
• No minimum order value or quantity
• Silver sheet and wire
• Loose Chain
• Precious Metal Clay
• Silver findings
www.bettsmetalsales.com
t: 0121 233 2413
DMC Creative World
+44 (0)116 275 4000
www.dmccreative.co.uk
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Many men do enjoy stitching and take great pride in producing a
piece of work that is detailed and draws upon their time and skills
as cross stitchers. The art of cross stitching is very relaxing and a
perfect way to de-stress at the end of a busy day. DMC offers a
wide range of designs that will appeal to men. The counted cross
stitch designs are courtesy of Felix Rosenstiel’s Widow & Son
and include a steam train passing a beach, as well as a steam train
passing a horse and cart in fields. There are seven new designs
in total and the kits contain 16 count Aida fabric, DMC stranded
cottons, needle, chart and instructions.
Daler-Rowney
+44 (0)1344 461 000
www.daler-rowney.com
System 3 is one of the UK’s leading range of
acrylic colours, available in Original Flow and
new Heavy Body consistencies. The colours
offer an excellent painting experience at an
economical price. Only high quality pigments
are used in the manufacture of the System 3
acrylic ranges, with significantly greater loading than other acrylic ranges
in this class. System 3’s comprehensive range of colours offers excellent
lightfastness, permanence, durability and covering power. The water
based colours are highly versatile and can be thinned with water to
pale washes or used directly from the pot or tube – either form dries
quickly to create an insoluble film. The range’s quick drying properties
enable the artist to work quickly, superimposing or juxtaposing colours
without disturbance. All System 3 Original and Heavy Body colours are
fully intermixable and suitable for interior use. They are are also suitable
for use outdoors – apart from fluorescent, which is not lightfast –
offering wide ranging creative opportunities. C
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buttons, scr
and beyond
A company that has been going for over 100 years is clearly doing something right to maintain
a strong customer base. John Ashley of Jones & Co in Nottingham, tells us how they continue
to move with the times
Who founded Jones & Co, and what
prompted them to do so?
Jones & Co (Nottingham) was founded in
1909 by Charles Henry Jones, an experienced
salesman in the textile industry. The main
product line then comprised of buttons
primarily for the men’s underwear trade
but buttons for all garments soon followed.
Charles’ son Albert Owen Jones and I – his
son-in-law – followed him into the business,
proceeded with our sons Owen Jones and Eric
Ashley. I am now the current chairman whilst
Owen Jones’ daughter Patricia Stansby is also
a director.
How has the product offering evolved since
this time?
Apart from buttons, the company sold and
distributed zips, ribbons, tapes and a wide
range of other products for the garment
manufacturing industry. Sales of buttons to
department stores and wholesalers supplying
haberdashery retailers also started many
years ago. During the 1980s the decline in
garment manufacturing in the UK began
to increase and the company made the
decision to diversify into the supply of curtain
accessories to the soft furnishing retail trade
and so the Jones interiors division was born.
The garment supply division continues to this
day working with a wholly owned subsidiary
in Hong Kong supplying buttons to garment
factories in the Far East and other countries
around the world. About 10 years ago note
was taken of the fact an increasing number of
buttons were being used as embellishments
rather than just as fastenings and more
novelty buttons were added to the range. On
74 craftfocus
behalf of the company I visited the CHA Show
in Anaheim in 2002 and over the next few
years we added several craft related products
produced by divisions of existing button
factories. Following another visit to the CHA
Show in Las Vegas in 2006, foundations for
creating the Jones Crafts division were laid
and involvement with various brands in the
USA began. Teething problems with several
of these, such as closure without warning, did
not help but now a hard core of top quality
brands are distributed exclusively in the UK
by Jones Crafts.
What are your best-selling craft lines, and
why do you think this is?
Certainly buttons are what we are best known
for. Ranges go from basics to haute couture
and can be supplied in a wide variety of make
ups. We have mini packs for retail display
on hooks, or we can pack to the customers’
requirements. Particularly popular are our
mixtures which can be made up of specific
types or general budget mixes where we bring
in vast quantities of undyed buttons then dye
them colours that blend together – we then
mix and pack these in-house. These mixtures
are available in 100g, 200g, 400g and 1k bags,
as well as mini handbag-style packaging and
small jars. We aim to offer versatile packing
of the most diverse stock button range on
the planet. The key craft brands we distribute
in the UK include 7gypsies who have
carefully-thought-out themes led by amazing
double sided papers, backed up by superb
embellishments. We have just started working
with Pioneer Scrapbooks who offer a high
quality brand which is already proving very
popular, and Black Market Paper Society’s
textured double sided papers, I believe, have
no equal. Lisa Pavelka’s signature range of
transfers, textured stamps, foils and other
profile
What’s your take on the current market?
Trade was very depressing towards the end of
last year but some confidence is reappearing.
It is still a little too early to be certain that the
recession is behind us. Regrettably some of
the smaller independent retailers are short of
the cash which would enable them to restock
or purchase new ranges. We are so frustrated
for them and will always try to help with big
reductions on discontinued lines – many of
which are still very saleable – if they need an
influx of fresh product to fill some racks.
items for use with polymer clay prove to be
invaluable to anyone working in this medium,
while Buzz and Bloom, who are also new with
us, offer ranges of lasered chipboard, acrylic
and fabric. Last but not least, Stretch Magic
specialise in jewellery cord and Sugartree offer
scrapbooking papers – many of which can be
framed and hung on the wall as a picture.
How do you support your retailers?
Newsletters are sent out by email on a
regular basis advising of new developments,
promotions and also containing links or PDFs
of products. We try to visit as many people
as we can and hopefully will be able to add to
our sales team soon. Also, our showroom in
Nottingham is now open.
What steps have you been taking to weather
the storm?
We have consolidated with a fewer number of
suppliers to give more concentration to these
prime brands. We are confident that the varied
products we take from them do not overlap,
enabling us to offer a stock service for a very
diverse collection. We are also constantly
reviewing, adding and deleting lines from our
own ranges of buttons and other products, so
that what we offer is up to the moment.
How do you plan to grow your existing
retailer base?
Apart from existing customers we have a large
list of potential businesses we are working
through. Those we have an email address for
are receiving our newsletters. We have to be
cautious as supplying the same products to
too many retailers in close proximity will not
be good for anyone. In this situation we advise
what ranges have been taken by others in the
area and most simply take items the others
have not.
How would you like the company to develop
over the next few years?
We have strong teams in each division with
superb suppliers so growth of sales is naturally
the main and achievable target. Jones Crafts
is currently only a small part of the overall
operation so growing this substantially, to
become a bigger part of the company, is
paramount. In the process of doing this we
will fill some of the product gaps we have
in our portfolio. One gap we had a year
ago was scrapbooks but this has been more
than adequately filled by our becoming UK
distributor for Pioneer. C
Further information
For more details on Jones & Co
(Nottingham) call +44 (0)115 978 1263,
email [email protected], or
visit the website at www.jonesnottm.co.uk.
craftfocus 75
q&a technology
q&a technology
Beth Scott from Loud-n-Clear.com answers your questions on getting the
product to the customer and if the technology available can help
Q
A
I’m just branching out into selling by mail order from my website –
how do I deal with postage and packing charges?
The simplest way is just to make everything ‘free delivery’ and include
a delivery element in your item prices. Free delivery is always nice for a
customer to see on a website, but it may make your prices seem higher
than a competitor who charges delivery as a separate item – and it
might not make sense if you’re sending a lot of heavy items overseas.
If you do choose to charge for delivery then you need to decide on
what basis to charge. The options include flat rate, by basket weight, by
number of items, by order value or by individual item. We’ll examine
each option in turn:
By flat rate The simplest way, for both you and your customers. This
is probably most suited to businesses with consistent order sizes. The
downside can be that with a small order your customer is paying over
the odds and with a large order you may be charging less than cost.
By basket weight You need to know the weight of all your items
and you can then automatically total the weight of the basket and
calculate postage from there. It should be easy to update when postage
rates change or when stock items change.
By number of items This is a very straightforward method for
calculating and is predictable for the customer. If, however, your
range of items varies markedly in either bulk or weight you’ll find this
method does not always accurately reflect real costs.
By order value Another simple and predictable method, very
transparent for the customer but a hostage to cheap heavy items.
By individual item The most complicated option and the most time
consuming to update, but this is the surest way of avoiding both
over and under charging for carriage.
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Don’t forget that delivery charges need to cover the packaging materials
and the time taken to pack and post, as well as the postage or courier
charges – and make sure that your chosen e-commerce solution
supports the postage option that suits you best.
There are also a few other things to consider:
Do you want to offer free postage over a certain value? This can
encourage extra sales.
Are you going to offer an express or next day service? People are
often willing to pay more in order to get the item sooner.
If you’re selling overseas then you need to work out different
postage rates for different places and airmail or surface mail. Goods
sent outside the EU will usually need a customs form (CN22).
Is it worth offering a gift service, with gift-wrapping and a card with
a message? This can generate extra sales but you’ll need to check
your bank credit card processing agreement about despatching orders
to addresses different from the card holder.
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craftfocus 77
q&a technology
Are you using the Royal Mail or a courier? With a courier there may
be significant surcharges for rural and island addresses.
Are you VAT registered? If so, there should be VAT on your delivery
charge as well. As always, check the exact position regarding VAT
with either HMRC or your accountant.
5
6
It’s a good idea to keep a record of actual postage costs and then check
them periodically against the postage you have charged, to ensure that
your charges are sufficient to cover the real costs.
Q
A
I don’t want to visit the post office every day – can I avoid it?
Yes. How best to avoid it depends on the size and number of items you
are selling. The simplest option for a seller who uses PayPal is PayPal’s
own online postage centre. This lets you create, pay for and print
postage labels for any sales through PayPal. It can also generate pre-filled
customs forms, packing slips and proof of posting certificates.
Once you have printed the label and attached it to your item you
can put it in a post box, drop it off at the post office or if it is a parcel,
book a Parcelforce collection through PayPal. The main downside of
this system is that if you want compensation for lost items then you still
need a certificate of posting, so you may feel that you can’t avoid going
to the post office anyway.
The next option is Royal Mail’s own SmartStamp which is a similar
offering to Paypal’s – here you pay a small monthly subscription and
78 craftfocus
then pay for and print your own labels online. Again, you need to post
an item by the next day after printing the label. You have the full range of
Royal Mail services available through SmartStamp and these include, for
a fee, getting your mail collected at a pre-arranged time.
For occasional posting of heavy items you can either use a courier
directly or take advantage of a service such as Parcel2Go or Interparcel,
who can provide very competitive quotes from a range of couriers.
They do this by aggregating a huge number of individual orders and
negotiating a bulk discount, so if you only use a courier occasionally it
may be much cheaper using one of these services than dealing with the
courier yourself. The problem here is that if anything goes wrong the
courier’s contract is with the intermediary, and any claim has to be made
by them and you then need to claim from them.
If you are regularly sending large numbers of items or lots of heavy
items it will probably be worthwhile having an account either with the
Royal Mail or with a courier. With an account you should expect to have
an agreed rate, a regular collection slot and an account manager to liaise
with in the event of any problems. C
Further information
Beth welcomes readers’ questions for future issues. Please visit the
website at www.craft-fair.co.uk/craftfocus to see previous questions
and answers or to ask further questions.
POSITION VACANT
Unique 4 u currently requires a
business partner.
Either physical or silent partner required for
this opening. Must be of sound business mind
and able to make financial commitment to
sustain the haberdashery trade.
All enquiries to made to Liz on
01779 475006 or write including CV to:
Elizabeth Hodgetts
Unique 4 U (Aberdeenshire) Ltd
17 Merchant Street, Peterhead,
Aberdeenshire
AB42 1DU
EPoS special
how EPoS could transform
your business
When Kim Sutton of Blyth Craft Studio realised she was losing
thousands of pounds worth of stock per year, drastic changes were
needed. Little did she know that simply installing an EPoS system
would rejuvenate the company. Kim tells us her story
What’s the background to your business?
I have been in retail for 22 years, 11 of which
in craft supplies. Before that I had a gift shop
for seven years, and prior to that three
boutiques. The craft supplies venture was born
from frustration. I made hand crafted goods
and cards for my gift shop and could not
locate enough supplies. I began teaching paint
effects and other crafts in a spare room at my
retail premises. My students also wanted to
purchase products, so I looked into it.
Why did you decide to use an EPoS system in
your business?
My husband Jonathan was alerted to the
common problem all small retailers have with
actual stock control. How could we improve
stock levels? There is nothing more frustrating
than running out of best-sellers and forgetting
to reorder them if the agent calls at a busy
time, or ordering something which has been
hidden or moved by somebody else. The
end result is often reordering something that
you do not need. Jonathan talked me into
an EPoS system, and I admit I was reluctant. I
felt cost could be prohibitive and not feasible
as a business expense in a relatively small
shop. However Jonathan purchased second
hand barcode scanners and all the necessary
software. I was set up for a couple of hundred
pounds nine years ago. It was the best single
business expense to date.
What has the impact of EPoS been on the
day-to-day running of the business?
The first benefit after a week of scanning in the
stock was a visit from an EPoS representative.
Within minutes I had a list of recent sales from
a particular company then we began ordering
the newest products straight away. The second
benefit however was heartbreaking and was a
massive eye-opener. I was losing approximately
£150 (at cost) per week from stock theft. I had
suspicions, but was horrified at the enormity of
the loss. This then initiated cameras – another
necessary business expense – which led to my
banning those who were caught, including a
member of staff. I had lost £5,000 in one year
so really cannot recommend EPoS enough.
My shop is now efficiently run by staff who
can easily record all new items, reduce prices
at the time of sale, and identify theft. The
customer receives a printed, fully itemised list
of purchases so they can be confident they
have been charged correctly, and received the
right change. We can also record on the EPoS
system what method of payment they used.
At busy times, the queues are kept as short as
possible, which pleases everybody concerned.
We can run information at the end of the
day to assist restocking for the following day.
We are also able to identify the best-seller in
relation to takings, number of items sold, and
furthermore how much turnover we have
per hour. It will never be 100% reliable for
stocktaking at the year end, but at any time of
year you can get a good idea of just how much
stock you are carrying for insurance purposes.
What would you say to someone who does
not use EPoS?
I would urge all shopkeepers who sell small
items to install an EPoS system. It will become
as valuable as your best employee, and save
hours of time, effort and stress. If you do not
employ anybody, it will become your best
piece of equipment. C
Further information
To find out more about Blyth Craft Studio
call +44 (0)1909 591 808 or visit the website
at www.blyth-craft-emporium.co.uk.
craftfocus 81
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multi-channelling
time to think big
Chris Barling, CEO of e-commerce and EPOS supplier, Actinic, offers
tips to help smaller companies take on the giants
Life isn’t easy as a small retailer, whatever your
sector. The large retail chains seem to roam
unchallenged across the landscape, relentlessly
extending their product range to embrace
everything they can. Although the craft world
is perhaps less prone to this competition, it’s
not completely immune.
Added to this, 10 years ago, the internet was
a haven. It was a niche channel, the preserve
of boutique businesses and online startups, but
now the big boys are in this playground too.
So there’s more competition online, and
there are many companies selling across
multiple channels – online, in-store and by
phone. The question is whether this approach
is a good idea, and the challenge is how to
prosper in this new world.
Crafting your niche
One answer I believe is to become specialised
in a niche. This was the tactic David used
to beat Goliath – he became an expert at
one thing. The great advantage of developing
such a niche business is that it automatically
incorporates a good marketing strategy.
Focus brings many advantages. It’s much
quicker and cheaper to become known within
a specialist area. And it costs less to reach and
influence the enthusiasts for your specialty than
to establish a reputation in a broad sector.
Jean and Geoff Sewell established The
Cotton Patch in Birmingham in 1990,
specialising in quilting and patchwork supplies
which it sells via a shop, the web phone and
mail order. The attraction of this niche was
demonstrated recently by a customer who
visited from Denmark. Her husband had said
he would take her anywhere in Europe for her
birthday and as a keen quilt teacher she said
she wanted to visit Birmingham, England so
that she could visit The Cotton Patch shop!
Easy to find
Once you have a specialism, you’ve taken the
first step towards succeeding on Google. You
should experiment with search phrases relating
to your niche on Google Adwords. Try a
variety of phrases including longer ones. These
are less expensive and produce proportionally
more sales. Then optimise relevant pages for
the free search listings once you know which
search phrases generate the most business.
craftfocus 83
craftfocus 83
time to think big
Search engines are programmed to find the most relevant sites that
match search phrases. As a niche player armed with the knowledge
above, you can benefit from the ability to pack sites with niche-relevant
content. Google will automatically have a tendency to rank you higher
and if the site is also popular among other enthusiasts and specialists, you
will get free links from them, further boosting your ranking. This probably
explains the Danish visit to Birmingham mentioned earlier.
Exploit all of the channels
Being small, it’s easier to handle the many challenges that come from
selling through multiple channels. And few retailers can afford to miss out
on the potential extra synergies. With 35% of small retailers now selling
online, already 21% of retailers are fully multi-channel selling through the
high street, accepting orders by phone and over the web. (Source: Actinic
survey of 277 retailers conducted by PFA Research).
The Cotton Patch started off just selling through conventional retail,
but in 2003 they started using an e-commerce system and have added
both e-commerce and telephone ordering. These channels have led
to rapid growth and are now responsible for 78% of sales. “The three
elements of web, shop and mail order go hand-in-hand, so the web site
drives customers to the shop and vice versa,” says Liz Sewell who runs
the company on a day-to-day basis.
Requirements for multi-channel retailing
Both research and our experience suggest that consumers are looking to
shop how they want, and benefits will automatically accrue to a business
once it starts selling through all channels. Consumers’ requirements for
multi-channel retailing can be pretty easily expressed – they want to
view products, place orders, receive deliveries and if necessary return
goods through any combination of available channels. Increasingly, they are
intolerant of companies that can’t support this – and the younger they
are, the more likely they are to feel this way. According to MORI, 73% of
16-24 year olds check online before visiting a physical shop.
For the retailer, they need technology that can support all channels.
Looking at one in isolation is no longer good enough.
C
Wake up time
The economy is waking up, so you need to be ready to take advantage of
people spending more on their hobby. Research says that multi-channel
customers are more profitable than other customers, so make sure you
look after them. Having multiple channels will also help you to attract
more customers, and help sustain and grow your business. I hope that it
works for you. C
Further information
For more details about Chris Barlow and his company Actinic, visit
the website at www.actinic.co.uk.
84 craftfocus
The UK’s leading magazine
for the craft industry
To advertise here
telephone Tracy Voice
on +44 (0)1376 535 618
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brilliant buttons
Anna Hodgson tells us that The ButtonCompany is striving to constantly
offer new products, and explains how this works for the firm
Who founded The ButtonCompany, and what
prompted them to do so?
The ButtonCompany has been in the button
industry in one way or another since 1956,
traditionally making polyester buttons for the
garment trade in the UK. In early 2005, the
British government dropped the restrictions
that stopped companies mass-importing from
China – and we (and many other companies at
this time) lost 80% of our business overnight.
To try and diversify, we changed our name to
The ButtonCompany, started attending craft
fairs during that year, learning what people
wanted from each one, and trying to think of
a way to do it. It was at one of these shows
that we first had the idea for colour themed
bags – which at the time was something no
one else was doing. In February the year after
we attended our first trade show – a truly
terrifying experience!
How has the product offering evolved since
this time?
The products have evolved greatly since that
first year. Now we have a set range of fashion
buttons that we update every year, following
the trends in the fashion industry, and our
colour theme bags have grown from a range
of six colours to nearly 30 – all dyed in our
specialist dye shop. A couple of years ago
we started to bring in other products to the
stable – concentrating always on quality and
desirability. We now distribute woolfelt in a
range of 72 colours, trims including super giant
ric rac, and Hemingworth machine embroidery
and quilting thread. We are also the UK agents
for Seven Islands fabrics – a range of kitsch and
cute Japanese materials.
86 craftfocus
What are your best-selling craft lines, and
why do you think this is?
Our best-sellers will always be our button
theme bags – each time we launch a new
colour it goes out of stock within a few days
and we struggle to keep up with demand! The
woolfelt is proving increasingly popular – once
people work with it, they come back for more
and more. This year at the Craft Hobby +
Stitch International trade show, our jumbo ric
rac flew off the shelf. I at the moment think
people are liking the fact that our products
aren't seen elsewhere. The constant comment
at the trade show was that they had never
seen such products.
What do you think will be the next big thing
in crafting?
In our retail shop and at shows, we are finding
more and more younger crafters coming in.
There is a younger demographic who are
desperate to learn the core skills that they
missed out on – and that their parents and
grandparents were taught by rote. Sewing
and dressmaking are huge at the moment,
and embellishing is big. Jewellery is really
haberdashery orientated at the moment –
with sequins, gems, buttons, ribbons, rope and
suffolk puffs making an appearance.
How do you support your retailers?
We always work hard to support our retailers,
giving them a friendly and helpful service. We
are always on hand to give them information
and advice. Having our own retail store
makes it easier to see what works, and to
give tried and tested advice. Earlier this year
we launched a trade website, which shows
profile
our entire range and will enable us to give
our retailers display ideas, projects and more.
Every once in a while we produce a leaflet
with button-related projects which we give to
our retailers to help promote the product. If
a retailer needs something special, because of
our manufacturing roots, we will always try and
either make or source exactly what they need.
Flexibility is key in dealing with our button
retailers, as buttons have so many uses, and
people buy them for different purposes.
What’s your take on the current market?
While the economic climate is still worrying,
and business is hard, we have noticed a definite
growth. People are turning towards traditional,
manual skills, preferring to trust themselves
rather than ‘big business’. We’ve also noticed
a growing amount of people using hobbies
to start their own business, whether it’s
made goods, craft parties, shops or websites.
As people are starting businesses, this will
hopefully mean an end to the instability the
market has shown.
What steps have you been taking to weather
the storm?
We keep our products fresh and original – it’s
key to weathering the storm. If we constantly
have desirable products, then someone will
want to buy them – hopefully! This is the
philosophy we have had since the beginning –
we started by weathering the one storm, and
now in comparison, this actually seems easier
– maybe we are just practised. The key we
have always found is to keep moving constantly,
never rest on your success – keeping the ideas
coming is important.
How do you plan to grow your existing
retailer base?
The trade website which launched a couple
of months ago is already proving to be
helpful, giving people constant access to the
information they need. We also now have two
representatives on the road, and are looking
for more, to cover the north of England, Wales,
Scotland and Ireland.
How would you like the company to develop
over the next few years?
We would obviously like the company to
grow over the next few years, although it is
always important to consolidate what you
already do, so you keep doing it well. We have
several product ideas that we are holding back
on until the time is right, and no matter how
many buttons you have, there are always more
to find! One of our next plans is a series of
‘illustrated’ ribbons. We have been gathering
a team of young designers to help us to this
end, as well as a couple of in house designs.
You should see these start to appear from the
summer onwards! C
Further information
To find out more about The
ButtonCompany call +44 (0)1243 775 462,
email [email protected], or visit
the website at www.buttoncompany.co.uk.
craftfocus 87
all the answers
Our experts tackle some of your retail-related queries...
regulations for younger workers
Q
Neil McFarlane, sales and marketing director, of
T H March & Co Limited. T H March is a wellestablished family business founded in 1887,
with offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester,
Glasgow, Sevenoaks and Yelverton, near Plymouth.
The company has departments covering
household, motor, life and income protection,
travel, commercial and scheme insurance.
Jennifer Smith is a solicitor at Ralli Partnership
Law and specialises in employment law. The
division was set up in 2009 in response to an
increase in registered LLPs and a demand for
specialist partnership law advice. An LLP is a
partnership formed under the Limited Liability
Partnership Act 2000. It is a half way house
between a traditional partnership and a limited
company. The members are self employed but
the LLP is a legal entity, like a company, and the
members have limited liability for business debts.
Visit www.rallipartnershiplaw.co.uk for more
details and advice on partnership law.
Jonathan Jay is a successful business consultant,
founder of The Coaching Academy UK, founder
and Managing Director of SuccessTrack, magazine
publisher and devotes his time to helping business
owners reach their potential.
I have a number of employees who are aged between 16
and 18. I know legislation changes constantly in this area,
so what is the current minimum wage allowance and
working time regulations for this age group?
Q
A
Jennifer Smith says: Young workers – employees under
the age of 18, but more than the school leaving age – have
different employment rights from an adult worker. Young
workers are entitled to longer rest periods as well as more
protection from working at night. A young worker cannot
usually be made to work longer than eight hours per day or
40 hours per week. When working for more than four and
a half hours, young workers need a rest break of 30 minutes
and must get 12 uninterrupted hours rest in each 24 hour
period in which they work.
When employing young workers, employers need
to be aware of the different National Minimum Wage
(NMW) rates. The rate of NMW, which recently changed
on 1st October 2010, will depend on the exact age of the
employee. The current rates are £4.83 per hour for 18 to
21 year olds and £3.57 for 16 to 17 year olds.
employment dispute advice
Q
A
I’ve had a complaint from an employee who claims they
have been treated unfairly. Where should I turn to for
advice on employment disputes?
Jennifer Smith says: To ensure the complaint is handled
in the best way possible and to ensure the employee has
been treated fairly, you should seek advice from a solicitor
who can provide up-to-date practical guidance on current
employment law and procedures. By taking legal advice
from an employment solicitor, following the law correctly
and avoiding knee-jerk reactions, you can save your business
from expensive complaints and avoid damaging your
reputation as an employer.
Q
A
venturing into social networking
Is social networking for everyone, or more importantly
someone in the arts and crafts industry?
Jonathan Jay says: No it isn’t, and this is a critical thing to
realise.You can waste lots of time with things like Facebook
and Twitter, by spending hours and hours updating and
88 craftfocus
Q&A special
maintaining your profile and cultivating your
friends list without ever actually getting any
extra business.
However used in the right way you can use
social networking to get more business. The
internet has opened up a fantastic environment
for arts and crafts enthusiasts with an ease of
access to advice from experts.You can use
this to drive an enormous amount of traffic to
your website, which will get you more business,
increase the amount of word-of-mouth
coverage you get for your business and position
you as an expert in the field.
Q
A
joining the twitterati
So, how do I get the most out of Twitter?
Jonathan Jay says: First write a series of short
articles based around the advice you get asked
for most often and post them on your company
website. Set up a Twitter account and trawl the
site looking for any arts and crafts related fields
and ‘follow’ them. They should start following
you too. Now start posting links to your articles
on your Twitter feed. If the articles are good
they’ll spread like wildfire.
Q
A
how Facebook works
Is the approach to Facebook different then?
Jonathan Jay says: Yes, Facebook is a more indepth site and I think it yields the best results
for businesses, despite Twitter being the ‘trendy’
social networking site of the moment.
For Facebook, set up a group called ‘arts
and crafts advice’ (or similar) and do the same
thing as I recommended for Twitter – link to
the articles you’ve written on your own site
from your Facebook page.You can also answer
questions posted by people on your ‘wall’ –
get a dialogue going with your ‘fans’ and your
group will be a great deal more successful. It’s
important to keep an eye on the group and
answer questions quickly – people on the
internet get bored of waiting fast!
setting up shop
Q
A
I am about to launch a retail giftware business.
What insurance aspects should I consider?
many clauses are built into the policy wordings
so if you buy a policy over the internet then
do carefully read the policy within the stated
‘cooling off ’ period. C
Neil McFarlane says: As an absolute minimum
you must consider Employers’, Public and
Products Liability cover. Employers’ Liability
Insurance is a statutory requirement if you
take on any employees. Public and Products
Liability are essential as these have the potential
to destroy your business and bankrupt you in
the event that you are held legally liable to pay
damages and legal costs to negligence arising
during the course of trading.
If you are using commercial finance to open
the business then most providers will wish to
see a business plan and will expect you to have
arranged insurance in other relevant areas.
You should consider insuring your stock and
contents, business plus the buildings if you are
the owner. Cover for loss of money, damage
to glass and shop frontages plus loss of profits
should also be considered.
Also if you are the sole proprietor or
perhaps you and your husband/wife are critical
to the business you should seriously consider
insuring against Personal Accident and Illness or
Permanent Health Insurance. This means in the
event of serious injury or health problems some
weekly benefit is paid to enable you to employ
a manager perhaps to keep the business going
whilst you are off work sick or injured.
A
online checks
Q
A
With the increase in internet sites promoting
insurance, can I use this rather than talking to
an advisor?
Neil McFarlane says: The internet serves a
useful purpose but of course the sales tend
to be unadvised. Unless your risk fits closely
into the ‘box’ and you understand the various
insurance wordings you may wish to seek advice
from an insurance broker.
To simplify the sale of shop retail products
If you have a question about any aspect of your
business, simply write to: Q&A Special, Craft
Focus Magazine, Broseley House, Newlands Drive,
Witham, Essex CM8 2UL. Alternatively, send your
queries to [email protected].
craftfocus 89
marketing matters
If you’re unsure how to make public relations work for your business,
Business Link advisor Diane Budd talks us through the finer points
PR – or public
relations – in its
broadest sense
encompasses all
your communication
with the people
that you have
contact with – your
customers, suppliers, local media and any
other organisations that have an influence on
your business, such as other business owners,
town centre managers, local charities, trade
associations or networking groups.
The aim of your PR is to get people to talk
and think about your business in a positive
way. It can be an important component of
your marketing activities, helping you to tell
people what you are doing and establishing
and reinforcing your brand. It is an excellent
way to get good publicity and if there’s ever a
problem facing your business, it helps you deal
with it effectively.
You shouldn’t assume that PR is just for
big companies – even the smallest business
can use publicity opportunities to attract the
attention of its audience.
Identifying your target media
The first step to getting media coverage is
deciding who your audience is and which
media you should use to reach them. Ask
yourself who will be interested in your story
and which media will reach these people? You
should also think about the image you want
to portray for your business – for example
you could focus on being able to offer expert
advice or highlight your wide range of stock for
particular crafts.
Once you have chosen your targets you
should create a list with contact details for
the editor and any other journalists that cover
your type of business, for example the lifestyle
editor, and their copy deadline. You could
also research what features magazines are
running in the future that you could target.
90 craftfocus
For example, your county magazine might be
focusing on your town in a forthcoming issue
– so you could send them a press release or
article about your business, to tie in with that.
What makes a good story?
There are many obvious events which you can
tell your local press about – a move to new
premises, new product ranges, a new member
of staff, involvement with charity fundraising,
special events, significant business anniversaries,
or the launch of a new website.
You can also create opportunities by
submitting articles on your area of expertise,
running a survey on a fun subject and then
sending the results to the press or suggesting
a competition with your business supplying
the prize. You can also send letters or press
releases to the editor on business topics using
your business address.
Writing a press release
When writing your press release you should
bear in mind the six key words:
• Who is the release from?
• What is it about?
• Where are you based?
• When is it happening?
• How are you going about it?
• How can your customers take advantage of
what you are doing?
• Why are you doing it?
Your title should be about six or seven
words long and sum up the story. Your press
release should be written in the third person
as if it were an article – you should say
‘Crafty Business is moving to new premises’
not ‘we are moving to new premises’. Resist
the temptation to turn your release into an
advert so avoid self-promotion and don’t use
unqualified superlatives – stick to the facts.
Use short concise sentences and clear English
and always proof read your release before
sending it: you can ask someone else to check
it through if writing isn’t your strong point.
The first paragraph should sum up the
whole story and should still make sense even
if the rest of the press release was cut out. The
following paragraphs should give more detail
and can include a quote from you.
At the end of the story type ‘end’ and then
include your name and telephone number so
business link
the press can contact you for further details.
If there is any extra information which would
be helpful, such as a brief biography or history
of your business, you can include it in ‘editor’s
notes’ at the end.
A photo always helps to attract attention.
You should always have people in the shot if
possible so, if you are moving to new premises,
take a high resolution shot of you and your
staff at the new building.
You can write one press release and send
it to several different targets – but you may
need to tailor it to make it more appropriate
for different publications. Magazines have
varying styles so look at articles in your target
publication and copy their style.
Once you’ve finished your release you
should send it out by email as papers and
magazines may just cut and paste from a well
written email press release. Put ‘Press release’
and your headline in the subject of the email
and again in the main body of the email,
followed by the date, your press release text,
contact details and editor’s notes.
When sending the email use the ‘Blind
carbon copy’ to enter the names of the people
you are sending the release to so that they
can’t see the other recipients.
Remember that if your story is about
something which is ongoing then you can send
a follow up release at a later date. For example,
if you were taking part in a fundraising activity
you could follow up with another release once
you have reached your target.
Using a PR agency
There are no hard and fast rules for when
small businesses should use a PR consultant or
agency. You should use your own judgement
and look at your budget, what you want to
achieve and how much time you are spending
on doing your own PR, before paying for
external help. You may feel that it’s worth
paying a consultant on a day rate if you want
help with one specific activity, rather than using
someone on an ongoing basis.
Whatever you decide be clear about what
you want to achieve and always choose an
agency or freelancer with relevant experience.
Write a clear brief and check costs and what
will be covered before you start.
Dealing with bad publicity
Although it’s unlikely, occasionally disgruntled
employees or customers, mistakes or accidents
can result in a negative story. Make sure that
employees know to refer journalists to you
and, if contacted by the press, check their
deadline. Then write a clear statement showing
that you have done everything that you
reasonably could to deal with any problems
and respond in time. Answer truthfully to
any questions – although you don’t need to
volunteer every detail.
In conclusion
PR is a long-term strategy not a quick fix, so
in your planning you should think about what
you would consider a success and set realistic
objectives. You should track the coverage of
each press release or activity and keep copies
as well as putting them on your website and
in your newsletter if you have them. Also,
keep networking with your local business
community and media – let them know what
you are doing.
Don’t let your business be the best kept
secret – make the most of any publicity and
tell everyone about it! C
Further information
For more details on Business Link, plus advice
on marketing and PR visit the website
www.businesslink.gov.uk or phone
+44 (0)845 600 9006.
craftfocus 91
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Issue 20
August/September 2010
Available from: 2nd August 2010
Advertising deadline: 16th July 2010
96 craftfocus
Plus
• Expert advice
• Industry news
• Latest products
fancy feltwork
Just the name Gilliangladrag evokes thoughts of tempting
crafty products, but the success of Gillian Harris’ felt making
company shows this isn’t the only thing she’s got right. We
find out more from her...
Going from a career in graphic designing to
the crafty world of feltmaking isn’t always an
obvious move. However, Gillian Harris tells us
her business Gilliangladrag grew completely
organically from her interest in textiles and
felting, with the focus eventually falling on the
latter. She then began to teach felting before
being commissioned for a book, and it all
seemed to evolve from there.
“The benefit of previously being a graphic
designer was that, as well as having ideas for
my felting products, I was also able to design
the packaging by myself,” explains Gillian. “It
was a labour of love though and meant I got
exactly what I wanted. I’ve always done all
sorts of crafts – staining glass, making velvet
handbags, painting, and especially mosaic. My
house is awash with mosaic – I can’t just paint
a wall and leave it! Interestingly though, my
grandparents were tailors and worked with
textiles so this must be where I got my art and
craft flair from.”
But what was the original concept behind
the company? Gillian tells us her vision was
different to what it is now. “It’s a brand that
sums up my creativity and design and how I
like things to look,” she says. “But it’s now a
brand people all around the world can have
a piece of. I’ve developed it to be appealing –
98 craftfocus
not just to me – and to fit in with the times.”
Since February’s Craft Hobby + Stitch
International show at the NEC in Birmingham,
Gillian Harris has received even more interest
from prospective buyers as big as Liberty of
London and John Lewis, which she simply
describes as “thrilling”. “Although, we do
already have lots of custom abroad through
orders on the website,” she adds, “and my
book has now been published in America, so
it’s all going really well.”
Juggling your own business and bringing
up kids can sometimes be quite challenging,
but Gillian tells us it worked better than in
her previous job as a graphic designer. As
her children have got older it’s become at
lot easier and Gilliangladrag has been able to
expand as demand has grown. “I’m now taking
on retail premises in Dorking – there will also
be a studio upstairs and it’s where I’ll deal with
all trade orders too,” says Gillian. “I have two
staff but we’re set to expand and it means
there will be a welcome separation between
home and work.”
As she mentioned, Gillian’s products are
an extension of things she likes and her sheer
passion for felting and designing is what’s made
it such a success. “I have a strong sense of
colour and what I want the products to be,”
she explains. “I’ve always had loads of ideas
so although I’ve recently been inundated with
orders, I always make sure I set aside time to
design new things.”
So, what exactly does Gilliangladrag offer?
“I offer a certain style and look that you
wouldn’t get anywhere else. The products have
a universal appeal, for which a lot of thought
has gone into, and the eye-catching designs are
really decorative. We all know Rome wasn’t
built in a day so I know it’s important to spend
time making and designing – as a result, there’s
a lot more to my products than many others.”
Going forward, Gillian would like to spend
even more time designing, and she’s also keen
to produce a children’s range. She also has a
new book out next year, her new shop will be
opening this summer and she’s even making
time to meet with Create and Craft TV to see
how they can work together.
“I just hope it’s going to be onwards and
upwards for Gilliangladrag,” says Gillian. C
Further information
To find out more about Gilliangladrag, call
+44 (0)1306 711 412, email
[email protected] or visit the website
at www.gilliangladrag.co.uk.