Craft Focus - Dec 2017/Jan 2018 (Issue 64)

This January, the 65 th annual Toy Fair takes place at London’s Olympia. Toy Fair is the UK’s largest toy, game and hobby trade exhibition. More than 250 exhibiting companies launch new product lines and inventions at the show, visited by retailers, buyers, and media from across the wider toy industry. Toy Fair brings together the biggest internationals, newest start- up companies, and one-man bands under one roof. For craft businesses and retailers alike, Toy Fair is an opportunity to discover new products and connections. At the Toy Fair 2018, there are many craft-related exhibitors such as 1 Two Kids, launching the Sophie La Giraffe knitting range by Stitch & Story, and Great Gizmos, with its mould and paint Unicorns sets. Milly&Flynn will also launch its licensed ART NINJA craft range at the show, based on the BBC’s hit art series for children. This range includes a robot string puppet, screenprinting set, and shadow puppet theatre kit. Models and painting kits will also be showcased by companies such as Battle Front Miniatures, the MiniMaster Sports Company, and UGears Mechanical Models will be exhibiting their new generation mechanical construction kits for kids and adults. For more information on exhibitors and to register for tickets, visit toyfair.co.uk TOYS AND HOBBIES PAPERWORLD’S EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME OFFERING Paperworld’s complementary programme will offer a wide variety of inspiration for commerce and industry, introducing new perspectives on the future of the paper, office supplies and stationery sector. In a comprehensive programme, the trade fair will be presenting to its visitors the innovations for tomorrow’s workplace (visionary office) and the trends in paper and stationery products for private use (stationery trends). Visionary office will feature commercial office supplies and equipment, while Stationery trends will present products relating to school, giving, writing and lifestyle. This will make it easier for trade visitors to orientate themselves around the eight hall floors and the 1,500 exhibitors. “We’re investing in a very varied, high-quality supplementary programme, in order to establish Paperworld’s position as a networking and training platform, and also to give the sector new impulses and bring supply and demand even closer together,” says Michael Reichhold, Director of Paperworld. It’s free of charge to participate and a digital events calendar is available on the Paperworld website. Here, visitors will be able to find all the events at a glance, and put together their own personal programme to make efficient use of their visit to the fair. After its successful premiere last year, the Future Office special show will begin its next round in Hall 3.0, C71, and this time the main theme will be health. Those who want to experience healthy aspects of office work, should first make themselves aware of the bad factors in everyday office life. The starting point of the show, therefore, is the Bad Office, where all aspects of an unhealthy office atmosphere prevail. The planning and design of the Office of the Future has been undertaken by the internationally known architect André Schmidt from the Berlin firm, Matter, on behalf of Messe Frankfurt. The Trend Show in the foyer between Halls 5.1 and 6.1 will showcase trends for the 2018/19 season and provide retailers with ideas for putting together their product ranges and designing their retail shops. On behalf of Messe Frankfurt, designers from the style studio bora. herke.palmisano are picking up on trends in fashion, architecture and art and adapting them for the paper, office supplies and stationery products world. For ‘visionary office’ the designers have put together ideas for the ‘Work + Challenge’ trend. ‘Stationery trends’ is illustrated by two style worlds, ‘Minimal + Excellent’ and ‘Spirit + Ambition’. Other special show features to look out for include Mr. Books & Mrs. Paper in Hall 5.1, aimed at booksellers and retailers who would like to put books, stationery, and writing products together skilfully. The BMWi promotional area (Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy – BMWi)) in Hall 6.1, young start-up companies will showcase what they have to offer in terms of fresh ideas and unconventional products. The Greetings Card Competence Centre in Hall 5.1, in collaboration with the Working Group of Greeting Card Manufacturers and Publishers (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Gruß- und Glückwunschkarten - AVG) will showcase all there is to know about greetings cards. The gift wrapping show, Wrap Up!, in Hall 5.1, will show visitors tips and tricks for wrapping gifts quickly and attractively. The Oriental Culture exhibition will showcase a piece of the Orient with sophisticated arts and crafts products that combine traditional design and Far Eastern features. To register visit paperworld.messefrankfurt.com 28 craft focus