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

CONSUMER CALENDAR Want to get your products in front of more customers? We list the best UK-based consumer craft shows in the forthcoming months: Craft4crafters (craft4crafters.co.uk) : 15 th - 16 th Feb: Westpoint, Exeter Crafting Live (craftinglive.co.uk ) 25 th Jan: Sandown Park racecourse, Esher Grosvenor patchwork & quilting shows (grosvenorshows.co.uk ): 19 th - 21 st Jan: Newark Quilt Festival, The Lady Eastwood Centre 26 th - 28 th Jan: Spring Quilt Festival, South of England Showground, Ardingly 16 th - 18 th Feb: Spring Quilt Festival, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland ICHF Events (ichfevents.co.uk ): 1 st - 3 rd Feb: The Creative Craft Show, Manchester 8 th - 11 th Mar: The Creative Craft Show, Glasgow 8 th - 11 th Mar: The Scottish Quilt Show, Glasgow Sincerely Yours, papercraft shows (sincerely-yours- shows.info) 28 th Jan: Thetford 4 th Feb: Maidstone 4 th Mar: Leigh Upper Street Events (upperstreetevents.net ): 30 th Nov - 3 rd Dec, 2017: Country Living Harrogate Christmas Fair, HIC SUCCESSFUL SUMMER SEASON IN SCOTLAND POINTS TO POSITIVE SHOW IN JANUARY With retailers from all over Scotland reporting a healthy summer season, thanks largely to a strong tourist trade, there’s an air of optimism in the independent retail sector. This has clearly helped boost Scotland’s Trade Fair, which runs in January, where over three quarters of all stands are already booked. With more 450 exhibitors, about a quarter of who are new 2018, they will have plenty of crafts, gifts, homewares, fashion, accessories, food and drinks to choose from. Key to the show is the Craft Gallery, where selected exhibitors will showcase their stunning crafts. In a new position at the show, this area provides a great opportunity for buyers to take in the high-quality craft offerings all together. Exhibitors include Tessuti, Mixter Maxter, Michael James Hunter, Carla Edwards, Collingwood Norris, Kathryn Williamson, Olive Pearson Designs and HGR Jewellery. Greater prominence has also been given to the Launch Gallery, where new, young companies have distinctive stands. This is always a rich source of inspiration and real excitement for both buyers and exhibitors. Helen Crawford from The Old School Beauly said of the show, “Scotland’s Trade Fair is an essential part of our annual buying schedule. Not only is it a pleasure to attend and see the familiar faces with quality products that have stood the test of time but also a good deal of newness in Craft and the Launch Gallery. While we don’t specialise in Scottish products, we do try to source and offer the best of what is available and the Scottish Trade Fair is undoubtedly the place to find those absolute gems.” The ever-popular Seminars will include talks from experts on social media for business, getting good Trip Advisor reviews, how to become digitally savvy and a practical look at using video to promote your business. Mark Saunders, Director of Scotland’s Trade Fairs said, “It’s encouraging to see the high number of people wanting to exhibit at the show, reflecting strong sales in many retailers across the country. Visitors can be sure that our exhibitors have been selected to be the best possible collection of companies manufacturing high-quality products that sell from Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.” To view the exhibitors list visit scotlandstradefairs.co.uk CONSUMER SHOW NEWS CREATE IT EVENTS Stamp Addicts & Be Creative formed Create It Events to bring inspirational craft, hobby and art retail events to the market. The events offer free on-stand make and take space so that retailers can educate the consumer and increase their sales, as well as workshop space is available separately for those wishing to cater to larger groups. With 25 years of personal experience exhibiting at retail events, Create It is a more inclusive experience for both exhibitors and attendees. Cost for exhibitors are kept as low as possible and making the event interactive, educational and fun for the visitors. 2018 is an exciting year for Create It Events Ltd. The organisers are building on the success of the Kent 2017 show to create a bigger and better show for 19 th - 20 th May, 2018 at the Kent County Showground. More than 70 per cent of 2017’s exhibitors have already confirmed their booking for next year, and expansion of the portfolio for 2018 is underway with some one day events around the country. Details will be announced soon. All Create It events is open to any companies wishing to exhibit. If you’d like to be added to the waiting list, email the team at sales@createitevents.com. For more information visit createitevents.com 32 craft focus