Craft Focus - Jun/Jul (Issue 67)

shops and regional wholesalers. However, over the years I have diversified into supplying lampshade makers, costume designers and box makers. We strive not to sell to the public and to support retailers. We do this by offering a one-box minimum order value, next day delivery and carriage paid order level of £165 plus VAT. We are a B2B company, not B2C. We met you at CHSI Stitches this year – how was the show for you? The show was well worth attending. We were able to showcase our ranges and meet new and inspiring customers. We found that the quality of buyers was higher, while the footfall appeared to be down. Are you active on the trade show circuit – do you attend any other events? We have taken a commercial decision at this time to reduce the number of trade shows we exhibit at, although we endeavour to visit most of these events in order to keep up with the latest trends. Where can retailers get to see your products, and how can they go about stocking them? The best way is to contact us. Our range is wide, and we hate overloading potential customers with catalogues and price lists. We are happy to email or post out any details, and we have active pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+. How are you finding the current economic climate in the UK? High street trade is tough going, but retailers that offer classes, added value, outstanding product knowledge, in-store demonstrations and samples appear to be doing better. We support our clients in any way we can. We offer to make free videos of our products featuring a retailer’s logo and website details, because any Google listing with a video can obtain a higher ranking. This helps to drive customers to visit the store and increases the shop’s visibility. It’s also a nice addition to a Facebook page, as it informs followers what a shop has to offer. What are the biggest trends to look out for across the industry this year? One worrying trend is the fact that new products now appear to have a very short lifespan. With a constant demand for new and different things, I refer back to my studies and ask myself whether each item is core, commodity or luxury. We always strive to offer a branded range that adds value to each shop while increasing sales. What can we expect from Creative Products Distribution over the next few months? Hard work, dedication and a passion for crafts – every product has to make a difference. We have several new suppliers in the pipeline and I’m sure we will share any developments with Craft Focus, as well as our mailing list. Creative Products Distribution +44 (0)20 8953 2143 creative-distribution.co.uk craft focus 51 company profile