Craft Focus - Aug/Sep (Issue 68)

What’s your take on the British craft industry – do you think it’s a vibrant sector to work in? Absolutely. It is very exciting working with talented designers who are both proactive and innovative. The market is ever-evolving, with new products being launched at several different times of the year, so there is always something to keep retailers and consumers interested. How are you finding the current economic climate? The craft industry is very robust and really exciting to work in. In the office, we often say that ‘craft is our life’. The current climate is obviously a little uncertain, which is why we continue to innovate. People may be spending a little less on going out, but they have more time to stay in and be creative, so we are very optimistic about the future. Does the company exhibit at any trade shows? CWOC certainly does exhibit at trade shows and we put a lot of thought into our stands, which have become a ‘must visit’, particularly in the case of our eye-catching displays at CHSI Stitches, where we like to do something imaginative and different each year. We will also be attending Glee at the NEC Birmingham in September. Where and when can retailers get to see the company’s products? We always want to speak with our retailers. They can call us on +44 (0)1162 713 131 or go online at creativeworldofcrafts.co.uk Does the company offer marketing support to its customers? We offer free pattern support and freestanding POS, and we have also commissioned a heavyweight advertising and PR campaign both in print and online. We have world-leading yarn brands and are constantly looking at ways in which we can help our customers. In addition, there is POS and a national consumer advertising and PR campaign for all our brands. We have used these high-quality yarns for our Knitty Critter kits and they have been very well-received. The collection is constantly expanding; they make perfect gifts and have very broad customer appeal. What’s coming up next for CWOC? We are continuing to come up with new designs and products and want to ensure that retailers see us as a one stop shop for all their crafting needs. Creative World of Crafts +44 (0)1162 713 131 creativeworldofcrafts.co.uk out of this world 80 craft focus