The Gift Fair Launches its Future Star Award
The Gift Fair is thrilled to launch its Future Star Award. This award celebrates newcomers with...
Craft Focus magazine is a bi-monthly trade publication for the craft industry, distributed to Art & Craft shops, Toy shops, Model shops, Haberdashers and Needlecraft retailers.
Each issue contains detailed information on upcoming trade shows and reviews many new and innovative products, enabling retailers to make informed and profitable buying decisions for their business. Find out more about the magazine here.
Subscribe now and we shall tell you the moment a new issue of Craft Focus magazine is out! You will also receive our free monthly newsletter too.
The Gift Fair Launches its Future Star Award
The Gift Fair is thrilled to launch its Future Star Award. This award celebrates newcomers with...
New online gift tradeshow set to launch in 2025
The Gift Fair is an online gift tradeshow, set to take place from January 8th- February 28th, 2025....
Autumn Fair sees an upbeat first day
Autumn Fair, retail's leading seasonal showcase for Home, Gift and Fashion, opened today and saw thousands of...
This Sunday, the NEC Birmingham will come alive with the return of Autumn Fair, the UK's largest seasonal showcase for...
What a bumper issue we have. To kickstart, we’ve been chatting with our friends over in the Big Apple as we discuss the upcoming NY Now summer market taking place this August at the Javits Centre, NYC. Myself and many of our readers have visited and even exhibited there before and it really is a show to be reckoned with. Do check out our three-page Q&A to fi nd out all the details... you’ll be Stateside before you know it!
As we head into summer, we take on some Italian flair as we check out the terrazzo trend that’s taken the décor world by storm. You too can decorate items in your house in the funky, mosaic style - there’s some fantastic box sets to make your product with everything you need in the box!
We also have a feature focussing on eco-friendly craft items. Consumers are buying more consciously and are looking for items responsibly packaged with little negative environmental impact. Shoppers are mindful of reducing waste and upcycling wherever they can, so do be inspired and bare this in mind when choosing what to stock on your shelves.
Our other jam-packed features include Crafts under £15 - for those giftworthy purchases, children’s crafts and back to school!
And lastly, please shout if there’s anything you’d like to see in the magazine, we love to hear from our readers.
Enjoy the warmer days ahead and keep on crafting!
Rachel Westall, Editor
PS. If you have any news you would like to submit to this site or Craft Focus magazine, please email editor@craftfocus.com
Rachel x
The Farmyard Set and A Dog's Life by Hannah Dale, artist and creator of the worldwide gift brand Wrendale Designs are two charming collections that cherish our best-loved furry and farmyard friends in illustrated detail and entertaining text. Pictured here, The Farmyard Set is a glorious tribute to 50 of the most cherished farmyard animals that have played vital parts throughout history. From Jersey cows to Shetland ponies and the Indian runner duck, encounter old friends and new faces in this this lavish gift book that's irresistible to any nature lover.
Both books are published by Batsford.
If you like this, check out more inspirational ideas.
The trio of Frankfurt consumer goods fairs,consisting of Ambiente, Christmasworldand Creativeworld, impressivelydemonstrated that the entire globalconsumer goods industry was a guestat the fully booked Frankfurt exhibitiongrounds for five days. Even the rail strikecould not dampen the success: "Missionaccomplished! Together with around5,000 exhibitors and participants fromover 170 countries and regions, thistop-class trade fair trio strengthens theconsumer goods industry in uncertaintimes", summed up Detlef Braun, Memberof the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt.The Frankfurt trade fair trio withinternational appeal has once againproven to be a leading event thatprovides orientation for retailers andmanufacturers. "Once a year andonly here in Frankfurt! The economy isunder enormous pressure in the face ofincreasing global tensions. That's whypersonal encounters, new solutions,inspiration and the development of newexport markets and sales channels suchas Hospitality and the contract businessare irreplaceable," emphasises Braun.Voices from the industry underlinethis: "Once again, the trade fair trioof Ambiente, Christmasworld andCreativeworld asserted its immenseimportance as the number one orderplatform for the German specialisedtrade. The retail trade's need forinnovations, the chance to experienceand order products in a personalencounter on site were the key factorsthat characterised the spirit of the tradefair. Retailers are entering the new yearwith a strong tailwind and many tradefair trends," summarises Christian Haeser,Managing Director of the German Homeand Office Trade Association (HWB).Michael Berz, President of theGerman Culinary and TablewareTrade Association, adds with regardto Ambiente: "Like other specialisedsectors, the industry for glass, ceramicsand porcelain is facing challenges in adifficult economic environment. Ambienteis a strong and reliable partner for ushere - especially now. With the expansionof the HoReCa area, the trade fair hasconsistently developed the diningsegment. This opens up even morebusiness opportunities for our members.Ambiente provides a lot of good, forwardlooking impetus. That gives us hope."
n every era, society faces that pivotal moment where agroundbreaking concept emerges, challenging the statusquo and inviting a flood of opinions. Artificial Intelligence (AI)represents one such contemporary crossroads, sparkingdiscussions not just about technological capabilities, but aboutthe very essence of human ingenuity and our place alongsidethese machines.Amid whispers of concern that AI might usurp human roles, it'sclear that AI can never match the creativity and judgement onlythe human mind is capable of making. While AI excels at siftingthrough data at breakneck speeds, it falls short on grasping thefiner points of nuance, human sensitivity and empathy.Our latest report – Redefining Intelligence: The Growth of AIAmong Small Businesses – underscores that point, illustratinghow AI is best utilised as an aid to human intelligence, not areplacement.
