Marvin's Slime Creamery opens at Hamleys
Marvin's Magic has unveiled a brand-new slime cream experience at Hamleys famous Regent Street...
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.
Marvin's Slime Creamery opens at Hamleys
Marvin's Magic has unveiled a brand-new slime cream experience at Hamleys famous Regent Street...
Ohuhu launches its 2026 Christmas Advent Calendar: a 24-day creative countdown gift kit
Ohuhu, a brand focused on making high-quality art supplies...
Gibsons Games shares its 2025 impact report
Gibsons Games, the Surrey based jigsaw puzzles and games company, are delighted to share their 2025...
STABILO TO LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE STABILO x PANTONE DESK SET
STABILO International GmbH is proud to announce the launch of the limited edition STABILO x...
As we head into another busy and exciting year for the craft and creative retail sector, there’s plenty to inspire us. In this issue, we bring you part two of our Christmas Special, featuring 15 festive products that caught our eye. With seasonal shopping becoming increasingly important for retailers, it’s the perfect time to discover new ideas, plan ahead and find those products that will bring a little extra sparkle to the Christmas season.
We’re delighted to feature Tara Strickland, Head of Design at SANTORO, who talks to Craft Focus about the enduring appeal of Gorjuss and Swing Cards, and why continually creating something new remains at the heart of the business. It’s a fascinating insight into building creative brands that continue to resonate with customers year after year.
We also catch up with Debbie Harding, the creative force behind DoodleCraft Design, for a wonderfully crafty take on game night.
Elsewhere in this edition, we’ve gathered plenty of inspiration for the year ahead, from new products and creative trends to the latest developments across the craft, hobby and stationery markets. We take a closer look at art materials, exploring some of the products inspiring creativity, as well as featuring craft kits that offer customers everything they need to get creative.
As always, we bring you the latest trade fair and industry news, keeping you up to date with the people, products and developments shaping the retail landscape.
As always, we love hearing from you, our valued readers, so do keep in touch – you can email me at editor@craftfocus.com
Enjoy the issue!
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
Here's a creative craft project you can finish in a matter of hours. The Yeti Mini Needle Felting Kit is the perfect fun-size introduction to this addictive craft. You will use the high-quality British wool to bring your adorable creature to life with the easy to learn technique of needle felting. This mini kit is great for anyone wanting to dip their toe into a new craft without committing to a bigger project – or if you just want to make cute little animals to adorn your desk! For further info, call: +44 (0)1258 863 873 or visit the website: www.hawthornhandmadewholesale.co.uk
If you like this, check out more inspirational ideas.
Spring Fair has launched a new campaign film for its 2027 'A Love Letter to Retail' initiative, bringing together voices from across the retail community to celebrate the people, passion and connections that make the industry unique. Launched ahead of Spring Fair 2027, taking place at NEC Birmingham from 7–10 February, the film builds on the campaign unveiled earlier this year and explores the many reasons people choose a career, business or life in retail - from the thrill of discovering new products to the relationships built with customers, suppliers and colleagues. Spring Fair is now opening its Love Letter to Retail to the whole industry, inviting retailers, buyers, brands, suppliers and everyone working across the sector to share the people, moments, relationships and experiences that made them fall in love with retail.
Spring Fair, the UK's largest retail experience for Home, Gift and Fashion, has announced a major new partnership with Total Licensing to accelerate the growth of its successful Licensing sector and strengthen its position as the leading destination for brand-led retail opportunities in 2027. The partnership comes following the hugely successful launch of the Licensing Lab at Spring Fair 2026, which attracted exceptional audience engagement, welcomed some of the industry's most recognisable names, and highlighted the growing importance of licensing as a commercial driver across multiple retail categories.
