Articles

Here is a selection of features from Craft Focus magazine.

HMRC Packing Tax Consultation

At the March Budget, the government announced key decisions on the design of the Plastic Packaging Tax ahead of its commencement in April 2022. This included extending the scope of the tax to plastic packaging which has been filled before being imported into the UK (i.e. bottles which are filled with liquid). Alongside the Budget announcement, the government launched a consultation to provide more information on the tax design and seek views from stakeholders. As a result of COVID-19, the government extended the consultation period by three months, with a new closing date of 20th August, 2020.

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BCTF welcomes hundreds of buyers to online event

The first online edition of the British Craft Trade Fair ran from June 14 – 15 to support the designer-makers who were due to exhibit at BCTF 2020 before it was forced to cancel during lockdown.

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Face masks from Creative Products Distribution

Now the Government has changed its view on face masks and it will be a requirement to have a face mask in shops and on public transport. Creative Products Distribution has stock here in the UK, ready for despatch.

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Story of Elegance's favourite cards

Serah Leke-Oyenibi, Founder of British luxury greeting card and stationery company Story of Elegance, shares her favourite card designs from her collection. Here's what she had to say:

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UK Government supports wages of 1.73 million workers across wholesale and retail sector

Since the launch of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), the UK Government has supported the wages of 1,736,800 jobs in the wholesale and retail sector.

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Mamelok talks to Craft Focus about life during the Covid-19 pandemic

Iconic papercraft brand, Mamelok, discusses supplying bunting, flags and partyware to the many to celebrate VE Day during lockdown, as well as exciting new collections and more...

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Buttons and more with Stockwell Ceramics

Buttons and more with Stockwell Ceramics: Stockwell Ceramics is a craft company based in the beautiful Tamar Valley in south east Cornwall. A small team of Cornish designers working in a converted barn and have produced many thousands of ceramic buttons over the past 25 years supplying museum shops, galleries, craft shops and makers of all sorts throughout the world including The V&A Museum, National Museum of Scotland and York Art Gallery. The buttons are hugely popular in Europe, Japan, Australia and the USA.

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Learn to make a pencil case with Vlieseline

Learn to make a pencil case with Vlieseline: For more than 70 years, Vlieseline has been offering a wide range of interlinings for clothing and creative needlework. Here, the company gives step by step instructions to make your own pencil case, whether you're returning to education or simply to use in the home

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New EU draft text on design rights signals positive news for UK designers, says ACID

Anti Copying in Design (ACID) is pleased to announce that the text from the UK on design rights includes the recognition that designs shown in the UK would receive protection across the EU post Brexit.

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UK tariff changes announced from 1st January, 2021

UK tariff changes announced from 1 January 2021: From 1st January, 2021, the UK will apply a UK-specific tariff to imported goods. This UK Global Tariff (UKGT) will replace the EU's Common External Tariff, which applies until 31st December, 2020.

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Shop talk with Sew-Drops Ltd

We talk to small business owner, Rebecca about her online e-commerce fabric shop Sew-Drops Ltd - from how and when it all began, to her goals for the future

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Meet the Maker: Offset Warehouse catches up with Craft Focus

Offset Warehouse is a social business that brings together a huge range of eco fabrics and haberdashery, ideal for all textile creations. Here we find out how it is guiding its way through the pandemic

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Helping you fight stains

Craft Focus goes Stateside as we chat to US company Amodex. The family company has remained strong and is still fully operating during these unfamiliar times

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Business as usual in Germany

Craft Focus speaks to German needlecraft and fabric company Zweigart and hears about how it has stayed strong during the current pandemic.

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StickerKitten chats to Craft Focus

We find out more about how the husband and wife team started StickerKitten. Here is what they had to say...

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Hear all about Dannells

Continuing to champion craft businesses during the pandemic, we speak to Dannells and find out all about the company's fantastic lampshade making kits

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Craft Focus catches up with Craft Buddy

Here at Craft Focus HQ we want to champion small businesses and the best way to do that is to dedicate our stories to being all about you! Here's what Craft Buddy had to say.

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What's new at Lavinia Stamps

Meet the maker: Lavinia Stamps. Craft Focus chats to Tracey Dutton from Lavinia Stamps. Here at Craft Focus HQ we want to champion businesses and the best way to do that is to dedicate our stories to being all about you!

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Meet the maker: India Grace Designs

Craft Focus chats to Vicki Mansfield from India Grace Designs: Here at Craft Focus HQ we want to champion small businesses and the best way to do that is to dedicate our stories to being all about you!

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Getting to know independent businesses

Here at Craft Focus HQ we champion independent businesses, so we're getting to know our contributors and suppliers! Here we chat to Tina Francis of Tina Francis Tapestry

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