Here is a selection of features from Craft Focus magazine.
"First established in the mid-1940's in London. It's very exciting to be a part of an establishment that would have seen so many changes over the years." Says, Emily Langley, Marketing & Digital Content Creator at Barnett Lawson Trimmings. Here, she talks to Craft Focus about moving from their Aladdin's cave establishment in the heart of Soho to being fully digital...
The Small Pop-up Frame kit officially launched at the London Stationery Show 2023. These flat-packed kits have six sizing options from 15cm up to 31cm including A4 and A5 and can be assemble in a few minutes. They're made from FSC certified 350+gsm quality card in numerous colours. Roger Felton, Founder and MD of Differentiate Design (trading as Pop-up Frames) talks to Craft Focus about shaking up the framing market with these practical and affordable options...
July is just round the corner which means only one thing - Home & Gift is nearly upon us!
The buyers' festival of the summer is gearing up for another spectacular show, which will transport visitors back to the summer of love. Socialise and connect in the laid back atmosphere of Home & Gift, which embodies the essence of togetherness and pressure-free connecting centred round a passion for quality products.
Taking over the grounds of the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Harrogate Convention Centre from the 16-19th July, buyers will have 5 halls and multiple Design Points to explore - bursting with thousands of lust-worthy products from over 500 brands.
The supply chain affects every industry to some degree, from the movement of products and labour to finding the right tools for the job. And making sure that you can provide your customers with the best experience is key for the running of any business. Customer satisfaction can cause loyalty for your business, making it an important factor to consider. To maintain this, you need to adapt to changes and challenges which you will face, including problems with the supply chain. Here, Peter Campbell of Snowshock, a UK based slush machines and slush syrups business, explores what the supply chain is, what issues it can face, and how businesses are managing to navigate these issues successfully.
Visible Image was founded in 2004 and the company is now based in Bridgend, South Wales. It is now 19 years since Mark Alexander, Creative Director of Visible Image will have made his very first clear photopolymer stamp! Here, Mark talks exclusively to Craft Focus all about his successful stamp and stencil business that will be celebrating 20 years, next year!
h+h americas is the platform for the North American Handicraft Industry and sister event of the German h+h cologne, the world's leading trade fair for the handicrafts industry. It's a B2B trade show with an extended digital marketplace accessible before and after our event. Open to everyone who makes a living in crafts, h+h americas serves a community without membership requirements. The show dates in June are carefully timed to serve buyers with seasonal offers to the entire handicraft industry. The first-time event in 2022 combined 2,000 attendees with 200 exhibitors who displayed a wide range of products from yarn, fabric, art, craft materials to toys and pastimes. Darrin Stern, Vice President Koelnmesse Inc. Show Director of h+h Americas, talks to Craft Focus exclusively about the upcoming June event in Chicago...
The company was first started in 2004 in a tiny attic space in Newlyn, Cornwall. Initially it was just Poppy and one very old Singer sewing machine which she used to develop a technique called Freehand Machine Embroidery. Her first collection featured tea cosies, cushions and textile pots drawn in stitch with imagery taken direct from her sketches of fishing boats, cottages and flowers.
Poppy Treffry, Company Director and Tamsin Hosken, Wholesale Manager talk to Craft Focus about their fabulous range of giftware and sewing projects...
Variety is the spice of life, and what better way to add some flavour to your leisure time than by taking up a new creative hobby or pastime? A change in routine, expanding the mind, destressing, or finding ways to meet new people are all reasons to get involved in a new pursuit. And what's more, pastimes that inspire adventure needn't cost the earth as a host of galleries, museums, workshops, and studios are within easy reach thanks to discounts available when travelling by rail!
Back in 1993, founder Kate Golby ran out of kits she wanted to stitch so decided to start creating her own. Inundated with requests for cross stitch designs, Kate reached out to artists she admired and she began converting their works into cross stitch and tapestries. Adding a smattering of beads and sequins, she created the bright and colourful cross-stitch designs that Bothy Threads is known for today. From the humble beginnings, working in the garden bothy at the bottom of her parents' garden (hence the name), Bothy Threads now operates from a busy, bustling unit on the edge of the Lake District, producing over 800 designs for our avid fans. As Bothy Threads enters its 30th birthday year, we speak to Managing Director Chrissie Rayment about how they plan to celebrate...
Shinya Masuda, Managing Director of JPT Europe Ltd, discusses their brand King Jim and the demand for Japanese products in the UK. "We're a Japanese company and importer of Japanese products. King Jim is one of our Japanese brands we distribute in the UK. Our parent company in Japan established in 1942. And we started our UK branch in London in 2000. Originally, our company started exporting Japanese publications including newspapers to Japanese emigrants overseas. As the times changed, our mission shifted more to exporting Japanese culture worldwide. In the UK, nowadays we present an extensive range of items such as characteristically well-designed stationery and traditional gifts directly imported from Japan.
Head of her game at business and development for Schiffer Publishing, Séverine Jeauneau talks to Craft Focus about the vast array of books they publish. Here she tells us a little more about the company...
Arthur Bloomfield, Director of Philip Stamp & Co Ltd talks us through the company's vast range of haberdashery products - there's something for everyone! The company started in 1917 when Mr Philip Stamp began importing silks and cloth in Blenheim Street, London. Here, he tells us more...The company was both wholesaling and retailing for many years until the company was sold to my uncle, Mr Rex Brazier. I took on the business on his untimely passing in 2000.
Curious Universe is based in the creative quarter of beautiful Bath. It prides itself on creating innovative and exciting products in the Arts and Crafts, Books, Stationery and Toys areas. The company first began its journey in 2017 and has rapidly grown to a team of almost 80 passionate and driven team members. John Styring, CEO of Curious Universe chats to Craft Focus about the company's goals, values and epic success. Here's what he had to say...
For more than 25 years, Trotec has supplied market-leading laser machines and sheet materials to industries far and wide, from craft businesses to schools, industrial manufacturing and beyond.The UK subsidiary opened in 2007 and continues to provide market-leading support and services to clients across the UK and Ireland, from its UK HQ in Tyne and Wear across five additional regional showrooms. James Hutton, Marketing Executive at Trotec Laser talks to Craft Focus about the personalisation trend that's going nowhere and how to get your company creating items individually designed for your customers...
Bothy Threads was established in 1993 by Kate Golby. Kate found that she had run out of cross stitch designs she wanted to stitch, so decided to start creating her own! Originally located in Reading, Kate set up the first 'Bothy' in her parents' back garden. The company grew and grew and when Kate, and her husband John, decided to follow their dream to move to the Lake District, Bothy Threads came too. Chrissie Rayment, Managing Director at Bothy Threads discusses their first ever embroidery range launching this September ...
Pineapple Fibre Art is based in Devon and has grown slowly over the last five years as owner, Emma Manson worked out what her strengths were, how to sell and what sold well.
Here, Emma discusses her crochet business and her plans for the future...
Katie Stephenson Company Director at Cygnet Yarns Ltd talks to Craft Focus about all things knitting as she talks us through the company's vast ranges.
Formed in 2004, Cygnet Yarns is still regarded as a relatively new brand on the hand knitting scene. The fledgling company has battled hard to become a recognised name in an industry that is dominated by large, well established brands.
Carly and Greg Murray, the husband and wife team behind Cascayde, talk to Craft Focus about their on-trend ranges of plastic-free products.
The dynamic couple started the business together in 2019 with the goal of offering plastic free and eco-friendly alternatives to everyday products to as many people as possible.
Sara Davies gives us tips on how to make your business stand out amongst the rest.
She says: In the business world, first impressions count and standing out in the right way can really pay off. There are so many ways to present your business in the best way so it can shine brighter than the rest.
Firstly, get creative with your ideas!
A lockdown trend that's certainly here to stay, here's a roundup of sewing projects customers will love to get working on. The Letistitch kit L 8012 New York, part of the Cities range, has been very successful since its release. It's a counted cross stitch kit, including 100 per cent cotton Anchor threads. Furthermore, from Hawthorn Handmade, there are four brand new kits joining this best-selling collection, celebrating baking, hiking, painting and reading. Featuring simple stitches and a fresh bright colour palette, each kit will give you hours of relaxation and enjoyment. The Wonderful Women embroidery kits have an RRP £21.95 and are sure to be hit with customers.
