Craft Focus - Feb/Mar (Issue 71)

ask the experts Our experts answer all your craft and retail dilemmas CLAIRE HAMER Trade sales manager, Hunkydory Crafts hunkydorycrafts.co.uk Claire is a well-known presence in the crafting world and has worked with many independent and larger retailers over the years. Her wealth of knowledge is perfectly complemented by her passion for papercraft, and she can still be found making cards in her spare time. “One of my goals this year is to boost papercraft sales. What are the trends I should be stocking?” One of the hottest trends for 2019 is the use of specialist finishes with both cardstock and matching embellishments. Keep an eye out for pearl effects that add a degree of elegance and luxury. Customers are willing to pay a premium for a finish that they can’t replicate from their own supplies. Collections printed onto matt cardstock are also looking strong for the early part of the year, allowing crafters to add further colour and detail using pens and pencils, stamping, inking, blending and spritzing techniques that can take an off-the-shelf product to another level. Stocking items like this will also enable you to provide the necessary upsells and broaden your clients’ skillset. We all seem to have less leisure time, so look out for quick and easy kits that will make a set of cards to wow. Craft enthusiasts are likely to look for more complicated designs that would be difficult to achieve at home without specialist equipment. MICHAEL ROBB Sales director, The GMC Group. thegmcgroup.com Michael is sales director at The GMC Group. The company publishes a wide selection of craft and lifestyle books aimed at every level from beginner through to professional. “Stocking books is a great way to generate extra sales, but it’s hard to know which titles to pick. How can I make sure my choices meet my customers’ needs?” Selling books can be a great addition to the product range of a craft shop, providing ideas to improve techniques and plenty of new projects to make. A carefully curated selection of reading matter can inspire crafters to get creative, and with any luck, they will buy their materials from your store. However, choosing which titles to stock can be tricky, particularly if space is limited. We generally suggest options for all skill levels from beginner through to intermediate and expert. A good distributor will come to you, talk to you about your business, show you a range of books and help you select the right titles. If some don’t work, you can generally swap them in order to make sure you have items that will appeal. Trade shows like CHSI Stitches are another great place to pick up ideas and talk to your chosen supplier about your requirements. 136 craft focus