Craft Focus - Apr/May (Issue 72)

29 REVIEW Running from 17 th -19 th February at the NEC, Birmingham, this year’s edition of CHSI Stitches welcomed thousands of retailers through its doors, connecting buyers with leading craft brands and products from across the world. Featuring eye- catching stands, live catwalks, workshops and presentations, the show was packed with creative inspiration. Once again, the Craft Report was a major draw, providing attendees with valuable research into industry trends. Presented by Linda Jones, the presentation took place in the show’s Insights Hub, where leading industry figures including Sarah Cressall from Creation Station also shared their expertise. “The vibrancy of the craft industry was very clear to see at this year’s show,” says Dominic Fleming, event director. “Crafting continues to play an increasingly relevant role in society and our Craft Report research indicates that this will only continue to grow, with people citing wellness and mindfulness as key reasons for taking up their hobby. The ever-changing retail landscape means experiential marketing is more vital than ever: this year’s event focused on connecting suppliers and retailers to enable the sharing of techniques and skills needed to run workshops and tutorials, whether instore or online. This ultimately improves the customer experience and in turn boosts sales.” TALKS & WORKSHOPS Linda Jones presented the latest Craft Report findings on the show’s first day. The research was taken from a sample of over 3,000 enthusiasts following surveys and focus groups conducted in 2018. The report covered a breakdown of the UK’s audience, looking at the popularity of specific crafts, consumer spending and ways in which to drive sales in today’s rapidly-changing retail environment. The research also looked in greater depth at the papercraft sector, asserting that the craft has declined but is still hugely popular. The facts showed that 95 per cent of papercrafters make cards, with decoupage, papercutting, paper flowers and scrapbooking all remaining strong. The top barriers to papercraft entry were found to be the amount of equipment required (20 per cent), dissatisfaction Centre stage The craft industry’s leading lights gathered at the NEC in February for CHSI Stitches 2019. Read on for our full show report “Crafting continues to play an increasingly relevant r ole in society and our Craft Report research indicates that this wil l only continue to gr ow.” Dominic Fleming, ICHF Events SAVE THE DATE CHSI Stitches 2020 16 th -18 th February NEC, Birmingham chsi.co.uk 