Craft Focus - October/November (Issue 75)

58 Cut & paste Bostik’s cutting edge adhesives can be used across a broad spectrum of craft applications. Category manager Jackie Roberts reveals the latest launches Tell us a little about the history of Bostik. Originally founded as the Boston Blacking Co. in Chelsea, Massachusetts in 1889, Bostik’s commitment to innovation spans 130 years. The firm is now a world leader in adhesive technologies, with operations in 46 countries. Our UK head office is based at our factory in Stafford, and we have manufacturing facilities in Dalton and Leicester, where our famous Blu Tack is made. What products does the company supply for the craft and hobby market? Bostik is best known for manufacturing Blu Tack. However, we supply a range of other high-quality items for the creative sector. Our latest innovation is Fix & Flash, a light-activated glue that must be seen to be believed. It’s supplied in an applicator containing a 5g tube of photoactive adhesive, which will cure when the user shines an LED light onto it for a few seconds. This allows materials to be repositioned before the glue is set. As it has initial tack, crafters don’t need a third hand to hold everything in place. Once set, it’s super-strong and works on almost all materials, even opaque ones. A 5g refill tube is available. We also sell removable and extra strong Glu Dots on rolls of 200 or sheets of 64. These are great for no-mess fixing and because they’re acid and lignin-free, they won’t turn yellow. Our double-sided Foam Pads are perfect for 3D effects. They’re square and unlike other products on the market, easy-to-peel and mess-free. This line is available in packs of 50 medium pads, and there’s a smaller version for more intricate work. We also offer sticky tape on a 50-metre roll that’s suitable for everyday use, as well as Tape Discs, supplied in a pack of 120 translucent paper circles that can be safely recycled. Another great item is Blu Stick, a solvent-free adhesive that goes on blue and dries clear. It comes in 8g blister packs, as well as trays of 36g sticks. We also have PVA glue, glitter glue, Fast Tak spray and glue guns. Available in rainbow packaging, our repair solutions appeal to crafters and sit perfectly on the shelf. In addition, our specialist glues for leather, hard and soft plastics and fabric are great for specific projects. What are your bestselling lines? Blu Tack continues to be not only our bestseller, but also the UK’s favourite reusable adhesive. It’s great for crafters, who use it not just for displaying their creations on the wall, but for holding templates in place or gathering up small fragments of glitter. Ask any enthusiast and they’re sure to have plenty of #BluHacks of their own! Sales of Glu Dots and Foam Pads are also strong, along with our all-purpose glue, which is the bestselling multi-purpose item on the market. We’ve seen a lot of interest in Fix & Flash since launch too, particularly as the technology is so different. “Crafters are important to us and we know how essential a good glue is to them.”