Craft Focus - Feb/Mar 2020 (Issue 77)

106 Crown jewels King Cole has supplied yarns to the craft industry for more than 80 years. Owner Mike Wilson explains why the company’s products are more popular than ever +44 (0)1756 703 670 kingcole.com Tell us about King Cole. Established in 1935, we are a family business that is dedicated to the yarn industry. We moved to Skipton in Yorkshire in 2014 and it helped consolidate our position as one of the best suppliers in the UK. What are the products our readers should know about? All of them! We’re planning our spring and summer yarns now. Cottonsoft is a fantastic staple that’s breathable and beautiful to touch. We also have a new range coming out in April which is very suitable for warmer weather. Our baby yarns are fantastic quality and machine washable, and we’re delighted at how well our Truffle product has been received. We’ll be releasing some gorgeous new shades in the range this year. Chunky yarns are perfect for colder weather and particularly apt in this season, when people will pick up a new hobby like knitting or crochet. Are there any key launches coming up? We’ve just launched a new yarn called Yummy Crush. It’s a scrumptiously soft chenille-like material with twin strands. It’s absolutely gorgeous and comes in five shades with adorable complementary patterns. We’re also adding a new family of yarns to a popular existing DK range. In addition, one of our new DKs for 2020 will offer a completely new colourway in 100 per cent acrylic, which will be brilliant for all ages. It’s also very affordable. What trends can we expect to see this year? Nobody can say what the future holds but we hope that some of what we’re launching will stick. We can absolutely guarantee a soft touch and beautiful colour palette. Where can retailers get to see your products? Everywhere! Our representatives show retailers new products in person, as and when they’re launched. You can also see each item on our website, but we highly recommend stopping at your local yarn shop for a proper feel of what we have to offer. What sets King Cole apart from competitors? We’re better! We offer faster customer service, good value design and fantastic product ranges. We have something for every knitter and crocheter, from beautiful natural fibres to 100 per cent acrylic yarns. There’s two-ply for baby heirlooms and mega chunky for home accessories. We aim to be approachable, inclusive and fun. We have a reputation for being reliably good value and high quality and we want to maintain that. Does the company exhibit at any shows? Yes! We will be at Creativation in Phoenix in January, CHSI Stitches in Birmingham in February and H+H Cologne in March. We’ll also be exhibiting at a new show called Crafter’s World in Coventry this September. What’s coming up next? We also have a few ‘craft-along’ events in the works for spring and summer. We’re very excited about the positive responses we’ve been getting and we’re keen to do more. We’ll also be installing solar panels this year. We’ll be completely powered by these and love that we’re taking steps towards a more sustainable future. There’s always something new and exciting for the fashion industry, and we’re keen to see what’s next!