Craft Focus - April/May 2020 (Issue 78)

93 ASK THE EXPERTS If you have a question for our experts, email us at editor@craftfocus.com or tweet us @craftfocus I want to intr oduce a range of Crystal Art designs in my store – how can I be sure I’m picking the pr oducts that wil l best suit my customers? Craft Buddy works with customers to ensure full support in making the right selection for each store. We work closely with retailers on a case-by-case basis to make sure that products meet the right themes and price points for each audience, whether for self-purchase or gifting, throughout the buying seasons. Understanding the age demographic shopping within your store can help to determine both the size and design that will be most popular. Toy stores, for example, may find our Frameables and Sticker ranges potentially more relevant than with a craft-centric audience who are likely to find our larger kits with traditional designs more successful. Geographical location is important as it helps to determine what might work best. For example, stockists of the Crystal Art brand in the Netherlands will find out 40cm x 50cm tulips kit sells particularly well with customers, while designs like our 30cm x 30cm farm will provide more popular in stockists with a countryside location. We also pay heavy attention to trends and understanding consumer demand is a massive factor in our product development. A recent Game of Thrones frenzy that has swept popular culture has led to increased demand for all things mystical and fantasy, which in turn saw the popularity of our Anne Stokes designs soar. Working closely with you and understanding your customers, we can make recommendations for proven sellers and lines which meet the needs of your consumers, on or offline, as well as display solutions for extra in-store visibility. ROHIN KOTECHA Rohin Kotecha is account manager at Craft Buddy Ltd, suppliers of a range of craft supplies and kits, with brands including Crystal Arts, Forever Flowers and Pretty Gets Gritty. craftbuddyltd.co.uk Can online classes contribute to wel l being? Online classes are a gateway to greater creative expression and rich relationships within the crafting community. Anyone can be creative, and taking a class offers a wonderful way to tap into this. You can pause, rewind and replay as many times as you like without feeling any pressure. There’s help from some of the world’s best tutors available – something that may be difficult to access otherwise. There’s also a chance to try out different crafts to see which one resonates most. Here’s the best bit about embracing creativity – it makes people happy. In fact, research suggests that creative people are happier than everyone else. Creativity helps lower stress levels and provides a sense of purpose. We also hear that people who watch classes, go on to make new friendships by sharing their experiences in online groups. This can be anything from venting frustration over forgetting a quarter inch seam allowance to posting a picture of a finished quilt. What follows is the magic of the crafting community – new friends will commiserate and provide supportive feedback. In some cases, these virtual connections will turn into warm friendships and as confidence grows, crafters will venture into shops or attend weekend retreats for more advanced classes. STEVE BARTON Steve Barton is CEO of Just Hands TV, a video subscription service that provides online workshops for knitting, quilting and textile arts. justhands-on.tv