Craft Focus - December 2020/January 2021 (Issue 82)

8 Trotec launches #MyTrotecMaterialsUK prize draw Trotec, supplier of laser machines and engravable materials, has launched a new prize draw for consumables customers. With the broad range of different engravable materials and supplies available from Trotec, customer applications are wide and varied. Everything from sparkling crafts made from TroGlitter acrylic to multi-layered wooden signage and industrial applications, such as dataplates and control panels, are created daily by customers across the UK and Ireland. Trotec materials customers can enter the new prize draw by sharing their creations made with Trotec materials or engravable items on Instagram using #MyTrotecMaterialsUK in the caption. Each eligible post will be entered into a prize draw where one winner per month will win £100 to spend on Trotec’s engraving supplies webshop. Trotec’s engraving-supplies.co.uk webshop hosts a catalogue of sheet materials, products and supplies for business and industry. For more information about the prize draw, along with terms and conditions, go to www.engraving-supplies.co.uk or follow @TrotecLaserUK on Instagram. Terms and conditions apply, visit www.engraving-supplies.co.uk fo r details. Craft Buddy Ltd expands European toy retailer network Following the recent announcement regarding the company’s distribution outlet expansion here in the UK, Craft Buddy Ltd can confirm a new retail partnership with two of Germany’s biggest toy retailers – MÜLLER Handels GmbH & Co.KG and ROFU Kinderland Spielwarenhandels GmbH. Launched across the retailer networks in September, the breakthrough announcement will see the company’s flagship Crystal Art® brand available across all 500 MÜLLER stores and 95 ROFU outlets pre-Christmas. Craft Buddy Ltd expands European toy retailer network”In a difficult year for many businesses it has been great to gain a substantial foothold in the German market with these two new partnerships.” comments Daniel Ward, head of sales at Craft Buddy. “Along with our growing business with Vedes we are confident 2021 can be even bigger for us. With excellent partners in most key markets globally we are excited for what the next 12 months will bring.” Also known as ‘diamond painting’ or ‘diamond art’, Crystal Art is a popular new craft that has taken toy and hobby stores by storm on the continent during 2019 and 2020. The diverse collection has captured retail space in mass market retail chains across France, Belgium, Netherlands and now Germany. Following Craft Buddy’s recent online listing in The Range stores here in the UK, Crystal Art is set take mainstream UK retail by storm over the coming months, as an addictive alternative to puzzles, painting by numbers and/or mosaic making. With re-orders already flooding in from across the German retailer chains, it seems that Crystal Art has already made a special impression on German children, parents and adult crafters ahead of the key Christmas period.