Craft Focus - Page number 33 - June/July 2021 (Issue 85)

33 COMPANY PROFILE tasks more enjoyable. Tell us about your product range. What do you specialise in? Olfa manufacture some of the best cutting tools in the world. The range includes rotary cutters, art knives, scissors, cutting mats and specialist tools. What’s your bestselling range of products? The rotary cutters and art knives sell very well, but the snap-off cutter, invented by Olfa in 1956, has proven, internationally, to be the best-selling cutting tool to date. It’s the most versatile of all, suitable for many applications, and is available in a range of handles and sizes. How would you advise a retailer who is interested in stocking your products? I’d advise that they speak to their customers who are serious about crafting, most of whom will already be familiar with some of the Olfa products and their quality. They’ll probably be able to secure pre-orders before we even ship the stock. What sets you apart from your competitors? Superior blade technology, innovative tool design and great attention to quality control make for unparalleled reliability. Do you visit any trade shows? We plan to strengthen our presence across trade shows, starting this year in September with the industry’s most important exhibition, CHSI Stiches at the NEC in Birmingham. How did business cope during the Covid-19 pandemic and what are your plans going forward? Business has proved to be a challenge for us during the pandemic. Like many other businesses, we’ve had to adapt to new ways of working. The plans made to create new trading partnerships with wholesalers and retailers have been taking longer to achieve. However, now that retailers are reopening to a new normal, they’re starting to gain momentum. If you’d like to join us on this exciting journey, please get in touch. What new products can we expect from you in the future? Olfa like to keep a lid on what to expect, as it’s all top-secret until the product is perfect. Undoubtedly though, you can expect a series of new products from Olfa in the coming months and further into the future. OLFA UK Brian Price, National accounts manager +44 (0)7432 661 039 +44 (0)20 8204 1422 brian.price@olfauk.com www.olfauk.com