24 Speakers confirmed for CHSI Stitches 2023 People Tree founder and award-winning digital expert among speakers at leading craft industry trade event Speakers have started to be confirmed for CHSI Stitches 2023. Speakers making the line up so far include Safia Minney, MBE, internationally recognised founder of sustainable fashion brand, People Tree; and Andrew Davis, award-winning digital expert who has worked with some of the UK’s biggest brands. The key annual trade event is now open for registration and attracts around 6,000 craft buyers looking for the latest products, new ideas and innovative suppliers. It brings together the creative craft industry for two days of education, networking, procurement and business opportunities. The show is taking stand bookings for exhibitors for 2023 – an opportunity for suppliers and manufacturers to be among the creative craft industry’s biggest and brightest brands in showcasing latest lines to key buyers. The show’s 2023 theme is Conscious Crafting, exploring and shining a light on key factors in the customer decision making process. This will be bolstered with the results of the Craft Report – the annual independent report into the creative craft industry. The report will be unveiled at the show and will deliver valuable insights, data and updates on trends. One of the event’s highlights is its quality speaker programme, bringing together leading lights in retail, e-commerce and digital marketing among other disciplines. These hugely popular speaker sessions provide a focal point for discussion, learning and collaboration. More intimate bookable campfire sessions will follow the main presentation to enable visitors to get their questions answered. The speaker line up to date can be found here: www.chsi.co.uk/education/insights-hub/ Steve Mitchell, Event Director said: “We’ve increased our investment in our speaker programme in recent years as we realise the value that these global experts can bring to designers, manufacturers and retailers. We had such brilliant feedback last year on our speaker programme and it has inspired us to pull out all the stops to create our best line up yet, giving visitors to the show a unique and valuable experience and fresh knowledge they can apply to their business.” Brand leaders will be holding hands-on sessions in the Conscious Crafting Demo Area, enabling visitors to experience and try out new trends and techniques. Attendees can expect the biggest line-up of craft products on the market from leading suppliers, renowned retail experts will be sharing essential insights in the keynote speaker theatre and a range of demonstrations will be available to showcase the latest innovation. For more information visit www.chsi.co.uk Successful summer season boosts Scotland Fair Autumn Tourism in Scotland has begun to bounce back strongly with foreign visitors returning this summer, bringing much needed business to shops and attractions around Scotland. Following this successful summer season, Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn, provided a welcome chance to re-order, seek new products and network with suppliers. The show took place at the SEC in Glasgow from 17th-18th September. Having been brought forward by a day because of The Queen’s funeral, the Show still attracted retailers keen to restock and re-order. Although visitor numbers were below prepandemic levels, those that did attend were encouraged by the continued innovation and creativity shown by suppliers. The Launch Gallery for new suppliers was as usual a mecca for buyers seeking new products and ideas. Suppliers such as Christine Gilbert Art, Fiona Matheson Studio, Lin Pin Crafts, Little Paper Soul cards, 1874 Works and Flow Glass were exhibiting for the first time. Exhibitor Chris Lewis said: “Despite the expected lower footfall I had a great show, my orders were up on last year as were the value of orders and all with good customers and many of them new.” Show Director Mark Saunders said: “Business was brisk following a good summer season and the Autumn should follow suit. Despite the challenges facing the economy there is still strong demand for good quality giftware which we have witnessed over the last two days.” Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring will be held at the SEC, Glasgow from 22th-24th January, 2023.
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