With Christmas fast approaching, Warner Hotels is giving guests the chance to get into the festive spirit with the Queen of Crafts herself, Sara Davies, during a special crafting getaway in Nottinghamshire this November. Taking place at Reserve by Warner Hotels' Thoresby Hall from 27–29 November 2026, the two-night break starts from £359 per person, offering a creative escape just in time for the festive season.
Posted: 27 October 2026
UK Hand Knitting , the not-for-profit organisation that represents yarn wholesalers in the UK has announced that two new companies are joining the organisation with both Managing Directors being appointed to their board. Shepley Yarns, who own the Baa Ram Ewe brand, and Laxtons, which trades under Bramble and Fleece in the consumer hand knitting market, will join with immediate effect.
Posted: 22 October 2026
Visitor registration for Toy Fair 2027 is now open, ahead of the UK's largest toy, game and hobby trade exhibition taking over Olympia, London from Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st January 2027. Those who attended any of the previous three shows will receive a 'Smart Link' to their existing profile, streamlining the re-registration process. Toy Fair continues for its 73rd year to serve as the principal meeting point for retailers, buyers, licensors, designers, inventors, media, influencers, marketeers, educators, and the wider industry seeking early insight into the year ahead in toys and games, and provides an established platform for generating new business and reinforcing existing industry relationships.
Posted: 15 October 2026
h+h americas Fall Edition 2026 officially concluded today at Reliant Center in Houston, bringing together creative industry professionals, suppliers, retailers, designers, educators, creators, and business owners for the inaugural autumn edition of the h+h americas platform. Held 30th September to 2nd October, the new Fall Edition introduced an additional annual B2B marketplace designed to connect the creative supply chain during an important time of year for business planning, product discovery, and preparation for the autumn and holiday selling season.
Posted: 6 October 2026
Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organiser of Paperworld Middle East, the region's leading international trade platform for paper and stationery products, has announced the postponement of the upcoming edition. Originally scheduled for 13–15 October 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will now take place from 28-30 September 2027. The decision follows extensive discussions with the industry and careful assessment of the challenges currently facing the paper and stationery industry, including constraints around production lead times and issues across freight and logistics.
Posted: 16 September 2026
STAEDTLER, one of the world's leading manufacturers of writing, drawing and creative materials, and COLOP, one of Europe's largest manufacturers of creative and educational stamp products, are strengthening their international partnership. From July 2026, STAEDTLER (UK) Ltd will be responsible for the distribution of selected products from the COLOP range in the UK. Through this partnership, both companies are joining forces to make innovative, creative products available to retailers and consumers in an even more efficient and targeted manner.
Posted: 11 August 2026
Beloved The Great Pottery Throw Down judge and ceramic designer Keith Brymer Jones returns to the stage with a brand-new show, titled: Us, Pots and a Welsh Chapel. Join Keith alongside his partner in life and crime, actor and designer Marj Hogarth, as they share stories of clay, craft, and their most ambitious project yet... bringing a building back to life.
Posted: 26 May 2026
Britain risks weakening its economy by taking small businesses for granted, according to Nigel Botterill, who is launching a new national campaign to put them back at the centre of the conversation. Botterill, founder of Entrepreneurs Circle, is behind UK Small Business Week, a nationwide initiative taking place from 1–7 June that will bring together communities, entrepreneurs and local leaders in a coordinated push to recognise and support the businesses that form the backbone of the UK economy.
Posted: 19 May 2026
The Giftware Association has joined the Bank of England and a coalition of UK trade associations as part of the Genesis Initiative, presenting new evidence on trading conditions and confidence across the gift, home and stationery sector. Alongside organisations including The Greeting Card Association, the meeting brought together industry voices to highlight current market trends, challenges facing small businesses, and the barriers holding back growth across the UK's independent retail and brand landscape.
Posted: 16 April 2026
Applications are now open for Seeds of Change 2026, the Association for Cultural Enterprises' annual £10,000 prize fund supporting sustainable and entrepreneurial initiatives within the cultural sector. The Seeds of Change prize fund is designed to foster greater creativity and dynamism within income generation and environmental sustainability, inspiring arts, heritage and cultural organisations to think about innovative ways of generating income while improving their sustainable impact.
Posted: 31 March 2026