Knitted Knockers UK, a registered charity in England & Wales which offers free of charge bespoke knitted and crocheted knockers to women who have had surgery following a breast cancer diagnosis, proudly announces its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of confidence boosting, sometimes lifechanging assistance to women in the UK. The Charity relies on donations to help it do that and is solely run by volunteers.
Posted: 12 June 2025
The popular, coastal Giving & Living trade show will now take place from Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th January 2026, in its usual venue, Westpoint in Exeter, just one mile off the M5, in the heart of the beautiful South West. The later dates mean that the show no longer clashes with Top Drawer Spring, or Harrogate Christmas Fair. Great news!
Posted: 10 June 2025
Autumn Fair 2025, the UK's largest seasonal showcase for Home, Gift and Fashion, has joined forces with SaveTheHighStreet.org, to launch Retail Makeover Mission, a bold new initiative launching aimed at revitalising independent retail and act as a catalyst for high street regeneration across the UK.
Championing independent retail innovation and resilience, the Retail Makeover Mission is a timely answer to the UK's retail crisis. The campaign launched on Tuesday 10th June with a competition for independent retailers to win a complete business transformation package worth over £10,000, and a survey to understand the pressures facing the industry to help drive positive change.
Posted: 10 June 2025
Discover! Creative Careers has announced a major expansion of its national government-funded programme to inspire more 11–18-year-olds into crafts and other creative industries. Discover! Creative Careers' flagship annual event, Discover! Creative Careers Week, has been expanded to a month-long programme of industry encounters this November. The event connects young people with real-world experiences in the creative industries through employer-led events, talks, and workshops designed to inspire future talent into crafts.
Posted: 5 June 2025
A new drive to grow the number of small businesses in the UK, through targeted support for side-hustles and start-ups, has been announced by Small Business Britain and eBay.
The new Side-Hustle Lab – a free, six-week online programme, designed to help people get started, scale up, and build successful businesses – will launch on 4th June.
With the number of small businesses falling by 9 percent over the last five years – from a peak of 6 million in 2020 to 5.45 million in 2024 – the organisations are jointly calling for greater support for start-ups, and particularly businesses starting life as side-hustles.
Posted: 3 June 2025
WOVEN 2025, the festival celebrating textiles and creativity across Kirklees, officially launched at Oakwell Hall, Birstall, this weekend with World Stitch Day, and even the rain didn't dampen spirits.
The festival kicked off unofficially on Sat 31st May with the installation of the internationally renowned Red Dress, a symbol of global collaboration and creativity led by artist Kirstie Macleod. The launch event marks the start of a month-long celebration of textiles, heritage and community spirit, with events taking place across Kirklees throughout June.
Posted: 3 June 2025
A significant leadership change is underway at the globally active family-owned business Schwan-STABILO. With operations spanning Writing Instruments, Cosmetics, and Outdoor, and revenues of approximately 800 million, the Group employs more than 5,200 people in 38 locations worldwide. After nearly three decades in various leadership roles, Sebastian Schwanhäußer (61) will step down from his operational responsibilities at the end of the current fiscal year and assume the position of Chairman of the Advisory Board on July 1, 2025.
Posted: 29 May 2025
David and Charles is so thrilled to announce that its Spring 2025 release, The Bouquet in a Book, (ISBN 9781446314289, £19.99) , has been recognised with two accolades at the prestigious Gift of the Year Awards. The innovative papercraft title not only won the Affordable Gift category but was also crowned the overall winner by the panel of expert judges. Congratulations!
Posted: 27 May 2025
The winners of Gift of the Year 2025, organised by The Giftware Association, have been unveiled.
Gift of the Year honours outstanding products that capture the spirit of giving across the retail landscape. This year saw a record-breaking number of entries and some of the most inventive, heartwarming, and sustainable gifts the industry has ever seen.
These winners stood out for their exceptional design, innovation, and ability to wow the judges — who were made up of buyers and retailers — and ultimately will see their products in the hands of consumers, whether on the high street, online, or in boutique stores across the country.
Posted: 23 May 2025
Leading stationery brand STABILO is proud to announce the BOSS ORIGINAL Highlighter, has been awarded 'The Icon Award' at this year's Stationery Awards. The awards were held on Tuesday, 13th May, the first evening of The London Stationery Show, where the world's biggest stationery brands gathered in The Business Design Centre to celebrate new products and their latest offerings. Amongst 16 categories, STABILO was shortlisted in five, spotlighting its varied product offering, including sustainable features, stationery classics, and famous collaborations.
Posted: 22 May 2025