Industry news from Craft Focus magazine

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Toy Fair shows strong sales momentum for 2026

Toy Fair will return to Olympia, London from 20th to 22nd January 2026 for its 72nd show. With approximately six months to go, demand for exhibition space is already very high, driven by a strong returnee rate and keen interest from new applicants. The popular Gold Zone, which houses the smallest stands- and often is the spot to find hidden treasures- is already sold out, and there is limited space available across both levels in the rest of the halls.

Posted: 14 August 2025

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BACK TO SCHOOL WITH ARTISTRY JUNIOR

The debut Artistry Junior collection has arrived in Tesco stores nationwide. Artistry Junior aims to inspire, engage and nurture creative talent in children. The first ever collection includes water bottle tumblers filler with stationery goodies, stacking finger crayons and teddy shaped highlighters, as well as high quality bumper craft kits and sets. Artistry Junior is part of the arts and craft brand Artistry, which launched in 2024 and had huge success with its sell out marker pens which went viral across social media, with fans raving about the quality and value.

Posted: 12 August 2025

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SPRING FAIR & THEO PAPHITIS ANNOUNCE 12 NEW #SBS WINNERS FOR 2026 INITIATIVE

Spring Fair, the UK's home, gift, and fashion trade show, is delighted to announce the 12 new winners of its continued partnership with retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis and his #SBS Small Business Sunday initiative. Each winner will receive a free exhibition stand within the #SBS Village at Spring Fair, taking place on 1 - 4 February 2026 at the NEC Birmingham.

Posted: 7 August 2025

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Gemma Sault Joins The GA as MD

The Giftware Association is delighted to announce that Gemma Sault will be joining as managing director at the beginning of September. With a strong background in the giftware and retail sectors, Gemma brings a wealth of experience and fresh energy to the Giftware Association as it continues to support and champion the UK's vibrant home, stationery, craft, jewellery and gift industry.

Posted: 5 August 2025

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Historic trade deal with India signed

Businesses and workers in the East of England are set to benefit from the UK's trade deal with India as new analysis shows the landmark agreement will deliver a £190 million boost for the local economy as part of the Plan for Change. Both Prime Ministers met yesterday morning for the signing of the landmark UK-India trade deal as new analysis reveals communities across every region of the UK will benefit from its £4.8 billion increase to UK GDP each year. It comes as a series of investment and export wins have been confirmed by UK and Indian businesses, representing an overall boost of nearly £6 billion and creating over 2,200 jobs.

Posted: 31 July 2025

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The story behind SewnNotThrown

SewnNotThrown is a one woman fabric recycling fashion brand run by Crawley based Meg Davis. After being inspired by TV's popular The Great British Sewing Bee, Meg, aged 32, started making garments using preloved and unwanted fabrics in 2020 to bring together comfort and sustainability. Meg endlessly scours charity shops to find exciting materials and also offers custom-made items for customers.

Posted: 29 July 2025

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Chi Cups Crowned Gift of the Year 2026 People’s Choice Champion!

Gift of the Year, organised by The Giftware Association, is thrilled to announce that Chi Cups by Chi Cups has been officially crowned the sixth People's Choice Champion.

The brand earned an overwhelming number of votes - nearly 20 percent of the total - and captured the hearts of fans and supporters within their network. The award was announced at the Harrogate Home and Gifts Sundowners drink, held after the first day of trading.

From the very beginning, Chi Cups brought energy, creativity, and an undeniable spark to the competition, making its way through to the shortlist stage of the awards and proudly exhibiting at Spring Fair. The company's ability to rally support and inspire its community was nothing short of phenomenal in the most voted awards to date.

Posted: 23 July 2025

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UK Crafters and Makers - Join North America’s Craft Revolution

The global craft community is buzzing after another record-setting edition of h+h americas, In May 2025, h+h americas welcomed 5,180 verified industry professionals to the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Centre in Rosemont, Illinois, USA—a 29.7% increase over 2024. Attendees represented 48 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and two U.S. territories, solidifying the event's position as the most influential B2B handicraft show in North America.

Posted: 22 July 2025

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Gemporia Craft welcomes CraftStash and Beloved Brands into its growing family

Gemporia Craft is excited to announce the purchase of CraftStash, the UK's trusted online destination for papercraft and creative inspiration, along with several of its popular sub-brands. This partnership brings together two communities with a shared love of making, learning, and connecting. By adding CraftStash's extensive range of exclusive products, tutorials, and engaged customers to its portfolio, Gemporia Craft cements its place as the home of the UK's most passionate crafting community both on-screen and online. The move also opens exciting new opportunities for innovation, exclusive collaborations, and creative learning for makers of every level.

Posted: 17 July 2025

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WOVEN 2025 wraps up a month of community creativity

WOVEN 2025 has come to a close after a month of community-driven textile events. This year's festival, which took place throughout June, saw more than 120 events from community organisations, venues, local artists, schools and the textile industry, collaboratively coming together to celebrate the district's rich textile history and contemporary scene. The creative event was enjoyed by more than 12,000 visitors.

Posted: 15 July 2025

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