Britain's local retailers are powered by loyal regulars who generate them up to five times more annual revenue as they typically return to a business 11 times throughout the year, according to research from Square, the global technology company. For high street retailers specifically, the Square Local Economy Report reveals that UK consumers most often visit their local retailers and shops, over and above cafés, restaurants and beauty salons, with 70% shopping locally at least weekly. This is the highest rate across the four countries Square surveyed, compared to the US, Australia and Canada.
Posted: 28 May 2026
More than 6,000 businesses have already signed up to support UK Small Business Week 2026 within days of its pre-launch campaign, with thousands more expected to join before the national movement officially begins next week.
The initiative, created by Nigel Botterill's Entrepreneurs Circle, is calling on Britain to get behind the small businesses keeping towns, high streets and local economies alive.
Running from June 1–7, UK Small Business Week aims to celebrate the real people behind Britain's independent businesses while encouraging consumers to actively support them.
"Small businesses are the people opening up early, staying late and taking risks every single day," said Botterill.
Posted: 28 May 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
The Knit Show is now the UK's leading trade show for the sector and was created by UK Hand Knitting to give yarn and craft shops a dedicated trade show where they can view the latest collections in a relaxed environment, while networking with other retailers in beautiful surroundings. You can expect to see products from all your favourite yarn and fabric suppliers, plus a tailored selection of new guest exhibitors to broaden the offer.
Posted: 21 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
This May, red post boxes across the UK have been transformed into crochet tributes to British wildlife, marking Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday. Launched by Hobbycraft, the nationwide "yarn bombing" campaign sees handcrafted toppers appearing in key locations linked to Sir David's life – from his current hometown of London to Cambridge, where he studied, and Leicester, where he grew up, as well as Edinburgh, Manchester, Bournemouth and Glasgow; turning everyday street furniture into joyful celebrations of nature. To surprise and delight, the toppers will be dropping throughout the month of May.
Posted: 14 May 2026
Registration is now officially open for Autumn Fair 2026, the UK's definitive buying destination for home, gift and fashion ahead of the peak retail trading season. Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 6th – 9th September 2026, the event co-locates with garden retail show Glee on the 8th – 9th September creating Europe's biggest buying moment for home, gift, garden and fashion retail. Bringing together 1,250+ exhibitors across both shows, Autumn Fair offers an unrivalled opportunity for retailers to source, discover and connect, all in one trip, at a critical time when Q4 ranges are being finalised.
Posted: 12 May 2026
The inaugural Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival concluded its debut edition at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, welcoming more than 12,556 visitors and establishing an immediate and meaningful presence within the North American craft market. The event featured 276 companies from eight nations across 4,182 square metres of exhibit space, delivering a curated, experience-driven environment where education, artistry, and commerce came together to serve today's maker. Held 1-3 May 2026, the Festival introduced a new model for consumer craft events rooted in participation, creativity, and community engagement at scale.
Posted: 7 May 2026
As the global fan community prepares for May the 4th, Craft Buddy is expanding its presence in the galaxy with a premium addition to its Star Wars Crystal Art® lineup. The highlight of this year's celebrations is the arrival of The Mandalorian & Grogu Crystal Art Duo Buddies XL. Designed specifically with the "Kidult" collector in mind, this oversized double-character set moves away from traditional plastic toys, offering a sophisticated, multi-dimensional display piece that captures the bond between the legendary bounty hunter and his foundling.
Posted: 4 May 2026
Figured'Art is pleased to announce that it has officially joined AIS (Cenpac) Ltd, marking an exciting step forward in strengthening its presence within the UK retail market. Through this partnership, all AIS members can now benefit from preferential trading terms when working with Figured'Art, alongside access to the convenience and efficiency of the CENPAC central payments system. As part of this next phase of growth, Figured'Art will also be exhibiting at The Gift Edit on 19th May at Cranmore Park, Solihull, stand P370 The event provides an ideal opportunity for AIS members to explore the brand's extensive range of giftable craft formats and discover the commercial opportunities available in-store.
Posted: 30 April 2026