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www.craftfocus.com August/September 2018 August/September Issue 68 www.craftfocus.com Coming up LOOK SHARP Crowning Latest on-trend GLORY cactus designs Beautiful yarns for the season ahead BUYER’S MARKET 29 pages of new product inspiration Smashing pumpkins Halloween crafts to boost autumn trade HOLIDAY SPIRIT PLUS This year’s Christmas essentials • Autumn Fair • Festival of Quilts • Restructuring your business August/September 2018 issue 68 Editor Andrea Ashfield +44 (0)1376 514 000 [email protected] Chief Sub Editor contents Louise Prance Marketing Manager Michael Richards +44 (0)1376 538 481 regulars [email protected] Industry news 7 Sales Manager Sarah Mclean What’s happening within the craft and +44 (0)1376 538 490 hobby market [email protected] 99 Account Manager Brand spanking new 15 Tracy Voice shows +44 (0)1376 535 618 Latest product launches for August [email protected] and September Shows, news & events 23 Production Manager Keep up-to-date with what’s happening in Scott Brothwell Bookstand 54 your industry Senior Graphic Designers A selection of craft-related book releases Chloe Edey, Stephanie Hodder, Golden opportunities 31 Vicky O’Connor, Sarah Young +44 (0)1376 535 616 Editor’s picks 70 What’s coming up at Autumn Fair this September [email protected] The spookiest Halloween purchases Production Assistant Stitching the future 95 Charlotte Potter Tying the knot 99 Highlights from The Festival of Quilts Web Development Manager Stuart Weatherley Make this stylish macramé plant hanger Subscriptions Beth Varney 31 +44 (0)1376 514 000 KD Media Publishing Limited Pantile House, Newlands Drive Witham, Essex, CM8 2AP, UK craftfocus.com Front cover image: King Cole kingcole.com ISSN 1758-0900 Craft Focusis solely owned, published and designed by KD Media Publishing Limited. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information 15 features in this magazine was correct at the time of going Woolly thinking 37 to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor Get ready for new yarn season can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The 67 Deck the shelves 45 views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Craft Focus is published six times Looking ahead to the festive sales period a year. Subscription rates for overseas readers are £75 per annum (incl. p+p), Cheques should be made out to KD Media Publishing Limited and sent Get set go! 57 to Craft Focus, Pantile House, Newlands Drive, Craft kits your customers will love Witham, Essex, CM8 2AP, United Kingdom. Craft Focus magazine is proud to be Look sharp 67 associated with and supporters of: We reveal this year’s most prickly trend Born in the USA 75 Craft suppliers from across the pond Sugar & spice 83 Modern trends in baking and sugarcraft Stuck on you 89 The latest adhesive products craftfocus 3 108 TRADE-WIRES.CO.UK focus on Sweet success 34 We chat with Siobhan Lees from FMM Sugarcraft A stitch in time 64 Queen of cross stitch Amanda Butler reveals the tricks of the trade Spinning around 72 Behind the scenes with yarn supplier, King Cole Out of this world 79 Everything you need to know about Creative World of Crafts Unit 3, Zone A Chelmsford Road Industrial Estate, Tried & tested 108 Great Dunmow, Essex, CM6 1HD Tracy Voice gets to grips with Needcraft’s lampshade-making kit Tel: 01371 238 013 business advice 64 How to grow your business 86 Sara Davies advises on restructuring from within Eyes on the prize 92 Michael O’Connor talks prizes and giveaways Hedging your bets 102 Jeremy Cook looks at trading overseas Strategic planning 104 Kay Tilbury explains why social media is such a powerful tool Word count 106 More business advice from David Fairhurst 4 craftfocus SAME DAY DISPATCH WHEN YOU ORDER BEFORE 2PM INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY IS AVAILABLE. Please contact for prices — WHOLESALE HABERDASHERY SUPPLIERS — Hello autumn Our huge range includes: ;Ѵ|vķ$ubllbm]vķ-1;ķomvķ At the time of writing, Britain is basking under !b00omķ";tbmvķ b-l-m|;vķoঞ=vķ,brvķou7vķ$_u;-7ķ uo7;ub;m]Ѵ-bvķ ;-|_;uvķ Ѵo;uvķub7-Ѵķbm];ub;11;vvoub;vķ clear blue skies, and autumn feels like a lifetime -0;u7-v_;uķѴm-1;ķ-m7l1_ķl1_lou;ĺĺĺ away. In reality, however, there’s just a few short weeks until cooler weather heralds the start of the Our new guipure busiest months in the retail calendar, and if you trimmings and stretch haven’t done so already, now is the time to plan lace are on special your strategy for the season ahead. offer this month. See We’ve got lots to get you started in this issue, website for details. with 29 pages of inspirational products that Please visit us our new website=ouou=-m|-vঞ17;-Ѵv-m7|o shoppers will love. From the whimsical to the practical, we think we’ve v;;ou1olrѴ;|;u-m];o=ruo71|v-m7rub1;vĺ got everything covered, including Halloween supplies that won’t scare your customers away, the latest wool and crochet must-haves and a look www.mcourts.co.uk at the Christmas products that are set to fly off the shelves in the run up /mcourtsltd to this year’s big day. Also inside, we speak to some of the industry’s most creative minds, 31 COMMERCIAL ROAD ҋ EDMONTON ҋ LONDON ҋ N18 1TP including queen of cross stitch Amanda Butler, who reveals her love of Tel: 0208 884 0999 Fax: 0208 884 4666 Email: [email protected] craft and shares some of her sources of inspiration. There’s sugarcraft know-how from FMM’s Siobhan Lees, while Caroline Symonds and Philippa Warford from King Cole tell us what’s coming up in yarn and patterns. We also speak to super-supplier Creative World of Crafts about the trends that will be making the headlines over the next few months. Enjoy readinng a AndreaAndrea Ashfield Editor Editor’s pick Cactuses are everywhere this year, and we’ve rounded up some of our favourite succulents for you in this issue, including this colourful felt pincushion kit by Corinne Lapierre. Visit corinnelapierre.com or turn to page 67 for more prickly favourites. VisitVisit us on:on: @craftfocus pinterest.com/craftfocus facebook.com/craftfocus instagram.com/craftfocusmag craftfocus 5 industry news industry news A roundup of latest news from the crafting industry CRAFTER’S COMPANION INVESTS IN RETAIL GROWTH Crafter’s Companion has appointed a new Head of Retail after experiencing a 12 per cent increase in UK sales from 2016/2017 to 2017/2018. Helen Hollings joins the multimillion-pound business from Joules clothing and will be responsible for introducing commercial retail practices and improved workshop programmes across the company. Drawing on a wealth of senior retail management experience, Helen will take ownership of the team’s professional development, and will also help to improve product selection and optimise spending. “Helen’s appointment as head of retail will ensure that the business continues to move forwards in terms of retail development,” says Crafter’s Companion founder, Sara Davies MBE. “Our existing stores, coupled with our ever-expanding product portfolio provide us with an excellent foundation for growth, and Helen understands that our people-oriented culture is key to this. I look forward to working with her in supporting and investing in our team in order to expand Crafter’s Companion’s estate and ultimately keep increasing our turnover.” Helen adds, “The craft industry is fascinating to me and I’m thrilled with the opportunity to work on developing retail as part of our multi-channel business. I’m experienced in reshaping in-store operations and I am impressed with the growth opportunities that exist at Crafter’s Companion. I’m confident that I can help take the business to a higher level in terms of current retail contribution.” The company opened two retail outlets in Newton Aycliffe and Chesterfield during 2016 and a third store in Evesham in 2017, complementing its presence online and in thousands of stores around the world. The business currently employs more than 160 staff, selling products online, through its own outlets and independent retailers, as well as presenting workshops and demonstrations in store and on TV in the UK, US and Germany. Visit crafterscompanion.co.uk for details. CRAFT RETAILER RAISES £1M FOR CHARITY High street retailer Hobbycraft has raised £1 million for children’s hospices, with customers and staff working together in support of its charity partnership with Together for Short Lives. The milestone comes in the same year that Hobbycraft also hit one million transactions through its till-point ‘pennies’ donation scheme. The partnership also won the craft giant recognition at the Business Charity Awards. In an effort to raise funds, the Chief Executives of both organisations scaled a 175ft cliff in the dark and abseiled back down through fog. Staff members also took part in the fun, with 38 employees embarking on a 22-mile trek through the South Downs. “We were ecstatic to learn that we’d won a Business Charity Award for our work with Together for Short Lives,” says Dominic Jordan, Chairman and CEO. “We’ve been working together for many years and it’s an inspirational charity. We were up against some tough competition, so it’s great to see crafting come out on top.” Visit hobbycraft.co.uk for more information. craftfocus 7 industry news FABRIC POUND STORE LAUNCHES Adam Ross Fabrics has launched an online fabric pound store. The new consumer website features more than 100 product lines, each priced at £1 per metre.