£3.50 ISSUE 144 DECEMBER 2019 www.craftbusiness.com STABILOCraft front cover_CRAFT BIZ 05/11/2019 10:58 Page 1 Business The leading trade title for the craft industry SUSTAINABILITY INTERVIEW TRENDS Going green – who influences An ideal Game over for you? woman? unicorns? P18 P23 P29 2 NEWS International award for Crafter’s Companion z Crafter’s Companion has won an international award at the Welcome largest trade event for the quilting, textile and soft crafts industry. z Mark Hayhurst z @craftbiz The company was named as the Best Notions and Tools z [email protected] Booth at the International Quilt Market in Houston, one of just six awards presented on the day. z Is that Jingle Bells I can hear? Well Christmas is just around The International Quilt Market is in its 40th year. It features the corner. more than 1,000 vendors offering materials such as quilting I hope everyone is ready for, what I hope is, a busy festive period. supplies, fabrics, decorative crafts, patterns, tools and sewing We have tips in this edition on how to stand out at a Christmas fair – machines. This is the third time that Crafter’s Companion has one tip I have is wrap up warm because it looks like it’s going to get a exhibited at the wholesale trade show. bit chilly! Crafter’s Companion has established a number of brands And I know most of us haven’t finished our Christmas shopping within the soft crafts market. The company exhibited at the yet but we are already looking ahead to 2020. show to display its range of popular Gemini multimedia dies and A lot of you will be heading out to Creativeworld and Paperworld in die-cutting machines, in addition to its Threaders range of core January and we have previews of what you can expect from the tools, which can be used in a wide variety of textile projects. Frankfurt trade shows. Sunny Pahal, Head of Business Development at Crafter’s Also, Adam Newhouse, Director of Hunkydory Crafts, takes a look Companion, said: “Throughout the past few years, we have at the trends he expects to be big in 2020. worked extremely hard to bring customers and trade partners And Jayme Wium, a digital marketer for SME Loans, specialising in the most innovative ranges using cutting-edge technology, along the areas of technology and finances, offers her advice on how to with useful, essential tools and beautiful fabrics. boost your business going forward. “This is only our third time exhibiting at the International Quilt I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Craft Business! Market show so to be recognised as Best Notions and Tools booth among so many brilliant vendors is a fantastic achievement. We are truly, very proud and excited to see Crafter’s Companion’s Jennifer Tryon everyone at next year’s event.” with the award ON THE RECORD “I get to meet CREATE IT SOUTH EAST IS COMING TO FARNBOROUGH z A brand new craft this new modern exhibition offer a very special limited so many show is coming to centre. We welcome exhibitors number of VIP tickets. We are amazing Farnborough in 2020. representing all crafts from far also bringing this experience Create It Events, and wide to one of the most to Farnborough. These will people, it’s a in partnership with exciting shows of the year. be available in strict numbers Create and Craft TV, “There will be lots of on a first come, first served real privilege” will be bringing it’s hands on experiences for the basis. VIP guests will have highly successful craft crafting public and hopefully their own comfortable lounge MARION EMBERSON show format, Create it the chance to learn a new away from the show with a South East 2020, to the craft from one of the many view over Farnborough airport. Farnborough Event Centre experts. We are pleased to be “We fully expect to on February 21-22 and in partnership with Create and attract around 70 plus again on September 18-19. Craft TV and their presence exhibitors to the show with Create It Events Ltd will be sure to add to the fun approximately 10,000 visitors.” was started in 2016 and excitement of the show.” with the aim of creating Create It Events also SHOW DATES: a more hands on and run Create It North East, z Create it South East interactive crafting in Gateshead, and Create 2020: February 21-22, experience for the public. It Kent, in Maidstone. September 18-19 Gordon Fraser, Gordon added: “We are about z Create it Kent 2020: Managing Director Create to start offering tickets for the May 15-16 It Events Ltd, said: “We are Farnborough event right away z Create it North East 2020: beyond excited to be able and if people are quick they can April 26 and September 12 to bring our successful grab special advance tickets at Creativeworld 2020 For more information head Create It format to a reduced price. At Kent, we also to www.createitevents.com 12 A preview of what will be on offer in Frankfurt Premier Stationery partners National Stationery Week 2020 z Premier Stationery has signed up as a partner for National Stationery Week 2020. Premier Stationery traces it heritage back to Ireland and the 1970s, establishing itself as Ireland’s leading Stationery Company, offering innovation, quality and a diverse range of products for all ages and applications. Popping Up All Over The In 2015, Premier Stationery expanded its World! operations and opened its UK Division, which mediums, colouring and drawing books and an 30 extensive range of craft items. Cardology’s Dipa Shah talks about has grown from strength to strength, becoming a main supplier to many key customers within Recent additions include Icon Craft for hobby their showstopping creations the UK market. enthusiasts, Student Solutions which is targeted at The family-run business has developed what Academic audiences, Pro:Form an extensive range have now become long standing favourite of labelling and printing solutions and Stik-ie brands such as Crafty Bitz, a range of art and which has a range of adhesive tapes, sticky notes craft projects for kids, Clever Kidz, which and glues. includes a variety of teaching aids that make Jo Proctor, Sales and Marketing Manager, said: learning fun, Premier Activity, Concept, a “We have a clear and continued development plan Professional Office Range and Premier Office for for the distribution of our products in the UK and we all stationery requirements; from staplers to see National Stationery Week as the perfect pens, bubble wrap to index dividers and more. platform to further enhance our standing within the Other hugely successful brands include Icon, stationery, craft and education industries.” Five ways to stand out at a an elite artists collection including an extensive Also, a whole host of companies have offered 34 Christmas market range of art materials for both professional and their support to National Stationery Week as Tips to catch the eye this festive season In this issue recreational artists. sponsors including Maped Helix, Moleskine, uni-ball, World of Colour is aimed at a younger Manuscript Pen Company, Staples UK, A.T. Cross, audience and incorporates drawing and painting Derwent and Marple Stationery Supplies. www.craftbusiness.com NEWS 3 Sharon Callis Crafts introduce Arts ‘n Flowers Entrepreneur z Sharon Callis Crafts introduce Arts ‘n Flowers, value as you will now to launch new the new name for Florartistry dies. not only be able to buy Florartistry was introduced to the market in 2016 following the core flower dies retail platform Sharon’s presentation to the ‘Creative Dragon’s’ panel at the AFCI themselves but the Creative Exchanges event and has gone on to achieve sell-out stamen, foliage, and z Makers Retail shows on Create and Craft and success in the retail sector. calyx dies all together in Sharon said: “Following partnership changes and a revision the one package for the Limited, founded by of the brand direction a rebranding was necessary to better first time. New product entrepreneur Tony represent the forward vision of the collections. Arts ‘n Flowers being added to the brand Sheridan, has announced will have a broader design base and allow us to expand beyond include stamp and die sets, the upcoming launch of floral dies and add new concepts and products to the brand paper pads, dies for matting its new retail business, portfolio. I am excited about the new direction we are taking.” and layering, sentiments, decorative elements, nesting dies, tools and MakersSuperstore.com. Crafters will still be able to continue with their product many more exciting additions to take your crafting to the next level. The proposition, which collections as the core product itself will remain the same, Products will be available through Personal Impressions (Trade), will be fully rolled out early ensuring continued quality, versatility and inspiring collections. and for retail customers, you will find them at Crafter’s Companion, 2020, promises to bring However, they have made some exciting changes to how they Create and Craft, Amazon and more buying options to be announced innovative product and present these collections. New releases will now offer even greater very soon. creative connectivity digitally, in-store and throughout the Maker communities. MakersSuperstore. com will not only be an Ideal Shopping Direct e-commerce proposition, it’s innovation will extend to the high street driving goes from £32m loss to connectivity to Makers in the heart of local communities. an expected £5m profit Tony Sheridan said: “Let me start with our company vision, ‘By Delivering z The new CEO of one of of its main Ideal World brand.