WEST DESIGN front cover_ADS 05/07/2018 09:46 Page 1 £3.50 ISSUE 133 AUGUST 2018 CraftBusinesswww.craftbusiness.com The leading trade title for the craft industry INTERVIEW STITCHING PAPERCRAFT It’s sewtime Humour, A cut for Sara quilts and above Davies music the rest P26 P32 P12 2 NEWS Craft company invests in retail growth z Crafter’s Companion has appointed a new Head of Retail (Sales) after experiencing a 12 per cent increase in UK sales from 2016/2017 to Welcome 2017/2018. Helen Hollings joins the multi-million-pound z Mark Hayhurst z @craftbiz business from Joules clothing and will be z [email protected] responsible for introducing commercial retail practices plus improved workshop programmes across Crafter’s Companion’s current retail estate. z Doom and gloom is always in the news when it comes to our Drawing on a wealth of senior retail High Streets, with stores and big names folding and closing. management experience, Helen will also take However, Bill Grimsey, former head of Wickes, Iceland and ownership of the management team’s professional Focus DIY, has launched his second report into the future of town development, support improved product selection centres and High Streets and has some interesting ideas about and optimise spending. reviving it. Crafter’s Companion founder Sara Davies MBE Speaking to the BBC he said: “Forget retail for town centres, said: “Helen’s appointment as head of retail will “I’m experienced in reshaping in-store operations they need to become community hubs based on health, education, ensure that the business continues to move and I’m impressed with the growth opportunities that entertainment, leisure and arts and crafts.” forwards in terms of retail development. Our exist at Crafter’s Companion. I’m confident that I can Also Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail existing stores, coupled with our ever-expanding help take the business to a higher level in terms of Consortium, has called for a two-year freeze on business rates. product portfolio provide us with an excellent retail contribution.” She said: The retail industry, the UK’s largest private sector foundation for growth, and Helen understands that Crafter’s Companion opened two retail stores in employer, makes up five per cent of the economy and pays nearly our people-orientated culture is key to this. Newton Aycliffe and Chesterfield during 2016 and a 25 per cent of the overall business rates bill, over £7 billion per “I look forward to working with Helen in third store in Evesham in 2017, to complement its year. This is a disproportionate burden and is leading to decisions supporting and investing in our team in order to presence online and in thousands of retail stores to close stores, while at the same time getting in the way of the expand Crafter’s Companion’s estate and ultimately across the world. modernisation and reinvention of Britain’s high streets. keep increasing our turnover.” The business currently employs more than 160 “The current business rates system is not fit for purpose. It is a Helen said: “The craft industry is fascinating to staff, selling products online, through its own outlets 20th century answer to a 21st century problem. Retail shoulders me and I’m thrilled with the opportunity to work on and independent retailers, and regularly presenting far more than its fair share, and the rates bill is leading to store developing retail as part of Crafter’s Companion’s workshops and demonstrations in store and on TV closures and getting in the way of reinvention of our high streets. multi-channel business. shopping channels in the UK, US and Germany. We’re calling on government to freeze business rates until the 2021 revaluation to relieve the burden of this unfair tax on retail businesses and allow time for dialogue about the wholesale modernisation of business taxation.” Hopefully some of these ideas will help out the High Street. Changes in the Fiskars Group Leadership Team Enjoy this month’s issue of Craft Business. z Paul Tonnesen, President, Jaana Tuominen, express my sincere thanks for SBU Functional, has President and CEO, Fiskars Paul’s valuable contributions decided to leave Fiskars. Corporation, said: “Paul has throughout the years, and The Strategic Business played an instrumental role in wish him all the best and Unit (SBU) Functional the development of Fiskars’ a bright future ahead.” ON THE RECORD provides tools for use in and position in the US, and during Fiskars has started the around the house as well as his tenure, he has led the team search for a new leader who “I hate waste, and outdoors. SBU Functional in many firsts and milestones will continue to develop includes brands such as in the Americas business. the global Functional am passionate about Fiskars, Gerber and Gilmour. With Paul’s unwavering business, building on the reducing the drain on Tonnesen was appointed customer focus, Fiskars has successes in the Americas, President for the global SBU consistently grown its share of Europe and Australia. our planet’s precious Functional and a member of the market and strengthened In addition to her role as resources” the group leadership team in its presence in the US, and we the President and CEO, Jaana March 2017, and he has been are well positioned to build Tuominen will act as the interim SUE REED with the company since 2007. on this record of success. I President, SBU Functional. – THE WOOLLY PEDLAR CRAFTING ENTREPRENEURS WIN Organisers cancel Stationery ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TRIP TO ALASKA Show Manchester 2018 z A group of talented crafting entrepreneurs from across the UK have won a once-in-a z Stationery Show Manchester 2018 will not be “It is frustrating to walk away from an event that lifetime cruise around Alaska, thanks to their staged this year organisers have confirmed. the whole team was working hard on and looking exceptional work as self-employed A tough retail market, cautious buyers and forward to, but we cannot ignore the economic Demonstrators for crafting company uncertain suppliers has led to the decision not to realities stationery industry suppliers are currently Stampin’ Up! run what would have been just the second facing,” concluded Hazel. Paula Stampin’ Up! UK is known for its exclusive Gorry edition of the stationery show based in A rebranded ‘Stationery Show London 2019’ line of decorative stamp sets and accessories for Manchester, aimed at attracting buyers from the will take place at the Business Design Centre, paper crafting, memory keeping and home décor. The midlands and the north. London on April 30 and May 1, 2019. It will be company operates via a network of Demonstrators; independent, The organising team, which also runs the the ninth year the London-based show has run. self-employed sales consultants. well-established stationery show that takes To earn this trip, the hard-working business owners were judged place every April in London, has decided to focus on a number of factors including sales, and their efforts to recruit its efforts on Stationery Show London 2019. team members and support their teams to grow. “We feel the level of uncertainty in the market The seven-night cruise will bring together the highest achieving is too high to expect our exhibitors to risk Demonstrators from across the globe, giving them the chance to enjoy supporting a new show. We appreciate the trust the spectacular scenery and wildlife the country has to offer. and support of those companies who had Paula Gorry, Demonstrator Development Manager at Stampin’ Up! committed to supporting our Manchester show, UK, said: “At Stampin’ Up! we’re passionate about helping people build and we will ensure all of them are recognised successful businesses by doing what they love and empowering our accordingly,” said event manager Hazel Demonstrators to take control of their own businesses and build them Fieldwick. up in a way that fits around their lives and families. “Our achieving Entries into LaunchPad Manchester, the demonstrators have experienced amazing destinations all over the search to find individuals and companies world over the years; they’re always such a lot of fun and of course we wanting to break into the stationery market, will stamp too! They’re a great way of rewarding those Demonstrators be carried forward to next year’s London event. who have gone above and beyond when it comes to building their In addition, a new dedicated hosted buyer creative businesses and also the perfect incentive for our wider programme for northern and midlands-based Stampin’ Up! family to build their own successful crafting careers.” retailers will be introduced for London 2019. www.craftbusiness.com NEWS 3 E.Tautz collaborates with the Royal School of Needlework ❚ The Royal School of Needlework (RSN) is collaborating with menswear label E. Tautz. 10 Find out what was hot Signature pieces from the latest E. in New York Tautz Collection were hand embroidered Alexandra Stapleton, founder of by RSN Degree Students and launched at Hedgehog Hollow, gives her views London Fashion Week Men’s as part of from the National Stationery Show their Spring Summer 2019 Collection. The new Collection, ‘Give Me a Future’, is a modern day demonstration of the labour movements in British history. It features symbols and slogans that appeared on placards held during the Miners Strikes, a vintage trades union banner and cartoon from an edition of Punch magazine in 1848. Students from the RSN’s Degree Course brought E. Tautz Creative Degree Students with the opportunity to Director Patrick Grant’s message to gain hands on experience in the world 18 How to hold the perfect life through the traditional art of hand of fashion which is a vital part of their papercraft workshop embroidery.