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HobbyCraft Expands Market Presence
Listed under: News
Published: Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Proving that the craft sector is still going strong, one of the industry's leading art and craft suppliers has opened a new store in Chelmsford this month, seeing its total number of outlets rise to 50.
Boasting more than 35,000 products and catering for approximately 250 different activities, HobbyCraft has continued to see its sales rise significantly over the past 24 months and will be launching another store in Norwich at the start of December.
The retailer, which hopes to quadruple its number of outlets over the next few years, has attracted a great deal of attention in the last 12 months, with the launch of its first national TV campaign and highly-publicised £100 million sale at the start of 2010 seeing it propelled into the spotlight.
Commenting on the company's most recent launch, HobbyCraft's marketing manager, Jan Goodchild, tells Craft Business, “The opening of the store was received incredibly well. It is now our 50th outlet which is very exciting. We will have another one opening in Norwich at the end of the year and there are many more in the planning. So it really is onwards and upwards for us as a company.”
Discussing the performance of the market as a whole, she adds, “We have definitely seen greater interest in craft over the past year. There are several reasons for this; perhaps, most significantly, the trend to rediscover some of life’s simpler pleasures is gaining momentum. The fantastic coverage ‘making’ has received in the press and on TV – Kirsty’s Homemade Home, for example – has certainly helped generate even more awareness and interest in creative activities.”
Boasting more than 35,000 products and catering for approximately 250 different activities, HobbyCraft has continued to see its sales rise significantly over the past 24 months and will be launching another store in Norwich at the start of December.
The retailer, which hopes to quadruple its number of outlets over the next few years, has attracted a great deal of attention in the last 12 months, with the launch of its first national TV campaign and highly-publicised £100 million sale at the start of 2010 seeing it propelled into the spotlight.
Commenting on the company's most recent launch, HobbyCraft's marketing manager, Jan Goodchild, tells Craft Business, “The opening of the store was received incredibly well. It is now our 50th outlet which is very exciting. We will have another one opening in Norwich at the end of the year and there are many more in the planning. So it really is onwards and upwards for us as a company.”
Discussing the performance of the market as a whole, she adds, “We have definitely seen greater interest in craft over the past year. There are several reasons for this; perhaps, most significantly, the trend to rediscover some of life’s simpler pleasures is gaining momentum. The fantastic coverage ‘making’ has received in the press and on TV – Kirsty’s Homemade Home, for example – has certainly helped generate even more awareness and interest in creative activities.”
