http://www.craftbusiness.com/site/ en zoe.monk@aceville.co.uk Copyright 2012 2012-05-15T14:37:40+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/cake_maker_designs_royal_range/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/cake_maker_designs_royal_range/#When:13:37:40Z Campbell’s Bakery, established in 1830, is Scotland’s oldest independent family run craft bakery. Managing director Iain Campbell is a 7th generation baker and has produced a range of afternoon tea delights including Jubilee cupcakes, mini “Elizabeth” sponges and novelty corgi French cakes, to help celebrate the Queen's 60 years on the throne. The bakery will also have traditional mini clotted cream scones and Jubilee empire biscuits on sale, as well as the traditional 'bread of the month' sporting a Jubilee twist; a light and fruity white loaf drizzled with white fondant icing. News 2012-05-15T13:37:40+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/crafts_council_discuss_survey_findings/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/crafts_council_discuss_survey_findings/#When:09:16:31Z Following its survey earlier this year, Crafts Council will be presenting highlights from the findings of Craft in an Age of Change at four workshops across England. The report looked at contemporary craft in the UK, surveying more than 2,000 makers, retailers, educators, writers and curators involved in the creative world. The findings revealed that the industry is in rude health, and plays a significant part in the UK economy. The results also revealed that 60% of makers working have a degree, and identified four categories of makers: those who start a craft career following a craft-related degree, those without higher education but who have made crafting their career, those who have taken on a craft role after pursuing an alternative job, and those who studied to degree level, followed an unrelated career and have returned to craft. Rosy Greenlees, executive director, Crafts Council said: “This is an extremely significant survey – it gives us an overview of the sector at a time of unprecedented change. It will be of use to those arguing the case for the economic and social benefit of craft – and to individual makers proving a useful tool in planning their future.” The workshops will be held in London on Thursday May 17, Bristol on Thursday May 24, Cambridge on Tuesday June 26, and Liverpool on Tuesday July 17. To read the full report, visit http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk Top Story 2012-05-10T09:16:31+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/stationery_hits_the_headlines/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/stationery_hits_the_headlines/#When:10:02:05Z A UK first, the national day was sponsored by Faber-Castell, Sheaffer and uni-ball and took the limelight on radio, social media and the internet. Stationery was mentioned on primetime shows in BBC Radio 2, was topic of the day on Twitter and Facebook and a hit with bloggers around the world. “Twitter seems to be filled with stationery chatter. Well done!” commented @RymanStationery. Hundreds of fans went on Twitter and Facebook and visited http://www.nationalstationeryday.com to say why they like stationery and to talk about its importance to them.   And one delighted consumer, Clare Finney from Newcastle, won a stationery hamper worth over £250 in a special National Stationery Day competition on Twitter and Facebook.   Stationery retailers and suppliers got in on the act too with many running special promotions in-store and online. They included The Pen Shop, Colemans, Ryman, Osbornes Stationers, Websters Pen Shops, Cult Pens, Bureau Direct and The Journal Shop, to name just a few.   “The response to National Stationery Day far exceeded anything we could have hoped for and confirms stationery’s popularity with consumers” says organiser Chris Leonard-Morgan. “It really captured people’s imagination. It was great that stores also got involved.”   News 2012-05-03T10:02:05+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/fantastic_response_to_mary_portas_scheme/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/fantastic_response_to_mary_portas_scheme/#When:07:43:26Z Back in February we reported how the fashion stylish and retail expert had put together a proposal detailing how Britain can breathe life back into the high street. The report caught the eye of the government, who has now started to put plans into action to pilot the new scheme. Towns that are successful with their bids will receive a share of a £1.2 million grant to help save their high streets and gain backing from the Local Government Minister and Mary Portas herself. Grant Schapps, Minister for Local Government said, "I am delighted by the enthusiastic and energetic response from towns up and down the country. They have used Mary Portas' review as a real catalyst for change to secure the future of their high streets. "High streets have faced stiff challenges from internet shopping and out-of-town centres, yet there is still a clear desire from communities to see them survive. We have received a fantastic 371 bids to become one of the first 12 Portas pilots. "That's why, as part of our Portas Plus response to Mary's review, I've launched a second round of this competition to find a further 12 pilot areas. I now look forward to watching the YouTube videos and seeing how communities have come together for myself," he added. Mary Portas commented, “The significant work, creative energy and coming together of communities across the country that is evident in films they have made has confirmed my belief that the British public really care about their high streets. I promise to give as much back. We will work to recreate and redefine the British high street and town centre, making them places local communities are proud of.”  The results of the competition will be announced in May. News 2012-05-03T07:43:26+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/onevoice/in_the_studio/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/onevoice/in_the_studio/#When:10:44:36Z Chris Webb dedicates his time to teaching others new skills What is your background: how and why did you become a designer? My work background is actually in oral history and community education, but I grew up in a family where much of what we had was homemade. My mother knitted us jumpers, sewed our Halloween costumes, and even ran her own craft business, while my father built furniture and was good at DIY around the house. I also had a great aunt who was a quilting expert, from whom I inherited my passion for textiles and patchwork. Growing up, I was encouraged to be creative and make things from scratch. Over time I worked this creativity into the workshops I delivered as a community historian. Out of that came my teaching and design business, Lazy Crafternoons. Where do you get the inspirations for your designs? Most of my inspiration comes from my interest in blending old-fashioned techniques with modern designs and technology. Whether it be interpreting a modern design like the London underground map into a traditional quilt pattern, or using new technology to manipulate and reinvent classic designs, most of my work combines a bit of lo-fi crafting with some high-tech design. What workshops do you teach? I currently offer a number of regular workshops at The Bristol Folkhouse and with Ministry of Craft in Manchester, as well as teaching other patchwork and quilting classes and taster sessions at various venues around Bristol. My main portfolio involves teaching handmade bath and body workshops where participants learn to make bath bombs, body butters, candles and body scrubs. These tend to be my core courses, but I occasionally offer other creative workshops tailored to specific events and age groups. How do you think the craft market is performing at the moment? I think a lot of independent businesses have taken a hit along with the rest of the economy, but overall, I think people’s interest and appreciation for handmade items is on the rise. Sure, you can get lots of nice things in high street discount stores but for special gifts or occasions a lot of people want something different and know that they can get that by supporting local makers. If creatives continue to work towards making their stock accessible through online shops, markets and pop-up shops, then when presented with the option, many shoppers will spend their pounds locally. One Voice 2012-04-30T10:44:36+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/retailclinic/retail_clinic1/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/retailclinic/retail_clinic1/#When:10:35:38Z Neilson Watts at Sage talks pensionsPension Pot Q I need to know more about the pension regulations that are coming into force in October. As a small independent retailer, how will they affect me? A Neilson Watts says: The Pensions Act 2008 comes into effect in October 2012 and will, for the first time, place a legal duty on employers to enrol all eligible employees into a pension scheme and contribute towards their retirement. The changes do not immediately apply to all businesses, as the government is using a phased approach. These ‘staging’ dates inform when the employer must assume their responsibilities and are determined according to the size of the firm, beginning with the largest in October. Smaller businesses are more likely to be looking at around February 2014 for their staging date. Although this may appear to be a long way off, the best way to ensure minimum disruption and that the bottom line won’t be affected by the changes is to plan ahead and act early. Below are some areas that owners and managers should be considering to ensure a smooth transition: Key considerations Understand when your business needs to be ready – you should become familiar with when your business needs to comply with the new pension regulations. http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/pensions-reform/staging-date-timeline.aspx Have a qualifying pension scheme offering – Employers need to make sure that they have a qualifying pension scheme set up in advance of their staging date in which they can start to enrol their jobholders. Understand the criteria – Employers should be aware of their responsibilities towards three groups of employees. 1) Eligible jobholders Employees earning more than £8,105 aged between 22 and the state pension age. The employer is responsible for the auto enrolment of this group. 2) Non-eligible jobholder Employees earning between £5,564- £8,105 per tax year and aged between 16 and 74 or earning over £8,105 and outside the age range 22 to state pension age. They are not automatically enrolled but can request to opt into the pension scheme. 3) Entitled workers Employees earning less than £5,564 per tax year and are aged between 16 and 74. They can request to join the pension scheme. Employees becoming an eligible jobholder – The employer must auto-enrol any employee who becomes an ‘eligible job holder’, either by turning 22 or having an increase in wage. Bonuses – The employer can apply a three-month eligible postponement where a spike in earnings could cause that employee to temporarily fall into the eligible jobholder category. Temporary workers – Employers can avoid unnecessary administration of enrolling a worker expected to be at the company for only a short time. Worker Postponement – The employer can use a staggered approach to auto enrol employees during a three-month period. Communicate with your employees – Take the time to ensure your employees are aware of these changes and their responsibilities, especially those that need to opt-in. Provided employers take the time to prepare well in advance of their staging date and know their responsibilities towards different types of employees, then they should be able to adopt the reforms with minimum disruption. www.sage.co.uk/sage-pensions Retail Clinic 2012-04-30T10:35:38+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/interview/on_the_shop_floor1/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/interview/on_the_shop_floor1/#When:10:18:52Z Craftys in Liverpool is a popular destination“We are a family-run business that started in November 2004 as a small market stall. Our interest in arts and crafts came from our mother; she had a great thirst for everything creative. She would take me to craft classes from an early age, teaching me lessons in sewing, quilting, card-making, parchment, knitting, and cake-making to name few. Most importantly, the workshops became my creative foundation and since then, my love towards crafting has got stronger and stronger. “The idea for starting my own business stemmed from attending various craft classes and realising how difficult it was to find materials for the different craft projects. I started to search for supplies on the internet and found a much better selection. Other crafters could see I was turning up to class each week with new, quality craft materials that they themselves had never seen before. They then asked me to buy some products for them; hence the embryo of our business Craftys had started. “In November 2004, a market stall for one day a week turned into two days, and after a hard winter of setting up at 5am in the morning in all weathers, we decided it was time to rent a property for a year just to see if it would work. We opened our double-fronted shop in the heart of Liverpool’s Anfield on March 23, 2005 and started trading as Craftys.co.uk with the slogan 'Home for the Creative Mind'. “We see a variety of people visit our shop from card and cake makers, to local school children, artists and couples planning weddings, as well as other local businesses. Since starting our website, we have been able to reach a much wider audience and have seen customers from Spain, the Isle of Man, and Ireland. “It's so important to listen to your customers and take note of what they want. Take their ideas and requests seriously and try your best to accommodate them. Also, try to sell a little bit of everything to appeal to as many people as possible. Change your product range frequently to keep things fresh and keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to new trends. Make sure you and your staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the products you stock to offer insight and advice to your customers.” Interviews 2012-04-30T10:18:52+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/trendreport/insiders_view/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/trendreport/insiders_view/#When:10:14:31Z Customers can't get enough of crochet“We can’t keep up with the demand for crochet at the moment so we have started Crochet Club. The aim of Crochet Club is for anyone to be able to come along, from the complete novice who has never held a hook before, to the experienced crocheter who just needs help with a particular project. There are tutors on hand to help everyone with the projects they bring or to get them started with new ideas. Everyone in the group shares ideas and skills, and Crochet Club is being directed by the requirements of the group which had always been our intention. “The projects that are popular are small items which allow people to try out new skills and stitches. This includes squares that can then be made into cushions, blankets and throws. Attic 24 blog has inspired a lot of people so they are looking very much at colours and textures. Rico Creative Cotton Aran lends itself perfectly for these projects as the colours are amazing and the price is so reasonable. These designs can easily be enhanced with buttons and beads. Rowan Cotton Glace is another popular yarn for crochet as it has such a nice finish and stitch definition. “Knitting is also really popular, particularly with children, at the moment. We have just held some adult and child workshops where both the child and the adult worked together to complete a small project. We felt that rather than have the children attend a workshop on their own it was important for them to attend with someone who could support them once they had gone away and to help them continue developing a new skill rather than just come and knit and then go away and forget about it. Neither did we want the adults to take over the knitting for the children so we made sure everyone was involved. “As a relatively new store we are introducing different things to the area; lace knitting with Noro Sekku has been very popular with customers trying out different lace shawl patterns. Depending on the skill level of the customers we may suggest sticking to simple designs in some of the lovely self patterning yarns and socks are taking off very quickly with our more confident knitters.” Trend Report 2012-04-30T10:14:31+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/and_the_winners_are1/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/and_the_winners_are1/#When:09:33:56Z Our journey to find the crafting companies recommended by our readers is over for this year, and Craft Business can now reveal the winners of the 2012/13 prestigious awards. The votes came pouring in from industry professionals in recognition of the companies who are really doing their bit for the crafting cause, from manufacturing and distributing innovative products to offering retailer support, and comprehensive, navigable websites – all the things that make the retailers' life that bit easier. The awards are your way to thank those industry professionals who are helping you move onwards and upwards in the creative world of craft retail. Find out what the winners had to say in the May issue of Craft Business. Best wholesaler/manufacturer Papercraft Winner: Woodware Craft Collection Highly commended: Personal Impressions Knitting & crochet Winner: Coats Crafts Highly commended: King Cole Jewellery & beading Winner: Beads Unlimited Highly commended: Creative Beadcraft Stitching & haberdashery Winner: Groves and Banks Highly commended: Coats Crafts Tools, storage & accessories Winner: Woodware Highly commended: Tonic Support & service Winner: Beads Unlimited Highly commended: Craft Creations Trade website Winner: http://www.beadsunlimted.co.uk Highly commended: http://www.burhousebeads.com Best innovation Most innovative product Winner: Grand Calibur (Spellbinders) Highly commended: Pony Interchnageables (Groves and Banks) Most innovative manufacturer Winner: Spellbinders Highly commended: Artemio Best retailer Independent Winner: The Black Sheep Craft Barn, Warrington Highly commended: Butterfly Bright, Dorset Chain Winner: Hobbycraft Highly commended: Abakhan Website Winner: http://www.beadsdirect.co.uk Highly commended: http://www.createandcraft.tv Best craft book publisher Winner: Search Press Highly commended: David and Charles Top Story 2012-04-30T09:33:56+00:00 http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/rico_on_the_catwalk/http://craftbusiness.com/site/index.php/content/news/rico_on_the_catwalk/#When:12:11:54Z The young, innovative fashion label enthused about Rico yarns as they played a dramatic role in their catwalk show at London's most prestigious fashion event. The creative designer incorporated Rico’s trend-setting Pompon into her collection where it made a major impact. Commenting on the collection, Sam Leutton said: “We love Rico yarns, especially Pompon which went down so well at London Fashion Week.” Rico avidly keeps an eye on the latest trends and works to produce in-vogue yarns for fashionistas with a keen interest in knitting scarves and accessories. The company sees this trend continuing through 2012 – and sales of its top-selling Can Can original; Glitz and new Disco variants certainly bear this out. News 2012-04-25T12:11:54+00:00