Exhibitors had huge success at
Craft, Hobby + Stitch International 2008
Over 300 exhibitors from all over the world displayed thousands of innovative, exciting new supplies to a wide range of international visitors including buyers, retailers and craft professionals at the 33rd Craft Hobby + Stitch International at NEC, Birmingham from 17th - 19th February 2008. The show offered a series of workshops, demonstrations and seminars providing buyers with essential selling knowledge, plus plenty of choice from the latest supplies on offer.
The Bright Sparks Pavilion was an area specifically made for new designers to launch their ideas and where buyers could discover fresh new talent. Travelling all the way from Australia, Murray Burfitt from Burfitt Tools, exhibited in the Pavilion and had an extremely successful show. Murray has a range of craft tools based on medical and dentist tools, designed to be comfortable and effective. Chrissie Day, a knitting and felt author, demonstrator and tutor discovered his tools at the show. She said, 'I'm now going to use all of Murray's tools and encourage others to do the same. They're extremely comfortable to use as they fit in my hand perfectly.'
Craig Dougan, Managing Director of Marking World Ltd, Belshill (UK distributors for Bruynzeel Sakura and Joanna Sheen) said 'We chose to exhibit at the show as it is the key trade event of the year for the craft industry and ICHF always put on a very well organised show.'
The show is the perfect platform for exhibitors to launch and promote brand new product lines. Well-established exhibitor Kate Golby from Bothy Threads, Newmarket, Suffolk, (designers and producers of cross-stitch and tapestry kits) used the show to release a series of brand new designs, including a 'Miffy' birth sampler.
Long-term exhibitor, Chris Hughes, Director of The Crafthouse Press saw the show as the ideal forum to display product. Chris said, 'we love exhibiting at the show as visitors have time to view our products, ask questions and watch as the demonstrator illustrates how to use them. It's also a great opportunity to launch new products such as our new Patchwork Kingdom range.'
Italian yarn company, Filatura Di Crosa had a big re-launch at the show. Chiara Mezzomo from the Export Department said "we used to have a distriubutor in the UK during the heydays of the 80's, however due to the lull in the market in the 90's this partnership ceased to exist. We decided to re-launch at the show as it's the biggest trade show for the needlecraft industry in the UK. Some knitters have said they remember us and those who don't have been excited about the yarn as it's new, and it's made of 70% cashmere and 30% silk. It's also spun, twisted, balled and designed in Italy."
The Ceramics section returned to the show again in 2008 due to its success last year, with manufacturers and suppliers of kilns, glazes, paints and other products for the pottery craft market.
The Craft, Hobby & Stitch International Awards, the only retailer/trade awards in the UK, took place at the show on Sunday 17th November 2007. Votes from over 10,000 readers and retailers decided the winners from various categories. The Dutch company Kars, a leading wholesale trader of hobby supplies, won two awards. Innovative Product of the Year for their Cuttlebug machine and Children's Craft Product of the Year for the Children's Cuttelbug machine. Ada Daly, UK Creative Coordinator said 'these are the first awards Kars have won in the UK and we're extremely happy.'
