49 COMPANY PROFILE into a prize draw with a chance to win one of 24 prizes. Last year we had over 1,100 Crawl Cards submitted – that’s nearly 7,000 shop visits. Will The Knit Show be taking place this year? Please tell us all the details! The Knit Show™ takes place on 7th and 8th September this year at The Pavilions in Harrogate. The event was created by UK Hand Knitting to give yarn and craft shops a dedicated trade show where they can view the latest collections in a relaxed environment, while networking with other retailers. As well as UK Hand Knitting members the show features specially selected guest suppliers to bring a really exciting range of brands together for retailers to see. These include gift companies, fabric suppliers, along with specialised yarn brands. There’s also a programme of demonstrations and workshops tailored to the needs of independent retailers to help them develop their business. Providing a unique sourcing venue, The Knit Show is centrally located with easy road and rail access, ample parking, and a very warm welcome! Are there any more events or offerings coming up in the pipeline for UK Hand Knitting members? At the end of September, we’ll be holding our annual Yarnstravaganza - a week of events to celebrate our wonderful yarn shops. We support our premium retailers with packs of merchandise to promote the event to their customers and a press campaign with all the major craft press. The feedback we had after last year’s Yarnstravaganza was excellent with 90 per cent of shops saying they would take part again and 60 per cent of shops reporting an increase in sales during the period. UK HAND KNITTING info@ukhandknitting.com www.ukhandknitting.com We speak to three yarn show owners about their experiences running their business... Name: Susan McAvoy Shop: The Wool Nook, Lisburn, County Antrim “As a sole trader it is good to be a member of UK Hand knitting being part of a bigger group with all the advice and help that is available is reassuring makes you feel part of something amazing.” Name: Claire Proud Shop: Fully Woolly Web: www.fullywoolly.co.uk “Being a part of UKHKA means being a part of a great community full of like-minded people. As a small business owner with no staff members, UKHKA allows me to chat with other yarn store owners, bounce ideas off them, ask for advice or just vent your worries to. You don’t feel alone.” Name: Philippa Dixon-Warren Shop: The Craft Centre, Bourne, Lincolnshire Web: www.thecraftcentrebourne.com “I really can’t thank UKHKA enough for all the support and advice they give. The online WhatsApp group is a life saver when you are a sole trader. Sometimes when you have had a bad day, they are there to help. Times when I have felt like shutting the doors this is what has got me through.” Name: Sandie Adams Shop: Bodkins, Benfleet, Essex Web: www.bodkins71.com “We absolutely love being members of the UKHKA. Being a part, albeit a small part of the UKHKA really assures us that the industry has our tiny businesses at their heart.” Photo by Natalia Blauth via Unsplash
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