Craft Focus - Apr/May (Issue 72)

32 Stitches is over for another year – was the event a success? We’ve been very pleased with the 2019 event – this year has seen further developments for CHSI Stitches as we continue to progress the show. What you see every year is the productivity and energy that drives this industry. The calibre of the exhibitors and the stands they create is testament to this. What has feedback been like? We’ve had some great feedback so far with features proving very popular. Demonstrations and workshops play a crucial role these days as retail increasingly focuses on experiential offerings to drive footfall and sales. The Craft Report provides some interesting insights on this. There was plenty going on this year, from expert presentations to catwalk shows – what were your personal highlights? The Craft Report is one of the things we are most proud of based on the overwhelmingly positive response we have had; seeing the Insights Hub fill up each day for the presentation was great. Aside from the many features, one of the main highlights for me each year is seeing face- to-face relationships being made, with people putting away their phones, shaking hands and making meaningful business connections that will stand the test of time. Once again, the Craft Report was a major talking point. How do you think the industry has benefited from this major piece of research? Recommissioning the Craft Report was clearly popular among both visitors and exhibitors. In times of such rapid change both economically and politically, businesses need to be listening even more keenly than before to customers and responding to their wants and needs. We invest in this research significantly, working with an independent research company and a sizeable sample of over 3,000 respondents to ensure we are sharing robust and accurate data with our audiences. Our hope is that we can continue to build on this year-to-year and in doing so support positive development. CHSI Stitches has been running for more than four decades – how has the show adapted to meet the needs of the modern craft industry? The event has adapted with both the craft and the retail industry over the years to stay in touch with developments and remain relevant to exhibitors and buyers. Each year we run a multi- channel marketing and communications campaign working with our media partners and across social media. This allows us to give added value to exhibitors at the show, amplifying their message around new product ranges. This year we also launched a new meeting planner tool which enabled visitors and exhibitors to pre-book meetings online in advance. Based on this year’s show, how do you think the craft industry is faring in the UK? Overall the craft industry remains strong. In such uncertain times stability is certainly a positive and more than can be said for other sectors. The enthusiasm from exhibitors and buyers was clear to see, reflecting an industry that is positive, dynamic and moving forward. What were the biggest trends from this year’s show? I think this year’s biggest trend was sharing the passion for craft! Our workshops were busy with visitors learning new skills and discovering products, the presentations covered many topics and the stands looked fantastic, with exhibitors putting in so much effort to create inspiring displays. The yarn and needlecraft sectors remain strong for current ranges but the huge amount of amazing product lines launched would suggest there are new trends in just about every sector. What can we expect next year? We have set ourselves an ambitious goal at ICHF – to have a crafter in every household. Stitches plays a key part in this so expect further innovation, exclusive insights and another vibrant show that sets the tone for the year ahead. Another successful year Simon Burns, managing director of ICHF Events looks back on the 2019 show “We have set ourselves an ambitious goal at ICHF – to have a crafter in every household.” Simon Burns, ICHF Events