Craft Focus - Dec/Jan (Issue 76)

50 Tell us a little about the history of GMC Distribution. MR: GMC Distribution has grown dramatically over the past 15 years. We cover a wide range of subject areas including children’s books, photography, woodworking, cookery, design and general illustrated non-fiction, but the core of our business is art and craft books. We not only generate many titles ourselves but also offer our customers an increasingly diverse selection from UK and American publishers. We aim to give our clients the best possible choice, whatever their speciality may be. We have recently taken on distribution of Tuva Publishing and will be announcing the addition of more new lists early in 2020. How does GMC Publications fit in? JB: GMC started by publishing books and magazines in the woodworking market. Before long we were producing titles for other areas of the art and craft sector including knitting, crochet, needlework, painting, drawing and papercraft. Alongside these categories we are now launching photography and gift books under our Ammonite Press imprint and illustrated children’s non- fiction through the Button Books imprint. The company celebrated a milestone anniversary this year – how did you mark the occasion? JB: We were very proud to celebrate 40 years of GMC Publications and highlighted the occasion at the London Book Fair with lots of cake and a big dinner! We also held a summer party for our staff in our hometown of Lewes, East Sussex. Does the company exhibit at any trade or consumer shows? MR: We exhibit at book trade shows in London, Frankfurt and New York and at gift events like Top Drawer. However, our biggest occasion for the art and craft market is still CHSI Stitches at the NEC in February. In addition, we work with our trade customers at public exhibitions such as The Knitting & Stitching Show and The Festival of Quilts and often supply authors to demonstrate on stands and sign books. Talk us through your current catalogue. MR: Our latest catalogue features many standard craft requirements – knitting, crochet, sewing, patchwork, quilting and embroidery. We also feature as many different trends as possible, as more and more crafters are trying out other techniques. We stock lots of entry-level and beginner books, and more detailed higher-level guides for those with more experience. Balancing the books As GMC celebrates its 40 th birthday, publisher Jonathan Bailey and sales director Michael Robb tell Craft Focus what’s coming up for 2020