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| New Issue OUT NOW |
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| Find out more about the latest industry news and product launches in the current issue of Craft Focus. Why not download the magazine in PDF format from www.craftfocus.com? |
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Cool to Crochet
Louise Fisher takes a look at the trends in crochet,from tools and techniques to patterns and designs
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'Tis the Season
It's time to turn attentions to Christmas products so we've packed these pages with new products, best
sellers and seasonal favourites
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Get Techie with Digital Crafts
Many traditional crafts now include techno-savvy digital crafting and online communities. Becky Williams shares news of a new type of crafting
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Woodturning - A Beginner's Guide
Wendy Gardiner found out more about this popular pastime
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Tools of the Trade
Any craft project is only as good as the tools used to make it. Becky Williams steps into the world of craft tools
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Embossing - All Raised Up
Embossing is a method of creating a raised image on a project. The WOW team explain how to add another dimension
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Q&A Special: Coping with Holidays
This month industry expert Clare Rayner,answers queries on how to handle holiday staff shortages and more
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| Plus... |
| Regular features, news, events, Q&A special - and much more |
| iPad prizes from Europa |
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ExaClair Limited has launched a major new campaign to help retailers promote and sell Europa notebooks and filing products. Buyers of Europa products will get entry into a free prize draw for the opportunity of winning one of 10 iPads. James Mead, Sales and Marketing Director of ExaClair explains: "The notebooks and filing products segment is increasingly competitive and we wanted to find a way of incentivising consumers to buy our product and for dealers and retailers to see even greater value in the support that we can provide." Consumers simply send ExaClair their name, address and the last six digits of the code on the back of the product they have bought, and they are entered into a draw to be held on 31st December 2011, the promotion closing date.
Suitable for retail customers to run in store, the campaign is supported by eye-catching promotional materials including shelf wobblers, ceiling hanging boards, posters and floor standing display units to create as much in-store theatre as possible. "We wanted a prize that is aspirational," James continues. "It is also important to offer the prize in sufficient quantities that the customer genuinely feels they have a chance of winning," he says. "Fundamentally, however, it is about giving dealers and retailers additional tools to sell more product - and specifically the Europa notebooks and filing products from ExaClair - during the important back to school and back to college selling periods."
Further information T: +4 (0)1553 696600, E:enquiries@exaclair.co.uk,
www.exaclair.co.uk. |
| Dyeing to try it |
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| Keeping the kids busy during October half-term can be tricky, especially when the weather can be unpredictable so it is good to know that Dylon have some crafty ideas to share! Choose from a range of vibrant colours including tulip red, intense violet and tropical green to add a splash of colour and if you're feeling especially creative, try tie-dyeing with them. |
| Knitted panorama completed |
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| A three-metre long knitted panorama of Portsoy was unveiled at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in July. Nimble-fingered ladies from the Bothy Knitters club spent a year piecing together the intricate craftwork, using dozens of balls of different textured wool and creating tens of thousands of stitches. The incredibly detailed mural depicts the historic 17th century harbour at Portsoy. |
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| Christmas crafting here we come! |
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It's early September but here at HQ we are surrounded by festive fayre! It's time to take stock and plan ahead for the coming Christmas season, so we've a bumper feature on new products, best sellers and firm favourites to help you with your buying decisions. But of course, that's not all, we have also delved into the world of woodturning to find out more, including what tools you need to get started. Ian Munro has also shared his experience of starting this addictive craft and creating a business.
Crochet may be a traditional handicraft, but it has become a fashionable one too. We've taken a look at what's new, the forthcoming trends and the must-have products. Another new trend is digital crafting - so we've got 'techie' to find out more about what's available and what people want to find online. We've also looked at embossing using powders and provide some tips on creating the wow factor. We've got a rundown of some of the latest tools available and the best tips on how to make crafting accessible to all.
A major focus for Craft Focus is to ensure we provide sound business advice too and this issue is no exception. We've tips on refreshing your website at minimal cost, advice on managing your reputation, how to get the best from online marketing and how to motivate your staff. In addition, Clare Rayner has answered questions on how to handle holiday staff shortages and more.
Until next issue...
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| Wendy Gardiner, Editor |
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| PS: Next issue we are focusing on knitting, craft clubs, art materials, needlecrafts, papercrafts and creative quilting. We?d love to hear your views and news on any of these features. |
| Win a new hobby line! |
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We've got two sets of high quality Dremel tools to give away...
Designed especially for the creative craft enthusiasts, the Dremel line up consists of the Dremel 7700, an easy to use cordless 7.2V NiCad multi-tool, two glue guns, an engraver, a lightweight project table, a 300 series multi-tool and finally a six-in-one heat tool called the Dremel Versatip that can be used for a wide variety of heat applications such as embossing, wood-burning, ink drying and soldering.
The 7.2V NiCad multi-tool can be used for all creative hobby tasks, such as engraving, drilling, sanding and polishing all kinds of materials from wood to glass. The Dremel glue gun 920 and Dremel glue gun 930 together with the new glitter and colour glues are ideal for making beautiful decorations on cards, photo frames and much more, whilst the Dremel engraver can be used for detailed engraving on materials like wood or glass. The Dremel project table is lightweight, versatile and portable, making it ideal for holding your project while you work and the Dremel 300 series multi-tool comes with two unique attachments and lots of accessories in a soft bag.
THE PRIZE
We've two sets of tools to give away including:
1 Dremel 300 series hobby
1 Dremel 7700 hobby
1 Dremel project table hobby
1 Dremel glue gun 920
1 Dremel glue gun 930
1 Dremel versatip
1 Dremel engraver |
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| Enter here |
| Free electricity |
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EOS Energy has recently announced a radical £20million scheme to install free solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops. Whilst this sounds too good to be true Lee Summers, director of EOS Energy, a Warwickshire-based renewable energy company has acquired funding of £20million so customers who could otherwise not afford a PVsystem now can. "Rooftop arrays to generate solar power for homes and small buildings cost about £15,000. We are offering to install PV panels on the roofs of these sort of premises for free - and the electricity generated won't cost a penny. Our scheme includes free fitting, maintenance and insurance of the rooftop PV system, plus customers receive all the electricity generated for the 25 year period of operation. The occupants also receive a 'roof rental' payment if the yield is suitable," he said.
The reason EOS is able to offer the 'free' scheme is because of the government's Feed in Tariff (FiT). Those who purchase their own PV system would normally receive the FiT (44p per kilowatt) themselves, but by taking advantage of the free scheme the building occupants forfeit the FiT to the funder, although they will receive the electricity generated for free. Lee stressed that EOS Energy would not be receiving the Feed in Tariff itself - this would be harvested by the funder of the scheme. "We are helping people that can't otherwise afford a PV system" he said.
For more information visit EOS energy online at www.eosenergy.co.uk. |
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| Take a look at our regularly updated Find a Supplier feature on our website where you find profiles, photographs and contact information from all our current magazine advertisers. |
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| For all craft retailers... |
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| No cookies please! |
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Many websites use cookies to allow users to navigate their pages efficiently, performing tasks such as remembering log-in details, browsing history and ordering information. Cookies work by installing a small piece of code on to a site user's computer and this code allows the site to remember and recognise visitors.
However, recent updates to the EU's Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations mean that it is now technically illegal for UK websites to do this without first seeking the user's consent. Companies found to have fallen foul of the new law, introduced on 26th May, face a fine of up to £500,000.
As a result, the Forum of Private Business, a not-for-profit, memberled small business support organisation, is urging business owners to make sure their websites comply. Forum of Private Business Chief Executive Phil Orford said: "Previously, the rules surrounding the use of cookies meant that you were obliged to explain somewhere on your website how you used them and how visitors could stop your site from doing so, but that was it. Now, you won't be able to put cookies on people's computers without them consciously giving their consent for you to do so, even if it means your website might not work properly as a result." A business with a simple, non-interactive, two or three-page site shouldn't be affected but if your website has a shopping basket function, remembers when a user has logged in, carries third party advertising or uses an analytics package, it is likely that it uses cookies. "Thankfully, the ICO has said it will give businesses up to a year to 'get their houses in order' if it receives a complaint about them. However it is advisable for business owners to assess their use of cookies now and make any changes necessary," Phil added.
For more information, go to www.fpb.org. |
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