After a successful launch in 2023, Curated Craft Online returns on 16-24th June this year with a host of first class British makers and thousands of beautiful handmade products, ranging from ceramics and glasswork to greetings products, Christmas decorations and jewellery. Around a third of exhibitors are brand new for this year, with some makers using Curated Craft as their first ever trade launch platform. They join some of the most popular established crafters working in Britain today.
With last year’s show attracting 225 unique buyers from around the UK, there are high hopes that gift shops, galleries, garden centres and heritage retail destinations will once again show their support from British makers at this friendly event.
Curated Craft offers retailers a simple and effective sourcing platform enabling them to browse high quality products from the comfort of their own home. The event is not intended to replace physical trade shows, but it does offer a way for busy retailers to extend their product sourcing without having to travel.
The most popular promotional initiative from last year’s show – the Golden Ticket prizes – will be reprised this year, with a first prize worth £300 and second prize worth £200 that the winners can spend with exhibitors. At last year’s show Ebbingtide at Seagull Gallery in Filey, the Jane Adams Gallery in Cornwall and Alchemist Gallery in Scotland each scooped £150 that they used to trial new makers.
One of last year’s winners, Jane Adams of the Jane Adams Gallery, said: “The Golden Tickets were great. I was thrilled to have won one. It meant I was able to step a little out of my buying comfort zone in a year when every penny spent had to be very carefully considered. The glass pieces I bought were well received and brought colour and variety to the shelves in the gallery. Without the golden ticket I would have bought much more conservatively and missed out on a great product”.
The positive sentiment was echoed by the owner of Ebbing Tide & Seagull Gallery in Filey, Lisa Wilson: “I am really pleased Curated Craft Online is going ahead again this year as I like to see who’s out there, especially when there are so many excellent talented artists. With being a sole trader sometimes it is difficult to travel to see the physical trade shows and can be quite costly too. Winning last years Golden ticket was wonderful! It also meant my budget went a bit further and I found a new artist I haven’t seen before”.
Whilst the show will be ‘live and direct’ with a real time chat function for those who want to hangout, makers won’t have to be glued to their computers for an entire week, as buyers will have the option to message them on email or Whatsapp.
Organiser, Denre Bruins, says: “Whilst nothing can replace the experience of visting a great exhibition, the online marketplace is a huge growth area and both retailers and consumers have become more accustomed to sourcing products this way. There is a huge amount of design talent out there and this offers an alternative platform for a wide pool of makers. Curated Craft gives exhibitors a chance to showcase new lines as we enter the Christmas buying period, whilst retailers can catch up with their favourite British makers, discover new products and refresh stock ahead of the Golden Quarter.
“Last year we found that many retailers were browsing the show in the evening, after their shops closed, so for this event we’ll be keeping it open 24/7 for a full week, to maximise that opportunity. Any retailer who visits has a chance to win Golden Ticket, which is our gift to the amazing independents who do so much to support British makers and to keep our high streets alive.
“The higher value Golden Ticket value means that makers with higher end work can potentially benefit more from this great promotional offer that’s exclusive to Curated Craft in 2024.
