The British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF) will return to Harrogate this 10-12 April following a two-year hiatus. Part of the UK buying calendar for more than 45 years, BCTF focuses purely on handmade British goods sourced from independent creators – from exquisite hand-wrought jewellery to spectacular works of fine art.
Organisers say the upcoming event promises to be a real treasure trove for discerning retailers who are keen to champion British handmade. Show director Kane Thomas comments: “We’re delighted to be bringing BCTF back to Harrogate this April. Our line-up of over 250 carefully vetted exhibitors is excellent with many well-known faces and established brands participating. This year they’ll also be joined by a huge intake of talented newcomers.
“I warmly invite all retailers with an interest in British craft to come along in support of these fantastic makers, who are eager to showcase their inspiring new products and collections to the trade.”
The once-in-a-decade Crafts Council Market for Craft report found that craft sales in this country increased from £883 million in 2006 to £3 billion in 2019. Experts say this figure is likely to rise higher still as the British public strengthens its determination to support homegrown talent and pursue sustainable products.
Elsewhere the report reveals that almost three-quarters of British adults bought craft in 2019, amounting to 25 million handmade items. Moreover, 10.3 million Brits were reported to be buying their crafts online, a number which has trebled over the past decade. Eight out of ten UK adults also want to buy British-made goods and will happily pay more for items made in this country.
The British Craft Trade Fair is ideally placed to help retailers capitalise on the huge potential for authentically hand-crafted products, which are also free from the supply chain issues currently affecting much of the consumer goods market.
These important findings from the Crafts Council are also backed up by the Made in Britain Buying British Report, which confirms that consumers want to support local businesses and to buy more sustainable products.
April’s BCTF is set to take place at the Yorkshire Event Centre – a state-of-the-art venue offering a relaxing buying environment with excellent ventilation and acres of easily accessible green outdoor space. There is also plenty of free on- site parking and a complimentary shuttle bus from Harrogate train station.
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