Diana has been producing hand-crafted products all her life. Originally qualified as an Architect, Diana spent an increasing proportion of her time making glass jewellery, etchings, and felt-work. She would have liked to have done more, but balancing creative time with a job and a family proved time consuming. “I did not think I could afford to drop everything else and try to make a living solely out of my craft work, but sitting at local craft fairs at weekends was such a hit and miss affair, I couldn’t help thinking there had to be a better way!”

That is where Jo and Andy came in. Andy started life as a metallurgy graduate and after spending a few years in scientific research,  moved into technical journalism in 1980. After nearly two decades editing technical magazines, he launched with two colleagues an online (internet-based) publishing business. His wife Jo, a linguist by training, with a career background in procedures and systems management, also joined to head up the back office and accounts management. The business flourished to the point where it was employing 38 people and was sold to a larger publishing company in 2006 where it continues to flourish today.

Already friends for nearly 20 years, Jo, Andy and Diana share an interest in working practices which promote community cooperation and ethical working practices, so addressing the marketing needs of craftspeople seemed a natural focus for their various skills. Thus, the Craft Convention was born!

The final part of the quartet is Dave, a friend and work associate of Jo and Andy’s for the last 15 years who provides the IT expertise. Since founding his own business in his early twenties, Dave has built up a highly successful business in web hosting and site building and it is his technical skill that has constructed a web site capable of providing all that The Craft Convention intends to be.

The Craft Convention is a marketplace for craftspeople to sell their goods, like a craft fair, but without the need for the makers to sit there behind a table to sell their goods. Most importantly, unlike galleries and most other marketplace websites that we are aware of, there is no up-front cost to the maker, no listing fee or membership charges or table hire! Instead, you can exhibit your products at The Craft Convention entirely free of charge!

The only cost is commission on sales - and this is not the relatively high fees of a gallery or agent but an incredibly low 7.5%, which also gives all the protection that comes with secure online credit card payment.

In addition, The Craft Convention will provide a focal point for the craft community with relevant, topical information and blogs. By bringing this all together in one place, we will increase the profile, not only of the web site, but of the whole craft community.

We recognised at the outset that, although many craftspeople have their own web sites, they are expensive in both time and money to maintain, and because they are one of thousands of such sites on the web, it is very difficult for them to be found by potential buyers over the background noise. On the other hand, if a single site could be constructed, with each craftsperson operating its own studio area, that site would quickly become the hub for people searching to buy handcrafted goods. It works in the same way that Amazon works for books and CDs – everyone knows that to buy a book or CD online, Amazon is the first place to look. The Craft Convention is aiming to be an Amazon of the craft industry. And perhaps one day, Amazon will be the Craft Convention of the book publishing industry!

Contact: Diana

contact@thecraftconvention.com