Home-decorating kits, kids' crafts focus of HIA - Hobby Industries Association

Discount Store News, Jan 15, 1996

DALLAS -- Paint, stencils and rubber stamps are the decorating tools of choice for today's crafters, who are increasingly using these products to create items for the home.

These, along with candle-making kits, paper and children's crafts, are also expected to be among the hot items at the upcoming Hobby Industries Association show scheduled to be held here at the Dallas Convention Center, Jan. 21 to 24.

Traditionally, the HIA show is one of the few trade shows where attendees are not only treated to aisle after aisle of new product introductions, but can also attend a full menu of workshops, seminars and meetings that will discuss trends and have experts on hand to demonstrate the latest products and crafting techniques.

This year is no exception since seminars include everything from "Home Decor & Crafts--A Perfect Match," conducted by Peggy Caldwell of Plaid Enterprises, who will teach registrants how to use the company's Faster Plaster and Decorator Blocks, to "Decorating With Rubber Stamps," where larger-size stamps suitable for use on fabrics, ceramics, T-shirts, table cloths and place mats are demonstrated by Kevin Gallagher from Hampton Art Stamps.

The home decor category remains strong due to innovative, high-quality products flooding the marketplace. There is also a desire by consumers to surround themselves with an environment that reflects who they are and their sense of self-expression.

"Home decor products appeal to the more practical crafter. These crafters want to put more money into a usable object rather than make something that has no purpose. We are seeing this more in home decor because people are making things they see in stores or catalogs," said Susan Brandt, assistant executive director/director of communications for the HIA.

More than ever before, crafters are choosing to buy chair covers, place mats, comforters and other soft goods that they can decorate themselves. In addition, these crafters are getting their children involved and have ignited a new crop of young crafters.

"Kids' crafts are hot because they are the future of the industry and many companies have paid attention to that fact and done a great marketing job," said Steve Minick, product manager of crafts, Duncan Enterprises.

Retailers have certainly taken notice of the potential of kids' crafts, with retailers like Ames planning to re-planogram its crafts department in the spring to make more room for the merchandise.

"Candle-making and kids' crafts have and will continue to be hot categories for us," said Jim Aglio, vice president and general merchandise manager at Ames. "In fact, kids' crafts will be one of our focus categories at the HIA Show."