Hobbycraft, the UK’s largest arts and crafts retailer, celebrated the opening of its new store at Battery Retail Park, Selly Oak, Birmingham, on Saturday with a host of crafting activities, product offers and goody bags for the first 100 customers who walked through the doors.
The store officially opened on Tuesday 5th March, whilst the grand store opening event took place on Saturday 9th March at 9.00am, attended by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Chaman Lal. The new Hobbycraft store offers customers the retailers’ extensive range of crafting products from art, baking, home craft, papercraft, knitting, sewing, kids’ crafts and model making to accessories for weddings, celebrations and much more.
Throughout the day, customers were able to enjoy a host of fun crafting activities, including a free Face Painting stand hosted by Snazaroo. One lucky customer also claimed a £50 Snazaroo bundle after finding Hobbycraft’s Golden Ticket, which was hidden somewhere in store prior to opening.
The crafty opportunities will continue over the coming weeks, with customers able to attend a free Decoupage Workshop with a Decopatch Expert between 9am and 1pm on Saturday 16th March, taking place in the store’s custom crafting area, as well as a free Digital Crafting Demonstration with a Cricut Expert on the Saturday 23rd March. Families looking to keep their kids entertained during the Easter holidays will also have the chance to attend one of twelve free workshops taking place across the weekends of 23rd, 30th March & 6th April, during which kids can craft colourful keyrings designed to look just like dancers.
With a capacity of 5 spaces per workshop, there are 60 free spaces up for grabs. For families looking to get involved, they can sign up to a session online via the Kids' Dancer Keyring Workshop page.
Hobbycraft Selly Oak created 10 new jobs in the local area, who will form a dedicated team on hand to help customers with expert craft advice and a friendly service seven days a week. The team includes:
- Dave Williams – Store Manager
- Ella – Knitting Expert
- Mary – Sewing Expert
- Liz – Papercraft Expert
- Faye – Baking Expert
- Darren – Model Making Expert
- Amy – Art Expert
Store Manager, Dave Williams commented: “Our amazing store is packed with crafting materials to suit all ages and abilities, and beginners through to experienced crafters are all welcome to pop into the store and chat to our creative colleagues. They’re always happy to share their knowledge, tips and tricks.”
The Selly Oak store offers customers a range of experiences and dedicated craft spaces in store, including:
Craft Workshops – Throughout the year, the store will host a variety of craft workshops, designed to give everyone the opportunity to master a new craft or refine a long-time favourite. The workshops are suitable for the whole family with specific kids’ sessions also available. Prices start at £5 and can be booked online via Hobbycraft ClassBento.
Digital Cutting Area – A dedicated space which introduces customers to the world of digital crafting, whether customers are looking to take their papercrafts to the next level or create personalised clothing and home décor with vinyl, sublimation, or precision cutting.
Haberdashery Area – A sewing area in store with a wide range of patterns, fabrics, and trimmings, plus an extended range of sewing machines that customers can test drive before purchasing. This area is centred around an enlarged cutting table which doubles as a demonstration and consultation area for our customers, and our expert colleagues will be on hand to support customers with all their sewing enquiries.
To find out more information please visit the new Hobbycraft store at Unit 4B, Battery Retail Park, Chapel Lane, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6SJ or visit the Hobbycraft website at www.hobbycraft.co.uk. The new store is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 8.00pm, Saturday 9.00am to 6.00pm and Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm
