Our King Cole Calendar has been jam-packed recently! From heading down to the NEC in Birmingham for Autumn Fair and Glee, to hopping on the red double-decker bus to Yarndale in our home-town on Skipton!
We thought we’d share the photos and further details of what we have been up to:
Autumn Fair 2017
In the first weekend of September, we returned toAutumn Fair 2017. Promoted as “the season’s number one wholesale gift and home trade event, showcasing amazing brands, new products, retail insight and bucket-loads of inspiration!” we joined fellow wholesalers to showcase our yarns, patterns and the debut of Mrs Spike! She was officially named ‘Suzie’ as chosen from the hat by our Director Mike.
WATCH the grand reveal:
We also encouraged visitors at the stand to take a selfie with Suzie and share it with us using #SpikeOnTour across social media. Using hashtags or tagging our usernames @KingColeLtd on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or @Hedgehog_Spike for Spike and Suzie’s own Twitter, helps us to keep track and promote King Cole.
Standing out from the crowd with our new pink branding!
Did you visit the show or take a selfie with our furry friends?
Suzie the Hedgehog took centre stage and we think Mike became just a little smitten…
Glee Birmingham 2017
The following week we made our debut exhibit at Glee Birmingham. This was our first time exhibiting at a garden & outdoor living trade show and we went with open minds and a yarn-stormed stand!
Our team were busy yarn-storming garden forks, a mini wheelbarrow, a teapot and more in the lead up to the show. Our premise for Glee was to showcase how garden centres can easily slot a stand including our yarn, patterns and needles into their space. We also helped garner a lot of attention through our rotating Carousel Chunky stand!
#SpikeOnTour
Going back to Spike the Giant Hedgehog, the special someone in his life was finally revealed as the beautiful bright pink Suzie, created using Tinsel Chunky – Candy. We think the added eyelashes and string of pearls are perfect finishing touch!
Despite them coming into hibernation season, there’s no rest for Spike. He’s still been busy visiting many of our stockists and making plenty of little friends – we hear he’s great at cuddles!
If you’re a stockist and would like to host a Spike, please first contact your area rep and we can organise from there.
After a delicious pub lunch we hopped aboard and particularly loved meeting the beautiful breeds of sheep and putting faces to names of stockists and designers we know and love. It was also wonderful to see our Pattern Administrator Joanne exhibit with her business ‘Just Unwind.‘
All aboard the big red bus!
The variety of textures on show were amazing! | Hester’s Giant Mandala | UKHKA had a knit ‘n’ natter
Gam Farm Rare Breeds – so beautiful!
Making friends – they were very popular!
Crocheted hearts wall for mental health charity, Mind | Blanket of bunting | ‘Hester’s Giant Mandala’
Joanne and her sisters on her stand | Back on the bus – Goodbye for another year!
Magazine Visit
Last week we had the brilliantKnit Now and Crochet Now teams visit HQ. After an insightful meeting of scheming and plotting, we took them on a tour and let them run wild in our Sample Room – very much a kid in a candy-store moment!
What’s Next?
As part of Wool Week in October, we’ll be showcasing all of our fantastically festive and gruesomely ghoulish patterns in the flesh at John Lewis Oxford Street.
It couldn’t be more fitting – If you’re in London on Friday 13th, be sure to head down to their haberdashery department on Floor 4 to get a feel for our garments, accessories and toys in person.
Suzie, Spike and a very special spOoky life-size guest will be making an appearance, so keep your eyes peeled!