HOBBYCRAFT, the UK’s largest arts and crafts retailer, is pleased to announce the opening of its store in Thurrock on Tuesday 12th September, based at Lakeside Retail Park. To celebrate this new store, Hobbycraft is also hosting a grand opening event on Saturday 16th September at 9.00am, with product offers and exciting activities, including free goody bags for the first 100 customers and live crafting demonstrations throughout the day.
The new Hobbycraft store will offer customers the retailers’ extensive range of crafting products from baking, home craft, papercraft, knitting, sewing, kids’ crafts and model making to accessories for weddings, celebrations and much more.
Hobbycraft Lakeside has created 12 new jobs in the local area. These roles have offered the Thurrock community the opportunity to apply for the No.1 Best Big Company to work for in the UK – awarded in May 2023 by Best Companies (an organisation dedicated to making the world a better workplace). The new Hobbycraft colleagues will be on hand to provide their crafting expertise, with some of the team including:
- Cameron – Sewing
- Amelia – Crochet
- Shika – Art
- Nicola – Cricut
Store Manager, Gina Ford, comments: “We are really looking forward to opening the doors to our Lakeside store and sharing our passion for arts and crafts with the local community. Over the last few years, we have seen more people than ever take up crafting and we want to encourage locals to come down to the new store and share their crafting experience. We look forward to providing Thurrock customers with the ultimate retail experience, combined with fantastic crafting products at great prices.”
The Lakeside store will offer 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.
Hobbycraft Plus – For any local crafters looking to turn their crafting passion into a small business, customers will find information around the store about ‘Hobbycraft Plus’ – a unique subscription service that helps dedicated crafters grow their business with a great-value package, alongside targeted support, and advice. Costing £80 per year, whilst delivering over £170 of cost-savings and activities, the subscription includes an annual 15% discount on the Hobbycraft range in-store and online (exclusions apply*), an upgrade to FREE next day delivery on orders over £25, 3 FREE seminars focused on helping businesses to grow, access to bulk product and packaging, as well as quarterly seasonal newsletters.
To find out more information please visit the new Hobbycraft store Unit A2B, Lakeside Retail Park, West Thurrock, RM20 3LP, from Tuesday 1st August 2023 or visit the Hobbycraft website at www.hobbycraft.co.uk. The new Lakeside store will be open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 8.00pm, Saturday 9.00am to 7.00pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm.
