Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us

February 14, 1997
(Development and Rural Renewal)

Record sales for Newfoundland and Labrador craft producers at Halifax

Newfoundland and Labrador craft producers recorded a 50 per cent increase in sales over last year at the annual Atlantic Craft Trade Show in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Judy Foote, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, said today that Newfoundland and Labrador craft producers also recorded the highest number of average sales per booth at the trade show held in Halifax this month. Twenty-one exhibitors from Newfoundland and Labrador each sold an average of $8,400 worth of craft, gifts and apparel at the three-day show, beating out the other three Atlantic provinces in per booth sales.

"These record sales demonstrate the increasing level of interest in crafts produced in Newfoundland and Labrador" said the minister. "This is proof that our craft products are being recognized throughout North America as being of high quality with great market value. Participating at the 20th Spring Atlantic Craft Trade Show and other craft trade shows continue to heighten awareness of Newfoundland and Labrador made products. In pursuit of the growth of the craft industry, government has targeted trade shows as being important tools in marketing products crafted in Newfoundland and Labrador to buyers across North America."

To enter the Atlantic Craft Trade Show, potential exhibitors submitted their products to a jury of crafts experts from the four Atlantic provinces. A total of 216 exhibitors attended the show in Halifax, 128 of them from Nova Scotia. Total sales for the show were $1.2 million. Sales for Newfoundland's 21 exhibitors totalled $176,417.

The Atlantic Craft Trade Show is one of several trade shows which the Department of Development and Rural Renewal participates in throughout the year. Following the Atlantic Craft Trade Show, February 1 - 3, Newfoundland and Labrador craft producers participated in the Alberta Gift Show in Edmonton, February 9 - 12, and will be participating in the Toronto Gift Show in Toronto, February 16 - 19. The Toronto gift show is the largest of the gift shows in the country with 800 booths.

Ms. Foote said: "The craft industry has been identified as a growth industry for the whole province, but it has particular potential for rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Over 2,000 people in this province currently make their living as craft producers generating over $15 million in annual sales. Exports are an important component of Newfoundland's economy and I am pleased to see our people selling their crafts to national and international markets."

The Crafts Division in the Department of Development and Rural Renewal has crafts, marketing and design specialists across the province to assist crafts producers with technical, artistic and business matters. Many of the Newfoundland and Labrador crafts producers who exhibit at the trade shows receive financial assistance from Development and Rural Renewal's Craft Industry Development Program, funded by the Canada/Newfoundland Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement.

Contact: Susan Laite, Director of Communications, (709) 729-4570.

BACKGROUNDER

ATLANTIC CRAFT TRADE SHOW,
February 1-3, 1997: Twenty craft producers from Newfoundland and Labrador exhibited at the Atlantic Craft Trade Show in Halifax, Nova Scotia on February 1 - 3, 1997:

• Woof Design, St. John's
  Trinity Knitwear Ltd., Cavendish
  Landmark Pottery, Portugal Cove
  Meridien Jewellery, St. John's
  Delia Pewter, St. John's
  Stitches from Salmonier, Mount Carmel
  OLO (Olivia Lewis), St. John's
  Tutuit Jewellery, Tors Cove
  Greetings from Newfoundland, St. John's
  The Merchant House, St. John's
  Carded Treasures, Clarenville
  Just Pretend Playhouse, Gander
  Fashioncraft, Gander
  Pool's Cove Crafts, Pool's Cove
  Yarn Point Crafts, Mose Ambrose
  Nortique Fashions, Corner Brook
  Grenfell Handicrafts Ltd., St. Anthony
  Bits and Pieces, Corner Brook
  Winterhouses, Stephenville
  The Dark Tickle Company, Griquet
  
  

Twelve additional companies were represented at Halifax in Development and Rural Renewal's Crafts of Character Booth:

• Garden Gifts, Freshwater (Carbonear)
  Era Design, St. John's
  G & G Works, Conception Bay South
  Nature's Gems, Mount Pearl
  Fairwind Embroidery, St. John's
  Southwest Arm Knitters, Little Heart's Ease
  Images in Slate, North River
  Pewterworks, Gander
  Dona Bulgin, Gander
  Frostwear by Foss, Botwood
  Piece of Auld Rock, St. Alban's
  Bayview Crafts, St. Lunaire
  
  

ALBERTA GIFT SHOW, February 9-12, 1997:
Two companies exhibited at the show:

• Woof Design, St. John's
  Nortique Fashions, Corner Brook
  
  

Seven companies were also represented at the Crafts of Character booth at the Alberta Gift Show in Edmonton:

• Trinity Knitwear, Cavendish
  Dark Tickle Company, Griquet
  Yarn Point Crafts, Mose Ambrose
  NF Souvenir Manufacturing, Beach Side
  Eastern Quality Apparel, St. John's
  Meridien Jewellery, St. John's
  Garden Gift Ltd., Freshwater (Carbonear)
  
  

THE TORONTO GIFT SHOW, February 16-19, 1997:
Three companies will be exhibiting in their own booth space:

• Woof Design, St. John's
  Delia Pewter, St. John's
  Dark Tickle Company, Griquet
  
  

Fourteen companies will be represented at the Crafts of Character booth:

• Landmark Pottery, Portugal Cove
  Carded Treasures, Clarenville
  OLO (Olivia Lewis), St. John's
  Images in Slate, North River
  Frostwear by Foss, Botwood
  Era Designs, St. John's
  Stitches from Salmonier, Mount Carmel
  Nature's Gems, Mount Pearl
  Piece of the Auld Rock, St. Alban's
  Pewterworks, Gander
  Fairwind Embroidery, St. John's
  Dona Bulgin, Gander
  Demsa Hardwoods, Corner Brook
  Bits and Pieces, Corner Brook
  
  

  1997 02 14

  4:45 p.m.