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Published:
09:00 april 24, 2022
From crochet to cross stitch, a new shop in Cromer selling a range of craft kits from independent businesses has attracted many customers.
Erica Appleton, 44, opened Craft Room at 32 Garden Street, which is the former home of Cromer Car Parts who had been there for 27 years.
The kits contain everything you need to try out a new craft.
– Credit: Brittany Woodman
It offers kits with everything you need to try out a range of crafts and six of its suppliers are based in Norfolk, namely Miss Ella, The Handmade Florist, Pixels and Purls, Emily Longhurst, Kave Woodcraft and Jo Rolfe.
This is combined with kits from other smaller independent businesses further afield and the crafts covered are crotchet, knitting, embroidery, macrame, origami, sewing, painting, needle felting, punching needle, weaving, mosaic and cross stitch.
Erica Appleton opened Craft Room in the former home of Cromer Car Parts.
– Credit: Brittany Woodman
Miss Appleton, who lives in Sprowston, is a handbag maker herself with her own brand Duck and Dart.
She also runs Gallery 10 at Alby Crafts and Gardens, off the A140, where she stocks products from 50 local artists and artisans.
Create gifts for your loved ones with crafting kits from Craft Room.
– Credit: Brittany Woodman
Miss Appleton said: “A few of my designers at Gallery 10 were making craft kits and I’ve noticed during lockdown a massive increase in people getting into crafting as something therapeutic to To do.
“I then had the idea of setting up a shop selling just craft kits and also thought it would be good in Cromer for people on holiday as a project.”
Erica Appleton opened Craft Room and it got a great response.
– Credit: Brittany Woodman
Craft Room opened in early April and seems to have found a real niche in the market.
Miss Appleton and her team have tried all the kits together so they can share their knowledge with customers, with something for all ages and abilities to sell.
She added: “The reaction has been so positive and it has blown me away.
There’s something for all ages and abilities at Craft Room.
– Credit: Brittany Woodman
“When you open something new, you don’t know exactly what the response will be, but we’ve had so many people come and we already have loyal customers.
“A lot of people who visit Cromer say it’s changing and it’s exciting to see because it’s sad when seaside towns have empty shops.”
Craft Room is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
