20 October 2009 FuturePlus UK, the award-winning customer-publishing agency of Future, has announced it is to partner with Coats, the world’s largest needlecraft business to launch a brand new website – www.coatscrafts.co.uk
Coats is the largest needlecraft business in the world, with an annual turnover of $1.6 billion. They have a 40% market share of global industrial threads by volume, and operate in 67 countries (just four less than Coca-Cola).
Coats will consolidate their 30 core craft brands under one online umbrella brand – Coatscraft.co.uk. Utilising the skills of FuturePlus, the new website will communicate their products and services to the consumer directly for the first time.
This partnership will also draw on the expertise and skills of Future, the UK’s market-leading craft publisher, the publishers of sector leading titles, Papercraft Inspirations, Scrapbook Inspirations, Simply Knitting and CrossStitcher.
FuturePlus launched www.coatscraft.co.uk at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace on 8th October, and brings editorial content and direction to the major online project, as well as redesigned web pages and monthly content updates. In a bid to create online communities and user creativity, the Coatscraft.co.uk website will feature free patterns, news stories and designer profiles. The new website will initially focus on the UK and will then roll out globally with territory specific enhancements.
The website is edited by Ali Binns, an experienced craft magazine editor and writer. Ali previously edited Future’s CrossStitcher magazine, and worked as a writer and freelance commissioning editor on various titles, including PaperCraft Inspirations, CrossStitch Collection and Simply Knitting. Ali has also taught jewellery making classes, and is an avid knitter.
Jayne Caple, Director of FuturePlus UK, said:
“We are thrilled to be working with Coats on this exciting new online project, as their strategy fits perfectly into what we stand for across FuturePlus and Future’s market-leading craft portfolio. Both Future and Coats businesses are inextricably linked given their combined audiences of communities of people brought together by a passion and a hobby.
“There lies a real opportunity for both companies to benefit hugely from this and I would say this is partnership publishing at its best. We are looking forward to developing a long-term partnership with Coats, and combining our knowledge of the craft market to create the best product.”
Colin Chawner, Commercial Director of Coats Crafts UK, added:
“We are very excited to be refreshing the format of our websites and to invest more in promoting our wealth of well loved projects. Although this is a learning curve for all involved we are enthusiastic about the results thus far.”
ENDS
About Future Plus
FuturePlus UK is the award-winning customer publishing agency of Future, providing innovative cross-channel content and bespoke communications for its partners – including BSkyB, GMB, Musicians’ Union, nVidia, Odeon, PC World and O2. The most recent award includes winning ‘Best Journal or Magazine’ for Musician, and Best One-off Publication’ for the Musicians’ Union Members’ Handbook 2008 at the recent TUC Trade Union Communication Awards.
About Future
Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong market positions in games, film, music, technology, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include T3, Total Film, Digital Camera, Fast Car, Classic Rock, Guitar World, Official Xbox Magazine, Official Playstation Magazine, Nintendo Power, Maximum PC and MacLife. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, techradar.com, and musicradar.com. Future produces over 4 million magazines each month; we attract more than 18 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 25 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.
For further information
For more information please contact Jen Campbell, Communications Executive on 01225 732269 or jen.campbell@futurenet.com
