+1-786-628-7980
Sign Up/Sign In 
University Park, FL – The new Craft Company, Maker Forte, has defied the norm and thrived in their first quarter during the pandemic.
Maker Forte launched mid-September 2020 with a collection of craft products designed in a way that everyone can call themselves a maker!
Focusing on collaborations and unique chemistries to give them the edge, CEO Alexandra Stapleton-Smith said, “…we wanted to bring fresh and modern ideas with new themes such as American Sign Language stamps, underrepresented holidays, and a range of collaborative ideas. We set ourselves apart from what is already available.”
Having just posted their initial quarters’ numbers, the University Park, Florida company broke six figures; highly unusual in their sector and even surpassing the team’s goals.
Maker Forte attributes its success to the focus on collaboration and inclusion. Maker Forte can be found on shopping TV in the United Kingdom and hope to enter the United States shopping TV market later in the year. This week they are showcasing their new lines to independent retailers across the United States and Canada at The Collins Retailer Symposium. New releases include a set of tools and new paper-crafting concepts for beginners and experienced crafters alike. Alexandra commented, “We want to appeal to all types of crafters. We have found a strong interest from male crafters too! Our tools focus on excellent engineering, modern design and beautiful appearance.”
Cardmaking has been a large growth sector during the pandemic. It has been seen that the emotional aspect of making and sending a handmade card has people feeling more connected. The mental health benefits of crafting have been known for some time, so it comes as no surprise that pandemic has brought great opportunity and to the crafting sector.
Stapleton-Smith went on to say, “…as we move into a new environment in 2021, we will focus on building community among crafters with free monthly events and a ticketed quarterly virtual retreat where crafters are treated to two full days of crafting and made to feel part of the family.”
Their new lines debuting this week include easy mixed media for more adventurous crafters, a new range of bright, on-trend neon products, tools to make crafting even easier as well as a range of stamps and stencils all made in the United States.
Maker Forte also caters to the rapidly expanding e-cutter market with ‘weeding tweezers’ combining the two most used tools by e-cutter crafters. A range of more e-cutter tools will be launched in Q2.
Maker Forte is keen to focus on being environmentally friendly. Their first collection included a range of ‘Turtley Awesome’ bio-degradable glitters made of cellulose, but with the same sparkle as their plastic counterparts. They have since grown their ‘Turtley Awesome’ range with a biodegradable cleaning cloth for craft spaces and ‘no nasties’ cleaning sprays. Stapleton-Smith said, “…crafters are becoming more conscious about their purchases and we want to offer options for everyone. All our packaging is reusable and purposed not just for sale, but for crafters’ storage needs too.”
With no end in sight to the growth and interest of the craft industry, Maker Forte will have a monthly release schedule to fulfill the needs of every type of crafter. Manufacturing the majority of their products in-house, they can pivot quickly to react to trends and will be growing their capacity and capabilities in 2021. Expect to see Maker Forte in a craft store near you soon!
Don’t forget, you’re a maker too!
For more information on Maker Forte, visit www.makerforte.com
All media & trade inquiries should be directed to Emily Allen; Sales & Marketing Director at: emily@makerforte.com or 330-283-2021.
