Create and Craft, the world’s only 24hr crafts TV channel, is to launch in the United States

PETERBOROUGH, U.K. - Aug. 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Craft Retail Group, a division of Ideal Shopping Direct, has today announced, that later this year it will be launching its successful Create and Craft TV shopping format in the United States.

Craft Retail Group Managing Director, Tony Sheridan, commented, "I'm excited to announce Create and Craft's launch in the United States. Our U.S. bespoke channel will be broadcasting ‘Live’ and 'As Live' programming initially into c.40million homes with first to market offers from new and established brands across paper craft, sewing, quilting and knitting as well as developing niche crafts. Our TV broadcast will be supported by a unique eCommerce and Apps platform that will merge live streaming, product and education 24 hours a day.

To support our Omni-Channel approach we have agreed a strategic partnership with a significant U.S. based store retailer. The partnership will create a unique dimension to the U.S. craft market."

Ideal Shopping Direct CEO, Mike Hancox commented, "launching into the U.S. is a natural progression for the group.  We are breaking new ground with this venture but the craft market in the U.S. is the largest in the world and we have a unique proposition that I believe will fill a gap in the market."

Create and Craft's 24hr U.S. Broadcast will start in December 2014. The broadcast will be available on-line, on smart devices and via the App. In addition, several hours per day will be broadcast on television 7 days a week into c.40million U.S. homes. Specific details on broadcasts and partnerships will be released in due course.

About Craft Retail Group:

CRG operates craft specific retail and sourcing businesses.  TV channels, Create and Craft TV and Craft Extra TV broadcast 24hrs a day in the UK on Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat platforms.  The division operates several eCommerce platforms including createandcraft.tv,  deramores.com, sew.co.uk,.  In addition, with offices in Shanghai and UK and partnerships in the US, CRGs in-house product development company Ideal Sourcing creates proprietary propositions for the group’s channels and 3rd party partners.

About Ideal Shopping Direct:
ISD is a leading Multi-Channel shopping retail group in the U.K. and operates a number of specialist TV and eCommerce companies. In addition to Craft Retail Group the company also operates general merchandise TV shopping channels Ideal World and Ideal Extra as well as specialist garden retailer leadthegoodlife.com. Ideal Shopping Direct was bought by Inflexion Private Equity in 2011.

For more information please contact Tony Sheridan via  Michael.OConnor@createandcraft.tv

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