Category: Insurance

It’s something we use several times a day, without which no civilisation would be able to develop and central to several professions. Let’s talk about the humble knife. Whether it be a table knife for tucking into our dinner, a butcher’s or chef’s knife for preparing our food, or a pocketknife, reminiscent of those essential for our hunter gatherer forebears, we could not live without them. Here at Craft Insurance, we are proud to support clients who are traditional knife makers, keeping skills alive which have been honed and passed down through generations.  

While many of us may quote Sheffield as being the centre of UK cutlery manufacturing since the Industrial Revolution, there is evidence that steel production in the area dated as far back to the the 14th century, with a reference being made to knife production by Chaucer in the 15th century. Skilled craftsmen, known as ‘little mesters’ worked within their own homes to produce knives made of steel, collecting materials from the surrounding countryside which contained not only wood from the forests, but iron ore as well. With the surrounding hills of the Peak District being the source of a number of fast flowing rivers, their natural energy was harnessed to drive heavy stone wheels which could be used for the sharpening of bladed tools such as scythes and knives. Thus, Sheffield’s geographical location and natural resources nurtured its initial, unpretentious beginnings of a trade which was to make it the “steel city” of the U.K., with exports that would be off around the globe. 

It was two discoveries that happened in succession, the first by Benjamin Hunstman in 1742 and the second by Henry Bessemer in 1856, which really put Sheffield on the map as a global producer of steel cutlery. By the mid nineteenth century, steel was being produced in mass by heating coke, iron ore and scrap metal at high temperatures, producing liquid steel which could be poured into moulds, all at a cost which was financially viable. Thus, Sheffield grew into a major industrial city and global exporter of steel for items such as railway lines, armour plating for ships, construction and, of course, cutlery. 

The early twentieth century saw advancements in the manufacture of stainless steel, with a surge in cutlery makers alongside this; the area in which many of these were situated, Portland Works, still houses cutlery makers today. The second half of the twentieth century, however, saw a tragic decline in Sheffield’s industrial fortunes, with the closure of many furnaces and associated loss of jobs.  

Despite this decline of large-scale manufacture, it continued to be a centre for cutlery innovation and production and over the past couple of decades has seen a revival in specialist, high end knife production. Today it is home to many workshops, housing master craftsmen making artisan and bespoke knives, keeping aflame centuries old traditions. Some of these are located in the very same Portland Works as their forebears.  

With a heritage like this, it is unsurprising that knife artisans are passionate about preserving traditional skills and techniques, as well as about using locally sourced and produced materials in their products. And of course it is not only in Sheffield that they may be found. Skilled bladesmiths have set up workshops across the country, producing knives made using a variety of techniques and traditions.  

Hand crafted knives are obviously going to be more expensive than their mass-produced counterparts, so are they worth the extra cost? And, over the long term, how do the costs compare? 

When you invest in a handcrafted knife, you are not only purchasing an implement that has longevity and character, but you are also keeping alive long held traditions and artistry. An individually crafted knife will have a life span of around thirty years and can be sharpened and mended as needed. This compares very favourably with mass produced knives which have a shorter lifespan and if they break, often discarded. Knife smiths will use locally sourced materials and techniques which are sustainable, having been used for centuries. So, you know you are investing in an item with excellent eco credentials. In addition, when you consider the cost of one of these knives with the cost of buying and replacing several mass-produced ones over thirty years, the initial expense seems much more reasonable. So, we have a single purchase which will last several decades, which is not only environmentally sustainable, but keeps alive centuries old skills, so pours money back into the local economy and brings with it a slice of history; what is there to say no to? Maybe you might start thinking of Christmas gifts? Or is there a special birthday coming up? Or maybe you could treat yourself… 

A final word to any blade smiths reading this who are not yet a part of our Craft Insurance family. We too are a family run business with several decades of experience in craft insurance cover. Like your products, our craft insurance cover is unlikely to come up cheapest in a search, but this is intentional as we aspire to sell cover that does what it says it will. Our basic package of craft insurance cover comprises product and public liability insurance, as well as professional liability insurance. As a family-owned business we communicate directly with all our amazing clients, either by phone or email, whichever suits you best. So, if you’re looking to update your cover, or considering what cover to take out for the first time, why not check out our website, send us a message or give us a call. Sam or Naomi will be here to answer your questions look forward to hearing about your unique and history filled business!  

Despite the gradual cooling of the temperature and waning of long summer days, it still feels very much like summer is not over yet. The slightly crisper weather beckons us outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and late summer colours. However, as craft business owners, it is definitely not too early to begin filling shelves with Christmas stock. It isn’t always easy to cast our minds forward to cold days and cosy evenings, so we’ve come up with a few ideas to be a springboard for further creativity. 

Both Advent and Christmas are steeped in tradition, and while some decorations are simply fads and are with us one year and gone the next, many have been a part of the celebrations for centuries … or at least since the Victorian era. Delving further back still, a few have been central to celebrating Christmas for much longer; the Yule log and candles in particular.  

In Medieval times, evergreens were gathered to decorate homes, and candles were lit each evening. While the latter was obviously out of necessity, as they were the source of light, the fragrance, colour and texture of dark green leaves, brilliant scarlet berries and softly glowing candlelight must have brought cheer to the darkest, coldest part of the year.  

The Advent wreath as we know it has its origins in nineteenth century Germany. A Lutheran pastor, when faced with a group of children excited for Christmas and continually asking how long until the great day arrived, repurposed a wooden ring from an old cartwheel and set candles all around its circumference. He then lit one of these each day during Advent, gradually guiding them through to Christmas. This tradition gained momentum, eventually evolving into the evergreen wreath with five candles which we know today. One candle is lit on each of the four Sundays in Advent leading up to Christmas, and the central one on Christmas Day. The circle of interwoven evergreens represents love.  

In past times, Advent was a separate season to Christmas, a time of preparation, much as Lent was to Easter. While it has now become more of a practical lead up to Christmas, an Advent wreath can offer a small window of time each week to stop as a candle is lit. Ceramic advent wreaths make wonderful gifts, not only as beautiful table centrepieces, but as a quiet reminder of what a great time of year Christmas is.  

Candles are a central part of almost all Christmas preparations, and festive themed candle holders bring delight as they are unpacked each year. When it comes to Christmas candle holders, there really is no limit to the bounds of creativity; from elegant candle holders for the Christmas table, to fun themed tea light holders. Why not create a range that will be irresistible for your customers?  

It’s not too early to start thinking about pottery insurance either. Whether you will be selling your gorgeous creations online or at one of the many bustling craft fairs and Christmas markets, you will need to consider the level of insurance you’ll be needing. Our basic package of pottery insurance is a combination of public and product liability insurance, and as a part of this also includes professional indemnity insurance.  

Public liability insurance covers you for any claims which might be made that injury or harm has been caused to a member of the public by an activity related to your business, whether on your own site or elsewhere. At the simpllest this could be a slip or tip hazard, but we have heard any number of other incidents. Most of them are accidents which have come out of nowhere…those ones you simply couldn’t have avoided, however many health and safety checks you do. Life happens and the unforeseen is, unfortunately, a part of it. However, with the appropriate pottery insurance in place you don’t have to worry about unexpected curveballs. 

Product liability insurance covers you for any harm or damage caused to a member of the public by a product of yours. Even if none of these are your fault, the insurance covers you for any compensation owed and/or for legal expenses. 

Professional indemnity insurance allows you to teach or demonstrate your craft, free from the worry of inadvertently giving incorrect advice. This opens the possibility of running pottery workshops or courses. If you have the appropriate space, why not consider doing this during the autumn, with the aim of creating a simple Christmas themed candle holder at the end? You might also consider holding pre-Christmas pottery evenings, as an option for small businesses who want to treat their staff to something more personal than the meal, band, and dance option. This enables a team to chat and have fun together in a relaxed environment, and they come away with something much more valuable and long lasting than a headache!  

You will find that most craft fair organisers will ask that you have public liability insurance in place. In addition to this basic package of potters’ insurance, you might want to insure individual items, especially if they are of high value and are such that without them you could not work, eg your potter’s wheel or kiln. With insurance in place, you can be free from worry about all the things that could go wrong and focus on what you do best; creating gorgeous ceramic products … especially candle holders for winter evenings, for a cosy, warm atmosphere in any home.  

After so many months of dry weather, it’s not just farmers who are looking forward to some good, soaking British drizzle (though with the vagaries of our weather, we may well be longing for blue skies by March next year!). The first rainfall after a prolonged time of dry weather brings with it a wonderful sensory explosion; the smell of the rain on the parched soil, the feel of the warm, wet drops on our skin, the sight of a sky swirling with deep, heavy rain clouds and the imperceptible sound of stillness as the earth is gently drenched with life giving water.

Although we most certainly need rain now here in the UK, for many countries around the world lack of rain is a yearly issue and means a poor harvest which then may often, tragically, result in famine, or at least food shortages. Hence, when the rains finally come, there is celebration all round, with many cultures and communities having their own special rituals or festivals, acknowledging water as a vital necessity for life. Some of these incorporate rain dances, seeped in a mix of agricultural rhythms, spiritual traditions and folk lore.

Others have a more modern take, as in Mexico’s “Fiesta de San Isidro”, where Catholic and indigenous spiritualities blend to form the basis of a festival extravaganza, including parades, the blessing of animals and dances to appeal for rain and a good harvest. In countries with a Christian heritage throughout Africa and even into Europe, prayers are often said for rain, with believers meeting regularly to pray or Masses being said.

In our own, usually, green and pleasant land, our vast expanses of sky and endless variety of weather patterns have been, and still are, an inspiration for many artists. Both Constable (1776-1837) and Turner (1775-1851) are known for their ability to capture not only the colours of the sky, but also the very atmosphere, with swirling clouds, whirling vortexes of wind and rain, piercing beams of light and heavy cloud formations.

Growing up as the son of a wealthy miller in Suffolk, Constable would have imbibed conversations about the wind and weather throughout his childhood, as it had a direct impact on his family’s work and income. As an adult, he had a comfortable familiarity with the natural world around him and, unusually for his day, often worked outdoors, rather than painting indoors from sketches. Both “The Hay Wain” and “Flatford Mill” portray the slow and steady rhythms of rural life, with the billowy clouds up above supplying the River Stour with a steady flow of water. His paintings have become a beloved part of our heritage, as he captured so much of the constancy and beauty of rural life in Suffolk, unchanged for centuries.

Turner also is known as a master of capturing light, and his paintings often have a more dramatic flavour than Constable’s comfortable depiction of pre-industrialised pastoral scenes.  He sometimes contrasted the old with the new, as in “The Fighting Temeraire”, where he portrays the aged grandeur of a wind-powered naval warship being towed into harbour on its last journey by a modern steam tug. The dramatic sky serves to emphasise the significance of this event. His aptly named “Rain, Steam and Speed” shows a steam train forging forwards amidst a summer rainstorm. The steam blurs together with the mist and rain, again accentuating the drama of this new technology.

Rain can also be an inspiration and a motif for artists and crafters today. The wild, windswept beauty of purple clad heather moorland, the crashing waves of the rocky Cornish coast or the heavy, rain filled clouds hovering over wide swathes of arable land are all rich in colour and texture. As well as original paintings, sets of note cards are often a popular buy especially if they depict a local landscape.

Raindrops can also be a springboard theme for jewellery; delicate rain drop shaped glass earrings or larger pendant necklaces. Blankets and cushion covers may reflect some of the colours evoked by rain; gentle blues and whites of a refreshing summer soaking or greys and purples of a dramatic autumn thunderstorm. You might like to create a weather blanket, with each line depicting a week’s weather type or temperature as you progress through the year.

With your stock of rain themed products ready to sell, you will need to look at buying the appropriate small craft insurance. Our basic small craft insurance package contains public and product liability insurance, with professional indemnity insurance included. Public liability insurance covers you for any claim made for harm incurred due to your business activities. This could be by you or one of your staff (including volunteers and family members), on your premises or elsewhere e.g., at a craft fair.

Product liability insurance covers you if a claim is made that your product has caused harm or injury. In both cases the insurance covers you for legal fees and/or compensation, even if the damage or harm is not your fault. The addition of professional indemnity insurance allows you to teach or demonstrate your craft without the worry of inadvertently giving incorrect advice.

We have been providing small craft insurance to businesses for over a generation, and we believe in the importance of delivering what our customers pay for; no opt out clauses or exceptions. We also communicate directly with each and every one of our customers. So, instead of a call queue, either Sam or Naomi will be here to answer your calls or respond to your messages.

We hope that with the coming of late summer and early autumn rains, energy levels will increase and creativity be renewed. As our crisp, brown countryside gives way to the green fields and patchwork gardens we know and love, we hope that the life-giving rain inspires many new ranges of products for Autumn.

The armchair. Let’s hear it for this unsung and often ill-used hero of most of our homes. After a long day at work what is better than to flop into our favourite armchair with a mug of tea and breathe a deep sigh before beginning on dinner prep. It is there at the beginning of the day too as we waken up and maybe take a window of calm before we head out into the day. It might be one passed down through the generations; memories of your own childhood might float back as you sink into its depths. Armchairs are a constant through changing seasons of life; maybe you cuddled your own babies from within its welcoming coziness or read numerous stories to eager little children snuggled on your lap within its reassuring confines. It will have held you in its familiar comfort throughout the stormy seasons of life and also been there as you’ve contemplated new joys and imagined fresh opportunities.  

What is your favourite armchair? It could be a family heirloom, overstuffed and gently sagging in all the right places. Maybe it’s one you purchased yourself, ergonomically perfect for your back. Perhaps it’s a rocking chair, adding an extra dimension of soothing movement to help regulate your over busy mind. Whatever it is, it will no doubt have a particular place in your home and life. While we all appreciate our dinner tables, bookcases or desks, armchairs alone have a peculiar propensity towards individual ownership. We have ‘our chair’, one we naturally gravitate towards. As we get older and the daily task of life becomes more difficult, the armchair becomes increasingly important. We may remember grandparents sitting in their own special chair, with a nearby table stacked with books, a newspaper, a mug of tea, plate of biscuits and all the other accoutrements needed to settle in comfortably for a while. 

So, what happens when our favourite armchair, or indeed any other favourite piece of furniture has been so well-loved and well-used that it is no longer fit for service? Do we need to replace it, as our throw away society would encourage us to do, or is there another option? Here at Craft Insurance, we would definitely opt for the “other” option and give a huge welcome to the many skilled upholsterers across the country.  

There are many advantages of reupholstering your furniture, rather than buying new pieces. Firstly, it means you can keep hold of that faithful friend and all the memories attached. Rather than discarding it after a lengthy time of faithful service, you can offer it a new lease of life. Choosing new fabric gives you the opportunity to freshen up the whole room, maybe as you transition from one season of life to another.  

The mass-produced furniture easily accessible today simply does not have the longevity and craftsmanship of older, hand made pieces. They are often made using environmentally unsustainable methods and materials. In contrast, joints made by a skilled furniture maker will last much longer than their factory-made counterparts and the actual process of reupholstering has a low environmental impact, has been practiced for centuries and supports local businesses and skilled artisans. By changing the fabric, you not only have a new look to your room, but also keep a solid, well-made piece of furniture which will continue to provide good service for years to come.  

It is, obviously, the most eco friendly choice. When the alternative is throwing a worn chair into landfill, choosing to reupholster seems a bit of a no brainer. You can also take this a step further and re purpose the old fabric, making it into cushion covers, lampshades or even a child’s pinafore, Sound of Music style! 

Reupholstering a piece of furniture is a highly skilled task, requiring time and skills honed over years. While upholsterers aim to offer competitive prices, it might seem at first glance to be quite an expense. It is, however, more cost effective than at first glance. By upcycling your older furniture, you will increase its value, as well as keeping the well made, solid wooden frames, build for longevity. Compare this with the cost of a newly made piece to replace your well-loved item and you will be ready to choose the fabric straight away!  

If you’re reading this and are an upholster yourself, you might be looking for upholsterer insurance. A basic package for upholsterer insurance will include product and public liability insurance, with the option to add on individual business items or employers’ liability insurance.  

Public liability insurance covers you for any claim made that you or your employees/volunteers are responsible for harm done either on your property or elsewhere eg when out and about demonstrating or selling. Product liability covers you for any claim made that your product has caused harm or injury. In both cases the insurance covers you for compensation and legal costs, even if it is not your fault. They also provide cover for you if you are demonstrating or teaching your craft, thus allowing you to hold workshops, from one day courses through to multi week programmes. 

And in addition, with our package for upholsterer insurance you will also be covered by professional indemnity insurance, thus giving you confidence to teach and demonstrate your skill, free from the anxiety of inadvertently giving any inaccurate information.  

As you compare insurance packages and prices, you’ll see that our cover is comprehensive and does what it says it will do. In addition, as a family-run business we answer all calls and emails ourselves; call queues. So, pick up the phone or send us a message from our website and either Sam or Naomi will be here to ensure you get a bespoke upholsterer insurance ideal for your company. 

The next time you are standing behind your craft stall on a warm Saturday morning, watching crowds file past the bunting and handmade signs, it’s worth considering how long all this has been going on. It’s great to remember that the summer fair is one of the oldest communal traditions in the UK, so your participation is actually breathing life into history. 

Medieval fairs were the beating heart of social and economic life for ordinary people in a way that is difficult to fully appreciate from a modern perspective. For the common folk of medieval England, most of whom were tied to small villages and largely illiterate, a summer fair was one of the moments in the year when the world got bigger. Merchants arrived from further afield carrying unusual goods: exotic spices, fine silks, specialist metalwork and textiles unavailable anywhere else. Alongside the traders came minstrels, acrobats, jugglers and players performing on makeshift stages. There were archery contests, wrestling matches and, at the larger charter fairs, the thundering spectacle of a jousting tournament. These were major social events and the dancing went on until dark. 

Some of England’s greatest annual fairs, such as Stourbridge Fair, Winchester’s St Giles Fair and the St Bartholomew Fair at Smithfield, grew into events of enormous economic significance. Stourbridge eventually became the largest fair in all of Europe and was the inspiration for John Bunyan’s Vanity Fair in The Pilgrim’s Progress. They became so important that town leaders used them to hold courts, collect taxes and announce royal decrees. Commerce, community, spectacle and storytelling all converged in one place each summer. 

Centuries later, what has changed? 

Walk around a modern summer craft fair and some things have not changed. The stalls are still temporary structures, erected for the occasion and packed away at the end of the day. The traders have travelled to be there, some from considerable distances. The atmosphere still carries that particular mix of commerce and celebration that makes a fair feel different from ordinary shopping. People come to watch, eat and enjoy being part of something communal; they don’t just buy and leave. 

The most noticeable difference between a modern-day fair and a medieval fair is probably the smell (or lack of it) and the nature of what is being sold: exotic spices and fine silks now replaced with handmade candles and wax melts, jewellery, ceramics, textiles, resin work and skincare products. Larger, one-time annual events have been replaced by a summer-long calendar of markets, country shows, village fetes and outdoor fairs that give crafters a near-continuous run of trading opportunities from May through to September. 

Another major difference is that modern-day stallholders will most likely all have insurance! Medieval stallholders were required to pay “stallage” or “picage” to the local lord, town council or church that held the royal charter to host the event. This granted them the right to set up a table, pitch a tent and sell their goods. Insurance though? Nay. 

Why we need cover today 

For the medieval trader whose goods were stolen, damaged or lost, that would have meant personal catastrophe with no safety net. If anyone was injured as a result of a trader’s activities, the consequences fell entirely on them. Happily, for the modern crafter, the situation is very different! 

A Craft Insurance policy covers you for public and product liability at any event you attend throughout the year, indoors or outdoors, with no limit on the number of fairs. There is no need to notify us each time you set up a stall. Your cover applies automatically from the moment your policy is live. Professional indemnity is included as standard, so if you teach your craft or demonstrate it at an event, you are covered for that too. Optional add-ons include employers’ liability if you have anyone helping you, and business and stock cover for your tools, materials, equipment and finished work. 

The standard excess is just £50, which is great news, and documents are issued instantly on payment, so if you decide to get your cover today, you can be ready to trade straight away. 

Most craft fair organisers will ask for proof of public liability insurance before they confirm your booking. This is standard practice across the industry and has been for some years. If you are approaching the summer season without cover in place, you may find yourself turned away from events you have already planned around. Getting your cover today means that proof of insurance is in your inbox within minutes of completing your application, ready to share with any organiser who asks for it. 

It is also worth knowing that some insurers have specific exclusions that catch crafters out. Candle makers, home fragrance sellers and makers of reed diffusers, room sprays and wax melts have discovered that certain general insurers simply do not cover their products at all. At Craft Insurance, we have very few exclusions, and we are always upfront about what they are. Another great thing is that we charge no administration fees for policy changes, so if your circumstances change during the summer season, you can update your cover without any extra cost. 

Medieval fair traders had to carry heavy consequences when things went wrong, but you do not have to operate the same way! The craft fair tradition has survived for hundreds of years because it works, because people genuinely value handmade goods, community and the experience of buying directly from the maker. Protecting your place in that tradition with the right insurance makes sense! 

Get your cover today 

Fill in our short online form, choose your level of cover, and have your documents in your inbox within minutes. If you would rather talk it through first, Samantha or Naomi will pick up the phone and walk you through exactly what you need. Although we can’t claim to have been in business since medieval times, we have been providing craft insurance since 1986!  

Get a quote now | Speak to Sam or Naomi 

Picture for a minute two heads bowed together; mother and daughter as the former demonstrates the intricacies of lace making (or spinning, or straw plaiting …) to the latter. Picture too a father and son working together on the land, the conversations, the life advice, the daily mentoring. Then look a little further into those children’s futures. The girl may have commenced work under the supervision of a seamstress, and the boy may have learnt a trade as an apprentice to a blacksmith or bodger. While no one disputes that life was tough in numerous ways in pre industrialised Britain, there are some aspects of family and community from which we could glean some wisdom in our highly individualistic, computerised society.  

Loneliness, for example, is a huge problem in the twenty-first century, not only amongst the elderly and housebound but throughout all sectors of society. Many move away from the family home for education or work, settle down and then go on to raise their own children without the support of grandparents and plentiful aunts, uncles and cousins. Online friendships are no substitute for real ones, chatting over a mug of tea or working out at the gym together. We are not designed to live in isolation and even the most introverted amongst us need community.  

Enter crafting workshops! These offer a delightful space both to pass on traditional skills to others and also to nurture community. Whether it be a six-week evening course, a Saturday workshop or a rolling class, if you decide to run one of these you will most probably not be short of attendees. There are so many benefits for joining with others to craft together, not least that it is a wonderful way to ensure these time honoured skills are not lost but are indeed revived.  

With many of us using screens for our work, there is an increasing yearning to get away from them during our leisure time. In tandem with this, many of us do not work with our hands anymore and are therefore losing out on the calming sensory input of handling different textures, from soft wool through to squishy clay. While we get far too many unhelpful dopamine hits from pings on social media, the sense of satisfaction when we have mastered a new skill or completed a beautiful project is a much healthier one. In addition, the repetitive actions required in many crafting techniques are also calming, necessitating just the right level of concentration to block out the cycle of anxiety while allowing for easy conversation. All these, combined with a warm welcome and the sense of community in shared learning, do wonders to promote a sense of wellbeing and acceptance.  

Whether you are just considering holding a crafting class, or are a veteran workshop facilitator, there are so many options open to you. You could offer general classes open to any member of the public, you could do one-off events such as hen parties (pottery sessions are often popular) or you could tailor classes towards a specific group of people such as the over sixties, after school clubs or sessions for home-educated children. As long as your craft travels, you will need to find an appropriate venue. This could be within a local Craft Quarter or Centre, in a town or church hall or within a school.  

You might be able to get funding to take your craft into a local church or other centre which welcomes homeless men and women in to have a shower, collect post, enjoy a warm meal and seek advice.  Alongside this, a table which offers a space to paint or craft can be very therapeutic, increasing self-worth and maybe discovering hidden talents. It is also much easier to converse while focusing on creating something with your hands, and all around the table have a shared interest in the particular craft.  

You will need to do some local research, gauging your potential client group and then when you have a workshop organised, advertising both in local magazines/notice boards and online is foundational to your success. Once you’ve done some number crunching, it can often be better to start small, with a group size you feel comfortable with. You will also need to find some craft class insurance. While there are a plethora of companies offering craft class insurance, it is well worth making sure you understand what the package includes, as there will be variations. The good news is that here at Craft Insurance our basic insurance package will cover you for teaching, demonstrating and selling your craft within any setting. It includes public and product liability insurance and additionally contains professional indemnity insurance. As well as covering you for teaching and demonstrating, this also covers you if you unknowingly give any incorrect advice.  

Our prices may not be the lowest you can find online, but this is a conscious decision; we want to be sure that you get what you pay for with no surprise exclusions or confusing wording. We are a family business, with knowledge and experience passed down through generations. We answer each enquiry ourselves, so whether it be a phone call or an online request, either Sam or Naomi are here to reply. Craft class insurance is not an add on here with us; it is part of your basic package which also allows you to sell your stunning products online and at craft fairs.  

So, if you already have a basic insurance package with us, you will be covered for craft workshops too! Why not get dreaming; what are some ways you could pass on your skill, create community and add to your income? Ask a few questions, gather a few screen-weary, well-motivated students and have fun passing on your finely honed artisan skills in a refreshing atmosphere of welcome, eagerness and enthusiasm.  

As we edge towards the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, our young people finally reach the touch line of the exam marathon they have been running, and many of us feel a general weariness increasing, our thoughts begin to turn towards summer holidays. Whether these will mainly be spent at home, holidaying within the UK or enjoying some sunny climes overseas, the dreaming can begin! 

The planning and the imagining can become an integral part of the holiday fun, as we consider summer outfits or envision a seasonal refreshing of our home and garden. This dreaming will subsequently turn into an exchange of cash for some new items to add a sparkle to home or wardrobe, and having an understanding of people’s summer shopping habits can open up more sales for hand crafted businesses. While many still flood to major retailers or online stores, an increasing number of consumers are become more discerning in their purchasing and are looking for products which will not only be unique, made with care and which display traditional crafting skills, but will also have longevity and be sustainably made. Quite some list to fulfil! However, if you have a business selling hand made crafts you will undoubtedly tick all those boxes. 

With summer holidays in mind, customers might be searching for fun beach bags, breezy cotton outfits or eye-catching sun hats. As the season of weddings approaches, there will also be a demand for elegant linen outfits, stylish hats and classy handbags. While many couples produce a wedding gift list, others may have what they need already, and so guests have the opportunity to buy something completely unique and gift the newly weds with a sparkle of creative charm which will last throughout their lives. 

If most of the holidays will be spent at home, it’s a great opportunity to give house and garden a fresh look. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be repainting the whole house; rather by adding some inviting cushions, light toned throws, outdoor lanterns, pretty plant pots and breezy bunting you can create a space of effortless charm in the aesthetic of your choice. Maybe this will be a place for gathering friends for a barbecue on a sunny afternoon, or for an alfresco brunch on a slow Saturday morning, or simply to share a cup or tea and scone, loaded with strawberry jam, with a good friend. 

As crafters, once you have produced a good stock of summer themed items, you will need to find a place to sell them to your delighted customers. Craft fairs are always wonderful ways to not only sell, but to meet customers face to face and make local connections. Do check out our other blogs which offer advice about how to make the most of a fair. 

If you want to sell online, you may decide to build your own website. However, if you are just dipping your toe into the world of web-based sales, you may prefer to use a tried and trusted online marketplace, Etsy being one of the most well known of these. One of the advantages of Etsy is that it is fairly intuitive to set up, no technical skills are required, and that listing fees are reasonable. 

If you decide to explore this route, you will then need to think about insurance. You may be asking yourself, “Can’t I simply use Etsy seller insurance?” The answer is yes and no! Etsy does have a Purchase Protection Programme, but this does not take the place of professional insurance and as such it is quite limited in its scope. Etsy seller insurance mainly covers products lost in transit or arriving later than the stated date. It could also come into play if a customer is not satisfied that the product matches the listing description, when Etsy are satisfied that it does so. Good to note…make sure your listing descriptions are precise and photographs are clear. 

So, while Etsy seller insurance exists, it has clear and limited reach and you will need to consider comprehensive insurance cover. Our baseline package for all craft businesses starts with product and public liability insurance. Product liability covers you for any claim made by a customer that your product has harmed or caused damage to themselves or their property. Even if this is not the case, the insurance will pay for any compensation owed or legal fees involved. 

Public liability covers you for any claims, whether founded of not, of harm or injury caused on your premises or by your business activities. While there could be any number of scenarios where this could happen on a business premises or at a craft fair, it might seem unlikely if you are making your goods at home and selling online. However, it is not beyond the realms of imagination to picture a courier slipping on an icy driveway or tripping over a child’s scooter left on the path to your front door, thus making you very thankful that you have public liability insurance in place. 

The potential consequences of running into difficulties without these insurances prompt most sellers to investigate further. We are a family run business ourselves and have the benefit of experience and knowledge in the craft insurance industry passed down through the generations. We do not use call handlers; either Naomi or Sam are here to answer calls as they come through. If you prefer to contact us online, you can use the form on the website, and we will reply directly and give you an individually tailored quote based on the information you give us. 

We wish you every success as you sell your unique and beautiful products online and look forward to hearing about your business and helping you get the best insurance package for your business needs. 

Making candles and wax melts has become one of the most popular craft businesses in the UK over the past few years. What often starts as a hobby on a kitchen table can quickly turn into a thriving small business, with products selling at craft fairs, online and through local retailers. If that sounds like you, or if you are just starting out and wondering whether you need insurance, the short answer is: yes, you do. 

Candle business insurance is not just a box to tick before your first craft fair. It is the thing that protects your finances, your reputation, and your peace of mind if something unexpected goes wrong. And in a business where fire, heat and open flames are part of the process, the unexpected is always worth planning for. 

Why wax melt and candle makers are more exposed than they might realise. 

Here is the reality that most new candle makers do not fully consider. You can pour the perfect candle, write clear instructions, package your products beautifully and send them out with care. But once that candle or wax melt is in a customer’s home, you cannot control what happens next. 

Wax melts can be a fire risk if the wrong kind of melter is used. Candles left burning too close to curtains, furniture or bedding can cause serious damage. Most people are sensible, but distractions happen. Electric wax melters get left on overnight. Instructions get skimmed or ignored. Fire and rescue guidelines recommend that wax melts are not left melting for longer than four hours at a time, but not every customer will read that. 

As the person who made the product, you are not responsible for how a customer chooses to use it. But if that customer suffers injury or property damage and believes your product was at fault, they have the right to make a claim against you. Defending that claim, even if you have done nothing wrong, can cost thousands of pounds in legal fees alone. Without candle maker insurance in place, those costs fall entirely on you. 

What wax melt and candle making insurance actually covers. 

The foundation of any candle business insurance policy is public and product liability cover. This protects you if a customer or member of the public makes a claim against you for injury or property damage caused by your products or your activities. It covers your legal defence costs and any compensation awarded, even if the claim turns out not to be your fault. 

You will also need proof of public liability insurance before most craft fair organisers will allow you to take a stall. It is one of the most commonly requested documents when booking events, so having it in place means you are ready to trade wherever you want. 

At Craft Insurance, we have spent the past year improving and simplifying our cover so that candle makers get more protection without more complexity. Professional indemnity is now included as standard with every liability policy, so if you teach candle making or run your own exhibition, you are covered for that too. 

If you want to protect the physical side of your candle business as well, our business items cover has been simplified so you no longer need to separate saleable stock from raw materials. Tools, equipment, display stands, card readers, laptops and finished stock are all covered under one straightforward category. Insure as much or as little as you need, and there is no complicated split to worry about at claim time. 

Why Craft Insurance is the right choice for candle business insurance. 

This is an area where we want to be straightforward with you. Some insurers have specific exclusions that affect candle makers, home fragrance sellers and wax melt businesses. Products like room sprays and reed diffusers are excluded by certain providers without it being obvious until you need to claim. With Craft Insurance, what you make is what we cover. We have very few exclusions and we are always upfront about what they are. 

We also do not charge administration fees. If you need to change your policy, add cover or remove something, there is no extra cost. No cancellation fees either. Other insurers charge up to £15 for amendments that we handle at no charge, because we think that is simply the right way to treat customers. 

We have been providing candle making insurance and craft business cover since 1986. 

Nearly four decades of focus on crafters means we understand the risks involved in a candle business in a way that general insurers never could. Our policies are underwritten by Hiscox, one of the UK’s most respected specialist insurers, with an award-winning claims service if you ever need to use it. 

When you call us, you will speak to Samantha or Naomi. Not a call centre. Not an automated system. Two people who know this business inside out and will take the time to make sure you have exactly the right cover for what you do. 

Getting your candle maker insurance sorted is easier than you think. 

Fill in our straightforward online form, give us the basic details about your candle business and what you need to cover, and you will have your quote in minutes. Your documents are issued instantly on payment, so you can be covered and ready to trade the same day. 

If you get stuck or want to talk through what you need before you start, pick up the phone. Sam or Naomi will walk you through the whole thing. Getting the right candle business insurance in place is one of the most important steps you can take as a candle maker. We have been helping crafters do exactly that for nearly forty years, and we are here to help you too. 

Get a Quote Now | Speak to Sam or Naomi 

Anyone who’s been crafting for some while will have his or her own set of disaster stories. Maybe a mug of coffee has tipped over, soaking and staining a pile of ready-for-sale, handmade cards. Maybe an adorable new puppy found its way into a beautifully carded pile of fleece and used it as a toilet. Or maybe the shelf where you keep your finished ceramic products collapses and the whole lot comes crashing to the ground.   

While a sense of humour and natural resilience may allow us to laugh at them after the event…possibly a long time after the event … the actual incident can be heart sinking, financially devastating and even put a stop to your trading for a while. Having organised workspaces and a backup plan for craft fairs will minimise the impact of any unforeseen disaster but unfortunately, as we all know, life happens and sometimes, the curveball comes our way and there is nothing we can do to stop it. This is where having stock insurance for crafters can literally be a business saver. 

And it’s not only stock. Tools and equipment can be stolen or damaged, which not only means an expensive knock to the pocket to replace them, but also can mean a temporary hiatus in product, adding to the financial impact.  

It’s not just in the workshop that disasters can happen, or from the workshop that tools can be stolen. Exhibiting at craft fairs is the backbone of many crafting businesses and, without wishing to sound like a promotion for a blooper reel, being out and about can open another door to mishaps. Imagine … you arrive at a craft fair on a freezing morning with hours’ worth of Christmas themed produce really to sell. As you walk into the hall, you slip on some ice. While fortunately you don’t sustain any major injuries, your beautiful glass decorations take a flying leap. Or conversely, on an unseasonably hot day and after a long car journey stuck in traffic, you unpack your wax melts and find they have not only lost their definition but fused together in the heat.  Both of these could be catastrophic not only for the actual event, but for the financial health of your business. Having stock insurance for crafters in place, while it will not ease the disappointment of having hours of hard work gone in a moment, will ease the financial impact and enable you to pick yourself up and carry on making and selling. 

What is stock insurance for crafters and what have we done to make it simpler?  

We know that behind every craft stall or small craft business there’s a significant investment in materials bought, products made, tools accumulated, and equipment used to trade. But what if that stock was damaged at a fair, tools were stolen from a car, or a laptop was lost on the way to an event? 

Business items and stock cover gives you that extra layer of protection for the physical side of your craft business. It’s an optional add-on to your base public and product liability policy, and like everything at Craft Insurance, we’ve simplified it so you only insure what you have, at the level that makes sense for you. 

You can insure your stock through all stages of production, from raw materials through to finished, saleable products. This could be particularly relevant if you are out and about on the craft circuit, as it includes damage in transit as well as at the event. At large events you may leave your stall set up overnight, and stock insurance will cover you if the unimaginable happens and products are stolen or damaged; theft as well as damage is covered. 

We also cover electronic devices, used for making, promoting or selling your crafts. Laptops, for example, or cameras used for taking photos for your website. If you sell at craft fairs regularly, you will no doubt have a card reader, and these nifty little devices, as well as iPads and laptops, can be susceptible to theft. Our standard excess is £50, regardless of the amount of your claim; you’ll find this is a competitively low excess. 

Another point to consider is that you may wish to add to your insurance. While at first glance our quotes might seem to be higher than big name competitors, this is intentional as we charge a one-off price with clarity of what it includes. We do not charge an initial admin fee, nor do we charge a fee for making amendments to your policy. We work hard to be transparent and ensure you understand the process. To this end, we don’t use call handlers but communicate directly with all our customers. This means that not only do you not waste your time waiting in a call queue, but you also get individual, expert advice. If you prefer to do everything online, you can fill in the form on our website, and we will send you a quote based on what you tell us. This way, you are only paying for what you need.  

All our insurance packages are completely bespoke, as what is included will depend on your unique business needs. Public and product liability are the base cover, and you can then add to that as you weigh the costs versus the risks. As a family business we have learnt about craft insurance over the past few decades, and this knowledge has been passed down through the generations. So, while we are up to speed on all the latest policy changes, we also have a wealth of experience which we can share with you. We understand your journey from the kitchen table upwards, so pick up the phone and Naomi or Sam will be here to answer all your questions about stock insurance for crafters. 

Maybe you’re new to selling your crafts, or perhaps you’ve tried to make a claim with your current insurer and found that there was an exclusion in your policy that you were unaware of. You scroll through the plethora of online companies and wonder which one will offer you the best deal. What type of insurance do you need? Or, could you get away without it? Money is tight, so do you simply go for the cheapest? How do you find out more? Can you talk to a real person about the best option? 

All the above are very valid questions, and we’ll go through them one at a time now.  

The first thing to say is that yes, you do need to have crafters’ liability insurance. With Craft Insurance, this includes both public and product liability with professional indemnity thrown into the bundle. Public liability insurance covers you for any claim made that you or a member of your team has caused harm or injury to a member of the public or their property. It covers legal defence costs and/or any compensation you owe. Product liability insurance covers you for any claim made that a product of yours has caused injury or harm to a customer. Again, even if it is not your fault, the insurance covers you, so you do not have to face lengthy, time consuming and costly legal battles. It covers face-to-face sales at markets and fairs and worldwide online sales. 

Alongside this, our professional indemnity insurance covers you when you are out and about teaching and demonstrating your craft. It will even cover you if you inadvertently give some wrong advice. With these three in place, there is no limit to the number of events you can attend, and you do not have to notify us of specific events. Just book yourself in, gather all you need for a successful day, and you’re good to go, knowing that your crafters’ liability insurance is in place. 

Public and product liability insurance is the basic, bread and butter insurance for crafters. However, once this is in place, you can add extra insurance to cover stock, finished products, tools or other items necessary for your business. This insurance covers you for loss, damage or theft of any of the above. Items necessary for your business include electronic devices such as laptops, cameras or card machines. You insure item by item, so you can weigh up the benefits versus the cost of insurance. For example, if you have invested in high-cost tools or equipment for your business, eg a potter’s wheel or kiln without which you could not work, you might consider insuring them. However, if you create beautiful, knitted blankets, it is probably not worth insuring your knitting needles!  

You will find that most craft fair and event organisers request that you have public liability before you book your spot. The reason being that while you will carry out risk assessments and follow all guidelines and regulations necessary for your products, it is those completely unexpected incidents which can floor us and cause serious issues for event organisers too. Curveballs that come out of nowhere. If you have the correct crafters’ liability insurance in place, you don’t need to lose sleep over these and can pour your time and energy into doing what you do best; creating and selling unique, stylish and stunning products and thus growing your business.  

Onto our third question, which is also a good one. It is not uncommon to feel the pain of the cost of insurance…in fact, you are definitely not alone. If you have come to the conclusion that you need it, then wouldn’t it be better just to go for the cheapest option and be done with it? This is where some good advice really can save you money in the long run. We at Craft Insurance may not be the cheapest up-front option. This, however, is intentional. We take care to ensure that the insurance packages we sell do what they say they do. We don’t have exclusions and we cover all your selling, demonstrating and teaching.  

Our policies are inclusive, which means there is no initial admin fee and no charge for making amendments should you need to do so. A package with no hidden extras makes it easier to budget and saves you from unexpected costs later.  

It’s also worth taking into account that we are a family business with decades of experience in insuring craft businesses. It’s a specialised area and a good knowledge and understanding of the risks involved enables us to both ensure you have the correct cover for your unique business, and also to keep the costs down. The problem with an insurer not having a good understanding of risks specific to the vast array of craft insurance we deal with, is that the policies will overcompensate for very unlikely risks; thus policy holders are charged more to cover potential shortfalls.  

As we come into land on our journey to discover more about crafters’ liability insurance, the last two questions can be answered together. Yes, you can talk to a real person at Craft Insurance. Our names are Naomi and Sam and we’d love to hear from you. You can explore the website to find out the answer to some of your questions, but as your business is totally unique, we recommend you either call us or, if you prefer, send us a message. We deal with each client individually, delving into the pools of knowledge and experience we’ve gained over the years and working out the best package for your completely individual business needs. 

We hope this has given you some clarity and answered some of your questions but do now get in touch and we can talk further.