Trusted Supplier Directory
Grow your creative business with tools, materials and advice from our list of recommended suppliers
Welcome to the Folksy Trusted Suppliers Directory. This list has been designed to help artists and makers at every stage of their business source the materials, tools, services and advice they need to make their creative practice thrive.
All the suppliers in the directory have been tried and tested by us or recommended by our community for their high-quality service and/or ethical, eco-friendly products. Because of this, they have received the Folksy stamp of approval.
The directory is free for everyone to use. Offers, discounts and workshops are exclusive to Folksy Plus members. Learn more about our Plus account and become a member here.
We hope you enjoy the directory and if you would like to recommend a supplier for our list, email us at community@folksy.co.uk
Specialist Supplies
Textiles
Bobbiny Cords
Bobbiny Cords offer a treasure trove of premium quality macramé cords all made from 100% recycled cotton. Choose from a rainbow of over 40 beautiful colours, along with seasonal limited editions, metallics and accessories for your craft projects.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off
Jewellery
Cooksongold
For over 20 years, Cooksongold have been one of the UK’s leading suppliers of precious metals, tools and supplies for jewellery making. From professional jewellery makers to those looking for a new hobby, Cooksongold provide everything need you need, including bullion products, workshop tools and equipment. With over 19,000 products, Cooksongold offer one of the most extensive range of jewellery-making supplies in the UK.
Candles
Cosy Owl
Cosy Owl specialises in high-quality craft supplies for candle, wax melt, diffuser and cosmetic making. Their expert guidance, seasonal recipes and DIY kits are suited for all abilities, from beginners to experts. From natural waxes to wonderful dye colours, Cosy Owl curate their range of products to meet high standards of quality and sustainability. With over 100 beautiful fragrance oils that are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and paraben-free, your handmade products can be brought to life through glorious aromas.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off your first order (minimum spend £20)
Glass
Creative Glass Guild
Creative Glass Guild supply stained glass and fusing materials, tools and sheet glass to hobby and trade. They offer the UK’s widest range of coloured sheet glass for leaded windows and glass fusing in System 96, as well as tools, kilns and paints brushes, all sent from their warehouse in Bristol.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off sheet glass
Lampshade Making
Dannells
Dannells Ltd have been manufacturing lampshade materials for lampshade makers since 1982. Over the past decade, they have dedicated their business to mentoring, nurturing and helping build a new generation of lampshade makers worldwide.They supply lampshade-making frames, ring-sets, panels, kits, materials, adhesives, textiles, tools and much more that can be used with fabric, textiles and paper to make fabulous bespoke lampshades for any interior.
Folksy Plus Members: 5% off
Paper
G . F Smith
For over 135 years, G . F Smith has been obsessed with the simple beauty and limitless possibilities of paper. Their desire is that, through the hands of the design community, they can bring creativity to life and constantly innovate with one of the world’s oldest materials. They partner with brands, creatives, designers and specialists, providing the foundation for those seeking to create, offering a full range of additional services tailored to help realise creative ambitions.
Folksy Plus Members: free consultation service & samples
Textiles
Merchant & Mills
Merchant & Mills offers a curated range of natural fabrics sourced from sustainable mills across the world. They offer high-quality tools, notions and sewing patterns for the creative maker. They try to support small business and makers by keeping their minimums for wholesale orders low.
Ceramics
Potclays Ltd
Established in 1932, Potclays in one of the best-known names in the pottery supplies market, distributing clay, materials, tools, equipment and kilns throughout the UK, Europe and worldwide. Potclays is still a family-run business, now in its fourth generation.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off (excluding kilns and machinery)
Jewellery
The Betts Group
The Betts Group is the UK’s oldest surviving precious metals business, established in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter in 1760, where it is still based today. They supply responsibly sourced bullion, findings and jewellers’ tools. Now in their ninth consecutive generation of family management, Betts pride themselves on being custodians of the past and pioneers of the future.
Cosmetic Ingredients
The Crafters Shop
The Crafters Shop is a small family-run business based in Manchester offering a range of cosmetic ingredients and assessments to make soap, bath bombs, shower foamers, shampoo bars, bath salts, face masks, wax melts and more. They offer a great support group to help customers along the way. They have a sister website, Summer Naturals, which supplies natural cleaning products that could be useful for makers too, such as soda crystals and Borax substitute.
Folksy Plus Members: 5% off
Jewellery
The Curious Gem
The Curious Gem is one of the UK’s leading online jewellery supplies retailers. They specialise in precious metal findings and components (sterling silver, 14K gold filled, 9K & 14K gold), high-quality gemstone beads, pearls and loose gemstones. They also sell a wide range of jewellery-making tools, packaging supplies, thread, cord and chain.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off loose gemstones
Knitting & Crochet
WOOL AND THE GANG
WOOL AND THE GANG’s goal is to put the power (and needles) in people’s hands to unleash their crafty creativity. Their DIY craft kits cover every ability from beginner to advanced, feature trend-driven and classic designs and cover a range of crafts including knit, crochet, and needlepoint. They also sell their premium yarns solo, and with an extensive free pattern library to parooze, there’s a wealth of inspiration for your next project.
Folksy Plus Members: 20% off until 19th June 2023
Yarn
Wool Warehouse
Wool Warehouse are an independent retailer, owned and run by Holly and Andy who set up the company. They stock yarn, fabric, needlecraft and craft accessories. They can find you the perfect yarn for a project, help fathom out a tricky pattern or recommend a birthday gift for a crafter! They get excited seeing new products created by their brands and even more excited to see the great projects customers create using these products!
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off
To access discount codes, go to the Folksy Plus page on your Seller Dashboard.
Art & Craft Supplies
Art & Craft Supplies
Fred Aldous
Fred Aldous is a small family business that began in Manchester in 1886 with a man called Fred. They now have shops in Manchester, Leeds and Folksy’s hometown of Sheffield. They have been providing the materials and expertise to help people realise their art and craft projects for nearly 130 years.
Folksy Plus Members: 25% off your first order; 10% off subsequent orders
Printmaking
Handprinted Ltd
Handprinted is a printmaking and dyeing shop and studio based in sunny Bognor Regis. Their knowledgable staff, who are all printmakers themselves, are happy to supply guidance whenever you need it. Their website is full of information and ‘how-to’ videos – and they also host workshops at their studio, taught by visiting artists.
Folksy Plus Members: 5% off online orders
Printmaking
Hawthorn Printmaker Supplies
Hawthorn Printmaker Supplies are a family-run business based near York in Yorkshire. They supply a range of printmaking products for beginners through to professional artists, including their own range of printing inks and etching presses manufactured at their workshop, carefully developed and designed with the artist in mind.
Folksy Plus Members: 5% off inks and rollers
Art & Craft Supplies
Hobbycraft
Hobbycraft is ready to support and inspire customers – with over 100 stores across the UK with passionate crafty colleagues on hand to help, online and in-store workshops, thousands of free craft ideas online, next day delivery and click and collect. With over 25,000 carefully selected quality products for art, knitting and sewing, papercraft, wedding and party, baking, jewellery making and much more, there’s a product or craft available for customers of all skills and abilities! Exclusive discounts and support for small craft businesses is available with a Hobbycraft Plus Subscription.
Fine Art
Jackson’s Art Supplies
Founded in London in 2000, Jackson’s offers a vast range of fine art materials to artists from all over the world. As a team of practising artists, they understand that everyone’s artistic needs are different. They are passionate about all things art materials-related, and are dedicated to helping you find the tools you need for your art practice. They search globally for exciting new products from the world’s best artisan makers, and welcome suggestions of new products to add to their range.
To access discount codes, go to the Folksy Plus page on your Seller Dashboard.
Skills & Learning
Online Business School
The Design Trust
The Design Trust is the online business school for designers, makers and other creative professionals. Patricia has worked with thousands of creatives in the UK and overseas for over 25 years as a creative business adviser, trainer and coach. She regularly teaches at the Royal College of Arts, Central St Martins/University of the Arts London. She is known for her inspiring, honest and real life approach to starting and growing a creative business.
Coaching
Indie Roller
When marketing feels like a chore and selling feels icky it can sap the fun out of the business that you feel so passionate about. Creative Sales Coach Leona Baker helps you bin the box you think you have to fit into and shape a selling strategy fuelled by your own unique creative flair. After 20 years of creative self-employment, over a million pounds worth of online products sales and coaching, teaching and mentoring thousands of independent business owners, Leona has poured all her expertise and experience into one signature programme: Joyful Selling for Creative Professionals.
Folksy Plus Members: Joyful Selling Party – Thursday 18th May, 11am GMT
Craft Courses
CraftCourses.com
CraftCourses.com connects people with thousands of makers and artists across the UK, who teach their wondrous skills. Established in 2011 and based in Pembrokeshire, Wales, CraftCourses are B Corps ™ certified and passionate about getting people making. With courses from glassblowing to blacksmithing, printmaking to pottery, sculpture to photography, there is something for everyone!
Online Craft Courses
Domestika
Domestika is the fastest-growing creative community where the best creative experts share their knowledge and skills through professionally produced online courses. They carefully curate the teacher roster and produce all the courses in-house, to ensure a high-quality online learning experience for everyone. Today, the online community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about learning new creative skills.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off any course
Traditional Craft Courses
My Own 2 Hands
My Own 2 Hands offers a range of traditional craft kits that anyone can do at home at their own pace. You get lifetime access to a beautifully shot online course, which is produced by their team of BAFTA-winning filmmakers. Then all the materials you need are delivered to your front door. Courses range from weaving a willow basket to carving cooking utensils or making a children’s cardigan. Their projects are great for when you need some nourishing down time, but they are also a wonderful group activity.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off any course
PR
PR Dispatch
PR Dispatch is the UK’s first affordable PR platform dedicated to helping product businesses easily pitch to the press in under 60 minutes a week at a fraction of the cost of working with a PR agency. Behind the membership, is their expert team with 24+ years of combined PR experience, supporting over 400 members in confidently sending emails that get noticed by journalists and gaining great coverage. Their members have been featured in The Guardian, The Times, Grazia, ELLE Decoration & many, many more UK publications.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off quarterly or annual PR memberships.
PR
Untld Project
Untld Project are a PR, marketing and social media agency specialising in creative, crafty and independent brands. Founded by Nerrisa Pratt, Untld Project uses the core skills and experiences the team has gained over the years working with names like IKEA, Debenhams and Cricut, translating this into campaigns and projects for brands within the creative and independent industries. They also offer bespoke packages and services accessible for smaller brands – debunking the myth that you need a huge budget to secure good PR placement.
Folksy Plus Members: Untld project will be running a free workshop on PR in July. Details coming soon…
Register for the free workshops and access offer codes on the Folksy Plus page of your Seller Dashboard.
Product Photography
Photography
Diana Stainton Photography
Diana Stainton is a brand product photographer based in North London. Diana helps brands to grow their business, connect with their customers and sell their products with creative lifestyle photography. Her packages are perfect for start-ups making their first photography investment, independent designers and brands who want to up their game and make more sales.
Folksy Plus Members: 5% off a full-day product photoshoot
Photography
Forever Creative Photography Ltd
Richard Jackson is a creator of still life and product photography who specialises in working with designers and makers. He works with you to create captivating photography that represent your product and your brand to their best potential. Richard has many props, backgrounds and surfaces available in his studio, designed to bring out the best in your work, capture reflective products, and highlight special finishes and textures.
Folksy Plus Members: 20% off shoots booked in April, May or June 2023
Photography
Holly Booth Studio
Holly Booth Studio are two-person team – Holly and Pete – based in Derbyshire in the East Midlands. Over the last 12 years, they have built a reputation for producing high-quality, creative, contemporary imagery for a client base of independent designers, makers and shops across the world, including Cotton Clara, Raspberry Blossom and Joules. They love working with creative people and collaborating with their clients to produce engaging content for use across a range of platforms.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off full-day and half-day remote product shoots
Photography
Joanne Crawford Photography
Joanne’s work is centred around people and lifestyle, with a genuine interest in how people live their lives and how they choose to spend their time. This approach enables her to capture their process and document spaces with intimacy and familiarity. Joanne has worked with all kinds of artists and creators over the years, from independent commissions directly from the artist such as Angela Harding and The Printed Peanut to editorial shoots for the likes of Toast, Country Living and Pressing Matters.
Photography
Yeshen Venema
Yeshen is one of the leading photographers and website specialists in the UK specialising in designers, makers and artists. Working from a studio at Hackney Downs in London, Yeshen organises location shoots at beautiful homes throughout the UK several times a year, and can also create video and animations for your products. Yeshen recently launched a Photography Membership for Designers, Makers and Artists – a monthly membership package designed to give you the tools you need to take your own professional-level product shots.
Folksy Plus Members: 20% off Yeshen’s Photography Membership for Designers, Makers and Artists
To access discount codes, go to the Folksy Plus page on your Seller Dashboard.
Markets & Memberships
Craft Fairs & Membership
CRAFT Festival
CRAFT Festival is a non-profit making organisation launched in 2003 at Bovey Tracey. Since then, Craft Festival has become a collection of highly selective craft fairs held in Bovey Tracey and Cheltenham, supported by their ‘Find a Maker’ directory and podcast. Their aim is to present the finest makers with events and activities, creating communities that highlight the joy of making.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off entry to Bovey Tracey, 9-11 June 2023
Craft Fairs & Membership
Crafty Fox Market
Crafty Fox Market have been supporting emerging designer-makers and artists with opportunities to showcase and sell their work since 2010. They achieve this by hosting quality markets in a variety of brilliant venues across London as well as summer festival concessions and partnerships with cultural institutions. Crafty Fox Market offer maker support through their curated membership community and online directory.
Craft Fairs
Endless Love Creative
Endless Love Creative curate contemporary art, design and craft markets for the conscious consumer. Vibrant and inspiring, they showcase emerging and established makers from across the UK. They also hold space for the creative community to gather and thrive, through online talks and considered content.
Craft Fairs
Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and its online sister fairs – GNCCFonline – are well-established, prestigious shows in the North. Run by the not-for-profit organisation, Great Northern Events NW Ltd, their aims are to champion designer-makers and provide high-quality opportunities to showcase and sell their work. Their flagship Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair is a much-anticipated annual event which takes place in Manchester over four days in October in a stunning renovated Victorian bathhouse. Passionate about the joys of making, they also hire makers to deliver their outreach programme, taking high quality craft workshops to marginalised communities.
Advocacy
Heritage Crafts
Heritage Crafts is the advocacy body for traditional heritage crafts. Working in partnership with the UK government and key agencies, it provides a focus for craftspeople, groups, societies and guilds, as well as individuals who care about the loss of traditional crafts skills, and works towards a healthy and sustainable framework for the future. It is a UNESCO accredited NGO for Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Membership
Hobbycraft Plus
A Hobbycraft Plus Subscription is designed to support small craft businesses and more. This unique subscription service offers discounts across the Hobbycraft range, an upgrade to next day delivery plus support and advice in the form of expert seminars. Topics include PR, social media, marketing, customer service and even TikTok!
Membership
Pedddle
Pedddle is a directory of markets and their stallholders across the UK that helps people find markets, craft fairs in their region, and discover the makers selling at them. Founded by Nicki Capewell in 2018, Pedddle connects the creative market community both online and in person. They are champions of shopping small, independently and locally, supporting creative British businesses and keeping artisan trades alive.
Folksy Plus Members: 30% off membership for 3 months
Online Events
Tresstle
Developed for the creative community to collaborate and sell, Tresstle is an online events platform that provides you with the tools to take part in fantastic events online or even run your own. Tresstle is a sister company of Pedddle, but with the focus on virtual markets and craft fairs, for those times when in-person events are not available, practical or accessible.
Folksy Plus Members: 50% off registration
To access discount codes, go to the Folksy Plus page on your Seller Dashboard.
PRINTING, Packaging & Services
Design & Marketing
Canva
Canva is an all-in-one design platform that allows you to create almost anything, from social media posts to business cards and presentations. Since launching in 2013, Canva users have published more than 1 billion designs. Their intuitive platform makes it easy to create the designs you need, with templates and beautiful layouts to get you started. With Canva Pro you also get 2,000,000 free photos and graphics to use in your designs, premium fonts, resizing to any format and the ability to create animations and GIFs.
Insurance
CraftCover
CraftCover is an insurance policy created specifically for the UK Craft Industry. They are a small team with real expertise, arranging bespoke covers designed specifically to suit the needs of the creative sector. They are one of a relatively small number of Chartered Insurance Brokers who have committed to the highest ethical and professional standards. The team have created an easy-to-use online package that will give you all the cover you need at an affordable price.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off policies
Packaging
eco-craft ltd
Eco-craft Ltd is a family business, originally called The Cutting Edge, founded by Lorraine and Kevin McCarthy in the Summer of ’91. Their products include a wide range of plastic-free and compostable packaging ideal for small businesses and crafters. It is a company policy to offer greener products that are more ecologically sound than their standard counterparts. They source their products from reputable green suppliers, taking great care to research the credentials of the materials used.
Email Marketing
EmailOctopus
EmailOctopus was founded in 2015 to help anyone with an audience grow. Their mission is to provide email marketing that’s simpler, more intuitive and better value. They are committed to saving you money, while never compromising on deliverability. They are passionate about providing great service with a personal touch. From food blogging superstars to charities, they have helped over 67,000 organisations send more than 27 billion emails.
Folksy Plus Members: 30% discount for 12 months
Website Hosting
Green Hosting
Green Hosting is a website hosting service powered 100% by renewable energy from UK wind farms. They are a friendly, ethical company who pride themselves on giving a reliable and high-quality service. By becoming a Green Hosting client you are doing more than switching to a wind-powered web server. You are facilitating donations of time and money to charities, supporting ethical business and supporting the transition towards a greener internet.
Folksy Plus Members: 20% discount on any Green Hosting plans for the first year
Sustainable custom packaging
noissue.
noissue was founded to provide makers, brands and businesses of all sizes access to custom, sustainable packaging. They offer low minimum order quantities, free carbon-offset shipping and a simple online design platform. All noissue packaging products go through a vigorous approval process and are designed to fit into one, or more, sustainable circular frameworks: Compostable, Recycled/Recyclable or Reusable. Through their Eco-Alliance Certification and badge, they are empowering a community of brands to champion sustainability and help customers responsibly dispose of packaging after use.
Printing
Sustainable Print
Sustainable Print are a print company based in Cranbrook, Kent, focussed solely on printing using the most environmentally materials and processes available. This includes using 100% recycled and recyclable paper, biodegradable or plant-based inks. Their services range from small format printing such as business cards and booklets to posters and signage – all with great environmental credentials. They are also engaged in their local community and provide printing to support local schools and charitable groups.
Folksy Plus Members: 5% off
Sustainable Custom Products
Zap! Creatives
Zap! Creatives is an eco-friendly online manufacturing platform that provides customisable sustainable products and services for creative individuals and businesses. From recycled acrylic and sustainable wooden custom pins, badges, charms and keyrings to eco-friendly sticker printing, their professional design and manufacturing teams cater to all project sizes and ensure quality through strict checks. Zap! is committed to aligning their products and services with your values, helping you bring your creative ideas to life while safeguarding the environment.
Folksy Plus Members: 10% off
To access discount codes, go to the Folksy Plus page on your Seller Dashboard.
About Folksy
Folksy is the Marketplace for Makers – and we think it’s the best place to buy and sell handmade in the UK. It’s run by a small team who are passionate about craft. We have been spearheading the handmade movement since 2008 when we set up Folksy to offer artists, designers and makers a friendly place to sell their work. We are now the largest UK marketplace for craft and handmade.
Folksy is intentionally not curated, so there are no gatekeepers deciding who or what is “good enough”. Whether you’re based in a professional studio or create at your kitchen table, as long as your work is original or made by hand in the UK, you’re welcome on Folksy.
What is Folksy Plus?
Our Folksy Plus membership is designed for makers who are serious about their craft. For £7.50 a month or £75 a year (equivalent to 2 months free) you get:
• Unlimited free listings
• Free daily relistings
• Five extra images per listing
• Access to Plus-only events
• Discounts, offers and free events from our Trusted Suppliers
• Free Etsy import service
• ‘Featured Items’ within your shop
• A Folksy Plus badge on your shop page