Leading national arts and crafts retailer A.C. Moore and award-winning global television shopping network Create and Craft announced today a strategic partnership that is poised to revolutionize the craft industry and carve a new dimension in the creative marketplace. The exclusive collaboration will showcase A.C. Moore's collection of more than 40,000 products on Create and Craft's global broadcast to more than 70 million homes, providing creative consumers with a shopping experience on a scale heretofore unseen.
The partnership combines A.C. Moore's value-trusted products and industry insight with Create and Craft's media expertise and devoted craft following. Create and Craft, part of Ideal Shopping Direct, is already a successful enterprise in the U.K., broadcasting 24/7 on all major providers, along with Dish Network channel 221 in the U.S. The network can also be streamed on Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire. With the addition of A.C. Moore's comprehensive suite of proprietary products and a strategic plan to increase visibility, the companies are poised to bring arts and crafts straight into the homes of millions of consumers worldwide.
"Create and Craft's partnership with A.C Moore creates a unique and exciting consumer proposition, delivering innovative products supported by relevant, inspirational education to a borderless, international community, creating the world's largest crafting family," said Create and Craft CEO Tony Sheridan. "This partnership will create a market leading omni-channel experience, giving the customer the power to decide how they want to engage; on-line, on-air, on any device, in-store or at one of our many consumer events."
"This alliance will position both companies on the leading edge of digital commerce and creative innovation, producing a commanding craft organization offering multi-channel access to industry-leading products and services," said A.C. Moore President Anthony Piperno. "The opportunities this endeavor offers the global creative consumer as well as the entire arts and craft community are immeasurable. We are very excited to partner with such a creative force in the industry, and look forward to harnessing the synergy our combined companies will generate."
A.C. Moore currently operates 135 brick-and-mortar stores in the United States; the launch of the exclusive partnership with dedicated airtime on Create and Craft's global broadcast is expected in early 2018.
About A.C. Moore: Established in Moorestown, N.J. in 1985, A.C. Moore is devoted to being the first choice for product selection, value and service that inspires and fulfills unlimited creative possibilities. For more information, visit acmoore.com.
About Create and Craft at Ideal Shopping Direct: Create and Craft, part of the Ideal Shopping Direct Group, is a multi-channel craft retailer. Create and Craft broadcasts live on TV and online in the UK and US, offering paper craft, jewelry, sewing, cake decorating and knitting products. In September 2015, the business was acquired by U.S. private equity firm Blackstone. For more information, visit createandcraft.com
