New direction for Worthing craft fair organisers

W38677H11 WH BARTIE BOUTIQUE PIC S.G. 17.09.2011

Bartie Boutique St Pauls Saturday Rachel Gilmour Kate Wright and Jess Estcourt W38677h11 ENGSNL00120110919100044 — W38677H11 WH BARTIE BOUTIQUE PIC S.G. 17.09.2011 Bartie Boutique St Pauls Saturday Rachel Gilmour Kate Wright and Jess Estcourt W38677h11 ENGSNL00120110919100044

CRAFT fair organisers have gone back to the drawing board to organise a major two-day craft expo to increase exposure for traders.

Bartie’s Boutique started as a small-scale craft fair, raising money for Cancer Research.

Working with crafters from across the area, it progressed to a larger venue in Worthing’s St Paul’s Centre but with footfall continuing to struggle, it has teamed-up with Worthing Theatres to work on a new project.

Jess Escourt, who co-founded Bartie’s with Rachel Gilmour, said: “We have now hit a crunch point 3 years on where Rachel and I have decided that the current formula isn’t working and isn’t giving our crafters the audience they deserve.

“Worthing Theatres has asked us to bring the ‘art’ in Bartie’s to a bigger venue and a huge marketing database and work with them to produce a two-day weekend craft and art expo and we feel this is the right direction to take Bartie’s to.”

The event is in the early stages of planning but would be held at Worthing Assembly Hall in May.

Previously holding six events in 2014, it is hoped holding the one larger fair would create more footfall.