The results are in, and now we can announce the winners of the coveted Craft Business Awards

Our journey to find the crafting companies recommended by our readers is over for this year, and Craft Business can now reveal the winners of the 2012/13 prestigious awards.

The votes came pouring in from industry professionals in recognition of the companies who are really doing their bit for the crafting cause, from manufacturing and distributing innovative products to offering retailer support, and comprehensive, navigable websites – all the things that make the retailers’ life that bit easier. The awards are your way to thank those industry professionals who are helping you move onwards and upwards in the creative world of craft retail.

Find out what the winners had to say in the May issue of Craft Business.

Best wholesaler/manufacturer Papercraft
Winner: Woodware Craft Collection
Highly commended: Personal Impressions

Knitting & crochet
Winner: Coats Crafts
Highly commended: King Cole

Jewellery & beading
Winner: Beads Unlimited
Highly commended: Creative Beadcraft

Stitching & haberdashery
Winner: Groves and Banks
Highly commended: Coats Crafts

Tools, storage & accessories
Winner: Woodware
Highly commended: Tonic

Support & service
Winner: Beads Unlimited
Highly commended: Craft Creations

Trade website
Winner: www.beadsunlimted.co.uk
Highly commended: www.burhousebeads.com

Best innovation Most innovative product
Winner: Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)
Highly commended: Pony Interchnageables (Groves and Banks)

Most innovative manufacturer
Winner: Spellbinders
Highly commended: Artemio

Best retailer Independent
Winner: The Black Sheep Craft Barn, Warrington
Highly commended: Butterfly Bright, Dorset

Chain
Winner: Hobbycraft
Highly commended: Abakhan

Website
Winner: www.beadsdirect.co.uk
Highly commended: www.createandcraft.tv

Best craft book publisher Winner: Search Press
Highly commended: David and Charles