Gifts Today 30th Anniversary edition

Gifts Today October 1989 - 2019

30 Y R A S R E ANNIV

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…bringing joy every day ENESCO LIMITED, Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, England, CA3 0EN. UK Customer Services: Telephone: 01228 404022 Email: trade@enesco.co.uk Overseas Customer Services: Telephone: +44 1228 404066 Email: eurosales@enesco.co.uk GUND is a division of Spin Master Inc.

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Contents 9 13

Welcome from Malcolm Naish, Chairman of Lema Publishing Message from Sally Norton, Editor of Gifts Today

Timelines We take a look back through the archives of Gifts Today at what was making the news in our industry over the past three decades from 1989 to 2019 14 Gifts Today archives 1989-1994 52 Gifts Today archives 2005-2009 26 Gifts Today archives 1995-1999 64 Gifts Today archives 2010-2014 40 Gifts Today archives 2000-2004 84 Gifts Today archives 2015-2019 October 1989

Company profiles Priceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Candles Enesco Parlane Puckator Langs Robert Harrop Margarete Steiff Keel Toys Candle Warmers Etc/Liberty Candles Lesser & Pavey Yankee Candles Joe Davies Candlelight Personalised Memento Company House of Marbles Emma Ball Manor House Home Fragrance Ashleigh & Burwood Mad Beauty Scottish Fine Soaps Heaven Scent Classic Canes

66 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 86 88 90 92 94 95 96 98

St Eval Top Drawer Home & Gift Christmasworld Harrogate Christmas & Gift Hong Kong show Ambiente Spring and Autumn Fairs (Hyve Group) Rainbow Wild Things Museums & Galleries Miss Milly Valerie Graham Gisela Graham Xystos Something Different

Opinion 49 68

Ken Johnson looks back on a career in the gift and collectables industry David Metcalfe looks back on Spring and Autumn Fairs

Gifts Today team Editor Sally Norton sally@lemapublishing.co.uk Joined GT 2016 Advertisement Manager Mark Horsnell markh@lemapublishing.co.uk Joined GT 2006 New Business Sales Marian McNamara marian@lemapublishing.co.uk Joined GT 2019

Lema Publishing Ltd

October 1999

1989

Layout/Design Rick Vickers rick@lemapublishing.co.uk Joined GT 1989, first issue Managing Director Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk Joined GT 1995

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Gifts Today Month: October 2019 Issue: 1 Volume: 31

OFFICIALLY LICENSED PRODUCTS

Production Director Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk Joined GT 1989 Chairman Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk Founder of Gifts Today

1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2UB

Telephone: 01442 289930

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Gifts Today 7

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Welcome from Malcolm Naish Thirty years ago the very first edition of Gifts Today found its way to just over 7000 buyers and suppliers within the UK gift industry. At that time the two established gift titles were printing far less with, what we believed, was a somewhat old-fashioned editorial mix.

I had first become involved in the gift industry in 1983 when we began publishing a daily paper at the Harrogate Gift Fair. A few years later thanks to David Metcalfe who was running TPS, the owners of Spring and Autumn Fair, we were also publishing daily papers at these two major shows. Already having an established title in the toy industry that overlapped slightly into gifts, it seemed the right thing to do and go monthly with a new industry title. Gifts Today was very quickly embraced by the industry and those two existing titles pretty quickly disappeared.

Unlike its sister title Toys ‘n’ Playthings, we very soon realised the vast variety that made up the gift trade.

The toughest challenge was to marry up all these various strands into a title that would offer the buyer plenty of choice and, at the same time, give our advertisers the opportunity to reach a far greater audience than they had previously been able to.

Looking back over the last 30 years I want to say a big thank you to those early supporters who still continue to support us 30 years later. To name a few Enesco, Lesser & Pavey, Rainbow Designs, Steiff, Sea Gems, Paul Lamond, Joe Davies, Portmeirion, Price’s Candles, Stoneglow, Robert Harrop and of course all those shows that still continue to thrive today. My apologies if I’ve left anyone out!

It is also interesting to note the various collectable categories that flourished for long periods and then inevitably faded.

If we think of the late eighties/early nineties, collectables seem to be king both in fine china and cold cast resin, and a number of these companies had huge Collector Clubs with early pieces being sold for a fortune - and all without the aid of the internet! Collectable plush has seen a number of big names. Just think of Garfield, Sad Sam, Ty Beanies to name but three. Who remembers the collectable craze for those small shoes and handbags and craze lines such as Rockin Flowers and Big Mouth Billy Bass.

One thing is for sure, that whilst many companies disappeared, were merged or bought the gift trade has most certainly endured and continues to boast many thriving companies in all shapes and sizes.

Here at Gifts Today we shall continue to offer a totally independent point of view, at the heart of the industry and again my thanks to everyone for enabling us to remain very much a part of this great industry. I hope you will all enjoy reading this rather special 30th anniversary edition.

Malcolm Naish 1989

‘Looking back over the last 30 years I want to say a big thank you to those early supporters who still continue to support us 30 years later’

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Candlelight Products Ltd, Ustun House, Waddington Way, Aldwarke, Rotherham S65 3SH 01709 723000 | contact@candlelight.co.uk | www.candlelight.co.uk

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Message from the editor It’s 30 years this month since the first issue of Gifts Today rolled off the presses. Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, and Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers topped the charts. The year, 1989, was also the one that the internet came into being, thanks to Sir Tim BernersLee, a change that would go on to have huge implications for the whole of retail.

I’ve been the editor of Gifts Today for three years and, until I started leafing through the beautifully bound volumes of the magazine we have in our offices, I thought I’d seen my fair share of trends and crazes over that time. How wrong I was! It’s been fascinating to read about what’s been in fashion with gift buyers and gift givers over the past 30 years - miniature houses, collectable teddies, animal figurines, dancing flowers, the singing fish that was so popular even our Queen was said to have one in Balmoral. I’ve tried to capture the flavour of some of this in the ‘timeline’ pages you’ll find in this publication, along with profiles of some of the best-loved companies in the UK gift industry, many of whom have advertised with Gifts Today from the very beginning.

I’ve learnt so much from talking to these companies as they tell their stories and dig through their archives to discover old photographs, adverts and wonderful products. Many talk about humble beginnings from kitchen tables, others talk about

fires and floods. We cover a company who supplied candles for Captain Scott’s final expedition to the South Pole and one who has been offered ‘protection’ by an aged ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser. I’ve come to realise there are so many stories to share, whether you’ve been in the industry your whole career, or are a relative newcomer like me. And, I’ve realised, there’s so much to look forward to in this creative and resilient industry we are all part of.

It’s fantastic to be part of a business that’s all about helping people create special moments; helping bridge the gap between giving and receiving. After all, gifts are really one of the nicest things in life and, I’m sure, this will always be the case. I hope you enjoy this 30th anniversary publication to celebrate our wonderful industry.

1989

Gifts Today 13

Timeline 1989 - 1994 1990

1989 t issue!

Firs 1989

October Gifts Today was launched in October 1989, with Garfield as our first cover star. This was also the year Tim Berners-Lee published a proposal that led to the first ever web browser, the World Wide Web, which was to change the way we do everything, including how we buy and sell gifts.

14 Gifts Today

1992 1990

October Rock’N Flowers and Dancing Coca Cola Cans were the huge craze of 1990, the year John Major became PM and we experienced the poll tax riots. Stores telephoned in reports of selling out within hours. ‘We have been overwhelmed by the demand,’ a spokesman from Hightrex told Gifts Today.

1991

1991

November/December There were fortunes to be made in a tiny cottage industry, with John Hine Studios producing whole villages of these miniature buildings. There were even models of historic pubs for collectors to discover, as shown on the back cover of our November/ December issue, featuring wellknown inns such as The Kings Arms in Amersham which would go on to be featured in the 1994 film Four Weddings and a Funeral.

1992

January/February Speaking of John Hine, the man himself was known in the industry as a ‘connoisseur of fine food and wines’ and launched a monthly cookery column in Gifts Today.

His first column, a special Spring Fair menu, included nettle soup and chicken and cheese crepe, designed to ‘fortify you for the rigours of the NEC.’

1993

1994 May Yorkshire TV’s hit show, Darling Buds of May, led to a raft of licensed giftware, including board games, puzzles and plates. Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, the show even inspired a range of Ma Larkin meals at the Grand Metropolitan’s Country Carvery restaurants.

June In the year the Channel Tunnel opened to link London and Paris by rail, Trollmania swept the country and DKL’s original trolls led the way.

Originally a craze in the 1970s, trolls were big again, featuring in several video games and a video show based on troll dolls.

1993

March 1993 was named ‘Year of the Rabbit’ as Peter Rabbit turned 100. Gifts Today ran several pages of gift ideas - figurines, games, masks, artwork and button badges – based on Beatrix Potter’s loveable character.

June In the year a crèche was introduced at Spring Fair for the first time, dinosaurs were huge as the gift industry prepared for the arrival of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Jurassic Park in the summer. Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum starred in the film about a group of experts chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA.

1994

April The original Flower Fairies, based on the artwork of Cicely Mary Barker, was an incredibly popular licence in the gift sector. Grass Heads were on trend, too!

June Actress and singer Cher visited Top Drawer to buy for her own mail order catalogue, Sanctuary. English musician Sting also made headlines when his CD Ten Summoner’s Tales was the first item to be sold securely on the internet in August 1994.

Price’s Candles With a history dating back to 1830 and a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty The Queen since 1850, Price’s Candles certainly know about candles.

Price’s Candles was founded

by William Wilson and Benjamin Lancaster, who bought the patent for the separation of coconut fats. The pair soon developed this technology for candle-making to create a hard, pure white fat called stearine. Price’s Candles quickly became known for their ‘Sherwood’ dinner candles and these were used to light the wedding of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert on 10 February 1840.

In fact, looking back through the history books, it seems that Price’s Candles have been there on some of the most momentous occasions.

Candles for the Coronation

Fragrance Collection The company supplied Captain Scott with ‘Belmont Stearine’ candles for his final expedition to the South Pole in 1910-12, provided candles for Princess Elizabeth’s wedding to Phillip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey in 1947 and produced monumental candles for the state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.

And, like the best heritage companies, Price’s Candles are always looking to the future with new ranges on offer. Recent innovations include their best-selling Fresh Air Odour Eliminating range, their classic Signature range and many more. Over the past two years alone, they have launched their Heritage Range and Fragrance Collection and are now set to launch a new Luxury range. With four initial fragrances for the festive season and a premium, giftable feel, these candles have all the high quality you’d expect from Price’s Candles.

Price’s factory

And, with a nod to their past, Price’s Candles have recently released their new-look Sherwood candle packaging to the market. Supplied to the Royal Household since the 1840s, this iconic range has just reverted back to the historical packaging to remind us all of this company’s incredible heritage. prices-candles.co.uk

Fresh Air candles

16 Gifts Today

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Silent Wings, Border Fine Arts

Enesco Marketing director Helen Cottrill looks back on the company’s rich history.

‘When I joined Enesco 26 years ago in 1993, it looked very different to how it does today. Initially, we were three entirely separate companies: Border Fine Arts, Lilliput Lane and Enesco. However, one thing has always remained the same after all of these years - we have always been committed to bringing our customers the biggest choice and best quality of collectables and giftware.

‘At the height of collectables in the 90s, we were fortunate enough to have the Cherished Teddies 18 Gifts Today

Beatrix Potter

Collection, one of the most successful global collections ever. Today, many of our collections are licensed products.

We’re proud to say that we have had the Beatrix Potter licence for thirty years – our first introduction to the world of licensing – and we still enjoy a brilliant working relationship with the people at Penguin today. Since then, our portfolio is now primarily licensed gifts, seeing us work with some of the UK’s best-loved brands, like Disney and Warner Bros, as well as collaborating with globally recognised artists, like Jim Shore and Miss Mindy.

‘We have always been committed to bringing our customers the biggest choice and best quality of collectables and giftware’ ‘This year is a big one for all of us at Enesco, as we’ve been marking a very special milestone. Twenty-five years ago, Border Fine Arts, Lilliput Lane and Enesco officially became Enesco Limited, incorporating these three companies at our head office in Carlisle. Next year is another a special one for us, too, as we celebrate twenty years of distributing artist Susan Lordi’s iconic Willow Tree collection – a market-leader when it comes to gift-giving purchases.

‘While market conditions have been tough for the collectables sector at times, it seems as though we’ve now gone full circle during Enesco’s twenty-five-year history. From the collectors’ events of the 90s to a whole new demographic of collectors, this time with a passion for all things Disney or Harry Potter, sharing

their purchases online with their followers via YouTube or Instagram.

‘One thing is for sure - it’s the people here at Enesco that make it all possible.

From buyers and designers to HR and Cherished Teddies customer service, it’s a team effort that looking forward to what the next drives the success of our business. twenty-five years will bring in the The people here are passionate about gift-giving industry and beyond.’ what they do, with 28% of staff enesco.co.uk having been part of Enesco for more than twenty years. Together we’re

Lilliput Lane

Gifts Today 19

Parlane International When it comes to thriving in the gift industry, Parlane knows how essential it is to adapt with the times Parlane would like to congratulate Gifts Today on their 30th anniversary and wish them prosperity for the next 30 years. It has been fascinating to see how the magazine has developed and great to have worked with the editorial and production team. The market has changed immensely over the years and it has been vital for both the publication and companies within the sector to adapt to the times for continued success. Adaption is something that Parlane knows well.

The business opened its doors in 1970, predominately selling artisanmade recycled glassware from Europe.

This simple kitchenware range quickly became a household staple in the Seventies. Keen to expand, Parlane extended their offering to include classic porcelain cook and serve-ware.

As the range developed further, colour became more evident. Brightly 20 Gifts Today

coloured glass bottles were skilfully mouth-blown with beads of colour added to the molten glass, making each piece unique.

In the 90s, keeping ahead of trends, Parlane started importing Oriental dining sets from Hong Kong. This shift in buying almost exclusively from Europe to also buying from the Far East gave access to a wider selection of new products.

Moving into the 21st century, the team continued to source exciting and unusual new ranges from around the world. The collection expanded to offer a much broader variety of trendsetting products, including high quality faux flowers and plants, candle holders, vases and planters, glassware and decorative accessories, along with kitchenware, enabling Parlane to become one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading suppliers of interior accessories. Although many mechanical methods have been introduced into the industry since the

early days, Parlane still use traditional handmade techniques for many products, along with natural materials, to give the desired look.

In 2019 Parlane was purchased by furniture and interior experts Gallery Direct, moving Parlane into a new and exciting phase. By sharing the two teamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; knowledge and expertise, both companies will continue to grow and challenge market norms, leading by design, developing exciting new market-leading products to add to their ranges.

As well as their large showroom in the Cotswolds, where their products are beautifully displayed for customers to view them, Parlane have just opened a stunning new showroom in Leeds, just off the M1.

Their SS20 Collection, which features over 900 new items, has just been launched, and Parlane are now looking forward to celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2020. parlaneinternational.co.uk

Lowman Works

Puckator Next year Puckator Ltd will celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Lessons learnt along the way have built this small importer business in Cornwall into an industry leader recognised in the Sunday Times Lloyds SME Export Track 100 for 2018.

Established in 1990 by husband and wife team, Mark and Caroline Howard, the business initially imported arts and crafts from around the world, specialising in wood carvings from Indonesia which were distributed through the growing number of independent gift shops around the UK. After several years of small scale importing, a main office and warehouse base was established just outside Liskeard in South East Cornwall, and a sales director, Matthew Shaw, was brought in to expand the product and customer base.

As the business grew so did the reach of Puckator and, over the years, the company expanded its online and on-the-road selling platforms to multiple countries across the world. Now with 11 language sites selling to consumers around the world, and offices in the UK, Italy, Spain, Poland and China, Puckator is a global leader in the giftware industry. As well as developing its customer platform, the company has also expanded its design Aishi Bibi Mausoleum, Silk Road

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Laji Mountain, China

portfolio with a team of designers based in Sheffield in the Spring Fair 2014 UK, partnerships with licensed brands such as Aardman, Mr Bean, Simon’s Cat and Yellow Submarine, as well as freelance designers such as Lisa Parker, Jan Pashley and Kim Haskins. Puckator has built up relationships with suppliers and manufacturers around the world, making it easy to develop and source new and innovative products.

Puckator still maintains Italy event 2014 the same core values which held true when the company was first established; good quality, well-designed products, competitive pricing, and a down to earth, but highly professional customer service team. The buying team always keeps a keen eye on developments in the sector and, with increasing emphasis on product design and development of environmental products and techniques, the future is bright and they look forward to bringing innovative products to the wholesale gifts market for years to come. puckator.co.uk

On the Silk Road Puckator’s MD Mark Howard travelled the Silk Route this year, travelling from China to the UK through eight countries and over 14,000km. Part of the trip was fundraising for Save the Children. He donated a cheque for £14,788 – more than a £1 for each km travelled.

22 Gifts Today

Paris 2019

Another great edition!

Congratulations to Gifts Today on 30 years of supporting the Gifts industry.

At Museums & Galleries we often take the long view on quality â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and three decades is a long time to be setting the standard! So hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to the latest, greatest edition and to many more in the future, with thanks.

Tel: 01373 462165

www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

Email: sales@mgml.co.uk

Langs Jane Bourne tells the story of this muchloved 70-year-old giftware business ‘My parents, Liese and Richard, established the business working from home in 1949. Liese threaded pearl necklaces that were supplied to the American Forces camps whilst Richard imported cuckoo clocks from the Black Forest that were also supplied to the American forces. Later they added handcarved wooden animal figures from the Dolomites, and musical boxes from Italy and Austria. They exhibited at the first Blackpool Trade Fair in the 1950s.

‘In 1962 my father engaged two agents and exhibited at the first Harrogate Gift Fair, where I also helped at the age of seven. More general gifts were added to the range. In 1973 I joined the business full time and started expanding the business, taking on more agents exhibiting at regional shows around the country and at having a stand at the first Birmingham Fair.

‘In 1988 I acquired Hazel Craft, a wellestablished soft toy importer. This gave me the opportunity to visit the Canton Fair in 1990 accompanied by my partner Teresa who had a good eye for product.

We spent up to three weeks twice a year in the Far East accompanied by our manager, adding visits to the Philippines, Taiwan and Korea.

‘It was Teresa who spotted one of our top lines ever - the Hairy Sheep - which sold like hot cakes. We also introduced a doorstop and draught excluders in the shapes of animals that became an instant success with customers.

‘The business continued to expand and we moved to much larger modern premises in 1992, still keeping our ethos of running the business as a family concern. By the year 2000 we had 10

24 Gifts Today

agents covering the whole of the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to a host of countries.

‘In 2007 we expanded the design department further when our head buyer joined us, introducing home decor gifts and developing our own products in house. Today we have a design department of five people producing an array of gifts all designed in Derbyshire, offering our customers the opportunity of having bespoke products created for them.

‘Rolf decided a few years ago to take more of a back seat in the company and allow his long-serving management team of Keith, Steve and Jane to push the company forwards. Keith’s focus is to continue looking after our loyal customers, many of whom he remembers serving when first joining Langs over 19 years ago. Strategy changes but one aspect that customers acknowledge when dealing with Langs is that we are a warm, welcoming, honest company.’ richardlang.co.uk

2019

Rolf and Teresa

Rolf, early days

Timeline 1995 - 1999

1997 1996

1995 1995

March In the year Amazon and eBay stormed the web, Gifts Today launched its first ‘Collectables Quarterly’ in March, noting that ‘companies are investing time and money in the collectables market in response to the demand from the consumer.’ Companies featured in the feature included Alberon Designs, Collectible World Studios, John Hine, Portmeirion Potteries and Lesser & Pavey.

26 Gifts Today

1997 1996

July Collectors’ dolls in all shapes, sizes and designs continued to be popular amongst collectors. It wasn’t all traditional designs on offer, as this advert from Hobo Designs in the July issue of Gifts Today shows. The new range featured a collection of limited edition clown dolls. Not great news for coulrophobics.

1997

March The ‘cottage king’ David Winter joined Enesco, as they secured the exclusive rights to his designs for the next ten years. John Hammond of Enesco commented: ‘We see this as a good opportunity to secure the top end of the cottage category.’

October On 31 August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died in hospital after being injured in a car crash in a road tunnel in Paris. Figures from Autumn Fair confirmed attendance on the opening day of the show – a week after her death – was hit by this news.

October Gifts Today’s publisher Malcolm Naish came face to face with his doppelganger, designer Jeff Banks, at the Gift of the Year awards in September 1997. Apparently lots of people at the awards, in the Giftware Association’s 50th year, commented on how much alike they both looked. Malcolm can be seen, above left, presenting the Collectables category award to Bernard Pearson, Waxworks, along with Jeff himself (pictured right).

1998 Peter Knight

1999 Trish Weatherall

1998

February Gifts Today ran an interview with the legendary Peter Knight from his Beaconsfield shop where, it had been revealed in the papers, Her Majesty The Queen did her Christmas shopping assisted by Mr Knight himself. Peter remained pretty tightlipped about this news, saying: ‘There is no story – discretion is everything.’

May Gifts Today asked shop owners if they ever considered, as a retailer, going online? ‘No, we’re not on the internet, but I’ve heard that someone

has found our name on it,’ said Micki Brooks, owner of Grapevine in Kent.

‘We’ve got a computer at home but I’m not allowed to touch it,’ said Graham Drewett, House of Fine Gifts in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

May Gifts Today reported that a cool half a million units of the Tamworth Two pig plush were ordered by customers of PMS International Group after worldwide publicity. The Tamworth Two were a pair of pigs that escaped from an abattoir in January 1998. The pigs spent a week on the run before finally being recaptured and rehomed at a rare breeds farm in Kent.

1999

March Gifts Today columnist Trish Weatherall wrote a feature called ’63 ways to drive a retailer mad.’ It included: • When purchasing a £1.99 item with a £10 note, offer the shopkeeper an additional 1p, and say ‘Will this help?’ This will leave the shopkeeper confused for the remainder of the day.

• Walk all around the shop. Do not look at the shopkeeper but as you are going out of the door say loudly, ‘No, they haven’t got it.’

• After inspecting the shelves carefully, do not make a purchase

but say to the shopkeeper, ‘it’s a lovely shop, I could spend a fortune in here.’ Some things never change!

October Miniature shoes and boots were ‘hotfooting it off the shelves of gift shops,’ according to Julian Hunt from Lesser & Pavey. ‘They are very affordable for kids who are buying something for mum and grandma.’

Robert Harrop Designs Ltd Robert and Margaret

In 1982 figurine modeller Robert Harrop, graduate of Wolverhampton College of Art in three-dimensional design, was commissioned by the Earl of Bradford for a conventional Labrador study. Weston Park was a world lost in time where men and animals lived and worked in the same harmony more evident in a bygone age.

The Earl of Bradford and his dog formed the basis of the ‘Lord Lawrence’ Labrador figurine, shown above in sketch form, and a group of characters was selected to make up the 12 members of the original County Set. This was to be the birth of a new 28 Gifts Today

family of collectables and the inspiration for the forerunners of The Country Companions and The Doggie People.

In 1986 Robert and his wife Margaret began to build on Robert’s vision of almost human canine characters. The business expanded and they were able to take on rented premises, employing the services of two talented painters and a full time production assistant. They quickly outgrew these premises and in 1988 purchased Coalport House in Shifnal, where they expanded the painting force to include a full-time studio, and a network of UK sales agents.

Within two years, demand for The Country Companions – later rebranded as The Doggie People - increased with the interest and establishment of distributors worldwide, and in 1992, Margaret’s son, designer and sculptor Matt Buckley, joined and is now the company’s Creative Director.

Matt was heavily involved in the development of The Doggie People and the company’s licensed figurine ranges. The Beano and The Dandy was launched in 1995 and was Robert Harrop Designs’ first foray into licensing. Further licensed figurine ranges would soon follow, including; Camberwick Green, Roald Dahl, Paddington Bear, Thunderbirds, 2000AD and Doctor Who. During 2009, the company relocated to Jackfield near Ironbridge, to open an Archive Gallery and Shop displaying in excess of 1400 of their individual figurine designs.

Then in 2011, Matt created Edge Sculpture. These contemporary figures and busts all have the same raw energy

and unique appeal attributed to Matt’s distinctive and highly original sculpting style. It has been a huge success with a network of independent retailers, not only here in the UK and Europe, but a business partnership with Enesco LLC plans to open up the US market and beyond. The company has now relocated back to their Coalport House unit to take advantage of the space and infrastructure networks that their original home of Shifnal provides.

Matt’s brother Dan joined the company in 2002 as Operations Director and together, alongside Robert and Margaret who are still very much involved, they hope to drive the business forward to even greater success. robertharrop.com

Matt Buckley

Margarete Steiff From humble beginnings in a family sewing room, this is the story of the company responsible for creating the world’s first teddy bear.

Born in 1857 in Giengen, a small town near Stuttgart, Margarete Steiff was a remarkable woman. At only eighteen months old she contracted polio, which left both her legs paralysed and her right arm severely weakened, and she was to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. This didn’t stop her following her dreams.

She became a seamstress in 1866, creating felt garments, and opened a dressmaking shop in 1977. She then founded the Felt Mail Order Co, which enabled her to employ a few people.

In early 1880 Margarete came across a pattern in a magazine for a little felt elephant and started making little felt animals, to be used as toys or pincushions. She soon opened her own felt store and founded Margarete Steiff GmbH. And so began the story of Steiff toys.

Demand for Margarete’s felt toys grew and, in 1892, the company produce its first catalogue offering an overview of the entire range.

It contained the phrase - ‘only

Felt Elephant 30 Gifts Today

Soft Cuddly Friends the best is good enough for our children’- a motto still used by the company today.

In 1897, Margarete took her first stand at the Leipzig Toy Fair, and was represented there by her nephew Richard who had just joined the company. Richard’s passion and admiration for real bears fuelled him with the determination to design a soft toy bear that would be attractive and appealing to children.

Richard visited zoos and circuses and created a number of bears designed to be ridden or pulled.

He also produced bears that stood upright on their hind legs. In 1902, Richard created the very first string-jointed bear, which was then debuted at the 1903 Leipzig Toy Fair.

It was an immediate success and Steiff opened their factory in 1903 to produce them. It’s still the home of Steiff today.

Richard continued to perfect the bear and by 1905 had introduced disc joints to the design. Today’s Steiff teddy bear remains almost unchanged to this very day.

Margarete passed away in 1909, leaving a great legacy. Her nephews took over the company and continued to propel Steiff to further success.

The Steiff teddy bear turned 100 in 2002, with the Steiff name held in high regard among collectors. steiff.com

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Keel Toys Thirty years ago, a recycled plastic bottle was a spaceship put together with sticky back plastic as directed by the beloved Blue Peter. Thirty years on and single use plastics and bottles have become one of the hot topics resulting in the increased use of recycled polyester.

Recycled polyester, also known as rPET, is obtained by melting down existing plastic and re-spinning it into new polyester fibre. This process uses 59% less energy to produce than virgin polyester. Just to give an example, 16 water bottles will produce enough fibre to make a 30cm toy. While much attention is given to rPET made from plastic bottles and containers thrown away by consumers, in reality polyethylene terephthalate can be recycled from both post-industrial and postconsumer input materials.

Keel Toys are proud to say that they have already phased in the 100% use of recycled polyester stuffing in all their toys. The next step for them was to design a fully sustainable rangeâ&#x20AC;Śintroducing CuddlEco. CuddlEco is the new 100% recycled range from Keel Toys.

These ecofriendly toys are manufactured and stuffed with 100% recycled polyester from plastic waste.

Weighted with recycled glass beads, these floppy toys have been perfectly designed for hugging by a loving new friend.

Traditional glass eyes have been replaced with cotton embroidered ones that give a unique and playful character to these eco soft toys.

The Keel Toy icon on all toys is now formed from FSC cardboard, saving plastic on the millions of toys they sell each year.

Even the sew-in label is recycled, and all are manufactured in an ICTI

CuddlEco 32 Gifts Today

1993 Keel Toys Rabbit ethically audited factory.

CuddlEco features endangered animals from the four corners of the world including: Turtle, Sloth, Tiger, Snow Leopard, Panda, Blue Whale, Great Apes and Polar Bear, to name a few. For eco-awareness, the range will be clearly labelled with the sustainable message and offered with a variety of retail solutions.

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Candle Warmers Etc/Liberty Candles Candle Warmers Etc became the original alternative to lighting a candle in May 2001 when founder Bart Kennington became aware of the dangers of lit candles. An unattended candle sparked a fire that destroyed a neighbour’s home, and Bart started looking for a solution. Inspired by a mug warmer he’d been given as a gift, Bart invested his family’s savings into 5000 mug warmers, and the Original Candle Warmer was born. By 2005, a million Original Candle Warmers had been sold.

Bart’s idea caught on quickly and by 2007 Candle Warmers Etc was

34 Gifts Today

selling a wide variety of candle warmers to over 10,000 gift shops across the US. Bart’s family business merged with four brothers-in-law to form the leadership group that carries the company today: Bart Kennington (CEO), Brian Beesley (CIO), Spencer Beesley (COO), Chris Barnes (CMO), and Brett Heyland (CSO). Since the merger, Candle Warmers Etc has continued to grow exponentially.

Their current product line includes over 180 styles of fragrance warmers across ten unique product lines, and 176 wax products. In 2016, they launched the new product line, Airomé

that features all-natural essential oils, and ultrasonic essential oil diffusers.

Candle Warmers Etc. continues to be the leader in the rapidly growing candle-warming industry, while Airomé has established itself as the market leader of high-quality, decorative diffusers and essential oils. They remain committed to continuing in the company’s tradition of family culture and constant innovation. Candle Warmers Etc and Airome sell in 28 countries and over 40 trademarks and patents are registered worldwide. libertycandles.co.uk

Lesser & Pavey Ltd For the past thirty years Lesser & Pavey Ltd have been very strong supporters of Gifts Today and advertised in the magazine’s very first edition. In fact, they cannot recall any edition, since the magazine started, in which Lesser & Pavey haven’t featured prominently.

Lesser & Pavey Ltd is nearly 50 years old having been established January 1971. Founded by the current Chairman, Ronnie Pavey, Lesser & Pavey have been one of the most influential companies in the development of the giftware trade.

At the outset the company imported exclusively from Europe but, after only a few years, Ronnie recognised the potential of the Far East and started to travel extensively to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.

Ronnie quickly realised the benefits in buying own design products and invested huge amounts of time and money in so doing. He was the first to develop gift box packaging establishing the well-known trademark ‘The Leonardo Collection’, which is today a household name.

Two of Lesser & Pavey’s earliest successes were ‘Cottage Rose’ Bone China Ornaments and the hugely popular ‘Little Nook’ range of collectable, whimsical Animal 36 Gifts Today

Figurines. As a direct result, the Company grew rapidly through the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1993 Julian Hunt, the current MD, joined the business and the growth continued. The company continued with their policy of investment in own design and spent hundreds of thousands of pounds working with artists and sculptors in the UK. Some of Lesser & Pavey’s bestknown products of the time were ‘The Leonardo Collection’ range of Cat and Dog models, British Wildlife and Birds, Leonardo Lady Figurines, Crisalis ‘Paintbox Poppets’ and Crisalis ‘Faeries’. Then followed the era of the ‘Leonardo’ Collectors’ Porcelain Dolls that saw Lesser & Pavey dominate the collectables market and eventually acquire Alberon Dolls.

Consistently throughout their history Lesser & Pavey have been prolific in bringing new and innovative products to the market at value-for-money prices in fabulous gift packaging. This continues to this day, as the company enters another chapter of growth, introducing to the market new ranges like their eco-friendly recyclable bamboo products, William Morris ceramic

and gift ranges as well as their hugely successful range of Desire Aroma Lamps and Humidifiers.

The determination and desire to be the best is as strong today as it was in the 1970s and means Lesser & Pavey will continue as a leading light in the ever changing world of gifts. leonardo.co.uk

Yankee Candle Yankee Candle celebrates the momentous milestone of the brand’s 50th Anniversary this year. Since 1969, Yankee Candle has been sharing its passion for fragrance with the world; developing ontrend, true-to-life fragrances with the power to transform a home and to help consumers savour special moments while connecting with loved ones.

The Yankee Candle story began in the Christmas of 1969 when a sixteen-year-old Mike Kittredge, with no money to buy his mother a present, melted some crayons to make her a candle. When a neighbour saw it and convinced him to sell the candle to her, Yankee Candle was born.

38 Gifts Today

To commemorate such a significant occasion, Yankee Candle relaunched a selection of the most popular fragrances and returning classics from the previous 50 years.

Each handpicked candle celebrates the nostalgia and memories of the past, giving consumers the chance to experience a selection of true classics from the past five decades of fragrance expertise from Yankee Candle.

Launching instore and online in January 2019, the 16 fragrances are characterised by uplifting fresh, floral and fruity fragrances. Each is exclusively available for a limited time only, with different scents available each season, in a Large Jar format with unique anniversary

packaging and an RRP of £23.99.

The 16 scents include:

Spring classics • Honeydew Melon (1980s) Cool slices of vine-ripened, sun-kissed melon delivered to you right from the farm.

• Rainbow’s End (2000s) The peaceful calm after the storm, a wonderfully balmy, refreshing scent of clear country air.

• Orange Dreamsicle (2010s) A favourite childhood summer treat you never outgrow, a cool blend of orange and vanilla ice cream.

• Salt Mist Rose (1990s) The beautiful scent of delicate roses by the sea.

Summer treats • Strawberry (1970s) Ripe and tempting - juicy strawberries bursting with sweetness and kissed with a touch of vanilla.

• Lily of the Valley (1980s) Like a bridal bouquet capturing traditional lily and subtle and soft green notes.

• Splash of Rain (2000s) Potted narcissus after a gentle spring rain.

Autumnal classics • Spiced Apple (1970s) This family recipe for apples seasoned with flavourful spices is brimming with down-home appeal.

• Maple Sugar (1980s) A delicious candy-sweet blend of pure maple syrup with notes of buttery caramel and warm vanilla.

• French Vanilla (1970s) Sweet and traditional, the source of the vanilla fragrance is oil extracted from tropical orchids.

• Be Thankful (2000s) It’s easy to appreciate nature’s goodness in the warm, inviting aromas of an American Thanksgiving kitchen.

‘Since 1969, Yankee Candle has been sharing its passion for fragrance with the world’

Winter nostalgia • Balsam Fir (1990s) A sophisticated take on holiday scents - resinous balsam frosted with lavender.

• Bayberry (1970s) A nostalgic blend of pine and evergreen with spicy undertones of clove and fresh eucalyptus.

• Sugar Plum (1980s) A cheery, enchanting aroma of candied fruit that will fill your home with a feeling of happiness.

• Red Berry & Cedar (2000s) Welcome the season with the delicious holiday aroma of tart red currants and warm cedarwood.

• Christmas Wish (1990s) Santa’s favourite, the aroma of warm vanilla cookies sprinkled with magic sugar sparkles. yankeecandle.co.uk

Did you know?

Yankee Candle expanded to Europe in 1999 when it opened its first distribution centre in Bristol, England, and Yankee Candle Company (Europe) Ltd. was born.

The UK’s first Yankee Candle retail store opened in 2002 and there are now more than 2000 stockists, retailers, outlets and concessions, alongside their own online store yankeecandle.co.uk, offering Yankee Candle’s extensive collection of signature fragrances across the globe.

Gifts Today 39

Timeline 2000 - 2004

2000

Bill Dodd

2000

January There was lots of talk in our January 2000 issue about the Y2K Bug and the dotcom bubble bursting. As our editor wrote in his leader, ‘I am sitting at my office AppleMac praying that when I switch it on in the New Year, everything will be okay.’ No wonder the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ phrase was seen on giftware everywhere.

40 Gifts Today

August Big Mouth Billy Bass was back!

The singing sensation, mounted on a trophy plaque, returned 15 years after he wowed the Queen, the PM and over a million of us with his dancing and vocal skills. This special edition sang the Gloria Gaynor hit ‘I Will Survive’ and, like the others, automatically turned his head and started singing when anyone walked past. As Malcolm Ford, of London distributors Funtime Gifts, said: ‘It’s great the Queen has one. I’ve not met anyone who does not get a chuckle out of Billy – not even Her Majesty.’

March In the year Gifts Today got online, Bill Dodd, chairman of Collectible World Studios, was the first industry figure in the magazine’s ‘chatroom’ on the new website. He described it as ‘akin to entering the lion’s den, with retailers and fellow manufacturers pulling no punches.’ David Metcalfe, chairman and MD of exhibitions’ organiser Trade Promotions Service, was the next to take to the chatroom in our June 2000 issue.

April Goal! Icon Collectibles launched their David Beckham figurine to the market. ‘We won’t be recasting Beckham,” said spokesman Clive Purcell. ‘We hope buyers will accept it as a snapshot in time.’

August Collectible World Studios saw its marketing HQ completely destroyed by a devastating fire in July 2000.

More than 100 firefighters battled to contain the flames.

2001

2002

2003 2001

2002

September 9/11. Four co-coordinated attacks by Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda took place in the US on the morning of Tuesday 11 September 2001.

July Gifts Today had a facelift with a brand new design and updated photographs for the team!

February Spring Fair turned 25 and Gifts Today shared a photo of Her Majesty The Queen visiting the very first show in 1976. PM Tony Blair headed to the show in this silver year.

September Collectable dolls were still on trend in the early 2000s and Alberon Dolls were the cover stars of Gifts Today’s September issue.

May The teddy bear turned 100 and 2002 was hailed ‘The Year of the Bear.’

This prince of plush, created by Margarete Steiff’s nephew Richard back in 1902, was celebrated royally in our May issue.

October Crowds gathered as Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson was spotted at Autumn Fair in September 2002 launching her Living Kitchen range.

2003

July Gifts Today reported on the story of a bull that escaped from a livestock market and burst through the doors of, you’ve guessed it, a china shop. It rampaged for more than two hours, causing damage costing thousands of pounds in the process. Alan Blackburn, the owner of GB Antiques Centre in Lancaster, said: sadly ‘I am concerned that when the insurance company get involved there may be some small print that suggests this was an Act of God.’

2004

January Home fragrance, especially candles, became big news in the gift world.

Candlelight were the cover stars of our January 2004 issue, we had a chat with Clive Harper from Yankee Candle and looked at ranges from the likes of Stone Glow, Potters Crouch and Heathcote & Ivory.

Joe Davies This year has been extra-special for leading giftware importer Joe Davies, as the family-owned business celebrates its 100-year anniversary.

A lot has changed since Joe Davies founded the business in 1919 on his return from the Great War; but he would certainly approve and be very proud that his attitudes towards looking after independent customers continue to remain at the heart of everything the company does today.

It was 1928 when Norman Davies, Joe’s son, came on board and by 1958, Norman’s son Peter, the current chairman, joined the business (initially as floor sweeper and boiler stocker).

At that time, the company had just

42 Gifts Today

six employees and was still based in Shudehill, Manchester.

Steve Davies, Peter’s son and the fourth generation, now heads up the business as managing director and has been responsible for the buying and development of the Joe Davies’ range over the last 20 years.

In the modern world Joe Davies have become renowned for their ability to adapt quickly to trends in the market place, making sure the range is exciting and meets the needs of vibrant and hard-working independent retailers nationally. The company still delivers customer service the Joe Davies way, personally and very much from the heart.

Joe and his son Norman used to travel by steam train and show their wares around towns using a horse and cart as transport for the many samples they would take everywhere with them. Luckily, these days, the only horses you will see are on product! Over the last 40 years, there have been more changes, including technology. Peter remembers receiving the first fax from the Far East; everyone was crowded in a tiny office in Shudehill and, with expressions of awe, everyone agreed this exciting

development would truly change how they did business with the Far East.

‘Our trade is going through many changes, but the quality of independent gift retailers has never been higher,’ says commercial director Paul Hooker. ‘We always feel so very lucky at Joe Davies to be working with so many of these bright, vibrant, innovative and hardworking people, and we’ll carry on working hard to deliver what our customers need in the future.’ joedavies.co.uk

Candlelight Products Ltd Anyone who’s been part of the gift industry for the past 30 years – well, actually, the past 47 years – will know

Mike looking for good product inspiration

44 Gifts Today

Candlelight, the design-led candle and giftware wholesaler.

They’ll also know its owner Mike Winch, easily recognisable with his rock star vibes and trademark cigar. Gifts Today has run many interviews with Mike over the years and he’s always been guaranteed to give some great quotes – sadly not all publishable!

Candlelight has been designing and selling quality wholesale candles, with a wide choice of design-led ranges, since 1972 when Mike founded the company with an initial outlay of just £10. Working as a rep for Johnson Wax, his customers were asking for candles – particularly as there were a number of power cuts at the time. As Mike said: ‘Johnson’s didn’t do them, so I did.’ Over the years, Candlelight has grown to become one of best-established names in the gift trade today building up a loyal base of high street and independent retailers for its home fragrance and extensive homewares collections.

Today its UK warehouse and showrooms include a 150,000 sq ft distribution centre and over 10,000 sq ft of showroom in South Yorkshire where products can be viewed by appointment. Candlelight also has a showroom in Hong Kong that is open all year around for buyers to view its extensive collection. The company also now has a

Mike Winch January 2002

very successful logistics business based in Rotherham, storing and delivering for some 30 clients.

Never a company to stand still, Candlelight has experienced a significant growth in demand for its candle and reed diffusers over the past 12 months. This is since the launch of its own brand Candle Collection containing over 400 new candle products, with some exciting new concepts, as well as inspirational homewares that will enhance any style of home and make ideal gifts.

Watch this space for new developments. candlelight.co.uk

Keren, pictured right, with the team

Personalised Memento Company From humble beginnings round a kitchen table, to their current 22,000 sq ft home, PMC has gone from strength to strength over the last 15 years. Keren Dicken tells the story of PMC. ‘As one of the first companies offering personalisation to trade directly, we’ve seen an exciting progression over the years as personalisation has really taken off across the giftware industry. After building the business from scratch at home, then upgrading to an industrial unit, we started off with nothing but two engraving machines, two kilns, an embroidery machine and six members

of staff. From working each day with paper orders, the PMC of today is a very different vision.

The wonderful thing is we still have some of the original staff.

‘Having settled into our Clocks premises over a decade ago in Fenton, Staffordshire, we have been able to expand the premises team, so many new and fresh ideas and develop into new and exciting coming through and an industry that’s personalisation processes. The leaping ahead in giftware, we’re business is now a slick operation excited to launch new designs, try with a fully automated system, from new ideas and really break out of the placing orders, processing, producing, conventional mould. to pack and despatch. Our brand new ‘Although we have a special place website went live earlier this year in our hearts for the traditional too, making being a customer of ours gifts which got our business off the even easier. ground, we’re storming ahead with ‘Over our 15-year history, we have new innovative products, keeping us gained so many new faces amongst firmly in place as the UK’s leading our staff, hundreds of new skills and personalised gift trade supplier. a broad range of processes. Working ‘So many exciting new shapes and closely alongside our ever-growing products have come to fruition this customer base ensures we are ready year; our eco-friendly new water for all occasions and new designs, bottles, ceramic make up brush pot enabling our customers to keep a and vibrant shaped clocks have competitive edge in the personalised proven that we’re on the right track gift market.

– with sales proving you guys love ‘So what do we see for the future them just as much as us. ’ of PMC? With an absolutely cracking personalisedmemento.co.uk

Units 1 and 2

46 Gifts Today

Awaken the senses with a choice of over 30 unique fragrances in beautifully scented tin candles.

Nestled on a farm in North Cornwall, St. Eval use traditional methods and sustainable production to craft high quality candles by hand.

House of Marbles House of Marbles is one of the foremost suppliers of traditional toys, family gifts and nostalgic games in the UK. The company was founded in 1973 by Robin Sturdy who created handmade traditional board games in his workshop in Devon to sell at local craft fairs. MD William Bavin joined Robin shortly afterwards to search the world for good marble manufacturers, and is still responsible for sourcing new and exciting products to bring to customers today.

The name House of Marbles formed and the company began its journey to become the biggest marble supplier in the UK. A huge variety of traditional games, toys, novelties and gifts were added to the range as it grew.

During the 80s, the company set up offices in the UK, USA, France and Germany and starting exporting all over the world. Teign Valley Glass joined them to make handmade marbles and collectables for gift and gallery customers, and is one of the few remaining glass studios in the country.

In the 1990s, House of Marbles bought an old pottery works in Devon and renovated the buildings with help from English Heritage. They based their warehouse there to meet 48 Gifts Today

the demand for their products from their rapidly expanding number of trade customers. They also set up a dedicated customer care and sales team, headed by Sarah Campbell, to offer the best possible advice and support. In the 2000s, House of Marbles launched websites for UK & USA trade customers to make ordering hassle-free and available at any time.

In 2012 they took on a range of retro board games and puzzles from another well-known games supplier who was looking for a sales partner.

Russimco games are based on well-

loved games that first appeared in the 1880s through to the 1950s and are a perfect complement to the House of Marbles range.

With offices in the UK, USA, France, Germany and Australia and a growing international customer base, their range is the biggest and best it has ever been and is packed with pocketmoney toys, party gifts, musical toys, craft kits, vintage-inspired games, outdoor games, beautiful books and much more. New trade websites are planned for early 2020. houseofmarbles.com/tradeuk

Ken Johnson After a long and successful career in the gift industry, Ken Johnson shares some memories from his career in the china, glass, collectable and giftware industry.

‘I have been very fortunate in working for and with people who played important roles in the shaping of the industry markets, from Anthony Wood and his father Gerald, who were major figures in the birth of collectable teapots at Arthur Wood and Price and Kensington Potteries, then J Michael Gillow, who as chairman of Aynsley China, dominated the UK bone china giftware markets from the late 1970s through to the 2000s.

‘In 1985 I emigrated from Stoke on Trent to the wilds of the Scottish Borders to join John Hammond at Border Fine Arts, who had introduced hand painted resin to the collectable figurine market. In 1989 we became the distribution agents for Enesco, who at that time were the largest giftware company in the USA led by the charismatic Gene Freedman.

‘The traditional tabletop market started to fade away as consumers moved to a more casual lifestyle so retailers gave more prominence to collectables and giftware. Brands such as Cherished Teddies, Lilliput Lane, Collectible World Studios, Country Artists et al rewarded the retailers with strong sales via membership of collectors’ clubs.

‘The UK trade exhibitions were led by Spring Fair in February and Harrogate Fair in July. There were mutterings amongst larger exhibitors about the staging of a more professional show at the NEC but also opposition from others who were supportive of Harrogate. I remember bumping into David Metcalfe of TPS at one particularly hot Harrogate and asking why he did not organise a summer NEC show, not knowing that he was assessing the

viability even then eventually the Autumn Fair became established. What became of that young man David Metcalfe?!

‘The late 1990s were dominated by the coming of the millennium. Business was booming and many suppliers were offering limited and open editions of products to commemorate the occasion; all this while the doom merchants were forecasting dire happenings as the clocks moved into the year 2000.

‘Fortunes were being made by anyone connected to the computer industry. With the benefit of hindsight, this period was giving early indications of changes in consumer taste, first of all in the USA, and then arriving at our shores. As collectors got older, online business started to establish itself with the growth of eBay as collectors tried to cash in the value of their collections. Amazon soon became a major market for collectables and giftware, together with many other companies who saw that adding giftware enhanced their consumer offering. Traditional mail order companies saw a decline in paper catalogues and the growth of direct to consumer online sales.

‘It has been interesting to watch how the industry has adapted to the changes in taste, pricing and availability, and very gratifying to note that as some old brands have diminished or died, others have risen to meet the challenges. Having grown up within the industry and enjoyed the wonderful business of what I term the Golden Years, it is pleasing to hear that the industry, though much changed, is still thriving. ’

Ken pictured in the February 2009 issue of Gifts Today. As MD of Enesco, he was interviewed about the company’s ‘past, present and future’

Gifts Today 49

Emma Ball It all started with a Spirograph in her Christmas stocking when she was a child, and now Emma’s company has grown to include over 3000 products featuring her beautiful artwork.

Emma grew up with a passion for drawing, learning to love painting with watercolours. Studying art as part of her higher school education, Emma was told by her tutor that she should drop her beloved watercolours, and that she had no colour sense! Ignoring these comments, Emma went on to graduate from Nottingham Trent University in 1993 with a degree in graphic design, and specialising in illustration.

Emma then began her career in 1993 by stencilling plant pots, starting at small craft fairs, and eventually supplying one of the UK’s biggest retailers. Each pot was hand painted, and then stencilled using Emma’s own hand-cut designs. The business ran for over eight years and, as Emma’s love for illustration grew, she decided to start a new business venture centred around her artwork.

After an inspiring trip to Venice in 1999, Emma began creating illustrations for greetings cards.

Visiting many places in the UK, Emma created a range of 36 cards based on British coastlines with her watercolour

50 Gifts Today

artwork. Emma continued to show her work at small craft shows, going onto trade shows and becoming a limited company in 2001.

Since then the company has grown and there are now over 3000 products to choose from. However, the company still retains its family qualities. Emma now also works with other illustrators whose work, although much different to her own, complements her company’s brand and styling. Many of the products are still produced in the UK, as Emma believes in supporting local companies and only sourcing abroad when there is no other option.

Big new changes came in 2019, with her biggest launches to date.

Emma dropped her biggest licence

deals and began designing everything in-house, working directly with various manufacturers herself.

Emma has expanded the team, from seven to ten, but there’s still the family atmosphere she loves. She heads up the company with her parents, Mick and June, but also enjoys working parttime in the packing room with Carol.

Lucy heads up sales, Chris manages accounts and stock control, Gordon and Andy are in the warehouse, Sharon’s in the studio and latest addition, Kaylie, is in the office with Lucy.

Looking forward, Emma has lots planned for 2020 and beyond - but she’s keeping all of that under her hat for the moment! emmaball.co.uk

Timeline 2005 - 2009

2005

2006

2005

2006

March Gifts Today celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in the March 2005 issue, featuring a fleet of Nelson-inspired gifts from the likes of Lesser & Pavey, Enesco and Dunoon.

June Emap TPS announced the launch of the first Summer Fair London for summer 2007 at ExCel, as a sister event to Spring and Autumn Fairs.

February Plush was still big news at 2005’s Spring Fair, as Gund launched a poptastic collection of Cliff Richard teddies in Hall 5.

52 Gifts Today

January Dress-up was big in 2006 as Smiffy’s announced its appointment as the UK’s Costume, Accessories and Wig Licensee for the phenomenally successful ITV show Little Britain.

October A Guild Award for Gifts Today as the magazine scooped Best Media 2006.

An ecstatic editor Peter Hancocks said: ‘I see in my crystal ball a hefty pay rise coming my way!’ Peter is pictured in the photograph above, back row, second from left.

2007

April Gifts Today featured the ‘ultimate collectable’, a 100-unit limited edition launched at Harrods by Lladro, entitled ‘Queen of the Nile.’ Each piece retailed at an eye watering £85,000. Gifts Today was at the launch and asked Harrods’ chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed if this was something he would like to own, to which he gave the response, ‘I can’t afford it.’

2007

2008

2009

2008

February Changing Rooms’ star Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen added to his impressive portfolio of licensed gift ranges with a Lavish Giftware Collection with Royal Worcester – a collection he described as using ‘sexy Georgian-inspired design.’

September In the September 2008 issue, Gifts Today asked whether customers were ‘really interested in eco-friendly products’ or were they ‘a gimmick with no discernible economic benefits?’ Rainbow Designs, Puckator and Yankee Candle were among the companies wisely backing this trend!

2009

February A crisis was averted when Spring Fair organiser Emap Connect issued a statement that the proposed £8 a day parking at the NEC show would be postponed ‘after consultation with retailers and suppliers across the various sectors that make up the show.’ As Gifts Today tactfully reported: ‘It was a hard ask to get people to pay for something that had previously been free. The charge would not have increased the number

of shuttle buses or guaranteed the weather for the often lengthy walk across the car park.’

March/April Spring Fair was hit by some of the worst snow for 20 years, with many exhibitors and visitors struggling to make it to the show on the Monday and Tuesday. Tales were told of people leaving London at 8am and only arriving at the NEC as the show’s doors closed.

Manor House Home Fragrance Manor House has been established for over 30 years now and is almost certainly the oldest original pot pourri manufacturer left in the UK - and probably Europe.

The company was originally based in Hoxne on the Norfolk/Suffolk borders until it was purchased by Darren Ellis in 2007 and relocated to Stanton in mid-Suffolk, where he restructured it into a true home fragrance company.

The years 2018 and 2019 have proved to be their strongest years to date, with many new garden centres and gift shops wishing to stock Manor House.

Many of their clients have been with them since 2007, some even earlier, which only goes to show the quality and brand name associated with the brand is still as popular as ever.

Manor House still creates beautiful and bespoke pot pourris for all its

54 Gifts Today

home fragrance collections, which now also include reed diffusers and room sprays, scented botanical candles and gift boxed candles in glass, drawer liners and sachets, luxury hand washes and moisturising lotions along with beautiful perfumed silk and hand printed cotton miniature bags and cushions for clothesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; drawers.

Manor House offer clients 27 home fragrance collections in both traditional and on-trend fragrances, all of which include their signature pot pourris which are still in demand. Pot pourri is not as easy to locate these days yet the call for it is still very strong - and not just with the older generation.

The whole collection is totally handmade in England - in fact most is handmade in Suffolk! Manor House have now moved over to recyclable packaging on virtually all their

products and continue to buy all packaging from UK manufacturers and suppliers.

Their presence through Facebook (Manor House Home Fragrance Ltd), Twitter (ManorHouseHome1) and Instagram (ManorhouseHomeFragrance), help keep them in touch with their customers and final end users. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s particularly useful for helping people locate a nearby outlet.

Over the years Manor House have increased their private label business dramatically and now work with many leading retailers to produce private label collections incorporating clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; thoughts and ideas, fragrances and branding, to offer bespoke and unique one-off collections that are totally unique to individual retailers. manorhousehomefragrance.co.uk

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Ashleigh & Burwood Ashleigh & Burwood have been sharing their passion for fragrance since 1993 when father and son John and Andrew Nettleton began producing and selling fragranced oils, pot pourri and ceramic oil burners from their kitchen table.

They exhibited at Spring Fair for the first time in 1994, and opened a warehouse and small pottery to manufacture their ceramic oil burners in the same year.

Over the next few years Andrew moved to Hong Kong so they were better able to source products from the Far East, and the company launched their first informational website. With a successful alliance formed with a Chinese factory, Andrew moved back to the UK and, by 2000, Ashleigh & Burwood’s offices and warehouse relocated to new larger premises.

The company continued to innovate and grow, launching their first Reed Diffuser in 2005, a new method for the UK home fragrance market. They moved to bigger premises again in 2006 and launched their first ecommerce trade website.

The year 2007 was an important one as the company launched their iconic Fragrance Lamps, a range that has expanded into over 100 different designs and become one of Ashleigh & Burwood’s bestselling products.

56 Gifts Today

These were then sold on their first retail website in 2008, selling to consumers online for the first time. In the same year, the company began to expand outside of the UK, beginning to work with distributors in several countries.

Ashleigh & Burwood celebrated their 20th anniversary with the launch of their Tales of London collection, as well as a licensed home fragrance collection for the Historic Royal Palaces.

In 2016 they moved to their brand new head office premises, including an on-site warehouse and space to develop a candle production facility.

Their reimagined logo was unveiled in 2017 along with new-look packaging, and the launch of their Wild Things collection, designed by in-house designer Sumitta Spencer-Townson. In 2018, the company pledged to give back to nature, linking sales of Wild Things’ Born with Cattitude to The Big Cat Sanctuary and, later, Rhino Saw Us to the Helping Rhinos registered charity.

This year they have brought the character of bygone era into the modern age with the launch of The Heritage Collection and are already excited to unveil their New Design Anthology in 2020. Watch this space! ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk

‘Their reimagined logo was unveiled in 2017 along with new-look packaging, and the launch of their Wild Things collection, designed by inhouse designer Sumitta SpencerTownson’

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Mad Beauty Established in 2002, Mad Beauty started life as a sister to company to MAD (Music & Audio Distribution) Ltd, a leading distributor of musical instruments to the UK trade. Both businesses were run by husband and wife team, Trevor and Julia Cash. Mad Beauty started life distributing and marketing products exclusively to the professional beauty industry including salons, hairdressers, nail bars and beauty wholesalers.

The name Mad Beauty was chosen for one reason only - customers were split almost virtually down the middle. Male customers went to the guitar company and females to the beauty company, and it was easier to answer the phone with ‘Mad, how can we help you?’ and then direct the calls according to the gender of the caller. Of course this has changed considerably now but it was uncannily accurate back then!

Before they knew it, the beauty company outgrew the guitar company and a decision was made to sell and all efforts were put into growing Mad Beauty. Over the next few years Mad began to produce its own ranges and went from distributing only to designing and manufacturing. It became clear that the Holy Grail for the professional trade was retail sales but, in general, hairdressers and therapists were notoriously bad sales people. Mad discovered, almost by accident, that by offering health and beauty impulse purchase, pick-up gifts such as novelty lip balms no selling was required, just a convenient till point location and a paying customer. And so The Lip Gloss Company was born, designing and selling cup cake, doughnut and other shaped lip balms.

Over the next few years Mad Beauty developed its style and began expanding a much wider range to the

58 Gifts Today

mainstream retail trade. This helped build the quantities necessary to grow into a market leading, design company offering a huge range of fun, novel and original designs for gifting in the health and beauty space. Just four years ago, Mad added licensed products under their Never Too Old range of gifts for teens and adults, which now includes Disney, Barbie, Kellogg’s, Jelly Belly and Hello Kitty.

There’s a big announcement just around the corner for customers not only in the UK but all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and an extension of the Disney licence launching in the USA & Canada. It seems that 2020 is set to be a very exciting year for the amazing Mad Beauty team. madbeauty.com

England

Manor House Home Fragrance Ltd

T 01359 250720 www.manorhousehomefragrance.co.uk

Scottish Fine Soaps At Scottish Fine Soaps, they blend gorgeous ingredients with contemporary Scottish style to create bath and beauty collections that will make you look, feel and smell fantastic.

A family-owned business of four generations, they’re nestled below the Ochil Hills in central Scotland where they manufacture 99.5% of their products. Scottish Fine Soaps are part of the Alexander Ross Holdings, a company that dates back to 1923 when a local man, Robert Ross, established a chemical manufacturing business. For 90 years, this business has been passed down the Ross family line, and is now directed by the founder’s greatgrandson, also Robert Ross.

Scottish Fine Soaps was founded 45 years ago, and ever since they’ve been searching Scotland 60 Gifts Today

and the world for inspirational ingredients with unique fragrances and beauty benefits and have built an international reputation for quality and style in the bath and beauty world. Since Robert’s sister joined as Creative Director, the company have continually reviewed and improved their formulations to ensure ingredients are of the highest quality and are as naturally derived as possible.

They don’t use any parabens or microbeads, although the use of sulphates, which are synthetic ingredients, is safe and common among other products, Scottish Fine Soaps have decided to look for alternatives. Sulphates’ reputation for drying the skin has led them to develop a natural sugar-based formulation in the Original Recipes’ rinse-off products. Original Recipes,

a contemporary take on traditional ingredients featuring four blends of active extracts, is being very well received by the market. With 500ml bottles and large soap bars it gives consumers the option to make a more environmentally friendly purchase.

Their Men’s Grooming range has proven so popular, they’ve launched a fresh new scent and colour with Vetiver & Sandalwood. They’ve given their best-selling Sea Kelp collection a makeover inside and out and are proud to have introduced their Men’s Grooming Shampoo as a bar. By making it into a bar, they’ve been able to cut down the number of plastic bottles they’re using. It’s all part of their longer-term commitment to reducing plastic waste. They believe in a clean planet as well as clean bodies! scottishfinesoaps.com

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Heaven Scent Created in 1993 after an aroundthe-world trip inspired Daniel Pettitt to sell incense wholesale to shops, Heaven Scent has grown naturally His engineering background proved useful to Daniel as the business began to grow in the first five years. His brother Tom soon came on board and Heaven Scent became a family affair.

From the word go Heaven Scent was all about ethical trading, minimal packaging, vegan candle ingredients, natural ingredients where possible and recycled packaging. It is lovely to see, 26 years on, that this message is bang on trend and customers seek out Heaven Scent products for their ethical and natural claims.

One of the key components to Heaven Scent’s success is their ability to work with businesses big and small to help them to create and grow their own businesses. Customers can have their own identities stamped on Heaven 62 Gifts Today

Scent’s products for very small minimal amounts, so they can start small and grow their business. ‘We have worked with businesses and watch them grow, giving them advice and support,’ says Daniel. ‘Or we have watched them flourish as they added their own creative flair - and, boy, there have been some successes!”

Heaven Scent employs over 50 local staff and many have worked there for a long time. Key members of staff include Jade and Laura Walker, sisters who have worked for the business since they were very young. Jade, the accounts director, came on board over 20 years ago and has helped grow the financial side of the business.

Laura now leads the design team, which is responsible for creating label designs for each customer.

In the production team Jamie Iman has worked for many years as the production manager, making sure everything gets made, overseeing the busy production of the thousands of candles and other products made everyday. With its great team of production operatives and packers, Heaven Scent is always a hive of activity! heavenscent.co.uk

Classic Canes Walking stick specialist, Classic Canes, was founded in 1982 when Ben and Diana Porter discovered the woodland around their Somerset home was naturally producing suitable wood to make traditional British country walking sticks such as hiking staffs and thumbsticks.

Originally the business supplied local gift shops and country clothing stores, but the range and customer base soon grew and now the family business supplies a range of over 700 walking sticks, folding canes, seat sticks and umbrellas to independent retailers of many kinds in around 40 countries worldwide.

Ben and Diana Porter, pictured in 1989

Today the managing director is the Porters’ daughter Charlotte, who joined the company in 2003 after working in the luxury goods industry. Under her leadership, the company has expanded its fashionable and contemporary offerings, so that today a Classic Canes’ user can choose from a wealth of styles, from skulls to pussycats, to adorn their walking stick. classiccanes.co.uk Gifts Today 63

Timeline 2010 - 2014 2011

Brian W

2010

2012 2010

February Portmeirion Group celebrated its 50th anniversary, now encompassing world-renowned brands Spode, Royal Worcester, Pimpernel and, of course, Portmeirion itself.

May A ďŹ re broke out at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate in May 2010, tragically claiming the life of a kitchen porter.

Everyone booked to stay at the hotel during Home & Gift were relocated.

64 Gifts Today

July In July 2010, the Gifts Today website was enhanced to include a digital edition of the magazine as well as a rolling news service and blog.

November With the country in a spin at the news of a Royal wedding in April 2011, gift retailers got set to cash in on the merchandising bonanza about to be unleashed. Have you still got your commemorative mug or plate from the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton?!

2011

September Home & Gift celebrated its 50th anniversary with a record-breaking 54% increase in on-site bookings.

Local favourite Bettyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baked a cake for the occasion and it was cut by Patricia Nooney, marketing manager for the show, and Jane Wilkinson from Enesco, as shown in the photograph above.

2012

January With the London Olympics on their way, gift retailers were encouraged to stock up on patriotic pieces of all types, including mugs, shoes and even an Olympic torch lamp.

Brian Wiseman

2013

Thelma Madine

2013

January Columnist Brian Wiseman wrote about an opinion poll that showed that 71% of Britons would rather go a day without food than a day without the internet! How times were changing!

January Award-winning Welsh jewellery designer Carrie Elspeth celebrated 14 years in business by launching her 1000th design!

September In September 2013, the famous art pottery Moorcroft celebrated its Centenary with collections embossed with their special logo.

September Prince George of Cambridge was born on 22 July 2013, and by September Gibsons had already released a special commemorative jigsaw.

2014

May/June The London Stationery Show played an April Fool joke on visitors to the show on 1 April 2014, introducing them to blushing ‘bride’ Mrs Rachael Evans who claimed to have worn a dress and shoes made from wedding stationery at her nuptials the weekend before. She even visited the 2014 Stationery Awards with her new ‘husband’ and no one was any the wiser until the prank was announced on social media the next day!

2014

September The wedding dressmaker from Channel 4’s My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Thelma Madine, teamed up with The English Ladies Co to create a range of bone china figurines, drawing on her years of experience working with the traveller community.

St. Eval Nestled on a farm in the heart of North Cornwall, St. Eval are proud to use traditional, artisan methods to craft high quality candles by hand, perfecting the art and science of candle making for over 25 years. Their unique fragrances, wax blends and pot styles are all inspired by nature and the beautiful Cornish countryside surrounding them.

St. Eval was born from humble beginnings, crafting classic church candles by hand in the family farmhouse kitchen. Fast forward 25 years, and they are still maintaining the same traditional methods of candle making because they believe they are well worth preserving.

They use a combination of artisan processes including drawing, pouring and moulding so that each candle is made with a personal touch, whilst ensuring a finished product that is superior in quality style, fragrance and burn.

St. Eval are proudly able to produce their own sustainable energy via wind, solar and biomass; helping to reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment. In 2011, they erected the UK’s quietest wind turbine that, alongside solar panels and a biomass boiler, enables them to produce enough energy to power the entire factory.

People and the planet are at the 66 Gifts Today

heart of everything they do at St. Eval. Blessed with loyal customers, they listen carefully to their wishes, adapting and evolving just like the changing countryside through the seasons. With sustainability at the forefront of their focus, they continue to invest in people and infrastructure to allow the company to follow through on its commitment to ‘tread lightly on the environment’. They are reducing their use of plastic and increasing their recycling initiatives to support this. Growing from strength to strength, they have invested in highly innovative IT and production systems to both create new jobs in the community and increase production capacity and efficiency.

St. Eval continue to create new and exciting candles and fragrances, inspired by nature and following their core values; to protect, nurture and respect each other and the earth. st-eval.com

‘Congratulations to Gifts Today on your 30th anniversary!

We’ve enjoyed a fantastic partnership with you spanning nearly two decades throughout many changes in the gift industry. Thank you for supporting our growth and we wish you all the best for a prosperous future.’

Ian Greaves, CEO

SIMPLY GORGEOUS

JEWELLERY AND ACCESSORIES

Buy online at missmilly.co.uk or call: 01905 622 509

David Metcalfe

David Metcalfe 1998

68 Gifts Today

With a fantastic career in the gift industry and the man credited with taking Spring Fair from strength to strength, David shares some memories Gifts Today was launched at a seminal moment for the giftware industry. The company that I worked for, Emap, had recently acquired Trade Promotion Services Ltd (TPS) that owned and organised the International Spring Fair (ISF), by some distance the largest and most important trade event on the UK. I was given the responsibility of bringing this slumbering giant into the 20th century and listening to the needs of the industry. At the same time, Malcolm Naish, MD of Lema Publishing could see that the trade publishing market at that time was fairly unsophisticated (I am being polite), and knew that he could do better.

We used to meet over lunch at our offices in Woolwich, and the staff there quickly came to learn that if they saw Malcolmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shiny red Lotus in the car park, then it was likely that I might be a little late back from lunch.

We both knew that the hugely creative and dynamic giftware industry deserved much better from its publishing and exhibition offerings, and I was already getting representations from the industry about launching a second-season event to complement the ISF in the Autumn and, to be fair, I already

knew this. I had been an exhibitor at the fairs since Blackpool in 1969, and at the first ever ISF at the then new National Exhibition Centre in 1976. In a bizarre twist of fate, I was working for a magazine called Tableware International â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now owned and published by Lema Publishing.

When Malcolm told me of his plans to launch Gifts Today, I immediately booked advertising in the first issue, and continued to do so. It is fair to say that Gifts Today was the first in the new breed of dynamic trade magazines that serve our market today. Buy me a drink sometime and I will tell you how awful the old ones were. And how bad the trade fairs were. So perhaps two drinks.

The launch of the International Autumn Fair took three years, but now it is impossible to imagine the trading calendar in the UK without it. We also tripled the size of the ISF during the following ten years. I was fortunate to have an outstanding team in sales, marketing and operations who were, simply, the best in the business, and they set new standards in trade fair organising, as Malcolm and his team did for trade publishing.

Malcolm and I still meet from time to time, and although we can no longer drink as much as we used to, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop us trying.

Call our Sales Department: 01324 573402 Email: sales@scottishfinesoaps.com www.scottishfinesoaps.com

70 Gifts Today

For more than thirty years, Top Drawer has been the bi-annual meeting place for creative retailers and interior professionals who share a passion for design; the ultimate destination for product launches from the biggest names, discovering emerging talent, making meaningful connections and being inspired.

Constant development and a continuous quest to introduce new ideas and evolve the offer is what keeps the show relevant to creative retailers, interior professionals and top brands. Carefully edited by a panel of market-leading experts to excite, inspire and bring the very best design-led products and brands available.

At home in London’s iconic Olympia, which is nestled in one of the world’s most highly-recognised design districts, Top Drawer is home to design innovators.

With its collection of new designers, it showcases the very best in cutting-edge products and talent so you are the first to discover what’s coming next.

With two inspiring stages, learn all there is to know about retail at one of the many keynote presentations, masterclasses, panel discussions and case study presentations.

Next year’s editions of the iconic show, running 12-14 January and 13-15 September, will be a destination for interior professionals, creative retailers and designled brands to enjoy shared learnings, experiences and inspiration.

Top Drawer Show Director, Alejandra Campos, says: ‘Nothing beats walking the aisles of the show and seeing the creativity and talent that abounds in this industry, and the satisfaction of knowing that we are playing our part. Our role is as varied as introducing a new designer, or supporting a shop keen to source a unique offering for their clients in the new season.

‘So much of what we do is about supporting the industry as a whole, but especially independent retailers, and it is deeply satisfying to know that so many visitors and exhibitors see success based on the relationships they build at Top Drawer.’

With registration now open, Top Drawer S/S20 will give visitors access to over 1500 design-led brands across the show’s 10 carefully curated sectors: Home, Gift, Greetings & Stationery, Fashion, Craft, Spotted/ Pulse, Play, Wellbeing, Food Emporium and Retail Clinics. topdrawer.co.uk

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Top Drawer

Home & Gift Gifts Today isn’t the only one celebrating an exciting milestone, with 2020 marking 60 years of the industry’s favourite summer show, Home & Gift.

From the very beginning, the iconic show has been loved by retailers and exhibitors alike for striking the perfect balance between great business and social opportunities - providing relaxed environments for meaningful connections to be made and year-changing deals to be done, all with a drink in hand.

Starting out as a small group of suppliers meeting annually in a hotel, the show has evolved into the industry’s ultimate buying festival; welcoming thousands of people each year, making it the largest and most celebrated showroom in the north.

Always evolving in-line with what retailers are looking to see, visitors now have the opportunity to explore eight carefully-considered sectors across ten halls and marquees - showcasing the very best in gift, greetings and stationery, home and interiors, jewellery and fashion, craft and food from both leading brands and new names.

It’s no secret that retail has been faced with many challenges over the years, but the 60th anniversary of Home & Gift is a testament to the resilience and tenacity of not just the show, but also the power of the industry that, together, weathers every storm with passion and positivity. It is for this reason that, as much as it is a crucial buying opportunity, Home & Gift is also a wonderful 72 Gifts Today

celebration of everything that makes our beloved industry so special to all of us.

Calling Harrogate home from the very beginning, Home & Gift is thrilled to be returning to this beautiful spa town from 19-22 July 2020 and looks forward to seeing brands and retailers keep on connecting with one another, be inspired, discover new business opportunities and join in the celebration, as we all say ‘cheers’ to the next 60 years and beyond. homeandgift.co.uk

The industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite show just got better!

19-22 JULY 2020

For more information visit homeandgift.co.uk/giftstoday

Christmasworld 2020 Astonishing and inspiring! Christmasworld supplies the international decoration trade with new products and eye-catchers for the busiest and most emotional time of the year like no other trade fair for the consumer goods sector.

Social change and digital transformation are leading to modified consumer behaviour and new business models. Today’s ‘hybrid customer’ wants to take advantage of both the offline and online worlds. In demand are convenience and service offers, such as click & collect, as well as a stronger experiential factor, which make shopping and spending time at the point-of-sale more attractive. Christmasworld shows how to produce a ‘wow’ experience. Decisive in the case of festive decorations is a first-rate product choice and combination that reflects the current zeitgeist. Also important are lighting effects and visual merchandising, which intensify and boost the shopping experience in the bricks-and-mortar trade and city centres.

‘Since the first Christmasworld in 1996, it’s the clear focus that’s important for us; the range of products at Christmasworld is unique in the world and we’re determined to maintain that, too,’ says Eva Olbrich, director of Christmasworld. ‘We are focused on the most emotive and, at the same time, most profitable

74 Gifts Today

time of the year: Christmas. It showcases the potential for seasonal decoration as an additional sales driver all year round.’

In addition to the products shown by the exhibitors, the complementary programme of events offers a host of fresh ideas to inspire and inform visitors. The Christmasworld Trends for 2020/21 focus on the motto ‘family matters’ and spotlight the desire for an urbane yet mindful lifestyle coupled with greater sustainability. The trend area in Hall 11 is the most important source of inspiration for tomorrow’s colours, materials and designs.

Retailers wanting to spice up their assortments with fresh flowers and decorative plants should head to the ‘Floradecora’ product segment in Hall 8.0. In future, the ‘Christmas Delights’ product segment will be the centrepiece of Hall 12 and enrich it with seasonal treats. These fastselling and spontaneous-purchase products offer additional sales potential for the trade.

Once again, Christmasworld will be the indispensable business and order platform for the trade, with around 1000 exhibitors expected to take part from 24 to 28 January 2020. christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com

England

Seasonal Decoration at its best

Here you’ll find the widest range of seasonal and festive decorations. info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

We look forward to seeing you! christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com

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24. – 28. 1. 2020

Harrogate Christmas & Gift In April 1949 Wolverhampton Wanderers (fondly known as Wolves) won the FA cup for the first time in 41 years with a 3-1 win over Leicester City at Wembley. For many of the directors and organising team at Harrogate Christmas & Gift, this was the most significant event of 1949 (although the majority weren’t actually around to witness it!) – but it was also the date when the UK’s favourite and fastestgrowing festive trade show opened its doors for the first time.

Back in the day, Harrogate Christmas & Gift was the UK’s only Toy Fair with manufacturers and suppliers of toys, gifts and festive products arriving in

76 Gifts Today

the pretty North Yorkshire town of Harrogate to promote their wares to the industry. This was the most significant industry networking event each year, in the days without internet, limited telephone access and when snail mail was still the most efficient form of communication.

In later years, Toy Fair moved on and relocated its show to London, but the festive and gift element of the event continued to be a presence in Harrogate each year – and continues to be so to this day. For many independent retailers, department stores, tourist attractions and garden centres, Christmas is the time of year that keeps the wheels of commerce turning.

Harrogate Christmas & Gift has seen a significant surge in not only the festive side of the market, but all notable events that take place each year including Easter, Halloween, new baby arrivals (with baby showers and gender reveal parties). It seems that if there is a good reason to celebrate then the UK consumer is ready with their wallet to buy gifts and decorations.

Visitors to the show next year, which takes place at the Harrogate Convention Centre from 12-15 January 2020, are promised an array of fabulous products that will bring sunshine to the shelves of any store struggling to brighten up the consumer marketplace.

As well as Christmas decorations from trees and tinsel to baubles and lights, you will find gift and homewares for all occasions, garden and hardware products, food and confectionery, toys and greeting cards – and a scattering of pet products, too. harrogatefair.com

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1977 Toy & Gift Fair at the Excelsior Hotel

1981 Toy & Gift Fair

1982 Toy & Gift Fair, Miramar Hotel

1983 Toy & Gift Fair, Hong Kong Exhibition Centre

1990s Gifts & Houseware Fair, Hong Kong Premium Show

1990s Gifts & Houseware Fair

1990s Gifts & Houseware Fair

2001 HK Gifts & Premium Fair

2019 Show

Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair Next year will see the 35th edition of the show and, to celebrate, we take a look back at some fascinating photographs of the show over the past decades.

Running from 27-30 April 2020, the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair has seen a lot of changes over the years. Moving from a hotel in the early days to the

78 Gifts Today

HK Convention and Exhibition Centre, getting bigger with more sophisticated zones and becoming an internationally renowned fair with a strong identity.

Visitors may remember the UK Pavilion back in 2000 and in 2020 there will be the chance to visit the new zone, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gallery of Cultural Gifts and Crafts.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; With 4380+

exhibitors, there will be plenty for visitors to discover.

The gift industry has been growing all these years, and so has the Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair. Getting stronger than ever, the Fair will continue to play a pivotal role in the industry, contributing to a brighter future with all of us in it together. hkgiftspremiumfair.hktdc.com

Ambiente 2020 over 90 countries will be acting as trendsetters in and beyond the year 2020. In addition, we are planning to expand Dining, and so the new HoReCa hall – 6.0 – will be the perfect port of call for national and international

The world’s leading trade fair for consumer goods offers some exciting prospects: exhibitors and trade visitors can make first-class contacts, discover the latest developments in the market and in design, and they can experience trends and opportunities in all segments. Covering three areas – Dining, Living and Giving – Ambiente will be showcasing the most important aspects of the entire spectrum of consumer goods. Ambiente is the most important marketplace of the year for Hotel/Restaurant/Cafe (HoReCa), contract business and ethical style.

From 7 to 11 February 2020, the international consumer goods industry will revolve around this leading global trade fair in all matters of tableware, kitchenware, household goods and leisure as well as gifts, interior decoration and interior design.

‘Ambiente is the central hub of the entire consumer goods industry,’ says Nicolette Naumann, Vice President of Ambiente (pictured). ‘Exhibitors from 80 Gifts Today

decision-makers in the hospitality segment. In this way we want to respond to the specific needs of the industry. In the future our visitors will be able to focus even more closely on topics at the interface between hospitality, tableware and interior design.’

In 2019 Frankfurt attracted 4460 exhibitors from 92 countries, occupying over 306,000 square metres of gross exhibition space and showcasing their new developments and innovations for five days.

Over the last few years, eight partner countries have successfully showcased themselves at Ambiente.

Now it’s time for something new.

So from 2020, the world’s leading trade fair will be running a special presentation called Focus on Design, featuring outstanding products and providing detailed insights into recent design highlights from a specially selected country. In 2020, Ambiente will start with a young designer nation that has been

VP Nicolette Naumann

developing quite rapidly: Brazil. Five different Brazilian design studios, each with its own special identity, will be showcasing their creative output at Galleria 1. In addition, several young Brazilian designers will also be in the Talents area, where they will present their unique handmade items and limited series. ambiente.messefrankfurt.com

England DU: 04.10.2019

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1 1 — O 7. — 2O2S K O O L OD GO People shape the world of business. Ambiente gives structure to the international sector. With an outstanding variety of design and trends, an unparalleled range of products in all areas and expertise around current themes.

Information and tickets: ambiente.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83 info@uk.messefrankfurt.com

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the show

Spring Fair Spring Fair is synonymous with retail, and in 2020 celebrates its 70th year of providing the gateway to the UK retail sector for the global market. Hosting in excess of 2500 exhibiting companies that represent thousands of the most influential brands, it is the single most important sourcing destination for over 50,000 home and gift retailers, buyers and designers.

Spring Fair’s impact on the retail industry across those seventy years is immeasurable. What is certain is that, by giving a platform to the most sought-after ‘marketfresh’ products, as well as the most innovative brands and creative thinkers, it has enabled the suppliers and buyers to keep learning and keep products on the move.

Spring Fair 2020 has benefited from a major investment programme and bold new direction from organisers Hyve Group, which has modernised the UK’s largest marketplace for product discovery. The new show layout provides clear product sourcing routes, with visitors and exhibitors alike enjoying an improved experience with two distinct sourcing destinations – Gifts and Home & Living.

The show will see the largest gathering of gift inspiration in the UK with new categories and sector names delivering fresh buying opportunities. Covering two expansive halls in the Piazza of the NEC and together with the uplifting Beauty & Wellbeing sector, this is where visitors can also easily diversify into complementary gift products. Bestsellers, on-trend designs, unique and

82 Gifts Today

personalised gifts will all be available – Spring Fair 2020 will bring together every kind of gift product to create special moments from the show floor to your shop floor.

‘We are delighted that we are sharing a key birthday year with Gifts Today – 30 years is quite an achievement’ Charlie Cracknell, Portfolio Director It’s a little-known fact that there’s a touch of royalty in Spring Fair’s heritage. Following a move from Blackpool, the show was the first to be held at the National Exhibition Centre in February 1976. Her Majesty The Queen was present to mark the unveiling of the new Centre, and was of course the Guest of Honour for Spring Fair too.

Charlie Cracknell, Portfolio Director, said: ‘We are incredibly proud of our heritage and the contribution Spring Fair has made to the UK retail landscape across the past 70 years, and are excited to celebrate such an incredible milestone, whilst also keeping our eye on the future. It seems change is the only constant for the retail industry at the moment, and we must continue to breathe new life into Spring Fair and ensure it meets all the needs of manufacturers and buyers alike.’ springfair.com

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Timeline 2015 - 2019 Bob

2016 Roja Dove

2015

2017

Keith Edmondson

2015

March/April Bob, the street cat that changed the life of a homeless busker, was a publishing sensation when A Street Cat Named Bob appeared in 2012. In 2015, a licensing campaign for Bob began, resulting in a raft of giftware from mugs to t-shirts.

84 Gifts Today

July Dunoon produced a commemorative mug embellished with 22 carat gold in readiness for 9 September 2015, the date on which Her Majesty The Queen became the longest reigning monarch in British history.

November/December The trend for ‘spray before you go’ toilet fragrance was started by Joe Davies, who introduced Poo-Pourri to the UK.

2016

2017

November/December The craze for Enid Blyton books for grown-ups and spoof Ladybird books were a surprise hit, with them appearing in Secret Santa gifts and Christmas stockings all over the country in the festive period.

March/April The Danish concept of ‘hygge’ became huge in the UK, encompassing all things warm and cosy. That bestseller, the humble candle, fitted the bill perfectly!

March/April Faux flowers were in full bloom across the gift market in 2016, with fabulous fakes available from the likes of Sia, CB Imports and Floralsilk.

February The 2017 Pantone Colour of the Year was named as Greenery, symbolic of new beginnings. Lots of gift companies took inspiration from this refreshing shade, including PMC, Museums & Galleries and Miss Milly.

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May International master perfumer Roja Dove was interviewed by Gifts Today and told readers how they could scent their shops and help their customers choose fragranced gifts.

September Unicorns and mermaids were seen everywhere at the shows â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and flamingos and cacti were on their way in. We caught up with Keith Edmondson from Langs at Autumn Fair (see photo above, left).

2018

January Frida Kahlo popped up on giftware everywhere. Groovy UK produced a range of Frida bags, ceramics and homewares for art fans.

May/June Harry Potter was named the hottest giftware licence of 2018 and Gifts Today spotlighted the trend with a round-up of some of the best gifts around, including jewellery, caps, t-shirts and more.

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January Proof that collectables are still popular, if you get them right. Gifts Today met Enescoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legendary Jim Shore who produces around 200 new pieces a year in his inimitable handcarved, folk art style. The interview followed a raft of signings by the man himself, where fans queued for hours to have their pieces signed by him.

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July Gifts Today had a redesign in readiness for its 30th birthday, with family home fragrance company Ashleigh & Burwood as its first cover stars.

October Gifts Today celebrates its official 30th birthday. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to the next 30 years!

Rainbow Designs Rainbow Designs, has been the Home of Classic Characters since 1971 and the trusted name behind an abundance of high-profile and prestigious brand collections spanning the nursery, toy and gift sectors.

‘As an original contributor to the very first issue, Rainbow Designs would like to congratulate all the team at Lema Publishing on the 30th Anniversary of Gifts Today’ One of Rainbow’s original and most loved characters is Paddington Bear and their beautiful Paddington collections offer the perfect gifts for babies, infants and Paddington fans of all ages.

Peter Rabbit is loved the world over and the Peter Rabbit Nursery Collection is one of their most popular gift ranges. Featuring a selection of gorgeous baby and 86 Gifts Today

infant gifts and toys that include evergreen lines such as Made with Love, Peter Rabbit, Flopsy Bunny and beautiful gift sets that make the perfect present for baby.

From the much-loved picture book Guess How Much I Love You, this beautiful and endearing nursery collection features Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare.

The nursery collection features a complete selection of adorable infant gifts and toys perfect for all little ones. The new Guess How Much I Love You ‘Love Moments’ collection, launching spring 2020, offers a beautiful range of new gifts perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and to express the sentiment of love that special day and all year round.

Rainbow Designs is also the home to beautiful gift collections for Disney’s Classic Winnie the Pooh, Miffy, The Snowman and the Snowdog and

Dreamworks’ Heritage Collection starring Shrek, Donkey and characters from the blockbuster movie series Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda. rainbowdesigns.co.uk

The Luna collection offers opulent textures and luxury materials, combined with sumptuous perfumes for a decadent fragrance experience. A new fragrance for 2019, Velvet Gardenia & Tuberose. Intoxicating and enticing floral notes of tuberose, warmed with vanilla and sweet patchouli, mingling with fresh rose petals and velvety gardenia.

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Wild Things Starting in a disused shower room in Leamington Spa with peeling Peter Max pink and orange wallpaper, Wild Things UK officially started in spring 1984. Its origins could be found at a kitchen table in a studio apartment in Berkeley California ten years earlier.

Chance led to Jules and his ex-wife sourcing diffraction gratings, the forerunner to today’s holography. ‘We used to cut shapes out of the foils, stick them on copper enamel shapes and make badges’, he says. ‘We would squeeze a card table into a space in the daily craft market on Telegraph Avenue and just set up and sell!’

A wholesaler, who just happened to have their HQ on ‘the Ave’, agreed to take on US distribution. John Lennon was soon photographed wearing a star badge, and Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane bought one on the street and wore it to that night’s concert.

Eighteen months later they were rich and took six months off to travel around Europe, which meant a 25th birthday eating lobster, 88 Gifts Today

drinking wine and watching the Wild Things (initially called Blast and sunset in Mykonos, Greece. subsequently Chaos) was born, selling They returned to disaster, with ‘laser earrings’ to AHP that had become only $100 in the bank after the six a major UK gift company. people they had hastily assembled to When AHP went under Jules and run the business had run it into the Vicky moved down to Devon where, ground. The marriage broke down, after 10 years or so bumping along and 1979 saw Jules back in the UK, to the bottom, they focussed on crystals East London in punk music days, with and have never looked back. Says badges a craze. Together with friends, Jules: ‘We have more than 50 of us he set up Ageing Hippies Prismatic involved in making and selling our (AHP). Homesick for California, Jules crystal rainbow makers, with the USA returned to Berkeley, to his easy life. our single biggest market ironically!’

‘I used to work maybe two days wildthingsgifts.com a week, and spend the rest of the time playing music, walking in the hills, writing a diary, hanging out in the Café Med,’ he says. ‘The rent was $100 a month, and I could make that in two hours selling on the Avenue’.

Two years later who should turn up but Vicky, his childhood sweetheart, and Jules followed her back to the UK in 1984.

The name badges say ‘El Presidente’ and the ‘First Lady’ at shows these days!

Ecology launched its very first collection in 2008. The guiding principles of the brand have always been to create long-lasting, fashion-focused lifestyle products that are inherently versatile and highly functional. Ecology is one of the fastest growing lifestyle & homewares brands today in Australia and around the world.

Based in Victoria Australia, Ecologyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinctive look is earthy and organic with natural tones and fluid, hand-drawn designs that resonate with a modern sophisticated customer. The focus on creating products of beauty is coupled with a high emphasis on quality, ensuring the longevity of every piece that carries the Ecology name. Ranges include CANVAS white bone china to mottled Porcelain, patterned Stoneware, Vases, Vessels, Mugs & Wooden Boards.

Contact: Valerie Graham Ltd. +44 20 8200 5100 | sales@vgltd.co.uk | www.ecologyhomewares.com.au

Museums & Galleries Ltd Museums & Galleries Ltd is the UK’s leading producer of quality art cards and design-led stationery and gifts.

They source from the world’s greatest art, design and illustration archives as well as working directly with established and emerging artists and independent galleries.

Based in Corby in England, with a dedicated art studio in Frome, Somerset, they work with museums and galleries worldwide, both public and commercial, and are the official publishers of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s cards and social and gift stationery. Other prestigious licensors they work with include the British Library, the British Museum, TATE, Natural History Museum, BBC

90 Gifts Today

Earth, Transport for London, Matthew Williamson, and Cressida Bell.

The company has a strong commitment to product innovation.

Since 2013 Museums & Galleries’ stationery offer has been radically reconfigured to offer retailers a comprehensive array of highquality boxed cards, journals, gift wraps, bags and tissue, planners and notebooks, bookmarks, pens, pencil sets, and calendars. In spring 2019 they also introduced branded bamboo travel mugs.

Greeting card ranges cover all aspects of fine and applied arts, from blank everyday, birthday, special occasions, Christmas and Easter cards. The larger licences

have exclusively branded card collections on offer.

Museums & Galleries Ltd’s products sell in the larger department stores and several thousand independent card, gift and bookshops around the UK and Ireland. They have active distributors in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Japan.

They show at all the major trade shows in the UK throughout the year, and have a full team of sales agents covering the country, as well as a national accounts executive. They publish trade catalogues twice a year and also maintain a trade-only ordering website. museumsgalleries.co.uk

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Miss Milly Miss Milly launched in 2012 amidst the joyous throes of a double dip recession. Making a business work in times like that is a great indicator of longevity.

Sarah Watmore, the founder, had come from a wholesale and retail accessories business that sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d set up in 2004. Starting afresh with Miss Milly, she intended to use her extensive marketing background to its full extent and create a brand rather than a company. A brand that retailers could envisage in their stores and that wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look out of place on a shopfront in its own right.

And over the past seven years this is how Miss Milly has evolved with a solid jewellery offering and a great reputation for well-priced products in a varied range of appealing designs and enticing, seasonal colours. As the company has developed so has the product range with scarves, purses and, now, compact mirrors, added to the lines available.

The brand has always operated with an ethos of openness and honesty, and a large business outlook and professionalism encased in a smaller framework. From day one, 92 Gifts Today

Sarah set out to make the products reasonably priced for every customer, regardless of their size and spend. And as Miss Milly grew, she determinedly kept a grasp on overheads to increase the profit as well as the sales.

All employees have previous experience in retail along with excellent customer service skills.

A business may have great products but it also needs to provide its customers with advice, support and a quick resolution to any issues.

Recent developments include outsourcing the storage, picking and packing functions to a local warehouse and the continual development of its website. In 2005 when Sarah built the website for her previous business, it was not commonplace for a small wholesaler to have an online ordering facility; websites were mostly digital catalogues, a back-up to the other, more traditional channels. Now a website is integral to a brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success, it is a showcase as well as a valuable sales tool.

Miss Milly has a team of selfemployed sales agents, attends Spring Fair, Home & Gift and Autumn Fair, and works hard all year round to achieve coverage

in the trade media. And in seven years, this relatively small British brand has established a solid position as a key UK accessories supplier and has grown its sales by 415%.

The future looks bright as Miss Milly continues to target stable, consistent growth and develop its product offering in line with market demand. missmilly.co.uk

Liberty Candles are the exclusive distributor for Candle Warmers in the UK & Ireland Liberty Candles & Marvel Fragrances Company Ltd. www.libertycandles.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ brad@candlewarmers.com â&#x20AC;˘ 01942 677 448

Agents requires for Scotland and South East

Valerie Graham The London-based company was founded in 1992 and is known for distributing a wide range of on-trend ranges for the gift industry.

These include the new Ecology brand of homewares & Lifestyle, Ipuro brand of wellbeing, Punch handbags & Accessories and Swig hydration. They supply to a wide range of retailers from multiples, department stores, independent gift shops and clothing boutiques, home and lifestyle stores, china and glass retailers to garden centres and selected website sellers.

Ecology Ecology launched its very first collection in 2008, creating longlasting, fashion-focused lifestyle products that are inherently versatile and highly functional. Ecology is one of the fastest growing lifestyle and homewares brand today in Australia and around the world.

Based in Victoria, Australia, Ecology’s distinctive look is earthy and organic with natural tones and 94 Gifts Today

fluid, hand-drawn designs that resonate with a modern sophisticated customer. The focus on creating products of beauty is coupled with a high emphasis on quality, ensuring the longevity of every single piece that carries the Ecology name.

Essentials by Ipuro is designed to introduce customers to the pricesensible self-service segment of room fragrances. Available in 10 attractive fragrances and three sizes of bottle, as well as gift sets, scented candles, car fragrances and room sprays.

Ipuro

Swig

Valerie Graham Ltd have the exclusive distribution for the UK and Ireland for the Ipuro range of Home Fragrances. Ipuro has revolutionised the market by blending a selection of exquisite fragrances in a highly aesthetic product design, adhering to the ambitious goal of providing room fragrance solutions for all tastes.

Pleasantly subtle fragrance creations with minimalist designs, Ipuro Classics fit individually into every home environment. The portfolio of nine must-have products ranges from a light sea breeze scent to citrus and floral powdery fragrances, making it as diverse as the target audience of Ipuro itself.

Swig drinkware uses double-wall, vacuum-sealed insulated technology, which means the space between the stainless steel walls is void of matter.

With no medium for heat to transfer, your drink’s temperature will not be impacted by the outside temperature.

For the 2019/20 hydration collection, Swig have unveiled the exciting new Dragonglass and Leopard print collection together with striking two-tone colourways of Purple with Yellow base, Navy with Orange base and Orange with Purple base and a solid Crimson colour for Christmas. The range includes stemless wine/drinking cups, mugs, tumblers and bottles. swiglife.co.uk

Gisela Graham

Piers Croke looks back on 30+ years in the gift trade.

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.’ Perhaps Charles Dickens was thinking of us in the gift trade in those exciting, pioneering days of the 1980s. Looking back, I do recall that, although it was strenuous, it was a very thrilling and interesting time. We (and many other gift trade pals) took some quite large risks that somehow didn’t seem that risky.

‘After the Wall came down in Eastern Europe, we bought a factory in Poland that made glass balls for us – a whole factory covering 1¼ acres, employing 70 people - for cash.

We sponsored its director - Poland’s champion rally driverin international rally competitions.

‘A seriously scary moment was the overnight news that our friendly German bank - on whom we relied for our trading overdraft - was in trouble. It was taken over by the French Credit Lyonnais who instructed them immediately to halve our overdraft at the very point our Christmas shipments were on the water and needed to be paid for.

Fortunately, we’d been making side arrangements with NatWest who gallantly came to our rescue.

‘Technology has made the whole gift trade look and behave more professionally. Spread sheets! Budgets!

Artwork sent to suppliers instantly through the Internet.

Thirty years ago the telex machine chattered in the office, till it was silenced by the marvellous (and silent) fax machine. Now my email box has emails dating back to 1998 and our IT director has told me it’s about time I cleared it.

Gisela and Piers, circa 1990

Gisela, circa 1992

‘A fire at Harrogate Summer Gift Fair – but happily our stand was not affected. Recessions, including one in the 1990s, that we barely survived. Customers going bust.

A crooked but charming accountant, who we managed to detect before he robbed us but went to jail anyway for his other scams. Trailers full of glass balls overturning on a Polish road and other excitements too numerous to mention.

‘We did enjoy protection, at least locally.

About 10 years ago Frankie Fraser, aka The Mad Axeman, enforcer for the South London Richardson brothers’ gang, moved into sheltered housing near our office. He was out on licence after serving a life sentence.

Once, as we were driving out of the gate, he leaned into the open car window – famously immaculate and wearing a Crombie overcoat.

He told us: ‘I like you people. I’ll look after the place for you’. And sure enough, we’ve never had any trouble.’ giselagraham.co.uk Gifts Today 95

Di Palomo

2019

Grace Cole

Xystos Flip through the Xystos portfolio for the last decade and a half and you hold up a mirror to the home and gift industry. Its distribution deals down the years – through acquisitions and agreements – have tracked the appetites of the day.

Older readers will remember the heyday of collectables and brands such as Beswick, Maasai, Piggin’, Pocket Dragons and PenDelfin – just a few of the big names of the day that Xystos had under its wing. It was a player in Fantasy, too, with Enchantica and, of course, Myth & Magic and its ubiquitous dragons.

But the times were a-changin’ and Xystos moved on with its own-brand big-selling lines like Lost Dog and African Plains. A nod to jewellery with Annaleece, and to glass with Gleneagles Crystal, Bormioli Rocco, Rockingham Crystal and Walther-Glas.

Its distribution deal for WoodWick Candles spurred the company on to greater things in the flame and fragrance sector. Here, it continues

to enjoy success through its own Cello brand, a leading player with its pioneering electric melt burners and ultrasonic diffusers. The acquisition of top brand Di Palomo and a distribution deal with Shearer Candles were the precursor to other agreements with the Grace Cole high-end brand The Luxury Bathing Company and Boutique with Love – as well as Winter in Venice and Faith in Nature.

The Naked Bee completes Xystos’s impressive bath and body portfolio, while its Himalayan salt lamps enhance the lighting offer. It is also proud of its partnership with Splosh, the Australian supplier of decorative home products.

Philip Lewis couldn’t have imagined more than 30 years ago where his entrepreneurial spirit and resilience would take him, wife Barbara – sadly passed – and son David, now managing director of Xystos, who had entered the business at the age of 16. Then, Philip had pitched up at Gateshead’s newly opened

Metrocentre with just £100 in his pocket and a wheelbarrow full of Geordie souvenirs. He had lost his fortune – the 1984-85 miners’ strike dealing a fatal blow to his North East store chain when people no longer had the money to buy the alcohol, cigarettes and books that he sold.

Undaunted, it wasn’t long before he had two barrows and then a shop in the Antique Village selling Collectables - which was the name of that first store and those that were to follow. When he and David decided some 15 years ago to become suppliers to the home and gift trade, Philip came up with the name Xystos. ‘Most people didn’t know how to pronounce it then, but they certainly do now.’ xystostrade.co.uk

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Congratulating Gifts Today on its 30th anniversary

Tel 01460 75686 www.classiccanes.co.uk

Something Different Wholesale

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Starting life at humble car boot sales back in the 1990s, the Welsh company is now celebrating 20 years as a thriving wholesale business.

Established by CEO Jane Wallace-Jones, Something Different Wholesale is a family business that began as a humble car boot sale in the early 1990s. Jane, who had an eye for giftware and a passion for sales, began selling goods at local car boot sales before moving on to the world of daily markets, followed by stalls in markets across South Wales.

As the number of stalls increased Jane took on a central warehouse as a distribution site for her own retail outlets and a cash & carry warehouse supplying local traders. The model was simple - she bought stock in bulk from other importers and manufacturers and used it to supply her chain of market stalls and offered cash & carry to local customers.

In 1999, she launched her first website, the first ecommerce business in its field and it was an overnight success. Times were good and by 2002, the company had outgrown its current premises and moved to a larger, 10,000 square foot warehouse in Wyndham Court, Swansea.

As the company grew in confidence and sales increased in volume, Jane decided to try her hand at importing and, in 2005, the first container of goods arrived. As a small team multi-tasking and good humour was vital. With a can-do attitude, the team set about working together on any task thrown at them, from emptying containers, stocking the shelves and packing orders to updating the website and negotiating with suppliers.

Today Something Different operates from a 62,000 square foot warehouse in Swansea and employs 60 people.

Staff turnover is low which gives the advantage that the team really knows its customers and customers know the team.

The business imports around 150 containers a year and supplies over 25,000 customers worldwide, providing goods in singles, cartons, pallets and containers. The business has grown exponentially from the days of wholesaling but the core values remain the same; to provide an unparalleled service to customers with quality products, reasonable pricing and strong, trustworthy relationships.

Next year is going to be an exciting one for Something Different. As Jane says: ‘If there’s one thing we’ve learnt since our market trading days over 30 years ago, it’s that trends and business models are continually adapting and shifting. By being dynamic ourselves we can help to support our customers as they grow.’ somethingdifferentwholesale.co.uk

Guess How Much I Love You the perfect gift for loved ones of all ages

© SMcB / AJ 2019

ORDER NOW!

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to the next 30 years!

Advertise with Gifts Today to reach our loyal readership. p g Fair 2020 Now booking for our Top Drawer and Spring issues, and more!

Mark Horsnell, Advertisement Manager 01442 289949 mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

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