Christmas in January 2015

25th year of publication

In January 2015

Harrogate Christmas & Gift 11th to 14th January 2014 Harrogate International Centre 9am - 6pm Sunday - Tuesday, 9am - 4pm Wednesday

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Harrogate Christmas and Gift 2015 It’s almost here

The best Christmas show in town Sunday 11th – Wednesday 14th Sun – Tue 9am – 6pm Wed 9am – 4pm

Pre-Registration now on www.harrogatefair.com

GTN Awards Sunday 11th January to book tickets call 01733 775700 Monday 12th January FREE Drinks, Snacks and Disco From 10pm for Exhibitors and Buyers at the Majestic Hotel

Eight halls of Christmas Hall A A37

Hall B Artscape Publishing Santa Balls

Artcuts Ltd

H1

Premier Decorations Ltd.

B12

Blossom Collection Ltd

H1

Premier Halloween

B15

Bonnington Plastics Ltd.

H1

Premier Summer Living

B6

CB Imports Plc

B25

CGB Giftware

Hall M

B32

Country Matters Ltd

M12

Ascalon Design Ltd.

B1,5

Floralsilk Ltd.

M14,M16

Gisela Graham Ltd.

B2

Giftworks Ltd.

M4

Jingles

B23

Halligan Raby Ltd.

M2

Kaemingk BV

B1A

IDEALINKS HOME DECORATIONS BV

M22

Konstsmide (UK) Ltd.

M6

Sagedecor

B18

JVL Homeware Solutions

M24

The Original Winters Tale Ltd.

B36

LBS Home & Garden

M3

Triflora Decorations Ltd.

B4

Lesser & Pavey Ltd.

M28

Weiste

I E P Wholesale

B37

Maggie Jones Collection Ltd

M25

A09,A22

Leisuregrow Products Ltd (NOMA)

B7

Plaristo UK Ltd

Willow Brooks Secret Christmas Ltd.

B20

Royal County Products Ltd

M3

Triflora Decorations Ltd.

A26

Low's

B14

RSW International Ltd.

A28

Padgett Brothers AtoZ

B11

Seasonal Lighting Ltd

A6

R J B Stone Ltd.

B21

Sifcon International Plc

A18

Sincere UK Ltd.

B13

Widdop Bingham & Co Ltd

A32

Smart Garden Products Ltd

B22

Worldwide Magazine Distribution Ltd

A36

Suki Gifts Interantional Ltd

B33

Zuza Trading

A4

t o b s - The Old Basket Supply Ltd.

A30

The Giftware Trading Company

A33

Bollywood Christmas Ltd.

A1

Christmas in January

A16

DecoLum / Light Flurries UK

Stand

Exhibitor

A40

Flame Homeware

A29

Florelle Import Co.

A34

Gaeltag Keltika Ltd.

A3

Gardman Ltd

A25

Hallmark Import Services Ltd

A30a

Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair

A38

A2

The Milford Collection

A08

Thuringer Glasdesign (TGS)

A35

Walton & Co Ltd.

A38

I E P Wholesale

A40

Flame Homeware

Hall D

B16

Hall H

Queens Pavillion QP5

IC Innovations

QP1

Vivid Arts Ltd.

QP3

Winter Flora Ltd.

Queens Suite

Hall C C3

Anglo American Distributors Ltd.

C6

Archipelago

C25

Ashleigh and Burwood Ltd

C20

Casdon Toys

C4

Fair to Trade Ltd.

C5

Felt so good

C2,C39

Festive Productions Ltd.

C37

Heaven Sends

D02

All About Christmas Ltd

C18

Instant Gifts International Ltd.

D1

Benross Marketing Ltd.

C10

Jette Frรถlich Design Aps

D07

BRANDWELL (IRL) LTD

C24

Luxa Flamelighting

D05

Desk-Top Trading (UK) Ltd

C15

Maingate Ltd.

C41

Playwrite Group Plc

D03

Holly International Ltd

C22

Puleo Asia Ltd.

D9

National Tree Company

C 11

D06

Powell Creative Products Ltd.

Schulte Kunstgewerbe Int GmbH & Co. KG

C21

Sparkle and Light Ltd.

D11

Snowtime

C19

The Satchville Gift Company

D4

Tallon International Ltd.

C27

XYSTOS

D6a

Terra Rossa

C41

Playwrite Group Plc

D9

National Tree Company

QS06

ANZ Ltd.

QS08

CK Wholesale Supplies Ltd.

QS01

S & H Supplies

QS09

Woolbro (Distribution) Ltd.

5 5

25th Year of Publication

REGULARS Leader page

FEATURES 7

News

22

Jingle all the way A visit to Belfast to view Jingles 2015 ranges

26

A stunning flame & fragrance

8

USA Market update

10

Offering from Xystos An update on Xystos

By Dorothy Creamer-Shaffer

Christmas World Frankfurt 24

32

Festive ring the changes It’s been a busy year for Festive

Step Back in Time

28

38

Sia have a golden future Sia’s U.K. director explains

G.C.A. update

34

40

16th Christmas in January Golf day 42

46

Harrogate Christmas & Gift Show 44

Premier continues to thrive The U.K.’s largest supplier Updates the trade on their 2015 Ranges What a difference a year makes Frank Kaminski Noma’s marketing And sales director brings me up-todate

50

A season of luxury at Kaemingk We view their Christmas collections

54

A portrait of Santa Piers Croke of Gisela Grahame Explains

56

“But they’re just lights – Right?”

Most definitely not according to Konstsmide

58

The Bourne Experience A visit to Bourne, Lincolnshire to visit Floralsilk

66

Inspirational and unique Christmas collections from CB Imports 66 All the latest from CB

Harrogate preview editorial 48,49,60 Publisher:

Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

Features Editor: Production Director:

Freddie Hume Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

Layout:

Rick Vickers rick@lemapublishing.co.uk

Circulation:

Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

Published by: Lema Publishing Ltd 1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts.

HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930 Fax: 01442 289950 Email: info@lemapublishing.co.uk

Retail Interviews 20

Planning for retirement in 2042 A visit to Hayes Garden Centre

52

Covert Ops in Yorkshire We visit Stockeld Park, 250 years Young and still thriving

64

Give us this day our daily bread Gould’s Garden Centre Dorchester

The views of the contributors expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher. Comments, letters and criticism are welcome.

NEW

STYLES NOW IN

BEST SELLING

CANDLES

The safe alternative to real flame candles!

2014 Bestsellers

•

New Styles and Sets of Candles Melted Edge Candles Metallic Candles AMAZING Deals!

•

New improved FSDU with display shelf and full colour header board for 2015

Visit us - don’t miss out Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair Harrogate International Centre Sun. 11th - Wed. 14th January 2015

IN THE WHOLE OF HALL

H

PREMIER DECORATIONS LIMITED • HEAD OFFICE AND SHOWROOM Premier House • Braintree Road • Ruislip • Middlesex HA4 0EJ Tel: 020 8624 5555 55 • Fa Fax: 020 8624 5678 • E-mail: ail: sale sales@premierdec.com • www.premierdec.com ttwitter.com/PremierDecs •

ffacebook.com/premierdec

Leader

The Leader 2

015 sees me attending my 50th consecutive show at Harrogate. Back then in 1966 we were all looking forward to the 1966 World Cup at Wembley and Christmas decoration companies in those days were primarily supplying tinsel. Major names then were Porth, Widmanns, Phoenix Tinsel, Ti-Well, Caldo, Christmas Crafts, Heaton Paper. To give you some idea on costings, a box of Party Poppers were just 12/6d.

Also in those days they had a Police Boxing tournament that was very popular with visitors to the show.

I was single, the show lasted 6 days so you were in Harrogate for a whole week. It always seemed to snow during the show and it seemed like total heaven for a well brought up young man such as me!

Everyone seemed to stay up till around 4 a.m. either playing cards, drinking or just enjoying the moment. There were hundreds of wholesalers, most of whom stocked Christmas decorations and of course you had Woolies who stocked Christmas in a big way as well as the major mail order companies.

Move forward to 2015 and virtually all the businesses that flourished in 1966 is long gone.

Welcome to our 25th consecutive year of publishing ‘Christmas in January’. Each year we have previewed and interviewed those companies showing at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair, but in the early nineties when we first published, it was of course a toy fair with a growing number of Christmas decoration companies taking stands.

Move on to 2015 and we have all but lost our toy companies all but a few loyal companies and Christmas and gift companies now fill the bulk of the halls.

Travelling around the country speaking to quite a number of people in the Christmas decoration industry, it makes one realize what a fashion industry it is and how the constant improvement in technology has benefited everyone.

LED lights continue to improve as do fibre optics and the growth of battery-driven products sees no let-up, with connectables able to connect for what seems like miles!

All of these technical innovations are fantastic for both the buyers and their consumers. Harrogate awaits from the 11th to the 14th January with not just the regulars showing, but almost 40 new exhibitors.

Various colour themes seem to change in popularity from year to year. Blue lighting has been very popular, but one leading supplier is telling me that GREEN seems to be the lighting colour most popular for him this year.

What do all of you think?

Mr. John Athwal of Premier Decorations fame is a much travelled man. During his recent trip to China, he managed 26 flights within a 35 day period.

Is this a record for visiting factories during this time period?

Will he have the time to enjoy all those airmiles accrued during this period?

I have to say that during my visits every company I spoke to seemed very positive. Plenty of innovation proving what a vibrant industry we have. Fibre Optics seem to be

on the up, Christmas trees have much improved lighting systems and battery-operated timers seem to have taken over from mains operated plug points.

Now a plug for our golf day, it takes place on Thursday the 2nd July at Staverton Park, a few minutes off junction 16 of the M1. We really should have more support from the industry. If you play golf, what can beat a day on the course with industry friends with great weather and a barbeque to finish the day plus a most lavish host!

Give me a call on 01442 289930 or email Malcolm@lemapublishing. co.uk Finally, just to remind you that our stand is just in the entrance to Hall ‘A’ where I shall be delighted to meet any of our readers passing through the entrance to the show.

christmas in january 7

Feature News

Helen Doran joins Floralsilk Helen Doran formerly with Squires Garden Centre has recently joined Floralsilk to cover sales for the South East of England. Helen takes over from industry legend Brian Collins who recently retired.

The Floralsilk team pictured just before Christmas and obviously in festive spirit!

TGS Appoint John King After 25 years representing Krebs in the UK; John King has recently joined German Glass ornament manufacturers TGS Thüringer Glas Design Steinheid.

Bringing his expertise in Glass Christmas ornaments, John will be bringing TGS to Harrogate for their first UK show and looks forward to seeing some familiar faces on the stand.

John and TGS can be found in Hall A stand 08

1

3

2

4

Noma’s marketing & sales Director Frank Kaminski(1) has brought several new staff in to help grow the business they include James Quigley as commercial director,(2) Phil Swainston returns to Noma after a spell with Premier Decorations as national accounts manager(3) and finally Mark Shanks also returns to Noma as their category manager. With a brand new and most impressive showroom, Noma are looking forward to also seeing their customers at their own showroom.

8 christmas in january

GCA garden centres shine with Christmas displays THE REGIONAL winners of the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual Christmas display competition have been revealed this week.

Thirteen garden centres have been named as having the best Christmas overall displays in their individual regions.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executivesaid: “I am delighted to announce the area winners of our Christmas competition.

The winning centres are now being judged by Neville Stein from Ovation Business Consultantsto determine the national winners. Congratulations to all the winners so far and thank you to everyone that entered, and to our band of judges who volunteered to visit them.”

The two overall national winners will be announced later this month and presented with their awards at the GCA annual conference in January.

The results are as follows for the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) and Garden Centre (GC) categories: Bents (DGC) in Cheshire and Fron Goch (GC) in North Wales came top in the North West. Garsons Esher (DGC) in Surrey and Castle Gardens (GC), Dorset were the winners in the South Thames region.

Meanwhile in the Wales and West area, Whitehall Garden Centre (DGC) at Lacock in Wiltshire and Raglan (GC) in Wales are in pole position with Van Hage Great Amwell (DGC) in Hertfordshire and Squires Shepperton in Middlesex coming out top in the North Thames region.

In the North East, Langlands Shiptonthorpe (DGC) in Yorkshire and Armitage’s (GC) Birchencliffe Garden Centre

Christmas displays atCastle Gardens, Dorset, winners in the South Thames region in the Garden Centre category. both in West Yorkshire came first and in the Midlands the winners were Webbs (DGC) in Worcestershire and Fairways Ashbourne (GC) in Derbyshire.

In Northern Ireland the overall winner was Creative Gardens Galgorm Castle (GC) in County Antrim.

Iain added: “Once again, congratulations to everyone who took part and good luck in the finals to all our regional winners.

“The garden centres are judged on the innovation, inspiration and excitement created from the way their Christmas products are displayed. The range of products available, accessibility, how easy it is for customers to find and select products and ‘wow factor’ are also taken into consideration.

“We will be announcing the overall winners later this month and they will then receive their prizes at the GCA annual conference, which takes place at the De Vere Carden Park in Chester from January 25 until 28.”

For further information, please call 0118 930 8918. Alternatively, visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/GardenCentreAssociationorfollow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.

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Feature Stateside

How Americans are Celebrating & Buying for Christmas The holiday market in the USA is driven by a call for quality, innovation and competitive price points

by Dorothy Creamer, Editor-in-Chief of Selling Christmas Decorations Magazine (wwww.sellingchristmas.co,)

C

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10 christmas in january

hristmas 2014 was proving to be one of optimism in the States. Despite a tumultuous start to the year, the National Retail Federation (NRF; www.nrf.com) was predicting that holiday sales would increase a respectable 4.1% to $616.9 billion, higher than 2013’s actual 3.1% increase. It is also the first time since 2011 that holiday sale would increase more than 4%.

“Retailers could see a welcome boost in holiday shopping,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “While expectations for sales growth are upbeat, it goes without saying there still remains some uneasiness and anxiety among consumers when it comes to their purchase decisions. Recognizing the need to keep household budgets in line, we expect shoppers will be extremely price sensitive as they have been for quite some time.”

With the persistent lagging economic recovery, Shay also notes that retailers must respond by differentiating themselves and touting price, value and exclusivity. NRF chief economist, Jack Kleinhenz agrees noting that while extra spending power could very well translate into solid holiday sales growth for retailers; shoppers will still be deliberate with their purchases,

while hunting for hard-to-pass-up bargains.

Looking ahead to 2015, in the overall retail marketplace, smaller retailers have recognized that in order to entice buyers away from big box and mass merchants, they must make their inventory stand out. This is true of Christmas items as well, especially as the larger corporations have the space both on the floor and in stock rooms to devote large sections of selling space to holiday merchandise. “Retail buyers are looking for the same things that their customers want: unique, well-designed, highquality products at very competitive pricing,” Deb Gold, President of Gold & Company Marketing, Gift/Home/Fashion trends expert, California Market Center. “There is no doubt that the seasonal marketplace is very price conscious, as consumers these days are savvy about shopping different product distribution outlets including Internet vendors and big box stores. Retailers also require imaginative, ontrend products that can’t be found everywhere, so that their stores can remain a distinctive destination for their customers.”

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Feature Stateside

development for Midwest-CBK, says.

Focus is shifting from the beach house to lakeside living. While nautical motifs still remain popular there has been a shift to celebrate coastal living with greens and earth tones, a woodsy mood, and Americana accents.

Gallerie II and Midwest-CBK are offering new takes on this theme in 2015. “It is a charming, crafty take on traditional lodge motifs that can be displayed all year-round,” says Julie DeVries, marketing coordinator for Gallerie II.

and intricate wirework are methods that complement many different themes and styles.

Small woodland creatures including foxes, squirrels, owls (still!), bear and deer continue their popularity as a cast of characters for rustic, woodland and lodge themes, however now these icons are appearing in more modernized versions with stylized interpretations.

Tabletop Trends Mirror the Overall Merry Market

Holiday suppliers are offering a fresh alternative to silver and gold. While gold is also enjoying a resurgence for 2015, with its weight, polish, and warm color, brass s most holiday has an especially modern celebrations are luster that is appealing to centered on festive designers. Copper and bronze meals, tabletop are alternatively used for similar schemes have become increasingly effects. “Metallics are expanding prominent in the American from silver and gold. We’re now marketplace. As the next generation seeing designs in bronze, copper begins to take over hosting and jeweled tone colorways,” responsibilities, there are shifts and Frank Joens, Sr. Vice President, new trends in dish designs have General Manager for LA Mart. been emerging at a rapid pace.

No one is shying away from Younger consumers are not as white for holiday décor. “Shades tethered to matching sets and they of white, ivory and cream mixed are not afraid to combine holiday with a variety of metallic design schemes. “People are Christopher Radko colors, create magic for those comfortable having more (800/723-5609) wanting a more understated than just one style of holiday www.christopherradko.com look that complements décor and tableware and look neutral décor,” Ingrid Liss, creative director for ways to complement the occasion or the for DEMDACO/Silvestri , says. Kaemingk is specific room,” DEMDACO/Silvestri’s Liss says. introducing its Balanced Whites collection “Therefore it is not unlikely that a consumer featuring white and silver colors combined invests in a set of whimsical melamine with copper making it a contemporary theme Christmas dishes for the casual kitchen eating with industrial influences. Gallerie II’s White area as well as lovely fine ceramic table ware Christmas Collection is a retro glam take on the for a dressier dining room setting.” This mix and all-white look, with items crafted from pearlized match mentality also plays into the frugality of capiz shells to look as though they were formed consumers. “Rather than buying a completely from shattered ice and coordinating items in new dinnerware set they will add on to what champagne, silver and parchment colors.

The use of mixed-media and layered textures add interest and dimension to any medium. “The DIY movement that has trickled up and made its way into the marketplace has increased the desire for the rustic, hand-made look,” says Stephanie Aponte, sales representative for Primitives

by Kathy. Holiday designers are finding creative ways to make looks that cry out to be touched. The artful use of rough, distressed wood, aged metal and antiqued glass combined with crystal Gallerie II (888/889-9868) www.gallerieii.com

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Trends Shaping Holiday Styles

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hile the battle cry for “what’s new” persists, the challenge is how style insiders manage to combine the traditional with the fresh. Micro-trends have emerged that are shaping entire segments and are poised to drive larger holiday themes in 2015 in the United States.

Organic themes are persisting in 2015.

Recently buyers seem much more inclined to make eco-friendly choices in their seasonal merchandise and designers, including Bethany Lowe, have seen more interest in natural materials such as jute, burlap and paper mache.

“Buyers are looking for local sources, recycled, reused, and environmentally-friendly products,” J Schwanke, floral and design expert, Dallas Market Center, states. “As a result, this has also led to a ‘farm to table’ look, composed of earthy, organic, and natural trends in design.”

Rustic-themed trees adorned with woodland creatures and ornaments made from natural elements such as burlap, sisal or twigs have also caught the consumer’s eye. “We are using more and more natural materials in our product mix,” Beth Lorentz, vice president of product 12 christmas in january

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Feature Stateside

they have with accent pieces,” Ingerid Mohn, president of Sagaform, says.

As with other areas of holiday décor, durability, functionality and longevity all play into popular items.

Designers are recognizing that wintery K&K Interiors themes (877/647-0111) inspire sales www.kkinteriors.com as they can extend the season beyond Christmas. “Holiday décor that can extend through the winter, like snowmen, always do well,” says Patrick Taylor, sales manager for Golden Rabbit. Mohn agrees that products that can be used for a longer period of time always sell well. “I see more requests for winter items versus designated holiday items,” she states.

Beyond the aesthetics of tableware items, buyers are looking for items that can withstand the wear and tear of hungry and eager guests.

“Buyers want products that look good, but are practical and usable,” Taylor explains.

Other suppliers noted seeing buyers being more intentional about purchases and caring about the origin and craftsmanship behind their purchases. “Buyers are looking for quality in their tabletop purchases,” Heather Hutchins, marketing for Vietri, says. “They are willing to spend a little more on dinnerware that is highly functional, beautiful, and has with a story.

People are looking for authenticity in this world of mass production.”

Ornaments Remain the Jewels of Christmas Sales

A

ccording to the SCD 2014 Readership Survey, ornaments reign as the top revenue producing category for holiday retailers, with 33.8% naming the items as top sellers.

Ornaments also proved to be the strongest in terms of sales gains for retailers with more than a quarter of respondents (25.4%) tapping them as the strongest. With ornaments offering so much potential for return on investment, retailers feel confident devoting copious amounts of retail space to them.

Ornament styles run the gamut, but several key trends have emerged as major sales drivers 14 christmas in january

heading into the 2015 season. Designers are broadening style horizons by experimenting with new innovations in materials. Christopher Radko design director Amy Pearson also believes that ornaments are trending toward more mixed medium attachments. “Faux fur, microbeads and chunky sequin glitter add really nice texture to glass ornaments,” she describes also noting that tufted glass is another strong trend for 2015. Gloria Duchin has embraced adding “bling” to its latest ornaments realizing

Vietri (919/245-4180) www.vietri.com that customer are looking for sparkle, more glitter, Swarovski crystals, and new finishes like matte chrome and satin nickel.

Ornaments with a message or personal element continue to yield huge profits for retailers. “Our most popular ornaments continue to be personalizable ornaments with specific themes such as family, friends, sports, hobbies, etc.,” says Tammy Hall, assistant salesroom merchandise manager and primary ornament buyer, for Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Pieces that commemorate milestones such as a first Christmas or 50th anniversary continue to be popular as do those that note personal experiences and memories. Ornaments that relate to vacations, birthdays and other life-markers have a positive impact on sales.

“For us, keepsake ornaments always perform well,” Rachel Menard, Gloria Duchin says.

“Ornaments with messaging, photo ornaments, pet ornaments, remembrance ornaments… pieces that customers can gift and cherish year after year are particularly popular.”

The economy continues to affect buying decisions, however more meaningful buys seem to be taking precedence. For example, instead of buying more items, people seem to be buying items that are perceived as being of better quality. “Consumers will accept a higher price tag with the expectation that it will be more important or be a meaningful gift for a recipient,” says Trieste Cardova, creative director for Ne’Qwa Art.

Next-Gen Tech Impacts Artificial Tree & Lighting Market

M

anufacturers report that the strongest trends for trees in 2014 were convenience, customization, and technological advances. “About 20 years ago the major breakthrough was upgrading unlit to pre-lit trees,” says Warner. “The new advancement now is having all the light wires internalized in the tree pole. Most major retailers have this feature in their higher-end trees.”

High-tip count PE trees with Staylit lights were a bestseller for Santa’s Own, says company president Brian Love. “Our customers appreciate having quality salable features that differentiate them from the competition.”

ACTA’s Warner expects to see more technology to be integrated into trees going forward, with apps that can control your light color, flashing functions and even sync to the music. Indeed, National Tree Company’s new-for-2015 Music Match lights use Bluetooth technology to do just that. “Lighting design and innovation creates enthusiasm,” says Bischoff.

Holiday lighting has also seen buyers craving more technological bells and whistles. As the population becomes increasingly mobile-based yet tethered to electronic devices, the industry has evolved to give the public next-generation options. S4 Lights has seen strong sales and growing interest in its interactive lighting experience, Lumenplay. The app-enabled lights allow buyers to personalize holiday lighting with just the swipe of a finger.

GKI/Bethlehem has also expanded its tech-savvy and customizable offerings with its new line of Leave Up Lites. The product features a line of remote controlled RGB strip lighting that can be left up all year-round, and the color scheme can be changed with the push of a button to accommodate any holiday.

Creative Displays is also introducing a new item to their product line that utilizes this same RGB technology in the form of a 10-foot pre-programmed tree. The tree holds 16 strings of G40 RGB globe-style LED lights that provide a distinctive glow with 120 different effects that run at varying speeds and colors.

Vickerman (952/373-2011) www.vickerman.com

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Feature Hayes

Planning for Retirement...in 2042!!

W

hat a lovely place to work!

Leanne Coulson, Store Manager at Hayes Garden World in Cumbria is such a fortunate lady. Formerly the manager of the world-famous Beatrix Potter store in Windermere she not only works in beautiful Ambleside, but has a great life story about how she got there, too.

Grandmother was Ukrainian and imprisoned at a POW camp in Germany during the Second World War, from which, when the war was over, she was apparently ‘dumped’ in Bradford where she met another Ukrainian and married him. They had a son Roman Szlapko, who is Leanne’s dad and they all left Bradford, when she was aged just 6, to go and live at Lake Windermere….lucky girl!

The Hayes’ family connection with the gardening world dates back over 200 years, with the fifth-generation now running the show.

The first generation sons of a humble farm labourer went into the gardening business, at Ambleside, in the early 19th century, at a time when the Lake District was becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination. Attractive grounds were important assets for inns and the new hotels, thus gardening was a growing business. Third generation Thomas Richard however, took it to a different level. As a young man, in 1887, he had created the bouquet for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee and followed that by exhibiting to King George V & Queen Mary at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1924, with both the Chelsea and Southport Flower Shows being very important to the business’s growth, and at which they were the first to show Lakeland Slate.

Originally known as “Lake District Nurseries” the present site was opened in 1921 and when Garden Centres proliferated in the 1960’s they became Hayes Garden World, always with a

18 christmas in january

family member at the helm - currently great, great, great grandson Richard Hayes is actively involved in the business.

Many of the staff have also been here for a long time, with a remarkable number having commenced employment in the 60s, with Leanne recently learning that many are retiring in 2015, and they are all gloating over their soon to be relaxing days (!). It prompted Leanne to establish just when she will be able to relax..... apparently another 37 years… unless the rules are changed again!

Leanne has been Store Manager at Hayes for five years, adding the extra responsibility of Christmas buying after two, yet in her three years Christmas turnover has doubled, though when asked why, she says it is primarily due to increased floor space, more welcoming displays and a definite move to attract kiddies. Leanne is convinced, and figures bear it out, that children love to make a day of it at Hayes, they obviously need parents to get them there, and they are the ones with the money! There is a definite WOW factor that appeals to youngsters, especially at Christmas, and when the kiddies ‘get it’ it usually means that Mum & Dad, or Grand-ma & Grand-dad feel childlike too, as can be seen by the many smiles and happy faces.

With a catchment area from Barrow to Carlisle to Morecambe there are lots of regulars, but it is most certainly a tourist destination too.

A relaxing boat trip on Lake Windermere can be interrupted by RAF jets making their marvellous low-flying passes at jet speed over the lakes up to 5 times a day, which hopefully occur when the ladies are shopping so that the sons and fathers can also have some fun ?

The tourist trade is big all year as the Lake District receives about 15 million people annually, yet interestingly September, when Christmas first appears, is seen as ‘Couples

Month’ possibly because Mum & Dad have packed the children back-to -school and decided to take some time for themselves. They appear to ‘enjoy’ themselves a lot too, as it is seen throughout the resort as the best month for receiving tips.

Many families visit on weekends, with lots of retirees during the week, and all are catered for at Hayes Garden World. Visitors can’t get bored, as with regular seasonal changes to the store, culminating in Christmas of course, it not only makes it special for them, it also makes it a terrific place to work.

Christmas Displays are planned to be set up for September 1st each year, and are actually built, created by head of maintenance Stephen Barton, whilst the customers are in-store. This makes for fun planning, and always starts with Lights ‘’the biggest money-spinner” being set out first. Themes are next, being set up one by one and 2014 had Woodland/botanical, Kids, Frosty, Gonk and Traditional with a twist. Clever use of wallpaper made for some really intriguing and very effective displays, with wreaths and swags on what appeared to be real brick walls and wooden fences.

The December visit to Kaemingk is seen as the starting point when it comes to theme selection, but occasionally on arrival at Harrogate they may change some colours if they are deemed to be a little bit ‘too’ European for the Lake District.

Harrogate is where Leanne, Caroline and Jenna finalise the themes, prior to visiting the NEC Spring Fair to see those suppliers who do not exhibit at Harrogate, and where they can also concentrate on Cards & Wrap.

Leanne’s first visit to Frankfurt Christmas World was in 2014 where she went specifically to look for animation, and with the sales success achieved she is certainly going again,

yet broadening her horizons even more, as everything that was purchased there sold really well.

She has a good team too, with Caroline Young having been store merchandiser for 17 years, so she certainly knows her way around a tree forest, and Jenna Marshall in training to become an Assistant buyer, currently doing her NVQ level 3.

Referring to trees reminds me that they have an excellent selection system in place, where you can choose style and size from within the display & take the appropriate matching ticket to the check-out - which arranges immediate collection for you from the warehouse when departing. No bulky trollies in-store making one play ‘dodge the fir tree’.

As seen elsewhere on my travels it also seems that there is certainly a trend for more than one tree per house, maybe one in the kids’ bedrooms too (?), and this was borne out here.

In reality, stock deliveries actually determine what goes on show first, as Leanne requests shipment as early as July or August - in fact the only negative thing I heard at all during my visit was regarding the late deliveries received from many suppliers during 2014, which had a marked effect on their planning.

Customers are always looking out for something different, so how about those Gonks?

Leanne went all out, buying a container direct and selling out by mid- November. Using black, red, grey & white and an amazing animated Talking Tree they were the talk of the car park…. all I heard on my way back to the car was ‘wow’ and ‘fantastic’ and ‘did you see that’.

There are lots of lovely staff working within Hayes and probably too many to mention - but one who could not be avoided (!) was Tony. In charge of compost and fertiliser during summer he switches (get it?) to lights at Christmas,

and in the nine years he has been in charge of this section there is nothing he has not learned about lights….seriously, I tested him!

He’s a really knowledgeable guy, but he’s also remarkably helpful and is the recipient of more correspondence, both by snail and email, than any other member of staff…and apparently it’s all complimentary !!!!! He can even help you with a spare bulb request for a set that is 20 years old. How about that? Certainly his Customer Service is exceptional - I saw the emails.

There were certainly some interesting displays, with fantastic fully-dressed 6ft Santa models purchased in Frankfurt, direct from China, selling @ £199.99 to shops and pubs, and I particularly liked the Piaggio 3-wheeled pick-up truck which they use to display Lavender in summer but to which they added Reindeer Antlers and snow in winter. And the in-store folly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly) was outstanding!

Hayes Garden World is also a member of the Tillington Group and a major success was the Must-Buy of the Benross Christmas sweaters which were jumping (or jumpering!) off the shelves. Cracker sales were up only slightly, b/o LED lights with a 30-day life on one set of batteries were popular and Snowtime’s Illuminated Vase had been very successful though apparently the year-round winner was Fibre Optic Flowers as they sell some ‘every day’ according to Tony.

Santa’s Grotto was started just three years ago and coincidentally footfall has increased dramatically. Commencing on the 15th November it is open on weekends only, through to Dec 11 when it goes full steam. There is an interactive walk, where you can throw ‘snowballs’ at penguins and reindeer, distorted mirrors as seen in funfairs, and all visitors

receive a gift chosen specifically by both age and gender.

Customers could also follow in Santa’s footsteps by making some noise for charity. The Hayes Online Snowman needed their help to donate a bagful of gifts. All they had to do was ‘Make some Noise’ by sharing Christmas tweets or ‘liking’ their posts. For every 500 shares, likes or comments, Santa’s footsteps lit up, stepping up to the next door in his Advent Tree, thus revealing more gifts.

They were expected to be delivering a tree to each of their twelve charities and were not forgetting their Facebook Fans either by rewarding them for getting behind the charities. All were automatically entered into a prize draw to win one of Five Luxury artificial Christmas trees for themselves, and each time they shared a ‘like’ or comment they gained an entry into the hat.

Social Media is immensely important at Hayes Garden World, with Facebook and Twitter extremely popular, and their online sales are truly amazing. Leanne believes their artificial tree range offer is the biggest in the UK and over half the trees they sell are purchased online.

Last year was also their 1st entry into the GCA Christmas Awards, and lo-and-behold the first visit by a judge took place on the Monday after their busiest ever weekend! I guess we’ll know by the time this article is printed whether that hindered their attempt -but if they were unsuccessful they still managed to make the front cover of the Good Housekeeping Christmas edition.

It was lovely to have visited the Lake District, and especially good to have met Leanne, someone with a fresh eye to Christmas, and her staff. Most if not all garden centre staff are very keen and eager but it is not often I meet someone who is this new to Christmas....and just bubbling with enthusiasm.

christmas in january 19

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Feature Jingles

Jingle

all the way H

aving visited Iain Mercer’s showroom in Belfast for the first time last year, I knew what to expect for 2015, but I have to say that a year on with his ‘Jingles’ brand and he had a lot of surprises in store for me.

With 20 year’s of Christmas experience (and I don’t mean buying his wife Pearl’s Christmas present) Iain and his team have created some sensational goodies for 2015.

Readers will of course read this before the Harrogate show opens, but once again Jingles will be in Hall ‘M’ Stand 04 at Harrogate and also have a stand at Spring Fair Hall 2 Stand H02.

As a brand Jingles have experienced substantial growth in 2014 and 2015 is looking particularly strong in Lighting and Trees.

Iain told me “We have made huge strides in lighting with our Multi Function Blossom trees achieving great success. The consumer is looking for both quality and price and we seem to have managed to combine both of these key elements particularly with our ‘Show Specials’”.

‘Time Smart’, Jingles’ Battery operated timer range, is the logo that appears on many of their lighting products and now a growing number of customers ask for ‘Time Smart’ when placing their orders. A fair percentage of their lighting range also incorporate ‘Try Me’ packaging.

Iain is first to admit that some of their previous packaging of product left a little to be desired, but now with an in-house designer, the 2015 boxes are fresh and sharp with striking colourways that are impressive when stacked on their display stands. The packs also have greater width to deliver the message of product and spec, with the depth of the box a little less that its predecessor.

In order not to confuse buyers, Jingles budget ranges are packaged and designed totally differently.

Again in order to avoid customer confusion the various lighting options have specific stands designed for specific light sets, clearly describing what they are.

22 christmas in january

It is Iain’s belief that Jingles possibly have the most complete light range available anywhere in the U.K. with much original input.

The SWITCHERSTM range is just one of a number of innovations for 2015. They effectively give the customer two sets for the price of one across many of the lighting options that include string, net, curtain and icicle lights plus blossom trees. Switchers enables these sets to switch colour with the following combinations blue/green, blue/white and multicolours/white.

Taking a prominent place in the showroom were the most impressive Waterfall lights – now offered with 15 strands in up to 15 metres length. A great show-stopper. A huge range of digitally controlled lights are also available and now at competitive prices I mentioned the Cherry Tree lights earlier, again great value, multi-functional & static options, and as far as Iain is aware the only Christmas company to offer these in 3 different sizes. Up to 3 metres in height Another neat lighting set were Jingle’s Flower Cluster lights, making a door frame look very appealing in their multi-colour setting.

Another break-through were their ‘Time Smart’ battery packs. No more having to remove 4 minute screws, but a neat and easy method of clicking the two halves together once the batteries were in place and also totally waterproof.

Jingles also have high hopes for their LED battery operated TimeSmartTM lights that can be left in static mode for up to 70 days. As we go to press, these are in the process of being tested and Ian expects them to be on the stand at Harrogate. The industry standard is 30 days on flash and the company is offering 120 days.

2015 PREDICTION Iain has noticed that there is a big increase in the number of customers choosing Green lighting. Not so long ago Blue was the in colour, but those days seem to be gone and green is in the ascendancy, hence all of Jingle’s

light offerings include Green.

Jingles have invested heavily in display stands with much of the range that features in a display stand being offered at ‘Special Deals’.

There are at least 60 selected items that feature in these including tea towels, hotwater bottles and a variety of candles just to highlight a few.

Not previously known for Welcome lights/ Candle bridges, Iain told me they had sold thousands and were one of the surprise successes of 2014.

At this point in my tour of the showroom I asked if customers were asked to contribute towards the cost of the display stands? His response was that this is a cost of sales overhead, but as long as the customer buys between 250/300 pieces of stock to fill the display stands, then both Jingles and the customer can expect a reasonable return.

Another, I suppose obvious point relating to display stands is that it pays to have the stand adjacent to a Christmas tree, if the baubles on display in the stand match those colourways shown on the tree, then this hugely affects the numbers sold, as if the potential purchaser likes the colours on a display they need to be able to immediately locate the appropriate bauble.

Whilst mentioning baubles, Jingles have over 300 on offer in both glass or shatterproofs.

DISPLAY PIECES Large display pieces are yet another area where sales have increased dramatically. Many of the products on show have been originated in-house, that includes some stunning ‘Upsidedown’ trees.

Any expanding Christmas supplier needs to be offering animation, fibre optic villages and scenes, plus LED scenes that keep bringing the customers back as collectors. Jingles have ranges in these product categories that are both price competitive and appeal to the nostalgia that we all have when it comes to Christmas scenes.

There was also some most impressive plush

on display with a family of Tigers leading the displays CANVASS PICTURES – As one of the nicest growth areas , Jingles have taken this one step further by adding a mug, plate and candle that match the picture.

Last year I noticed some quite novel Hessian made items. 2015 sees an increase in this sector which now includes Figurines, Trees, Lights and Animation making the category quite collectable.

I have noticed that more and more suppliers are including tableware and glassware in their Christmas collections. Jingles have some cute additions to this range well worth taking a look at that also include a selection of accessories.

TAPESTRIES – According to Iain this sector is flooded with too many suppliers that has had the result of driving down the prices.

Nevertheless, Jingles will once again enter the fray with a collection of scenes.

When I visited Belfast in early December the weather was just above freezing, so by the time we entered the second showroom that houses all of the trees it was time for the hand warmers, but I soon warmed to the subject when I saw the large and varied selection of trees.

Jingles Christmas trees embrace all of the obvious tree categories. What caught my eye was a 15 metre tree that had been put up that morning that Iain confided also had a larger brother, no less that 30 metres high.

That is virtually 100ft. high. It fills two whole containers, comes complete with a ladder and safety harness at a cost of £30,000 and he believes they will sell a few of them.

TREE INNOVATION Much excitement was felt by the Jingles team when they saw the first samples of their EasyUpTM artifical trees. The EasyUp tree looks identical to existing artificial trees with non of the draw backs of spending whats seems like hours to build them! Within seconds of being taken out of the square box they pop up to their

full size and need very little attention as they retain the shape so well. Available in several sizes up to 9ft.

There seems to be a general feeling in the trade that Fibre Optic trees are making a big comeback. Iain believes that this category has re-invented itself by creating some exciting new styles and patterns. They seem far brighter now and Jingles have incorporated digital wizardry that creates many different random shapes up and down and across the tree with colour changing sequences also.

The digital age has well and truly arrived when applied to Christmas products .In particular the Blossom Balls that take lit product to a new level. Battery-operated they are colour-changing . The many shapes create a constantly changing pattern that is both very clear and quite hypnotic.

Jingles have trees from 5ft. up to 15ft. in addition to those I mentioned earlier.

Summing up his tree range Iain quoted “What you see, is what you get”. I couldn’t have put it better myself!

Saving one of the best new innovations till last was the ‘Write Light’. 40 different messages using both letters and numbers that can be thrown up on a wall, using digital technology.

The ‘Write Light’ shows these messages that must be all of 3ft. high that can be used by Garden Centres to announce staff messages or special offer deals. Simple to use, but the effect is most impressive.

This has got to be a product that at £59 trade will impress all who take the trouble to ask for a demonstration. It could revolutionise how messages can be portrayed in big open spaces.

My suggestion to our readers is to either get over to Belfast and visit Jingles showroom or call on their stand at Harrogate in Hall ‘M’ or Spring Fair at the end of the month.

Also my thanks to Danny O’Halloran for collecting me at the airport and chauffeuring me Jingles H.Q. Tel: 02892 6l9881 Email:iain@merceragencies.com christmas in january 23

Feature Christmasworld

Christmasworld 2015

Special show ‘The Ice Hotel’ by 2Dezign Winter, ice and frost – pure and simple scenery creates that special Christmas wonderland

W

ith Christmas approaching, those in search of inspiration for an unusual in-store presentation or windowdressing should visit Galleria 1 at Christmasworld. With their special show ‘The Ice Hotel’, Rudi Tuinman and Pascal Koeleman have created an impressive large-scale decoration that invites the visitor to enjoy that ‘feel-good’ sensation and go shopping, despite the frosty winter landscape. To achieve this aim, the Dutch artist duo from 2Dezign use a great deal of white, ice blue, silver, glitter elements, light installations, penguins, polar bears and a sea of flowers.

With its clear-cut lines, the hotel’s ambience is very stylish and luxurious, with exclusive fashion stores, jewellers’ and florists’ shops.

The arctic special show is the perfect setting for the decorative elements put on display by the international exhibitors. “In The Ice Hotel the two designers integrate the whole spectrum of innovative decoration trends, moving figures and lighting installations offered by our exhibitors.

It will also be the first time they are setting up fashion and jewellery shops, so that the decoration will be less of a central theme and instead will be perceived as part of the whole.

This dovetails very well with what we are offering designers of concepts for decorating shopping centres and the inner cities who will receive valuable ideas and suggestions here”, says Eva Olbrich, Christmasworld Director, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH.

Immersing yourself in the ‘Christmas Ice Age’ experience The artist duo is well-known for decorations that exert a magical attraction on visitors and invite them to embark on a voyage of discovery. At Christmasworld, this will be the fifth time that the Special Show will serve as a valuable source of inspiration for new ways of addressing customers, whether it be for small specialist retailers or large 24 christmas in january

shopping centres, commercial enterprises, hotels, towns and municipalities. After Merry Marriage, Happy, Window Wonderland and Newstalgia, 2Dezign has now been commissioned by the International fair for festive decorations to create The Ice Hotel in order to show what the Christmas shopping experience of the future might look like.

“In the last two years we have tended to favour the traditional Christmas with a great deal of red and green. This time we are taking a different, modern path to achieve that same cosily familiar effect”, Pascal Koeleman from 2Dezign explains.

The Ice Hotel is the perfect refuge when the world outside gets frosty and uncomfortable. “We are putting the focus on a hospitable Christmas and welcoming our guests in the lobby, bar or shopping boulevard. At the warm-hearted centre of this cool setting we are celebrating that special Christmas spirit and saying ‘Enjoy your stay’”, Rudi Tuinman adds. The contrast between ice, winter and frost and the relaxed warm atmosphere inside is what gives the Ice Hotel its charm.

Gigantic proportions and a fantastic prize Its position in the Galleria allows the two designers to create a special show of gigantic proportions. The entrance to the Ice Hotel is the biggest eye-catcher with its enormous lighting installation. After that, trade visitors can make their way through the circular rooms of the Ice Hotel, which are separated from one another by printed lengths of fabrics.

A visit to the Ice Hotel is – after the Trend Show directly opposite – the perfect start to a tour of the fair. The sponsorship boards give the names of the exhibitors taking part, along with the hall and stand number, so that the trade visitors can add these to their own route round the fair.

Sponsors include, for example, the Swedish exhibitor Nääsgränsgarden AB, Hall 9.1, Stand

A19, who will be using the opportunity offered by the Ice Hotel Special Show to hold a draw with a journey for two persons to the real Ice Hotel in Sweden as the prize. So a visit to the fair is well worthwhile on several counts. Details under: www.naasgransgarden.se

2Dezign: Rudi Tuinman and Pascal Koeleman “Invite your customers to join you in an adventure, create emotional worlds of experience, tell stories at the PoS by literally playing with the theme of decoration both inside and outside”, is the credo of the two designers.

2Dezign is owned by Rudi Tuinman and Pascal Koeleman, two Dutch designers who have made a name for themselves with interior decoration, floral design and advertising campaigns. They like to play games with reality, observing things with a creative eye. The preference of 2Dezign for great effects and fresh green stems from the two designers’ background: Pascal Koeleman began his career as a florist and product designer.

Tuinman is from the fashion and styling business.

In the year 2000, they teamed up to found their own studio in Rijnsburg near Den Haag and since then have chalked up international successes, for example in the field of showroom, trade-fair and object design. Today, 2Dezign consists of the two founders, a permanent team of designers and a network of creative freelancers.

Christmasworld is the world’s most important order venue for the international decoration and festive articles sector. Held annually in Frankfurt, it presents the latest products and trends for all festivities of the year and provides innovative concept ideas for decorating large-scale and outdoor areas for the wholesale and retail trades, shopping centres, DIY markets and the green sector. The last event was attended by 917 exhibitors from 39 countries and 32,864 visitors from 112 countries.

Visit us at: Harrogate Christmas & Gift

11th – 14th January 2015.

Stand M22

Birmingham NEC Spring Fair

1st – 5th February 2015.

Hall 2 Stand 2F20

Tel: 01246-852140

Konstsmide (UK) Ltd

Fax: 01246-854297

Hardwick View Road, Holmewood Industrial Estate,

E-mail: sales@konstsmide.co.uk

Holmewood, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S42 5SA

Feature Xystos

Hall C - Stand C27

A stunning flame & fragrance offering from

X

Xystos

ystos – the home of flame and fragrance – returns to Christmas & Gift with a stunning portfolio of products that spans both candle and bath and body categories.

Buyers have come to expect newness and innovation from Xystos on a regular basis and their product ranges will not disappoint in the coming year.

Its best-selling WoodWick range – famous for wicks that crackle as the candles burn – will reinforce its glowing reputation by adding two new collections.

Says Xystos general manager Tom Sykes: “We are always looking to increase our market share in this highly competitive sector. Virginia Gift Brands – which created WoodWick, RibbonWick, HearthWick and some of our other ranges – has helped us to achieve that in previous years with a succession of stunning fragrances and creative candle technology. And they have done it again for 2015.

“Our stockists love the fact that they are able to choose from so many new scented products to suit the moods of their customers throughout the year. They want, new, new, new – and that isn’t going to change.

“We complement our best-known brands with quality accessories and superb high-end candle ranges from Anderson Lilley and Aquiesse. And, of course, Luminara – with no naked flame – has carved out a special niche in the market. Add in the new Sienna Gold home lighters and you’ll see that Xystos has every avenue covered. We are extremely optimistic.”

Each of the two new WoodWick ranges is unveiled with six fragrances.

The Bedroom Collection – in medium and large sizes – has Terrace Breeze, Lasting Love, Quiet Bliss, Sultry Spice, Satin Sheets and Warm Slumber, while the Macaron Collection debuts with Pistachio, Lavender, Tiramisu, Pineapple, Coconut and Berry.

26 christmas in january

New scents in WoodWick’s core range are Cherry Bark, Ginger Macaron, Cedar, Seaside Mimosa and Soft Chambray (3oz, 10oz and 22oz), which are also available as wax melts. Beachfront Cottage joins the Trilogy range (10oz & 22oz). WoodWick Reserve adds new candle scents Royal and Midnight, as well as 12 reed diffuser fragrances including Driftwood, Canyon and Humidor.

The Hourglass shape WoodWick Wax Melts are introduced in all the core fragrances. Odour Neutralisers are now in new 3oz mini and 22oz jar sizes and available as wax melts: fragrances include Clean Rain and Flower Garden.

HearthWick Flame sees 12 fragrances added, including Baby Powder, Island Coconut, Jasmine, Dew Drops and Marionberry.

Look out too for Flame & Fragrance Snowflake accessories that include an electric melt burner, shade and hurricane holder; new candle line Anderson Lilley; Sienna Gold home lighters; RibbonWick; Simply Shining, and La-Tee-Da! lamps.

Two kits have been added to The Naked Bee collection of natural personal care products from Xystos. The Orange Blossom & Honey Travel Kit comprises hand and body lotion, triple milled soap, travel candle, shampoo and conditioner and lip balm, while its counterpart – the Mini Bee Kit – includes hand and body lotion, lip balm and hand sanitizer.

The Naked Bee products comprise ‘All the good stuff, none of the bad stuff’, being paraben-free. They have no dyes or pigment, propylene glycol or mineral oil, lauryl or laureth sulfate. And no animal testing is ever involved in their making.

Christmas & Gift: Stand C27 Tel 0191 499 1570; email sales@xystos.co.uk; www. xystostrade.co.uk

ENJOY A

SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS WITH KONSTSMIDE

Visit us at: Harrogate Christmas & Gift

11th – 14th January 2015.

Stand M22

Birmingham NEC Spring Fair

1st – 5th February 2015.

Hall 2 Stand 2F20

Tel: 01246-852140

Konstsmide (UK) Ltd

Fax: 01246-854297

Hardwick View Road, Holmewood Industrial Estate,

E-mail: sales@konstsmide.co.uk

Holmewood, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S42 5SA

Feature Step Back In Time

Step Back in Time Malcolm Naish looks back to 1992, 2002 and 2012 JANUARY 1992

I

wax lyrical as to how well our very first edition of Christmas in January is received by the 5,000 readers who enjoyed the read and in January 1992 lament that it wasn’t to be to publish an edition in April, July and September.

Never mind eh!

In 1992 we interview Irene Leigh who had run the Harrod’s Christmas department for 14 years and had decided to become an agent. We also highlight Bronners who have a huge presence in Michigan in the USA are still going strong as we approach 2015.

VIZ magazine under the heading ‘It’s not Fir’ prints a spoof send up that the Eurocrats want to ban British Christmas trees. It reads so well that many people believe this to be fact.

Widmann celebrate their 90th year and ask me to reserve the Front Cover of our 2002 edition for their 100th.

Premier Decorations advertise for the first time. Editorially they tell me that there are two sets of father and son working for the company. One of course is Peter Diamond and his son. Not too sure who the second couple were?

E.D. Woods introduce their ‘Snowing Tree which worked brilliantly until placed in a windy spot that would play havoc with the very light snow particles.

Puleo also support us for the first time and are still with us today. Bert Wood was their U.K. agent.

There was an awful lot of tinsel product in those days, that really looks dated today.

Given the company’s marketing director to who gives me the full story.

Companies who were going strong in 2002 and no longer with us today are sadly Widmann, Peter Harvey, Paragon, CCG., International Christmas, Cedars, Schirmer, Forever Flowers.

JANUARY 2012

P

remier Decorations move to occupy the whole of Hall H – a new hall built as part of an expansion programme for the exhibition halls.

Gillie Westwood leaves the Garden Centre Association whom she has guided for the last 13 years.

I highlight that in America there is a new category known as ‘Wearables’.

This takes in Christmas jewellery, headbands and Christmas Hats etc.

Festive open a brand new 3,000sq.ft tinsel factory, able to manufacture over 90,000 metres of tinsel per day.

JANUARY 2002

M

oving on 10 years and most certainly Widmann’s take the front cover to celebrate their 100th year in business and have an excellent celebration at ther Harrogate show in the Old Swan Hotel.

I note that events in America with 9/11 has certainly affected the number of buyers flying out to the Far East to select for 2002. I note that we lead the world in fibre optics with over currently over 50% of these products made in Chine being earmarked for the U.K. Colin Robert’s Springtime Nursery is highlighted with an interview, having first interviewed Colin in our very first edition in 1991.

Over at the christmasworld show in Frankfurt it’s all change for the exhibitors who leave halls 4, 5 and 6 to be housed in halls 9.0, 9.1 and 9.2.

Halsall’s introduce ‘Scoobie Doo’ as an animation item that includes a number of functions not yet seen on the Christmas market. (pic on page 12) Paragon purchase the Best Blooms company and are offering 10 different categories. I meet Susanne

28 christmas in january

Festive Productions are ringing the changes, they have a new M.D. – Ian Newton with Jon Hughes joining as sales director.

Premier Decorations celebrated their 25th year during 2011 and I include some pics of their celebrations to mark this milestone – What a party!

Garden centres that feature in this edition are Buckland Barn, nr. Royston, Garden Pride at Ditchling Hassocks, West Sussex and Trelawney Garden Centre, Wadebridge, Cornwall.

John and Gito Athwall

ENJOY A

Traditional CHRISTMAS WITH KONSTSMIDE

Visit us at: Harrogate Christmas & Gift

11th – 14th January 2015.

Stand M22

Birmingham NEC Spring Fair

1st – 5th February 2015.

Hall 2 Stand 2F20

Tel: 01246-852140

Konstsmide (UK) Ltd

Fax: 01246-854297

Hardwick View Road, Holmewood Industrial Estate,

E-mail: sales@konstsmide.co.uk

Holmewood, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S42 5SA

For 2015 Premier are pleased to be working exclusively in the UK and Ireland with Pupi Styl; one of the World’s leading designers and manufacturers of large animated figures

Visit us - don’t miss out Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair Spring Fair International PREMIER DECORATIONS LIMITED

Harrogate International Centre NEC Birmingham

HEAD OFFICE AND SHOWROOM

Premier House, Braintree Road, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 0EJ

Bring your displays to life . . .

Premierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive range of animated display figures creates the perfect backdrop to a delightful Christmas season

Come and see the magic . . .

IN THE WHOLE OF HALL

2

H

Stand

H03/H04

Tel: 020 8624 5555

Fax: 020 8624 5678

Hall

Sun. 11th - Wed. 14th January 2015 Sun. 1st - Thurs. 5th February 2015 E-mail: sales@premierdec.com

www.premierdec.com

Feature Festive

Festive Productions As I took my usual trip to Festive’s South Wales showroom I remembered with fondness the many years I had been coming to Wales to see their new ranges and wondered what they would have in store for me this year.

I

t turned out that I really had no idea the scale of change which I found when I arrived, firstly John Saunders the Chairman and previous Chief Executive had stepped back into the role following the departure of Ian Newton earlier in the year. “Ian was brought in to revitalise our sales function and was always here for a finite period of time”, John commented “Now we have the best sales team in the industry so mission accomplished!”

In addition to John’s arrival there are also some other new faces to strengthen the senior management team. Both Martin Hornung and Eva Chrysanthou join as sales and procurement

32 christmas in january

directors and have previously run businesses within the International Greetings Group which was founded by Anders Hedlund and family who also own Festive.

With this change in mind I wanted to see what effect this had had on the business and what I saw didn’t disappoint.

I was given a brief tour of the new showrooms, which opened on the 1st December, by Jonathan Hughes Festive’s Marketing Director and we started in their new reception area which featured a classic blue Mini Cooper with a tree covered in lights on the top. “Our message is coming home for Christmas” said Jonathan, “we are a traditional

British Christmas supplier and this year we are playing to our strengths with 7 strong, traditional Christmas collections which as you would expect, have a design edge” It was incredible to see that Festive has created a 2015 collection which is over 50% new items but nowhere has there been a bigger change than their lighting collection.

Jonathan commented “ We have a strong core lighting range which is not only competitive but features the best specification in the market, plus consumers receive our famous 2 year guarantee”, he continued “we have also introduced a range of battery operated timer lights under the Look No Plug brand which last from 45 to 60 days, this range includes nearly 100 products and it’s all patented technology, if you put these lights on after Nov1st they will last until the new year!”

In their newly refurbished lighting showroom they also have another ‘first to market’ item under the Look No Plug brand, a USB light set which is available in 100, 200 and 300 bulbs all running off a USB plug, I asked why this was going to be significant. Jonathan explained “if you take the transformer out of a set of LED lights you get a significant saving, this is true of these lights, they will run off ANY USB connection including a spare iPhone or

Samsung charger or a phone battery pack” It was good to see a Christmas company with genuinely new items which should make Festive a must see destination at the Harrogate show.

As I was leaving I asked John Saunders about Scentsicles another first for Festive which they launched in 2014. Readers will know that Scentsicles are a paper based stick which which hangs on an artificial tree to make it smell like a real tree. John said, “ we sold out in 2014, the response was phenomenal with customers re-ordering 4 or 5 times”, he added “ we have the same best selling items but this year they come with a decorative hook due to customer demand and we are introducing a new Wreath Sprig which is a blister pack of shorter sticks for use in wreaths” With so much going on Festive are going to be very busy this year, it was great to see such a long standing British Christmas supplier doing so well.

Make sure you don’t miss out on some amazing new items by visiting them in Hall C at Harrogate!

christmas in january 33

Feature GCA

The GCA go from strength to strength

2

014 was certainly not uneventful in the garden centre industry. There were lots of changes in both the supply and retail sectors and after two poor springs the weather was kinder, bringing some sense of normality back to the season.

It might not have been a record breaker but people did get back out into their gardens and the customers came to garden centres to buy plants. With better news on the economy too centres went into the Christmas season with some degree of optimism and sales in November and December ensured the year ended on a high.

There’s been lots going on at the Garden Centre Association (GCA) in 2014 too and this is set to continue in 2015.

In July the association broke all records with the biggest attendances seen at our annual Area Awards meetings. Held at 6 locations around the country, our team of inspectors presented some inspiring examples of best practice and innovation, seen on their visits to every GCA member centre in the UK earlier in the year. Our inspectors are independent consultants who visit all the members’ centres each year to ensure that members maintain their status as Britain’s best garden retailers. The inspection process is an invaluable management tool with each centre receiving detailed feedback on their standards on the day of the visit. The area meetings are a great opportunity to see the best retailing ideas from all the other centres in the region.

The inspectors will feature at the GCA’s annual conference on Monday 26 January 2015. We will be announcing the winners of the annual Ruxley Rose competition, which is awarded to the garden centre with the best plant area and presenting the winners of our Christmas competition with their trophies, on the same day. The conference is being held at Carden Park near Chester, from 25 to 28 January 2015 and as always it has an impressive line-up of speakers. We are featuring Greg Whyte and David Thomas on Monday too. Greg Whyte is Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University, but he’s better known for guiding celebrities through various physical challenges in aid of Sport and Comic Relief. He trained David Walliams for the crosschannel and Thames swim, and helped Eddie Izzard run an astonishing 43 marathons in 51 days. In his presentation he will explore how to achieve the seemingly impossible and that success is rarely a chance event; it’s all about having the right strategy and delivering to plan. David Thomas is a world class memory man and a Guinness record breaker for reciting Pi to 22,500 digits. On Tuesday the line up will include leading economist Roger Martin-Fagg. Also featuring on Tuesday will be Kevin Gaskell, the former MD of both Porsche and BMW UK, speaking on the importance of your brand and service and Bill Grimsey, the former chief of Wickes and Iceland, speaking on how we need to change and adapt in the 21st century.

The GCA launched GROW – Garden Retail Online Workshops, two years ago. GROW is an innovative e-learning project to enable member businesses to train their staff with high quality material, without the need for leaving the centres to attend expensive courses. This is a cost effective way of improving product knowledge and customer service. GCA GROW now has in excess of 8000 staff at member centres learning from 60 subject modules which include the topics of health and safety and food hygiene as well as the core gardening subjects. During 2014 new 34 christmas in January

modules covered a range of gardening related subject matter as well as a module dedicated to the sale of age related products based on the principles of Think 21 and Think 25. The schedule for 2015 releases is no less ambitious and we will be scoping a project to release customer service modules later in the year too.

The GCA’s Rising Stars programme which Iain Wylie - Chief Executive of the G.C.A. is sponsored by Westland is an opportunity for young people working in GCA centres to complete a series of workshops and projects during the year to facilitate their career development. 2014 saw a record number of applicants and participants in the programme and applications are now being sought for 2015.

The GCA is the only association dedicated to representing the garden retail sector in the UK. The association has links to similar international bodies through its membership of the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA), which organises an annual congress in one of the member countries which members of the GCA are able to attend. Last year Ireland hosted a very successful congress and the 2015 congress in Denmark will be a great opportunity to visit leading retailers in Scandinavia.

There are a host of benefits available to GCA members; the ‘Barometer of Trade’ which is the most accurate and up to date picture of trading available, using the sales figures from participating centres, available instantly, each month; the annual competitions; plus everything mentioned above. There is even a GCA App! Above all, the greatest benefit is sharing; information and experiences; with like-minded individuals and businesses.

To find out more information, email info@ gca.org.uk or call 0118 930 8918. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www. facebook.com/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter. com/GC_Association.

MAKE TREES SMELL FRESH-CUT Festive Productions Ltd | Otters Brook | Ty Coch Way | Cwmbran | NP44 7EZ T: 01633 627 300 | E: Info@festive.co.uk | W: www.Festive.co.uk

& w e N d n Bra e v i t s e F o t Exclusive Scented Ornaments to Make your ArtiďŹ cial Tree Smell Fresh Cut Now in a Variety off d Options, Styles and Festive Aromas

MAKE TREES SMELL FRESH-CUT Harrogate Christmas & Gift | Festive Productions Ltd | Stand C2, C39

Feature SIA

Meet the friendly SIA family!

Simon Pykett Director T +44(0) 118 9227 808 M +44 (0) 7826 851241

Paul Francis Southeast M 0044 7769 934055

SIA Have a golden future S

IA is famous for its Christmas products, indeed no company does Christmas like SIA! SIA in the UK will be opening its showroom doors on Monday the 26th of January for what they call 1st view.

SIA’s UK Director Simon Pykett explains: “First view is an important event for us. It’s the opening of our showroom for our customers to discover the new season collection for first time.

Results from this event act as a useful guide for me when I am presenting my forecast to head office in France. This year Christmas will be outstanding.

It’s always good and we always look forward to it, however this year is going to break all records.” “ I had my preview of Autumn Winter Christmas 2015 at the showroom in France during the last week of December 2014. As soon as I arrived and before I saw any product I could sense a change in atmosphere and the air of excitement.

I saw also a number of empty Champagne bottles and some very happy designers; this is always a good sign!”

“The door was opened to all of the Directors from each country and we were met by an explosion of ‘Gold’, a truly amazing Christmas tree beautifully adorned with handmade Christmas decorations – a real SIA WOW factor!”

“But this was just the beginning of the journey and it was soon apparent why the French team were so pleased. This new collection has rediscovered SIA’s true past and Scandinavian heritage. From the most exquisite Christmas trees to the smallest decorations Christmas 2015 will be to everybody’s taste. The collection has expanded and is more commercial than ever before, in fact the only real dilemma is how to fit it all in to our new showroom in Newbury!”

Simon Pykett

Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Central and Greater London, Channel Islands, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surry & Sussex.

Nicola Atkinson Southwest England and Wales M + (0) 7802 313128 Wales, Staffordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Hereford, Gloucestershire, Avon, Berkshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall.

Heather Turner Central England M + (0) 7772 518352 Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk & Suffolk

John Murphy Ireland M + (0) 353 87 2640065 Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

John Gibbons Scotland M + (0) 7956 934059 Scotland

Chris McVey Northern England M + (0) 7795 484412 Northumberland, Cumbria, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Lancashire & Yorkshire

38 christmas in january

Feature Premier

Premier Continues to thrive

A

s the U.K.’s largest supplier of Christmas-related products, my trip to John Athwal’s Ruislip H.Q. promised to be most interesting.

I found him in buoyant mood and looking forward to the forthcoming industry trade exhibitions , this despite him and I having spent 3 days at a major Charity event which saw him party well into the night every night.

Premier’s year started at Harrogate with the volume of orders well up on 2013, or in Johns words “not bad”. This growth continued through to Spring Fair.

The feel-good factor was evident throughout the summer with their garden range enjoying sales well into our Indian summer – perhaps John organized this!

So much so that Christmas stocks intake was delayed by customers who were still busy with their summer sales well into September.

According to John it has become increasingly difficult to guarantee stock shipments both from the Far East and within the U.K. creating a most challenging scenario for logistics teams everywhere.

Many Chinese manufacturers are choosing to consolidate their window of manufacture on specific products and will only begin production once they feel they have sufficient orders to fill a production run. This is not helped in John’s opinion by the state of the American market, which remains poor.

Evidently many Chinese manufacturers confirmed that orders from the USA in 2014 were significantly down on the previous year, no doubt related to the state of their economy.

Due to Premier’s experience and understanding of the situation they were able to place early orders with their suppliers, thus ensuring deliveries on time to the U.K. despite growing problems elsewhere.

As if this wasn’t enough, the enforcement of an E.U. directive requiring all U.K. lorry drivers to have passed and hold a C.P.C. certificate – Certificate of Professional Competence meant that any U.K. drivers who did not hold this risked a £1,000 fine. The Directive came into force on the 10th September and definitely led to a shortage of certified HGV1 drivers in the U.K. To top it all, certain shipping lines reduced 40 christmas in january

the number of containers available for use, and believe it or not some haulage companies in parts of China went on strike during peak shipping season. At Premier, a clever bit of re-jigging of container ports overcame this obstacle.

When Premier Decorations started their business back in 1988, life was far more simple, there were far fewer suppliers and ordering and delivering to customers was also more straightforward.

At least as John explained “The bottom line is that Premier had sufficient resources to over-come all of these problems with just one product range suffering from serious delay.

I asked John to highlight some of their star performers in 2014.

products and have taken steps to ensure that any snowing products are using a snowing effect. Other Icicle products will be using an 8-function controller so be aware that your snowing icicles are described accurately.

Premiers’ own packaging has been altered to reflect this.

DANCING FLAME CANDLES

TIMELIGHTS

These have really taken off with Premier’s floor displays in great demand by their customers.

Reports from consumers indicate that these candles are in some cases being used as security lights to thwart break-ins. After-all, what selfrespecting burglar would risk breaking into a house with a candle light in the window?

First introduced in 2012 with one candle, in just one size, and an increased SKU’s in 2013, 2014 saw this range expand considerably. 2015 looks even more interesting with various other products being introduced giving customers a choice of not just the candles, but lanterns, candle bridges and a whole host of other products.

These will come in a variety of sizes, colours and also includes glitter candles. Look out for their new Pallet deals!

SNOWING ICICLES These caused a stir a couple of years ago as Premier changed factories, only to later find that their new snowing icicles were no longer any better than their competition and were simply using an 8-function controller.

Premier have always insisted on a realistic even flow for their snowing icicles, so following discussions with a number of their Major customers, the company reverted back to their previous supplier who has created a proper snowing icicle.

Premier are re-aligning all of their icicle

SHOWER LIGHTS These have a similar effect to the Icicle lights, but are encased in molded tubes. Sales have gathered pace in 2014. They are seen more and more in street tree’s, window displays, and other displays and are available in various lengths and when seen appear to have a shower-like effect.

They can be used in garden trees and even in house eaves.

These continue to sell in huge quantities with an ever increasing bulb count now available. With technology improving year on year one set of batteries will last 30 days, enough for the full festive season with the six hours on and 18 off function.

2014 saw the addition of a new light-sensitive sensor under the ‘Nitelight’ brand, whereby the lights automatically came on at dusk and switched off six hours later these too all equipped with a battery life of 30 days.

LED ULTRABRIGHTS Now especially for the commercial market, but also for the discerning retail buyer requiring more lights per meter, Premier introduce their compacted light sets, branded as LED ULTRABRIGHTs, these are very dense lights available in light string form, icicle lights, nets and even curtain form.

A 1000 lights set at a very reasonable price can be found on the Premier stand.

LIT GLASS SHAPES AND BOTTLES At the forefront as always, Premier had battery operated etched ceramic domes in 2014, which sold particularly well. Reports were coming in that this range was walking off the shelves, even whilst staffs were merchandising the stock.

There will be new designs in this area, as well as hand painted coloured background varieties.

Other additions to this range, are frosted

vases, domes, tall cylinders, and bottles, all hand painted with reindeer woodland and Robin scenes. Battery operated; so no messy cords will be visible, these will add a Christmas atmosphere to any room.

SNOW GLOBES These have been around for years with the user simply shaking the globe to produce the snowing effect. Lately battery operated automatic snow blowers have been added.

Moving forward to 2014 and Premiers best sellers in this category have been acrylic shapes, with lit water spinners. Now modern technology has made it possible for the development of LED lit water blowers and these globes are available in various shapes, sizes and characters, Christmas trees are most popular with Santa and Snowmen coming a close second.

These water spinners are acrylic and have impressively moved up Premier’s best sellers list, no doubt helped by the ‘Try Me’ packaging available on the whole range.

2014 has seen the emergence of the Lantern shape and this range has been extended for 2015, and even includes a water spinner train.

“Definitely worth a look with a view to adding these items to your 2015 order requirements” were John’s final comments on these.

Retailers that stocked these in 2014 enjoyed great margins.

STOCKING FILLERS Premier’s C.D.U. (counter display units) of lit snowmen in various materials are being increasingly used as stocking fillers and again, over the years become a staple in most garden centres.

TREES It has been reported recently in the consumer press that MINIMALISTIC trees have become very popular. Known in the trade as ‘Twig trees’, Premier have of course always had these trees and will be adding to this range for 2015.

As you would expect Premier will have their extensive traditional trees on show at all venues.

With container deals and keen price points, this range has been strengthening for Premier, year after year.

LIT PARCELS These also continue to sell in vast numbers and

are delivered in full colour boxes. 2015 sees the addition of a number of Jute string Lit Parcels, with battery operated timer lights.

Keen to help the environment the company’s collection of Jute Christmas sacks have been added for 2015 along with a complete collection of Jute-based items that include Bottle bags , Gift bags and of course, Christmas stockings.

PREMIER’S U.K. PRODUCED TINSEL Yet another popular addition in 2014 Premier’s home-produced tinsel has been increased with plenty of new colour-ways and designs. These will be available in F.D.S.U. as well as bulk pack. PLEASE watch out for the many new S.K.U.’s available in this range.

FIBRE OPTIC TREES AND FLOWERS First introduced at least 20 years ago when certain customers were prepared to have Premier fly them in, Fibre Optic flower sales, dipped a little over the ensuing years, but have really made a BIG come-back in the last couple of years.

Premier has noticed the resurgence of Fibre Optics in general and 2015 sees plenty of new innovation on show including new fibre optic flowers and floral Wall Placques. Again John Athwal urges buyers to re-examine Fibre Optics more seriously as a major category once again.

ANIMATION Over the last few years, Premier’s ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ tree has sold by the container load and was joined last year by its smaller sister and 2015 sees the further addition of a walking tree. The smaller size is available with a C.D.U. and the larger version in a very bright full colour box. To assist with sales promotion in store they even have a 1.2m (4feet) tree doing the jingle bell rock.

After much encouragement from its customers, Premier has agreed to stock large character animation, including snowmen and bears for display. They will be on

show in the exhibitions as well as both showrooms.

New to Premier, but not to the Christmas trade, these will help put some life into Santa grottos, window displays and winter wonderland displays.

LED LIT AND FIBRE OPTIC CANVAS First introduced by Premier, some 4 years ago, these have gone from strength to strength. These were the first product ranges to sell out during 2013 and 2014 seasons. The new products that Premier have in store for customers are a MUST SEE. With key price points and eye catching designs (many exclusive), these products will continue to sell well into next year.

While several new SKU’s have been added in the canvas range, more retail friendly prices have been negotiated for tapestries.

CHRISTMAS WEAR Adding to Premiers fun wear range, they are very excited by the new range. Not wishing to expose (excuse the pun) too much at this stage, John was reluctant to share too much at this stage. Suffice to say, that having known John now for many years; he has something up his sleeve (pun intended)!

Premier certainly have plenty of products that answer the question posed by most buyers when they come on the stand “WHAT’S NEW?” They’re about to find out!

Visit them at the Harrogate Christmas and Gift, Sunday 11th January till Wednesday, 14th January, in Hall H, and at International Spring Fair, Birmingham N.E.C., from Sunday 1st February till Thursday 5th February in Hall 2. christmas in january 41

Feature Golf Day

Bubba sets out the prizes

Longest drive and Nearest the Pin winners

Jonathan shows off his prize

16th Christmas in January golf day Staverton Park

P

layed in fantastic weather conditions at Staverton Park, 36 golfers did battle for the various trophies and prizes that make up this most relaxed of golfing

days.

Premier Decorations lend their support along with Joan and Simon Anslow

My Fourball came 2nd in all 3 competitions

42 christmas in january

The morning nine hole Texas Scramble was won by the team of Richard Gill and Ross Hewitt of Jade Logistics along with team mates Simon Smithers and Ross Johnson on 24.5.

Following a sumptuous ham, egg and chips the afternoon events began. Once again topping the team four-ball competition was the Jade Logistics team with 114 points.

For the second year running we were able to enjoy a barbeque whilst sunning ourselves in the early evening sunshine that meant we didn’t even have to change for the prize giving Next year’s date is set for Thursday the 2nd July and I would like to see a greater number of industry golfers taking part.

What can be better than a day’s golf played off full handicap in great company and a barbeque plus the possibility of winning some lovely prizes.

So come on Christmas industry golfers, I know that there are quite a few of you out there

and quite a few more could support the day. I have kept this going ever since John Hughes first introduced the day and now we share the golf day with two of my other industry titles.

Well supported by Premier Decorations, Jingles and Cheadle, it would be fantastic for more of you to enjoy the day.

At a mere £95 it’s a bargain!

In those early years around 40 or so Christmas decoration company golfers enjoyed the day – so go on fill in the form elsewhere in this edition Let’s face it, junction 16 of the M1 is pretty accessible to most people unless you live in John o’ Groats or Lands End! End of sermon.

Bubba Naish

Danny O’Halloran with Ross Johnson and Simon Smithers

Feature Harrogate Christmas & Gift

Christmas 2015 is about to begin!

J

ust days away from the UK’s fastest growing Christmas & Gift show, visitors and buyers are guaranteed a bumper Harrogate Christmas & Gift from 11th to 14th January 2015, with all of the event’s established exhibitors offering exciting new product ranges and more new companies participating than ever before.

Simon Anslow, show organiser, is delighted with the continued buzz surrounding the show stating: “We have seen a steady yearon-year increase in both exhibitor and visitor numbers. The vibrancy of the entire event is a cause for celebration for everyone involved in the Christmas and general gift sector and for many buyers it provides the venue to wrap up purchase decisions for the entire year. In 2015, we not only see the return of all of the big brand names but have more than 30 new exhibitors from around the world too.”

All the top names in Christmas décor are showing once again with Floralsilk in Hall B stand B1 really going to town this year with a great range of trees and much more with the show’s third largest stand. With no less than eight separate themes running through the 1,500 items with such names as Coldsnap, Nature, Resplendent, Victoria to name just a few of these.

Festive Productions are another regular with much to show the visitor covering all the major sectors of the industry. 50% of the range on show is brand new with plenty of changes in their lighting offering including a battery operated timer collection under the ‘Look No Plug’ brand. Scentsicles saw phenominal sales in 2014 and now come with a decorative hook.

Premier Decorations will once again fill Hall H of the Harrogate International Centre in its entirety with a truly innovative collection of new themed ranges to introduce the theatre of Christmas across not only tree trim, but also table and room decorations and glass ornaments.

Premier’s range emphasises new design led products to appeal specifically to the British and Irish markets and each of eight new themes has its own specific palettes to help customers create their very own Christmas stories in store.

These range from traditional to contemporary, with one even being described as traditional

44 christmas in january

with a twist – with the ultimate aim to inspire customers to create their own interpretation of each stunning collection.

Gisela Graham also returns to Hall M with her 2015 collection confirming her as Europe’s outstanding designer Christmas company, with twelve new themed collections - every one springing a surprise – to help retailer customers stand out from the crowd.

Gisela pulls a new, original twist on the familiar genres: Gingerbread, Nordic, Folk Art, Woodland, Frost and Nostalgia and she explores new ideas with her usual sure, commercial touch. A Partridge in a Pear Tree as you’ve never seen it; a novel riff on Origama; an affectionate echo of the 1950s; helping Santa deal with his correspondence; a little girl’s dream of fairies and many more. Gisela Graham also puts fun into parties and Halloween..

Among the numerous new exhibitors is Thuringer Glasdesign Steinheid (TGS) which specialises in all aspects of glass ornament manufacture. From its import programme, the company supplies baubles in acetate drums in modern and classic colour themes and also supplies and manufactures the most exquisite loose ornaments of the highest quality. TGS produces both mouth-blown and handdecorated ornaments in addition to machine made baubles offering exceptional strength.

It also produces a range of special boxed ornaments with black flocked inserts across a number of new themes and designs and personalised baubles.

Leading light manufacturer, Gardmen, will also be showcasing its extensive range of festive lighting products at the show for the first time this year. From novelty musical baubles that twinkle and pretty light-up LED canvases to premium pre-lit door wreaths and beautifully designed washable doormats, the company’s festive range is available at attractive price points allowing retailers to trade consumers up across the category. Visit the company on Stand A3.

JVL is another exciting new addition to the show with a range of homeware solutions including its ultimate collection of doormats, including its 2015 collection of coir machine washable Christmas mats which are great to stock for impulse buys. JVL is also launching its top quality hampers and storage which are

ideal for use throughout the year and during the festive period. These are available in buff, willow and seagrass in a range of styles and sizes – so well worth checking out on Stand B18.

Kingfisher (Bonnington Plastics Ltd) is a family run business operating for over 40 years, and is one of the UK’s leading importers of gardening, homewares and leisure goods. It will be exhibiting its entire Christmas range, which includes an extensive selection of artificial trees (including LED crystal drop trees), indoor and outdoor lighting, crackers, decorations and seasonal novelties. Also being showcased includes various animated scenes, inflatables, plush gift boxes and an eye catching Point of Sale Display Case ready filled with baubles packed in acetate tubes.

Whilst there is plenty to see for the four days duration of the show, as usual the networking and social events associated with Harrogate Christmas & Gift promise to be outstanding.

Once again, Garden Trade News is hosting the Greatest Christmas Awards which takes place at the Majestic Hotel on Sunday 11th January and promises an evening of excitement and entertainment. Prior to Christmas, judges travelled the length and breadth of the country checking out festivities on offer by garden centres across the UK and this event will be the culmination of this process with the winning entries announced – plus food and dancing.

Tickets can be obtained by emailing: harry. sinclair@tgcmc.co.uk or online www.tgcmc. newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra Another highlight in the social calendar is the free drinks party thrown by the organisers on Monday 12th January at the Majestic Hotel.

This starts at 10pm (allowing time to eat at your choice of restaurant beforehand) and then let your hair down with free drinks, dancing and midnight snacks with industry colleagues.

If you haven’t already booked accommodation for your visit to Harrogate Christmas & Gift, the official show partner is Mice Concierge, which has negotiated preferential rates with a number of Harrogate hotels for the benefit of its exhibitors and visitors. Full details about this and all other aspects of the show can be found on the website at www.harrogatefair.com

Feature Noma

What a difference

a year makes I

t was to Hinxworth in Hertfordshire that I travelled to meet up with Frank Kaminski – Marketing & Sales Director of NOMA, part of the LeisureGrow Group. LeisureGrow purchased NOMA just prior to the 2014 Harrogate show and their brand, spanking new showroom had been open just a few days and had already played host to a number of national retailers and garden centre customers.

“We had very little time to influence the 2014 range but we were so pleased with the customer reaction we got at Harrogate” states Frank, “Customers were surprised and the reception to the new range was fantastic”. He also told me that there were some people convinced that NOMA would not be around for very long – HOW WRONG CAN YOU BE! Frank had come on board in September 2013 and as he told me “More time would have been nice”, but it wasn’t to be. It is never easy when one company buys another, computer systems have to be married up, current staff have a new learning curve, but almost a year later and the air of positivity at Hinxworth is palpable.

A number of new faces have joined during the year including ex-Festive Production’s James Quigley as Commercial Director. A full list is available within our ‘People’ pages.

For 2015 NOMA will be offering over 2,000 items some of which we highlight below.

NOMA NATURALS A new collection for 2015, Frank Kaminski’s 20 years of experience in the Christmas industry has been put to excellent use with a collection that includes wreaths, garlands and table top etc., with clever use of a variety of natural berries and pine cones etc. Over 300 items make up the NOMA Naturals range and are supplied by some of China’s top manufacturers.

CANVASSES Another new sector for NOMA, the company have created a collection of 20 canvasses split in to 5 distinct styles to suit all tastes. These have all be designed by the NOMA team and have not

46 christmas in january

simply been taken from factories basic ranges in China.

of NOMA was a perfect complement to the group.

LOW VOLTAGE LED’s – Static and Multi-function

They fully understand that the NOMA brand is much respected within the industry and want to keep the traditions, whilst making a considerable investment in its long term future. With this investment visitors to the showroom and the various shows will appreciate how wisely this has been spent.

Quality is of upmost important and NOMA will never compromise, we believe NOMA core LED lights are the best specified light chains on the market. We also believe in supporting our customers as much as we possibly can, therefore high impact display information is available to help consumers purchases.

NOMA Add-a-long connectable lights sets This line has been re-branded ‘NOMA Add-along Pro’. The company believes that these are the very best in the industry for both quality and value. ”We never compromise quality for price “ was Frank’s take on their lights. “The quality and safety aspect has enabled us to become the main supplier of outdoor lighting for the National Trust properties”. These are 240volts including light chains and icicle lights in100’s allowing you to connect up to 5,000 lights from one plug. Not just for Christmas, these can be stocked all year round for summer garden party lighting.

NOMA CLASSICS The mains voltage traditional replaceable bulb lights have been the backbone of NOMA since the business started and they will still be around for a long time to come. NOMA also have an unrivalled customer services department and deal directly with consumer needs…replacement bulbs for NOMA light sets that are over 30 years old are not an uncommon request.

DECORATIVE GARLANDS Battery operated, seasonal styles that seems to increase in size each year and ideal for dressing the mantelpiece.

Whilst some of our readers may not be that familiar with the family-run LeisureGrow Group, the company are well established suppliers of garden furniture, barbecues and compost , the latter under the ‘Erin’ trade mark, so the purchase

Returning to NOMA’s various ranges their battery-operated LED wooden houses continue to be a popular product, so much so that for 2015 there are 40 styles to choose from.

NOMA have a brilliant offering of trees for 2015, their Spiral outdoor trees are a fine example, easy to erect in sizes from 1.8. metres up to 6 metres and virtually impossible to blow over in the wind, unless of course there’s a hurricane around!

I was particularly impressed with the ONE, TWO range that takes all of angst out of assembling a Christmas tree. The power source is in the stand and the tree stem, thus removing the problems of winding the lights around the tree and connecting them together. The range also include twinkling versions for both indoor and outdoor use… NOMA have a tree to suit the occasion.

Believing that many people love a traditional Christmas, many of their 2,000 items have this natural look with various Scandinavian themes running through the various ranges.

NOMA LIGHTING ESSENTIALS An accessories range, neatly presented in a floor display unit that holds all those accessories essential for Christmas including bauble hangers and gutter hooks etc.

The very best quality products at the right price is NOMA’s rationale that they believe will see the company in its rightful place within the industry.

Stand A9 at Harrogate Tel:01932 411301 Email: sales@noma.co.uk

Feature Harrogate

TGS (Thuringer Glasdesign Steinheid) make their Harrogate debut Hall A – Stand A8

Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair is the first UK showing for TGS (Thüringer Glas design Steinheid). Headed up by John King who has been linked to Glass ornament manufacture for over 25 years, TGS aim to offer our customers a quality product at a sensible price level and delivered on time. All of this backed up with a superb customer service that John is already renowned for.

With a deep respect for long standing traditions they are committed to the preservation and further development of the skills of traditional craftsmanship and their combination with modern trends. Whether you’re interested in modern, classic or exceptional designs you will find what you’re looking for at TGS As one of the last remaining Christmas decoration factories in Germany the company still cultivate the old tradition and produce original Thuringian Christmas decorations in the beautiful settings of the mountain village of Steinheid near Lauscha the “glass city”.

In order to keep pricing as low as possible, TGS have an import line of plain glass baubles in acetate drums. Along with this their manufacturing base in Germany gives TGS many more capabilities for the remaining part of the collection. “They are able to react quickly to customer demands, designs and trends. What’s always important for buyers is to be assured they’ve bought a good quality product. The ‘Made In Europe’ or ‘made in Germany’ label has never been more respected as it is today. “ added John.

As well as the regular lines TGS also offer a personalised bauble service. For a small minimum order you can have baubles produced to promote your business or an event, maybe offered as a giveaway to customers. All we need is your artwork and then you choose the bauble colour and size and how you’d like it packed. This is a really fun idea.

TGS can be found in Hall A stand number 08 and in Frankfurt 11.0 B 68 Contact: John King j.king@tgs-xmas.de Telephone: 0049 1520 9527957

Riffelmacher - Specialists in Christmas since 1921 Riffelmacher & Weinberger GmbH & Co KG Norisstr. 1, 91154 Roth Germany. frank.marchl@riffelmacher.de UK and Ireland - Alistair Turnbull Marketing Ltd. aturnbull@waitrose.com www.riffelmacher.de

48 christmas in january

Lesser & Pavey

National Tree Company

Stand B4 Hall B

Bubbles all the way Happy Anniversary Champagne Flutes from Lesser & Pavey are just one of many new items in the extensive range of affordable occasions gifts that will be on show at Harrogate.

Occasion gifts come in quality packaging to add to the gifts presentation.

Designs created in the UK with a classy theme are then mixed with quality products to ensure that this range of gifts will be warmly received.

Natural World Sculptures of nature shown here are a bronzed Stag and Deer from the new Bronzed Reflections Collection of animal studies.

Captured beautifully, these studies are very detailed and finished in the highest quality, measuring 47cm high made of resin with a

bronze finish.

These are just two classical studies as the collection extends to feature other popular animals, such as horse and elephant studies.

It’s a Snowy Christmas Under license from The Macneil Studio, Lesser & Pavey bring to life striking designs featuring Santa, Snowman, robin and Christmas village scene.

The range is true to traditional festive scenes and the wonderful illustrations makes it an eye-catching Christmas collection which encompasses an extensive fine china mug range; Melamine trays and accessories; tablemats and coasters; and the three sizes of quality paper gift bags with ribbon handles and tags feature Santa and Robin designs.

Lesser & Pavey invite buyers to visit www. leonardo.co.uk/ Tel 01322 279225.

Hall D Stand D.9.

The company is exited to announce two new innovative lighting systems now being offered on their line of artificial Christmas trees – PowerConnect(TM) and Music Match(TM).

Trees that feature PowerConnect will no longer require the multiple light string and extension cord connections between tree sections. Electrical connections are made through the tree center poles. These poleto-pole connections reduce set-up time and can be configured for multiple tree styles and sizes that are pre-lit with low voltage LED light sets.

Music Match can be connected to any National Tree Company low voltage LED tree. The system allows music to be streamed from a Bluetooth capable device causing the lights on the tree to “dance” in sync with what’s playing. Light intensity raises and lowers together with sound volume.

The device can also be activated via AUX input or SD memory card. Music Match is available on multiple tree styles and sizes.

TGS - Specialists in Quality Glass Ornaments

Harrogate HallA Stand A8

Thüringer Glasdesign GmbH Neuhäuser Strasse 8-10 D-98724 Steinheid Germany John King Tel : 0049 1520 9527957 j.king@tgs-xmas.de www.tgs-xmas.de christmas in january 49

Feature Kaemingk

A season of luxury at

Kaemingk!

T

heir Christmas 2015 collection is based upon the latest movements in fashion and trends. For the new season the movements and trends will be presented in 8 eye-catching themes. Each displayed in the recently extended showroom in which you will experience a truly inspirational ambience with the greatest display features ever.

The themes reflect elements such as materials inspired by nature, industrial designs, vintage touches and Christmas traditions with a new twist. As a taster of these elements Kaemingk have included a few imagesâ&#x20AC;Ś..

In addition to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas themes Kaemingk also offer ranges in lighting, trees, wreaths and garlands; all meeting the highest standards.

Lighting With an extensive range of over 500 styles of Christmas lighting Kaemingk is renowned as being one of the best lighting suppliers around. We cover ranges such as indoor/outdoor LED, Novelty lighting, battery operated, acrylic figurines and low voltage connectable. This year a large part of our extension is dedicated to a new innovative light set, exclusively design by and for Kaemingk only!

50 christmas in january

Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands Our Everlands Christmas tree collection offers an extensive range varying from unlit and pre-lit, luxurious, snowy finishes, real-look and affordable styles. To complement our tree range you will also find a beautiful collection of decorated and plain wreaths and garlands. For 2015 the trend is the realistic feel and look.

Kaemingk is ready for Christmas 2015! Our buyers have carefully designed a commercial range with over 12,000 items displayed in our redesigned 5000 sqm showroom. We would be delighted to welcome you to our new showroom or to our stand at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair stand M02-08 or the Birmingham Spring Fair Hall 2 stand C04-D05.

More info: www.Kaemingk.com

Launching our new WEBSHOP - please visit our stand to register

Feature Stockeld Park

Covert ops In Yorkshire It’s not often I get to visit a 250 year old address for our Christmas features, nor am I particularly familiar with James Paine’s architecture, but my recent visit to Stockeld Park enlightened me on both!

B

eing privately owned, Stockeld Park is the centre of a 2000-acre agricultural estate, which is made up of farming land and Yorkshire’s largest Christmas tree plantation. At the centre of the Estate is a Grade I listed historic house, which is home to Peter & Susie Grant, which is open for tours to historic groups and societies.

The house was designed by James Paine in 1758 and was completed in 1763. Other notable projects by Paine include Nostell Priory, Kedleston Hall and the stable block at Chatsworth. Planned in the style of a classic Palladian Villa, the house was commissioned

by Sir William Middleton, a member of an old established Roman Catholic family who had held the Estate since 1318. Sir William commissioned Stockeld to celebrate his appointment as High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, but died of an inveterate gout before the building was complete.

The Estate was inherited by Sir William Middleton’s nephew, but in the 1870’s the Estate was purchased from the Middleton family by Robert John Foster, Peter Grant’s great grandfather, who was a wealthy industrialist from Queensbury and the owner of the Black Dyke Mills, famous for its award-winning Black Dyke brass band.

Peter & Susie spent twenty years selling Real Christmas trees to wholesalers but frequently they were asked to provide the odd one or two to families, who didn’t just appear with a van or estate car but in fact brought the whole family to select.

Recognising this and realising it had become an important family day-out they moved a few trees to the front of the estate, nearer the road, and saw a marked increase in sales. The following year they brought more, and the next year they installed a plastic ice skating rink, which having received 20,000 visitors in 5 weeks made them realise there was an exciting opportunity.

52 christmas in january

Thus the Christmas Adventure was born, and soon Halloween & Easter too. The Grants quickly became aware that they needed assistance in managing the project and found Amy Thornton 2 years later, who then recruited Georgina Brookes.

But more about these two lovely ladies later !

Originally the events only took place during school holidays but the Christmas Adventure is now open for 12 weeks from October half-term right through to January 6th, other than Tuesdays in November.

The Christmas Adventure truly is an experience, where awaiting you is an Enchanted Forest, followed by a Nordic Ski trip, prior to arriving at the Real Ice Rink - which now receives approximately 70 – 100,000 skaters over the twelve weeks.

You can get lost in the Maze too, and all before you visit the Yummy Scrummy café and the Magical Gift Emporium, which is where our story continues.

Buying for the emporium is undertaken by Peter, Susie, Amy & Georgie, commencing at Harrogate Gift Fair, which is literally ‘just up-theroad’, and continued by a visit to the Spring Fair.

Premier is the biggest of their 50+ suppliers, with Heaven Sends and Kaemingk receiving honourable mentions. They have no particular favourite but are always inspired by Gisela Graham Themes are extremely important yet the team does not partake of any one supplier’s named ranges but rather spends the first day of Harrogate looking at all the stands and displays before deciding on which colours they will go with.

Guided by what they see, and to a certain degree dictated by any remaining stock, they then decide on the coming year’s features.

Spreadsheets are important to Peter while undertaking the buying plan, as the team works well together, using Georgie’s ‘feel’ for the products and Peter’s records, suggesting that there is always an agreement reached, but sometimes

from different perspectives.

Being within the Golden Triangle, a term apparently used by estate agents, it would seem that the boundaries of Harrogate, York and North Leeds produce a particularly affluent area of North Yorkshire, hence many properties in this part of the World may well have 3 or 4 trees in their homes, and may well buy a complete set of decorations for each tree.

The less well-off maybe buy less, but most certainly buy-in to the theming by spending say just £5 or £10 each year, sometimes on just one item, building their theme over a few years.

Some colour combinations in recent years have made them nervous, the use of a peacock particularly worrying, though the success they had with pink & purple in 2013 allowed them to separate in 2014 and complement them with other tones. Pink could now stand alone and with the purple being incorporated with the blue, green, jade and aqua it made for a particularly opulent range, especially for the ‘ladies that lunch’.

Black with silver was very prominent and an outstanding success, originally created by an interior designer they had working with them.

Certainly all were apprehensive at the outset but it worked, and is now a mainstay. The Silver Collection as it is now called may even have become their number one theme !

Traditional colours have also been very important to their sales, yet in the last couple of years the team has felt safer in moving them from the front of the store into the main body.

Actually, changes to displays in recent years, becoming more practical and less frivolous, have worked, especially for certain best sellers such as Premier’s 10cm Snowmen, and the new variations like the Penguin.

The Nordic range from Ascalon, from whom they also purchase their wreaths and garlands, was also doing extremely well, requiring constant filling from stock.

Secret Santa pressies under £10 are also hugely important, as are Candy Canes, formerly a U.S. phenomenon, which now sell in literally hundreds each year !!!

The reindeer and snowmen 3D spectacles did very well too, as was the Stocking Filler section, which is huge, but not in location, but rather in offtake. More than 90% of the products are less than a fiver, supplied mainly by Playwrite, Grossman and Keel Toys....but it’s from here that we get our headline. Mums are always trying to hide the stocking fillers from their kids when they get to the check-out, when they’re almost laying their bodies over the goodies...hence Georgie and her team being expert in covert ops, distracting the children while Mum pays and bags quickly.

Christmas Food sales since 2011 have also gone up, up & up. Sweets, chocolates, novelty nibbles, especially ‘stringy things’ to dip in hot chocolate, are marvellous additions to the product offer.

Is there a trend for lots of little gifts, rather than a big present we wondered? Is there a change to gift-giving, maybe one at the breakfast table, followed by another at lunch or dinner, and maybe even Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve too?

In an effort to prolong ‘the holidays’ both Amy & Georgie certainly think so, even suggesting that a Christmas Eve gift has been mentioned.

I particularly liked Georgie’s Event Table, which is updated weekly, using all relevant dates in the diary e.g. Advent, Halloween, Easter, summer fun, and obviously the Festive Season, promoting gifts that work especially well at these times, and of course selling at cut-price those that have not done so well ?

There is also a Teachers Area – “thank you teach”, and a well laid-out Pet Section, as well as a Nativity display which is top-notch and larger than many I have seen, though they do admit they possibly went overboard on donkeys in 2014.

Facebook is used well at Stockeld Park, previously inviting local suppliers to enter into a competition to present their wares by sending pictures and prices. The Made in Yorkshire section was thus created, with all those items listed in Year One being bought again in Year Two, with some further additions. Yorkshire Ales, themed ales & Bad Elf Beer were also on show, as well as a magnificent 3 litre bottle (!) of beer.

Cotswold Fayre received a mention too, as a

‘cool’ supplier.

Some purchases are not successful however, as a giant glass bauble never sold (no-one seemed to know what to do with it or where to put it) and the Dead Ed Man pen holder also never sold…. which could be why this was the first time I have ever been given a gift by my interviewees…… though it looks OK on my desk !

Other themes were Santa’s Workshop, Baby’s 1st Xmas and an At Home range. Melissa & Doug toys featured strongly in the Boys Toys and Girls Toys sections; though you may not wish to visit the latter if you don’t like stereotypes, as it’s VERY pink and sparkly.

But away from the Magic Gift Emporium if I may for a moment, as the day after I arrived there was a visit by three genuine camels leading a magnificent procession, headed by Shepherds and ridden by the Three Kings bearing their gifts.

You could even get to ride one of the herd !

You could also enjoy a Pantomime as a 60 minute version of Snow White was performed four times on Sunday 23rd November….wow!

And of course Santa arrived with his six reindeer, from the Cairngorms rather than the North Pole, relocating to his Grotto which is open Fri/Sat/Sun throughout November, then every day thru’ December. Every child receives a gift and interestingly they all acquire the same.

In 2014 it was a cuddly reindeer, and they had already decided on the following year’s gift long before Christmas was over..…yet another thing to source at Harrogate.

Selfies are encouraged within, but they also have Picture Works on site offering a professional image package containing photos, key-rings and magnets. They place a Photo Board at the entrance, which encourages the visitors to purchase the Craft Pack, and many times the staff have heard “that sorts Granny’s Christmas present” all of which are conveniently branded Stockeld Park.

They have six regular Santas on the team, plus 2 spare for lunch, coffee & bathroom breaks as well as a Toy Master, a Chief Elf and five elves.

Christmas stock deliveries are accepted, indeed encouraged, from early May as they start laying out immediately, keeping the front of the store open all-year-round with the back half closed for display building.

As well as the Golden Triangle the catchment area seems to be 1 hour every which way, from Newcastle & Sunderland in the North East and

on down the A1 to Sheffield. Actually the site was always advertised as ‘near Wetherby’ but a change to ‘between Leeds and Harrogate’ has had a marked impact on visitor numbers.

Visitor numbers were up 43% in 2013 with the shop showing at least a 10% increase.

Overall turnover quadrupled in the last 7 years and the new strap line ‘where magic is made and adventures begin’ seems to have done its job.

Expectations are higher from visitors.....each year Stockeld Park needs to have a better offer, and they need to keep on improving. Luckily the staff are extremely well-trained and “care a great deal about Xmas” as their primary function is to provide a special day for all.

I would like to thank Amy & Georgie for giving up their time, especially once I realised that they had been up ‘until the small hours’ celebrating their ‘highly commended’ in the Tourist Event of the Year category at the prestigious White Rose Awards held the night before. Though in closing I really should let you know a little more about these two terrific ladies, who actually had no previous experience whatsoever of events - indeed their qualifications might have made them better candidates for CSI Wetherby!

So having promised you a little more about them, how about this?

Amy has a Drama Degree and spent 10 years as an Assistant Director at the BBC - working on The Bill and East Enders - and Georgie has a BSc in Crime Scene Science, and a Masters degree in Mass Fatalities & Victim Identification !

Amy responded to a Crazy Job Ad on monster. uk and Georgie came to make some money for Gap Year but stayed to manage the ice rink.

Now they are Event Professionals who are “giddy about Christmas”, enjoying the great team work undertaken at Stockeld Park, where 150 seasonal staff are recruited every year.

Many of the staff work 60/70 hours a week, and there is a genuine ‘team’ spirit as it even includes spending time together off-site. A communal visit to the German Christkindelmarkt in Leeds was undertaken, and that very afternoon they were popping off for Afternoon Tea @ Rudding Park. Which I gather is a rather more sophisticated affair than the Staff Christmas Party, which is held in January and where the Silly Awards, such as ‘Worst Hair’, ‘Mr & Mrs. Stockeld’ and ‘Most Bathroom Breaks’ are presented with much amusement. christmas in january 53

Feature Gisela Graham

Santa #1 of 1840 by Prof von Schwind: rather sinister figure – but he got jollier of the years

Santa #2 of 1863 by Thomas Nast: Santa in US patriotic garb takes the Unionist side in the Civil War

Santa #3 of 1880 by Thomas Nast: Santa of 2015 from Gisela Graham: as we know him – but he wasn’t the first featured in “Letters to Santa”, one of her 12 new themed collections for this coming season.

A portrait of Santa Piers Croke of Gisela Graham Limited goes in search of Santa and wonders why, while no one’s ever seen him, everyone knows what he looks like

A

s every pub quiz player knows, Santa Claus is derived from St Nicholas, via Dutch “Sinterklass”, patron saint of children, and of New Amsterdam aka New York, and of importers, incidentally – not many quiz players knew that, I bet).

But what about his hooded red robe, beard, sack and so on? Who decided what Santa looked like, and when?

The author confesses that he always thought he knew: surely Thomas Nast the brilliant 19th century American artist whose cartoons won presidential elections and put crooked New York mayors in gaol. Nast’s famous 1880 image of the jolly bringer of toys and Christmas delights is often credited with putting the face to the legend. But it seems he’d had a shot at portraying Santa twenty years before. Ever on

54 christmas in january

the side of the angels, Nast depicted Santa in a Stars & Stripes robe, encouraging Yankee soldiers to fight slavery and the Confederate enemy. At his feet, Unionist kids play with the militaristic toys he’s given them.

But how did Nast know that Santa was hooded and bearded? It turns out that, just as around so many Mediterranean swimming pools, the Germans got there first. In the 1830’s a German poet wrote a best-selling children’s song which goes roughly (in German), “Father Christmas is coming, coming to bring you toys …”

This ditty inspired the first attempt at portraying Santa. The painter was the aristocratic Professor (of course!) Moritz von Schwind – Austrian born, but who lived and worked in Germany. Von Schwind’s proto-Santa of 1840

was rather grim but had all the trappings of our Santa: the beard, the hood and the sack holding a tree. The image was taken up in one of the earliest German Christmas cards, and that’s probably how it crossed the Atlantic. Within a generation von Schwind’s hooded figure had morphed into the kindly old gen we know and love.

So on December 25th, after checking the contents of my stocking, I for one will be raising my glass to the Professor and wishing him most heartily “ein froehliche Weihnacht!”

Gisela Graham will be showing all her 2015 Christmas collections on her Stand M16 at Harrogate Christmas & Home, and at NEC Spring Fair, Hall 8, A20/B19.

30. 1 – 3. 2. 2015

Become the star of your industry More than 920 top exhibitors from 39 countries will be showcasing the industry’s best ideas at the world’s leading trade fair for seasonal and festive decorations – here you’ll find “Seasonal Decoration at its best”. Make the most of this brilliant trend and ordering platform and forge valuable contacts with the stars of the industry. www.christmasworld-at-its-best.com

Seasonal Decoration at its best info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

Scan here to find out more

Feature Konstsmide

But they’re just lights -

Right? No they’re not.

T

his is the type of conversation that Konstsmide’s sales team have occasionally with some of their customers.

I was with U.K. managing director Richard Jerrom and one of his sales executives Stuart Randle who also agreed that many of their customers have been hugely positive telling them that their delivery record is second to none along with the quality of the product.

“What we offer at Konstsmide is so much so more than “Just lights”, we offer a branded range that offers the reassurance that the products are of the highest quality offered on the market today. We test them beyond what is necessary to give our customers what they want, great products that work, and are safe. We know this is what consumers want, a recognizable brand they love to use and they can trust year after year.” Said Stuart “We are obviously giving customers what they want. Not just with good quality products, but also an excellent delivery service. We are hearing from our customers that certain suppliers have been unable to deliver all of their orders on time, “that has resulted in disappointment for both the garden centres involved and their customers” was Richard’s response. Our take on the situation was more to the point “We deliver the goods while others are waiting for stock to arrive. Therefore, our customers are selling and making money.”

Richard continues “As we are Europe’s largest supplier of Christmas and Decorative lighting, we have to cater for many countries, and what we supply is a consistent high quality branded product, we can see, not just in the UK but all around Europe, many other suppliers have both branded and own labelled products, constantly altering packaging. This is very confusing for consumers, there is no consistent message and therefore very little

56 christmas in january

loyalty. We know from experience in lots of markets there is a need for a leading consistent brand and that’s how we keep growing.”

As an international supplier of lighting, Richard sometimes receives comments as to why they have 10 languages on all their boxes. His rather succinct response to this question is ‘That you don’t put boxes on trees.”

Not much more you can say to this!

This however really does show that Konstsmide is a truly internationally recognised brand.

I asked Richard for his views on LEDs and whether they would continue to perform as an industry ‘must have’. His belief is that LED technology continues to improve year on year.

An excellent example of this is Konstsmide’s next generation fairy lights.

For so long the old fairy lights were the must have for trees but since the introduction of LEDS, sales on incandescent bulb fairy lights have dropped.

The solution they have is excellent, LEDS that look like and are the same size as the old sets people still want but with all the benefits of LEDS. With these sets the LEDS can even be replaced which gives, the converts to new LED lights, the reassurance they need. These traditional sets are now very much in the 21st century thanks to their development team.

The company are delighted with the response from their customers to their ‘Soft Cable’ IP67 light sets which are also larger than their standard LEDs and give a greater quality light output, some come with dimmers or timers. The cable is not just softer but more supple and durable than the industry norm as is the IP67 moulded LED. It also means that the wire has a much lower freezing point than standard cable; hence this is great for consumers when packing the products away at the end of the

season.

The same also applies to their Festoon lights; again LED’s have been used to replace the old fashioned light bulb but still gives that traditional filament look. Not only a big improvement but also far brighter, safer and economical than the old lights.

These will be available in even more styles for 2015.

Berry trees were introduced for the first time in 2014 to much acclaim. So much so that 2015 sees the range extended with three sizes and several styles to choose from.

As one of the first companies to introduce the ‘Dusk till Dawn’ outdoor battery lights, 2015 sees further improvements to the technology. Konstsmide have made a very good electronic solution for these types of lights and claim they are brighter and last

insisting that quality is appreciated and that they will never compromise on this.

So for the consumer to recognize this, only benefits Konstsmide.

Having been known for many years as a specialist Welcome Light supplier, it was an obvious progression in to lighting and decorative lighting for which Konstsmide are still the leading supplier in Europe.

In 1983 a landmark for the company in product development was selling the first transformer light set, they consider this to be the first transformer light set ever produced and now 30 years on this revolution in the Christmas lighting design still dominates the industry today.

In 1995 they made yet another product leap when they developed the very first LED Christmas light chain, leading the way to what is considered normal today, it’s hard

longer than other battery lights available.

Also on many sets you can choose from 6 or 9 hours of operation.

Their bestselling range of acrylics, has some new and very interesting pieces for 2015 in both battery and outdoor, and believe that this will further enhance the range.

Another trend noticed by Stuart is that when, in previous years it was very much all about price as far as the public was concerned, there is a trend for more and more consumers prepared to pay for better quality.

It’s a win, win situation all round as the supplier and the trade customer can make decent margins with the consumer having a much better product for the money.

For Konstsmide they have never tried to be the cheapest this is not their goal, always

to imagine Christmas lights without LED’s today.

As a major European brand, Konstsmide have a robust safety testing record.

Konstsmide have noted that in Germany most buyers insist on having a Safety certificate for each product they buy and Richard believes that the U.K. should also adopt this policy. They have invested extensively in this area and go beyond the testing to ensure their products are the best.

With like for like sales up over the previous year and plenty of innovative additions to the 2015 ranges, visitors to Harrogate and Spring Fair have plenty to whet their appetite on the Konstsmide stand.

Harrogate Hall ‘M’ stand M22.

Tel: 01246 852140 Email: sales@konstsmide.co.uk christmas in january 57

Feature Floral Silk Liam and Stephanie O’Flaherty, Jo and Darren Broxup - The Management Team

The Bourne Experience

N

o, not part of the novels written

by Robert Ludlam, but to my drive to Bourne in Lincolnshire to visit Floralsilk, where their H.Q. showroom and warehouse are located. The company has been in existence for 35 years now and so it was to Bourne that I travelled to learn more and to discover for myself the company’s new Christmas Tree offering and much more for the 2015 season.

The invitation was from Stephanie O’Flaherty who amongst her many duties as a director of Floralsilk involves the marketing of all of this increased activity. They are celebrating their 35th year in business that has seen them grow to become a major supplier of quality floral products with a greatly increased offering within the Christmas-related sector.

Stephanie’s husband Liam is managing director, following his father’s decision to retire and it was his father who first entered the floral/ silk flowers and accessories category when he first set up in business with John Strode. After a few years they both decided to go their separate ways with John O’Flaherty creating Floralsilk.

The company remained in Reading for quite a few years and had their warehousing situated in Lincolnshire but with continuous growth decided to move their warehouse to Bourne in 2003.

Nine years later and the momentous decision was made to move the offices and showroom to Bourne. They had the space and with a burgeoning range needed a far larger showroom.

An important addition to Floralsilk came in 2009 when Darren Broxup joined the company, from Peter Harvey. Darren had considerable experience in selecting Christmas-related products so it seemed an obvious move to increase Floralsilk’s presence. As purchasing director Darren is responsible for designing and developing not only the Floralsilk Christmas range but also works with Liam to source the floral range too.

2015 will see a greatly increased collection of 1,500 items that sees them now the third largest exhibitor at Harrogate in terms of stand

58 christmas in january

space. Stephanie told me that one big plus with their move to Bourne had been that with the recruitment of new office staff the team had gelled into a group that share great enthusiasm and are inspired by the company’s products and ambitious expansion plans.

Another most telling sign that the team were on the right track by increasing the company’s Christmas offering is that 2014 has seen a big growth in buyers coming back to them in the Autumn for re-buys, having realised that they didn’t order nearly enough at the January shows. Of course in certain instances this was far too late.

Floralsilk’s varied customer base of major High Street multiples, Garden Centre multiples, Independent garden centres, gift stores, florists and wholesalers will be already be experiencing the company’s 2015 message that sees them bringing a little sparkle to their Christmas sales by stocking Floralsilk’s Christmas range.

Why should you be switching to Floralsilk?

The reason according to Darren is that they will give their customers a point of difference from competitors’ ranges, where quite often according to the Floralsilk team it is the same few companies featuring time after time.

The very positive Christmas tree sales enjoyed by the company’s High Street multiples has encouraged them to widen the 2015 tree offering with no less than 60 different trees in various sizes and for the first time Pre-lit trees join the offering. These feature LED lights that are individually replaceable and each tree comes with 10 replacement bulbs.

The Christmas collection is the result of much research into trends, colourways and materials and in Stephanie’s words are beautiful, original products at the right price offering fantastic quality into the bargain.

With no less than eight separate themes running through the 1,500 items these are: Coldsnap – snowy tree decorations, mini snow covered house hangers, icicles … a winter wonderland Nature – everything you might find in a

December garden: seasonal stem foliage, berries, twigs, pinecones, fir & cypress, fruit, herbs & spices, weathered wood and willow Toy Town - as the name implies, a cute selection of tree decorations, advent calendars, stockings, santa figures and snowmen, inspired by stripy candy canes.

Precious – shatterproof baubles, finials and stars along with lanterns & candle holders in rich gold and luxury silver Resplendent – table runners, napkin rings, velvet tree trim and leaf garlands in rich burgundys, reds & coppers Champagne on Ice – a lavish mix of champagne gold and pearlised cream Midnight – different hues of blue and black accented by antique gold and turquoise Victoria – pretty purples and lilacs mixed with sage green and cream To best illustrate Floralsilk’s nine Christmas categories the stand at Harrogate is their largest in the company’s history and has been completely re-designed featuring room settings to best illustrate these new themes for 2015 mirroring the showroom at company H.Q. To keep pace with Floralsilk’s investment in the future a new website will go live in February enabling customers to not only order on line, but check their own historic past transactions with the company and to also be part of the various innovative ideas that the company will be promoting throughout 2015.

Stephanie is passionate about how an all singing and all dancing website for their trade customers along with a presence on Facebook, Twitter and Linked-in etc. will play a major part in their future growth.

The Christmas decoration market thrives on innovation and enthusiasm, so I found my visit to Floralsilk ticking all the boxes. With staff from directors through to all departments fully on board with their future plans.

Here is one company to watch out for in the future.

Tel: 01788 425205 Email: sales@floralsilk.co.uk

SOOTHING

Crackle LONG, DANCING

FLAME

Home is where the HEARTH is...

d see us Come an

at the following sho ws

Harrogate Christmas & Gift Show 11th -14th January 2015 Stand C27

Top Drawer Spring - Olympia 11th -13th January 2015 Stand Q53

For more info please email sales@xystos.co.uk or call 0191 499 1570 or order online at our trade website www.xystostrade.co.uk

Feature Harrogate

Ashleigh & Burwood Ltd Hall C Stand C25

K A Weiste and Villa Weiste Collections.

Hall M. Stand 28

Weiste Christmas Decorations have never been stronger.

Finland, the home of Father Christmas, is a constant inspiration:The snow, the frost sparkling on the trees, Frozen Lakes and winter sun often just a faint glow of Copper in an Ice Blue sky streaked with White and with sharp accents of Gold combining to make that true winter wonderland.

And so it is this year that the colours mirror so many of these natural hues!

This year Weiste are giving more space over to Villa Weiste - The Interior Collection, and justly so as sales warrant more exposure of this highly trusted Scandinavian Brand.

From the tiny furry little people and beautiful glass baubles - so popular - to the cushions and throws, glass table decorations and lovely lanterns to the amazingly well priced range of Christmas Trees The Collection is commercially diverse as it is stunningly attractive.

The new layout of the stand 28 in Hall M echoes its importance.

For some time now Weiste have had a WEBSHOP with the full catalogue of both the Weiste and Villa Collections and are launching this to UK customers at Harrogate.

Don’t miss your opportunity to register.

Make an appointment with Christopher or Sam who will look forward to seeing you,

email: info@morrismay.com today!

This year sees Ashleigh & Burwood’s debut at Harrogate Christmas and Gift, an exciting new initiative for the well-known, popular fragrance brand. Exhibiting for the first time at the show gives Ashleigh & Burwood the opportunity to present their fabulous fragranced gifts to a new audience, and to offer products to existing customers earlier in the season to assist with planning. Whilst there will be a wide range of products being displayed, the particular festive highlights will be Ashleigh & Burwood’s new bestselling scented metal pomanders, Christmas reed diffusers, and signature glass mosaic fragrance lamp gift sets.

Ashleigh & Burwood is a family run firm, headed up by father and son John and Andrew Nettleton. Founded in 1993, Ashleigh & Burwood has long been known for its pioneering, design driven home fragrance. The team at Ashleigh & Burwood designs and produces contemporary and classic home fragrance products, to beautify and enhance home ambience; believing a person takes the same care in choosing how to fragrance their home as they do in what perfume to wear.

The brand is arguably best-known for its catalytic fragrance lamps, a product that not only looks sensational in the home and scents rooms beautifully, but that also cleanses and purifies the air, destroying airborne bacteria and bad odours. A technology originally invented in the 1800’s to clean the air in hospitals, Ashleigh & Burwood has successfully integrated catalytic combustion into a wide collection of designer fragrance lamps. These gorgeous lamps are available in hundreds of designs and colours, and all come beautifully packaged in luxury boxes. As an additional gift option, Ashleigh & Burwood has teamed up some of its most popular lamp designs with a lamp fragrance, each presented as

a pair in a stunning gift box.

On show at Harrogate Christmas & Gift will be a selection from the range, including the festive ‘Black Ice’ lamp with ‘Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh’ lamp fragrance, ideal for Christmas. The ‘Black Ice’ fragrance lamp is a classic effect of mirrored silver, with a little extra excitement thanks to the inclusion of subtle black accents in the design. Finished off with a Silver fretwork crown this glass mosaic lamp is a beautiful interior design accessory. The accompanying lamp fragrance in this gift set, ‘Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh’, is a majestic blend of festive aromas, combining clove with cardamom and anise, richly heated with notes of ginger and cocoa to create a truly unique fragrance.

A twist on Ashleigh & Burwood’s signature glass mosaic design, seen on the popular fragrance lamps, is the range of mosaic oil burners. The ‘Crackle Mosaic Oil Burner’ collection is a range of sparkling glass mosaic vessels, offering an attractive way to vaporise fragrance oils and scent the air within the home. Available in various colours and shapes, every Crackle Mosaic Oil Burner is hand-crafted to create a unique, decorative vessel. A glorious festive claret red design, ‘Dragon’s Tale’, will feature amongst the selection on show at Harrogate Christmas and Gift.

A key festive fragrance, by Ashleigh & Burwood is the delicious and evocative ‘Warm Winter Punch’, from ‘The Scented Home’ collection. Happy Christmas memories are brought to life with this sociable seasonal accord. Orange and cinnamon make most happy companions at the heart, whilst notes of clove and black pepper charge additional warmth.

Puleo International Hall C Stand C22

Puleo is excited to present many new and beautiful tree styles in 2015. You will find an expanded range of full size and slim trees, traditional and fashion colours, potted trees, as well as matching wreaths, garlands and swags. Furthermore, LED trees are also on display. With more than 50 years experience in the industry, Puleo has built a very strong reputation for providing a complete package to its customers; excellent service, ontime delivery, market-beating product design and quality - and all at very competitive pricing. Puleo is not just a supplier to its customer, but a partner that you can trust.

Tel: Adrian Yapp 07766 140386 60 christmas in january

Riffelmacher

A

s a family owned traditional company, Riffelmacher is one of the oldest German importer and producers of Christmas and seasonal decorations dating back to 1921.

Despite being a significant player on the continent the company didn’t launch into the UK until the Harrogate Christmas and Gift fair in 2012.

In a short time the company had been able to gain a large number of key accounts and were talked about as being a reliable all round Christmas supplier and an alternative to the more dominant suppliers in the market.

Riffelmacher are great supporters of the ‘made in Germany’ brand and still today produce top quality foil and tinsel items at their factory near Nürnberg at prices which hold their own against Far East imports. As a company we place great value in Reliability, credibility and service with the aim of achieving long term customer relationships.

Having control of the manufacture enables us to supply at short notice, offering not only the classical colours but to coordinate tinsel with trend colours and themes or to supply customers own colour themes. Factors which no doubt have contributed to the current renaissance of tinsel in

Christmasworld Hall 11.0 StandB68 the market.

This years collection is probably the most comprehensive in the companies history. Highlights include porcelain plates and bowls, LED illuminated village scenes, snow globes, lanterns and storm lights, metallic plates and bowls, Porcelain angels and animals and wooden tree ornaments to name but a few!

Riffelmacher would like to invite you to either their showroom in Nürnberg, Germany or to their stand at the forthcoming Christmas World Fair in Frankfurt at hall 11.0 B 68 Contact Alistair Turnbull at aturnbull@waitrose.com

christmas in january 61

Feature Gould’s

‘Give us this day our Daily Bread’ G

ould’s department store was opened in April 1902 in Dorchester, Dorset by the great grandparents of two of the present Directors. Harry & Florence Gould opened a drapers shop on the corner of High East Street, in the days when the shopping public had to contend with bicycles and horsedrawn carriages.

Grandson Roger still oversees the operation of the Department store business, with son Christopher managing the day to day retail operations, and whilst Christmas is obviously very important as a retail selling occasion it has always operated a very modest Christmas department with only a very selective range of decorations.

Therefore, when the opportunity arose to purchase a local garden centre, just seven miles down the road, and near the beach, in Weymouth, the family jumped at the chance. Managed by Roger’s other son Anthony it is the latest extension of what has certainly been a long-established family-run business.

Visiting Dorchester first, and admiring the Christmas window displays that were being built at the department store, while partaking of a coffee I was immediately struck by how many Churches seemed to be in one street. This was more an architectural rather than a religious observation, in that I don’t think I have ever seen so many churches near to one another. On further investigation it transpired there are 8 churches within one mile.

I’ve never seen so many spires in one vista.

Arriving at the Garden Centre it was a pleasure to see how knowledgeable the staff were regarding the Goulds Christmas Offer. Carmen Pinhey has headed up the buying team for 8 years so it is 64 christmas in january

testament to her commitment to the company that she is still as enthusiastic as I found her to be, while Penny Corp-Palmer is in her first year and has bought in immediately to the passion and ethos.

Having recently joining from an independent retailer Penny cannot believe how wonderful it is to work for a family-owned business where decisions are made immediately, in conjunction with the staff, rather than having to endure long-winded management meetings and drawn-out discussions awaiting a conclusion.

Visiting in early November I was advised by Carmen that Christmas had started really well and that while sales have declined on tree decorations they have most certainly risen dramatically on Home Décor, which has had an effect on their current product offer.

The display build is started on September 1, with Warehouse Manager Jerry designing and erecting the framework ready for Carmen, Penny, Bev & Paul to start putting the products on show for the target opening date of half-term week. Although in 2014 it was a remarkably quick build as they actually commenced Christmas trading in the third week of September!

Tree trim tends to be displayed first, followed by lights, then artificial trees. Like most Garden Centres the Christmas display area tends to be located where garden furniture usually sits and of course weather fluctuations can make a difference to the launch. Indeed with the extremely warm weather it might have been expected to see a delay to the launch but in fact, as they had completely sold out of furniture early, it actually made for a premature start, allowing Jerry to get in ahead of time.

Themes are planned by the end of February, indeed ALL buying is completed by the 28th, with no sales rep follow-up required at store, allowing the staff to get on with the Spring & Summer launches.

Product sourcing has always been done both at Harrogate and Spring Fair, but 2015 will see the first absence from the former as it has been decided that a 630 mile round-trip is just too far to travel. Instead they have added another day at the National Exhibition Centre.

Having already visited Kaemingk, which is definitely the Number One supplier and from whom they get their inspiration, the themes will then be decided upon for the coming year, which allows them to build the complementary ranges once they arrive in Birmingham.

Premier Decorations are seen as best for lights, John Athwal receiving a special mention, with Sage for floristry and both Winter’s Tale and Heaven Sends featuring highly on the list of must-haves. Also worthy of comment was Willow Brooks Secret Christmas, a new supplier which has been providing some lovely individual items.

Crackers seem to sell more and more each year which is good news for primary supplier RSW International….but does everyone now have two instead of one at Christmas Dinner… or is it Boxing Day and maybe New Year’s Eve helping this continued growth ?

Stock deliveries commence in September with two former, semi-retired employees being on annual stand-by to come in and price everything ...what a weight that is off the shoulders of Carmen and her staff.

Weymouth was of course awarded the Sailing

for the 2012 Olympics with mixed results. A few likely spectators, concerned about the likelihood of heavy traffic, stayed away - - and some of the usual annual holidaymakers booked elsewhere in case it would be too busy. Overall however it was a massive success with a long term benefit resulting in the building of a major relief road that has released lots of green belt land for house building.

The National Sailing Academy awarded in 2012 is having a positive effect, there is apparent growth in electronic industries, and despite the Navy leaving Portland there are almost as many civilian jobs now, replacing the number previously employed.

Weymouth Town Centre has suffered like many UK town centres, and though well on the road-to-recovery it has also allowed for much increased awareness of out-of-town shops such as Goulds Garden Centre, where footfall has certainly increased within their eight acre site. Weymouth & Portland’s population is around 65,000 but with regular visitors from Bridport to the west, Blandford to the north and Poole to the east there is a reasonably large catchment area available to them….though if you want to come in from the south you’ll have to arrive by boat!

Artificial tree sales are down in recent years, despite the recent re-emergence of Fibre Optic trees, so they have recently reduced the tree area but undertaken more defined buying, with less styles, yet a more comprehensive range of sizes.

Actually, for the first time in a while they sold out of F/O trees in 2013, while REAL trees are selling more and more and more....each and every year.

The Christmas Lighting range has also been analysed, with too big a selection of late, so that they now offer less of a range but again with more depth. Outdoor lighting sales have also increased dramatically, especially the Solar offering.

As mentioned earlier, less money is seemingly being spent on decorations with much more going into Gift purchases, especially within the food section.....with the thinking being that you can’t go wrong with a food choice as a Christmas gift.

In fact the Food Section has seen its sales grow by more than a third in the last 5 years as with many non-branded items on offer, to differentiate from the multiples, it makes for a special shopping experience - with nostalgic packaging and old-fashioned sweets, and treats such as Turkish Delight, Rosy Apples and Rhubarb & Custards leading the way. Food is also an easy gift choice as it is not gender specific, though interestingly to date they have never stocked alcohol, albeit this is planned to change in 2015. With many local breweries and vineyards about to get a visit from Carmen there might be the odd gift of beer for the fellas!

The Gould’s Reward Card has been in operation for 6 years with a membership of 25,000 – that’s a lot of mail outs - and 55/60% of daily sales are apparently undertaken by Reward Card holders.

They have points allocated on every item purchased, resulting in free gifts, special offers and vouchers - which are sent out quarterly - to ensure a happy customer returns again and again. 25,000 card holders seems pretty impressive to me, but what do I know, can’t remember the last time I used my Tesco card !

Of course there is also a catering operation on site, and whilst there was a cafe when Goulds acquired the site in 1997 it doubled in size when they undertook a significant redevelopment of the whole site in 2004. It now accommodates over 140 covers in the internal and external seating areas.

The Java Cafe also hosts the Reward Card Late Night Opening Dinner - two sittings of 80 reward club members, tucking in to traditional Christmas dinner, are sold out within two days of being announced !

But it’s not just busy at night, with one local Reverend visiting every morning ! My favourite coffee shop is Le Pain Quotidien which translates as The Daily Bread, quite apt one would think?

Santa’s Grotto opens on the 29th November, accessible every weekend until the last one prior to Christmas when it is opened each day until and including Christmas Eve. The grotto is undertaken in conjunction with Weldmar Hospicecare Trust which provides Santa and his helpers, and the grotto itself is built by Goulds who also provide a Drink & Cookie as well as a gift. Experience determined that all gifts are left unwrapped to allow for choice, as nothing is worse than a crying child when they don’t receive the gift they want ! All profit goes to the hospice, realising around £2000 per annum, and whilst they have only ever needed the one Santa allegedly there is an available standin at all times on site (I think he knows who he is?)

In previous years various colour themes have been ‘on trend’, although Carmen has definitely seen a move back to traditional styles in recent times, and with the bauble display being one of the best I have ever seen, I suspect they could sell any colour because they just look so good!

The team is constantly learning about display as it is very important here at Goulds, and whilst room settings are de rigeur, one of the rooms had a door with the number 25 (think about it) and the staff were amazed at how many kiddies actually knocked to see if Santa was at home.

Tapestries didn’t sell in 2013 so less were bought in 2014 but with a major change to the display, and having manufactured a darkened corridor, typically they had an improved customer response and had sold out by Bonfire Night !!

Pink was set out badly in 2013 too, but in 2014, though with only a limited stock and a change to its appearance, in a different set-up, it worked, even though the trend is towards a much more traditional festive season.

The worst Item purchased recently was a particular lit tree, that shall not be named, but is

now ‘75% off’ and the Best item was The Talking Reindeer Head - please can the manufacturer bring it back ?

Goulds has been quite slow on the uptake regarding social media, yet has started to involve itself with Twitter and Facebook - and by the time this article is published they will have recruited a Marketing Assistant, a major part of whose role will be to actively participate and improve their Social Media skills.

As well as the green belt being released in Weymouth the recent developments in Dorchester are moving apace with lots of private investment - and with the local awareness of a perceived difference in income there is certainly a diversity in the ticket values at both addresses.

Finalising this interview I realised how much I had enjoyed our chat, so prior to going off to take the photos to accompany this feature I asked what I might finish with, and both Carmen & Penny once again reiterated that there is a strength in a family business, where Anthony and most members of staff can greet almost all shoppers by name, and where there is a real interest in their well-being.

When a member of Goulds asks if you’re having a good day, or asks if there is anything they can do to help, they really mean it and it is not just some American jargon learned by rote.

I was also made aware that dogs are welcome everywhere on site, except the café, which may well be unusual….not being a dog owner I hadn’t thought about it, but many customers apparently refer to this when shopping at Goulds, and a perfect example of the family’s vocation to assist is The Poppy Promotion. Within a few days of being made aware of the much advertised Tower of London Poppy Display, and discovering that Gardman was offering a cast-iron Bird Feeder in the shape of a Poppy, Anthony and his team went all out in promoting same, on Facebook and in-store, with all profits going to the local branch of the Royal British Legion. They have just made a presentation to the Royal British Legion for just over £3,000, much to the delight of the Poppy Appeal organisers.

christmas in january 65

Feature CB Imports

Inspiration and Unique Christmas collections from CB Imports

F

rom its creation in 1990, CB Imports has now grown to be one of the UK’s largest importers of Christmas, Artificial Flowers, Floral Supplies, Pottery & Glassware, Homeware, Giftware and Seasonal products.

Over the years CB Imports has become renowned for its inspirational and unique Christmas Collections and takes pride in bringing the latest trends and ideas directly to its customers at the best possible prices. Such a reputation only comes from hard work, which is why CB Imports’ in-house Trend Researchers spend time planning and researching well in advance of the season. CB Imports exhibit these diverse trends at trade shows, including NEC Spring Fair, where visitors can expect to see trends ranging from traditional to contemporary allowing their customers to buy for a variety of consumer styles. This extensive research has allowed CB Imports to plan ahead for what is

66 christmas in january

set to be another fantastic year, bringing the latest ‘must-have’ items into the market. The trends come alive with beautiful merchandising, allowing customers to create their own desired Christmas collections.

The UK Business Industry is facing some changes, and the past year of 2014 has been no exception. Paul Crier, Commercial Director for CB Imports states: “2014 has been all about later sales, once again. Holding your nerve is as valid as ever. After a difficult start, our performance overall has been solid this season and we’ve experienced record breaking sales weeks in November and early December We expect 2015 to be more challenging, as we see the retail market being driven more & more by promotional activity. Inspirational products, trends and designs at good value is critical and this is what we have focused on.”

Tel: 0113 218 9988 Email: paul.crier@cbimports.co.uk

Please contact our ofďŹ ce to view our current Christmas 2015 collection

SIA Home Fashion Unit 7, The Votec Centre, Hambridge Lane, Newbury RG14 5TN

Telephone: 01635 32868 Website: www.sia-homefashion.co.uk Email: salesuk@sia-homefashion.com