Gifts Today August September 2026

Month: August/September 2026 Issue: 8 Volume: 37

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+44 (0) 1933 679 777 | sales@warmies.world | www.warmies.co.uk Gifts Today Cover 2026 v4.indd 1

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Describe it.

Use plain English: “I need fun, colourful homewares with great margins”; the more specific you are the better.

Get introduced.

Matchmaker replies with “Here are 3 suppliers hitting 60% margin - want a tour of their booths?”

Decide.

See live pricing, MOQs, lead times and more, then start talking with your next supplier.

Zero legwork.

Skip the cold calls and post-show waiting, and see what Matchmaker will shortlist for your store.

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Gifts Today

Contents

August/September 2026 p 32

Regulars 10 News 84 Trade Talk: Which products, colours and trends are set to define the second half of 2026? Ahead of the all-important Golden Quarter, we ask gift suppliers to share their predictions 88 Shop Talk: Independent gift retailers reveal how summer trading is shaping up, the products winning over customers, and how they’re preparing for the Autumn/Winter buying season

Columnists

p 59

Gifts Today team

p 52

Advertisement Manager

Marian McNamara Marian@lemapublishing.co.uk

Editor

Clare Turner Clare@lemapublishing.co.uk

Cover Story

Layout/Design

36 Warmies will unveil its biggest Q4 launch to date at Autumn Fair, featuring an extensive line-up of original characters led by the irresistibly soft new Cozy Cute flagship collection

Rick Vickers rick@lemapublishing.co.uk

Managing Director

Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

Fair Focus

Production Director

Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

p 68

Lema Publishing Ltd

8 24 26 38 66 80

The Gift Fair UK Preview MEGA SHOW Hong Kong Preview Harrogate Christmas & Gift Preview Autumn Fair/Glee Preview Top Drawer A/W Preview Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) Preview

Retailer Focus

Unit 1 Broomstick Industrial Estate High street Edlesborough Buckinghamshire LU6 2JA Telephone: 01442 289930

www.giftstoday.media

12 Jackson Szabo, portfolio director of Hyve Group, organiser of Spring & Autumn Fair 14 Sarah Halsall, owner of Hand Picked by Henrietta in the Cheshire town of Poynton 28 Hannah Bartlett, founder of Jolly Festive 35 Sara Allbright, director and co-founder of Retail100 Consulting 63 Bryony Taylor-Edwards, founder of Think Big Coaching 64 Gemma Sault, managing director of the Home & Giftware Association 91 Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira)

p 63

86 Sally Wilde, owner of Planet Sal in the East Devon market town of Honiton, shares how her distinctive product mix, bold approach and commitment to customer service have earned her a sixth consecutive Prestige Awards win

Product Focus Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers, nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Opinions and comments expressed in this publication by contributors and writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

ContentsAugSept.indd 1

18 New Products 30 In Style: Focus on Jewellery 81 Licensed Gifts

Supplier Focus 16 Wild Things 82 PMC 83 Enesco

14/08/2026 16:34

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Message from the Editor

A

p 46

www.giftstoday.media LinkedIn: @giftstoday Twitter: @giftstodaymag Instagram: @giftstodaymedia

s I write this, the UK is basking in yet another heatwave but, as everyone in the gift industry knows, the seasons wait for no one. It’s time for our biannual changeover – and that means switching gears from summer to autumn and, before we know it, Christmas. All change!

With the autumn trade show season just around the corner, we have previews of key exhibitions taking place in September and October: The Gift Fair UK, Autumn Fair/Glee, Top Drawer A/W and Brand Licensing Europe (BLE). We also take a look further afield at MEGA SHOW Hong Kong, and look ahead to Harrogate Christmas & Gift.

And, with the Golden Quarter looming large, there’s plenty of reason for retailers to feel positive. According to the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)’s new 2026 Christmas Consumer Report, based on a survey of 2,000 UK adults, almost half (49%) of consumers say they will not be cutting back on anything this Christmas. This is up considerably from 42% last year and 45% in 2024. Just under half (47%) also agree that “Christmas is a time to indulge even if it means spending more than I should”.

This sentiment is reflected in what consumers expect to spend on average this Christmas. According to the figures, consumers estimate spending an average of £647 this year, which is £84 more than when the same question was first asked in 2024.

And the good news is that gifting accounts for 58% of the average Christmas budget, up 3% since 2024, while food and groceries account for 22%, up 4% over the same period.

The message is clear: being prepared for the festive season is crucial - and we’re here to help.

This issue is bursting with gift inspiration, retail insight and ideas to help you make the most of the months ahead.

In addition to our show previews, you’ll find features on jewellery, which remains one of the strongest-performing categories in gift retail, and licensed gifts, a perennial favourite that benefits from the enduring appeal of much-loved characters and brands.

Our Cover Star is Warmies, which will unveil its biggest Q4 launch to date at Autumn Fair,

featuring an extensive line-up of original characters, licensed favourites and collectable ranges. Leading the collection is Cozy Cute - a new flagship range set to become one of the season’s standout gifting successes. You can read more about the brand’s new product developments on page 36.

Warmies is also strengthening its licensing portfolio with an impressive selection of globally recognised brands and beloved characters launching this autumn.

With innovative new ranges, sought-after licences and a continued focus on wellbeing through warmth and comfort, Warmies’ Q4 collection offers retailers an exciting opportunity to refresh their gifting assortment for the busiest trading season of the year.

Ahead of the all-important Golden Quarter, we’ve quizzed several independent retailers about how they’re approaching the Autumn/Winter buying season. They also shared details of their summer trading experiences, new arrivals and bestsellers. It’s a must-read, as always.

In addition, we’ve handed out crystal balls to a selection of leading gift suppliers and asked them to predict which products, colours and trends are set to define the second half of 2026. From musthave designs to emerging palettes, find out what the industry experts think will be making an impact.

Plus, we shine the spotlight on two award-winning businesses. Check out our interviews with Sally Wilde, owner of Planet Sal in East Devon, who recently scooped her sixth consecutive Prestige Awards win; and Sophie Tregellis, founder of Rosy Roo, the proud recipient of two Gift of the Year Awards 2026 - her car diffusers won both the Judges’ Choice and Made in the UK categories, a remarkable achievement for a relatively young brand.

Finally, don’t miss Sara Allbright of Retail100’s column, which explains why autumn offers retailers a valuable opportunity to refresh displays, embrace seasonal trends and bridge the gap before, in her words, “the Christmas madness kicks in”!

The path to a successful festive season starts now. I’d love to hear about your experiences as you prepare for the months ahead. You can email me at clare@lemapublishing.co.uk or connect with me on LinkedIn. And look out for the Gifts Today team at the shows - do stop and say hello!

p 12

p 50

p 28

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

LeaderAugSept.indd 1

14/08/2026 16:35

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11/08/2026 17:13

Preview THE GIFT FAIR UK

Beyond the search b The Gift Fair UK’s Matchmaker AIpowered feature moves buyers beyond filters and keywords, into something closer to a conversation with the gift market itself. Gifts Today finds out more

A

sk retailers how they source products, and invariably they will do a lot of the legwork, researching online and shortlisting potential brands to stock. Online is the first step but it’s too many tabs, fiddling with filters, too much guesswork and scrolling through reams of pages with no clear idea of who they should then be sitting down with, often resulting in meetings booked based on hope rather than fit.

The Gift Fair has already changed the shape of that experience once. Buyers can now effortlessly browse potential suppliers and get to know what makes them stand out before speaking to them in real time. But what has remained stubbornly slow is the search itself.

Fabian Santoro, organiser of The Gift Fair, explains: “When we launched The Gift Fair we spent months speaking to exhibitors to make their life as easy as possible. Since launching the show, we have done the same thing with retailers. Listening to what life is like on their side of the supply chain helped us create the Matchmaker.”

That’s the problem Matchmaker has been built to solve, and it marks one of the more significant shifts the platform has made since launch.

One independent retailer, sourcing homeware ahead of a seasonal reset, put it plainly: “Before, finding three or four suppliers that actually fit could eat up an entire evening. Now I will just describe what I’m after, and it goes and finds it.”

For others, the shift is less about speed and more about being understood in the first place. As Pollyanna Williams, owner of Snoop in Shrewsbury, says: “My shop is all about having a joyful experience. I love Scandi-style with splashes of bold colour. I’m looking for things that fit my store, not specific products.”

This is a sentiment that comes up again and again. Great buying isn’t just about SKUs, it’s about the feeling that a product evokes in customers - and that’s what buyers are after. As one retailer commented: “I’m always looking for new things. When I see something right for my store, I’ll know it straight away.”

8 Gifts Today

Preview TheGiftFairUK.indd 1

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h bar

Fabian Santoro

That distinction, between describing what you are trying to achieve versus searching and hoping, sits at the heart of what Matchmaker does differently.

Matchmaker is built on the platform’s own live exhibitor and buyer data, and it’s agentic; it doesn’t stop at giving an answer, it acts. It can pull pricing and MOQ information, put together an introduction or arrange a meeting, closing the loop between finding a supplier and actually reaching one.

It’s worth being precise about what this isn’t. Matchmaker isn’t something the gift industry has seen before. It isn’t a filter panel dressed up in conversational language - a filter system can only narrow what’s already been categorised. It removes the need for the buyer to do the interpretive work upfront, deciding on the right category, the right keyword, or the right combination of tags.

Matchmaker understands, and encourages buyers to be genuinely specific, even unconventional, and the system does the interpreting for them and prioritises what is relevant, not the maximum amount of results.

Ask it to ‘find innovative products, not on Amazon, with low MOQs that retail under £20’.

It understands each constraint: innovative, not on Amazon, low MOQ, price ceiling, and works across the exhibitor base to surface the suppliers that genuinely meet all four criteria.

In practice, that means Matchmaker can guide buyers through almost the entire show.

It can transport them towards open or upcoming shows and then directly to booths worth exploring, educating buyers on specific products that meet their business needs.

From there, it will introduce you to the right rep or account manager for your store, either via a live chat or a meeting, or if you prefer, you can get the contact details in an The Gift Fair UK team

instant. It can automatically bookmark all your shortlisted booths for you to review when it’s convenient.

For an industry rooted in longstanding relationships, that might sound like a big claim.

It isn’t intended to replace those relationships, but to foster new ones. What changes are the often-invisible hours buyers spend narrowing down the options online before taking the plunge of reaching out.

That’s the part that buyers love. Not the technology itself, but what it frees up: time back in the day, fewer dead-ends, and confidence that the shortlist in front of them actually reflects what they said they wanted, not just what fits inside a set of filters.

An independent retailer sums it up well: “I stopped thinking about it as a search bar. It’s more like handing someone the brief and letting them do the legwork.” Another retailer, sourcing gift ranges for a small chain of stores, describes the change in a similar way: “I used to know roughly what I wanted but not what it was called. Now that doesn’t matter.

I just say what the product needs to do, and it works backwards from there.”

That’s the shift underway here. Not a better way to search, but a way of sourcing that starts, finally, with what buyers are actually trying to achieve. The keyword is gone.

What’s left is the brief itself, and a system built to act on it.

What: The Gift Fair UK Where: www.thegiftfair.com When: September 7 - October 23 Call: 0208 781 1106 Email: events@xpofairs.com Visit: www.thegiftfair.com Gifts Today 9

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News

TRA to review Chinese anti-dumping measure

Autumn Fair launches mentor sessions Retailers registering for Autumn Fair will have the opportunity to book a free 30-minute mentoring session with some of the UK’s leading retail experts.

Taking place in The Clubhouse in Hall 9 throughout Autumn Fair, the complimentary consultations are designed to give independent retailers, buyers and business owners direct access to experienced retail professionals offering tailored advice on everything from increasing sales and improving store layouts to strengthening product ranges, buying more effectively and futureproofing their businesses.

The industry specialists, each bringing decades of commercial experience across different areas of retail, are: retail design & visual merchandising expert John Abbate, Nest founder Samantha Gibbs, Buying & Beyond co-founders Katy Norton and Lynsey Abbott, and Retail Huddle founder Ami Rabheru.

Sessions are only available to registered visitors and can be booked online ahead of the event.

For more Samantha Gibbs information and

The UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has launched an interim review into an existing measure on imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware from China. The TRA has noted that there may be continued dumping of the goods with both increasing volumes and falling prices of imports.

The TRA said its review will “assess whether the existing measure is sufficiently offsetting the dumping of goods that is causing injury to UK industry and whether it would be appropriate to change the anti-dumping duty”.

The move has been met with caution from UK importers.

Julian Hunt, MD of home and giftware supplier Lesser & Pavey, says: “For anyone who may not already be aware the UK Government is reviewing the anti-dumping duty that is levied on ceramic tableware and kitchenware.

We believe this to be totally unjustified and that the current level of up to 36.1 per cent is already far more than adequate to protect the manufacturing base in the UK. Some manufacturers also rely heavily on imports of blankware from China.

The assertion made by the TRA that prices from China have decreased by up to 35 per cent in recent years is, we believe, simply not true. Since 2024 the Chinese government have reduced the tax rebates on exports from 13 per cent down to nine per cent and then as of 1 April 2026 down to zero per cent. This has been passed onto their customers everywhere in the world.”

Julian adds: “In addition Chinese manufacturers have been faced with increases

in electricity, gas, raw materials and wages which have resulted in price increases.

Any further increases in duty will result in significant price rises that could lead to job losses across the supply chain and at retail could at worst double current retail prices.

We would therefore urge anyone involved in this sector to register and present a strong argument against these proposed measures.”

Gemma Sault, managing director of the Home & Gift Association, added that the review could have “far-reaching implications” for retailers, wholesalers, distributors and brand owners. She noted: “We absolutely recognise the importance of supporting a fair and competitive environment for UK manufacturers, but it is equally important that the experiences and challenges of importers, distributors, retailers and brands are fully understood as part of the conversation.”

The Home & Gift Association will register its interest in the review and is encouraging businesses involved in manufacturing, sourcing, importing or selling ceramic tableware and kitchenware to engage with the consultation to ensure the sector’s views are represented.

The TRA’s co-chief executives Jessica Blakely and Carmen Suarez say: “The TRA is initiating an interim review in response to evidence of continued dumping from China.

The TRA’s responsiveness to the change in market circumstances is just one example of how it is meeting the Government’s strategic steer for a more accessible, assertive and agile trade remedies system.”

The Home & Gift Association

rolls out two initiatives Ami Rabheru

John Abbate

Katy Norton

Lynsey Abbott

to book a slot, visit

https://www.autumnfair.com/register-mentor-sessions.

The Home & Gift Association has launched two new ways to strengthen connections across the home and gift industry, supporting buyers and businesses.

The Buyers Circle is a free service for buyers across the home, gift and stationery sectors. Designed to make sourcing easier, faster and more effective, it connects buyers with relevant suppliers from a trusted network.

Buyers from independent retailers, multiples, garden centres, department stores, visitor attractions, museums, e-commerce businesses and buying groups are invited to join. Members can access curated supplier introductions, market insight, and Meet the Buyer opportunities. Find out more at www.homeandgiftassociation.org.uk.

Alongside The Buyers Circle, the Association has launched its Industry Champions Programme, designed to give businesses across the industry a stronger collective voice and a greater opportunity to influence its future.

The Programme brings together leaders from across the retail, wholesale, manufacturing, gifting and homeware sectors. Acting as ambassadors, advisors and advocates, the Champions will work alongside the Association to identify challenges, highlight emerging opportunities, and help shape initiatives that benefit businesses throughout the sector.

The Industry Champions are: Keith Edmondson of Langs, Kate Gibson of Gibsons Games, Claire Catlin of Sock Academy, Sophie Edwards of More Than Just a Gift at Narborough Hall, Demi Pendakis of F.Y.G, Heather Watherston of Wiz Kid Games, Andie Lawson of Evoqua, Sanjay Aggarwal of Spice Kitchen, Jennifer Wallace of Bookspeed, Lucy Talog Hay of Art on Scarves, Tahlia King of Marketing Manager Co., Clare Harris of Talking Tables and Dan Newton of Sprinkled with Magic.

At their first meeting, the Champions discussed support for small and independent businesses, Brexitrelated trade barriers, retailer education, sustainability, consumer spending, retail footfall, attracting future talent and AI. The Programme will support the Association’s advocacy work, including engagement with policymakers, industry partners, and participation in initiatives such as The Genesis Initiative, which campaigns on behalf of UK SMEs and entrepreneurs.

10 Gifts Today

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14/08/2026 14:50

News Extra

More time to browse Spring & Autumn Fair is calling for 90 minutes of free parking in town and city centres across England. Portfolio director Jackson Szabo explains why the campaign could make a real difference to independent gift retailers - and the future of the high street

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ndependent gift retail has always depended on something many of us take for granted: time.The best gift purchases are rarely planned. They’re discovered while browsing, chatting to shop owners, picking up a birthday card, stopping for a coffee, or spotting the perfect present that wasn’t on the shopping list.

Independent gift shops thrive because they offer discovery, inspiration, and experience, not simply convenience.

That’s why Spring & Autumn Fair has launched a Parliamentary petition calling for a minimum of 90 minutes of free parking in town and city centres across England. The campaign is based on one simple belief: if we make it easier for people to spend time on the high street, we make it easier for them to support the independent businesses that give those high streets their character.

The petition wasn’t created because we started with an opinion. It was created because we started with evidence. Earlier this year, we launched Voices of Retail, in partnership with Faire, to better understand the realities facing Britain’s independent retailers and the communities they serve. Rather than relying on assumptions, we wanted to identify the practical changes that could genuinely help businesses thrive.

One finding stood out above all others. When we asked retailers which intervention would have the greatest positive impact on their business, 38% identified free parking. Consumers reached exactly the same conclusion, with 63% saying free parking would encourage them to visit town and city centres more often.

For me, what makes those findings so compelling isn’t simply the statistics; it’s the fact that retailers and consumers independently arrived at the same answer.

Gift retailers understand better than most that time spent on the high street often translates into discovery.

A customer might come into town to collect a birthday card and leave with a candle, a piece of homeware, children’s gifts, and lunch at a local café. Those purchases don’t happen because people are rushing back to their cars. They happen because they have time to browse.

That’s why we’re calling for 90 minutes. Not because we believe free parking is the complete answer, but because it gives people enough time to enjoy the very

things that make independent high streets special. Time to wander, time to discover, and time to support more than one local business.

Our research reinforces that opportunity. Almost all consumers (95%) told us they would spend more if their local high street offered a better mix of shops, while 96% want to see more independent retailers alongside cafés, bakeries, and other experiences that make town centres places where people genuinely want to spend time.

For years, we’ve talked about saving the high street.

I think it’s time we started talking more about making it easier for people to use it. That’s why we’re asking gift retailers not just to sign the petition, but to become part of the campaign.

We’ve created a free retailer toolkit with window posters, QR-code stickers, social assets, and digital materials designed to help businesses encourage customers to support the petition in-store and online.

Every gift retailer already speaks to customers who care about shopping locally.

Together, those conversations have the potential to become a powerful collective voice. If we want thriving high streets tomorrow, we need to make it easier for people to spend time in them today.

Call to action

So, sign the petition, download the retailer toolkit, and help us turn retail insight into practical action.

• To sign the petition, visit: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/772686 • To download the retailer campaign pack, email: visitor@autumnfair.com • To download the full Voices of Retail Report, visit: https://www.autumnfair.com/voices-retail-report • To register to attend Autumn Fair, visit: www.autumnfair.com

12 Gifts Today

NewsAugust.indd 3

14/08/2026 16:38

Two shows. One ticket.

Your biggest buying moment.

For the first time, Autumn Fair and Glee run side by side on 8–9 September.

Source gifts, home accessories, lifestyle products and garden living, all under one roof.

NEC BIRMINGHAM

Free ticket Untitled-8 1

14/08/2026 14:26

OPINION

Sarah at Sunday Sundowners with the Wild-Olive team

Sarah with Jamie and Stacey McNeill of Fox Under The Moon

Diary of a gift shop L

Sarah Halsall, owner of Hand Picked by Henrietta in Poynton, Cheshire, reflects on a busy month of buying at Home & Gift, embracing new technology and launching a card initiative

ast month I attended Home & Gift in Harrogate. It’s such a lovely town to visit and the show is fantastic - definitely my favourite. Nothing matches seeing products displayed beautifully in person to help you decide if they’re the right fit for your shop. It lets you make quick decisions without the distractions of everyday routine.

If we don’t spend money at these shows, exhibitors won’t return, so it’s important to support them whenever we can. These are some of the products and suppliers that caught my eye:

Home & Gift highlights • Fox Under The Moon - Their guess-thebestsellers game offered visitors the chance to win £200 worth of products.

• Joe Davies - I had a good look around but intended to go back on the Tuesday. Plans changed and I had to leave early, so with Joe Davies’ HQ only 30 minutes from the shop, I’ll visit the showroom instead.

• Rosy Roo - I congratulated owner Sophie Tregellis on her success at The Gift of the Year Awards 2026, where her Car Diffusers Collection won both the Made in the UK and Judges’ Choice categories, and took a look at her new perfume sprays.

• Ginger Betty - Pete and Tracey Colliston showed me their new Robin mugs.

• Rosie Made A Thing - I ordered playing cards, along with a top-up of cards and mugs.

• Stone Marketing - I ordered more Legami, which has been a huge hit for us this year. I’ve expanded the range and added the full Back to School package, which is already selling well.

• Boxer Gifts - The fidget toys, especially the Boba Tea design.

• Molly Mae - Sympathy cards are never an easy category to get right, but the soft colour palette and thoughtful wording make these perfect.

• Wild-Olive - I ordered more reed diffusers.

We’ve tried loads of different ones over the years, but these always have customers coming back for more.

• Lagoon Games - The magnetic travel games are always popular over the summer.

• Park Lane - Earrings on a spinner stand, which is ideal for maximising space.

• The Foxglove Tree - I loved the Whimsical Botanical Cast Fragrance Diffusers, which were highly commended in the Gift of the Year Awards 2025.

Another highlight was Sunday Sundowners. This networking event, held on the lawn to mark the end of the show’s first day, was packed. It’s always a pleasure to meet other shopkeepers and chat about business in an informal setting with a few beers, followed by a gorgeous meal out. The restaurant scene in Harrogate is amazing!

A new addition Not all of July’s buying happened at the show.

I’ve managed to get the Joma Jewellery account for Poynton. It’s always sad to lose a local shop, but following a relocation, the area became available. The brand always sold well at our previous location, and the presentation is gorgeous, so I’m very happy to have it back in our collection.

Tech updates I’ll hold my hands up and admit I’m not the best when it comes to tech. Having set up MailerLite last year, we’ve grown our email subscriber list. MailerLite has introduced a new tiered subscriber system, meaning we’ve moved to a paid service. I’ve also just found out you can register a landline number for a WhatsApp Business account, so we’ve set that up too.

Happy Card Project We’ve launched the Happy Card Project: a communityfocused initiative for the Greeting Card Association’s Thinking of You Week organised by Heidi Early, cofounder of Earlybird Designs.

Under the project, card shops team up with a nearby primary school or youth club. Children create their own card designs, and the shop exhibits their artwork in its window for the public to view. Customers vote for their favourite, and the winning design is professionally printed and sold in the shop, with profits going to a charity chosen by the winning child.

It’s been lovely chatting to customers and potentially the next generation of card designers - they light up when they realise their design could be sold in the shop, raising money for the charity of their choice. We’ve received our first entry and I can’t wait to display all the entries in the window for Thinking of You Week, which takes place from September 21 to September 27. Get in touch with Heidi if you’d like to join the project.

Looking ahead I hope you get the chance to enjoy some downtime over the coming weeks. I’ve booked a trip to Cyprus before preparations for the Christmas season start.

Wishing you all a successful summer!

14 Gifts Today

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Focus On...

Wild Things

Deck the halls,

the Wild Things way!

MEGA SHOW Hong Kong exhibitor Wild Things’ Wild Winter Collection takes the stress out of festive merchandising, bringing together ready-to-display Christmas trees, sparkling decorations and charming giftable products to create an instant seasonal showcase

T

his year, Wild Things’ seasonal offerings make it easier than ever for retailers to add the wow factor to their festive displays.

Nothing says Christmas quite like a beautifully decorated tree, adorned with twinkling lights and charming decorations. Evoking feelings of warmth, nostalgia and festive cheer, the Christmas tree remains the ultimate symbol of the season. A beautifully dressed tree can transform a space and capture the imaginations of customers across all demographics.

Wild Things’ Wild Winter Collection celebrates that timeless beauty. Designed to make festive merchandising simple, stylish and high-impact, the collection features ready-to-merchandise starter packs, each carefully curated to bring effortless seasonal charm into retail spaces. Designed to satisfy even the most demanding of visual merchandisers, the packs feature four different trees, each suited to a different collection.

Retailers can introduce immediate seasonal warmth while eschewing the lengthy process of sourcing and styling individual elements. The option of small top-up orders makes these packs appealing to retailers of all scales, from independent gift shops to those with larger retail environments.

Pretty Little Birds Central to the collection are Pretty Little Birds, shortlisted for the Affordable Gifts category of the Gift of the Year Awards 2026. The range has been taken a step further this season, with robins taking centre stage on a holly tree.

The robins stand out beautifully against the pretty holly branches, while the LED tree lights provide a delicate and inviting glow, offering a truly charming and enchanting centrepiece for any Christmas table.

The full flock of popular birds can be displayed on the blossom tree, again with LED lights adding twinkle to the crystals and glow to the six differently coloured birds.

Each Pretty Little Bird is finished with 24-carat gold paint and presented in a beautifully illustrated gift box, adding a touch of luxury and making them an easy impulse gift choice for customers.

Christmas Crystals Visitors to Home & Gift in Harrogate last month were among the first to discover Wild Things’ new Christmas Crystals, which proved to be a show highlight. Again available as a starter pack with the Holly Tree, this sparkling collection is set to be a standout product for the festive season.

The sparkling, high-quality crystals create a beautiful contrast against the rich green foliage, catching and reflecting the light to create a truly memorable display. The combination of elegance and glamour adds a touch of sophistication to Christmas merchandising.

Complete with high-quality festive velvet bags, every last detail has been carefully considered, taking the stress out of Christmas ordering. A larger white wire Christmas tree holding 72 ornaments is available for retailers with more space.

Taken in combination with carded Christmas Dreams in vivid red CDUs and a new range of Christmas-themed crystal suncatchers, Wild Things’ Christmas offering is its largest yet.

Combining craftsmanship, creativity and effortless merchandising, the Wild Winter Collection draws together everything retailers love about Wild Things: beautifully designed products meet ready-to-display solutions, providing retailers with the chance to add something truly unique to their space.

MEGA SHOW Hong Kong Stand: Hall 1C B43 & B45 Call: 01392 211268 Email: sales@wildthingifts.com Visit: wildthingsgifts.com

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New products Meet the new pals Charlie Bears

From Highland Cows to prehistoric favourites, Charlie Bears is bringing character-led plush to life with new collections designed to capture children’s imaginations and deliver strong shelf appeal.

Leading the charge from Bear & Me by Charlie Bears is Henry Highland Cow, a wonderfully soft and cuddly character designed for little arms to love.

With his shaggy coat, distinctive horns and endearing expression, Henry taps into the Highland Cow’s popularity across home décor and gifting, bringing all the charm of this much-loved animal to the plush aisle.

Suitable from birth and machine washable at 30°C, Henry combines an affordable price point with plenty of personality. He joins the growing Bear & Me by Charlie Bears family, including Safari Collection newcomers Polly Panther, Loki Lynx, Sid Sloth and Leo Lion.

Meanwhile, anticipation surrounding the next Ice Age movie, due for release in early 2027, is helping to fuel interest in prehistoric-inspired gifts. Cuddle Cubs by Charlie Bears is tapping into the opportunity with five new collectable characters: Sabre Tooth Tiger, Dodo, Woolly Rhino, Woolly Mammoth and Grumbleweed the Dragon - a dreamy mythical companion who sits perfectly alongside four lost-but-never-forgotten prehistoric favourites.

Pocket-sized, super soft and available at pocket money prices (RRPs start at £9.99), Cuddle Cubs are designed to encourage collecting, impulse purchases and repeat buying. Their accessible price point makes them an ideal gift, reward or treat, while their compact size ensures they’re easy to merchandise in a variety of retail environments, from gift shops and garden centres to visitor attractions and toy retailers.

Like every Cuddle Cubs by Charlie Bears character, each new arrival is machine washable and suitable from birth, giving parents and gift buyers complete confidence when choosing a cuddly companion for little ones.

To help retailers maximise sales from day one, Charlie Bears is also offering free countertop point-of-sale with every qualifying first order, helping create an eye-catching display that’s perfect for encouraging impulse purchases at the till.

The new collections can be discovered at Top Drawer A/W 26 on Stand O38, alongside further launches planned for 2027.

Call: 01566 777 092 Email: uk-sales@charliebears.com Visit: www.charliebears.com

Cosy season, captured Enesco

As the air turns crisp and cosy season begins, it’s time to slow down and savour the moments that matter most. The Yankee Candle AW26 collection captures the warmth and comfort of this time of year, whether gathering with loved ones or settling in for a movie marathon by the fire.

Featuring three fragrances, the collection blends fresh woody notes with gently spiced aromas to create an atmosphere that feels both celebratory and comforting. From the rich, juicy warmth of Woodland Spice to the frosty freshness of Snow Kissed Pine and the glowing, spiced depth of Crackling Embers, each scent invites you to pause and enjoy the beauty of the season.

Available in Yankee Candle Signature formats, including Large Jar, and Medium Jars and a Mini Filled Votive, there is a fragrance for every cosy moment.

Call: 01228 404022 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk Visit: www.enesco.co.uk

Fun you can carry Joe Davies

Joe Davies is delighted to introduce Cheery Crochet Fruity Pals & Veggie Pals: two colourful collections of handcrafted crochet bag charms and keyrings.

Complete with fun puns and positive sentiments, each range is supplied in a vibrant branded counter display unit, creating an irresistible retail display.

Retailers can also benefit from Joe Davies’ ‘Little & Often’ ordering system, with a £100 minimum order and carriage paid, backed by the company’s award-winning customer service.

Call: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk 18 Gifts Today

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Lighten up!

Miss Milly

While most scarf suppliers switch to heavier and woollen scarves for A/W, Miss Milly keeps its lighter-weight collection available year-round, giving retailers more choice at reasonable prices. A lighter-weight scarf can be worn throughout the day to keep the chill off or to accessorise a more formal outfit, making it ideal for changeable weather.

Having launched its 80% cotton/20% viscose mix in spring, Miss Milly has expanded the range with more styles and colours. These join its popular 20% cotton/80% viscose composition, with viscose helping to keep the scarves soft and crease-free.

Retailers are also recognising the benefits of avoiding cheap polyester, both for the environment and product quality, while the brand’s flexible single-scarf ordering policy adds further appeal.

The new season scarves come in a range of A/W colourways, with florals, leaves, spots, birds, chevrons and abstract designs to complement Miss Milly’s jewellery collection. All styles are available to view and order online now.

Call: 01905 622509 Email: hello@missmilly.co.uk Visit: www.missmilly.co.uk

Spice story Spice Kitchen

Launching in late August, A Story of Spice is a new feasting kit from award-winning family business Spice Kitchen, created for food lovers, keen cooks and thoughtful gift-givers.

Spices have travelled across continents for thousands of years, carrying stories of culture, trade, migration and empire. A Story of Spice was created to explore some of these histories while celebrating the extraordinary flavours and food traditions shaped along the way.

The kit includes four small-batch spice blends: fragrant Za’atar, warming Sri Lankan Curry Powder, aromatic Ras el Hanout, and comforting Speculaas. Alongside them, recipients will discover 11 recipes, an illustrated map charting historic spice routes, and a booklet exploring everything from cultivation and cultural exchange to colonialism and the journey from farm to kitchen.

Designed to bring people together around the table, the kit encourages customers not only to cook and share delicious food, but to look a little more closely at the ingredients many of us use every day - and the stories behind them.

Call: 01925 508911 Email: soldwithlove@spicekitchenuk.con Visit: https://www.spicekitchenuk.com/

40 years of global gifting Siesta Crafts

Siesta Crafts began in 1983 following a life-changing trip to Mexico. Inspired by the vibrant markets, traditional crafts and talented makers encountered along the way, the founders returned to the UK with a small collection of handcrafted clothing and gifts to sell at local boot fairs. These captured people’s imagination and laid the foundations for a business that continues to thrive today. The early response was overwhelmingly positive. Demand grew, a miniscule retail outlet in Canterbury grew into a larger central outlet, buying trips became more frequent, and Siesta Crafts began to wholesale to other like-minded shops. Eventually Siesta Crafts grew into one of the UK’s best-known Fair Trade wholesalers.

Building long-term relationships has always been central to the Siesta Crafts’ story. Decades of travelling to the same countries and working with many of the same communities have created friendships that span generations. Today, supplier visits often feel as much like reunions as business trips, reflecting the trust and mutual respect that have developed over the years.

Siesta Crafts now imports directly from Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, India, Bali, Nepal, Ghana and Thailand. It offers gifts, clothing, musical instruments and handicrafts. As a proud and long-standing member of BAFTS Fair Trade Network UK, it remains committed to Fair Trade and sustainable business practices that support traditional skills.

Forty-plus years on, Siesta Crafts remains proudly family-run and as passionate as ever about sourcing new products. Look ahead, the company is excited to launch its A/W 2026 collection, featuring fresh designs and inspiring new additions from across the globe.

To focus on developing this range and supporting customers directly, the collection is being launched through its website, catalogue and online channels, with a 10% discount on all new lines until September 9.

Call: 01227 786066 Email: thewarehouse@siestacrafts.co.uk Visit: www.siestacrafts.co.uk

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Preview MEGA SHOW Hong Kong

Global gifting comes to Hong Kong With more than 3,000 booths spanning gifts, premiums, accessories and sustainable products, MEGA SHOW Hong Kong is set to bring an international line-up of suppliers and sourcing opportunities to buyers this October

M

EGA SHOW Hong Kong returns to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 20–23 October 2026, bringing together thousands of exhibitors and a wealth of sourcing opportunities for gift retailers, buyers and corporate clients.

Among the show’s highlights is GIFTS & PREMIUMS ASIA, dedicated to designer gifts, corporate gifting, promotional premiums and accessories. The event offers buyers the chance to discover new products, identify potential bestsellers and connect directly with exportready suppliers from around the world.

For buyers looking to refresh their ranges or source for corporate clients, the show provides a one-stop opportunity to explore everything from on-trend gifts and customisable promotional products to eco-certified accessories.

An international exhibitor mix One of the key attractions of GIFTS & PREMIUMS ASIA is its international mix of exhibitors. Suppliers from more than 25 countries and regions across Asia, Europe and America will be represented under one roof.

The line-up includes exhibitors from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan and South Korea, alongside suppliers from Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, France, the UK and the USA. This breadth gives buyers the opportunity to compare products, discover new design influences and build relationships with suppliers across a wide range of markets – while also providing access to established and emerging supply chains.

Regional expertise under one roof The show’s international line-up also allows buyers to explore the different strengths and specialisms of individual sourcing markets.

Hong Kong suppliers offer a combination of sleek design and smart technology, while the Chinese Mainland provides extensive OEM and ODM capabilities for customised corporate gifts and promotional products.

South Korea brings fashionable, trend-led products to the mix, while Taiwan offers recyclable accessories.

European and American exhibitors add certified sustainable and luxury gift offerings to the international selection.

For buyers, the result is a diverse sourcing environment that can help businesses broaden their ranges, explore new product categories and identify suppliers suited to different retail and corporate requirements.

Make the most of one sourcing trip With the Autumn Canton Fair taking place around the same period, MEGA SHOW Hong Kong also offers buyers the opportunity to combine two major sourcing events within a single trip.

The organisers are offering travel support designed to make the visit more cost-effective, including a choice of up to three nights’ free hotel accommodation at designated hotels or a cash sponsorship of up to HKD 2,600.

The designated hotels are Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers and The Park Lane Hong Kong, a Pullman Hotel.

For international buyers planning their autumn sourcing trips, the combination of MEGA SHOW Hong Kong and the Autumn Canton Fair provides an opportunity to maximise both time and travel investment while accessing a broad selection of gifts, premiums and related products.

A sourcing destination for 2026 With its combination of international exhibitors, regional sourcing expertise and travel support, GIFTS & PREMIUMS ASIA is set to be a key destination for buyers seeking new products and suppliers this autumn.

Whether sourcing for retail shelves, corporate gifting programmes or promotional campaigns, visitors will have the opportunity to explore thousands of products and make new connections across the global gift and premium industry.

For more information and to view the exhibitor list, visit MEGA SHOW Hong Kong at https://megashow.comasia.net.cn/

What: MEGA SHOW Hong Kong Where: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), Wan Chai, Hong Kong When: Part 1: 20–23 October | Part 2: 27-29 October Call: (852) 2700 6726 Email: cs@comasia.com.hk Visit: https://megashow.comasia.net.cn/

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pretty little robins Best sellers • Britain’s favourite bird Handmade, hand painted, adorned with a delicate crystal heart Now available with an LED Holly Tree A enchanting centrepiece for every Christmas table SHORTLISTED FOR GIFT OF THE YEAR 2026

B R I T I S H D E S I G N S BY J U L E S VA H R M A N O F W I L D T H I N G S G I F T S

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Preview

HARROGATE CHRISTMAS & GIFT

A head start on

festive buying Start 2027 with a buying advantage at Harrogate Christmas & Gift: the UK’s leading festive trade show that delivers inspiration, new suppliers and proven best sellers for gift retailers

F

or gift retailers looking to stay ahead of the curve, few buying trips offer the efficiency and inspiration of Harrogate Christmas & Gift. Returning to the Harrogate Convention Centre from January 10-13 2027, the show provides a focused opportunity to source festive collections, discover year-round gift lines and connect with suppliers who understand the needs of the independent retail sector.

As the first major buying event of the year, Harrogate has long been recognised as the place where retailers can get a head start on Christmas and gifting trends. With a strong mix of established brands, specialist suppliers and newer exhibitors, visitors can compare products, spot emerging opportunities and make informed purchasing decisions for the seasons ahead.

Today’s consumers continue to seek products that offer personality, value and a sense of occasion. Retailers are therefore increasingly looking for ranges that work across multiple categories, from home décor and stationery to fashion accessories, greetings, food gifting and seasonal merchandise. Harrogate brings all of these areas together under one roof, making it easier to build cohesive product selections that encourage repeat visits and impulse purchases.

Among the diverse array of exhibitors expected to attract strong retailer interest are well-known larger names such as Joe Davies, Floralsilk, Widdop & Co. and Snowlodge, and smaller yet firm favourites such as Namaste, Ling Design, Penny Kennedy, Arthur Cameron and Eurowrap. New exhibitors for 2027 include ArtiTree, Fargo, Gem Imports and Puckator.

All these companies reflect the show’s broad appeal across giftware, greetings, packaging and lifestyle products. They are among the many businesses that have supported the event in recent years and continue to make it a key destination for buyers.

What makes Harrogate particularly valuable is its balance between festive buying and everyday retail opportunities. While Christmas remains at the heart of the exhibition, many exhibitors showcase collections with year-round appeal, allowing retailers to source products that generate sales long after the decorations have been packed away.

From home fragrance and wellness gifts to stationery, home accessories and contemporary giftware, buyers can discover ranges that complement their core offer and help differentiate their stores.

The exhibition also provides an ideal environment for networking and relationship building. In an increasingly digital world, face-to-face conversations remain invaluable when assessing new products, discussing exclusives, exploring merchandising ideas or simply gaining a better understanding of a supplier’s direction for the year ahead.

Another key benefit is the show’s accessibility. Harrogate’s compact format enables visitors to see a substantial number of exhibitors without the overwhelming scale often associated with larger international events. Combined with the town’s excellent hospitality, hotels and restaurants, it creates a relaxed and productive buying experience.

For independent gift shops, garden centres, department stores, visitor attractions and destination retailers, Harrogate Christmas & Gift continues to offer a winning combination of inspiration, efficiency and commercial opportunity.

Whether you’re searching for bestselling festive lines, fresh new suppliers or products that will help your business stand out in a competitive marketplace, a visit to Harrogate in January could be one of the most valuable buying decisions of the year.

What: Harrogate Christmas & Gift 2027 Where: Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate, North Yorkshire When: January 10-13 2027 Call: 01902 882280 Email: info@harrogatefair.com Visit: www.harrogatefair.com

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OPINION

OPINION

The festive trends and

styles to watch From nostalgic heirlooms and homespun charm to playful maximalism and Scandinavian-inspired palettes, Hannah Bartlett, founder of Jolly Festive, explores the key Christmas trends set to shape 2026

I

f the aesthetics of Christmas 2026 could be summed up in two words, they would be whimsy and nostalgia.

Neither is particularly surprising for a season steeped in tradition and childhood memories, but this year they feel more important than ever. We’re looking to Christmas to whisk us away: back to simpler times or into joyful imaginary worlds where life feels a little lighter.

For retailers, understanding the emotions shaping customers’ celebrations this year will help them create festive displays and product ranges that tell the story that shoppers want to step into, helping them imagine the Christmas they want to create.

Christmas with character Digital fatigue, AI anxiety and a growing distrust of large corporations are all fuelling a desire to reconnect with things that feel authentic, familiar and human. We’re craving simple pleasures, meaningful traditions and time spent together.

Visually, this translates into a Christmas that feels more collected than curated, where every decoration earns its place through the story it tells. Perhaps it’s a family heirloom, a handmade decoration, a treasured holiday souvenir or a piece bought because we admire the craft behind it or feel aligned with the tale it weaves.

For visual merchandising, the focus should be on displays that feel gathered over time rather than perfectly matched, layering old with new to create warmth and personality.

Classic Christmas colours never go out of fashion, but their pull is stronger than ever. Traditional red, green and gold are joined by heritage blues, tartans

and rich velvets. The ‘Ralph Lauren Christmas’ aesthetic continues to gather momentum, with teddy bears, rocking horses, nutcrackers and vintage-inspired glass ornaments bringing timeless festive charm.

More is more With much of everyday life feeling rather heavy, we’re making room simply for fun. The ‘little treat’ culture, or the Lipstick Effect, continues to influence how we shop, encouraging small purchases that brighten our day or make someone else smile. That same joyful mindset is spilling into our homes through playful decorating, bold colour and unexpected details.

Stripes, checks and harlequin patterns are everywhere, paired with bright primaries, candy colours and rich jewel tones. Tinsel is enjoying a resurgence (very much the Marmite of the Christmas decorating world!), while vintage baubles and colourful retro tree lights bring a wonderfully nostalgic nod to the 1990s and earlier. Magical details are tucked amongst the decorations too, inviting us to suspend our disbelief and lean into the wonder of the season.

If Coco Chanel advised taking at least one accessory off before leaving the house, Christmas 2026 suggests adding another instead.

Homespun magic Alongside all the sparkle sits a gentler, homespun aesthetic filled with gingham, lace, chunky knits,

ruffles and heritage floral prints. Handmade details, paper decorations and long-tailed bows bring warmth and charm, drawing inspiration from the worlds of classic novels such as “Little Women”, “Pride and Prejudice” and even Enid Blyton’s “The Magic Faraway Tree”.

Gingerbread has also continued its evolution beyond novelty motifs, becoming an entire colour palette in its own right. Caramel, chestnut and espresso browns paired with soft creams create a festive look that feels like a chic Parisian café - a far cry from its Candyland Christmas roots. Rich jewel tones and abundant winter fruits complete the picture, bringing a mellow kind of indulgence.

A softer winter palette Counterbalancing these richer looks is an alpineinspired palette of icy blues, Cloud Dancer white and accents of caramel, sage and soft peach.

It’s a gentler take on the traditional snow scene, drawing on Scandinavian influences with tactile materials, understated finishes and a focus on texture over shine.

Yet, like all of this year’s aesthetics, it’s less about recreating a particular look and more about capturing a feeling. Perhaps that’s the most interesting thing about Christmas 2026. Rather than one defining style, we’re seeing people borrow from different eras, traditions and aesthetics, reinterpreting the past to create celebrations that feel personal and rich in story.

Hannah Bartlett is The Christmas Insider: a Christmas trend forecaster, writer and consultant, and founder of Jolly Festive.

She spends her year exploring festive trends, consumer behaviour and evolving traditions, translating them into practical insight for retailers, brands and creative businesses.

Visit: https://thechristmasinsider.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thechristmasinsider https://uk.linkedin.com/in/hlbbartlett

28 Gifts Today

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Focus on Jewellery

New poppies to remember Alexander Thurlow

Poppies have always been incredibly important to the team at Alexander Thurlow. These beautiful, delicate wildflowers hold considerable meaning and sentiment, and the company’s range of poppy products brings together its renowned floral jewellery and classic heritage collections.

Red Poppies are synonymous with Remembrance, representing the lives of servicemen and women lost during all conflicts, and serving as a symbol of hope for peace. The brand makes a donation to the Royal British Legion for every red poppy product sold.

Meanwhile, the Purple Poppy remains popular, reflecting the fact that the UK is a nation of animal lovers. For those who don’t know, the Purple Poppy represents animal lives lost and affected by war. A donation to the Household Cavalry Foundation is made for every purple poppy product sold.

This year, ahead of Remembrance season, the Poppy collections have grown with a range of fresh, updated designs. Highlights include silver-plated drop earrings and necklaces to match the bestselling enamel Poppy brooches; a collection of 14k gold-plated poppies from the “flower” range, and triple-petal red poppies, featuring gorgeous natural petal accents.

The brand will soon introduce a new jewellery hanging pack solution, allowing carded jewellery pieces to be easily displayed on euro-hook displays. These join the popular gift boxes and envelopes already on offer, giving retailers even more options for flexible, customer-focused merchandising.

The friendly team at Alexander Thurlow is passionate about flowers and will go above and beyond to help retailers; whether that means creating a personalised collection just for your store or developing bespoke jewellery to meet specific requirements.

Call: 020 8766 6466 Email: sales@alexanderthurlow.com Visit: www.alexanderthurlow.com/trade

The circle of gifting Joe Davies

Among the many exciting launches on the Joe Davies stand at Autumn Fair are the latest additions to the Equilibrium jewellery collection, bringing together meaningful gifting, timeless styling and clever retail displays.

The elegant Equilibrium Eternal Collection celebrates the enduring symbolism of the circle, with co-ordinated necklaces, bracelets and earrings, each plated in genuine silver or gold for a timeless finish.

Also featured are new additions to the much-loved Equilibrium Forget Me Not Collection, with delicate enamelled designs inspired by the flower that symbolises love, remembrance and lasting connections.

Following the success of the All That Sparkles earring and bracelet spinner stands, the Equilibrium All That Sparkles necklace stand will also be on display. Designed in the UK, it

showcases genuine silver- and gold-plated necklaces and necklace and earrings sets. This compact branded countertop stand maximises sales while taking up minimal space.

As a 100% employee-owned company, Joe Davies continues to support independent retailers with award-winning customer service, retailer-friendly ‘Little & Often’ ordering, a low £100 minimum order and free nationwide delivery. Visit Joe Davies at Autumn Fair (Hall 7, Stand A40–B41) to discover these collections and hundreds more exciting new products.

Call: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

30 Gifts Today

INStyleAug:Sept.indd 1

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Lou Crossbody Bag

Ring Collection

RRP £36.99, Black Eel

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a FRESH SEASON is here

Signature Clover Collection RRP from £16.99

AW26

Bracelet Bar Collection RRP from £26.99

Estelle Multiway Bag RRP £39.99, Black Faux Croc

Travel Collection RRP from £32.99

Classic Collection RRP from £18.99

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instyle

Seasonal style

From just-landed jewellery to on-trend accessories, elevate your store with newseason styles for A/W from sister brands Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton

Joma Jewellery

A new season has arrived at Joma Jewellery, bringing refreshed collections and beautifully crafted pieces designed to bring joy, whether they’re gifted or received.

Discover endless ways to make your store shine with the brand’s latest arrivals, including the muchloved A Little Collection, where new sentiments - from 11:11 and Lucky Penny to Some Call It Chaos, We Call It Family - are paired with meaningful charms to celebrate every special moment shared between loved ones. Each bracelet has been thoughtfully created to tell a chapter of your customer’s story. Meanwhile, new Autumn’s Calling A Littles capture the joy of the season with colourful beads, golden details, and sweet sentiments inspired by cosy moments and the little things that make this season special.

Inspired by the joy of girlhood, add a little more magic to the season with a new chapter of the customer-loved Vibes Collection. Introducing the sweetest designs - including a little pumpkin and other adorable motifs - these playful pieces bring colour, charm, and personality to the season’s gifting moments, and are ideal for creating eye-catching window displays.

Similarly, Joma Jewellery’s first Little Stories Collection takes gifting to new levels, complete with twinkling two-tone plating and delicate hand-drawn illustrations. Bursting with charm and perfect for feel-good gifting moments between friends, these beaded styles speak to a younger, trend-led audience - offering an exciting opportunity to expand sweet, sentimental gifting in your store.

Designed for little wrists and big imaginations, the Kids’ Collection introduces Jomees: a collectable jewellery range filled with colourful character charms and matching foiled stickers, inviting little ones to collect, stack, and stick. The range offers a fresh way to delight younger customers and bring playfulness and creativity into your world of gifting!

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INStyleAug:Sept.indd 2

Katie Loxton

Autumn called, and Katie Loxton has answered with a new collection bursting with rich textures, timeless colourways, and bag profiles designed to last well beyond the season.

The latest silhouettes, including Orin and Charlbury, showcase elevated, heritage-inspired details that feel both classic and contemporary, while much-loved styles such as the iconic Nova and Lottie remain, helping your customers effortlessly transition into their autumn/winter era. The range is brought to life with woven finishes, animal prints, and a warm colour palette of crimson, bitter chocolate, and deep olive, ensuring this will be their most stylish season yet.

Accessories have been expanded with sleek vegan leather belts, designed to add instant tailoring to any outfit while pairing effortlessly with bestselling bag profiles. Playful bag charms offer a fun way to personalise their favourite styles, while beauty essentials, including super-soft makeup brushes and hairbrushes, add a touch of luxury to their getting-ready routine. Across womenswear, co-ordinating winter warmers such as scarves, matching hats and mittens, and chic earmuffs bring comfort and warmth throughout the colder months.

The iconic Waterproof Jewellery Collection welcomes further additions, with new Birthstone Necklaces featuring organic charms and real semi-precious stones for every month, designed to pair with the matching bracelet and earrings. Alongside these meaningful pieces, statement jewellery styles create the opportunity for effortless stacking and self-expression. Each piece is 100% waterproof, perfume-proof, and life-proof, making it everlasting and designed to be cherished.

Of course, no cosy season would be complete without home fragrances. This season introduces premium ceramic candles and reed diffusers, featuring inviting, wintery scents like Frosted Pine and Cedarwood, paired with thoughtful sentiments that make gifting effortless.

Bringing an extra touch of luxury to everyday moments, these fragrances are a great addition to your customers’ home spaces.

Joma Jewellery Call: 01295 263430 Email: enquiries@jomajewellery.com Visit: wholesale.jomajewellery.com Katie Loxton Call: 01295 250879 Email: enquiries@katieloxton.com Visit: wholesale.katieloxton.com

14/08/2026 16:47

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&ODVVLF (OHJDQW %HDXWLIXO Timeless jewellery designed to complement every moment.

The Simply Timeless collection, designed with you in mind.

%HDXWLIXO JLIWV 7LPHOHVV VW\OH 7UXVWHG VHUYLFH www.joedavies.co.uk | 0161 975 6300 | sales@joedavies.co.uk

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instyle instyle

Focus on Jewellery

Miss Milly

Sea Gems Exhibiting at Autumn Fair (Hall 9, Stand F61), Sea Gems is a family-run jewellery company with over 40 years’ design heritage and experience. For Autumn 2026, the brand has been creating new collections of silver jewellery, fine enamels and gifts ready to launch.

Designed in Cornwall, Sea Gems crafts silver jewellery and gift collections that capture the essence of the county’s iconic landscape, nature, wildlife and Celtic heritage. Ethical, high-quality and original, the products offer authenticity at affordable prices.

The Silver Origins brand features contemporary sterling silver with an undeniably handcrafted charm, from organic designs and beachcomber shells to botanical and wildlife designs as well as fun, whimsical motifs. The Celtic Lands silver collection evokes and celebrates Cornwall’s rich heritage with timeless motifs and elaborate knotwork.

Fine enamelling brings vibrant colour to Mackintosh, Celtic and nature-inspired jewellery and gifts, with every piece individually handcrafted and kiln-fired. Gift ranges include pens, bookmarks, compact mirrors and pillboxes.

Call: 01736 335840 Email: sales@seagems.co.uk Visit: www.seagems.co.uk

The Milford Collection Following the acquisitions of Coppercraft and Lila Jewellery, The Milford Collection brings together two collections that appeal to a wide range of customers, from fashion-conscious shoppers to those looking for thoughtful, meaningful gifts.

The Lila Jewellery collection celebrates elegant, contemporary design inspired by nature, colour and sentiment. A standout is the Poppies Collection, featuring necklaces, earrings, bracelets and brooches that symbolise remembrance and hope. Importantly, 10% of all trade sales are donated to Combat Stress, the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans. The combination of stylish design and charitable giving has made it a favourite with gift retailers.

Complementing Lila, Coppercraft has been a trusted name in magnetic jewellery for more than 30 years. Its copper, stainless steel and hematite designs combine contemporary styling with craftsmanship, spanning bracelets, bangles, necklaces and accessories for men and women.

Both collections feature attractive packaging and co-ordinated point-of-sale displays. Visit The Milford Collection at Autumn Fair (Hall 6, Stand C61) to explore both ranges.

Call: 01686 629919 Email: sales@milfordcollection.com Visit: www.milfordcollection.com

Miss Milly has introduced mini magnetic brooches, smaller versions of its popular line that will work well with lighterweight scarves and clothing.

They also suit customers wanting a more delicate accessory or looking to hold shirts and gaping tops in place.

Made with the same superstrong magnets as the original brooches, the minis include floral, abstract and geometric styles, plus an adorable ladybird. Plated in imitation gold or rhodium, with crystals adding sparkle, they are available in 13 designs.

Imitation gold plating, in both matt and shiny finishes, has also been introduced to the larger brooches, complementing the A/W trend for chocolate-coloured fashion and accessories.

This collection has a total of 50 new designs and colours, offering plenty of choice. Last year’s stand-out Poppy design has been restocked and is selling fast.

The brooches come on branded cards and can be bought singly, subject to a £100 minimum order. The full A/W26 collection is online to pre-order, with dispatch from mid-August.

Call: 01905 622509 Email: hello@missmilly.co.uk Visit: www.missmilly.co.uk

Namaste Celestial style is having a moment, and Namaste’s new Celestial Hand Beaded Earrings are the perfect way to embrace the trend. Featuring beautifully handcrafted moon and star designs, adorned with shimmering sequins and intricate beadwork, these statement pieces bring a little cosmic magic to any outfit.

Each item is skilfully handmade using ethically sourced materials, showcasing the unique charm of individually crafted pieces. Every pair reflects the artisans’ dedication and craftsmanship, with subtle variations adding to their authentic appeal. Playful, colourful and full of personality, these earrings are ideal for customers looking to add a touch of sparkle to everyday dressing or occasion wear.

Discover the range at Top Drawer (Stand F17), alongside the new Present Beaded Earrings - a joyful design perfect for spreading cheer this festive season.

Call: 01756 700790 Email: sales@namaste-uk.com Visit: namaste-uk.com

PoM PoM’s jewellery collection offers something for every taste, budget and lifestyle. Hand-crafted sterling silver jewellery is designed and finished by skilled artisans, capturing timeless elegance in every curve and detail - perfect for those who cherish authenticity and quality.

Gift jewellery makes it easy to spoil someone special without breaking the bank. Beautifully designed and thoughtfully priced, each piece feels like a treat while staying kind to your budget, Add instant glamour with luxury 14k gold-plated jewellery, bringing rich tones and a polished finish to elevate any outfit. And for those seeking durability without compromise, PoM’s stainless steel waterproof jewellery is built to last, with designs available in classic gold plating or cool, contemporary platinum finishes.

Stunning new branded display cards and gift bags help every piece feel as special as it looks.

Discover the full range at Autumn Fair (Hall 9, Stand G60).

Call: 01225 777749 Email: sales@pom925.com Visit: www.pom925.com

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OPINION

Making the most of

autumn retail

Retail100 Consulting director and co-founder Sara Allbright explains why autumn offers retailers a valuable opportunity to refresh displays, embrace seasonal trends, and bridge the gap before Christmas

H

aving worked with American brands for several years and visited retailers in the US at this time of year, I’ve often wondered whether the UK will ever start to engage with the season of ‘Fall’, which drives so much of pre-Christmas retailing across the pond.

Autumn in the UK can often seem less significant for retailers, with no major seasonal events until Halloween at the end of October. As it’s not relevant to everyone, how can retailers best make the most of this beautiful time of year?

Pumpkins are starting to break away from their comical and scary incarnations as Halloween decorations, becoming more sophisticated and desirable in their appearance and use.

We have Starbucks to thank for the rise of the pumpkin spice latte but, as a scent, especially for those who like something more gourmand (inspired by edible treats), the fragrance is starting to appear more widely across the candle categories.

When I say pumpkins, I should perhaps more accurately be referring to the beautiful, decorative fruits that brighten homes at this time of year - gourds, not to be confused with ghouls! These colourful

members of the squash family bring a touch of autumnal charm to homes and displays.

Candlelight also resonates well with customers as the daylight hours get shorter and people want that warm glow in their homes, before having to start relying solely on their lighting schemes.

Consumers start to reconsider their lighting choices at this time of year, so updates such as decorative lampshades or novelty lighting can be quick wins for retailers. This change of season is also a great excuse for those who indulge in year-round door decoration to update their wreaths with a distinctly autumnal flavour.

The leaves that fall at this time of year, with their array of colours, make the perfect base for other details of autumn, such as the ubiquitous pumpkins. Building on this, any range of artificial flowers should certainly be leaning into these colourways before everything goes glitter, gold, and poinsettia for Christmas.

That being said, many retailers might already have their Christmas ranges on display, and there has been a rise in themes that pay homage to autumn, with acorns and woodland animals abounding.

If you’re not ready to embrace Christmas early, why not do it in stages and have a September and

Sara Allbright is a director and co-founder of Retail100 Consulting: a consultancy firm that brings together more than 100 years of combined retail experience to help retailers and brands grow.

Prior to Retail100 Consulting, Sara worked in buying roles at John Lewis for 18 years, predominantly across home and seasonal categories, including eight years leading gift and home fragrance buying.

She specialised in brand relationships and helping small emerging brands grow into market leaders, and has extensive experience of own-label sourcing across multiple categories and countries.

Email: hello@retail100consulting.co.uk

October theme for decorations before you go full-on tinsel?

There are also elements of the American celebrations that are unlikely to make any impact here, and while the holiday of Thanksgiving certainly gave us Black Friday to latch on to, I don’t foresee a retail opportunity in the celebration itself any time soon - although a pumpkin pie is always a welcome treat.

I do think, however, that in the current climate, taking a moment to give thanks is perhaps not a bad idea. If you’re running a business and have made it to this point in the year, then it’s definitely worth giving yourself a pat on the back before the Christmas madness kicks in.

The Retail100 team (L-R): Sara Allbright, Anna Berry, Neil Amer and Elaine Hooper

Visit: www.retail100consulting.co.uk I www.linkedin.com/company/retail100-consulting Gifts Today 35

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Cover Story...

Warmies

Next-level c Warmies will unveil its biggest Q4 launch to date at Autumn Fair, featuring an extensive line-up of original characters led by the irresistibly soft new Cozy Cute flagship collection

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or more than 30 years, Warmies has been bringing comfort to homes through its combination of gentle warmth, soothing weight, and calming French lavender fragrance. As a market leader in heatable wellness plush, the brand continues to evolve with trend-led collections that blend emotional wellbeing with gift appeal.

This autumn, Warmies introduces its most exciting seasonal launch yet, featuring an extensive line-up of original characters, licensed favourites and collectable ranges.

Leading the collection is Cozy Cute - a brand-new flagship range set to become one of the season’s standout gifting successes.

Meet Cozy Cute

Designed to deliver next-level comfort, Cozy Cute combines irresistibly soft, premium plush fabrics with the signature Warmies microwaveable and chillable functionality that consumers know and love. Retailing at £24.99, the collection has been created for customers of all ages looking for comfort, warmth, and a little everyday joy.

Whether it’s curling up on the sofa, winding down before bed, or simply looking for a comforting companion, Cozy Cute offers a luxurious sensory experience that’s as practical as it is adorable.

The collection introduces an enchanting cast of collectable characters, including Guin the Penguin, Noctini the Bat, Bamboola the Panda, LumaLotl the Axolotl, Flamix the Dragon, Meowliette the Cat, Rustiqi the Fox, Doniqa the Donkey, Barklei the Puppy, Pigloo the Pig, Veluna the Sloth, and Avina the Bird.

Combining trend-led design with Warmies’ trusted wellbeing credentials, Cozy Cute is perfectly positioned to drive gifting, self-purchase, and collectability throughout the season.

Edgy comfort

Joining the Q4 line-up is Scary Cute, a bold collection designed to tap into the growing demand for gothic aesthetics and quirky design. Priced at £24.99, the range pairs 36 Gifts Today

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l comfort arrives ultra-soft plush fabrics with Warmies’ signature heatable comfort, offering retailers a distinctive, year-round product line that delivers both personality and practicality to thrill-seeking shoppers.

An exciting expansion of licensed collections

Warmies continues to strengthen its licensing portfolio with an impressive selection of globally recognised brands and beloved characters launching this autumn.

New additions include Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Sonic the Hedgehog, Hello Kitty and Friends, Sesame Street, Care Bears, Poppy Playtime, and Mr Bean, alongside literary favourites including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Elmer, Dog Man, Peter Rabbit, Bagpuss, and Wallace & Gromit.

The autumn lineup also introduces the new Cath Kidston Wellness Range, bringing signature floral prints and serene style to the collection.

Available across multiple formats and price points, from keyrings (£10.99) and bag charms (£12.99) through to mini plush (£14.99), comforters (£22.99), and full-sized Warmies (£29.99), the expanded licensed offering provides retailers with broad appeal across age groups and gifting occasions.

Even more to discover

Also launching for Q4 is Feeling Fuzzy, an irresistibly soft collection featuring extra-plump characters designed for maximum cuddles and comfort.

Meanwhile, World Tour introduces a fun travel-inspired concept with destination-themed characters created with collectability and gifting in mind.

With innovative new ranges, sought-after licences and a continued focus on wellbeing through warmth and comfort, Warmies’ Q4 collection offers retailers an exciting opportunity to refresh their gifting assortment for the busiest trading season of the year.

Autumn Fair Stand: Hall 8 H40-7A41 Call: 01933 679 777 Email: sales@warmies.world Visit: www.warmies.co.uk Gifts Today 37

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Preview

Birmingham calling Autumn Fair and Glee join forces at the NEC Birmingham this September, creating a major buying destination for gift, home, garden and lifestyle retailers

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s retailers prepare for the Golden Quarter, Autumn Fair returns to the NEC Birmingham from September 6 to September 9 bringing together thousands of products, hundreds of brands and a strong line-up of gift-focused exhibitors. The event will also co-locate with Glee on September 8 and September 9, giving gift retailers even more opportunities to source complementary products across garden, home and lifestyle.

With the UK giftware market now estimated to be worth around £9.3 billion, retailers continue to seek products that offer originality, craftsmanship and compelling stories. Personalisation, sustainability, wellness, artisan production and premium home gifting continue to shape buying decisions, while independent retailers increasingly look for products that help differentiate their offer from online competitors.

One of Autumn Fair’s biggest strengths has always been product discovery, and 2026 promises plenty of newness.

More than 25% of exhibitors are showing for the first time, while over 30% are exhibiting exclusively at Autumn Fair, giving buyers the chance to check out emerging brands as well as established names.

Returning favourites including Joe Davies, Widdop & Co., Lesser & Pavey, Candlelight, Gift Republic, Warmies, Gingko Design and University Games will be joined by show newcomers such as Puckator, CGB Giftware, Craftstone Europe, Heritage Playing Cards, Portland Living, Repeat Repeat and Significant Otter.

Together, they offer a plethora of options to refresh ranges ahead of Christmas and into 2027.

Buyers can also explore the show’s newly renamed Product Pavilions, which spotlight the next generation of

retail brands. Highlights include TINIT, Radiance B2B, Gift Candle, Celestial Irias Apothecary, Everyday Womtras™ and Tawny Owl Wood, reflecting continued demand for sustainable, purpose-led and design-driven products.

Beauty, wellbeing and gourmet gifting Self-care remains one of retail’s fastest-growing sectors, and Autumn Fair’s Beauty & Wellbeing destination brings together returning names including Bomb Cosmetics, The English Soap Company, Fikkerts and The Highland Soap Company, with newcomers such as Nougat London, Evolve Organic Beauty and Cosy Cosmetics.

The Food & Drink destination taps into the crossover between gourmet food and gifting, with artisan producers including Norfolk Jar Kitchen, Lakrids by Bülow, Spice Kitchen and Treat Kitchen.

Cards, stationery and toys Greeting cards remain a great retail success story, with premium design, sustainability and independent illustration driving interest. Autumn Fair features established publishers including Ohh Deer, Paper Salad, The Art File, Five Dollar Shake and The Eco-Friendly Card Company, while new names such as Jellow Cards, Lydia Mae and the Greetings Lab Designer Showcase bring fresh inspiration.

The Kids, Toys & Play destination reflects trends around nostalgia, collectability and the rise of the kidult consumer. New launches from Ty, Keel Toys, Blade & Rose, JigglyBitz, Cryptic Killers, Winning Moves and University Games sit alongside exclusive exhibitors including Lanka Kade and Big Potato Games.

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Candlelight Products Ltd, Ustun House, Waddington Way, Aldwarke, Rotherham.

01709 723000 | contact@candlelight.co.uk | www.candlelight.co.uk

Want to book a consultation during Autumn Fair?

Hall 7 | Stand F40 Heading to Autumn Fair at NEC Birmingham? Join us from September 6 in Hall 7 on Stand F40. Be among the first to experience our Autumn/Winter 2026 & Spring/Summer 2027 ranges.

Get in touch with our sales team to book your slot: Email - contact@candlelight.co.uk Call - 01709 723000

Candlelight Products Ltd, Ustun House, Waddington Way, Aldwarke, Rotherham.

01709 723000 | contact@candlelight.co.uk | www.candlelight.co.uk

Glee adds another dimension The co-location with Glee gives gift retailers even more reasons to visit, bringing together complementary brands from the garden, home, lifestyle and gifting sectors under one roof.

Among the highlights are premium greeting card publisher Woodmansterne, as well as gift and homeware specialists including The Source, IF, Grupo Erik, UK Greetings, Apac Group and Ukonic. Their ranges span everything from stationery and home accessories to gaming and entertainment gifts.

Wellness is also represented, with BEAUTYPRO showcasing its awardwinning vegan skincare and sheet masks, while Wonderbalm offers simple, multi-purpose beauty essentials with broad consumer appeal.

Buyers can also browse Seedball’s award-winning wildflower gift collections and Rosy Roo’s innovative fragrance range. Meanwhile SOCKSHOP, returning after its successful Glee debut, demonstrates how practical everyday products can also make compelling gifts.

Making the most of the visit Returning features including Pitch Live, the Gift of the Year Showcase, the Greeting Card Association Lounge and Retail Huddle Live provide further chances to find products, hear from industry experts and connect with fellow retailers - and with the added breadth of Glee, Autumn Fair 2026 offers gift retailers a valuable opportunity to source for the Golden Quarter and beyond.

As Matthew Mein, event director at Autumn Fair & Glee, explains: “Independent retailers can’t afford to over-commit months in advance.

Autumn Fair is designed for the way they actually buy; reactive, flexible and in-season. This is where they top up on proven sellers, test new ranges with manageable orders, and discover ready-to-ship stock that gets them through the peak season without unnecessary risk.”

Whether you’re searching for your next bestselling gift line, looking to uncover exciting new brands or wanting expert advice to future-proof your business, Autumn Fair remains one of the UK’s essential retail buying events.

What: Autumn Fair / Glee Where: NEC Birmingham When: Autumn Fair 6-9 September / Glee 8-10 September Visit: www.autumnfair.com / www.gleebirmingham.com

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Preview

Key appointment

at Candlelight Building on strong sales growth and an expanding product portfolio, Candlelight continues to invest in its business as it looks ahead to another busy Autumn Fair

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andlelight has further reinforced its leadership team with the appointment of experienced retail professional Gary Ponsford as Account Director, underlining the company’s ongoing commitment to investing in both people and longterm growth.

Bringing more than three decades of experience within the home fragrance and giftware industry, Gary joins Candlelight at an exciting time for the business as it continues to expand its presence across the UK retail market.

His extensive commercial background and long-standing relationships within the sector will play an important role in supporting Candlelight’s continued development across key retail channels.

The appointment comes as Candlelight enjoys sustained momentum, with significant sales growth, an expanding customer portfolio and increasing demand across its home fragrance, home décor, textiles, outdoor living and gifting collection.

Recent trade exhibitions have also delivered record-breaking results, further strengthening the company’s reputation as one of the UK’s most progressive suppliers to the gift and home sector.

Commenting on his move, Gary said: “Having spent over 30 years in the industry, I was looking for a business with real ambition and a clear vision for the future.

Candlelight has established itself as one of the most dynamic companies in the market, combining innovative product development with exceptional customer relationships. It’s an exciting opportunity to be part of a business that is continually evolving, and I’m looking forward to working with both existing and new customers as we continue to grow.”

For Candlelight, the appointment represents another strategic investment in strengthening customer support and building an experienced commercial team capable of supporting the company’s ambitious expansion plans.

Kate Winch, Head of Sales at Candlelight, believes Gary’s arrival reflects the business’s continued focus on attracting the very best talent within the industry.

She said: “Gary brings an exceptional level of commercial knowledge, market understanding, and retail experience to Candlelight. He has earned enormous

respect throughout the industry over many years, and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team.

“As our business continues to grow, investing in experienced people remains just as important as investing in product innovation. We are committed to giving our customers the highest levels of service and expertise, and Gary’s appointment is another important step in achieving that.”

Candlelight has enjoyed a period of remarkable growth in recent years, securing new retail partnerships while continuing to invest heavily in trend-led product development and customer service.

The business has also broadened its product offering well beyond its established home fragrance collections, creating successful ranges spanning home accessories, textiles, seasonal décor, lighting and outdoor living.

With further investment planned across product development, sales and customer support, the company is well positioned to continue its upward trajectory and strengthen its position as one of the UK’s leading suppliers within the gift and home interiors industry.

Gary’s appointment is the latest chapter in that journey, signalling Candlelight’s determination to build on its success while continuing to deliver innovative products and outstanding service to retailers across the UK.

Stand: Hall 7 F40 Call: 01709 723000 Email: contact@candlelight.co.uk Visit: www.candlelight.co.uk

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Preview

Biggest Autumn Fair

showcase yet A larger stand, major product launches and new initiatives for UK and European retailers will showcase Candlelight’s continued growth and evolving offer at this year’s Autumn Fair

C

andlelight is set to make its biggest statement yet at this year’s Autumn Fair, unveiling an expanded stand, exciting new product launches, and a number of strategic developments designed to support both UK and international retail partners.

Exhibiting in Hall 7 on Stand F40, the company will welcome visitors to a completely redesigned Stand that is significantly larger than last year’s, reflecting the continued growth of the business and the increasing demand for its award-winning home fragrance, home décor, textiles, outdoor living, and gifting collections.

Positioned prominently on the show’s main aisle, Candlelight’s new exhibition space has been designed to offer retailers an inspiring buying experience, showcasing its proven current collections alongside its latest Autumn/Winter 2026 ranges and an exclusive first look at Spring/Summer 2027.

This year’s Autumn Fair also marks the first edition following the co-location of Glee, creating what is expected to be one of the UK’s most significant retail buying events.

The addition of the garden retail exhibition is particularly exciting for Candlelight, whose product portfolio has expanded considerably within the garden centre sector over recent years.

With many of the UK’s leading garden centre groups now stocking Candlelight collections, the combined event presents an ideal opportunity to meet both existing customers and new retail partners looking to broaden their home and lifestyle offering.

Kate Winch, Head of Sales at Candlelight, believes the new format creates exciting opportunities for both exhibitors and buyers. She said: “We’re incredibly excited to be exhibiting at this year’s Autumn Fair.

“Having Glee alongside the show creates a fantastic opportunity to engage with an even broader audience, particularly within the garden centre sector where we’ve seen significant growth over the past few years. Our ranges continue to perform exceptionally well in that market, so bringing both audiences together makes perfect sense.

“We’ve invested heavily in our new stand this year, increasing our space and creating a completely fresh environment that better reflects the direction of the Candlelight brand. Whether customers are looking for bestselling collections available now, planning their Christmas ranges, or buying ahead for Spring/Summer 2027, we’ll have something to inspire every retailer.”

Candlelight will be launching a new candle programme developed specifically for customers across the European Union and Ireland. The new collection has been designed to overcome the challenges surrounding Additional Duty (ADD) on wax products, providing retailers with a simpler and more commercially viable route to sourcing Candlelight’s bestselling candle ranges for European markets.

The launch represents another important step in the company’s commitment to supporting international customers with practical solutions, while maintaining the quality, design and fragrance credentials that have helped establish Candlelight as one of the UK’s leading home fragrance suppliers.

Visitors from across Europe and Ireland are encouraged to speak with the Candlelight team to learn more about the new programme and how it can help simplify future sourcing.

With new product launches, trend-led collections, expanded categories and innovative solutions for international markets, Candlelight is expecting its busiest Autumn Fair to date.

Retailers are invited to discover the latest collections, explore what’s coming next for Spring/Summer 2027 and discuss future opportunities with the team by visiting Hall 7, Stand F40.

Stand: Hall 7 F40 Call: 01709 723000 | Email: contact@candlelight.co.uk Visit: www.candlelight.co.uk

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VISIT OR CALL: Autumn Fair Stand: 8H30-7A31 Call: 02393 876 600 Email: Sales@tyuk.co.uk TM & © Mojang AB

Preview

From passion project to a From making fragrance products at home while on maternity leave to winning two Gift of the Year Awards, Sophie Tregellis, founder of Rosy Roo, shares the story behind her fast-growing brand with Gifts Today

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osy Roo is a proudly female-owned, UK-based fragrance brand named after my daughter, Rosy, who was born in 2023. What started as a small idea during my maternity leave has grown into an exciting business journey over the past couple of years, going from strength to strength. I started making the products at home, going door to door or selling at local markets.

Fast forward to today, and we are now stocked in more than 500 stores across the UK, ranging from garden centres to independent gift shops… and we love them all.

started as a small idea during “myWhat maternity leave has grown into an exciting business journey ” We’re a small business, with each of our products thoughtfully crafted here in the UK using high-quality ingredients. Our hero product, the car diffuser, is a unique, niche product and part of a growing trend, offering a long-lasting way to enjoy beautiful fragrances on the go.

Priced at under £10, it makes the perfect small gift. It’s not only stylish and appealing, but also refillable and eco-conscious. Featuring a secure clip-on design, it comes in signature scents of Black Orchid, Ocean Breeze, Citrus and Spice, and Coconut and Lime.

Our car diffusers have been a huge part of Rosy Roo’s success, so to take home two trophies for the range at the Gift of the Year Awards

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o award-winning brand 2026 in May was an incredible milestone. We won both the Judges’ Choice and Made in the UK categories, which was an absolute dream come true!

Even being nominated and shortlisted was a huge honour, so going to the awards ceremony and winning not one, but two awards was a surreal experience and one that I will cherish forever. To be recognised by judges who are typically retailers themselves and therefore my customers, is such a compliment and gives me confidence that Rosy Roo is a business to be proud of.

“

Winning not one, but two awards was a surreal experience and one that I will cherish forever

”

As we look ahead, we’re preparing for the festive season with the launch of two new Christmas fragrances, Sweet Pine and Cinnamon & Cranberry, available in both our car and room diffusers, which I predict will be best sellers.

In addition, alongside our four signature scents, we’re expanding the collection with seasonal and limited-edition fragrances, including an exciting Mother’s Day 2027 fragrance which I’m currently designing.

Listening to our customers remains at the heart of everything we do. Their feedback has already inspired

PreviewAutumnFair.indd 6

improvements to the design of our car diffuser lids, and we’re continually refining our products as Rosy Roo grows and evolves.

We often try to check in with our customers on the phone; in this world of automation, speaking to a person on the phone almost seems like an oldfashioned idea now, but our customers appreciate the effort.

I’ve thought long and hard about why people support me the way they do. I’ve developed a following over the last two years, not from a huge social media presence, not from going to parties and staying up late socialising, but from working hard.

The first time I noticed strangers supporting me was at the Gift of the Year Awards. After I won, people approached me with huge smiles on their faces, clearly extremely happy that I was happy. I was truly touched.

I believe people support me, like me and buy from me because they can tell I’m a fighter, and I will continue to be so. Thank you to everyone who supports Rosy Roo; I will not let you down

Customer Testimonials • “The most amazing product - one of my best sellers. Quality product and amazing service!”

• “Beautiful diffusers that sell so, so well. Wonderful service, so helpful thank you!”

• “Really lovely - the packaging is great, the point of sale is great, and the customers love them!”

Glee Stand: Hall 20 K45 Email: info@rosyroo.co.uk Visit: www.rosyroo.co.uk

14/08/2026 18:45

Preview

Get festive with Artcuts Artcuts introduces new licensed designs to its distinctive range of wooden gifts, decorations and keepsakes, combining creative design with British craftsmanship

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ritish designer and manufacturer Artcuts is bringing new licensed ranges to Christmas 2026 with the launch of its Wallace & Gromit collection, created in partnership with Aardman.

With the much-loved charm of Britain’s favourite inventor and his faithful canine companion, combined with Artcuts’ renowned quality, the new range features beautifully made wooden Christmas decorations, magnets, keyrings and keepsakes.

Joining this exciting launch is Artcuts’ elegant collection of William Morris Christmas decorations. Inspired by the timeless patterns of one of Britain’s most celebrated designers, the range offers retailers a striking seasonal collection that complements both contemporary and traditional festive displays.

Since 2012, Artcuts has built its reputation as a family-run British business committed to designing and manufacturing distinctive wooden gifts and decorations. Every product is designed and made in the company’s Surrey workshops, where creativity, craftsmanship and attention to detail remain at the heart of everything it does.

Using only the finest materials, including sustainably sourced birchwood alongside carefully selected fabrics, handmade papers and comprehensive printing facilities, Artcuts creates products that are designed to stand out at retail.

Beyond its latest licensed launches, Artcuts continues to offer an extensive range of own-brand seasonal decorations, everyday gifts, home décor and personalised keepsakes.

Its bespoke keepsakes and asset-based decorations service is also a key offering, appealing to museums, visitor attractions and retailers.

As a UK-based manufacturer, Artcuts gives retailers the flexibility and reassurance of buying British, with the benefits of short lead times, responsive customer service and continued stock availability throughout the Christmas season.

With two iconic British licensed collections, beautifully crafted original designs, and a commitment to exceptional quality, Artcuts continues to demonstrate the strength of British manufacturing, combining creativity and craftsmanship.

Retailers visiting Autumn Fair will have the opportunity to discover all the latest collections and see its distinctive gifts and decorations in Hall 7 on Stand E72.

Stand: Hall 7 E72 Call: 01342 843843 Email: sales@artcuts.co.uk Visit: www.artcutstrade.com

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Come and visit us at

NEC | 7A40 - B41

$5281' Village Pottery

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Bridgewater Pen Company

Kitchen Cans

Tuscany Collection

Crochet Smiley Pots

Tel: 0161 975 6300

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

www.joedavies.co.uk

Preview

More than new products Lesser & Pavey director Jonny Greves discusses why retailers are looking for more than just new products this autumn, with value, design, presentation and sell-through playing a key role

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s we approach Autumn Fair, one thing has become increasingly clear to us at Lesser & Pavey: retailers aren’t simply looking for new products any more.

They’re looking for collections that tell a story, create excitement in-store and offer customers genuine reasons to come back and buy again. That thinking has shaped everything we’ve developed over the past year.

One of our biggest milestones has been the launch of Maison Parfum, our new home fragrance brand. Following its introduction earlier this year, the response from customers has exceeded our expectations, reinforcing just how important the home fragrance category has become within the gift industry.

Maison Parfum was created to deliver affordable luxury without compromising on quality. Every fragrance has been carefully developed with strong scent performance and impressive longevity, while the packaging and vessel designs have been created to give retailers maximum shelf appeal. The collection now includes more than 400 products, from compact gift sets through to statement 2-litre diffusers, alongside candles, room sprays and coordinated gifting solutions.

For Autumn Fair, we’re introducing several exciting additions, including premium ready-to-gift fragrance collections presented in elegant gift bags. Each contains a coordinated candle, reed diffuser and room spray, making gifting effortless for consumers while providing retailers with an attractive merchandising opportunity straight out of the box.

We believe presentation is becoming almost as important as the product itself, and these collections have been designed with exactly that in mind.

Looking ahead, we’ll also be previewing fresh packaging concepts and new seasonal designs that continue to evolve the Maison Parfum brand. Early customer reaction during our summer showroom event has been extremely encouraging, with retailers already placing forward orders after seeing the new collections.

Of course, home fragrance is only one part of what’s new this season. Visitors to our Autumn Fair stands will discover almost 1,000 new products spanning home décor, gifting and seasonal collections. Christmas remains incredibly important

for independent retailers, and we’ve continued to expand our festive ranges with fun, characterful products alongside new puzzles, novelty gifts and affordable impulse purchases designed to encourage multiple sales.

We’re also extending several of our strongestperforming collections. Our William Morris ranges continue to grow with beautiful new patterns across ceramics and giftware. Decorative glassware, colourful ceramics, statement cushions, stained glass lighting and Mediterranean-inspired home accessories all feature strongly within our latest launches.

What continues to encourage me most is the confidence we’re seeing from customers. Despite ongoing economic challenges, retailers are planning further ahead and placing greater emphasis on products that offer strong value, distinctive design and dependable sell-through. That’s exactly where we believe Lesser & Pavey continues to excel.

Autumn Fair is always one of the highlights of our calendar, providing an opportunity not only to showcase new collections but also to spend valuable time listening to retailers and understanding what’s driving their businesses for the seasons ahead.

If you’re visiting the show, I’d be delighted to welcome you to our stands in Hall 7, Stand J40 and Hall 6, Stand A41, where you’ll be able to explore our latest collections and see firsthand what’s new for Autumn/Winter and beyond.

Stand: Hall 7 Stand J40 & Hall 6 Stand A41 Call: 01322 279 225 Email: sales@leonardo.co.uk Visit: www.leonardo.co.uk

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‘New for Autumn Fa ir’

Look forward to welcoming everyone at Autumn Fair Hall 6 Stand C61

Tel: 01686 629919 Email: sales@milfordcollection.com www. milfordcollection.com

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A bumper batch of fun House of Marbles

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ouse of Marbles has introduced a selection of exciting mid-year additions across some of its most popular ranges, offering even more choice for the second half of the year.

Among the latest products are Unhappy Families, a medieval take on the classic family card game featuring knights, dragons and magicians; and Flying Reindeer, a fun festive finger-launch novelty that’s perfect for stocking fillers and seasonal gifting. They’re joined by a selection of new gift books, making it easy to refresh displays ahead of the next trading period.

These additions will be available to view at Autumn Fair for the first time, where the team can’t wait to showcase the new ranges, demonstrate the products and share plenty of fun merchandising and display ideas with retailers.

To make ordering even easier, a new Quick Order function has been introduced on the trade website, allowing customers to add multiple products in a simple list format. House of Marbles continues to offer competitively priced Call: 01626 835358 products and carriage paid on orders over £200 (UK Mainland), with a dedicated team Email: uk@houseofmarbles.com of sales agents on hand to provide expert Visit: www.houseofmarbles.com/tradeuk advice and product samples.

Stand: Hall 7 E56-F57

F.Y.G finds its Signature F.Y.G

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.Y.G heads to Autumn Fair with a clear proposition for buyers: design-led fragrance that is personal, giftable and created to shape the mood of modern living.

Founded by Demi Pendakis, F.Y.G was created around the emotional connection between scent, memory and atmosphere. Its name, Find Your Glow, reflects the brand’s purpose: helping customers create moments of calm, comfort, energy and connection through fragrance.

Taking centre stage on the stand will be F.Y.G’s Signature Collection, a core range of five perfumery-led fragrances created for contemporary interiors. Rouge Lychee, Velvet Ember, Citrus Verve, Arctic Lotus and Chestnut Cashmere are available across candles, diffusers, tin candles and wax melt bars.

Clean glass vessels and bold stripe packaging give the collection strong shelf presence, while the Your Signature Mark concept introduces a distinctive element of personalisation.

Each candle and diffuser includes three mood-led, matt-black labels for the customer to apply to the glass, allowing the finished product to feel expressive and individual.

Buyers will also discover Candle Pearls, F.Y.G’s reusable Forever Candle concept. Each 500g pack contains 30 cotton wicks and can be poured into a heat-safe vessel, refreshed,

restyled and enjoyed again. Designed to offer flexibility, longevity and lower-waste appeal, Candle Pearls also creates opportunities for repeat purchasing through additional wicks and fragrance oils.

Alongside these newer ranges, F.Y.G will present its established Back to Basics collection: a broad selection of timeless home fragrance and bath & body scents created to invigorate, calm, restore or indulge the senses.

For the Q4 gifting season, F.Y.G will also showcase its Christmas Edit, a nostalgic festive collection inspired by magical seasonal moments. A portion of profits from the collection supports When You Wish Upon a Star children’s charity.

Together, the ranges present the complete F.Y.G story: fragrance with Call: 0208 914 7974 emotional meaning, contemporary shelf appeal, accessible gifting, Email: contact@fyghome.com personalisation and reusable Visit: www.fyghome.com innovation.

Stand: Hall 8 E70

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Thoughtful gifts, unique homeware, traditional toys and much more.

Find us at Autumn Fair! We’ll be in Hall 7, stand A60-B61

Leading giftware wholesaler since 1981.

Shop today and enjoy no minimum order and free delivery options. info@rexlondon.com rexlondontrade.com

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Fresh inspiration Joe Davies returns to Autumn Fair with an extensive showcase of retail-ready ranges, offering independent gift retailers exciting commercial opportunities across multiple categories ahead of the festive selling season

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utumn Fair is just around the corner, and a visit to the Joe Davies stand promises plenty to discover.

From giftware and jewellery to fashion accessories, home décor and seasonal collections, buyers will find hundreds of exciting new lines, including more than 700 new introductions from The Leonardo Collection, alongside a host of fresh launches designed to help independent retailers keep their product offering current and inspiring.

Equilibrium Men’s Accessories

Forget Me Not Collection

Mini Bricks

Discover the Forget Me Not collection, which combines thoughtful sentiments with beautifully handcrafted ceramic forget-me-not flowers. This co-ordinated range of keepsakes, photo frames, tealights, vases and more offers meaningful gifts that will be treasured for years to come.

Hand Painted Blooms Featuring beautifully hand-painted ceramics adorned with cheerful floral artwork, the elegant Hand Painted Blooms collection is perfect for brightening interiors, and also makes a wonderful gift for every season.

Equilibrium Message In A Bottle Earrings Due to the continued success of the Equilibrium Message in a Bottle collection, Joe Davies has introduced a coordinating new earring range as the latest addition to this much-loved range. Featuring eight heartfelt designs, each pair is presented on a sentiment card nestled inside a charming glass bottle, complete with a branded Equilibrium gift bag. Supplied in a compact acrylic CDU, the collection makes the most of valuable counter space while encouraging impulse purchases.

The Equilibrium brand from Joe Davies is also strengthening its men’s gifting offer with a stylish collection of beanie hats, scarves, gloves, and suedeeffect wallets. Presented in luxury Equilibrium-branded gift boxes, the range blends timeless style with everyday practicality, offering co-ordinated gifts with broad appeal for the festive season.

Joe Davies brings buyers the latest Mini Bricks collection from Lesser & Pavey. Packed with intricate, collectable building kits across a huge range of themes, these engaging models combine creative fun with displayworthy results, making them perfect for gifting and impulse purchases.

Whether you’re refreshing bestsellers or searching for fresh inspiration ahead of Christmas, make sure to visit Joe Davies in Hall 7 on Stand A40–B41. As a 100% employee-owned company, its dedicated team takes real pride in delivering the award-winning customer service it is renowned for.

Combined with retailer-friendly ‘Little & Often’ ordering, a low £100 minimum order, and free nationwide delivery, buying remains simple, flexible and refreshingly straightforward.

Stand: Hall 7 A40-B41 Call: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

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Visit us at:

Stand: 8E70 Stand: M40

T: 0208 914 7974 | E: info@fyghome.com | W: www.fyghome.com

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Pixels meet plush

playtime magic Minecraft’s angular universe is now embraced by Ty’s tactile world of Beanies and Beanie Bouncers, bringing digital adventures into the world of plush play

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here is something neatly poetic about Ty bringing Minecraft into the Beanies and Beanie Bouncers family. Minecraft is a world built from right angles, hard edges and digital blocks; Ty is a brand built on softness, collectability and the simple pleasure of something small enough to hold.

On paper, the two might seem like opposites. In practice, they meet at exactly the point where modern play is heading: away from rigid categories and towards experiences that move easily between screen, shelf and hand.

The launch of Minecraft characters as Ty Beanies and Beanie Bouncers matters because Minecraft has never been merely a game. Since its 2011 release, it has become one of the best-selling video games of all time, recognised for its blocky style, openended building and ability to invite players to “build, explore, and survive”.

Ty’s Minecraft plush range brings that imagination off the screen through characters including Steve, Creeper, Bee and Enderman, while the Beanie Bouncers format adds an extra layer of movement and play.

That physicality is the clever part. A standard plush toy invites display, comfort and character attachment. A Beanie Bouncer, by contrast, asks to be thrown, caught, bounced, rolled and collected.

Ty describes the line as part furry friend, part bouncy ball - a fresh spin on the classic bouncy ball with the personality of its plush heritage. For Minecraft, that is a particularly smart fit. The game has always rewarded experimentation. A toy that can sit on a desk one minute and become part of a living-room obstacle course the next feels faithful to that spirit.

It also recognises the breadth of Minecraft’s audience. Today’s fans include children discovering the game for the first time, teenagers who have grown up with it, parents who know the characters by osmosis, and collectors who understand the power of licensed plush.

Steve remains the instantly recognisable builder; Creeper is practically visual shorthand for the entire franchise; Bee adds

charm and approachability; Enderman brings a darker, more dramatic edge. Together, they translate a pixelated cast into a pocket-sized range with genuine retail appeal.

For Ty, the move feels commercially sharp but not cynical. The company has long understood that collectability is strongest when it is paired with character. Minecraft supplies characters that are simple in silhouette yet rich in association, while Ty supplies the tactile design language that turns recognition into affection.

The result is not just merchandise; it is a translation. The square, angular grammar of Minecraft is softened without being erased. The characters still look like themselves, but they now belong to a world of squeezable textures, rounded forms and spontaneous play.

That translation is important in a toy market increasingly shaped by digital culture. The best licensed ranges do more than copy a logo or character face onto a product. They understand why fans care in the first place.

Minecraft players care because the game gives them agency: build this, change that, survive tonight, try again tomorrow. Ty Beanie Bouncers echo that energy by giving children a product that can be used in more than one way. It can be collected, cuddled, bounced, swapped, displayed or carried in a bag. It is both a toy and a keepsake.

The launch also offers a timely reminder that screen-based fandom does not have to stay screen-bound. Parents looking for screen-free play, gift shops seeking recognisable licensed lines, and children wanting their favourite game characters in a more personal form all find something to like here.

Minecraft’s genius has always been making the digital feel handmade. Ty’s genius has always been making small plush feel full of personality. Bringing them together is less a novelty than the natural next block in the build.

Stand: Hall 8 H30-7A31 Call: 02393 876 600 Email: Sales@tyuk.co.uk

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A feast of fresh finds

The Milford Collection will showcase new launches across home fragrance, festive gifts, garden products, ceramics, decorative glassware and jewellery at Autumn Fair

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or more than 40 years, The Milford Collection has been helping independent retailers delight their customers with an ever-evolving range of quality gifts for the home, garden and lifestyle.

Family-owned and based in Mid Wales, the company has built a reputation for combining dependable service with carefully selected collections that offer strong retail appeal and excellent value.

What began in 1985 as a supplier of Welsh gifts has grown into one of the UK’s leading wholesale gift companies, supplying thousands of products to gift shops, garden centres, visitor attractions, pharmacies and independent retailers throughout the UK and beyond. While the business has grown significantly over the decades, its commitment to personal service and long-term customer relationships remains unchanged.

At Autumn Fair, The Milford Collection will unveil an exciting selection of new products across some of its most successful categories. Retailers can look forward to new additions within its popular home fragrance collections, festive gift ranges, ecofriendly garden products, ceramics, decorative glassware and jewellery.

Following the successful acquisitions of Coppercraft and Lila Jewellery, The Milford Collection has further strengthened its fashion jewellery offering, with the ranges now becoming an established part of the company’s diverse portfolio. The jewellery collections sit alongside a carefully curated selection of gift lines, allowing retailers to source multiple complementary product categories from a single trusted supplier.

Visitors to the company’s stand will also discover a host of innovative products reflecting current consumer trends, including environmentally conscious garden gifts made from recycled materials, stylish home décor, seasonal bestsellers and practical impulse purchases that are well suited to independent retail.

The Milford Collection continues to invest heavily in product development, ensuring retailers have access to fresh, commercially proven collections each season. Every range is selected with independent retailers in mind, focusing on attractive price points, strong margins and products that encourage repeat purchases.

Behind every collection is a family business that understands retail. With decades of industry experience and a knowledgeable sales team covering the UK, The Milford Collection prides itself on making doing business easy, whether customers are placing their first order or have been trading with the company for many years.

Retailers visiting Autumn Fair will be among the first to experience the latest launches and discover why The Milford Collection continues to be a trusted partner for independent Call: 01686 629919 retailers looking for Email: sales@milfordcollection.com quality, innovation and Visit: www.milfordcollection.com exceptional service.

Stand: Hall 6 C61

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45 years of gifts

with a twist Bring joy to your store with toys, quirky gifts, stylish home decor and everyday essentials from Rex B2B, where 45 years of experience meets fresh design

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ince 1981, the illustrators and buyers at Rex B2B (formerly Rex London Trade) have delighted in designing, creating and searching for the perfect items for retailers, from timeless toys and nostalgic novelties to home decor and garden gifts.

The company offers a bright and eclectic range of inspirational gifts and homeware, making it easy for your customers to find something for every occasion. It brings a large and diverse range of products to market every year, keeping shoppers coming back for all those special milestones and events, from Christmas and birthdays to first homes, new babies and anniversaries.

Rex B2B has been trading successfully for 45 years.

It takes a customer-focused approach to buying, with everything conceived, designed and sourced from its London headquarters. This strategy has helped it grow from strength to strength across the decades, with the UK wholesale operation continuing to expand, and its latest year-end financial report showing another yearon-year increase.

Customers respond well to the efforts of the inhouse design and buying teams, which consistently work hard to develop the product offering, with plenty more still to come for the remainder of 2026 and beyond.

This customer-centric approach is one of the things that sets Rex B2B apart from many other gift suppliers, with new designs added to bestselling ranges and new lines created in response to regular customer feedback.

One example of this is the addition of 12 new designs to its bestselling retro storage tin collection this year -

the latest of which will be showcased at Autumn Fair for the very first time.

With a broad product offering spanning gifts for every occasion and recipient (even the ones who are seemingly impossible to buy for!), stockists can shop for everything from on-trend homeware and garden gifts to classic toys and unusual gifts. All these items feature distinctive designs and colour palettes, which are carefully curated by the in-house creative team.

The business is committed to making its products as accessible as possible, especially for smaller, independent stockists, with no minimum order and carriage paid at £250. All items shown on its trade website are in stock and ready to dispatch.

New products and designs are introduced nearly every week, rather being released as large collections or on a seasonal basis. Rex B2B aims to release 600 new lines a year, and this flexible, proactive approach enables stockists to regularly refresh their stores with something new or top up bestselling design stories with additional lines.

With a wealth of experience and instinct, many of the senior team have been part of the organisation since its early beginnings. Their expertise continues to bring exciting new products to market, honouring the brand’s established, distinct style while reflecting current consumer trends.

To see what’s in store, explore Rex B2B’s bestsellers and new collections at Autumn Fair. The team is really looking forward to connecting with customers old and new, both at the show and beyond.

Stand: Hall 7 A60-B61 Call: 020 8746 1700 Email: info@rexlondon.com Visit: rexlondontrade.com

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A fragrant

Christmas starts here!

Fragrance, nostalgia and sparkle will take centre stage on the Best Kept Secrets stand

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s retailers prepare for the busiest season of the year, Christmas 2026 is shaping up to be one of thoughtful gifting, elevated home fragrance, and moments of everyday indulgence. Consumers are continuing to seek products that feel luxurious without the premium price tag, while gifting with meaning, beautiful presentation, and lasting quality remain firmly at the top of shoppers’ wish lists.

Home fragrance has become far more than an accessory.

Candles are now an integral part of creating seasonal rituals, transforming homes into cosy sanctuaries and evoking cherished festive memories through scent. From rich spices and warming woods to sparkling citrus and comforting vanilla, fragrance has the power to transport us, making it one of the most emotive purchases of the Christmas season.

For retailers, this presents an exciting opportunity to offer collections that appeal to every customer and every gifting occasion. At Best Kept Secrets, this philosophy sits at the heart of its 2026 Christmas offering, with each collection designed to capture a different festive mood while remaining proudly made in the UK. For customers drawn to timeless festive styling, the Christmas Elegance Collection embodies understated luxury. Gold vessels, rich seasonal colour palettes and beautifully balanced fragrances create a collection that feels equally at home in traditional and contemporary interiors. Perfect for customers seeking refined gifts, it offers retailers an effortlessly premium display that never goes out of style.

Capturing the warmth and nostalgia of the festive season is the Spirit of Christmas Collection. Inspired by treasured traditions and the simple joys of Christmas, the collection celebrates everything consumers love about this magical time of year. Filled with comforting festive fragrances and beautifully giftable designs, it encourages shoppers to embrace seasonal rituals, from cosy evenings by the fire to welcoming family and

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friends into the home. It’s a collection that evokes emotion as much as fragrance, making it an ideal choice for meaningful gifting.

Bringing a playful touch to festive merchandising is The Red One Collection. Celebrating the magic and excitement of Christmas, the collection combines joyful fragrances with eye-catching packaging designed to encourage impulse gifting. Complete with co-ordinating gift bags, it lends itself perfectly to stocking fillers, Secret Santa presents and festive display features, proving that fun and premium quality can go hand in hand.

Alongside these festive collections, Best Kept Secrets continues to offer retailers a broad portfolio of bestselling home fragrance, including its much-loved Seriously Scented candles and statement Just Because Collection.

Together, they allow retailers to create layered displays with products across multiple price points, encouraging customers to mix, match and purchase for everyone on their Christmas list.

Another key trend shaping Christmas retail is the continued desire to shop British. Consumers are increasingly seeking products with authentic provenance, craftsmanship and quality, placing greater value on brands that manufacture in the UK. For independent retailers, stocking British-made products not only supports local manufacturing but also offers shoppers confidence in both quality and originality.

As Christmas shopping begins earlier each year, creating inspiring displays that combine fragrance, colour, and gifting solutions has never been more important.

Retailers who offer collections with strong visual appeal, memorable fragrances, and exceptional gifting credentials are well positioned to capture seasonal spending from the very first festive shopper.

Visitors to Autumn Fair are invited to experience the full Christmas collections first-hand in Hall 8 on Stand D45. Alongside celebrating the brand’s 30th anniversary, the team will be showcasing its latest festive launches, sharing insights into the trends shaping Christmas retail,

and helping buyers curate seasonal ranges that inspire customers and drive sales. Whether you’re searching for timeless classics, playful gifting or affordable luxury, Best Kept Secrets offers a Christmas collection to suit every store and every shopper.

This Christmas, Best Kept Secrets continues to demonstrate that the most memorable gifts are those that tell a story, fill homes with the unmistakable scent of the season and, of course, sparkle!

Stand: Hall 8 D45 Call: 01670 512222 Email: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk Visit: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

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Warmth meets wellbeing The Wheat Bag Company

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s consumers continue to embrace products that promote comfort, relaxation and self-care, The Wheat Bag Company is bringing warmth and style to the gift sector with its extensive collection of Britishmade microwavable wellbeing products.

Proudly manufactured in the UK, the company has built a strong reputation for combining practical wellbeing with beautiful, contemporary design. Its bestselling microwavable wheat bags, filled with English wheat and available with optional lavender, remain a firm favourite with gift retailers and their customers.

The collection has continued to grow, with Microwavable Neck & Shoulder Wraps offering targeted, soothing warmth, while Microwavable Wheat Bottles provide a stylish alternative to the traditional hot water bottle.

Made using a wide range of carefully selected fabrics, the products are designed to look just as appealing on the shelf as they feel to use.

For relaxation and moments of calm, Eye Pillows filled with English flaxseed are another popular addition, making an ideal wellbeing gift for yoga, meditation, bedtime or simply unwinding after a busy day.

The company’s much-loved Beddy Buddies collection brings the same comforting concept to younger customers. These soft, cuddly characters feature removable microwavable flaxseed-filled inner bags, offering gentle warmth and weighted comfort. The hugely popular Highland Cow Beddy Buddy has also received industry recognition, being Highly Commended in the Gift of the Year Awards.

With wellbeing, self-care and British-made products continuing to resonate strongly with consumers, The Wheat Bag Company offers retailers an attractive collection with broad, year-round gifting appeal.

Combining British manufacturing, quality fabrics Call: 01747 840499 and thoughtful design, it’s a collection created to Email: sales@theheatbagcompany.co.uk bring a little more warmth, comfort and wellbeing into everyday life.

Visit: https://thewheatbagcompany.co.uk

Stand: Hall 8 G60

Blade & Rose

Multi-award-winning British baby and children’s brand Blade & Rose will be making its debut appearance at Autumn Fair. As the UK’s original knitted legging brand with characters on the bottom, it will be showcasing an exciting collection of new launches available for immediate delivery.

Visitors to the stand will be among the first to see the latest additions to much-loved licensed collections, including new designs featuring The Gruffalo and Peter Rabbit, alongside new Christmas collections.

Retailers can expect award-winning best sellers, premium gifting collections with strong margins, licensed favourites, exclusive Christmas gifting opportunities, fast UK replenishment, and premium packaging and merchandising solutions.

Founder Amanda Peffer said: “We’re incredibly excited to exhibit at Autumn Fair for the first time. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet new retailers, showcase our latest collections and demonstrate why Blade & Rose continues to be such a strong seller across garden Call: 01539 730880 centres, gift shops and baby boutiques.”

Email: amanda@bladeandrose.co.uk

Stand: Hall 7 E70

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Visit: www.bladeandrose.co.uk

Keel Toys

Keel Toys will showcase its latest collections and exciting new launches. This season welcomes adorable pastel Baby Dinosaurs and reimagined woodland favourites, including deer, foxes and rabbits, alongside the return of a customer favourite, the Classic Sherwood Bear.

Discover one of its bestselling collections, Keeleco Botanical Garden. Bring colour to every display with 12 beautifully crafted flowers and plants made from incredibly soft velvet fabrics. From delicate Snowdrops and vibrant Pansies to Succulents and Cherry Blossoms, each design bursts with personality. Even the least successful gardener can keep this collection blooming all year round!

Visitors will also receive an exclusive first look at the 2027 Valentine’s collection, reimagined using its softest recycled fabrics and complete with elegant rose and heart detailing.

Visit the Keel Toys stand to explore the complete collection. The Call: 01233 506363 team looks forward to welcoming you and helping you make your Email: sales@keeltoys.com range stronger than ever.

Stand: Hall 7 B40-C41 Visit: www.keeltoys.com

14/08/2026 16:59

OPINION OPINION

Bryony Taylor-Edwards, founder of Think Big Coaching, explains why garden gifting deserves a place on every retailer’s radar, sharing her favourite brands, practical merchandising ideas and advice on how to build a profitable year-round display

The category that keeps blooming G

arden gifting is, I’ll admit, the category that rarely gets a look in. For garden centres, it often becomes an afterthought once the outdoor furniture and seasonal plants have been sorted. And in gift shops, it’s often overlooked as a nice-to-have but non-essential.

But for me, garden gifting has always been a quiet achiever - and not just in the warmer months.

For a start, this category is extensive. Yes, it includes items for the garden, but increasingly the garden has moved indoors in the form of botanical hand wash and nature-inspired home fragrance.

So in this issue, I’m giving it its moment. And trust me, after eight years specialising in this space, I have plenty to say…

Let’s start with the consumer. According to Hillarys’ ‘Garden Industry Statistics 2025’, around 27 million people in the UK - roughly 42% of the population enjoy gardening as a hobby.

The garden is no longer just somewhere we potter about at the weekend. It’s an extension of the home, a source of enjoyment and, increasingly, an inspiration for gifting.

So what should be on your shelves? If you’re seeking the most accessible entry point, look no further than a potted pelargonium. Cheerful and colourful, it’s the gift that practically sells itself.

But presentation matters enormously. I’d always pair a beautiful plant with an equally beautiful pot, and for inspiration I’d look to Lechuza. Its integrated self-watering system is a genuinely clever design. It looks lovely, lasts for years and takes the worry out of watering for the recipient.

The heirloom gift Every category needs its statement piece: the gift someone wouldn’t buy for themselves but would treasure for years. In garden gifting, that is a Haws watering can. Founded in 1886, Haws is recognised as the world’s oldest watering can

manufacturer still in operation, renowned for its iconic designs and enduring craftsmanship.

Yes, they sit at a higher price point, but this isn’t simply a purchase - it’s an investment. A Haws watering can in a beautiful colour is the kind of object that’s passed down, talked about, and genuinely used.

It earns its place on any shelf and rewards buyers confident enough to stock it.

The garden comes indoors

Not every garden gift needs to be a considered purchase. Shell on Earth offers something genuinely different: a gorgeous, sustainable gift range that speaks directly to the environmentally conscious gardener. The products are beautiful, the sustainability credentials are impressive, and the price points make them accessible as an impulse or add-on gift.

Alongside it, I’d place Anya Lautenbach’s book, “The Money-Saving Gardener: Containers”. This elegant, practical guide to planting in spaces of any size has broad appeal. Anyone with a balcony, doorstep, or patio will find it invaluable. Garden books are still underestimated by many buyers. Don’t make that mistake.

What I find most compelling about this category and what I think many buyers still underestimate - is how far the garden’s influence now extends into the home.

Floral and botanical-inspired soaps, hand creams and home fragrance have become a natural extension of the garden gift category, creating a significant opportunity for buyers willing to think a little laterally.

My go-tos are Folk Soap for its British-made, palm oilfree soaps, and Kew Gardens’ botanical-inspired hand creams and diffusers manufactured by The English Soap Company.

C.Atherley is one of the standout names in highend home and garden retail. Its pelargonium-led range has inspired a wave of complementary products - from gift wrap to greeting cards - turning a single hero scent into an entire in-store display.

The customer who buys a Haws watering can is very likely the same customer who will reach for C.Atherley’s No. 4 hand cream, inspired by the scent of the Attar of Roses pelargonium. And you can weave some core gardening products in with these natureinspired delights. It’s all about thoughtful curation.

The tool that means it

The buyer’s view

For the serious gardener, the gift has to match their standards. Niwaki is the answer.

Japanese-made and built to last, these are tools of genuine craftsmanship that passionate gardeners immediately recognise and appreciate.

They make a lasting gift and bring quiet authority to any display.

Garden gifting is not a secondary category. It’s a year-round opportunity. Get the mix right with a clear entry price point, a statement piece, a book or two, a sustainable option, and something for the serious gardener, and this category will reward you handsomely. It always has for me. Let me know how you get on!

The quick pick-up

Bryony Taylor-Edwards is the founder of Think Big Coaching. A leadership coach, brand consultant and strategist, she works with visionary leaders to expand their capacity, sharpen their thinking, and drive creative, sustainable growth in their businesses.

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OPINION

OPINION

An ode to the

home & gift buyer…

Home & Gift Association managing director Gemma Sault celebrates the oftenunsung role of buyers, whose commercial instincts, creativity and decision-making help shape the success of brands, retailers and the wider home and gift industry

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f suppliers are the stars of the show, then buyers are the directors, the stage managers and occasionally the firefighters putting out unexpected blazes behind the scenes.

In the home and gift industry, buyers are some of the busiest people you’ll ever meet. They spend their days analysing sales data, predicting trends, managing Managing Director budgets, reviewing products, negotiating with suppliers Gemma Sault, and planning ranges months before products ever reach the shelves.

Ask most people what a buyer does and you’ll often hear: “They buy things, don’t they?” Technically, yes. But that’s a bit like saying Sir Lewis Hamilton “just drives a car”.

Today’s buyers need to balance creativity with commerciality. They’re expected to spot trends before they happen, understand changing consumer behaviour, support innovation while minimising risk, and select products that customers will love. One brilliant decision can create the next bestseller. One poor decision can leave a warehouse full of products nobody wants. No pressure, then.

For many buyers, the day is a juggling act of supplier meetings, internal reviews, sales reporting, budgeting, forecasting and product development.

Most start the morning with a full inbox and somehow finish the day with even more emails than they started with.

Meanwhile, suppliers are often wondering why they haven’t received a reply after only 23 minutes despite having sent a LinkedIn connection request.

The reality is that buyers are making decisions that influence thousands of products, millions of pounds of investment, and the success of countless businesses across the country.

The importance of buyers becomes even clearer when you look at the scale of the sector they support. A recent independent report from the Fraser of Allander Institute found that the UK’s

gift economy contributes approximately £58.2 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supports around 844,545 full-time equivalent jobs across the UK economy.

Gift-related spending directly supports more than 421,000 jobs and generates almost £21.8 billion in GVA, before wider supply chain benefits are taken into account.

These aren’t small numbers. They demonstrate the enormous impact of an industry driven by innovative products, strong suppliers and, crucially, the expertise of buyers who connect those products with consumers.

Behind many successful brands is a buyer who took a chance. Buyers are often the first people to spot emerging trends, champion new products, and give growing businesses their break. Their decisions shape what appears in stores, what consumers discover, and ultimately what succeeds in the marketplace.

In many ways, buyers are entrepreneurs within their organisations, making calculated decisions every day that influence revenue, customer experience and future growth.

At the Home & Gift Association, we recognise both the importance of buyers and the pressures they face. That’s why we’ve created the Buyers Circle, a community designed specifically for retail buyers.

The Buyers Circle provides a space for buyers to breathe, find new products free of charge, access

industry insights, attend exclusive events and build valuable relationships across the sector.

While suppliers, manufacturers and retailers all have established networks, buyers often spend much of their time making fast-paced commercial decisions with limited opportunities to connect with others who truly understand the unique demands of the role.

This is our way of giving something back to the people whose decisions help power our industry. And because buyers already have enough purchasing decisions to make, membership of our Buyers Circle is completely free.

So here’s to the buyers: the trendspotters, the commercial strategists, the negotiators, the risk-takers, the category experts - and the inbox warriors trying to review sales reports, attend meetings, plan future ranges and answer your email all at the same time.

Without buyers, innovation would struggle to reach the market, new brands would find it harder to grow, and consumers would have far fewer exciting products to discover. They may be some of the busiest people in the industry, but they’re also some of the most important.

So, to all buyers: thank you. We see you, we appreciate you, and we know your inbox is probably terrifying. And if you’re at Autumn Fair, pop by and see us in Hall 9 on Stand B64-C65. We have a little treat for you…

The Home & Gift Association (formerly known as The Giftware Association) is the UK’s dedicated trade body for the home and gift industry. Established in 1947, its core mission is to support, connect, and educate businesses of all sizes by promoting growth, innovation, and sustainability. Key services include business support, networking, education, government lobbying, international trade, and running the annual Gift of the Year Awards.

Benefits of membership include mentoring, discounts on trade shows and hotel bookings, professional consultations, rebates on exhibition space at major events like Spring Fair and Autumn Fair, and access to exclusive content and expert advice. The Association is active at trade shows both in the UK and internationally, and is recognised for fostering a vibrant and collaborative community within the industry.

Call: 0121 236 2657 Email: gemma.sault@hga-uk.org Visit: https://www.homeandgiftassociation.org.uk/ www.giftoftheyear.co.uk

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The art of fine writing.

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See our brand new full range of twelve licensed Ballpoint Pens and our unrivalled collection of cards, gifting and homewares at Top Drawer Stand C39.

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Tel: 01373 462165

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Preview

Fast forward

to design The UK’s design-led retail trade show Top Drawer A/W is returning to the newlook Olympia London from September 13 to September 15. Registrations are now open to the trade

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his season, Top Drawer continues to invite retailers to ‘fast forward to design’, as it brings together a curated mix of contemporary brands, emerging talent, and established suppliers from across Europe and beyond.

Positioned at a key moment in the buying calendar, the show provides buyers with access to more than 25,000 products from over 500 hand-selected brands - 30% of which are making their show debut - across the Home, Gift, Fashion, Greetings, Wellbeing, Play, and Launchpad show sections.

As retailers face growing pressure to differentiate their offer and stay ahead of evolving consumer trends, the value of curated product discovery has never been greater. Long established as a trusted destination for design-led retail, Top Drawer meets this need through an exhibitor line-up that brings together originality, craftsmanship, new talent, and established industry favourites.

Launchpad returns to spotlight emerging creative businesses, while the show’s partnership with the University of the Arts London (UAL) continues to provide a platform for the next generation of designers and makers.

The Trends Feature, curated by The Better Trends Co., will once again explore the consumer and design movements influencing the retail landscape, translating key trend shifts into commercial opportunities for buyers.

Beyond product discovery, Top Drawer remains an important meeting place for the industry, bringing together buyers, brands, and designers for three days of meaningful conversations, relationship-building, and business development.

As Edinburgh-based retailer Paper Tiger commented on the January edition of the fair: “Top Drawer London was a great way to kick off the year. It’s always a pleasure to see so many suppliers in one place, and reassuring to discover ranges that genuinely feel right for today’s customers. The show continues to deliver strong product, meaningful conversations, and the chance to reconnect with familiar faces while discovering what’s new. It’s a valuable few days that sets the tone for the buying season ahead.”

David Westbrooke, event director at Top Drawer, said: “One of the biggest challenges facing retailers today is finding the time to properly research, vet and source new products. That’s the hard work we do on their behalf.

“Our team spends the year identifying contemporary brands, fresh talent, and innovative products from across the world, carefully curating an edit that brings together quality, originality and commercial relevance. The aim is to create the most diverse and considered offering possible, helping buyers cut through the noise and source with confidence.

“Top Drawer has always been about championing great design, but it’s equally about making discovery easier. By bringing this curated community together in London, we create an environment where retailers can see products first-hand, meet the people behind the brands, and uncover opportunities they may never have found online.

“In a market where everyone is competing for attention, thoughtful curation matters more than ever - it’s what continues to set Top Drawer apart. So, if you’re looking to find your next bestsellers and fill your shelves with the very best design-led products from around the world, fast forward to design at Olympia this September.”

Speakers at the fair include Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, founder of The Black Farmer; Louise Healy, co-founder of The Better Trends Company; Lisa Paashe, founder of EKTE Vision; and Kim Hulse, founder of K Hulse Consulting.

What: Top Drawer A/W26 Where: Olympia London When: September 13-15 Call: 0207 3847996 Email: hello@topdrawer.co.uk Visit: www.topdrawer.co.uk

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Meet the Enchanting World of Charlie Bears From cuddly companions, perfect for newborns to hand-crafted, limited-edition heirlooms to collect and cherish, our family of brands offers a magical bear for everyone.

Discover the magic that Charlie Bears has to offer at this year’s Top Drawer Autumn/Winter Show Join us on Stand O38 Or contact our dedicated UK sales team at: uk-sales@charliebears.com to discuss bringing the magic of Charlie Bears to your store

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Where magic l Mythical storytelling meets collectable appeal in Bearhouse by Charlie Bears’ enchanting new Yeti family, bringing premium plush, playful personalities, and irresistible shelf appeal

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he most memorable gifts don’t simply fill a shelf - they tell a story. As consumers increasingly seek gifts with meaning, personality, and emotional connection, storytelling has become one of the biggest influences shaping the gift industry.

From the enduring success of Harry Potter to the resurgence of magical film remakes, folklore, fantasy and nostalgic escapism continue to captivate audiences of every generation.

They offer people a chance to step into enchanting worlds filled with wonder, imagination, and characters they instantly fall in love with. It’s a trend that Bearhouse by Charlie Bears has embraced wholeheartedly.

Part of the Charlie Bears’ House of Brands, Bearhouse was launched just last year by the family-owned Cornish company behind the UK’s much-loved handmade collectable bears. For more than two decades, Charlie Bears has built an international reputation for creating handcrafted characters with heart, each one lovingly designed with its own personality.

Bearhouse takes that same philosophy into an entirely new mythical world, where dragons soar, trolls sparkle, gargoyles guard ancient secrets, giants roam, and ogres become unexpectedly lovable companions.

Now, just in time for Christmas gifting, Bearhouse is introducing a new family of magical beings… Meet the Yetis. Inspired by one of the world’s most enduring legends, these magnificent mythical creatures have been reimagined as irresistible collectable characters that feel both magical and huggable.

Rather than fearsome mountain beasts, the Bearhouse Yetis are gentle guardians of snowy peaks, with each one brought to life through luxurious plush fabrics, frosted pastel colour palettes, and beautifully sculpted details that invite customers to reach out and pick them up.

Designed to become statement pieces within any gift display, every Yeti has its own distinctive personality. Their names are inspired by expressive sounds that perfectly capture their playful characters.

Leading the family is Thud, the largest of the group at 14 inches, whose calming grey tones and generous proportions make him perfect for oversized hugs. At the opposite end is Oomph, the smallest member of the family at just 10 inches, featuring striking blue tones and two horn-like antlers that make him impossible to overlook.

Between them sits the wonderfully whimsical Trundle, measuring 12.5 inches with a snowy white face complemented by soft purple hues, while Galumph stands proudly at 12 inches in warm, earthy browns, with a distinctive single antler adding extra personality.

Completing the family is Tip Toe, an 11-inch Yeti whose delicate pink feet and pair of tiny horns make her every bit as enchanting as her companions.

From the luxurious, tactile plush fabrics to the bespoke pebbleshaped embroidery stitched into every footpad, these are premium pieces that give retailers a chance to share some real theatre in-store.

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lives Their impressive sizes, striking silhouettes and soft winterinspired colours naturally draw customers towards displays. Whether merchandised together as a magical mountain family or displayed alongside the brand’s dragons, trolls, gargoyles, giants and ogres, they create an immersive retail experience that encourages discovery, impulse purchases, and repeat visits.

Perhaps that’s what makes Bearhouse so distinctive within today’s gift market. While trends often come and go, storytelling never loses its appeal. Children immediately embrace fantasy and adventure, while adults are drawn to nostalgia, craftsmanship and collectability. It’s a rare collection that comfortably bridges generations, making it equally at home in premium gift shops, garden centres, visitor attractions, department stores and destination retailers.

With Christmas fast approaching, consumers are also looking for gifts that feel different from the ordinary. They’re searching for presents that become keepsakes rather than passing trends. The Bearhouse by Charlie Bears Yetis deliver exactly that, offering retailers an opportunity to stock something genuinely distinctive during the busiest gifting season of the year.

For retailers looking to create moments of wonder in-store, the Yetis offer exactly the kind of standout products that stop shoppers in their tracks. Full of personality, rich in storytelling, and beautifully crafted, they’re destined to become one of this season’s most talkedabout gift collections.

Discover the magic for yourself at Top Drawer A/W26 this September, where the Charlie Bears team will be showcasing the enchanting Bearhouse by Charlie Bears on Stand O38.

Stand: O38 Call: 01566 777 092 Email: uk-sales@charliebears.com Visit: www.charliebears.com

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The gift of time Cotton & Grey turns 20 minutes of candlelight into a thoughtful ritual, pairing pure beeswax candles with a ceramic holder to encourage calm, connection, reflection and wellbeing

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n an increasingly busy world, Cotton & Grey has created a beautifully simple way to pause. The British gift brand is best known for its Twenty Minute Candles: carefully considered gifts designed to encourage the recipient to step away from everyday distractions and enjoy a short, meaningful moment of candlelight.

Each little box contains 12 pure beeswax candles and a ceramic holder. Every candle burns for at least 20 minutes - just enough time to sit quietly, read a chapter, practise mindfulness, reflect on the day, or simply enjoy doing nothing at all.

The idea is uncomplicated, but its appeal is broad. Cotton & Grey’s growing collection includes sentiments for friendship, encouragement, celebration, remembrance and self-care. Titles such as The Gift of Time, You’ve Got This, Thinking of You, Lovely Friend, Me Time, Breathe and Hug in a Box allow customers to choose a gift that feels personal without becoming overly formal or complicated.

Thoughtful words are paired with distinctive packaging, available in six pattern ranges, making the collection easy to merchandise across gift, lifestyle, book, wellbeing and homeware stores.

Designs range from soft watercolours and florals to contemporary abstract, folk and vintage-inspired artwork. The compact boxes work equally well as standalone gifts, additions to hampers or small gestures to accompany a card or bouquet.

At the heart of the brand is the belief that a meaningful gift does not need to be extravagant.

Sometimes the most valuable thing one person

can give another is permission to stop for a while.

By turning 20 minutes into a small ritual, Cotton & Grey offers an accessible alternative to conventional candles and wellbeing products.

The use of pure beeswax adds another special element. Naturally coloured and gently scented, the slender candles create a warm, steady flame without the need for artificial fragrance. Their short burn time also makes them particularly suited to meditation, reading, journalling, prayer and evening wind-down routines.

For retailers, the collection offers strong year-round gifting potential alongside natural seasonal opportunities including birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, friendship gifting, and moments of sympathy or support. Co-ordinated collections, multilingual editions, display units, and customisation options allow the range to be adapted for different stores, customers and markets.

Cotton & Grey continues to expand its designs while remaining faithful to the simple idea behind the original collection: creating thoughtful products that help people pause, reconnect, and make a little time for themselves.

Stand: N49 Call: 07931 373756 Email: info@cottonandgrey.com Visit: cottonandgrey.com

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Not just for Christmas Discover Namaste’s new Autumn/Winter collection at Top Drawer A/W26, showcasing sustainable products that combine contemporary style, character and lasting appeal

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s the seasons change and thoughts turn to cosy interiors, thoughtful gifting and seasonal styling, Namaste unveils its new Autumn/Winter Collection.

Carefully curated to celebrate traditional craftsmanship, sustainable materials and enduring design, the collection offers retailers a wealth of beautifully handmade products designed to bring warmth, colour and character.

Founded in 1997, Namaste has spent almost three decades working with artisan producers around the world, sourcing fairly traded products that celebrate traditional skills while supporting sustainable livelihoods. From handwoven textiles and artisan homeware to festive decorations and gifts, every collection reflects the company’s commitment to ethical trading, responsible sourcing and exceptional craftsmanship.

Throughout the new Autumn/Winter Collection, a common thread runs through every range: care. Whether created from natural fibres, crafted by hand using traditional techniques, or made from recycled materials given a new lease of life, each product has been thoughtfully designed with sustainability in mind and made to last. In a world increasingly dominated by mass-produced goods, Namaste continues to champion products that offer authenticity, quality and longevity.

Among the highlights are vibrant recycled sari wreaths, garlands and gifts that transform reclaimed textiles into colourful statement pieces. Each one is unique, celebrating both the beauty of handcrafted production and the potential of recycled materials.

Alongside these, new faces have been added to Namaste’s best-selling Christmas Felt collection, bringing even more personality, charm and collectability to a festive favourite that retailers return to year after year.

The collection also embraces key trends for the season ahead. Traditional block printing features across a range of homeware, nightwear and accessories, showcasing decorative florals and artisan craftsmanship that continue to resonate with consumers seeking characterful style.

Meanwhile, playful red and pink striped designs add a fresh, contemporary twist, offering a trend-led colour story that works beautifully across gifting and accessories.

Celestial motifs also shine throughout the collection, with on-trend moon and star designs featured across soft furnishings, gifting, trinket dishes, beaded earrings and more.

While the collection captures the warmth and comfort associated with autumn and winter, its appeal extends far beyond the festive period. Handwoven baskets, clothing, rugs and decorative accessories are designed to move effortlessly from season to season, encouraging customers to invest in well-made pieces that become part of their homes rather than short-lived buys. This versatility provides retailers with collections that offer longevity, strong storytelling opportunities and year-round appeal.

At its heart, the Autumn/Winter Collection represents everything Namaste is known for: beautifully crafted fair-trade products, traditional artisan skills and a passion for sustainable design. By combining natural materials, recycled resources and timeless craftsmanship, the collection demonstrates that style, quality and sustainability can work hand in hand. More than seasonal products, these are pieces designed to be enjoyed, gifted and treasured long after Christmas has passed.

Retailers can explore the Autumn/Winter Collection and discover the latest launches on stand F17, where the Namaste team will be showcasing the range and sharing the stories behind the products. Visitors are warmly invited to stop by and experience firsthand a collection that combines craftsmanship, sustainability and contemporary design.

Stand: F17 Call: 01756 700790 Email: sales@namaste-uk.com Visit: www.namaste-uk.com

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FINE BONE CHINA MUGS

6 witty, deadpan designs, featuring bright neon colours and branded packaging.

PRE-ORDER NOW! (OCTOBER DELIVERY)

(t) 0116 230 4197 (w) www.mint-publishing.co.uk (e) sales@mint-publishing.co.uk Wild Things.indd 1

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Preview

Christmas, wrapped up Robert Frederick

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obert Frederick will have you well-stocked ahead of the most wonderful time of the year, with newness arriving just in time for Top Drawer.

Expanding on the company’s popular range of Christmas Fairy Tale Pop-Up books, you can expect to see 48-piece puzzles featuring characters from The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol and the Nativity.

Packaged in cylindrical gift boxes with silver foil detailing, these will make a colourful addition to any Christmas display. Pair them with the matching Diamond Painting set to offer customers the perfect screen-free solution to keeping kids entertained.

Meanwhile, its bestselling Gruffalo stocking, complete with furry texture and embroidered details, now has competition from a brand-new Paddington stocking - as furry as the bear himself! Both licences now include Christmas-themed gifts, including a Make and Play Art Set, Colour Your Own Christmas Cards and an enamel mug perfectly sized for a hot chocolate!

Robert Frederick has also expanded its stationery offering with new collections showcasing beloved Beatrix Potter characters and William Morris’ timeless Strawberry Thief print across practical notepads, planners, pens and accessories. These stylish stationery pieces make thoughtful gifts and eyecatching additions to any Christmas display.

Call: 01225 310 107 Add a little festive magic Email: sales@robert-frederick.co.uk to your shelves by visiting Robert Frederick on Stand Visit: www.robert-frederick-trade.co.uk N18 at Top Drawer.

Stand: N18

Fold and behold Pikkii

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ikkii is expanding its bestselling Fold Your Own origami collection with the launch of Paper Pigeons, a new paper craft kit inspired by one of Britain’s most recognisable birds.

The kit contains everything needed to fold a charming flock of 50 paper pigeons in three distinct plumage patterns, complete with easy-to-follow instructions that make it suitable for both first-time folders and seasoned origami fans. Once complete, the pigeons can be perched on desks, bookshelves or around the home, creating a playful display that’s sure to get people talking.

Paper Pigeons joins Pikkii’s growing Fold Your Own range, which has fast become a popular choice for retailers looking for creative, design-led gifts with broad appeal. The collection spans a wide variety of themes, from the bestselling Paper Pups and Paper Cats to Dinosaurs and Paper Sheep.

Alongside other imaginative paper craft kits, the range offers satisfying, mindful, screen-free activities that result in striking paper creations to display and enjoy long after the folding is complete. With the addition of kits designed especially for children, there really is something for everyone.

Designed with gifting in mind, the range combines contemporary packaging with an engaging hands-on experience, making it ideal for birthdays, stocking fillers and everyday gifting. With Paper Pigeons joining the collection, Pikkii continues to prove that Call: 0203 580 9874 a simple sheet of paper can be transformed into something Email: trade.pikkii.com surprisingly impressive.

Stand: 031

Visit: nhttps://trade.pikkii.com/

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A gallery

of new gifts Museums & Galleries returns to Top Drawer with a host of gift and stationery launches, from ballpoint pens and fine bone china mugs to Beatrix Potter and a London-themed collection

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useums & Galleries (M&G) administration & relationship manager Sophie Bylina-Williams is thrilled with the company’s return to exhibiting at Top Drawer. “We’ve found it to be a key date in our autumn marketing calendar,” she says.

“The show’s design-centred ethos is a good match for M&G, and lots of buyers visit with a focus on looking for Christmas giftables. Over the last couple of years we’ve rearranged our publishing schedule to make significant product launches at Top Drawer and this year, in my opinion, what we have to share is absolutely unmissable!”

Sophie is referring to two product launches. First out of M&G’s box of goodies is a stylish range of 12 ballpoint pens presented in matching cardboard, plastic-free gift boxes. The packaging and pens work in concert to emphasise the beautiful repeat patterns that M&G has selected from its roster of licences. The ballpoint pens feature a metal clip and tip, with a retractable twist action and replaceable black ink cartridges. The pens have a suggested retail price of £11.99.

Of course, M&G is synonymous with the V&A, and the range features five designs from the museum, three of them by the incomparable (and currently super-fashionable) William Morris: Strawberry Thief, Leicester, and Willow Bough. A relatively new pick for M&G, Willow Bough is one of Morris’ most popular designs and was the design that William’s daughter May Morris chose to furnish her bedroom.

Rococo, inspired by the work of pioneering British textile designer Anna Maria Garthwaite, has had success for M&G on stationery products launched for the museum’s ‘Marie Antoinette Style’ exhibition. The last V&A design, ‘Marching Guardsmen’, also joins a co-ordinated design group of stationery and gift products.

The other pens showcase designs from the British Museum, NHM, Sarah Campbell, and Wild Press by Helen Ahpornsiri.

M&G’s second major release is a collection of seven fine bone china mugs featuring two more from the V&A, a new mug from the NHM, another mug by the inimitable Angela Harding, a Van Gogh Sunflowers mug, a Christmas mug from Brambly Hedge, and a Peter Rabbit mug.

This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, and M&G is launching two collections of Beatrix Potter gift packaging products, for everyday and Christmas: sheet and roll wrap, gift tissue packs, and two sizes each of gift bags.

There is a beautiful large theme pack of 16 notecards and envelopes, and a smaller pack of eight thank-you cards and envelopes. A luxury A5 notebook will inspire the user’s own dreams and creativity, or you could simply decorate your space with a magnetic notepad. An organic cotton pencil case will keep pens and pencils tidy.

Plus, there is a stylish organic cotton tote bag, a fine bone china mug with keepsake gift box, a set of cork-backed coasters, four bookmarks, a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, and a pack of playing cards.

Finally, and appropriately for a London show, M&G has a collection featuring contemporary illustrator Josie Shenoy’s decorative London Map - a big hit with customers since the initial card design was released earlier this year.

The new collection, entitled London Landmarks, includes a fine bone china mug, a PLA mug, an insulated metal bottle, a cork-backed coaster set, an organic cotton tea towel set, a playing cards pack, a magnetic notepad, and an A5 journal.

Stand: C39 Call: 01373 462165 Email: sales@mgml.co.uk Visit: www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

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Fragrance,

made personal F.Y.G

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.Y.G will bring a design-led and deeply personal approach to fragrance to Top Drawer. Leading the presentation will be the five-fragrance Signature Collection: Rouge Lychee, Velvet Ember, Citrus Verve, Arctic Lotus and Chestnut Cashmere. Spanning candles, diffusers, tin candles and wax melt bars, the collection combines clean glass vessels with bold striped packaging and accessible gifting price points.

Every Signature candle and diffuser also includes three matt-black Your Signature Mark labels, allowing the customer to personalise the vessel and choose the mood they want it to express.

Buyers can also discover Candle Pearls, F.Y.G’s reusable 500g Forever Candle format, supplied with 30 cotton wicks and designed to be refreshed, restyled and used again. The collection will be shown alongside F.Y.G’s established Back to Basics home fragrance and bath & body range.

Founded by Demi Pendakis, F.Y.G creates fragrance around mood, memory and personal expression, with wider expertise spanning bespoke scent development and commercial fragrancing.

Stand: M40 Call: 0208 914 7974 Email: contact@fyghome.com Visit: www.fyghome.com

Fun with a retro vibe Ornament Art

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lthough still relatively new to the industry, Ornament Art is developing a following for its fun and feel-good blend of vintage style and contemporary humour. The quirky photo-art brand will be exhibiting at Top Drawer with a range that is big on nostalgia, bold colour and smiles.

This summer it launched six new collections featuring retro treats, from 1980s-inspired Mix Tapes to mischievous ceramics and the deliciously kitsch Hot Cakes range, which promises a cake for every occasion.

Inspired by the reaction to the new ranges, the brand has also created 15 additional festive cards, each bold, neon bright and full of Christmas cheer.

In addition, Ornament Art will exhibit its debut premium greetings collection.

Unapologetically maximalist, the range showcases the antiques and collectables it loves to source, style and photograph.

Lavish and extroverted, the range is called The Exhibitionists. Hand-finished in the brand’s studio space, every card has an archive-quality photo-art image set on a debossed neon mount. These beautiful greeting cards are essentially photographs ready to frame, making them the perfect keepsakes for special occasions.

Excited by its recent launch, the brand has already added five more designs to its gift wrap range. The kitsch fullscale photo images fill each sheet with treasures and nostalgia, creating colourful Call: 07971 704650 and fun gift wrap that’s Email: joanne@ornament.art special enough to frame.

Stand: T29

Visit: www.ornament.art

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Magnificent

mugs from M!NT M!NT celebrates its 20th anniversary with a bold expansion into stationery and gift homewares, led by its vibrant To Be Frank! humour range and new fine bone china mugs

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pecialist humour greeting card publisher M!NT is marking its 20th anniversary in vibrant style, launching a major push into the stationery and gift homewares markets. Anchoring this ambitious brand extension is To Be Frank!, M!NT’s visually striking and top-selling humour range, which is making a seamless transition from retail card racks to a broad lifestyle collection.

The expansion began with a soft launch last summer, followed by a steady rollout of new releases over recent months. The complete collection to date takes centre stage at Top Drawer, with a striking release of To Be Frank fine bone china mugs and cork-backed coasters.

From the start, it was important for the production team to maintain M!NT’s ethos of using contrasting neon colours across all products showcasing the brand.

For the new fine bone china mugs, this necessitated a process of research and testing to get the colour mix entirely right, with the stunning results on display to visitors at Top Drawer.

Similarly, the M!NT team believes that the optimum brand experience for To Be Frank is achieved through making the humour laser-focused on the product function itself, so all the jokes are based on drinking, whether tea or coffee or, in the case of some of the coasters, alcohol.

Anita Dragicevic, creative lead at M!NT, explained that the creative team brainstorms the initial humour, which then goes through a process of refinement and crowd testing before being finally selected for the products.

Creative director Ben Dorney highlighted the distinct identity behind the range’s enduring popularity. He said: “The To Be Frank! ethos is a mix of witty one-liners and funny deadpan delivery, all presented in a palette of secretly blended neon colours. It’s the last word in colourful humour!”

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That vibrancy is far from standard commercial printing.

The “secretly blended” neon inks are custom-formulated specifically for M!NT, which the brand describes as a groundbreaking move within the greeting card and stationery sector. Achieving precise, consistent colour matches across varied product substrates using different specialised manufacturers presented a major technical hurdle, but the resulting visual punch sets the collection apart on busy retail shelves.

Carefully curated for both everyday self-purchase and impulse gift-giving, the product line-up focuses on popular retail formats: • Stationery & Paper: A5 notebooks featuring quality textured covers, soft-touch lamination, custom neon inks, and detailed embossing (housing 160 pages of premium lined paper), alongside practical magnetic pads and bookmarks.

• Impulse Gifts & Accessories: Eye-catching fridge magnets, durable keyrings, and single-design coasters supplied in counter-ready units of six.

• Gift Packaging: Co-ordinated large, medium, and bottle-sized gift bags that carry the range’s trademark neon aesthetic directly into gift presentation.

• And now, Gift Homewares: six individually packaged fine bone china mugs.

By pairing unapologetic, sharp-witted editorial content with high-end manufacturing techniques, M!NT enters its third decade well-positioned to offer stockists a proven revenue driver beyond the traditional card aisle.

Stand: C39 Call: 01373 462165 Email: sales@mgml.co.uk Visit: www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

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Preview

Giftware

brands galore at BLE Discover thousands of license-ready brands at Brand Licensing Europe (BLE), perfect for giftware collaborations, from entertainment and sport to heritage, museums and lifestyle

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n two months, 11,000 European retailers, manufacturers and brand owners will come together at Brand Licensing Europe (BLE), taking place from October 6 to October 8 at ExCeL London, to network, uncover new brands and deep dive into the consumer trends powering the $389.8 billion global licensing market.

Let’s look at the opportunities brand licensing can offer to giftware professionals and why they should attend this leading event for licensing and brand extension…

Driving business growth Brands are so much more than a logo; they represent lifestyles, values, desires, emotions and social tribes. This is why branded gifts are such a powerful way for retailers to connect with consumers, as well as expand reach, loyalty and revenue, and drive sustainable business growth. It’s also why consumers are often willing to pay more for branded products than non-branded alternatives.

Thousands of brands At BLE, there are thousands of brands ready to be licensed, and many are suitable for giftware - whether that’s candles or a beautiful throw for the home, stationery, a scarf or scent for a birthday gift, or books, toys and games for the kids.

Brands like Manchester City FC, Bluey, Peppa Pig, Sonic the Hedgehog, Pokémon, Coca-Cola and Jeep, alongside the biggest BLE collection of museums, heritage and non-profit brands ever, offer plenty of opportunities for giftware businesses.

With hundreds of years of rich archives for gift retailers and manufacturers to delve into, brands such as the V&A, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Imperial War Museum, London Zoo, National Gallery, Tate, Ashmolean Museum, National Trust Scotland, English Heritage and the Royal Shakespeare Company are perfect for branded gifts.

Practical content and insights

Retail destination

Visitors can also immerse themselves in the content programme, which is bursting with valuable insight, trends, case studies and more, offering actionable information that can make a positive difference to their business.

French retail giant Carrefour will deliver an exclusive opening-day keynote entitled ‘The Power of Partnership in European Retail’, alongside licensees Jazwares and Sun City. A panel discussion will explore the trio’s recent Pokémon collaboration, including exclusive insight into how the partnership came to life, the strategic decisions that shaped it, and the exciting plans for its activation across Europe.

And 25 years after ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ first captivated audiences in cinemas worldwide, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products will reveal the strategic playbook behind one of the most valuable entertainment properties ever in a keynote conversation.

Other sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including a look at how Universal identifies cultural opportunities and emerging trends to turn entertainment properties into enduring global franchises.

‘Timeless brands, modern moves: Heritage & museum licensing strategies’ brings together experts from London Zoo, the Natural History Museum, Van Gogh Museum and Tate to discuss how successful brand partnerships can be built while protecting their heritage and mission.

Other sessions include ‘State of the Nation: The brand licensing forecast, from factory to market: understanding your manufacturing and licensee partners’, and ‘Trust wears well: building authentic partnerships consumers believe in’, alongside many more.

Last year more than 1,100 retailers visited BLE, including Asda, ASOS, Boots, Forbidden Planet, Frasers Group, Marks & Spencer, Next, Pets at Home, Poundland, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Tesco, and WH Smith - all of which sell giftware - to find new partners, network with retail peers and licensing industry professionals, and enjoy educational content curated by industry experts at License Global.

Visitor registration is open now and passes are free until October 5 for giftware retailers and manufacturers.

What: Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) Where: ExCeL London When: 6-8 October 2026 Email: BLEcustomerservice@informa.com Visit: www.brandlicensing.eu

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Product Focus Licensed Gifts

Captivate Brands

Rainbow Designs

Licensed for success From much-loved heritage characters to fresh new properties, the licensed gifts sector continues to evolve, with plenty of potential across price points, formats and generations

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icensed gifts have become a powerful part of the gifting mix, combining the familiarity of well-loved characters with the excitement of newness. As retailers look ahead to the all-important Q4 season and beyond, we asked two suppliers what’s catching consumers’ attention, where the opportunities lie, and what they’re planning next...

Jake Doney, design manager of Captivate Brands, and Zara Hynes, senior brand manager of Rainbow Designs, share their views.

Jake Doney

Zara Hynes

What’s driving growth in licensed gifts right now?

Jake: Consumers are looking to purchase homewares - or gift them to others - which reflect their personality.

Designs with clear aesthetics, heritage or that are distinctly different are performing well.

So in terms of licensed products, the most effective brands, and ones you can ensure will naturally translate into a home gift setting, are those which combine an authentic lifestyle story with a clear visual identity.

Consumers will pay a premium because they see it as an investment something with enduring appeal rather than a trendled buy. They are opting for quality products combined with design and a brand they can genuinely connect with.

Zara: Licensed gifts continue to benefit from the enduring appeal

of much-loved characters and brands, particularly when they combine nostalgia and familiarity with fresh, contemporary products.

For retailers, trusted licences such as Paddington, Peter Rabbit and Disney Winnie the Pooh offer strong recognition and reassurance, while collectable impulse-friendly and giftable formats, as we see in our Mr. Men Little Miss and new Pembe the Pink Cat ranges, can help drive incremental sales.

We’re also seeing opportunities across a broad range of price points, from pocket-money and small impulse gifts through to more substantial plush and beautifully presented gift sets.

The strength of a licence is particularly valuable when it can appeal across generations, and our portfolio of heritage characters alongside newer, more contemporary properties enables retailers to offer something for a wide range of gifting occasions and consumers.

What opportunities do you see for retailers in Q4?

Jake: If retailers place greater emphasis on licensed ranges that offer strong storytelling and clear differentiation, they will do well. In a competitive market, well-executed licensing gives a compelling reason for consumers to opt for one product rather than another. For retailers, this approach means they will have collections that are distinctive, both in-store and online.

Zara: Q4 offers retailers a strong opportunity to maximise the appeal of licensed characters across gifting, impulse and seasonal purchases. Plush remains an important gift choice, while collectable characters and accessible price points can encourage add-on purchases and provide options for different budgets.

Our extensive portfolio means retailers can tap into both timeless favourites and newer licences. From Peter Rabbit, Paddington and Disney Winnie the Pooh to Care Bears Baby and Pembe the Pink Cat, there is plenty of scope to create character-led displays that offer broad appeal and strong giftability. Our anniversary collections and new launches also provide retailers with freshness for the season, alongside the reassurance of established, recognisable brands.

What’s shaping your current pipeline and future plans?

Jake: We continue to see success with established names like Cath Kidston, William Morris At Home, Mary Berry, Orla Kiely and Yvonne Ellen. Each offers something different. That can be a timeless pattern in the case of Cath Kidston and William Morris At Home, playful design with Yvonne Ellen, or modern heritage with Orla Kiely. These brands already have a strong emotional connection with consumers, so they’re a natural fit for home gifts.

Ultimately, the best licensed brands not only make a product instantly recognisable in a crowded market, but they offer authenticity and a story which consumers will want to buy into.

Zara: 2027 is shaping up to be another busy year and there is plenty to be excited about. We have ambitious plans including the introduction of new licences and further expansion of our product portfolio, through both new properties and additions to our evergreen collections. As we build on the momentum of our 55th anniversary year, we remain focused on creating high-quality, character-led products that combine play, collectability and gifting appeal.

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Focus On...

Personalised Memento Company

Let’s get personal Personalised Memento Company (PMC) highlights the power of licensed brands to create distinctive, personalised gifts that stand out in a competitive marketplace, while giving retailers more ways to tap into the occasions that matter most to their customers

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here is no better way to celebrate an important occasion than with a heartfelt personalised gift and Personalised Memento Company (PMC), a specialist in personalised gifting, has a gift for every moment. From celebrating a new baby to sending best wishes at a wedding and marking life’s many milestones, its range covers every occasion.

PMC’s photo upload items can be easily tailored to fit even the most niche requirements, including personalised gifts for pets. This has been a consistently growing trend over the past couple of years, as pet owners love to treat their pets for all occasions, including birthdays and Christmas. There is also a beautiful, sentimental range to commemorate the loss of a pet, creating a lasting keepsake to keep their memory close.

What’s new?

New highlights for the festive season include a range of Christmas products. The collection features a lovely selection, including decorations to celebrate a new home, personalised candles to add a cosy touch, and some adorable Christmasthemed plush items that are sure to be loved throughout the year!

PMC has also built long-standing partnerships with some well-loved brands over the years, including Me To You and Snowman and the Snowdog. These beloved brands are well-established in the gift-giving sector,

appealing to a wide range of recipients and occasions, while personalisation adds an extra-special touch to every gift.

For PMC, working with licensed brands is important as it strengthens a product range. Creating unique designs using well-known brands makes an instantly recognisable gifting range that is exclusive within the marketplace.

What’s next?

The most recent addition coming soon to the personalised licensed range is the Snowman and the Snowdog collection, which will span a selection of popular products, including LED lights and Christmas decorations, complementing the existing range perfectly.

Register on PMC’s website today to keep an eye out for new products. The company provides the complete drop-ship solution, from supplying a live product preview service and direct despatch to offering no minimum order quantities. It’s the perfect way to expand your product range without the need to commit to bulk stock.

Call: 01782 744900 Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk Visit: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

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Focus On...

Enesco

Evergreen gifts

meet fresh innovation As retailers prepare for the crucial Golden Quarter, global gift supplier Enesco is delighted to be supporting customers with a strong portfolio of bestselling items

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ith the peak trading season just around the corner, the timing couldn’t be better for retailers looking to enhance their festive offering and maximise sales opportunities.

Tough economic times inevitably influence consumer spending, but even when household budgets are under pressure, people still want to celebrate life’s milestones, show appreciation, and strengthen personal connections through thoughtful gifts. What changes is not the desire to give, but the way consumers choose to spend.

Rather than impulse purchases, shoppers become more considered, seeking products that offer lasting value, emotional meaning and confidence in their buying decisions.

In these moments, trusted brands come into their own.

Established names such as Disney, Beatrix Potter, Willow Tree and Yankee Candle provide reassurance through their heritage, quality and enduring emotional appeal - all part of Enesco’s enviable portfolio.

Enesco’s vision is to balance the consistency of evergreen gifts with fresh innovation. Its portfolio is built around evergreen collections which have proven their appeal year after year. These include Willow Tree, driven by emotional connection and sentiment and recognised as a leader in the gifting category for more than 26 years, and Beatrix Potter, whose Peter Rabbit character has stood the test of time.

His enduring appeal lies in the nostalgia he evokes across generations, with many consumers choosing Peter Rabbit gifts because they reflect treasured childhood memories while introducing the character to a new generation. For gift buyers, Peter Rabbit represents a safe and meaningful choice.

Alongside these heritage-led successes, Enesco continues to drive innovation across its portfolio to ensure it remains relevant to today’s evolving consumer.

Recent examples include the launch of Ichigo Ichie, a contemporary licensed collectable of striking, colourful “baddies” such as the Joker and Harley Quinn from DC Comics, Pennywise from Stephen King’s horror novel “It”, and King Kong, to name but a few.

Beautifully window gift-boxed, retailing at a very attractive £14.95, and inspired by the Japanese philosophy of treasuring each moment as a once-in-alifetime experience, Series 1 and 2 are now available, with Series 3 planned for later this year and further series to follow. Central to the concept is its strong sense of collectability, with the limited production of each character enhancing desirability for years to come. When it’s gone, it’s gone, never to be produced again!

Enesco is also proud to introduce the Disney Showcase metallic figurine collection - a striking new interpretation of Disney character décor, where sculptural artistry meets a contemporary metallic finish to create eye-catching statement pieces with strong retail appeal.

Headlined by a striking Mickey statement piece, the collection spans timeless favourites including Minnie Mouse, Mickey & Minnie together and Donald Duck, alongside Disney villains such as Maleficent, Ursula, Evil Queen and Hades.

Each figurine combines beautifully sculpted forms with character-defining details and a lustrous metallic finish, transforming much-loved Disney personalities into contemporary décor pieces while showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship and artistry synonymous with the Disney Showcase Collection.

Other exciting developments include the recent appointment of Enesco as the sole distributor of WoodWick home fragrance across the UK and Ireland. This represents a significant milestone for the business and an exciting opportunity for the retail sector. Celebrated for its iconic crackling wood wick, premium fragrance collection and strong gifting credentials, WoodWick is perfectly positioned to meet growing consumer demand for quality home fragrance during the Christmas shopping season.

Call: 01228 404022 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk Visit: www.enesco.co.uk Gifts Today 83

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Trade talk

Which products, colours and trends are set to define the second half of 2026? Ahead of the all-important Golden Quarter, we asked gift suppliers to share their predictions Simon Carswell

Demi Pendakis

Alice Wheeler London

FYG Home

UK Sales Manager

For Alice Wheeler London, our autumnal colour palette of Olive, Fudge, Chocolate and Stone, across our suede and vegan leather accessories, will satisfy any consumer’s appetite.

Hannah Jenkins

Director UK & Ireland Cereria Mollá 1899

We expect three key trends to continue shaping the market: the growing demand for authentic brands with genuine heritage and craftsmanship; the continued fusion of home fragrance, gifting and personal wellbeing; and consumers seeking affordable luxury products that elevate everyday moments and create meaningful experiences at home.

Retailers who can offer products with a strong story, exceptional quality, and emotional connection will continue to stand out.

Helen Cottrill

Business Development Director UK and USA Figured’Art

We expect mindful gifting, premium presentation, and creative experiences to be the key drivers for the remainder of 2026. Consumers are looking for thoughtful gifts that offer genuine value, enjoyment, and a sense of accomplishment.

Products that combine creativity, gifting appeal and strong visual presentation are particularly well positioned, which is why we’ve invested heavily in our Gift Boxed Paint by Numbers, Mini Series collections, and seasonal Book Nook ranges.

Hannah McMenamin Key Account Manager Zimpli Kids

We’re seeing strong demand for affordable luxury - products that combine premium-quality ingredients, beautiful packaging, and attractive price points, giving retailers confidence in both gifting appeal and sell-through potential.

Within the children’s category, blind bags continue to perform exceptionally well, driven by collectability, repeat purchases, and the excitement of discovery.

Founder

I think the second half will be shaped by accessible luxury, personalisation, wellbeing, and products with a stronger emotional story. Customers still want beautiful things, but they are making more considered purchases, choosing items that feel useful, meaningful, and giftable.

In home fragrance, people are moving beyond simply choosing a scent. They want fragrance to support a mood, enhance a space, become part of a ritual, or create a moment of calm in their day. That’s why personalisation, layered fragrance, reusable formats, and wellbeing-led gifting have become so important.

We’re also seeing a strong return to comfort, nostalgia, and seasonal storytelling, particularly for A/W and Christmas. Customers want warmth, familiarity, and escapism, but presented in a modern, design-led way.

Stacey McNeill Creative Director

Fox Under The Moon

I think customers are continuing to look for cards and gifts that feel personal, thoughtful and emotionally sincere. There will always be a place for humour and trend-led design, but we’re seeing a real appetite for products that help people express something meaningful, especially in a fast-paced world where genuine connection matters more than ever.

Elaine Nolan

Sales and Business Development Manager UK, Australia and Europe Inis the Energy of the Sea

Consumers are increasingly choosing fragrances based on how they want to feel, not just how they want to smell. People adore Inis as it makes them feel fresh, clean, and energised. Who wouldn’t want that?

Another trend is the growing focus on layering your signature scent across both home and personal fragrance. Inis is perfect for this and now, with our recently introduced Hair Care range, it’s head-to-toe layering. And with the Home Range of Diffusers, Candles, and Home & Linen Mist, you can be surrounded by its wonderful scent at home as well.

Paul Hooker,

Managing Director Joe Davies

Floral designs continue to gather momentum, particularly hand-painted finishes on vases, planters, and decorative ceramics. We’re also seeing strong growth in food-themed giftware. From kitchen-inspired home décor to novelty gifts and planters, this trend is developing quickly and looks set to be a strong performer across multiple product categories throughout the second half.

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Sarah Watmore Owner

Miss Milly

Colour pops of chartreuse and burgundy are right up our street, and we’ve catered for this within our jewellery. Forecasters have predicted the comeback of the brooch. We’re well ahead of the curve on that one, even if we now focus on magnetic versions rather than pins, and are delighted to have timed our recent launch of mini magnetic brooches with a key seasonal trend.

Gill Marchbank Managing Director

Remaldi Eyewear

We’re seeing continued demand for wearable reading glasses in fashion-led colours, particularly burgundy, raisin, olive, dusky blues, and rich tobacco browns. Consumers still want practical products, but they also expect them to be stylish, affordable, and designed for everyday life.

Across gifting, products that combine function, design, and value continue to perform strongly. Our Eyefold slim wrap glasses case is a bestseller, while Snozzles Spec holders in new gloss finishes add personality and fun.

We’re also seeing strong interest in RFID-blocking card wallets from Brilliantly Brave and the recently launched Emma Lawrence collection, where attractive designs are combined with a practical everyday benefit.

Donny Carstairs Owner

Selbrae House

We expect retailers to continue looking for products that combine craftsmanship with personality and carry a distinct identity. Colour will remain a major influence, with consumers increasingly drawn to uplifting, joyful pieces that add character to the home. We’re also seeing strong demand for giftable items that feel authentic and have a genuine story behind them.

Mark Jones Sales Director

University Games and Lagoon

Several key trends are likely to influence the gift sector during the second half. Licensed products are performing exceptionally well, particularly those connected to sport, entertainment, and nostalgic brands that consumers feel emotionally connected to.

Educational and developmental play continues to be an important growth area. Parents and gift buyers are increasingly looking for products that combine learning with enjoyment, making licensed preschool and learning-focused ranges, such as our new Peppa Pig and That’s Not My… ranges, especially relevant.

However, consumers remain mindful of spending, so continue to seek high-quality affordable gifting options, and games and puzzles can offer that. Games that provide great entertainment, longevity through replayability, and opportunities for families and friends to connect, are particularly appealing.

Shaun Dubberley Managing Director Wax Lyrical

We recently launched a refresh of our Aromaworks Light range, which ties into the wellness trend we’re seeing in all areas. The collection features uplifting and relaxing fragrances that consumers are increasingly looking for.

Coffee Break Gifts Today takes a break with Sarah Watmore, owner of Miss Milly, who has announced that Autumn/Winter 2026 will be the much-loved British accessories brand’s final season

Sarah says: “Looking back, it’s funny how life has a way of coming full circle. My journey into the gift and fashion industry didn’t begin with a business plan. It began with a rucksack.

In 2004, after travelling through South America and South East Asia, I returned home inspired by the jewellery, colours, craftsmanship, and vibrant markets I’d discovered along the way. I began selling fashion accessories at festivals, never imagining that those early travels would lead me into an industry that would become such a huge part of my life.

Two years later came my first Spring Fair, and in 2012, Miss Milly was born. Over the past 14 years, Miss Milly has grown into an award-winning British accessories brand stocked by wonderful independent retailers across the UK and Ireland, and occasionally further afield.

Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of meeting incredible customers, sales agents, suppliers, and industry friends who have made this journey far more rewarding than I could ever have imagined.

The gift industry is unlike any other. It is built on relationships, creativity, and generosity, and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and support I’ve received throughout my career.

At the end of November, I’ll be bringing the Miss Milly chapter to a close. It hasn’t been an easy decision, but it feels like the right one.

Life has brought me back to where it all began. Travel inspired the business that became Miss Milly, and now Miss Milly has given me the opportunity to travel once again. After years of working to buying cycles, seasonal launches, and exhibition deadlines, I’m looking forward to swapping trade show aisles for airports, discovering new places and embracing new experiences. And should my brain need more exercise, I have my Independent Travel Agent licence and could always build that into something more.

Before then, there’s still one final Autumn/ Winter collection to enjoy, and I’m excited to work with customers over the coming months while celebrating everything Miss Milly has achieved. I’m also investigating possible avenues for the brand to continue under new ownership, allowing its colourful story to carry on.

People often say that every ending is a new beginning. For me, this isn’t an ending at all; it’s simply the next destination on a journey that started with a rucksack more than 20 years ago. Thank you for being part of it.”

Call: 01905 622509 Email: hello@missmilly.co.uk Visit: www.missmilly.co.uk Gifts Today 85

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RETAIL INTERVIEW

Planet Sal

“Pushing a few Clare Turner catches up with Sally Wilde, owner of Planet Sal in the East Devon market town of Honiton, after her sixth consecutive Prestige Awards win Gift Republic

What’s your background?

I’ve been in the home, card and gift industry for most of my working life - starting in the cookshop, Kitchens of Bristol, which gave me the confidence to hone my customer skills, followed by many years as a rep, agent, and national account manager for homeware, gift, cards and jewellery companies. I worked for, and with, some great people. I’m forever grateful for their faith in me along the way.

What inspired your move into gift retail?

It was a combination of calling on so many gift shops when I was an agent, loving the industry and the creativity of it all, and needing a break from travelling after so many years of long hours on the road. Also, Grant Petley, owner of the wonderful Paper Gangsta in Bristol, was a massive help and convinced me that it would be worth a try!

I moved to Devon in 2004 and by 2018 I wanted to settle down working nearer home. I had decided Exeter would be too much rent and worry, but I liked the look of Honiton, which is a small, friendly market town.

I just happened to take a shortcut through Black Lion Court one day and saw a ‘To Let’ sign on Unit 3. I phoned the number, spoke to the landlord, and the rent and size were just right. So I went for it. I was able to open my own gift and card shop, Planet Sal, named after my favourite B-52’s song, ‘Planet Claire’!

Honiton is the perfect place for Planet Sal. The locals are massively supportive of their high street, and we have a good number of tourists too.

Congratulations on receiving the Prestige Awards’ 2025-2026 Legacy Crystal Trophy after securing the Card and Gift Shop of the Year - South West title for the sixth consecutive year. How did you feel when you heard the news?

It was such a big boost and came at just the right

moment. It’s currently quite tough for many of us in retail, so it can be hard to keep taking risks to grow the business. I have to remind myself about that song, ‘Planet Claire’, and how edgy it was when it was released in 1979. The B-52’s never stopped - they’re still touring now (I saw them in London recently). If they can do it, so can I. Planet Sal is always pushing a few boundaries, but it’s always backed up by top, friendly customer service, and I’m very grateful to the Prestige Awards judges for recognising this each year.

How would you describe your range?

I began as more of a card shop with limited gifts, but the range has evolved into an equal amount of each. I stock male and female gifts, plus small toys, jewellery and baby items. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with edgy ranges with T-shirts to match. These have sold surprisingly well.

Moomin is my top brand, but I’m selling lots of Snoopy at the moment. I also stock Peter Rabbit, Thames & Kosmos games, Sock Academy, PoM, Life Charms jewellery, and Lazy Baby.

I buy from a lot of suppliers (boy, do I know it when it’s tax return time!), but my main gift suppliers are House of Disaster, Gift Republic, Kingsley Ryan, One For Fun, Gainsborough Gifts, Puckator, Socktopus, Rosie Made A Thing, Modern Toss, and Dean Morris.

How do you source products?

I love trade fairs, despite having been to absolutely loads, on both sides of the counter! Spring Fair and Autumn Fair are the main shows I attend. I would like to go to Home & Gift, but it’s a massive trip for me. It’s great to connect with my favourite suppliers, reps and ex-colleagues - especially at Spring Fair, when we’re all fed up with the post-Christmas lull.

An extra bonus has been the honour of being a Gift Of The Year judge. It’s great to help smaller companies

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w boundaries” get noticed. I also try to buy from reps and agents as much as I can, having been one for so long. Petrol is at a premium now, and times must be hard for them.

Faire is excellent too, as it helps cash flow with the extended credit.

What’s your selection criteria?

I usually know where my gaps are and look for specific items to fill them. Men’s gifting is a permanent headache. Just looking for something that isn’t socks or a mug is exhausting! On the other hand, I could hoover up just about everything in the jewellery hall…

I try only to buy items that have a use of some kind, even if it’s just a coaster. Toys are a challenge, with all the plastic, but I go for ones that are well built and will hopefully be handed down through the family.

How has trading been this year?

To be honest, it’s really quite hard. The weather was terrible in the first quarter, with torrential rain nearly every day. Not shop-browsing weather! But Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day all performed well and that helped, as did my regular, loyal customers. Now we have extreme heat, so that’s been tricky too! Summer and Christmas are consistently brilliant for me, though.

Which categories are performing well?

Jewellery has been very good this year. I don’t keep enough and will look to expand it at Autumn Fair.

I’m the only stockist of piercing jewellery in Honiton, thanks to the agent, John Wiggins, who suggested it.

I also sell a lot from my Naughty Corner. This has sweary cards, mugs, coasters, pens and games, mostly from Dean Morris and Modern Toss. I put the worst language on the top shelf but the ‘C’ words are behind the till. I have a warning sign on the door about ‘over 18 language to the right’, so parents can steer their kids the other way.

I do have a lot of male customers because of this section. The more abusive the better if it’s for their best mate or brother! It all sells so well - especially for Secret Santas.

Any surprise hits?

Some slightly gothic items from Grindstore, with tattoo and tarot themes. They’ve flown out.

asked for postcards and fridge magnets, but can’t buy large quantities. I’ve found a secret supplier now, though!

What’s your current favourite gift on your shelves?

As I hand-pick the products, they’re all my babies.

But my favourite at the moment is the Boogie Bath Duck from Gift Republic (pictured left).

What’s next for your business?

I’m wondering about a second, or bigger shop, and peer through any empty shop window I spot (like we probably all do). I’m just not sure the climate is quite right. Borrowing and rates are still too high. I will be going for my seventh Prestige win, though!

It’s my lucky number.

How do you get the word out there?

I’m useless at Instagram, so I just use Facebook for my own page and the Honiton ones. It works well.

I also share major news, like my award, with the local newspaper.

When do you and your team have the most fun?

Tuesday and Saturday mornings are great, as those are Honiton market days. It gets nicely busy and I have new customers visiting. There are often lots of “what a great shop” comments, which is good for the soul.

What do you enjoy doing most and least while at work?

Most: finding that perfect card or gift for a customer. It’s so satisfying and really helps people to recommend me as a business. Also, hearing people laughing out loud in my Naughty Corner.

Least: any form of paperwork. The most challenging part is doing my accounts. I’ve just finished them, and now have to fret about them every MTD quarter as well.

Who’s been your most frustrating customer - and why?

I struggle a bit with those who just come in for a moan, usually about the state of the nation, and have no intention of buying anything. I call them Atmosphere Hoovers! I feel quite depressed when they’ve gone.

What’s next for your gifts?

I really want to expand my own ranges, based on Honiton and the surrounding area. I’m constantly

What advice would you give someone starting in gift retail?

Don’t overload yourself with too much debt at the start. Make do with basic display tables and shelving from Ikea. They can be replaced as you go.

But don’t skimp on lighting: it can make or break the shop vibe. And try to display everything so it can be easily seen; you’ll spot gaps for restocking much more quickly.

Best Sellers 1. Life Charms bracelets 2. Gift Republic vinyl gifts 3. Moomin across the board 4. Anything from Rosie Made A Thing 5. Toys under £5 especially squishies from One For Fun 6. Assorted silver rings with semi-precious stones Gifts Today 87

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Gifts Today

SHOP TALK K We ask retailers from across the UK to share how summer trading is shaping up, the products winning over customers, and how they’re gearing up for the A/W season

Linda McBride Owner Gibbles Gifts, Cards & Home Anstruther Fife How has summer trading been for you so far?

It’s been very good for us. Our area attracts lots of tourists and the lovely weather has brought day-trippers as well as longer-staying holidaymakers.

Which brands or products are selling particularly well?

At this time of year we sell lots of ‘seaside’-themed products from companies such as Gisela Graham, Shoeless Joe and Quay Traders. Visitors like to take home a memento of their holiday and, as we’re by the seaside, we sell these products to holiday home owners too.

What are some of your favourite new arrivals?

We’re loving our brand-new keyrings, which have just arrived from Ohh Deer; there are some fabulous felt ones and cheeky resin ones. We’ve also just received some beautiful new mugs and jigsaws from Joe Davies, which we ordered at Spring Fair. These are licensed from Fox Under The Moon and have beautiful sentiments.

How are you preparing for the Autumn/Winter buying season?

We’ve already ordered Christmas decorations from Shoeless Joe and Gisela Graham. In addition, we attended Home & Gift and picked up some great stocking fillers and gifts for the season, including games from University Games and Lagoon. We’ll add to these as the season progresses, if necessary. Candles always play a big part in the season for cosy winter nights, and we’ll be stocking up ahead of autumn.

Elaine Taylor Owner Glamorous Gifts Rothwell Leeds How has summer trading been for you so far?

Summer trading has been positive. With the beautiful summer days bringing people onto our high street, we’ve had customers calling in who didn’t know we were here, even though it’s our 16th year in business!

Which brands or products are selling particularly well?

Brands performing well are body and home fragrance items from Inis, along with Joe Davies’ Village Pottery and hand-painted vases. Best Kept Secrets’ candles are also selling strongly, particularly the individual candles, the Three Lites Gift Box, and the Duo Mini Tin Candle Sets. Incense sticks from Ancient Wisdom are always popular in summer, while Joma Jewellery continues to be a go-to gift choice.

What one thing would make the biggest difference to your business right now?

I know many independent retailers complain about unfair business rates and punitive parking charges, but as a small business in Scotland, we have rate relief just now and parking charges in our town are not exorbitant.

But lower utility bills, such as water and electricity, would certainly help our business.

There are also lots of hidden costs which continue to rise, such as waste uplift, carrier bags, and wrapping materials for products, and these inevitably have an impact on our profits.

Katie Jones Owner Squirrel Ulverston Cumbria How has summer trading been for you so far?

Summer has been steady, and slightly up on last year. We’re really noticing that the school holidays have arrived, and there are lots of local events.

What are some of your favourite new arrivals?

My favourite is a Belly Button Designs’ boxed ceramic decoration that includes a ‘Just to Say’ card. New arrivals for A/W include faux fur handbags and mittens from Zelly; their prices are very reasonable, so we’re expecting them to be popular. We’ve also introduced socks by Sock Talk to our existing range, and we expect those to be a hit too.

Which brands or products are selling particularly well?

Anything outdoor-related, such as Klean Kanteen and Black & Blum, Snoopy-themed products, Jiggle Pals fidget toys and, as always, Roka socks and bags.

How are you preparing for the Autumn/Winter buying season?

I always do a lovely autumn window in September which then turns into my Halloween window in October. Halloween is a big event and seems to become more popular each year. I have stock coming from Gisela Graham (including hanging witches and spiders), Giftware Trading (with hanging bats, ghosts, mummies, pumpkins and spiders) and ceramic pumpkin tealight houses from Joe Davies.

How are you preparing for the Autumn/Winter buying season?

We visited Home & Gift and will either go to Autumn Fair or Top Drawer. We also keep an eye on many other sourcing opportunities. Finding new products requires more legwork today than ever before. We can no longer depend on trade fairs alone to deliver new suppliers, so we have to think outside the box to keep our stock updated and make sure customers return regularly.

We also keep a close eye on our budget. This is based on the previous year’s takings, and we adjust it to reflect the current year’s performance.

What one thing would make the biggest difference to your business right now?

The continuation of good weather, bringing couples and families onto the high street.

What one thing would make the biggest difference to your business right now?

Reversing Brexit - opening up buying opportunities, increasing visitor numbers, and boosting online sales!

What are some of your favourite new arrivals?

Maileg, Vurchoo and new scents from Pure Lakes.

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14/08/2026 17:21

Richard Barker Director Cilla & Camilla Three Stores in West Dorset: Beaminster, Bridport, Sherborne

Hannah & Clare Bishop Co-owners Cornucopia Home & Gift Worcester Worcestershire How has summer trading been for you so far?

It’s been quite mixed. The warmer weather has encouraged more people into the town, particularly at weekends, but customers are understandably being more considered with their spending.

We’ve found that people are still happy to treat themselves or buy a thoughtful gift; they are simply taking a little more time over their choices.

Our online shop has also continued to play an important role, allowing us to reach customers beyond the local area.

Which brands or products are selling particularly well?

Emma Bridgewater, Caroline Gardner, and our artificial flowers and plants are performing particularly well. Customers are looking for products that feel joyful, thoughtful, and special, while also being beautifully made and designed to be enjoyed for a long time.

Our candles, home fragrances, and smaller gift items are also popular because they offer an affordable way for customers to treat someone or themselves.

What are some of your favourite new arrivals?

We’re particularly excited about our new home fragrance, artificial flower, and decorative homeware collections. We’ve introduced some beautiful pieces that make it easy for customers to refresh their homes without having to completely redecorate.

We’re also loving the new greeting cards, candles, and smaller gift ideas arriving in the shop, as these are the thoughtful finishing touches our customers always enjoy discovering.

How are you preparing for the Autumn/Winter buying season?

We begin planning our autumn and Christmas collections very early in the year. Trade shows are a huge part of that process, and at Home & Gift we discovered new brands, caught up with existing suppliers, and placed orders for the months ahead.

We consider everything from colour and interiors trends to how the collections will work together throughout the shop. Our window displays are also a big part of the planning process, as we want each season to tell a story and feel magical from the moment customers walk by.

What one thing would make the biggest difference to your business right now?

Business rates. The current system places enormous pressure on independent high street retailers, particularly alongside rising rent, wages, and everyday operating costs. A fairer system, with greater relief for small businesses, would make the biggest difference to us right now. It would allow independent shops like ours to invest more confidently in our teams, stock, and customer experience, helping to keep our high streets vibrant and thriving.

How has summer trading been for you so far?

So far it’s been broadly in line with our relatively modest expectations. Across the board, we’ve seen roughly a 5% increase over the equivalent period last year. On the very warmest days, trade has been slow, but we have largely picked up any lost sales at other times.

Indications are good for the school summer holiday period. Self-catering bookings in Dorset are good, so we expect strong visitor numbers. We typically see roughly a 30% sales uplift in August compared with July and are feeling confident about a strong season. Stock availability is good.

Which brands or products are selling particularly well?

As is always the case throughout the year, our business is heavily dependent on brands with whom we’ve worked for some time, and who consistently produce high-quality, good-value products that are right for our relatively conservative West Dorset customers. Our business is rarely driven by trends, fashion or, indeed, seasonal promotion.

We’re heavily reliant on well-established, tried-and-trusted suppliers. Within that category, I would highlight St Eval, Ashleigh & Burwood, Hot Tomato, Big Metal London, Gisela Graham, Grand Illusions, Biggie Best, Seasalt and Powder.

Roka bags have also done well, along with Jellycat and Hampton Frames.

Greetings cards and stationery account for around 15% of our sales and 20% of our gross margin. Sales have remained consistently strong through spring and summer despite the rising cost of postage. We believe at least part of our strength in this category is driven by the regular introduction of new ranges, which mix smaller, independent, often local ranges with those from larger suppliers. Around 30% of our stock ranges are new each year, bringing the variety our regulars are looking for.

What are some of your favourite new arrivals?

New arrivals that have started well, and that we’re optimistic about, include East End Prints, F.Y.G candles and diffusers, Bramley toiletries and Wildflowers

by Floriette. We’ve found ourselves increasingly using Faire as a source of new products; we rarely buy ‘blind’ but now regularly contact potential suppliers having seen their ranges promoted through this platform.

How are you preparing for the Autumn/Winter buying season?

We’re likely to be buying some Christmas ranges earlier than in previous years, both to ensure stock availability and to ensure we’re able to compete with multiple retailers, which, it appears, are starting their main Christmas promotions earlier each year.

We’re lucky that, in each of the towns we trade in, traders’ associations, town councils, business chambers and other organisations are very active in promoting their towns to customers over the Christmas period. We’re active in those organisations and contribute significant financial support to this type of promotional activity. We work on the principle that, so long as we get the footfall to our locations, we’re good enough to attract that footfall and sell something to those customers!

We’ve always received a lot of compliments about the quality of our in-store and window displays. We’ve put further time and energy into this area all year and have even more extensive plans than in previous years for seasonal displays. We always take part in late-night shopping events and will, this year, be extending our normal opening hours throughout December.

What one thing would make the biggest difference to your business right now?

The single biggest difference to our business, by location, would be: • Bridport - if the local branch of TGJones were on its closure list, I would expect to see a 25% uplift in our greetings card sales (sad, but true!).

• Beaminster and Sherborne - if our new Prime Minister takes enough action on costof-living issues to generate a ‘feel-good factor’ through the second half of the year.

I’d also like to see recognition that, beyond the hospitality sector, retail businesses have been affected badly by the impact of recent government policy. While I wouldn’t expect any of those measures to be reversed, I would hope that there is no further pressure placed on the sector.

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14/08/2026 17:22

Gifts Today

SHOP TALK Zoe Charlton Founder & CEO TreatBox treatboxuk.com How has summer trading been for you so far?

Like many retailers, we’ve found summer trading a little quieter than in previous years, with customers being more mindful of their spending. In response, we’ve worked hard to introduce gifts at a wider range of price points, ensuring there’s something thoughtful for every budget.

One real positive has been the success of launching our Christmas Advent Calendar much earlier than ever before. We opened pre-orders in January, giving customers the opportunity to spread the cost throughout the year, and the response has been fantastic. It’s clear that shoppers are planning ahead earlier than ever, particularly when they’re able to budget over a longer period. While impulse spending has slowed, customers are still investing in products they genuinely love when they’re offered flexibility and value.

Which brands or products are selling particularly well?

Our own exclusive TreatBox-designed products continue to perform best. We’re seeing customers increasingly drawn to products they can’t find elsewhere, with thoughtful design and personalisation playing a huge role in purchasing decisions. Rather than buying generic gifts, people are looking for something that feels unique and meaningful, whether that’s a personalised gift box or one of our in-house design mugs, keepsakes or stationery.

What are some of your favourite new arrivals?

Our new autumn collection has gone down really well with customers! We’ve recently launched a range of cosy mugs, keepsakes and accessories, alongside our new autumn pyjama collection, all designed in-house. As we move into the second half of the year, we love creating products that celebrate slower moments, cosy evenings and thoughtful gifting, and it’s always exciting to see customers embracing autumn a little earlier each year.

How are you preparing for the Autumn/Winter buying season?

Preparation starts much earlier than most people realise. We’ve been developing our Christmas collections since the beginning of the year, launched our Advent Calendar in January to help customers spread the cost, and have already started packing for the festive season. Behind the scenes, we’re also making sure our warehouse, stock levels and fulfilment processes are ready for the busiest time of the year, while maintaining the personal touches we’re known for, such as handwritten gift messages and beautifully presented packaging.

What one thing would make the biggest difference to your business right now?

Greater consumer confidence. We know customers still want to celebrate life’s moments and give thoughtful gifts, but they’re understandably taking a little longer to make purchasing decisions. When confidence grows, independent businesses really feel the benefit, and continued support for small, design-led brands makes a huge difference.

Lynn Dickinson Buyer/Director Collectable/Cello 8 stores based in the North East of England How has summer trading been for you so far?

May was level and June was a great month. July is going in the same direction, so considering the hot spells we’ve had, we’re happy with the results.

Which brands or products are selling particularly well?

We’re selling Joma Jewellery bracelets very well. They are affordable, and customers regularly buy more than one, or add an anklet for summer vacations. It still surprises me how well this brand continues to sell.

Robotime’s wooden DIY kits of miniature houses and cars are proving to be very collectable for both male and female customers. I think once they’ve bought one kit, they become addicted and want to start a collection.

Squishies are the hot must-have line at the minute and their popularity has caught us all by surprise. Kids want to collect every one we have. Long may it continue!

How are you preparing for the Autumn/Winter buying season?

Well, Christmas-themed product was ordered back in January. Our A/W handbag colour themes have been purchased, along with new Joma Jewellery additions and the brand’s Christmas “A Little” bracelets, so we’re getting along well.

What one thing would make the biggest difference to your business right now?

It has to be the cost of business rates and NationaI Insurance.

Josie Rossington Owner Follie Lincoln Lincolnshire How has summer trading been for you so far?

It’s been very positive so far. We do have the occasional quieter day when the weather is particularly hot and have sometimes closed a little earlier. Overall, though, the uphill area of Lincoln, where our shop is located in the Cathedral Quarter, is busy all year round, with Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle attracting visitors. Naturally, the summer months bring even more tourists.

Some weeks, our weekends seem to run from Friday until Monday, as many visitors now opt for two- or three-night breaks, arriving on a Friday and leaving on a Sunday, or staying from Sunday to Monday, rather than for a traditional Saturday night stay.

Which brands or products are selling particularly well?

We sell a huge amount of soaps and hand creams, specifically from Toasted Crumpet and its sister brand, Floh. They smell amazing, are designed and made in the UK, and are vegan-friendly. We also sell a lot of My Doris jewellery and accessories.

Their designs are bright and fun - perfect for the summer months.

What are some of your favourite new arrivals?

We’ve started stocking a range from Flax Barn Jewellery. It’s all waterproof jewellery, either stainless steel or PVD gold-plated stainless steel, which is very appealing as it doesn’t tarnish. We also love the new-season arrivals from Caroline Gardner: there are new card ranges as well as some gorgeous homeware.

How are you preparing for the Autumn/ Winter buying season?

I’ll be having a great big clear-out sale in mid-August to try and make space for all the new stock, which will soon start arriving. Our stock room is tiny, so space is at a premium. I’ve pre-ordered a few seasonal lines, but I don’t think I’m ever fully prepared for Christmas but we always manage to make it happen.

What one thing would make the biggest difference to your business right now?

Oh, another pair of hands and another day in the week would be great! Actually, the only thing I seem to really try to avoid is looking for better electricity, merchant banking and broadband deals, because the minute you start searching, you’re completely inundated with unsolicited calls and in-store visits, and that is a big red flag to me.

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ShopTalkAugSept.indd 3

14/08/2026 17:22

OPINION

The rising cost of retail crime Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), examines findings from the trade body’s latest retail crime survey and warns theft, abuse, and organised shoplifting are placing increasing pressure on independent retailers across the UK

E

very six months, we ask our members about their experiences of retail crime. And every six months, the results make for difficult reading. But our latest survey findings have given me real cause for concern - not just because the numbers are moving in the wrong direction, but because of what lies behind them.

Almost 77% of respondents told us they had experienced theft in the past 12 months. Nearly 90% of those said it had become worse compared with the year before. Those are significant figures in themselves, but what strikes me most is the human reality that our members describe alongside them. Theft that happens weekly, sometimes daily.

Thieves who laugh at staff as they walk out of the door. Retailers who told us, simply and bluntly: “We are on our own.”

That phrase has stayed with me because, in many ways, that’s exactly what our members are being asked to be: on their own. More than 45% of those who experienced theft didn’t report it to the police - not because they didn’t care, but because they have lost confidence that anything will come of it. Of those who did report incidents, police attended in 67% of cases and, of those, just 35% led to a prosecution. When you see those numbers repeatedly, year after year, you stop reaching for the phone.

The financial impact is also growing. More than one in 10 of our respondents estimated their total annual cost from retail crime - including stolen stock, security investments, and staff time - at over £10,000. Many have fundamentally changed how

their shops look and feel in response by moving stock behind counters, installing locked cases, and reducing what they put on display. Over a third told us those changes had hit sales or damaged the customer experience. Independent retail is built on the pleasure of browsing, discovery, and personal interaction. When that is stripped away through necessity, something important is lost.

I’m also concerned about the direction of travel. Our members are telling us that theft is becoming more organised, more deliberate, and more targeted. They are describing repeat offenders known by name, groups using distraction techniques, and incidents they believe are linked to drug dependency and informal resale networks.

Staff of all ages are being verbally abused - and, in some cases, physically threatened - simply for trying to do their jobs. More than two-thirds of respondents said verbal abuse had increased in the past year. That is not a small or isolated problem.

What do our members want? The answer from this survey is consistent with what we hear every day: stronger sentencing, better police response rates, a more visible presence on our high streets, and clearer guidance on the evidence required to pursue a case. These are not unreasonable asks.

They are the basic conditions that allow businesses to trade with confidence.

I want to be clear that we are not pointing fingers without context. Retail crime is a complex problem, and we know that police resources are stretched and wider social factors are at play.

But independent retailers are absorbing costs

and pressures that are not of their making, and they deserve better support than they are currently receiving.

We will keep asking. We will keep publishing. And we will keep making the case that the high street cannot thrive if the people who run it feel they are fighting crime alone.

Call: 0800 028 0245 Visit: www.bira.co.uk

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