Gifts Today

Supporting your industry for 28 years

Independently audited ABC circulation of 7,090 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017

Month: January 2018 Issue: 3

Volume: 29

NEW for Spring 2018

Spring Fair 4th - 8th February 2018 Stand 4 D10-E11

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www.personalisedmemento.co.uk The UK’s leading trade supplier of personalised gifts

Contents

Regulars

January 2018

8

News

10

Giftware Association News

12

Exhibition News

44 New Products 53 Licensing News 74

Ross Hewitt’s Social Media

75

Julie Dodsworth

Profiles 16

Yankee Candle A closer look at our cover star Yankee Candles

24 Village Candle 52

Gifts Today team

Retail 34 Trade Talk

p 46

Trends, bestsellers and new launches – it’s all

Editor Sally Norton sally@lemapublishing.co.uk

Splinters

up for discussion with some leading candle

p 42

companies this month

Advertisement Manager

42 Robert Dyas

Mark Horsnell markh@lemapublishing.co.uk

Best known for their home, garden and DIY

Layout/Design

offering, Robert Dyas have a surprisingly wide

Rick Vickers rickv@lemapublishing.co.uk

range of Gifts, with a focus on the innovative

Group Editor

and quirky. We catch up with COO Rachel Brain

Mirella Cestaro mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk

40 Retailers’ Panel

Group Advertisement Manager

Key gift shop owners talk trends, new product

Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk

and plans for 2018

Publisher Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

Production Director

Special Feature

Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

18

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

Candles We take a comprehensive look at this hugely popular gift category

Lema Publishing Ltd

PUBLISHING

1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930

Exhibition Previews 54 Top Drawer

A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

62 Harrogate Christmas & Gift

Independently audited

68 Giving & Living

ABC circulation of 7,093 July 2015 to June 2016

p 16

72

Toy Fair

SOPHISTICATED SCENTS

Experience Village Fragrance and Our Exciting New Collection at The Spring Fair.

AND NEW METALLICS

8ZaZǽ Vi^cɦ NZVgϗ dɝ 6bZg^XV̀ ;εV\gVcXɈ Village Candle Booth, Hall 5, Stand 5C42

Visit us and receive a complimentary candle from our new fragrance line.

The Luna collection offers opulent textures and luxury materials, combined with sumptuous perfumes for a decadent fragrance experience. A new fragrance for Spring 2018, Ylang Ylang & Amber is a deep and mysterious fragrance, oriental floral accords of ylang ylang, jasmine and iris mingle with dark amber, spiced with ginger, black pepper and cinnamon.

020 8595 8878 • stoneglowcandles.co.uk • sales@stoneglowcandles.co.uk

Visit us at Top Drawer - K47 • Spring Fair Summer House - Hall 8 - C15 C14

Stoneglow Luna 240x315 Advert.indd 1

29/11/2017 17:29

Message from the Editor www.gifts-today.co.uk Twitter: @giftstodaymag

P18

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

P75

how it seems to go from strength to strength. There really are candles for everyone, young and old, men and women. I watched recently as my 14-year-old daughter wrapped a candle for her best friend in her school’s Secret Santa, and I myself stocked up

P42 on some special home fragrance gifts to give to friends and family over the festive period, too. It seems if you’re stuck for inspiration, a candle really does fit the bill.

We speak to our cover stars Yankee on page 16 about what they have planned for 2018 and also talk to leading candle companies and independent retailers about what they have planned for 2018. There really is something in this issue for anyone planning to boost their home fragrance offering.

I also had had opportunity to catch up with Rachel Brain, COO of Robert Dyas about their gift offering. Best known for home, garden and DIY products, the shop

“

With the Christmas rush behind us, we’ll now all be turning our attention to the shows

“

Hello and welcome to the January 2018 issue.

I love this time of year, the chance to clear the clutter and make plans for the year ahead. I am planning to start the year with a tidy desk and a new diary to help me organise myself. I know in this high tech age, you don’t strictly need physical products made from actual paper and ink, but I still love the seductive allure of new stationery - I think it’s the comfort of old-fashioned rituals and the promise of calm in a chaotic world.

With the Christmas rush behind us, we’ll now all be turning our attention to the shows, and in this issue we have news from a host of upcoming editions including Top Drawer, Christmas & Gift, Giving & Living and Toy Fair. Rather than making new year’s resolutions I won’t be able to keep, I’ve decided my resolution will be trying to predict what the new trends will be in 2018 and what will replace the omnipresent prosecco and flamingo-themed gifts! Other resolutions include trying to meet as many of you in person as possible at the shows and seeing as many new products in the flesh as possible – it’s so much easier to understand a product by holding it in your hands rather than looking at it on the screen.

Talking of product, I am heading up to Birmingham early this month for the final stages of judging in the Gift of the Year awards where I am once again one of the judges. The awards will be announced at the Spring Fair, in a glittering ceremony hosted by impressionist Rory Bremner.

Can’t wait. Spring Fair really is worth attending for all those in the gift trade and we have a fascinating chat with Rob Sapwell, head of sales, about what we can expect at this year’s offering.

This issue is, of course, our annual candle issue.

It’s amazing how popular this category still is, and

offers a surprisingly wide range of gift merchandise with a definite slant on the innovative and quirky.

Before I go, I want to say a special thankyou to our regular columnists Ross Hewitt and Julie Dodsworth who always have something great to say in each and every issue, generously sharing great advice and insight. For January, Ross talks about how to deal with complaints on social media and Julie talks about how, despite everything that’s going on, we simply have to keep going and doing all the right things.

Please keep in touch with us via our constantlyupdated website and by signing up for our regular newsflash. Please let me know if you have any news, views or stories you’d like to share with us on it.

NEWS

Hallmark celebrate 100 years of giftwrap

Widdop & Co. partner with Compendium The company has added to its existing portfolio of distributorships with the addition of the leading North American gift book publisher. The brand will make its debut at Widdop’s January Product Preview in their showrooms followed by the Spring Fair in February. Each hardback book offers inspiring words and imagery - producing a gift that turns an everyday occasion into a memorable event. In addition, guided journals, greeting cards and social stationery all feature in the range celebrating the best parts of the human spirit and what it truly means to be inspired.

‘Gift books complement our strong existing sentiment offer in the market place with a unique take on traditional giftware, bringing fresh designs and inspiring copy,’ says Stephen Illingworth, Product Development Director. widdop.co.uk

Disney Success for Enesco Retailer Enesco and Lord Collectables hosted their first Disney Event at Grove Garden Centre, Spalding, Lincolnshire, on 11 November.

Lord Collectables are amongst the top independent Disney retailers in the UK, with a strong customer base and an excellent marketing strategy. With a host of offers, gift with purchase and exclusives on the day supported by an array of Princesses, the event was reminiscent of collectors’ events in the 1990s. With consumers arriving from far and wide two hours before the doors opened and leaving with armfuls of Enesco Disney collectables and giftware.

This hugely successful event might just be the start of a revival in true collectables. enesco.co.uk

8 gifts today

Credited with founding the modern day gift wrap industry in Kansas City during the Christmas season of 1917, Hallmark are celebrating a century of giftwrap this month. ‘Gift wrap, or gift dressing as it was called, in the early 20th century was very simple,’ said Samantha Bradbeer, historian, Hallmark Cards, Inc. ‘People often used brown packaging paper or newspaper to wrap their gifts. Retailers such as Hallmark sold green, red or white tissue paper, and if there were designs, they were typical holiday icons such as holly or wreaths.’

During the peak festive season of 1917, Hallmark sold out of the traditional tissue paper at its Halls store in the heart of Kansas City. Rollie B Hall, founder JC Hall’s older brother, searched the company’s manufacturing plant and found recently imported French envelope liners that were brightly coloured and highly stylised. The company sold the liners as gift wrap for 10 cents apiece and quickly sold out. ‘The brothers knew they had a hit on their hands, so they began designing and manufacturing their own gift wrap shortly thereafter,’ said Bradbeer. hub.hallmark.co.uk

10th birthday celebrations for Neviti Leading UK supplier of party tableware and decorations had big plans for their anniversary in December. The Buckinghamshire-based company have experienced considerable growth since they began in 2007 and now have a large customer base in the UK, Europe and further afield.

Neviti’s name is an anagram of ‘invite’ and their slogan is an invite to all occasions which really is the case with new collections being developed by the team every year to cater for all celebrations. ‘We are really excited and proud to be celebrating ten years and will be having a party with our team in December, along with other events to celebrate with our customers throughout 2018,’ says Neviti’s Director Tracey Cooper. neviti.com

PMS get festive The company exhibited their Elves Behavin’ Badly range at the Olympia show last month. Sponsoring the Christmas Bandstand, the giant stilt-walking Elves Behavin’ Badly even took part in the opening ceremony. In addition to meeting Elfie and Elvie, the Elves Behavin’ Badly helpers helped answer customers’ questions and explained how the Elf Phenomenon works. The stand showcased the range of Elves and accessories including the original Elfie, his female Elf companion Elvie, the impossibly cute Elf triplets and even Rudie the Reindeer, all of which are instantly recognisable by their big ears. elvesbehavinbadly.com

www.aromatizetrade.co.uk Tel: 01254 300268 sales@aromatize.co.uk

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13/12/2017 16:19

GA news

Latest developments from The Giftware Association, the trade association serving the gift and home industry since 1947.

Countdown to Gift of the Year awards The winners of the Giftware Association’s awards will be revealed at a special ceremony on Sunday 4 February at The Vox Conference Centre, Resorts World, hosted by celebrity impressionist Rory Bremner

C

elebrating the best in home and gift retailing, the Gift of the Year Awards are the most highly-respected industry accolades aimed at recognising the best new products and top retail talent.

For 2018, The Giftware Association have joined forces with Spring Fair to offer the most exciting awards yet. With over 50 judges in this year’s competition, almost twice as many as ever before, products will be going up in front of the largest ever panel of retail buyers, trade press and industry experts, including Gifts Today editor Sally Norton. All entrants will receive branding they can use online or in print, with even more exclusive marketing goodies if products are shortlisted, become finalists or even win. Watch this space to discover who wins on the big night!

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‘We were incredibly excited to be shortlisted and then to actually win was fantastic! We made sure to use the winning icon on POS materials, which we supply to help retailers large and small display this GOTY badge of honour to inform their customers about the product in question.

It certainly does bring some new trade customers who would perhaps not have had the product on their radar before’ Designed in Colour

GA member spotlight Peace & Blessings Launched in 2017, the stationery boutique saw a space for inclusive British design to celebrate non-mainstream festivals, and fill it with beautifully crafted gifts and stationery. With a background in usercentred design, the team creates meaningful products with an environmental and ethical conscience. New to the Giftware Association, the company won the Stationery Show’s Launchpad Competition resulting in a free stand at The inaugural Manchester Stationery Show.

GA member spotlight Cofi Coo Creators of the Quillow, a storytelling activity blanket that folds away into a cushion, the new members have already won awards including Winner of Young Entrepreneur of the Year and SBS Small Business Sunday by Theo Paphitis.

They are proud to be nominated as runners up and finalists in many other awards and most recently as a Product of the Year Finalist in 2017 by Networking Mummies Business Recognition Awards.

www.ga-uk.org

4-8 FEBRUARY 2018 Hall 5, Stand D50/E51 Over 2500 brand new gifts 10,000+ lines to choose from Only £100 minimum order ‘Little & Often’ ordering system FREE next day delivery Award winning customer service

Glitter Dot Prosecco Plaques

Equilibrium® Radiant Daffodil Collection

White Bamboo Words

Lumiere LED Boxes

Little Petal Fairies

Equilibrium® Druzy Collection

Fairy Glade

Progressive Gifts Greats Awards 2017

15 times winners

BEST SERVICE TO THE INDEPENDENT RETAILER

Kuya Crystal Dreamcatcher

Firefly LED Wedding Jars

Joe Davies 149 Broadstone Road, Reddish Stockport SK5 7GA Tel: 0161 975 6300 Fax: 0161 975 6301 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk

The ‘Little & Often’ giftware supplier *LIWV 7RGD\ -DQ LVVXH IS 6SULQJ )DLU LQGG

exhibition news

Looking ahead to Spring Fair We caught up with Ascential Events’ Rob Sapwell, Head of Sales (Gifts, Home & The Summerhouse) for Spring Fair to see what will be in store at this year’s offering.

Rob, what’s going to be new at the show for 2018?

We’re really excited to be launching Atelier, a brand new interactive feature area at the 2018 show. It will enable visitors to fully immerse themselves in visuallymerchandised rooms that showcase current consumer trends and predict what will be hot all the way through to 2020. We’re using content from industry-leading trend forecasters and platforms WGSN, Pinterest, One Click Retail and Coloro, to pinpoint colours, patterns and shapes that will be in demand over the coming years. The galleryinspired feature will provide retailers, buyers, interior designers, specifiers and contractors an invaluable glimpse into the future. And, as always, the new factor is brought to the show by our wonderful exhibitors with many of them picking Spring Fair as the perfect opportunity to launch their new ranges.

Some of the Gift suppliers presenting exciting new ranges will be Enesco Ltd, Joe Davies, Lesser & Pavey, Ross & Ross Food and Something Different Wholesale.

What makes the timing of Spring Fair so good?

Spring Fair is hosted at a key time in the buying calendar, presenting retailers with a prime opportunity to seek out the best products ahead of next season’s major sales periods. The timings give buyers flexibility and choice for orders right through to Christmas as well as buying into the new trends for the forthcoming year.

With 14 different sectors – and Glee – how do you aim to make the show easy to shop?

To help both visitors use their time at the show more effectively, we have developed our Appointment Planner tool that enables both buyers and exhibitors to pre-arrange specific meetings – it is an invaluable way to optimise a visit to Spring Fair.

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Why should exhibitors attend the show this year?

As more and more retailers look to diversify their offerings, particularly within the gifting market, it’s a case of strike while the iron is hot for brands exhibiting at Spring Fair.

This is the show retailers use to find new suppliers and it is a not-to-be-missed event for anyone serious about selling more products in 2018.

Why should buyers visit Spring Fair?

Everyone knows that it’s a challenging time for the retail industry, what with various global factors having an effect on consumer spending and purchasing habits. So, there’s never been a more important time for buyers and independent retailers to be looking at how they can diversify their offerings to ensure they fare well against these unpredictable times.

What can we expect from Glee at Spring Fair 2018?

Garden centres are already attending Spring Fair, with owners/operators and gift buyers out in force so Glee’s aim is to encourage other category buyers from across the gardening spectrum to maximise their attendance at Spring Fair. Glee’s concession will deliver a selection of the best products from some of Glee’s core product sectors, retaining Glee’s signature boulevard aisle, highly-recognisable branding and with core gardening at its heart. There will also be a Glee Café, which will act as a hub for Glee’s supporting trade associations – The HTA, GIMA and Gardenex.

How important is social media for the show?

Social media is increasingly important as it is a channel used by many retailers, interior designers and specifiers, and we make sure we’re communicating the benefits of attending Spring Fair to audiences that are active online.

Have you made any changes for 2018 based on feedback from last year’s show?

Part of the reason we’re launching the new interactive feature at Spring Fair 2018 is from feedback we got at last year’s show from visitors who told us repeatedly that they find the show a great source of inspiration for trends and insights.

Worldwide, a top performer

what could you do with this

brand ?

Gift Giving…all wrapped up Ambiente Frankfurt, Germany 9th—13th February 2018 Hall 9.1, C71

International Spring Fair NEC,Birmingham 4th—8th February 2018 Hall 4

4H81

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Enesco Limited, Head Office & Customer Services, Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0EN. Tel: 01228 404022 email: uksales@enesco.co.uk Overseas Customer Services: Tel: +44 1228 404066 email: eurosales@enesco.co.uk © 2018 Enesco, LLC. © 1999–2018 DEMDACO © 1999–2018 Susan Lordi

en7870 gifts today jan18.indd 1

08/12/2017 09:21

exhibition news

London Stationery Show gets set for 2018 New features, a great speaker line up and plenty of ‘hands-on’ opportunities is on the cards for this year’s London Stationery Show.

T

he organising team, led by event manager Hazel Fieldwick, is currently finalising the details of what promises to be the UK’s biggest specialist retail stationery trade show to date, featuring a bumper exhibitor and brand line-up. Running over two days at the end of April at the Business Design Centre in London, 2018 will mark the show’s eighth year. It is on target to top the 145-exhibitor, and hundreds more brands, line-up from 2017 and will include the industry’s premier stationery new product awards, an engaging Creative Stationery workshop area, two days of live talks and presentations for retailers, plus a new ‘On Trend’ display area and new ‘Trend Tours’ of the show for visitors run by trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus.

‘We’re introducing some great initiatives this year – which includes a special pre-show briefing session in January for exhibitors and any other suppliers interested in taking part in our workshops and ‘On Trend’ initiative, or just finding out more about the show and who visits,’ says Hazel.

‘Since the show started in 2011 it has changed tremendously, moving from office products to retail and design-led stationery. So, if suppliers haven’t exhibited or visited for some time we urge them to come along and find out what’s changed and more about our plans for 2018.’

Any suppliers who’d like to find out more about the show’s plans for this year are welcome to attend

‘If suppliers haven’t exhibited or visited for some time we urge them to come along and find out what’s changed and more about our plans for 2018’

the briefing, which will be held on 10 January at the Business Design Centre in London.

Call: 020 7772 8417 Email:: zoe.chinery@stationeryshow.co.uk Visit: stationeryshow.co.uk

BCTF features the best in Home and Gift The British Craft Trade Fair has been showcasing the best of British craft and art for the past 43 years. With close to 8000 British designer-makers registered with the show and that number growing every day, the organisers will always be able to offer something new to their visitors.

If you want to buy unique, handmade work from the British

Isles, the British Craft Trade Fair Harrogate and BCTF online catalogue will offer you all the choice you need.

With hundreds of makers, a vast range of products, and prices starting at just a few pounds, they’re well worth a visit.

Fact File

Cathy Hilton Artisan

The fair takes place in Harrogate North Yorkshire 8-10 April 2018, and buyers’ registration is now open through the website.

Call: 01444 246 446 Email: info@bctf.co.uk Visit: bctf.co.uk

Winner of last year’s BCTF Giftware Association Award for Excellence, Cathy has developed a process for permanent printing onto wood and has developed her technique to the extent that she can produce bright contemporary colour combinations that making her range quite unique. Products include clocks, cheeseboards, dishes, lazy Susan turntables and personalised products.

Stand: 179

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SPRING FAIR

Hall 6 Stand 6 T10

THE MATHILDE CRÉATIONS GROUP

Specialist in home fragrance and decoration for 30 years

www.orval-creations.com • www.mathilde-m.com • Michael.day@mathilde-creations.com

Profile - Yankee Candle

Scents of spring and summer Enjoy the Simple Things and Just Go are the latest collections from Yankee Candle, encouraging you to appreciate the little things in life and dream of holiday adventures. We take a closer look

Q&A

We talk about the Christmas TV campaign from Yankee Candle with Hannah Jenkins, Brand and Marketing Director EMEA, Yankee Candle.

Hannah, tell us about the inspiration behind the TV advert Yankee Candle ran over Christmas.

Titled ‘Everything the season is meant to be’, the campaign was designed to remind viewers of a timeless and traditional Christmas. Every season brings different moments and experiences, and at Christmas, the focus is on family and friends – hosting, toasting and celebrating. It’s these essences of the festive season and the feelings they evoke that Yankee Candle aimed to capture.

Where did the campaign run?

The seven-week campaign was spearheaded by the new TV advertisement. Celebrating the brand’s new personalisation initiative, Yankee Candle’s personalised candles also appeared in a five second end tag on the TVC. The campaign also ran across digital channels, social media and most importantly, through the new festive fragrances and POS instore.

Enjoy the Simple Things

Time to slow down and enjoy each day as it comes with this new collection for spring 2018. A beautifully curated mix of elegant, floral and fruity scents that capture life’s simple pleasures, the range boasts four contemporary seasonal fragrances to encourage consumers to relish life’s little luxuries.

• Sweet Nothings – blending notes of cyclamen, lotus blossom and vanilla.

• Sun Drenched Apricot Rose – a full bloom scent of ripe apricot and soft petals.

• A Calm and Quiet Place – gentle jasmine, patchouli and warm amber musk.

• Rainbow Cookie – an edible, fruity fragrance with citrus and peach and sweet vanilla.

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Both rang new es ar ava e class ilable in all si ic Ya x nk form s, as ee Cand we le Scen terpi ll as the ece cup.

Just Go

Escape your daily routine with the brand new tropical fragrance collection for summer 2018. Launching instore and online in April 2018, the collection is the perfect transition from the calm of spring to the exciting anticipation of summer. There are four new fragrances to choose from.

• Coconut Splash – refreshing and pure, with just a touch of natural, tropical sweetness.

• Warm Desert Wind – a sweet, lush mix of tropical fruits, flowers and green jungle leaf.

• Tropical Jungle – a scent of open space and distant lands brushed with smoked vanilla and patchouli.

• Misty Mountains – reminiscent of pine-clad mountains cloaked in cool mist.

Get in touch

Learn more about the new spring/summer collections from Yankee Candle Call: 0117 316 1200 Email: sales@yankeecandle.co.uk Visit: yankeecandle.co.uk gifts today 17

Candles

Candles on trend

When it comes to buying the perfect gift, the candle sector is as buoyant as ever. Thanks to constant innovation, product design and an eye on trends, candles are proving as popular with Millennials as they are with older consumers.

T

he candle market doesn’t look set to be snuffed out any time soon. As well as being a trend-led impulse buy, decorative candles are a quick and affordable way to add colour and style to the home – perfect for consumers who are looking to improve-not-move and those in rental properties.

Consumers also buy into high-end candles as a way of owning a piece of that brand or simply treat themselves to an affordable luxury when money is tight. Indeed, a report from Verdict Retail (verdictretail.com) explains that while consumers may shy away from investing in high-end big-ticket items, lower cost purchases like candles still continue to do well.

Perfumed candles take the lion’s share of the market, perhaps due to our continuing fascination with fragrance. ‘Perfume: A Sensory Journey Through Contemporary Scent’, a recent exhibition at Somerset House in London, explored why we are still so drawn to perfume. Claire Catterall, curator of the exhibition, told the Guardian that ‘Perfume has everything: it’s about our art, and commerce. It’s about hopes,

18 gifts today

aspirations, memories and emotion.’

The exhibition focused on 21st century scent, with visitors walking around ten different rooms accessorised with only a bit of lighting and a prop or two – including a rumpled bed and a tray of charcoal coloured beads. There was no accompanying information, only pencils and cards for writing your own notes on the smells you identified in each room. The aim was to explore how smell triggers memory far more immediately than the other senses.

Trends come and go in the category of scented candles and perfumers report we are seeking different scents today than we did a decade ago. Claire Catterall explains that today we seem to want less roses, lilies and citrus, and more tarmac, gasoline and blood – fascinating to see how this will be reflected in the latest home fragrance ranges!

When it comes to Millennials, it seems that scented candle are still popular because they hit some key trends.

• Experience over possession. A scented candle can transport you somewhere new – to a fireside, an Italian olive grove, an exotic beach.

‘Perfume has everything: it’s about our art, and commerce.’

What the retailers say…

‘We stock Wax Lyrical and Bolsius and have always had success with florals across the ranges. We have had great success with wax melts from Bolsius in 2017. We offer a tempting range of candles to get sales from people looking for a gift or from the indulgence market. Offering a display with changing seasonal fragrances will remain our offering in 2018.’

Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens, Broxburn ‘We stock Aquiesse and Valley Mill, both of which are soy. Soy in my opinion is one of the best waxes to burn, providing a clean burn and a great fragrance throw. Aquiesse will soon be discontinued so I’m trialling a small local independent supplier who are thinking big! Scent-wise, Pomegranate, Peony, Jasmine, Driftwood, Passion Fruit, Embers, Cassis & Gardenia are all customer favourites. I certainly think candles have fragrance seasons; however, the only one that may well be inappropriately named but sells all year round is Roast Chestnut.. go figure! I am a big fan of Electric Wax Warmers or Candle Warmers. Not only are they safer than tea lights, but you can pop them on a timer and have the house smell before you come home. 2018 is certainly time for new fragrances.’

Karen Greig, Destined for Home, Edinburgh, Scotland ‘We sell Lily-Flame candles at the moment, as they are our bestsellers. We love Fairy Dust, Fairy Wishes and Powder Puff. We’ll keep stocking them as long as they keep selling.’

Sara Heeks, Pillar Box Cards & Gifts, Birkenhead, Wirral ‘We sell our own branded candles from Heaven Scent and Ester & Erik dinner candles. We’ve tried various brands but the only consistent seller is our own brand. Limeleaf & Ginger and Rhubarb & Ginger are two that sell well all year around. In the lead up to Christmas anything with cinnamon is always popular, but in 2017 it seemed to be even more so. We’ve just introduced a small selection of cone candles from Ester & Erik, and the initial reaction has been great so if that continues we will be looking at expanding the range to offer more colours and possibly also sizes.’

• Authenticity is everything. Heritage brands, high quality natural ingredients, the real story behind a range all add to the allure of a range.

• Gender-neutral. Candle fragrances are increasingly personality-led rather than gender-led, moving away from what is typically considered feminine or masculine. As consumers become more adventurous with fragrances they

buy, it’s a great opportunity to explore some of the more unusual scents like leather, fireside and exotic spice.

With more than a quarter of UK households regularly buying scented candles, according to research company Kantar, there’s never been a better time to boost your offering.

Opting for a core range in store, plus some seasonal updates, is a great way to build a good offering.

Tabi Marsh, Papilio at Heritage, Thornbury, Bristol ‘We stock Stoneglow Candles, Vineyard Candles, McKelvie Candles and Ecosse Candles. Seashore and Pomegranate & Spiced woods scents in candles and diffusers from Stoneglow candles and Gin & Tonic and Prosecco scents in candles from Vineyard Candles and Ecosse Candles have all sold well. I’m looking forward to seeing what new scents will be coming forward for 2018 - maybe a new scent to overtake the Gin & Tonic and Prosecco phenomenon!’

Jenny Morrison, Top Drawer, St Andrews, Scotland gifts today 19

Candles

The expert way to burn a candle According to Julie Bonin at Diptyque Paris, there are some key tactics consumers should bear in mind when burning a luxury candle.

S

peaking to Harper’s Bazaar, the Assistant Commercial Operations Manager, outlined her seven key points for prolonging a candle’s life and ensuring it burns cleanly and evenly.

4. Re-centre the wick

1. Burn your candle for two hours during the first use

5. Cover with a lid

This allows the top layer of wax to fully melt, ensuring an even burn when you next light it and allowing you to burn it again and again.

Ensuring the wick is in the centre of the candle after burning will help prevent soot stains on the glass holder. Do it while the wax is still liquid.

Once you’ve extinguished the flame, use the lid – if you have one – to prevent dust from settling on the candle. If there is dust, use a damp cloth to remove it before lighting.

Clean the glass 2. Avoid draughty areas 6.

If your glass holder has soot stains An open window, door or placing a candle next to an open chimney will cause your candle to burn more quickly. For a more long-lasting effect, place away from draughts.

3. Trim the wick As a candle burns, the wick gets longer and burns faster. Trimming it every time you use your candle – the same length as when new – will help prevent a build-up of black smoke and stop the glass holder from overheating.

20 gifts today

after burning, rub them away with a damp cloth dipped in warm soapy water.

7. Re-use your candle holder Many candles come in highly decorative holders that can be reused as a vase or trinket jar.

Remove any traces of wax by pouring hot water into the glass, then wiping clean with a dry cloth.

Gift with Love

Order NOW for Valentine’s Day

Candles

French style

Sweet overtones of lavender combine with the clean, energising citrus scent of lemongrass to create the perfect springtime fragrance. Let yourself be carried away to the south of France with Price’s lavender and lemongrass large jar candle. With 150 hours of fragrance there’s plenty of time to indulge in this heady floral aroma.

Created from the requests of Price’s Candles customers, this large jar is part of the fast-growing new range of fragranced candles and diffusers by Price’s. With the focus on high quality wax, a clean burn, and maintaining a consistent fragrance from start to finish, it’s no wonder the range is performing so well! Available now and at Spring Fair, Hall 4 Stand E80-F81.

Call: 01234 264500 Email: sales@prices-candles.co.uk Visit: prices-candles.co.uk

Made in the UK

Stoneglow Candles are kicking off 2018 with not just one new range but four new stunning collections of candles and diffusers, all British designed and made in the UK. And with such beautiful new ranges, Stoneglow are on the move at the Spring Fair - you will now find them in the prestigious Summer House in Hall 8 with a new look trade stand. Ranges comprise:

Potager Garden Natural wax candles and diffusers in familiar fragrances of herbs, fruits and vegetables blended together to create an aromatic retreat to the garden.

Mixology A fusion of colour inspired by the revival of the cocktail renaissance. Mouth-watering fragrances to tantalise the senses.

Day Flower Simplicity and styling are the keynotes for this elegant collection with delicate white floral notes.

Encapsulating the soft feminine charm of the soft white blooms.

Night Flower Sensuous and sophistication are the keynotes for this enigmatic collection with dark alluring fragrance notes.

They have also added in eight new fragrances on the current bestselling range, along with a face lift on their popular Botanic collection. Pop along to Top Drawer K47 | Spring Fair – Summer House Hall 8 - C15-C14 to experience the new look Stoneglow.

Visit: stoneglowcandles.co.uk

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W W WoodWick

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crackles as it burns ™

Come and see us at the following venues...

Harrogate ŚƌŝƐƚŵĂƐ Θ 'ŝŌ 14 - 17 Jan 2018

Stand D5

Xystos 'MBNF 'SBHSBODF t #BUI #PEZ

The UK’s No.1 Home Fragrance Supplier to the Gift Industry

GT Jan.indd 1

Scotland Spring Fair 4 - 8 Feb 2018 21 - 23 Jan 2018 NEC Birmingham SECC, Glasgow

Stand G14

Stand 4H50 - J51

For more info, contact our Customer Service Team Email: sales@xystos.co.uk or Tel: +44(0)191 499 1570 www.xystostrade.co.uk

08/12/2017 11:10:11

Village Candle

Birthday celebrations for Village Candle

The heritage American brand turns 25 this year and will be marking the occasion with an exciting line-up of new products and fragrances, a major focus on the UK and brand building.

W

ith artistry and authenticity at the heart of everything they do, we take a closer look at

the company.

Th Village Candle The Story - Fragrance is S their Art Form t

Village Candle at Spring Fair

Visit the team in Hall 5, Stand 5C42 The company will give away complimentary candles of three fragrances at the Village Candle Brand Experience Booth. Visitors will also have chance to meet the HQ team and get a full brand story overview and experience the new line.

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F From its birth in Maine, Village Candle has spent the last 25 years creating h quality home fragrance experiences q through meticulous care and th craftsmanship. Gathering the finest c in ingredients from all over the world, tthey partner with the best perfumers tto artfully blend fragrances unlike any yyou’ve ever experienced before.

Celebrating 25 years of American Fra Fragrance, Village Candles are now beloved by fragrance lovers all around the world in over 32 countries.

New Collection – Shimmering Metallic The new collection brings a fresh approach to combining the beauty of opulent colour, décor and an exciting fragrance line up – wrapped in shimmering metallic. The colours are inspired by mood, season and fragrance – with a new artisan label, offering a cleaner and more modern look.

‘Be bold and be beautiful’ was their inspiration, as this new collection blends the company’s commitment to mixing and mastering exciting new

fragrance forms for the home and experiences for the end consumer.

3 Reasons Retailers Love Village Candle 1) It’s a family-owned company, making their approach more personal and heartfelt every step of the way. Paul Aldrich, Founder and CEO recognizes “how, where and when people shop is changing, and we as a brand will innovate and evolve in our shopping channels”.

2) New products and line expansion on the way, with natural home cleaners, lotions and candles for kitchen and bath.

3) A new leadership team will steward the brand into the future toward a new level of growth.

Dana Schwartz, who joined as Vice President of eCommerce and Brand, says she ‘couldn’t pass

up the opportunity to lead these efforts for a heritage brand going in new directions, and to think beyond traditional ways of engaging consumers through fragrance, experience and rich storytelling.’

A Silver Anniversary Brings True Brilliance

The limited edition 25th anniversary candle illuminates the heritage Village Candle is so proud of and the brilliance that lies ahead for this brand.

Infused with an effervescent blend of citrus, fruit and spice, True Brilliance is designed to be festive and fitting for gift giving. It’s beautifully presented in custom- made glass with an embellished silver-tone lid in honour of this silver anniversary. Elegant, luxurious and modern, this special edition candle expresses their dedication to creating deeper, richer, and more layered fragrance experiences to share in the years ahead.

Candles

Out of the dark

The Personalised Memento Company’s popular personalised LED lanterns combine luxury gifting with innovative design and a uniquely personalised aspect. Each personalised rustic black lantern features clear panels, carefully inset to the lantern’s frame. The front panel is personalised with a message, embedded into one of many stylish designs, including colour printed and engraved options. Each lantern also contains a child and pet-friendly battery powered LED candle, which has a gentle flickering effect. The top of the lantern features a hoop, allowing it to be hung around the home and creating a charming rustic effect, creating a gift that is ideal for all homes.

PMC are constantly developing their range of personalised gifts to ensure that they remain at the cutting edge of the personalised gift market. As the UK’s leading supplier of personalised gifts, PMC offer a one-stop-shop solution. Their reliable drop-shopping and production service also allows customers to order with complete confidence. Visit PMC’s trade website to register for your account today.

Spring Fair: Hall 4, E90-F91 Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk Visit: personalisedmemento.co.uk

Spring is in the air…

Step into a tranquil Woodland Spa for Heart & Home’s newest spring collection of soy blend candles featuring three scintillating scents designed to take you on a relaxing journey of aromatic bliss. With soothing notes of white cedar and eucalyptus, Amber Forest restores inner balance, whilst restorative chamomile intertwined with lemon grass exudes tranquility in Calming Aloe. Guardian Angel offers a satisfyingly serene scent with a glimpse into equanimity with nuances of white patchouli and bergamot resting on a core of sweet musk – divine.

Christmas at Heart & Home With winter a key season in candle gift sales, Heart & Home has built a selection of best-selling formats and distinctive scents to stand out from the crowd, from the delightful autumnal duo of Cashmere, and Plum & Orange Blossom to the delectable festive fragrances of Gingerbread House and Home for Christmas.

Gingerbread House features the baked notes of that most classic of iced delights and Home for Christmas brims with seasonal spices reminiscent of gently simmering mulled wine in front of a roaring fire. Of course Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the choice of gorgeous gifts for friends, family… and perhaps a treat for you. Heart & Home’s wonderful collection of gifts offers consumers a whole choice of formats and price points. So whether they are looking for lots of different aromas as in House of Fragrance or a cracker full of wax melts there really is a fragranced gift to suit all.

Stylish with true-to-life fragrances, Heart & Home’s candle collection is also environmentally friendly featuring a unique soy blend wax – luxury and eco credentials… the perfect pairing. The distinctive lids, long burn time and competitive prices, alongside the soy blend wax and beautiful choice of coordinating gifts and accessories creates a range which will fulfil all your fragranced gift needs.

Spring Fair, Stand E30/F31 Email: info@heartandhome.com Visit: heartandhome.com

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Come and see us at the following venues...

Harrogate ŚƌŝƐƚŵĂƐ Θ 'ŝŌ 14 - 17 Jan 2018

Stand D5

Xystos 'MBNF 'SBHSBODF t #BUI #PEZ

The UK’s No.1 Home Fragrance Supplier to the Gift Industry

GT Jan 2.indd 1

Scotland Spring Fair 4 - 8 Feb 2018 21 - 23 Jan 2018 NEC Birmingham SECC, Glasgow

Stand G14

Stand 4H50 - J51

For more info, contact our Customer Service Team Email: sales@xystos.co.uk or Tel: +44(0)191 499 1570 www.xystostrade.co.uk

08/12/2017 13:38:30

Candles

Head to the country

The Country Candle Company are celebrating another successful year in 2017 as they continue going from strength to strength thanks to their iconic and eye catching Superstar packaging coupled with their carefully selected range of beautifully British fragrances. This year has seen some exciting changes to the collection with new additions and colourways, they have even launched a new fragrance in their own unique flagship colour.

The Country Candle Company are pleased to announce an exciting upgrade to their ever popular luxury home fragrance offering- the WonderWick collection. This collection is made up of the glamorous Blanc and Noir candles and reed diffusers with a line-up of six beautifully British fragrances to choose from. The candles and reed diffusers come packaged in luxury tubes with the Blanc candles in a pure white wax and the Noir in a black wax which produces a lovely glossy wax pool. Their stockists have proved them to be a roaring success with customers continually returning for more.

Their team are looking forward to 2018 as they have many new and exciting releases ready to launch and help kick start the year with a bang so watch this space!

Call: 01249 478660 Visit: thecountrycandlecompany.com

Home style

According to candle experts Bolsius, when it comes to the flattering flicker of candlelight, today’s customer rates colour as highly as fragrance and ambience. It is no surprise that candles are now a popular option for customers looking to give their homes a dÊcor update, without completely re-decorating.

Created to give retailers a trend-inspired candlelight option. The Rustic Pillar Candle range is perfect for self-purchase, giving customers an instant interior update at a low cost. Modelled on traditional pillar candles with optimum burn time and pleasingly robust sizes, each Rustic creation has a marble-effect patina.

Following one of the most popular Pantone colours of the year, Warm Sand, and the rise of Hygge, the Bolsius Rustic Pillar candle range is the perfect edition to any home this spring. Group together in contrasting tones to bring light accents to a room or style singularly for traditional impact. The Rustic Pillar Candle range is available in over six shades and seven sizes.

Call: 0800 169 5126 Email: sales@uk.bolsius.com Visit: bolsius.co.uk

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To view the full range please visit us at

TOP DRAWER 14th - 16th January STAND L31

We create beautiful home fragrances, inspired by, and true to, those found in nature heylandandwhittle.co.uk

01293 525825

sales@heylandandwhittle.co.uk

Follow us on

Candles

Go for gold

Illuminate and fragrance your home with British home fragrances brand Heyland & Whittle and their Gold Classic Collection. This opulent range of candles and reed diffusers are housed in a uniquely designed and etched glass vessel with eight sophisticated scents hidden within. The premium packaging boasts gold leaf detail with coloured flowers weaved into the right side of each presentation box oozing luxury for the ultimate home fragrance experience. Invite a memorable and lasting ambience with eight classic layered aromas that have been expertly created to suit the season, to soothe and relax or uplift your mood; with clean even burning soy wax blended candles which are also environmentally friendly.

The reed diffusers effortlessly add an enveloping scent to any room, the stylish way to fragrance your home. Pop out the cork and place the rattan reeds into the bottle immersing them in the liquid allowing the perfume to be drawn up through the reeds and release the Heyland & Whittle fragrances we all love. Top up your reed diffuser when it begins to look low with economical refills to ensure continuous fragrance, throughout your home. The 200ml refill bottle contains sufficient fragrance to fill up your existing Heyland & Whittle designer bottle, once again.

The Gold Classic candles use the company’s new soy blended wax, which is suitable for vegetarians. This is a unique blend developed by Heyland & Whittle using only natural ingredients like soy, rapeseed, coconut and beeswax. This unique wax produces a smoke-free and clean burn, unlike paraffin wax, which emits nasty toxins. The wax will burn down the glass jar, creating an even burn with no tunnelling effect and a lovely light glow highlighting the detail etched glass. Each item is carefully handmade and beautifully boxed for the perfect gift. Heyland & Whittle create beautiful home fragrances, inspired by, and true to, those found in nature.

Call: 01293 525 825 Email: sales@heylandandwhittle.co.uk Visit: heylandandwhittle.co.uk

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It takes two

Fragrance with style Baylis & Harding’s new, cleverly crafted luxury candle has a certain je ne ce quoi that would make it a welcome addition to any home. Available from Xystos in large and small sizes, it comes with a tantalising fragrance of Crème Brulee & Cocoa. Made with love – and designed to sell!

Decorative Artisan WoodWick’s beautiful Artisan Collection is distributed by Xystos, whose director, Tom Sykes, describes the vessels in the range as ‘decorative art works in themselves’. Apart from stylish candle holders, Artisan also includes two stunning reed diffusers – Sea Salt Magnolia and the classic English Lavender.

Call: 0191 499 1570 Email sales@xystos.co.uk Visit: xystostrade.co.uk

Coming soon!

A COLLECTION OF BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED FRAGRANCES INSPIRED BY THOSE LITTLE MOMENTS OF JOY IN EVERY DAY LIFE.

VISIT US AT 4-8 FEBRUARY 2018 HALL 4, STAND 4D90-E91

Bolsius UK Ltd. PO Box 635 Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 9JZ United Kingdom

T +44 (0)800 169 5126 F +44 (0)800 169 5127 E Sales@uk.bolsius.com I www.bolsius.co.uk

Candles

Candles on Trend Rob Sapwell, Head of Sales (Gifts, Home & The Summerhouse) at Spring Fair 2018, shared his thoughts about why consumers’ love for candles doesn’t look set to be extinguished any time soon.

Rob, what’s trending in candles right now?

Ultimately, it’s all about sleek, quality candles that look great and are affordable. Narrowing in on colours, gold and metallic are two that are trending at the moment, and we’re also seeing increased consumer demand for noir-style candles. Brands such as Stoneglow are at the forefront of the metallic trend, with its dedicated Metallique collection, while Wax Lyrical’s Fragrant Escapes and Fired Earth selections are extremely popular.

Scottish candle-maker Shearer Candles is another that is leading the category, with its signature Amber Noir range which features essences of tuberose, violets and amber.

Why do you think candles do so well in Gifts?

Currently candles are holding up the gift market in a big way. They represent the perfect home accessory gift because they look good and are available in such a variety of styles that they will fit the bill of any home, even if they are simply used for decoration rather than ever being lit. The current economic climate is forcing many homeowners to stay put and invest in 32 gifts today

home improvements instead of moving, and as candles and soft furnishings are a great way to refresh rooms they are becoming increasingly popular.

enable them to set up meetings with suppliers ahead of the show.

Any future trends you have spotted ahead of Spring Fair 2018?

Electronic diffusers are definitely becoming more popular and this will be reflected at Spring Fair. Ashleigh & Burwood is seen as pioneer of the trend, with its ultrasonic amora Scent Hubs, while Mr & Mrs Fragrance has launched its George electric diffuser line.

How do you think springfair.com an independent retailer can successfully build a home fragrance offering?

The trick is to focus on one or two key brands which have a diverse, high quality range of home fragrance products, be it diffusers or candles. One of my favourite shops, Evie Loves Toast – a small boutique in Cobham and Wimbledon Village – has captured this perfectly.

It has carefully selected products from just two suppliers – Peppermint Grove and True Grace – and merchandises them fantastically well. Its success shows that less can sometimes be more.

If you were a home fragrance buyer, how would you plan for the show in order to find the right ranges/ products for your shop?

Spring Fair is a large-scale show, so for those buyers specifically after home fragrance products Hall 4 is a must-visit as this is where the majority of candles and diffuser brands will be exhibiting. There will also be a good selection of suppliers in Hall 5 and The Summerhouse. Buyers should also check out the Spring Fair website ahead of the show to access a map of the show’s layout and to use the new Appointment Planner which will

Spring Fair 2017 boasted over 58,000 visitors, covering the entire retail industry and all the major players – from large multiples to smaller independent stores. Spring Fair 2018 will take place at Birmingham’s NEC in the UK from 4-8 February 2018, with Volume opening a day earlier.

AGENT REQUIRED Organisation Chairworks Ltd Areas

North West North East England Scotland

It’s all about the fragrance

Commissions 15% on NET sales but lower on certain products and where discount involved.

Description

hairworks Ltd are a major distributor C of woven baskets and garden products for many years.

e need a well established agent who W has a good connection with gift retailers and garden centres.

We Offer

range of past selling products of A very attractive designs

list of current customers over a 100 A per area

ull sales support, catalogue and F samples etc

Please contact Nick Smyth 0208 247 3700, 07769 651428, info@chairworks.info.

Exclusive Soya/Coconut Wax Blend Premium Fragrances Hand Poured in the UK

Top Drawer - Olympia London Stand S55 Spring Fair International Hall 6 Stand S33

Trade talk

Gifts Today loves to hear your views.

Laurence Whiting Trends, bestsellers and new launches – it’s all up for discussion with some leading candle companies this month.

Perry Simmons MD, Stoneglow The candle market is booming. Why do you think this is?

Home Fragrance is part of our day to day home lives and candles are the perfect delivery tool for fragrancing the home.

Not only do we want our homes to look beautiful but to smell amazing too, and there is nothing quite like coming home from a hard day and relaxing alongside a fragrant candle.

What sold well for you in 2017?

The year was a little hesitant to start with the Brexit panic, but in early spring we launched our Occasions collection, which was a star range for opening new accounts. Showing our customers great ranges, and stable prices from a UK manufacturer gave consumer confidence. Following on this mantra of newness, we launched two further new ranges; Luna and Geometrics for autumn 2017, both offering our customers a great choice, along with new fragrances in our popular Seasonal Range. Stoneglow’s innovation and customer care is driving positive sales.

What fragrances have sold best for you in 2017?

Fragrances with a decadent touch have been selling well, such the Dark Amber & Vertiver and Leather & Saffron in our Luna Collection. For 2018 we added Ylang Ylang & Amber, a deep oriental scent.

What trends have you identified in candles?

Fragrance is an extension to your personality so it needs to fit into the modern home. Consumers are becoming more sophisticated about fragrance, wanting strong, modern aromas in stunning vessels. Stoneglow have launched two new ranges for SS18 - Day Flower and Night Flower to meet the demand of the consumer palate. Day Flower is presented in soft greys and white tints, and is a perfect example of a beautiful decorative item that fragrances amazingly.

How would you advise an independent to successfully build their candle offering?

Stoneglow offer an array of candle choices and budgets, we would suggest that retailers meet with one of our sales team who are highly experienced and can help put an amazing assortment together based on locations, consumer trends and visual appearance for the stores.

Any advice on how retailers can encourage consumers to try something new?

Positivity is powerful, so engaging with consumers is key. Make the purchase experience about them and their needs. Retailers and their staff should know the story behind the brand their selling, its history, it values. Sharing this information will show a passion for the brand.

What’s going to be big for 2018?

We have been pre-selling our 2018 range since October and our new Day and Night Flower collection has been making a big impression and bigger sales!

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National Sales manager, Price’s Patent Candles Ltd The candle market is booming. Why do you think this is?

The candle market has been outperforming other home fragrance categories consistently for the last five years and we see no sign of it stopping.

Affordability and innovation are key drivers to success and candles are often seen as a great way to add sales to any retailer.

What sold well for you in 2017?

Our Fresh Air range of odour neutralisers continues to return impressive growth as more people look for the dual purpose of fragrancing their homes and odour elimination. Also, our new range of large and medium jars have sold well as customers look for credible alternatives in what has become a crowded, but popular, part of the market.

What fragrances have sold best for you in 2017?

The popularity of our Open Window fragrance in our Fresh Air range, pushed us to include this in our large and medium fragranced jars. With extracts of lily, violet, and orange flower, the scent is really fresh and homely; a great twist on the typical cotton fragrance.

What trends have you identified in candles?

The last few years have been dominated by pastel colours, whereas this year has seen a shift towards bolder, brighter options. Price’s have always produced subtler and more realistic fragrances as a modus operandi and this is now bearing fruit. Customers are keen to know that the fragrance isn’t too powerful and can be used to scent certain zones of a room, whilst focusing on true-to-life perfumes.

How would you advise an independent to successfully build their candle offering?

Think carefully before tying yourself into any one brand. Look for the companies who give you the excellent customer service levels, who can react quickly to your needs, who can support you in-store and who have longevity. There are many changing brands in the market at the moment. The end consumer likes to have a chance to build loyalty with both a brand and the shop, and this can’t happen if there is no consistency.

Any advice on how retailers can encourage consumers to try something new?

Independent retailers are already great at talking to their customers. This remains the best way to encourage new purchases. If the customer trusts the retailer, they will try it. Of course, accessible samples to smell in store certainly helps too!

What’s going to be big for 2018?

Exciting new products, great new fragrances, launching from Spring Fair, throughout the year!

Cheryl Hook Founder, Melt The candle market is booming. Why do you think this is?

People now use candles on an everyday basis as part of their daily routine rather than just special occasions. And whilst candles have some competition in the form of diffusers and plug ins – they are a rather cold alternative to a candle. A bit like a kindle is to a book‌convenient and sort of does the same job‌but without the pleasure!

What sold well for you in 2017 – and why do you think this is?

Our pillar candles are what sets us apart and are very strong within our range. They are time-consuming to produce as we pour by hand – but are well worth the effort and manage to fragrance a room even when unlit. They also have a beautiful, organic patina and strong colour which makes them a lovely addition to a room.

What fragrances have sold best for you in 2017?

2017 was all about woody, fougère fragrances for melt. The perfume market has been awash with vanilla florals and people were ready for something more sophisticated and complex.

What trends have you identiďŹ ed in candles?

At melt, we have seen a move away from the more exuberant candles and containers back towards a very classic, elegant style which is so easy to live with and is accommodated in any room or setting. Fragrance wise – it is such a personal choice – but again we have seen a move away from the more flamboyant, sweet fragrances to a much more refined style.

How would you advise an independent to successfully build their candle offering?

Find a brand that you can identify with and who you enjoy dealing with. Any good manufacturer should be able to discuss wax types, fragrance types, how to get the best burn with you in depth – as well as the ethos and ethics behind the brand. This in turn allows a stockist to really get to know the products within the range and to pass that information onto their customers. Candles are a great consumable – and by creating brand loyalty and awareness customers are buying into so much more than a candle‌.and will become loyal supporters of a particular brand.

Any advice on how retailers can encourage consumers to try something new?

Always have a candle burning in your retail outlet. Melt send display/burn samples with orders – and many of our stockists run a fragrance of the month campaign.

What’s going to be big for 2018?

Our customers definitely expect something more complex and sophisticated from us in terms of fragrance. They are not looking to us for simple, singular fragrances such as vanilla or lavender (lovely as they can be) but something much more layered and with great depth. People in general are much more educated around fragrance and perfume now – and want the same for their homes and workspace. For melt ‘It’s all about the fragrance’!

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Candles

Head over to Manor House Fresh, floral & fruity

Now that Christmas has passed and spring is in sight, Aromatize can focus on the exciting additions to their offering. Their new brands Kringle and Kittredge have launched with a great reaction from existing and new customers alike. The two high quality ranges consist of fresh, floral and fruity fragrances across both collections, each with a different look.

Their well-loved Goose Creek collection has added seven new scents to its expanding range, including Black Cherry and Perfect Day. All are available in colourful large jars and wax melts. Also expanding is their luxury Woodbridge Soy candle collection. Eight new fragrances with a sleek, brand new look will be available in large and medium bell jars, as well as the popular reed diffusers. Their showroom is set up for the new season, and all of their brands and new product collections are now available to view.

Call: 01254 300268 Email: sales@aromatize.co.uk Visit: aromatizetrade.co.uk

Manor House has just completed its best-ever Christmas season and is proud to announce the success of their new website, launched late in 2017, which has given a greater audience a view of their 21 stunning home fragrance collections.

The company pride themselves on producing all their products by hand in Suffolk, England, using mainly British packaging and fragrances.

They use the finest botanicals from around the world, packaging, fabrics, hand woven silks from Suffolk silk mills and ribbons mainly from British companies thus creating a true Handmade in Great Britain Home Fragrance Collection. The range comprises: pot pourri and scented pine cones, scented botanical candles, room diffusers and sprays, drawer liners and sachets along with advent candles, luxury hand washes, scented fabric bags and cushions, and so on.

They have also launched a Facebook page, ‘Manor House Home Fragrance Ltd’, and a Twitter account, @ManorHouseHome1, to link their business with their final end customers and clients. Manor House work with many leading retailers to produce private label collections incorporating clients thoughts and ideas, fragrances and branding to offer bespoke and unique one-off collections. Manor House will be presenting their complete collection including Christmas 2018 at the Spring Fair Hall 4 Stand A70.

Call: 01359 250720 Visit: manorhousehomefragrance.co.uk

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the country candle company SPRIN G F A I R Sta nd 4j

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Premium quality home fragrance with a distinctive brand image Hand Poured in the uk supporting british suppliers www.thecountrycandlecompany.com sales@thecountrycandlecompany.cOM 01249 478 660

Candles

It’s all about the fragrance….

With a passion for hot wax and fine fragrance, melt have been creating candles of exceptional quality since 1999. Fragrance is known for turning your mood and creating the right ambience in your surroundings – and melt’s preferred choice is always elegant, sophisticated, a tad refined, confident and slightly sexy – or as some splendid newspaper of note said ‘Recherché’.

They specialise in producing hand-made, fine fragrance candles of fabulous quality and it is their willingness to step out of the conventional fragrance arena, in order to seek out more unusual perfume combinations for which they are now known. They have worked hard to source raw materials locally and over 93% of ingredients and packaging comes from Lancashire companies - with the balance being from the UK. All of their candles are hand-poured and can take up to 36 hours to produce – and working with molten waxes ensures the candle is fragranced throughout.

Melt’s range has now grown to include 33 unique fine fragrances. Each range consists of six candle sizes. Three pillar and three container candles with burns times from 22 hours up to 160 hours.

Call: 01200 443377 Email: info@themeltco.com Visit: themeltco.com

Just for him

If you’re looking for something different, then look no further than Sandy Bay. Their Gentlemen’s Club Collection is designed for men, but the ladies love it too. The range is presented in impressive black and gold glassware, with the stylish branding featured on both the candle and packaging.

The Gentlemen’s Club comprises of six on-trend Fine Fragrance Blends which have been given catchy names such as City Boy, Forever Man, The Charmer, True Gentleman, Countryman and The Boss, with a stunning new Oud based fragranced being launched for SS18. Sandy Bay use only premium ingredients in all their fragrance blends so the quality of the fragrance shines through when the candle is both lit and unlit. All their products are produced on site at their facility in Epping by a team of skilled candlemakers, using their own exclusive Natural Wax which is blended on site, and contains coconut wax, this offers an exceptional burn quality and a very good fragrance throw.

Top Drawer Stand S55 Spring Fair International Hall 6 Stand S33 Call: 01992 579949 Email: enquiries@sandybaylondon.com Visit: sandybaylondon.com 38 gifts today

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INSPIRED BY NATURE

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LUXURY CANDLES & REED DIFFUSERS

Beautiful handmade candles, home fragrances and luxurious hand care.

www.thecountrycandlecompany.com sales@thecountrycandlecompany.com 01249 478 660

St Eval Candle Company, Engollan, St Eval, Cornwall, PL27 7UL 01841 540850 | info@stevalcandlecompany.co.uk www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk

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Manor House Home Fragrance Ltd

T 01359 250720 www.manorhousehomefragrance.co.uk

Retailers’ Panel

Gifts Today Retailers’ Panel Key gift retailers talk trends, new product and plans for 2018 Dougal & Lesley Philip New Hopetoun Gardens, Broxburn What shows are you planning on visiting in the first quarter of 2018?

Harrogate Christmas, Scottish Gift show and Spring Fair.

Any special plans for the year ahead?

We are celebrating four decades of the garden centre and will be featuring the changing gift habits over those decades.

Any new trends you’ve spotted in Gifts in 2017?

Houseplants are having a revival and are being chosen as great gifts – succulents, air plants and terrariums are on trend. We are visited by several regular groups of cyclists and have a small section of gifts for cyclists now.

Do you plan to introduce any new gift categories/ranges you haven’t stocked before in 2018?

We always look for

something new, whether individual items or ranges, but we are waiting to see what jumps up and bites us at the spring gift shows.

What’s the average spend in store?

For the garden centre as a whole we average £22 over the year with seasonal peaks and troughs.

Apart from great product, how do you get customers in store?

For regular customers, the Orangery tearoom is an essential attraction - parking is easy, free and it’s a friendly place. For new customers we rely mainly on personal recommendation.

As a retailer, what do you see as your recipe for success?

Having created a reputation for always having the perfect present for anyone we keep having to fulfil this offer, balancing repeat products with exciting new lines. Continually working hard at buying new lines, maintaining the best sellers in stock and constantly tidying, remerchandising and keeping the store looking fresh and tempting.

Sarah Heeks Pillar Box Cards & Gifts, Birkenhead, Wirral What shows are you planning on visiting in the first quarter of 2018?

We’ll be going to Spring Fair for a couple of days. I’m hoping to spot the new musthaves for 2018.

Any special plans for the year ahead?

We haven’t made any special plans for 2018, we just want to continue to give our customers what they want.

What’s the average spend in store?

Our average spend is usually around £6, but at this time of year it’s always over £10 per purchase.

Apart from great product, how do you get customers in store?

We use social media, but not all our customers are computer savvy, so our window display is hopefully eye-catching enough to entice people in. Word of mouth is an excellent tool too. We get a lot of good feedback, which is the best feeling.

As a retailer, what do you see as your recipe for success?

Emma Paisey Daisy Park, South Molton, North Devon What shows are you planning on visiting in the first quarter of 2018?

Our trade show year starts with Top Drawer, Ireland gift fair in Dublin, followed by the Spring Fair.

Any new trends you’ve spotted in Gifts in 2017?

We’re not a book store but the increase in novelty book sales especially has increased.

Do you plan to introduce any new gift categories/ranges you haven’t stocked before in 2018?

We are always looking to bring in new brands and the trade shows are a great opportunity to find some exciting new things. We don’t have a toy shop in our town and I feel there’s an opportunity for us there in 2018.

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What’s the average spend in store?

Approximately £25 but obviously this increases in the Christmas season.

Apart from great product, how do you get customers in store?

We are particularly strong in social media and we are continuing to promote ourselves in store and online by interacting not just on product but events in the town. This year we had a couple of charity events plus new product launches which attracted customers into the store. Online we have had competitions helping push more customers to us.

As a retailer, what do you see as your recipe for success?

We try and use the basic principles of good service in store and online with a good selection of brands and products.

Good customer service is very important for a successful business. We pride ourselves on always going the extra mile for our customers. A chair for the elderly, an ear for listening to problems and to deliver bulky items.

Jenny Morrison Top Drawer, St Andrews, Scotland What shows are you planning on visiting in the first quarter of 2018?

I will be attending the Scotland Trade Fair Spring where I’m a judge for the ‘Best Product Awards’ and hopefully I will be able to get down to the Spring Fair.

Any special plans for the year ahead?

To keep my product offering exclusive to us here in St Andrews and different, as that’s what makes the shop stand out

Any new trends you’ve spotted in Gifts in 2017?

Unicorns, flamingos, sausage dogs and, of course, gin!

Tabi Marsh Papilio at Heritage, Thornbury, Bristol What shows are you planning on visiting in the first quarter of 2018?

Top Drawer and Spring Fair are the musts for me.

Do you plan to introduce any new gift categories/ranges you haven’t stocked before in 2018?

As our loose Belgian chocolates have been a bigger success than we were expecting we will be doing Easter eggs for the first time in 2018. We are also looking at how we can combine chocolates with some of our mugs, teddies and so on to increase sales for Valentine’s and Mother’s Day.

What’s the average spend in store?

Our current average spend in the run up to Christmas is £15, which is in line with last year.

Apart from great product, how do you get customers in store?

Excellent customer service is a must - we are currently working with others in the town to make ourselves more dementia and autism-friendly as it’s so prevalent in our area. The changes we’ve already made are proving popular with parents as their children with additional needs feel welcomed and safe, and this enables parents to feel able to come out. Keeping up with social media is a must, too.

JOIN OUR RETAILERS’ PANEL! Fancy having your say about the gift industry? Want to share news about your business? Just drop editor Sally Norton an email at sally@lemapublishing.co.uk. You and your business could appear in the next issue of Gifts Today!

Do you plan to introduce any new gift categories/ranges you haven’t stocked before in 2018?

I am limited to space, so I will likely stick to what I know sells well, but I just never know what I might find at the trade fairs in the New Year.

What’s the average spend in store?

On average, I would say £10 - £20.

Apart from great product, how do you get customers in store?

Social Media. It’s key to any good, independent business to connect you directly to your customers.

Karen Greig Destined for Home, Edinburgh, Scotland What shows are you planning on visiting in the first quarter of 2018?

First up is Top Drawer and then Scotland’s Trade Fair. I love meeting the makers and hearing their stories as it all goes to help selling their products.

Any special plans for the year ahead?

I’d like to increase footfall which means I’ll be on the look for some different products that will catch the customers’ eyes. Increase online presence by revamping website, and keeping up with social media. At the end of 2018 I am looking to hold late night shopping evening introducing local artists.

Any new trends you’ve spotted in Gifts in 2017?

Customers are loving bespoke signs or signs with Gin or Wine o’clock or Prosecco Time.

What’s the average spend in store?

Roughly £20-25.

Apart from great product, how do you get customers in store?

I put a lot of effort into creating eye-catching constantly changing window displays. Being active on social media also helps, plus it’s lovely to interact with customers.

As a retailer, what do you see as your recipe for success?

Finding unique products that set us apart from other retailers. Also offering free gift wrapping and insight and knowledge into certain products, such as candles to help customers get the most out of their purchase.

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Retail Interview

Past & Present Best known for their home, garden and DIY offering, Robert Dyas have a surprisingly wide range of Gifts, with a focus on the innovative and quirky.

With a philosophy of running their business as shopkeepers, not just shops, the leading high street hardware retailer are building their Gift offering. We take a closer look.

5 minutes with Rachel Brain The COO of Robert Dyas shares what’s new in the company’s Gift offering.

‘Gifts are an ever-growing successful part of the business to the point that we are now a destination for classic, quirky and inspiring gifts’ 42 gifts today

Rachel, what was your career journey to become COO at Robert Dyas?

I’ve worked in fashion and luxury across bricks and mortar and ecommerce. Having worked for Theo Paphitis at La Senza, I couldn’t wait to have the opportunity to work for him again. He’s a modernist with incredible vision - a true inspiration to work for.

Where are you based?

Wimbledon.

How many shops are your team buying for?

We have 94 stores spread across the South of England and ecommerce.

Quirky gifts from Robert Dyas The company offered a wide range of quirky gifts for children, adults and pets for Christmas 2017. Stocking fillers, Secret Santa gifts and items that were just plain weird were the order of the day. Jodie Harris, Head Elf and Senior Christmas Gifts Buyer at Robert Dyas said: ‘Our research shows that many children love playing tricks on adults at Christmas time. Practical jokes can bring the home to laughter when executed at a family gathering.’

The Robert Dyas story Robert Dyas, the original founder of the company, emigrated from County How many in the buying team? Key names?

There are nine senior buyers. Richard Redman buys Seasonal, Andrew Georgious buys DIY and Danny Squire buys Home Office.

How important are Gifts for your retail offering?

Gifts are an ever-growing successful part of the business to the point that we are now a destination for classic, quirky and inspiring gifts.

What have been your bestsellers in Gifts over the past year? Are there any lines that have surprised you with their level of success?

Light boxes, unicorn novelty lighting, memory maze, remote controlled toys and drones to name a few.

What trends in gifts/homewares/ dining ware do you predict will be big over the next year?

Smart technology and retro-style items.

Is there such a thing as a typical Robert Dyas customer?

No, we sell everything to everyone!

Average spend? £16 average across in store and online.

which cover specialist areas. Shows such as Spring/Autumn Fair, Harrogate, Ambiente, Chicago Housewares, NED. We buy domestically in the main.

Meath, Ireland, with just a £5 inheritance to his name and opened up his first ironmongery store in 1872. His aim was to

Do you ever commission special merchandise?

No.

provide customers with the

What makes your job so special?

I am privileged to work with incredibly passionate and loyal colleagues both in stores and at Head Office and no two days are the same.

that continues to be the focus

best products, service and advice possible – a tradition of Robert Dyas stores to this day. In the following century, the company’s stores expanded, stretching throughout London and the South East. During this time, they were faced with many setbacks including World War One, the Wall Street Crash, and

Personal highlight so far?

Launching a whole new department (Home furnishings) and introducing other new categories.

Embracing and driving the growth of our ecommerce business - which is phenomenal.

then losing 18 stores, their head office and warehouse in The Blitz. Then in

What next? Plans for the future?

Who knows?! But I’m excited!

high-profile businessmen with an empire spanning retail, property and

1997, disaster struck again as a fire obliterated their distribution centre and head offices just before Christmas.

In 2012, successful businessman and star of BBC TV’s Dragons Den, Theo Paphitis, bought the company. Theo Paphitis is one of the UK’s most finance. Robert Dyas offers an extensive range of household products. The range includes smart home technology, DIY solutions, small and domestic appliances, homeware, bakeware and kitchenware, outdoor and garden, utility, gifts, textiles plus Christmas trees and gifts.

The company has 94 stores, ranging from 1,250 to 9,000 square feet (116 to 836 square meters) and operates online and in the South of England. The most western store is in Yeovil, the most eastern store in Colchester, the most

Where do buyers source products – particular trade shows etc.

We visit international trade shows

northern store in Solihull and the store furthest south is in Eastbourne. The company’s head office is now based in Wimbledon. gifts today 43

New Products

Enesco have giftware wrapped up The company have a wide variety of gift, collectable and home accessories as well as licensed products including Disney and Pusheen

Face the future

Adding to its hugely popular Say What? range from About Face Designs for 2018, Enesco has unveiled the addition of new products, that allows the gift giver to say everything they’d ever like to express. The Beer in Hand mug and Dad Rocks glass are perfect for Father’s Day.

Cheers!

Dinner time

There are three new additions to the Disney Enchanting Collection, following the success of the initial range, making them the perfect present for little princesses or a collection addition for Disney fans. The range comprises Snow White, Cinderella and Rapunzel.

What an angel

Following the success of Kelly Rae Roberts’ relationship sentiment pieces, Enesco is proud to present a new series of angel figurines from the artist.

Healing and Cherished Mother are two of 12 items into the new Winged Angels Inspiration collection, perfect for Mother’s Day.

Family favourites

Bringing much-loved Disney animated characters to life, Enesco unveils new additions in to the Disney Traditions Collection by folk artist Jim Shore,

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In response to growing customer demand and hot-onthe heels of the unicorn trend, Enesco presents a new wine glass from Lolita, for spring 2018. The whimsical theming is completed with delicate jewelling detail down the stem of the glass.

It’s a mystery Everlasting love

Gund unveils a festive Pusheen surprise mystery box, including brand new character, Cheek the hamster.

Enesco unveils a new sentiment-driven collection called Heartwood Creek by Jim Shore named ‘From the Heart’, which focuses on those special moments in life and occasions that are worth celebrating.

On the farm

Adding to its hugely popular homeware collection from Kitchy & Co, Enesco has unveiled the addition of new products inspired by the brand’s latest range of figurines, including cushions, foldaway bags, mugs and trivets, making them the perfect gift or collectors’ item for animal lovers and domestic gods alike.

Walk on the wild side Inspired by wildlife from our farmland and countryside, there’s a new range of figurines from Studio Bronze Collection by Border Fine Arts for 2018, including the Hare and the Eagle.

enesco.co.uk

New Products

It’s a date

New from the Personalised Memento Company is their expanded range of licensed Rachael Hale gifts, including their collection of funky and fun animal calendars. Available in designs including Dogs, Cats and Fun Animals, these calendars are perfect for getting organised in 2018. Each calendar can start from a month of your choice and is personalised with the recipient’s name throughout – making them a part of the artwork. PMC’s licensed Rachael Hale collection now includes calendars, greetings cards, mugs, stationery, homeware and much more – available in a range of designs for all animal lovers. Soon to be unveiled for S/S18 are a range of adorable Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day designs too. PMC will be showcasing their growing range of personalised licensed Rachael Hale gifts at this year’s Spring Fair.

Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand E90-F91.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk Visit: personalisedmemento.co.uk

Glitter Dot Gin Plaques

Fun and right on trend, these funky gold foiled, framed gin plaques from Joe Davies are a great gift for anyone who appreciates the odd G&T! Gin is experiencing a massive popularity boost at present and gin-based gifts are benefiting greatly from this. These distinctly modern gin plaques complement Joe Davies’ hot selling Glitter Dots Prosecco Plaques collection and will add a touch of class to your gift display whilst ensuring you are right on trend with the current must have collections for spring/ summer 2018.

Joe Davies carry an extensive collection of gin related gifts to complement the plaques, Gin fund boxes, LED jars and bottles with gin messages to name but a few.

All will be on display on their extensive stand at Spring Fair, alongside 2500+ other brand new gift lines, all available in ‘little and often’ quantities with carriage paid orders of just £100.

Glamour Puss Collection

This contemporary, fun Glamour Puss collection from Joe Davies, consisting of quirky plaques, photoclips, photo frames and coat hooks, make great gifts for the young at heart. Each piece features a funky cat illustration and caption - just perfect for those cat lovers amongst us. Cat-themed gifts are always popular as we are a nation of cat lovers, these are particularly attractive and make ideal pick-up lines and are ideal for birthdays and general gifts.

Call: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk Visit: joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair, Hall 5, Stand D50/E51

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SPLINTERS DESIGNED FOR YOU

DISPLAY STANDS Working with many major brands we have over 25 years experience of display stand design, and manufacture, we are known for producing refreshing, modern and creative designs that are practical yet individual to our customers needs.

Sourcing sustainable materials we work closely with our customers using powerful and intuitive 3D CAD systems to aid the design process to then take the initial concepts through to finished products.

Whether an individual stand or a complete range our design team have the knowledge and experience to design display stands that are effective in the market place, aesthetically pleasing and practical from a production and distribution point of view.

EXHIBITION STANDS Our design team love to be challenged and working closely with our customers on their initial concept.

We can then produce designs and computer rendered images to assist in turning your idea into a physical reality.

Using our full equipped factory we can then produce the exhibition stand as well as any display stand or other merchandising items that are required.

Our dedicated team have years of experience at all the major exhibitions across the globe and are able to deliver and install your exhibition stand, ensuring a smooth process from start to finish.

Splinters Int Ltd Tel: 01934 852853 Email: sales@splinters-int.co.uk

www.splinters-int.co.uk

New Products Touch of French style

For 15 years, Mathilde M have been designing beautiful home fragrances that tell wonderful stories.

Created in close cooperation with master-perfumers based in Grasse, the world’s perfume capital, they are as sophisticated as the fragrances you’d wear on your body. Check out: Iconic A new collection of interior perfumes with contemporary design and audacious fragrances in tribute to the majestic universe of the Sun King.

Fetes Galantes Diffusers, candles and precious jewel cases are decorated with delicate scrolls and silvery reflections for glittering and refined gift boxes in limited editions.

Call: +33 (0)3 85 33 09 43 Visit: mathilde-m.com

Is it a speaker?

Or is it a table?

The Steepletone Tabblue is both. A Bluetooth Speaker system, that’s also an elegant table, this is a product like no other.

With an incredible six speaker system, the sound of the Steepletone Tabblue is amazing. It is a oneof-a-kind Bluetooth speaker, but it’s also much more than that.

We’re talking about seven hours of cordless playing time and a whopping range of ten metres Bluetooth range. The eye-catching design (in the form of an elegant table) is a true treat for music lovers.

Visit: steepletone.com

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Right royal wedding

Company marked the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with a unique commemorative collection of six exclusive gift lines. Made from high quality bone china, each piece features the official image of HRH Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle, and is decorated with a fine gold pattern. A hot gold foil, silk lined gift box adds the finishing touch.

With limited stocks available, the deadline for ordering has already passed, but keep the company in mind for timely on-trend pieces.

Visit: widdop.co.uk

Make a statement

Treats from Julie

Britain’s favourite artisan designer Julie Dodsworth will be launching an extended collection to her new Lavender Garden designs this coming spring. Alongside the popular Briers Garden range, the new home and gift range will include new kitchen textiles, candles, washroom and preserves across the collections In addition, Julie has teamed up with her local Yorkshire confectioner Farrah’s of Harrogate to create this extensive range of gift produce. Each line carries her modern twist, heritage presentation. The collection has been successfully trialled in North Yorkshire independent stores ready now for retailers nationwide.

Email: studio@juliedodsworth.co.uk.

Visit: juliedodsworth.co.uk

Seek out style We’re not ones to blow our own trumpet, but we do enjoy seeing savvy, stylish retailers succeed with the Museums & Galleries product collection in their range. So why not harness the power of beautiful and distinctive licensed paper products to make your business stand out?

With an exclusive annual collection of world-renowned British brands, trusted product quality and dedicated customer service, you’d be ‘mad as a hatter’ not to try…

See us at Spring Fair: Stand N16–P17

sales@mgml.co.uk

museumsgalleries.co.uk

Tel: 01373 462165

Image: White Rabbit by John Tenniel – from the Classics range gifts today 49

New Products

Feeling Groovy Groovy UK is enjoying a very exciting period having just signed brand new licences such as Frida Kahlo, Jimmy The Bull and Mr. Men

Fabulous Frida

Frida is celebrated internationally for her unique style, mixing realism with fantasy, beautiful prints and patterns which come together on a collection of bags, ceramics and homeware.

Just Jimmy

Jimmy’s owner, Rafael Mantesso’s wife left him on his 30th birthday leaving nothing but an empty flat and white walls for him to create his crazy but heart-warming imagery with his beloved pet Jimmy, and Groovy’s products look just as fun and funky.

Mr and Miss

Mr. Men and Little Misses, the fun little characters we have all grown up with have expanded over time to include cheeky new personalities but still have a very cool 1970s retro edge which sits well with the Groovy persona.

Dead Funny

It’s a great time to be a superhero fan, especially if you love the wisecracking mercenary Deadpool. The hilarious tongue-in-cheek, fast action sequel is due out on 1 June 2018 and Groovy have launched their new ranges for hardcore fans. The range includes a selection of bathrobes and slippers, the infamous Look-ALite mood lights in all three sizes and logo string lights. Other superhero collections include DC Comics; The Flash, Wonder Woman and Batman, for the new Justice League film, which has enjoyed an immense success at the box office and of course the new Marvel collection which includes Spiderman and The Avengers: Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk and Thor.

Call: 0116 239 1105 Email:hello@groovyuk.com Visit: groovyuk.com 50 gifts today

New Products

STAND & DELIVER With over 25 years’ experience in design and manufacture, Splinters are the company to turn to when you want a bespoke display or exhibition stand. We take a closer look.

S

plinters Int. offers everything from design to exhibition stand installation, stateof-the-art equipment to carton and packaging production. The company’s motto is ‘Designed for you’ - reflecting both the way they operate and the products they produce.

Display Stands Sourcing sustainable materials, Splinters work closely with their customers using powerful and intuitive 3D CAD systems to aid the design process to then take the initial concepts through to finished products.

Whether an individual display stand or a complete range, their design team have the knowledge and experience to design display stands that are effective in the market place, aesthetically pleasing and practical from a production and distribution point of view.

Exhibition Stands Splinter’s design team love to be challenged and work closely with customers on their initial concept. They can then produce designs and computer rendered images to assist in turning ideas into a physical reality.

Using their fully equipped factory, they can then produce the exhibition stand as well as any display stands or other merchandising items that are required.

Their dedicated team have years of experience at all the major exhibitions across the globe and are able to deliver and install your exhibition stand, ensuring a smooth process from start to finish.

Contract Work Their factory enables them to undertake specialist CNC, cutting, edgebanding, laser and various other contract machining work. Experienced staff use state-of-the-art optimising systems to convert your requirements into the most efficient and costsaving machining runs. From panel processing to specialist milling at competitive prices, they can undertake any contract work from one-off runs to regular requirements.

Facilities & Services UK-based 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse Dedicated design team Exhibition stand installations Warehouse product storage and distribution CNC milling stations High-capacity panel processing beam saws Through-feed and curved edgebanders CO2 laser cutting 220 sq. ft. assisted air spray booth Large format high resolution printers Carton and packaging production

Splinters Int. Ltd Pear Tree Industrial Estate, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DJ Call: 01934 852853 Email: sales@splinters-int.co.uk Visit: splinters-int.co.uk

‘Working with many major brands, we have over 25 years’ experience of display stand design and manufacture. We are known for producing refreshing, modern and creative designs that are practical yet individual to our customers’ needs. Our fully equipped 40,000 sq. ft. factory enables us to undertake specialist CNC, cutting, edgebanding, laser and various other contact machining work.’

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licensing news

Rocket Licensing team with Horrible Histories The independent licensing company has been appointed by Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, to manage UK licensing for Horrible Histories. The brand that has become the world’s bestselling children’s history-book series and boasts an international hit TV show and sell-out international stage shows is on its way to the big screen. Scheduled to go into production next year and due for release in 2019, Horrible Histories: The Movie is being produced by UK distribution, sales and production company Altitude Film Entertainment with Citrus Films, the company whose television arm is behind the incredibly successful small-screen adaptations of Horrible Histories.

Jumbo Games sign Peter Rabbit Jumbo Games has signed an agreement with Silvergate Media to add Beatrix Potter’s much-loved licence to its portfolio of high quality puzzles. ‘We are thrilled to be working with such a charming and popular brand with over 115 year’s heritage in the UK,’ said Steven Russell, Senior Marketing Executive at Jumbo Games. ‘Peter Rabbit is a brand that all generations will know and love, and we’re certain our ranges, across both adult and children’s puzzles, will be a big hit with fans in 2018.’

Coolabi gets personal Independent international media company and rights owner Coolabi Group has announced a new partnership with Getting Personal Ltd to produce a Clangers and Purple Ronnie personalised gift range. The unique items will be aimed at adults and will range from tote bags, cushions, and mugs to t-shirts, messenger bags, ‘Happy Birthday’ chocolate bars and framed prints. Additional Purple Ronnie branded products will include pint and wine glasses, ‘You’re Married’ notebooks, teddy bears and aprons.

New website for The World of Dinosaur Roar!

Nurture Rights has announced the launch of a new dedicated website for the property produced in association with the Natural History Museum in London. Aimed mainly at parents, but with lots to entertain children and fascinate educators, www. dinosaurroar.com is as vibrant and colourful as the series of books, published by Macmillan’s Children’s Books that inspired it.

Family times Laurence Prince, owner and chairman of Danilo Promotions, has announced the appointment of his son Daniel to the position of managing director from 1 January 2018. Daniel joined Danilo in 2001 and is responsible for launching their first sound card ranges and www. personalise.com where you can customise your own card. gifts today 53

Top Drawer

Talking trends at Top Drawer Showcasing over 1500 expertly-curated design-led brands, Top Drawer gives you the opportunity to discover the latest trends for the new season. We take a closer look.

‘Defining a clear band story is essential for retailer success’

What exhibitors say

‘Top Drawer is always a great show to kick off the season. It gives us an opportunity to get a more personal feedback from customers at the start of the year ahead of all the other main trade shows.’

Stephen Thurlow, Alexander Thurlow, Fashion 265 ‘This will be our third Top Drawer Spring and we’re looking forward to meeting even more new customers from the south east. The Miss Milly brand is establishing a strong foothold in the area through both our appearance at the show and our motivated and enthusiastic agent, Thelma Dilanti. We’ll be excited to unveil the latest evolution of the Floria Collection, jam-packed with gorgeous colour combinations and stunning new designs.

See you there!’

Sarah Watmore, Miss Milly, Fashion 405 54 gifts today

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hop the trends in confidence at the spring/summer 18 edition of Top Drawer, bringing thousands of new, original and commercially-appealing products into one place. ‘Defining a clear brand story is essential for retailer success,’ says event director Alejandra Campos. ‘The store, concept, the brand – these are the stories you tell the world hoping to create resonance with customers and generate a desire to associate with your brand.’

Encompassing the dynamic words of Gift, Fashion, Craft and Home, the show is the perfect place to start the new season in style. Here’s the highlights of what’s on offer in these four categories.

GIFT Combining the most desirable brands across Gift, Wellbeing and Children’s, this edit will bring buyers the newest and largest collection of designled products from leading brands and sought-after names. Margarete Steiff, Temerity Jones, Ashleigh & Burwood, Caroline Gardner, Nkuku, True Grace, Cubic, Dassie, Jellycat, Kikkerland, Max Benjamin, Rex, Rice, Stone Marketing, Sunnylife, Wild & Wolf, aden + anais, Moomin, Bob & Blossom, K-Play, , Notable Designs, Valerie Graham, Moulin Roty, Abahna, Sophie Allport, SC Brands, Doiy, Izipizi, Castelbel, Artigos de Beleza, La Compagnie de Provence, Wildfire Tepees, Londji, Captain Fawcett, Nathalie Bond Organics and Durance

are amongst the 300 brands, most exclusive to Top Drawer, that will be launching their new products.

The world’s largest curated selection of designers and publishers can be found in the Greetings & Stationery area, bringing visitors the latest ranges of greeting cards, stationery, prints, wrapping paper and postcards. Names include The Art File, 1973, Portico Designs, Wrap, Suzan O’Hanlon, ArtPress, Belly Button Designs, Five Dollar Shake, Katie Leamon, Lagom Design, Ohh Deer, Roger La Borde, U Studio and many more.

FASHION The S/S18 edit brings a world class selection of over 200 accessories and jewellery labels. Buyers have the chance to discover the hottest trends of the season and add exciting new collections to their offering. The Fashion roster for S/S18 features Amadoria, Azuni, Estella Bartlett, Lisa Angel, One Hundred Stars Trading, Ottoman Hands, Rachel Jackson, Rodgers&Rodgers, White Leaf, Last True Angel and many more.

Men Only will also make its debut. A new concept area showcasing an edit of leading men’s fashion brands for the new season including Oliver Spencer, Il Bussetto, Double00, Both Barrels, Briston Watches, Sipahi & Co, and Junghan Watches.

Presenting a hand-picked selection of

jewellery and accessories brands never seen in the UK, Fashion Spy will welcome international jewellery brands Bermuda Born, Cuques De Ilum, Eduards Accessories, Flo & Vie, Isabel LaMadrid, L’Ellie, Luli Art Bijoux, Monica Maja Richardson, Paca Peca, Rosa Mendez and The Italian Handbag Company to the UK market for the very first time.

CRAFT Providing a platform for the most exquisite handmade products, Craft brings together over 140 makers who specialise in Ceramic & Glass, Fashion & Textiles, Jewellery and Mixed Media.

Names of note this season include Abigail Bury, Ali Tomlin Ceramics, Arwyn Jones Ceramics, Benefield Spencer Glass, BTU Studio, Emily Cross Ceramics, Harriet Elkerton, Harriet Morris Jewellery, Harris and Hall, Gilly Langton Jewellery, Katie Victoria, Kyra Mihailovic Ceramics, Rolfe and Wills, The Silver Shed and Suzanne Breakwell.

HOME With an unrivalled collection of captivating products across Interior Accessories, Kitchen & Dining, Furniture & Lighting and Outdoor Living, Home presents buyers with an exclusive selection with over 200 of the very best brands.

Debuting this S/S18 edition are Anna + Nina BV, Emma Alington, Green Lili, Ian Mankin, Jacky Al-Samarraie, Jersey Pottery, Laura Spring, Royal Crown Derby, Small World Textiles, The Stitch Society, Turtle Mats, Wald & Co and Zak Designs.

Alessi, Avenida Home, Black + Blum, Broste Copenhagen, BlissHome, Bluebellgray, Coach House, Emma Alington, Eva Solo, Saga Form, Garden Trading, Grand Illusions, LSA International, MacKenzie Childs, Maxwell & Williams, Terrace and Garden, Newgate, Pavilion Rattan and Studio William return with their newest ranges.

Fact File

Top Drawer Where: Olympia, London W14 8UX When: 14-16 January 2018 Visit: topdrawer.co.uk

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Top Drawer

Hearts & flowers

Miss Milly, the British brand for gorgeous jewellery and scarves, is kicking off the year with a stunning array of new designs with hearts, flowers, leaves and abstract and geometric designs.

From gorgeous combinations of pastel lilac and baby pink with soft greys and whites to striking fuchsia, blue and bright mint green, the collection is the most eye-catching to date and still as reasonably priced as ever.

And the flagship Floria Collection includes the first two long necklace designs in resin, moving this incredibly successful range on even further.

Miss Milly focuses on supplying bold, unusual jewellery that is easy-to-wear and will appeal to mainstream consumers. Come and see this fantastic mix of delicate pastels and lush, tropical tones in a selection of beautifully crafted, standout jewellery and soft, tactile scarves at both Top Drawer and Spring Fair this season.

Already supplying a happy customer base of gift shops, department stores, garden centres and visitor attractions throughout the UK, Miss Milly is experiencing strong growth due to a successful combination of great value prices, strong design and friendly, efficient customer service. Branded packaging and display stands are available, and the full catalogue can be ordered online. Sales agents are available in some areas.

Top Drawer, Stand 405 Call: 01905 622509 Email: hello@missmilly.co.uk Visit: missmilly.co.uk

Smile!

From the creators of Up In Lights comes exciting new designs to add to the Shapes & Characters collection. With the ‘Under The Sea’ trend set to follow Unicorns and Rainbow fever, Smiling Faces’ new Mermaid and Shell designs should prove to be extremely popular. The LED Lights are battery powered with warm white bulbs and can be free-standing or wall mounted.

Stand N31 Call: 01444 882323 Email: sales@smilingfaces.co.uk Visit: smilingfaces.co.uk

56 gifts today

Come and meet the soft and cuddly friends Steiff stand R51 Top Drawer 14-16 January 2018

Top Drawer

Getting sentimental

Carrie Elspeth are excited to announce a new ‘Chakra range’ which is all about promoting wellbeing and balance in our busy lives. The new bracelets and chokers come on gift cards which explain the properties each Chakra promotes, and every item comes with a cute little bag making Chakra Jewellery the perfect gift this spring.

If that isn’t enough they have additions to their best-selling Sentiments range and their popular leather bracelet range is expanding with the introduction of chunkier leathers, tantalising new colours and more choice of adorable charms.

To top it off, the core Carrie Elspeth collection includes stunning new jewellery featuring everything from natural shell, through to Greek pendants and breath-taking sparkling gems.

Stand: 440 Call: 01446 771271 Email: sales@carrieelspeth.com Visit: carrieelspeth.com

It takes two

The team at the third generation family company Alexander Thurlow Co are very proud of their new collection comprising of two design themes. The first is focusing on new metal designs with fine enamelled detail. The other uses a selection of natural and glass beads to produce wonderful fresh colour themes.

Alexander Thurlow have been established since 1949 and are one of the UK’s major suppliers of wholesale fashion jewellery to destination retail, gift shops and boutiques. They are passionate about jewellery with a special emphasis on design, quality and customer service. They also offer a bespoke design service.

Stand: 265 Call: 020 8766 6466 Email: sales@alexanderthurlow.com Visit: alexanderthurlow.com 58 gifts today

SIMPLY GORGEOUS

JEWELLERY AND ACCESSORIES

Mini Moderns launch stationery

British interiors band Mini Moderns enter a new product category with the launch of stationery and desk accessories.

Mini Moderns have revisited some favourite patterns that have only previously been available as wallpaper.

Mini Moderns founders, Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire, feel that stationery products have a great synergy with their designs: ‘Everything we do starts life as a wallpaper design, so creating a range of largely paperbased products means that there’s an instant synergy with our core home furnishing ranges’.

The hero print of the collection is P.L.U.T.O. - a striking geometric design from Mini Moderns’ Hinterland collection. The stationery collection also sees the welcome return of design duo’s first ever print, Do You Live in a Town.

Finally, the brand’s signature Bungalow icon is peppered throughout the range, used as a repeat pattern and as an instantly recognisable icon on zip pulls and colourful powder coated book markers.

As you would expect, the home office collection features Mini Moderns signature colours, with products largely grouped in three colour blocks: Mustard, Tangerine Dream and their distinctive turquoise, known as Lido.

Mark and Keith clearly enjoyed the creative process of developing the range. Keith is particularly fond of the mix of materials they have achieved.

‘As well as paper products, which naturally embody the spirit of our wallpapers, we have introduced some icon wooden pieces, like the Tablet Holder and the Perpetual Desk Calendar. Printed in our P.L.U.T.O. design, these items look stunning and are made from 100% sustainably sourced beech wood.’

Mark continues: ‘One of the things that we particularly love about the range is the attention to detail. Working with the expert team at Portico, we have managed to integrate lovely touches like debossing and foil detailing into the products. The whole range perfectly reflects our home furnishing ethos – accessible and joyful.’

Charlie Bassil, sales Director at Portico Designs Ltd sums up: ‘We are thrilled to unveil our biggest launch this spring - our Mini Moderns stationery & gift collection. Months in the making, this playful 20-piece collection includes super stylish wooden desk accessories and stationery pieces. This British home interiors brand has a cult following with their unique take on pattern with mid-century twist. We can’t wait to bring their signature look to your home office!’

Top Drawer Stand 405

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

Top Drawer: Stand I9 Visit: minimoderns.com gifts today 59

Top Drawer

Spring begins

Spring is always a time of great excitement, regeneration, new beginnings and fresh ideas. PoM’s new 2018 collection promises to re-awaken all of your senses with a celebration of colour, form and texture. PoM explores styles from bohemian to sculptural geometric, reconnecting you with nature and a simpler timeless style through g jjewellery, y, scarves, bags and accessories.

Gift jewellery b brings warm mellow tones with gold and silver plate. Inspired by organic shapes, natural and botanical themes, this strong cohesive collection botanica is thou thoughtfully designed and exquisitely made.

For all jewellery lovers, it has to be the new Po PoM stud sets. Exciting combinations of two st styles of studs, presented on branded cards, m making the perfect gift whatever your style.

S Sterling silver is sleek and paired down.

S Simple shapes create a subtle statement, w with new delicate stacking rings promising to be a big hit.

A And following the huge success of their wint winter accessories range, PoM are going big on sc scarves and bags for spring. Gorgeously soft sue suede totes and clutches in stunning colours, embroidere embroidered velvet purses, cross body bags with metallic tints th that add touch of glamour. And their Scarves, l as always are a mustt h have. New and exclusive designs, beautiful fabrics and that all important eye for detail, makes this their most wearable and sellable collection to date. This is a well curated collection that takes you on a journey through style and design and will be loved by you and your customers.

Stand 480 Email: sales@ pom925.com Visit: pom925.com

Let me be your teddy bear

Meet the new soft toys from the makers of the world’s first teddy bear. When Margarete Steiff created the world’s first soft toy in 1880, little did she realise the enormity of the gift that she was giving to children everywhere. In 1902, her nephew Richard designed the Steiff company’s signature invention; the Teddy bear. The company’s new ‘Soft Cuddly Friends’ embrace all the ingredients that made Steiff famous ultra-high quality materials, intricate hand craftsmanship, and the famous ‘Button in Ear’ – in a fresh new collection of contemporary styles designed to appeal to today’s children.

Stand R51 Call: 01483 266643 Email: leyla.maniera@steiff.com 60 gifts today

 � � ­ € ��‚ € ƒ „ …‚ € † ­  ‡ † ‡ ˆ ƒ „ ‡ † † ‡ ˆ ƒ „ ƒ

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NEW CAKE CANDLES!

BEST SELLING DESIGNS

F R O M T H E C R E AT O R S O F U P I N L I G H T S !

From the Company that brought you the best selling, original Light Up Letters comes new and contemporar y Cake Candles designs. Find us at Top Drawer (Stand N31) to view the full collection.

Visit us at www.smilingfaces.co.uk | 01444 882323 | sales@smilingfaces.co.uk | Find us at Top Drawer N31 Gifts_Today.indd 1

18/12/2017 11:40

Harrogate Christmas & Gift

Whatever your buying requirements, Harrogate Christmas & Gift has it covered!

F

Christmas all wrapped up

or many years, Harrogate Christmas & Gift has boasted the position as the UK’s number one trade event for the Christmas market, as the show offers a one-stop-shop for absolutely everything festive and is at the prime time of year for retailers and buyers planning for the following Christmas.

However, exhibitors won’t only be presenting Christmas products, as over the last four or five years, ranges on offer include everything from garden and homeware, year-round gifts, stationery and cards, floral products, toys and novelties and even food items.

Simon Anslow, show organiser, explains: ‘Harrogate Christmas & Gift has not only grown significantly in exhibitor and visitor numbers in recent years, but the diversity of products on offer has grown too. Visitors include buyers from department stores, independent retailers, tourist attractions, heritage centre shops, church and cathedral shops and also garden centres from across the UK. Obviously, these types of outlets are looking for gifts and add-on ranges for the entire year and consequently, exhibitors are presenting products at the show to reflect this demand.’

This year, visitors will be spoilt for choice with seven halls of the Harrogate Convention Centre packed with exciting new products from well over 100 exhibitors.

Many of these companies have been attending the show for many years and are renowned and trusted brands; but interestingly there are over 30 brand new exhibitors attending the show this year, too.

Simon explains: ‘Visitors will be able to see all of their favourite companies such as Premier Decorations who will be filling Hall H in its entirety with Christmas products; plus their new Outdoor Living and Halloween collections; Festive Productions and Heaven Sends in Hall C with quirky gifts and accessories and seasonal ranges, plus Puleo offering creative and innovative artificial Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands; Floralsilk in Hall B with garlands, wreaths and trees and Widdop and Co who promise 12 dazzling Christmas themes for 2018; Snowtime in Hall D with trees, lights, home décor and decorations; Konstmide and Kaemingk in Hall M – plus Gisella Graham who will be unveiling 16 new co-ordinated themes, market leading Easter ranges; 62 gifts today

unscary Halloween and hundreds of new everyday gifts.

‘However, Hall Q will be a real destination this year, as it contains many of the new companies exhibiting, giving a new dynamic to the show. This includes Italian nursery company Peg Perego with

‘Harrogate Christmas & Gift has not only grown significantly in exhibitor and visitor numbers in recent years, but the diversity of products on offer has grown too’ ride-on toys; Shatchi with Christmas ranges; Kiss the Moon with award-winning aromatherapy products; Little Nutmeg Creations with quality woodworking such as elf and fairy doors and advent calendars; and Transomnia with beautiful on-trend Christmas decorations and inspired gifts. Also returning to Hall Q this year are Culinary Concepts who were a huge hit with visitors last year with a fabulous range of quality products. This is just a handful of over 30 companies in this hall, plus it houses the main catering point for the show where visitors can grab a hot meal, so well worth a visit.’

The Big Night Out

Dates: 14 – 17 January 2018 Venue: Harrogate Convention Centre, North Yorkshire Call: 01902 882280 Email: simon@harrogatefair.com Visit: harrogatefair.com

New for 2018 is an evening of comedy to be enjoyed by exhibitors and visitors alike. This ticketed event will take place at the Old Swan, Harrogate on the evening of Sunday 14 January and hilarious entertainment will be provided by top comedians Dave Spikey (co-star of That Peter Kay Thing and Phoenix Nights) and Patrick Monahan who won Show Me the Funny in 2011. Tickets are just £45 + VAT a head and includes a pre-dinner drink and a four-course dinner.

Richard Lang & Son Ltd 1, Little Chester Park, Alfreton Rd, Derby DE21 4AA Tel: 01332 340927 Email: sales@richardlang.co.uk Web: www.richardlang.co.uk

Harrogate Christmas & Gift

Lighting up Christmas

It’s never too early to be thinking about Christmas in the giftware trade and the festive period is never far from the minds of Puckator‘s elves. They have increased their range of holiday items exponentially meaning that they will be showcasing their products for the very first time at this year’s Harrogate Christmas Fair.

Favourites include their adorable ‘Elfies’ range - these cheeky chappies can be found making mischief on popular selling items such as tealight spinners, mugs, air fresheners and even a couple of festive doormats.

The big LED trend of 2017 is still very prevalent moving forward into 2018 and who doesn’t love a big sparkling LED at Christmas time. Puckator will be launching their fab compilation of shining standing and wall hanging shaped lights as well as exclusively designed merry LED bottles. Also to look out for is their beautiful collection of on-trend string lights.

All these items and more will be launching at Harrogate Christmas fair first, and with Puckator stocking a vast collection of products featuring multiple designs you’ll be hard pushed not to find everything you need for the 2018 gift event of the year.

Hall 4, Stand B4 Call: 0800 011 6969 Email. customerservices@puckator.co.uk Visit: puckator.co.uk

One-stop shop

There’s a bath & body boost for the Xystos portfolio as WoodWick leads flame & fragrance charge. Xystos will be opening its one-stop shop for candle and personal care products at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Show, having enhanced its portfolio through recent partnerships with two leading bath and body companies.

WoodWick continues to lead the flame and fragrance charge, while the company’s Cello melt burners have added another dimension to the success story that sees the company go from strength to strength. Xystos director Tom Sykes describes the vessels that make up the new WoodWick Artisan Collection as ‘decorative art works in themselves’ as well as being the holders of candles with stunning new fragrances.

But it is Xystos personal care products that have been making the big news. Two-and-a-half years ago the company made ‘a conscious move to become the number one bath and body distributor’ in the UK. Having subsequently added the distribution of the Woods of Windsor, Baylis & Harding and Di Palomo brands to that of The Naked Bee, it would be difficult to deny that the company has achieved its ambition.

Director Tom Sykes explains that, while continuing to be a leading player in the candle market, much of Xystos’s growth is now with garden centres, and ‘bath and body is the cornerstone of that business as far as gifting is concerned’.

Stand D05 Call: 0191 499 1570 Email: sales@xystos.co.uk Visit: xystostrade,co.uk 64 gifts today

Christmas at

Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair : 14th - 17th January 2018 Hall C Stand 41

www.straitstrading.com

01254 300260 Gifts Today.indd 34

sales@straitstrading.com 15/12/2017 08:55

Harrogate Christmas & Gift

Gifts that give

Let the good times be gin Introducing a new range of glassware from Lesser & Pavey for gin lovers. The range includes tumblers and stemmed glasses. It’s part of the gold and silver edition glassware range which features Gin, Prosecco, Champagne, Martini, Beer slogans on a range of glasses, flutes, wine glasses, stem less glasses, tankards, cocktail shakers, drinks dispensers and ice buckets.

Gifts of note Lesser & Pavey’s new sequin notebooks and cushions make a sparkling gift.

There are clutch bags and purses, too.

Gifts that Shine Shine Bright is a new range, perfect for Mother’s Day, including a fine china mug, quality notebooks, delightful clutch bag, purse and cosmetic bag.

There’s also a black and white range, including more items such as handbag, passport holder, wallet, compact mirror and drinks flask. Buyers can expect to see new colourways this spring.

Harrogate Christmas & Gift: Stand D06 Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand D10/E11.

Call: sales@leonardo.co.uk Email: sales@leonardo.co.uk Visit: leonardo.co.uk

66 gifts today

Strait to the point

Following on from the huge success of their debut at lasts year’s exhibition, Straits are pleased to announce their presence again at 2018’s premier seasonal buying event. This year will see an improved show location and many more festive products available in their comprehensive Christmas Collection. For more details please contact their sales office or visit their website.

Hall C Stand C41 Call: 01254 300260 Visit: straitstrading.com

×ץà ¾ É× ÝÂÔ Ý d ¿Â 14 - 17 Christmas & Gifts Harrogate, UK Hall B Stand 4

Giving & Living

Be in it to win it!

The Giving & Living trade show is now only weeks away. Time to get planning.

A

s the first show of the season, Giving & Living provides visitors with the perfect opportunity to see and purchase the very latest new and exclusive 2018 product ranges before anyone else. Right now, hundreds of exhibitors are busy getting ready to show you their newest products and latest ranges. With thousands of products to discover, from pocket money toys and gifts that can be personalised for your venue, to one-off pieces for the customer in search of something a little more unique, Giving & Living has it all. Add in a wide range of show exclusive offers for you to take advantage of, and there really is no better place to be if you’re looking to please your customers in 2018.

This year you could be a winner in more ways than one. Take a pew on their giant deckchair, take a selfie while you’re there, share it with the world on Twitter, and the best photo will win a £50 John Lewis/Waitrose voucher. All that just for sitting pretty for a while!

You’ll need to tag @giving_living and use the #SelfieSeat hashtag, then all you have to do is sit back and see who the winner is. All will be revealed at 3pm on the last day of the show, on January 17!

Giving & Living takes place at the 68 gifts today

Westpoint Exhibition Centre, Exeter, and runs from Sunday 14 - 17 January.

For more information about the show, to book a stand, or register to attend, please call 01934 733433, follow @ giving_living, or visit givingliving.co.uk.

Giving & Living

Go wild

New catalogue, new displays, new products, all on show from Wild Things Gifts for the first time at Giving and Living. An opportunity to see the latest stage in their evolution – and pick up some bargain starter packs at the same time.

All best-selling Wild Things Crystal Rainbow Makers are designed (and mostly made) in Devon. From Marine Fantasy Glass Seahorses to Radiance Chakra Suncatchers, Crystal Guardian Angels to Crystal Fantasies, Wild Things probably offer the widest range of quality crystal suncatchers anywhere.

A new self-lit display will enable customers to show off a wide range of Wild Things products within a very small space. In fact, at Wild Things they pride themselves on being able to offer one of the best ratios of turnover to footprint in the gift industry. A one-stop solution to your crystal needs, from products to point of sale.

Stand B519 Call: 01392 211268 Email: sales@wildthingsgifts.com Visit: wildthingsgifts.com

Seaside beauty

Sea Gems, Cornwall, is launching hundreds of new, exciting additions to its popular jewellery and gift ranges for spring 2018. Original British designed Silver jewellery brand Pure Origins reflects Cornwall’s natural beauty with oceanic, nature and wildlife designs.

Shells, leaves, bees, hearts & flowers, and new elegant organic shapes form a unique collection of best- selling, affordable jewellery.

Exquisite boutique style silver jewellery that expresses individuality, with a story unfolding with each design. A myriad of designs from the Beachcomber collection and the natural world, to the whimsical and romantic and introducing new bold statement organic designs. Attention to detail, design and quality remain at the heart of every handcrafted piece. Shimmering Rainbow Moonstone sits serenely within many designs.

Distinctively different textures add depth and enhance the natural feel of each piece.

Celtic Lands Silver jewellery collection celebrates their unique and stunning Celtic heritage. Timeless designs capture the ancient motifs and the beautifully intricate knot work of this rich ancient culture. These stunning yet accessible collections are beautifully packaged. Clean, simple acrylic POS display available. To complete their diverse jewellery ranges is the Fine Enamel collection featuring Mackintosh, Celtic and their new Nature series of floral and wildlife designs. The beautifully vibrant and translucent colour of enamelling is a true art form. Inspired gift ranges include Celtic and stylish contemporary pens, touch stylus, compact mirrors, pillboxes, bookmarks and scarf rings. One of the most creative, high quality product ranges at affordable price points, fantastic on-line ordering facility and friendly, knowledgeable customer service.

Stand B530 Call: 01736 335840 Email: sales@seagems.co.uk Visit: seagems.co.uk

70 gifts today

GIVING & LIVING IDEAS THAT SELL Giving & Living is the largest Gift, Coast and Home trade show in the South West and covers more Coast than anyone else.

14 - 17 January 2018 Exeter www.givingliving.co.uk

G&L Gifts Today halfpage ad Dec2017.indd 1

SHOW STATS

87% of visitors placed orders at the show or shortly afterwards.

52% found 3 or more new suppliers.

92% of our visitors would recommend the show.

To secure your free visitor badge register online or call 01934 733456 Stands are selling fast – to enquire call 01934 733433 07/12/2017 16:27

Test a publisher’s statement of circulation. In today’s business climate you can’t afford not to.

Our ABC Certificate provides accurate, independently verified circulation figures, giving you confidence in your advertising investment.

If you want to reach 7,090* total average net circulation, then call Mark Horsnell on 01442 289930 or email markh@lemapublishing.co.uk *. Circulation figure relates to period from 1st July 2016 to 30th June 2017

For more information visit www.abc.org.uk or email info@abc.org.uk

Toy Fair

Get set for Toy Fair

The largest dedicated toy, game and hobby trade exhibition in the UK returns to West London’s Olympia in January 2018. Time to get organised and get planning!

T

oy Fair, the three-day event organised by the British Toy and Hobby Association, is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for visitors to discover thousands of exciting and original products from established manufacturers, smaller and start-up companies.

Celebrating its 65th year, the 2018 show will once again occupy the entire upper and lower sections of the Grand and West Halls at London’s Olympia.

The show floor will host more than 250 exhibiting companies, including well-established names such as Character Options, Flair Leisure Products, Golden Bear Products, Spin Master Toys, Tomy, John Adams, Vivid Toy Group and Great Gizmos.

‘It is an exciting time for toy innovation,’ commented Majen Immink, Director of Fairs and Special Events. ‘With Toy Fair selling out this early, it shows that there is huge demand in the toy industry at the moment. I am looking forward to seeing the products set to be launched in January.’

Look out for Toy Fair 2018: Toy Fair Heroes, a new showcase that highlights exceptional toys across all categories. This 72 gifts today

‘I am looking forward to seeing the products set to be launched in January’ is a badge of honour that will be awarded to toys, games and hobbies that are a set apart from all others. Only toys that are innovative, exciting and break the mould will be considered for this exclusive showcase. The top 25 toys at Toy Fair, will be selected by toy experts and the BTHA, and will make up the new Toy Fair Heroes. The winners in each category will be announced on the opening morning of the show. ‘By creating Toy Fair Heroes, we will be able to showcase and exhibit the wide range of pioneering products made within our industry,’ says Rebecca Deeeming, Public Relations Manager.

Traditional play

House of Marbles are a leading manufacturer of high quality toys and games since 1973, and at this year’s Toy Fair they will have a show-stopping stand packed with lots of new ranges for customers to choose from.

Dinosaur enthusiasts will absolutely love their hotly anticipated Dino-Might range. The new collection offers a fun selection of build-yourown model kits, dinosaur excavation kits and a wonderful flying Pterodactyl. Look out for the new exhilarating board game, Dino Volcano as well. This innovative game sees players trying to avoid extinction as they race around the board and is filled with bright illustrations, dinosaur playing pieces and educational dinosaur trivia.

There are plenty of additions to existing ranges too, including an I-Spy Secret Message Kit, a musical Melodica and some retro jet gliders. All come in beautiful packaging to help maximise the impact of instore displays.

Stand: F40 Call: 01626 835358 Visit: houseofmarbles.com/tradeuk

What the exhibitors say Jumbo

‘All of our products within the category are enjoying double-digit growth and as such we can offer real opportunities for the retailer. It is important that the show as a whole projects positivity for the year ahead. It’s a great opportunity to showcase all that is good about Jumbo Games.’

Steve Washbourne, Sales Director

Juratoys UK Ltd

‘We are really looking forward to Toy Fair 2018! We really hope to make an impact and show everyone what we have been working towards in 2017. We see this as our year to really shine and to show the retailers that we can help to support them with various deals, offers, POS and marketing tools. We aim to gain new customers via the show and to build momentum with our existing customer base. We have a brand new stand design this year with over 150 new products to showcase.’

Michelle Probert, Sales and Marketing manager

Ravensburger

‘At Toy Fair 2018 Ravensburger will be launching 155 brand new products for spring/ summer 2018, including three new TV-advertised games; Make ‘n’ Break, Break Free and a Peppa Pig 3D action game. Toy Fair is our opportunity to showcase and share all that is new, popular and so much more. Our customers get to explore, discover and experience our range of high-quality and award-winning products hands-on, which is why Toy Fair is so important to us.’

Cornee Marlow

gifts today 73

Social Media - Ross Hewitt

Dealing with complaints on social media For every kilobyte of marketing gold that you can enjoy through using social media for your organisation there’s always the possibility that something out of your control can rear its ugly head and cause you a very public problem. These strategies can help…

E

very action has an equal and opposite reaction. It is part of life for just about every business who makes or sells something. At some point in time someone somewhere in the supply chain will make a mistake.

If that mistake happens to affect a consumer who is very active on social media then they are likely to make a noise, and this is where you need to react quickly and efficiently to try and turn the negative into a positive (or shift it to neutral at least!).

Listen

Ross Hewitt, Managing Director of Secret Pie and author of ‘Savvy Social Media’. Ross began his digital marketing career in 1998 when social networking was something you only did in a pub. He set up Secret Pie in 2010 and has been helping clients get found and loved online ever since. www.secretpie.co.uk | Ross@secretpie.co.uk | 01904 410027 | Twitter: @Secret_Pie 74 gifts today

Make sure your digital ‘ears’ are as effective as possible. Visit your social media accounts on a daily basis, so that if someone has sent a message or posted a comment then you will see it and be able to respond in a timely manner.

Each major social network has an app that works on a smartphone.

Download them and set the notifications to appear on your mobile device when your account name is mentioned or when someone posts on your account or sends you a private message. You should also set up Google Alerts for your company name to help pick up on comments in discussion forums or blog mentions.

Respond Read the negative comment or message a few times through, at a sensible pace so that you digest fully what the person is saying. Don’t skim read it or you may miss out on some important words or semantics that are crucial to the issue.

If you know that a little bit of investigation needs to be done on

your part, then acknowledge the complaint and promise to come back to them very soon when you have looked into the issue. That is a promise that you MUST keep.

Post a simple reply such as: ‘Thank you for raising this matter with us. I am very sorry that you have experienced this problem and I promise that I am looking into to it right now and will come back to you very shortly.’

“

Responding quickly is key as it instantly nips any further posts about lack of care in the bud

”

Responding quickly is key as it instantly nips any further posts about lack of care in the bud. ‘I’ is also a lot more personal than ‘we’. Never ignore a negative comment no matter how unfair it seems or how angry their words have made you. Keep emotions out of it and send them an initial caring response.

Fix It Always look for a way to fix the problem. Try not to get into any sort of debate in a public forum that could become argumentative, as you will never ‘win’ and you may end up making the issue much bigger than it ever needed to be.

Wherever possible, keep the discussion in the public zone. It is not best practice to try and get the issue

taken offline as quickly as possible.

If the person you are dealing with is being completely unreasonable then be confident that their public responses will be viewed as obtuse by other people who tune into the conversation.

Delete as a last resort Never resort to deleting negative comments or posts straight off the bat. You have to try and get to the bottom of the problem, fix it and have a happier customer at the end of the process.

If you delete something negative without any justification, then you may add fuel to the flames. Once the person who raised the complaint realises that you have simply deleted it they will become even more vocal and may start to get some vocal sympathy from other customers.

That said, don’t stand for posts that include profanity, racism or personal naming or attacks on team members.

These do get the delete treatment and it is easy to explain why if you get questioned about it. Remember, they are YOUR social media pages so you do get the final say in what stays published and what gets deleted.

The old English adage is true… you can’t be everybody’s darling, but you can get everybody’s respect if you play fair and prove that you care. A dramatic example, but Alton Towers proved that last year after the horrific ‘Smiler’ accident and their conduct on social media was, in my opinion, flawless.

Enjoy the social media rollercoaster in 2018; the ‘downs’ are as much a part of it as the ‘ups’ though…Happy New Year y’all.

Julie Dodsworth

Keep dancing!

Keeping a level head and simply just keeping going and doing all the right things is sometimes all we can do

‘R

oll on Valentine’s,’ I hear my lovely friend in business tell me as she rearranges the window in her North Yorkshire shop on a very snowy January afternoon.

Taking time to deliver a few props and signage for her Julie D display, it was lovely to catch up - but with bad weather outside that afternoon it was proving a challenging day for everyone on her high street. For her and retailers the world over,

January must be a crash on the senses following, as it does, the wonderful hustle and bustle of December.

For all the manufacturers in home and gift, I also know this month is adversely one of the busiest months of the year with spring shows just a snowdrop away! But this is not a comfort to my friend as the weather seems to turn decidedly inclement and drive even the hardiest shoppers home to the warmth of their hearths.

As I continued to unload the van, I remembered it was my daughter Beth who unknowingly taught me one of the great lessons in business that seemed so apt today. It all happened on a winter’s night many

“

Their tapping through the song with nothing behind them was such a lesson in life. Sometimes we just have to keep going

”

years ago in my home city of York where Beth attended dancing lessons very regularly as a little girl for many years.

Each year her dancing school hosted a fabulous show at the Grand Opera House. There were lots of children performing classes from different age groups and concentrating on different disciplines - ballet, jazz and so forth. Bethany’s strength was always tap dancing and Beth and her young class mates had worked hard for the dancing school’s yearly showcase. Each class performed a musical dance number as part of a spectacular night of entertainment to a packed, very excited and enthusiastic audience. It

was a big night for the children and all the very proud mums, dads, family and friends sitting in the theatre.

The children performed in lovely costumes to pre-recorded music.

Each number that went by was a fantastic contrast to the last. Now it was Bethany and her classmates’ turn - a big Cole Porter tap number.

The recorded music started and the children tapped their complicated routine perfectly in time. And then disaster! The music stopped (some mechanical fault) and for a split second the children froze. The audience held their breath only to see the children amazingly continue to step and tap out their song to the now deafening silence. With my hands pressed to my cheeks I watched in awe as they continued through their routine.

I, like the rest of the theatre, barely took another breath to the end. With a little flourish it finished with fifteen or so little girls a little teary eyed and embarrassed. They needn’t have been.

The audience as one gave them the loudest standing ovation with not a dry eye in the house. The theatre was full of very proud parents who had just witnessed a little sheer magic.

I have never forgotten that night.

Their tapping through the song with nothing behind them was such a lesson in life. Sometimes we just have to keep going.

Our lives and business can take many twists and turns to get to where we need to be. Sometimes we can feel we are working incredibly hard with no music playing. But keeping a level head and simply just keeping going and doing all the right things - just like those little dancers - is sometimes all we can do.

As uncomfortable or as difficult that some things may seem, sometimes the end result can be even more rewarding than perhaps any of us can ever imagine.

Julie Dodsworth is a British artisan whose lifelong business in her plant and display company gave birth to her homeware business in more recent years.

Gifts Today has invited Julie to share with us her inspirations, the great ideas of others she meets along the way and what she feels has been amazing advice in business.

gifts today 75

BE BOLD. BE COLORFUL.

Experience Village Fragrance and Our Exciting New Collection at The Spring Fair.

Village Candle Booth Hall 5, Stand 5C42

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Visit us and receive a complimentary candle from our new fragrance line.

Supporting your industry for 28 years Month: January 2018 Issue: 3

Volume: 29

Toys at Spring Fair

2018

PLAY DIFFERENT......

Discover over 150 new products for 2018 Come and visit us at Spring Fair

Stand 5G64

32 High Park Road • Kew Gardens • Richmond • TW9 4BH • United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 8878 2133 | janod.com - kaloo.com - alexbrands.com

Contents 5 Leader – with Mirella Anstey 6 News – the latest Spring Fair headlines 8 Cover Story - we catch up withJuratoys Marketing Manager, Michelle Probert to find out more about the company's brands and new Spring Fair launches 10 Retail Interview – with COO of Robert Dyas, Rachel Brain 12 Spring Fair Preview – we bring you a rundown on what to expect from the show and shine a spotlight on some of the exciting exhibitors and their products

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Toys at Spring Fair

Halloween 2018 Advert.pdf

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5:26 pm

One spooky night…

Two fabulous stories…

Over 500 new products Exciting new packaging Complete retail solutions

Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair

Spring Fair

Harrogate International Centre 14th – 17th January 2018

IN THE WHOLE OF

HALL H!

PREMIER DECORATIONS LIMITED www.premierdec.com • Tel: 020-8624 5555 e-mail: sales@premierdec.com

NEC Birmingham 4th – 8th February 2018

Hall

5 Stand K110/L111

Leader

D

iversity is the key to retail success we are always being advised by analysts and experts. So, where better to find this assortment of products that at Spring Fair?!

Toy companies rub shoulders with gifting suppliers and greetings and gift wrap publishers — all under one roof. If you think it sounds unmissable then you’d be right and this worthwhile, vibrant and exciting show is certainly worth time off the shop floor or away from the desk.

Many retailers enjoy the fact that multicategory ranges can be selected at the show – and there is such a lot of slightlydifferent as well as the mainstream staples that can help make your business a really enticing retail experience. And the show organisers and suppliers are working together to create even more beneficial opportunities for retailers. One such way is the new Spring Fair Voucher — this initiative will benefit retailers on the hunt for new suppliers. Retailers will be able to get £100 off an order of £500 or more when they open an account with a new supplier at the show. The voucher can be used with up to 10 participating exhibitors at Spring Fair 2018 — offering a potential saving of £1,000. That’s a fabulous and very inventive way to give more to the visitors to the show — and certainly something worth not just keeping mind but maximising.

Another great element of the show is the new interactive feature area at the 2018 show. The Atelier will allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in visuallymerchandised rooms, which have been designed to showcase current consumer trends and predict what will be hot right up until 2020.

Rob Sapwell, Head of Sales (Gifts, Home & The Summerhouse), Spring Fair, Ascential Events, says: “We wanted to make it easier for time-poor buyers to get a snapshot of trends that will come to the fore over the next two years, as well as helping them quickly identify the next hottest products.”

Well, let’s not waste any more precious time, let’s get on and find out more about some of the excellent suppliers exhibiting at the show and we look forward to seeing you all at the NEC!

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Toys at Spring Fair

Mirella Anstey

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Toys at Spring Fair

NEWS Esdevium rebrands to Asmodee UK Esdevium Games has rebranding under the name Asmodee United Kingdom from 1 January 2018, bringing branding in line with its parent and sister companies across the world.

“We are thrilled to be switching to the Asmodee name,” said Esdevium MD Steve Buckmaster. “The Esdevium name has a long and proud history, so it is with some sadness that we say goodbye to the dragon logo, but this is an exciting next step for the company.”

Double win for Playmobil Playmobil has had double award success at the Creative Play Awards and the Dad’s Choice Awards, with the Pharaoh’s Pyramid set and Squad Car with Lights and Sound both bag bagging an award.

Jamie Dickinson, Marketi Marketing Manager from awards are particularly Playmobil, said: “These awa desire to produce products exciting as it is our de creativity in children.” that develop creativi

A force for high street sales A major increase in sales related to Star Wars merchandise was seen on the high street in the lead up to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. A survey of 100 independent retail stores by Vend showed demand outstripped last year’s film Rogue One by some margin, with a 192 per cent increase in sales for products related to Star Wars in the past three months compared to the same period in 2016.

Wilton Bradley has The X Factor Wilton Bradle Bradley is bringing the magic of The X Factor across the UK with a new range of to homes acr licensed elec electricals, including karaoke microphones, machines, he headphones and speakers.

The three-year deal was signed with three-y FremantleMedia FremantleMed to manufacture and supply the range, building o on the success of Wilton Bradley’s award-winning range of Mi-Mic microphone speakers.

Simon Hampton, Head Hea of Sales & Marketing at Wilton Bradley said: “The timing for this deal with The X Factor timi is perfect and I can’t imagine a better partnership in i this category.”

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Funko acquires Evil Corp Funko has acquired awardwinning UKbased animation production company Evil Corp, which will now operate as Funko Animation Studios.

Brian Mariotti, CEO of Funko, said: “Since 2014 we have produced the majority of our animated product videos with this innovative and fantastically creative studio and we are excited to move this function in house.”

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Toys at Spring Fair

Tradition with a twist

Michelle Probert, Marketing Manager of Juratoys, highlights some of the company’s top selling products as well as some exciting brandbuilding plans — and of course lots of new product!

Juratoys takes a focused approach to marketing within the business. We feel it’s important to have regular exposure within trade magazines, communicate with customers via social media and to have a presence at the all key trade shows.

How has Juratoys thrived in an arguably tough market?

2017 was a big one for Juratoys in the UK — tell us about some of you biggest achievements of the past year.

We’ve had an unbelievable 2017 and are very proud of our whole team for achieving the results. We set out at the start of the year with some really clear objectives and goals and we have achieved everything we set out to do. Our sales team have worked incredibly hard to build relationships with existing customers and to also pick up plenty of new accounts along the way.

Our results this year have been achieved through consistency, developing our relationships with key accounts, constant sales analysis and looking for new opportunities and ways to increase our customer base. We did not increase prices this year, which was well received by customers. We offer a wide range of products, which appeals to lots of different sectors and we constantly develop our products to ensure we have plenty of newness phased throughout the year.

What makes Juratoys’ products unique?

We have three main brands which sit under Juratoys: Janod, Kaloo and Alex Brands. Janod is the number one wooden toy brand in France and is fast becoming the wooden toy brand to watch for 2018! We have over 110 new products within Janod for next year. The wooden toys are designed by our product development team in France and encapsulate the essence of traditional wooden toys with a modern twist.

Kaloo is our range of plush toys, suitable from birth. Agina, we have a French design team and the products are soft to touch, machine washable and are displayed in premium gift boxes. We have plenty of new products for Kaloo for 2018, which we are extremely excited to showcase at Spring Fair.

Come and visit us at Spring Fair!

“We have 150 new products to showcase and are really excited to share the new ranges and to hear the feedback. We have terrific and enticing offers, discounts, retailing solutions and some freebies to give away too! Our friendly motivated staff will be on hand to talk to customers and to help with orders.”

Finally, we have Alex brands.

Alex is a huge brand in the US and incorporates craft toys, bath toys and much more! We have a range called Back Yard Safari, which is great for little explorers who love the great outdoors.

How do you appeal to buyers?

Because our collection is so diverse, there is something for everyone! We can offer retailers the option of high-end wooden and plush to more competitive ranges and even pocket money purchases or impulse buys. Our Bath range is very popular and this is an area within Alex that we will focus on for 2018.

“Janod is the number

one wooden toy brand in France and is fast becoming the wooden toy brand to watch for 2018!”

You’re well known for traditional play with a modern twist — how is this achieved?

Our designers work year round to develop new products. The team are all

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suitable from birth and are displayed in a pretty box. We have developed the range even further for 2018 with new sizes and colours available.

What has been your biggest sales success story of the past year?

Opening 160 new accounts for 2017 was key to our success this year. Trade shows were key to this success as well as the exposure in trade magazines.

And finally, what message would you like to leave with the trade from Juratoys in 2018?

We want to thank everyone for the support this year. We are so lucky to have amazing customers who are loyal and we are to them also. We are really excited about 2018 and cannot wait to show our customers — existing and new — the freshest products we have to offer.

What are your goals for 2018?

Our goals for 2018 are to open even more new accounts across the UK, develop our existing customer base and to build even more momentum around Juratoys.

We will achieve this goal as long as we stay focused and continue to do all the right things and stay positive. We are lucky to have a great team who work hard, are motivated and build enduring relationships in their territories.

What hero products are you most looking forward to launching in 2018?

We have a new range of baby products for 2018 within Janod called Baby Pop. The range is beautiful — a bunny, fox and bear in bright and pastel colours.

The range combines sturdiness and nice beech wood quality with a soft and high quality elastomer plastic. Come and see for yourselves!

How important are independent retailers to your business?

Independent retails are massively important for us at Juratoys. We delivered some great numbers in 2017 and this is mainly due to the new independent accounts we have opened throughout the year. parents and have children of all ages.

They hold regular product meetings which we travel to France to attend and take a look at the product development and give our feedback from a UK perspective.

You launched some incredible products in 2017 — give us some of the highlights.

The Janod Sound Wooden Camera and Phone were such a huge success for 2017 and completely sold out. The combination of bright colours, wood and sound element were very popular along with the very competitive price. The consumers loved this product.

Our Kaloo Tendress Dolls collection was also a big hit for 2017. These dolls are

Why are Juratoys products perfectly suited to independents and their customers?

We are always looking at our business from the independent retailer’s point of view. We ask our customers on a regular basis: “Is there anything we can do to help your business?” We understand that everyone is different and customers have different needs.

Most retailers are open with us and give us some great ideas on offers to run, discount options, POS and social media support. We are always happy to look at new ideas to move the businesses — theirs and ours — in the right direction.

How will you be helping retailers to sell more in 2018?

We work very closely with our retailers to ensure we are offering a wide range of solutions to meet every size of business, whether its discount offers, social media support, competitions, POS, display stands, we try to help our customers sell more and to advise where possible.

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Toys at Spring Fair

Past and presents Best known for their home, garden and DIY offering, Robert Dyas have a surprisingly wide range of Gifts, with a focus on the innovative and quirky With a philosophy of running their businesses as shopkeepers, not just shops, the leading high street hardware retailer is branching into gifts, with toys becoming a key component of its offering.

We take a closer look with the retailer’s COO, Rachel Brain

Rachel, what was your career journey to become COO at Robert Dyas?

I’ve worked in fashion and luxury across bricks and mortar and ecommerce. Having worked for owner Theo Paphitis at La Senza, I couldn’t wait to have the opportunity to work for him again. He’s a modernist with incredible vision – a true inspiration to work for.

How many shops are your team buying for?

We have 94 stores spread across the South of England and ecommerce.

How many in the buying team?

There are nine senior buyers. Richard Redman buys Seasonal, Andrew Georgious buys DIY and Danny Squire buys Home Office.

How important are Gifts for your retail offering?

Gifts are an ever-growing successful part of the business to the point that we are now a destination for classic, quirky and inspiring gifts.

Christmas at Robert Dyas Jodie Harris, Head Elf and Senior Christmas Gifts Buyer at Robert Dyas said: “Our research shows that many children love playing tricks on adults at Christmas time. Practical jokes can bring the home to laughter when executed at a family gathering.”

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94 The number of Robert Dyas stores, ranging from 1,250 to 9,000 square feet

The Robert Dyas story so far...

What have been your bestsellers in Gifts over the past year?

Remote controlled toys and drones, memory mazes, and unicorn novelty lighting to name just a few.

What trends do you predict will be big over the next year?

Smart technology and retro-style items.

Is there such a thing as a typical Robert Dyas customer?

No, we sell everything to everyone!

What’s the average spend?

The average spend across both in-store and online is £16.

Where do you and the other buyers source products?

We visit international nal trade shows which coverr specialist areas. Shows such as Spring/ Autumn Fair, Harrogate, ogate, Ambiente, Chicago o Housewares, NED. We buy domestically in the main.

Robert Dyas, the original founder of the company, emigrated from County Meath, Ireland, with just a £5 inheritance to his name and opened up his first ironmongery store in 1872. In the following century, the company’s stores expanded, stretching throughout London and the South East. In 2012, successful businessman and star of BBC TV’s Dragons Den, Theo Paphitis, bought the company.

Robert Dyas today offers an extensive range of household products, including gifts, outdoor and garden, and even Christmas trees!

What makes your job so special?

I am privileged to work with incredibly passionate ate and loyal colleagues both in stores and at Head Office and no o two days are the same.

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Toy World Page Bestway 2018 240x315.pdf

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Toys at Spring Fair

Leap into Spring Toys fit into so many different categories, from gifts to licensing, and the beauty of Spring Fair is that retailers and suppliers don’t end up being pigeonholed in to one category. It makes Spring Fair a must-attend event. TnP takes a closer look…

What: Spring Fair 2018 When: 4-8 February 2018 Where: NEC, Birmingham

T

housands of exhibitors, retailers, buyers and manufacturers will be heading to the NEC for the annual Spring Fair this February.

The show runs from February 4-8 and is a major trade show for gift, home and toys, with more than 60,000 visitors likely to attend over the five days.

The show celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, having been officially opened by the Queen back in 1976.

Across 15 halls of the NEC, Spring Fair brings exhibitors and visitors together through 14 carefully show sectors, providing the ideal opportunity to make a connection. Spring Fair puts the newest and most exciting products within reach.

designs for the year ahead. We show samples of proposed new ranges to gauge feedback from Show plan our buyers. It gives us a We spoke to a means of measuring what number of exhibitors the demand and reactions to find out what they will be. It also gives us the hope to achieve at perfect opportunity to this year’s Spring Fair. Peter Lockey, The Puppet showcase our new brand of Peter Lockey, Wilberry soft toys, which Company Director, The Puppet includes the addition of Company, told us: “This is the show more than 80 new styles for 2018.” where we showcase new and innovative Customer feedback is also a highlight for Sarah Dayus, Sales and Brand Manager at Great NEW! Spring Fair Voucher Gizmos: “We will The new Spring Fair Voucher initiative will benefit be launching all retailers on the hunt for new suppliers. Retailers of our exciting will be able to get £100 off an order of £500 new products and or more when they open an account with a new brands, as well as supplier at the show. The voucher can be used our old favourites!

It is great to with up to 10 participating exhibitors at Spring hear customer Fair 2018 — offering a potential saving of £1,000. feedback on our newness too. We

“This is the show where we showcase new and innovative designs for the year ahead”

always hope to open new and interesting accounts at Spring Fair.”

Introducing new lines is always exciting for the exhibitors. Kate Skitt, Marketing Manager at Pretend to Bee, says: “This year will see the launch of our new character headbands – our initial collection will include cute and colourful animals and we know that the quality and price point will appeal to

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Fair our existing customers as well as opening up new retail channels.

We will also be introducing an exciting addition to our Natural History Museum range of dinosaur costumes which will now be available from six months onwards.”

Wilton Bradley, meanwhile, is launching two licenses: VW, and a rnage of X Factor karaoke microphones. “We are hugely excited about both ranges,” says Simon Hampton, Head of Sales and Marketing.

New interactive feature business and its a good way to showcase the full breadth of our ranges.”

The diverse attendance is an attraction for the Puppet Company: “Our extensive range of high-quality puppets sell strongly in many different retail situations including gift shops, tourist attractions, zoos, garden centres and toy shops. The Spring Fair is perfect for us to meet the gift buyers for all these sectors.” says Peter Lockey.

Must-attend show With so many visitors through its doors, Spring Fair is a great way to expose your products to a wide range of buyers, as Charlotte Cox, Marketing Executive, Amscan, explains: “Being such a diverse show means there is a greater variety of visitors from different markets and allows us to introduce Amscan to many new potential customers.

The timing is ideal for when retailers are looking to make important buying decisions for the upcoming months. The show also allows for direct interaction with all retail and wholesale channels.”

Sarah Dayus from Great Gizmos agrees: “We love attending Spring Fair because it gives us a chance to meet buyers from other markets such as gift, furniture, etc. The show is also highly attended by independent retailers and we really like supplying these shops. It’s a good order writing show and another chance for us to show off our new products and ranges.”

Pretend to Bee also gets plenty of new business from Spring Fair: “It’s consistently a successful show for us,” says Marketing Manager Kate Skitt.

“We have a great location in a busy hall and it’s a brilliant way to meet with contacts old and new. We always write a lot of

Look out for a new interactive feature area at the 2018 show. The Atelier will allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in visuallymerchandised rooms, which have been designed to showcase current consumer trends and predict what will be hot right up until 2020.

Rob Sapwell, Head of Sales, Gifts, Home & The Summerhouse, Spring Fair, says: “We wanted to make it easier for time-poor buyers to get a snapshot of trends that will come to the fore over the next two years, as well as helping them quickly identify the next hottest products.”

“Being such a diverse show means there is a greater variety of visitors from different markets and allows us to introduce Amscan to many new potential customers.”

Charlotte Cox, Marketing Executive, Amscan Simon Hampton at Wilton Bradley agrees, and has identified another benefit of the show: “Our summer 2018 ranges can also be presented alongside our new winter 2018 ranges, so this enables us to present far more than at a normal show,” he says.

What’s on show?

Finally, we asked exhibitors to sum up their offering in three words! Vibrant, inspiring, collaborative, says Amscan’s Charlotte Cox. Costumes, Dress Up, Accessories will be on offer from Pretend to Bee, while Peter Lockey at The Puppet Company says: Fun filled puppets! And finally expect summer, outdoor and fun from Wilton Bradley.

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Toys at Spring Fair Playmobil 01268 548111 www.playmobil.co.uk

Hall 5 Stand M15

Delectable collectables For the first time Playmobil will be appearing at Spring Fair to showcase a range of new toys.

The focus at the show will be its popular collectable sets.

These smaller play sets prove ever-popular with youngsters and have a great, low price point as well making them attractive as small gifts and to retailers.

Visitors to the show will be able to take a look at this year’s Playmobil collectable ranges, including items from the Figures, Special Plus and Playmo Friends ranges — plus the extremely popular Carry Cases.

Special Plus this year will see the introduction of a range of new characters, including Firefighter with Tree and Sky Knight with Jet.

Enesco 01228 404022 www.enesco.co.uk

Hall 4 Stand H100

A roaring success Following the roaring success of its unicorn range, Baby Gund is proud to present a new pre-historic collection for the season.

The Dinosaur Collection from America’s oldest and most prestigious soft toy company is sure to be a hit with family members both old and young. With softer premium fabrics and quality boa materials, items in the Dinosaur Collection are complemented by luxe details including faux suede appliqué and heavy embroidery. Presented in bright and vivid colours that are totally on-trend, such as fire engine red, cool greys and hunter greens, items within the Dinosaur Collection are

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These toys are perfect for children aged four upwards.

In February, Series 13 Figures will be launched, for children aged five and above.

The foil bags contain loose pieces of Playmobil figures to collect and assemble, and feature a Sushi Chef, a delivery man and a fairy, plus many more. In August, Series 14 will be released.

2018 will welcome new Playmo-Friends to collect, suitable for youngsters aged four and above. Including Dragon Knight, Forest Elf and Zookeeper with Baby Gorilla, these toys are perfect gifts to add to any Playmobil collection.

For children on the go, Playmobil Carry Cases are the perfect gift. There will be 10 of the popular cases including the new Fairy Boat Carry Case and Space Exploration Carry Case.

easily accessible and with a good price point too. As well as a range of fun and friendly plush dinosaurs within the collection, Baby Gund has also revealed the launch of room decoration formats, including wall décor and a jumbo T-rex.

Completing the new line-up is Chomper Animated Dino — a 33cm-tall plush soft toy that brings the past to present day through his life-like animated qualities. A Stegosaurus dinosaur, the plush is presented standing on his hind legs. His main body is a dark green shade, with his underbelly and cascading scales down his back in a complementing dark blue. The Chomper Animated Dino’s features are perfectly captured through the use of black beads for his eyes, white teeth and red nostrils. Full of character, the Chomper Animated Dino is further brought to life through the clever use of animatronics. Simply pat his back to hear him roar, of which there are two variations, and watch his upper body and mouth move too — frightfully good fun!

Chomper Animated Dino is suitable for children aged three years and over, comes with a book hang tag and the fabric is washable.

Chomper Animated Dino along with other items in the Dinosaur Collection are available to buy from Baby Gund.

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TnPs Ad - Spring Fair 2018_OL.pdf

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Toys at Spring Fair Posh Paws

Perfect plush

01268 567317 www.poshpawsinternational.co.uk

There’s a big year ahead for Posh Paws with a raft of new properties and perfect plush for gifting.

The Posh Paws Winnie the Pooh offering is a major focus for the firm in 2018 and to ensure its success, TV advertising is planned to be included in the marketing support PR programme from its launch in spring.

The My Teddy Bear Pooh range will be a must-have for all ages and includes Pooh in his classic red jumper, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger. Available as 7in, 10in and XL sizes. Also available as part of the Winnie Pooh collection is Winnie the Pooh Vintage, Winnie the Pooh Dangles and Winnie the Pooh Cuties, all of which are beautiful designed, adorably cuddly and perfect gifts for all.

Spring Fair will also be the place to see Posh Paws’ exciting, wide-eyed, cute and super collectable Disney Collection.

These glittery plush toys feature fan favourites from both Disney’s back

Premier Decorations 0208 624 5555 www.premierdec.com

Hall 5 Stand E80-F81

catalogue and most recent films. Released in squads of six, each character is adorable, with super large, glittery eyes that instantly attracts attention. Squad A’s characters launch in January and will include Cinderella, Marie from the Aristocats, Minnie Mouse, Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. POS stands are available and are perfect to fill and refresh with new characters as they are continually released throughout the year.

Kids will love building their #DisneySquad in 2018.

Posh Paws has also developed a fun and funky plush line for cool new property Hamsta World. This humorous and quirky licence follows colourful critters such as Cotton Kelly and Larry Macchiato who have already become stars of social media. The range of adorable, expressive plush features the eight core Hamsta characters including Cotton Kelly, Mila Sunrise and Cheesy Jake to name but a few.

Also new for Posh Paws for 2018 and for all to see at Spring Fair will be an inspiring collection from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, an all-new collection for Shopkins and an introduction to Sherlock Gnomes, Gummy Bear and Grumpy Cat, and of course a range perfect for gifting to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday.

Did you know...

POS stands for Disney Collection are available and are perfect to fill and refresh with new characters as they are continually released throughout the year. Kids will love building their #DisneySquad in 2018.

Hall 5 Stand K110-L111

Frightfully good Halloween is now a huge celebration in the UK, and the Premier Halloween Collection at Spring Fair will ensure that retailers are ahead of the game in 2018, with products to appeal to consumers across the board.

Featuring a fresh, updated brand image with eye-catching retail packaging to provide impactful merchandising solutions, the Premier Halloween Collection includes fun, family-friendly products, as well as those to add a little shock and horror.

With more than 500 quality new products, the 2018 catalogue introduces eight themed collections, taking the hard work out of putting together an eye-catching in-store display. Retailers can replicate an entire theme or pick and choose to create a collection that they know will appeal to their own audience.

Alternatively, for those new to the Halloween market, or for those simply looking for inspiration, Premier has a

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suggested starter range to cover a variety of ages and tastes.

Not to be missed for next year is Premier’s fabulous new range of decorative lighting. Already an expert in this area for Christmas and Outdoor Living, Premier’s Halloween lighting offers a huge range of batteryoperated and low-voltage lights in colours and styles to appeal to all. Also, Premier’s Halloween make-up range is already a bestseller, but is now stepping up to the next level with new packaging including photographs of finished looks to inspire consumers.

The range has everything the retailer could possibly wish to offer from fake blood and fangs to full makeup kits. See the Premier team at Spring Fair or visit the showrooms in Wrexham, North Wales, or Ruislip.

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VISIT US

TOY FAIR, STAND E66 SPRING FAIR HALL 3 STAND V20

MARKETING & DISTRIBUTING BRANDS

DKL Marketing Ltd, 11 Deer Park Road, Northampton, NN3 6QD, UK www.dkl.co.uk tel. 01604 678780 email. dkl@dkl.co.uk

Toys at Spring Fair Pretend to Bee 0115 921 5690 www.pretendtobee.com

Hall 5 Stand K100

Let’s pretend The annual Spring Fair is one of the busiest for Pretend to Bee, which returns to the NEC in 2018 with brand new lines. The Natural History Museum Dinosaur range has been hugely successful for the company and this year the collection will be extended to include smaller sizes for babies from six months onwards.

Made of the same high-quality material and attention to detail, the T-Rex and Triceratops onesie-style costumes are not only great for dress-up occasions but they also keep baby cosy and warm.

New for 2018 is the cute headband collection, which allows children to accessorise any outfit and be whoever they want to be. Made from soft fabrics and comfortable bands, they feature various characters including squirrel, badger, fox and frog. Look out for lots of other fun designs coming up in late 2018,

with sea creatures and pets all making an appearance.

Quality and attention to detail are themes that run throughout the whole of Pretend to Bee’s collection, making them popular with retailers who look for a diverse selection of lines. Pretend to Bee’s role-play costume range has an unparalleled number of different outfits including People Who Help Us, which includes firefighter and paramedic, multicultural costumes, history costumes, occupations costumes and more.

The breadth of each range means that retailers can stock dress-up lines for every occasion throughout the year including educational days at school, World Book Day, nativity, Halloween and more. Of course, the costumes also allow children to explore a world of imaginative play and the Pretend to Bee ranges encourages them to explore the world around them.

In addition to its own collections, Pretend to Bee also has several licensed ranges including the ever-popular Thunderbirds are Go! Range which, due to new programming and the recent 50th anniversary celebrations, shows no sign of waning. The range includes costumes of favourite characters Alan Tracy, Scott Tracy and Virgil and feature unique detailing and a sound chip that plays the iconic ‘5…4…3…2…1’ countdown sequence.

Fact!

Pretend to Bee will be releasing lots of other fun designs in late 2018, including sea creatures and pets.

Scents-ational stationery

DKL Marketing 01604 678780 www.dkl.co.uk

Hall 3-3A Stand V20

DKL Marketing is returning to Spring Fair to showcase its quality ranges, with products to suit all stores.

Highlights include Scentco Scented Stationery, offering a large range of licensed and generic lines of pencils, pens, notepads and more. Each colourful product features a delicious scent guaranteed to last a minimum of two years.

Keep an eye out for Scratch Lifestyle Toys, known for their charismatic and fun designs. New 2018 products include new Puzzles in Circular Boxes, Fun wooden letters for sticking on a wall, and other delightful products not to be missed.

DKL’s fastest growing brand Plus-Plus Construction is a unique concept of Building Bricks to make fantastic 3D and 2D designs. Highlights include the 100-piece tubes, offering great all year-round value. Hama Beads offer the largest range of sets and accessories in both generic and licensed.

This Easter will see a major TV advertising Campaign for Hama beads as part of a nationwide campaign.

New ranges to DKL this year includes Bloco, the softer side of construction. Children can make fully-posable animals, dinosaurs, monsters and more. Also new to 2018 is Escabbo bath toys with delightful designs. Be sure to keep an eye out for the new Breyer and PlayMais products, which will also be available at the show.

Did you know...

DKL Marketing supports retailers through in-store programmes and dedicated marketing campaigns.

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My Magical Sound & Lights Unicorn

Light up wings Pet my back for Magical sparkling sounds

Gift G iving… a ll wrap ped up

International Spring Fair NEC,Birmingham 4th—8th February 2018 Hall 4

4H81

4H91

4H80-J81

4H90-J91

4H100

Enesco Limited, Head Office & Customer Services, Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0EN. Tel: 01228 404022 email: trade@enesco.co.uk Overseas Customer Services: Tel: +44 1228 404066 email: eurosales@enesco.co.uk © GUND 2018. © 2018 Enesco Ltd.

en7942-lema-spring-fair-gund-ad-jan-18.indd 1

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Toys at Spring Fair Great Gizmos 01293 543221 www.ggtrade.co.uk

Hall 5 Stand F30 -G31

Think pink with flamingos Great Gizmos has lots of new products showcasing at Spring Fair 2018, with exciting additions to 4M and Barney and Buddy, and the introduction of new brands Avenir, Nebulous Stars and Glitza. There is also a fantastic range of nursery toys and gifts, super cute plush backpacks, ride-ons and much more.

4M’s Mould and Paint Flamingo is set to fly off the shelves. Kids can make their own flamingo characters and decorate them using the paints and string included.

Great Gizmos is launching new brand Avenir in 2018, specialising in fun arts and crafts for children aged three to seven. The range features different crafty kits in various different themes; Scratch, Canvas Pop Art, Pop Up Origami and My Tissue Work of Art. Each product encourages children to create beautiful masterpieces.

Nebulous Stars is a quirky brand combining beautiful illustrations with positive values, and is based around four fabulous characters and their cute pets. The range features a number of crafty and creative kits for kids to get stuck into. The Creative Sketch Books offer an impressive number of activities with beautiful images, including pencils, stencils, stickers, and textures.

Glitza is a simple and effective way to add glittery detail to just about anything. Quick and safe to use, the glitter tattoos can be applied to arms, hands, books, clothes or any fashion accessories for a long-lasting effect that looks fabulous. The sleek product range features a number of different designs for younger and older children, from Fairy and Butterfly to Crazy Geometry, and much more.

Fact!

The popular Kidz Labs Range has some new additions including Hologram Science, which teaches how holograms can project impressive 3D images. Kids can also discover how science can help them in the wild with the fantastic Survival Science kit.

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Funko Europe 020 3376 3223 www.funko.com

Hall 6 Stand N05

Licensed to thrill

Funko Europe is bringing along a broad range of exciting new products to Spring Fair, including its Pop! Vinyl figures, and other collectables, homewares, and plush. The company will also be showcasing its Loungefly range – a collection of licensed bags, purses, and accessories – an absolute must-see for all Spring Fair attendees.

Anyone looking for fun ways to fill their kitchen with quirky items should look no further than Funko’s homewares range. The company will be exhibiting a vast array of both practical and eye-catching homeware, including mugs, teapots, storage tins and pizza cutters, spanning across licenses such as Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. Anyone who loves the Porgs from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, will love the Porg Cookie Jar, complete with sound effects.

Loungefly is Funko’s most recent portfolio addition, and it reflects the brand’s pop culture centric ethos perfectly. Featuring eye-catching statement pieces from licenses such as Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars, this collection features micro-backpacks, purses, handbags, accessories, and much more. An absolute must for any fashion-conscious Spring Fair visitors.

Visitors will also get the chance to see a large selection of their distinctive Pop! Vinyl figures from some of the hottest licenses, including Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Marvel. Fans of TV, film, gaming, and sports have plenty of products to browse, including lines from Overwatch, Lord of the Rings, and Rick and Morty.

Plush fans will also love Funko’s brand new Star Wars: S The Last Jedi feature plush range. The plush are available in a multitude of sizes, and include Porgs, in Praetorian Guards, Guards droid BB-9E and mo more. Some even come w with sound effects featured in fea the movie. mov

Toys at Spring Fair Sinco Creations

Plush pals

0161 737 7464 Sales@Sincocreations.com

Hall 5 Stand L55

At Spring Fair, Sinco will be presenting its new Disney sentimental plush range, which will consist of three sizes of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in special outfits. Visitors should look out for the new special edition Mickey Mouse, which has been created to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the iconic character.

Sinco recently announced that it has been appointed the official master toy licensee of Shaun the Sheep and Timmy Time. The range is due for soft launch in AW 2018 with two plush ranges and an advent calendar. This will be followed in 2019 with a full range of innovative and creative products that will hit shelves in time for the worldwide theatrical release of Shaun the Sheep Movie 2 in April that same year.

Product ranges will also include plastic figurine sets, plush, games and puzzles, arts and crafts, tableware and RC vehicles.

Visitors at Spring Fair will also have the opportunity to win an exclusive competition prize. Four lucky winners will win an exclusive studio tour at Aardman in Bristol.

What’s more, the winning four will have the opportunity to gain special access and get a look behind the scenes of the filming of the muchanticipated Shaun the Sheep Movie 2.

Orange Tree Toys 01242 244500 www.orangetreetoys.com

Hall 5 Stand E22-F23

Keeping tradition alive Orange Tree Toys is a family-run business, which is passionate about recreating those wonderful, classic wooden toys that are remembered so well from their own childhood.

Bright and colourful by design, the range offers a great mix of both fun and educational traditional wooden toys. Orange Tree Toys is also proud to include great licenses such as Peter Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear, which combined with the Orange Tree branded products create a wonderful and unique product range.

Brand new for 2018, there is also an array of new products added to the much-loved Peter Rabbit Collection, including beautiful 3D puzzles of both Peter Rabbit and Jemima PuddleDuck, a selection of development toys, and pocket money toys, which also sees Jeremy Fisher joining the range.

Following on from the continued success of the Crocodile Alphabet Puzzle, there is a new range based entirely around the colourful Croc. The range is painted in the same bright colours, and includes new toy products, including a variety of development toys, a stacking pull-along and puzzles.

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Go to www.pretendtobee.com to register for more details.

Tel: 0115 921 5690. Email: support@pretendtobee.com

Toys at Spring Fair Amscan

Wilton Bradley 01626 835400 www.wiltonbradley.com

Hall 5 Stand K10-L11, L10

Get the X Factor!

Welcome on stage the X Factor XF1 and XF2. The XF1 is a microphone speaker, which has Bluetooth connectivity, and is cost-effective with a high spec including an echo function, speaker stand, play/pause, skip forward and back, runs for up to three hours without a charge.

The XF1 is branded in the black and red X Factor logo and has flashing LED lights on the base.

The X Factor XF2 is a sophisticated microphone speaker that includes voice changing modes, echo function and a micro SD/USB Charging/ USB Port. The X Factor logo wraps around the speaker box on the front, turning this into a fabulous portable karaoke machine.

The existing Mi-Mic microphones will have new functionality and will continue to build on the success of 2017.

Monster Smash Ups, the award-winning remote control range, will be joined by a fourth character, Black Widow. The trucks have even more impact as the body of the truck now fully explodes when they hit each other or an obstacle! Other line extensions include a Battle Pack, which comes with two trucks, four interchangeable characters and chassis. There will be even more activity in 2018 with an even bigger mass media campaign.

Wilton Bradley joined forces with YoYoFactory to act as its exclusive UK distributor for its expert line of Yo-Yos. From the beginner using the TenTrick range, right up to the highgrade aluminium DV888 Yo-Yo or the F.A.S.T 201 to master the classics, Wilton Bradley can supply the right product.

The GBSB range of Sewing Machines were inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee TV show, and are loved by everyone from bloggers to broadcasters (this was a Chris Evans favourite). There’s also lso a full range of accessories kits with everything needed to create the perfect item. The two sewing machines are competitively petitively priced.

The company has also had ad great success with the electric ridedeon category. This year it introduces a Police Car, and a Range Rover, with exclusive licensed products to be added this year.

The Viper pedal go kart, the vintage Xootz Retro Racer and the JSF Urban Sprinter Electric Scooter ooter will all be at the show with new additions to the range.

Wilton Bradley excels at outdoor products, and its very successful partnership with Bestway has made it the UK market leader in inflatables. A wide range of top licensed products from Star Wars to Disney will be on show.

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01908 288500 www.amscan.co.uk

Hall 5 Stand J110-K119

Party people Party product suppliers Amscan International will be showcasing a variety of its latest ranges for 2018 across the costume, partyware and balloon categories.

Amscan has expanded its fancy dress offering to include wonderful new additions such as adorable baby styles and licensed Disney Baby character outfits. These cute all-in-one outfits make a fantastic gift for little ones.

Also new to Amscan’s dress-up collection are licensed The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Elmer the Elephant styles. These styles are perfect for Book Week in addition to other new generic styles including story book character and historical themes.

Amscan has expanded its Halloween dress-up collection for 2018 to feature some delightfully frightful new designs available for tots to adults. Little ones will love the new Cute Ghost, Pumpkin, Monster and Spider outfit for one to two, two to three, and three to four years. For older children there is a fantastic choice of on-trend styles from new Day of the Dead-themed costumes, ever-popular zombies and even an inflatable pumpkin costume!

As part of its licensed partyware collection, Amscan is excited to launch new Disney, Marvel and Star Wars party accessories. The ranges feature a great mix of co-ordinating decorations and fun party favours including much-loved characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Spider-Man and classic Star Wars. There is also an exciting new range of licensed character piñatas to complement existing party ensembles.

Don’t miss Amscan’s new collection of Unicorn balloons, which make fabulous gift or party decorations. The range features an impressive Unicorn AirWalker balloon standing at 116cm high. New SuperShape balloons include Pastel Unicorn and Magical Unicorn. To complement the balloons a new coordinating partyware ensemble is available for 2018 featuring tableware, decorations, party favours and accessories.

There will also be the opportunity to discover Amscan’s exciting new collection of decorator latex balloons on the stand by popular global brand Sempertex. The opportunities for creating stunning balloon displays are endless with this extensive range of colours and patterns. The range includes more than 600 items providing a comprehensive offering for balloon decorators.

The Amscan stand will feature a selection of new items from its latest ranges from its collection of more than 12,000 items available for the UK market.

The full ranges will be available to view in its new 2018 Everyday Party, Balloon and Costume Books.

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Toys at Spring Fair Hall 5 Stand H59

What a wizard game!

Hall 5 Stand F40-G41

Smart choice

Winning Moves

Tobar

0207 262 9696 www.winningmoves.co.uk

01603 397 105 www.tobar.co.uk

The Crazy Cube Game meets the magical world of Harry Potter. Race to match five favourite witches or wizards to win the game and score a point. Players can score extra points if their Top Trumps character card matches their row.

First one to five points wins. This exciting game of skill snaps closed and fits neatly in a bag, so that it can be taken and played anywhere.

With great buyer feedback and TV support, Harry Potter Top Trumps Match is fun for all ages. Check out the full range of licensed Top Trumps Match games including: Star Wars, Super Mario, Shopkins, Emotis, DC Comics, Disney Princess and Marvel Avengers.

Lexicon-GO! is one ‘L’ of a super-fast word game that is playable in a small space when travelling and can entertain all ages.

Tobar is excited to announce some fantastic new products showcasing at the 2018 Spring Fair.

With mermaids set to be a key trend for 2018, visitors will be able to view the latest exciting products at Tobar’s stand, all from the comfort of dry land.

The Magical Crystal Growing Mermaid is an ideal gift for all mermaid lovers. Add the crystal solution to the base and in minutes the crystals will grow to make waves for the elegant mermaid to sit on.

Available in four colours, the Fizzing Mermaid is perfect for water-based fun. Simply place the fizzy bomb in water and watch it bubble and dissolve into this magical aquatic creature.

Fancy getting sticky? Neon Slime is a colourful favourite. Fun for all ages and available in six different colours, kids can create all sorts of mischief with these pots of delight.

The new Smart Putty Mini Mix is a must have. Mould, stretch and bounce this putty that comes in a variety of different styles, including Glow in the Dark, Dazzle, Glitter and Normal. It’s a delight for the senses!

Hall 5 Stand K64

Mammoth haul Jumbo Games 01707 289289 www.jumbo.eu Having recorded its biggest year of growth across all of its Adult Puzzle & Accessories Brands, Jumbo is returning to Spring Fair to continue driving the double-digit success of 2017 and will be showcasing a large number of exciting products from both its adult and children’s ranges.

Spring Fair is the perfect opportunity to check out Jumbo’s growing range of high-quality and beautifully decorated wooden toys, puzzles and games from its Goula range. With 20 brand new products launching, there are more than 170 wooden products to choose from, including Puzzles, Construction and Ability Toys, My First Games and Educational Material, all of which will be available to check out at the show.

Jumbo will also be launching six new puzzles for spring/summer from its puzzle brand Wasgij. All that and plenty more!

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Hall 5 Stand L41

A cracking line-up Sambro 0845 8739380 www.sambro.co.uk Sambro’s Spring Fair offering signals the start of a year filled with even more licensed products from the renowned toy manufacturer.

Sambro is launching its brand new Nickelodeon SLIME range, set to be one of the hottest properties of the year. The deal grants Sambro Master Toy rights globally, excluding North America, and will see the licensee introduce a huge array of Nickelodeon Slime products from SS 2018. The hero product from Sambro’s Nickelodeon Slime range is undoubtedly the Nickelodeon Slime Hyper Blaster – the ultimate sliming tool! Prepare for everyone to be slimed as the pump-action blaster projects the infamous green liquid up to seven metres. A sub-slime adventure!

Sambro is also adding to its Jo Jo Siwa range with the Jo Jo Siwa Styling Head as well as Jo Jo Siwa Bow Bow products — the Nickelodeon superstar’s equally famous dog. Hatchimals Glittering Garden is the newest batch straight out of Hatchtopia, and Sambro’s collection of arts and crafts products and bags will extend the play possibilities and the allimportant collectability factor.

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Toys at Spring Fair Hall 5 Stand G64

French design Juratoys 020 8878 2133 www.juratoys.co.uk Janod is the leading wooden toy brand in France and is fast becoming the most talked-about wooden toy brand in the UK. Whether it’s putting together two parts of a puzzle, building a tower with a few cubes, tightening or unscrewing, following a path with their fingers or pushing the right key of a xylophone, playing requires a lot of effort from the child. Because every child is different, Janod creates clever toys that meet their every need in order to help them develop their skills: Kaloo offers little ones a soft and enchanting world that would meet their needs in terms of learning. For more than 19 years the Kaloo brand has been specialising in soft toys and bedding accessories. Kaloo is now present in nearly 40 countries. The range consists of many plush animals, doudou puppets, traditional bears and now a very popular my first dolls’range called Tendresse. Tendresse launched in 2017 and was so popular that Juratoys has expanded the range for 2018.

The Alex Brands family of brands has introduced some fantastic new products this year, with an injection of fresh ideas and colours.

Hall 5 Stand G60

Puppet love The Puppet Company 01462 446040 www.thepuppetcompany.com The Puppet Company is showing more than 40 new puppets for 2018, including a new collection of animal glove puppets. These new puppets are made with a different material to the company’s normal classic ranges such as Long Sleeves and CarPets, which enables the company to offer them at a very competitive cost price.

They are not designed to replace current ranges but to give a really good glove puppet with a retail margin of x2.4 and a lower RRP! There are 27 in the collection, with more designs to follow. The range name for these super new puppets is Puppet Buddies.

Also in development are large Dinosaur Head hand puppets, which will be in a range of different colours and will make an excellent addition to the existing Large Creatures collection.

Also look out for a Unicorn in the Carpet collection and a fantastic Sloth being added to both CarPet and Full Bodied ranges.

Finally, the Puppet Company will be showcasing four fabulous new Sockette puppets, which will make a welcome addition.

Wilberry, the Puppet Company’s soft toy collection, continues to grow, with more than 60 new styles being added for 2018

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Hall 5 Stand E40-F41

Hugs galore Keel Toys www.keeltoys.com 01233 506363 Meet the characters from Animotsu, Keel Toys’ numberone selling collection, which grew in sales by over 200 per cent in 2017. To boost sales in 2018, Dinosaurs and Ballerinas have been added to the range in the Animotsu trademark vibrant colours. The 15cm Collection will see the introduction of seven new designs, including Seahorse, Seal and even a Rainbow Rabbit.

Hugg ’ems comprise eight wonderfully coloured animal characters with long arms, weighted paws and swirling tails that can be hung from your arm or neck and that just love to be hugged. Unicorns continue to be a must-have.

Keel Toys’ offering includes new luxury lying unicorns in pink and white and in sizes 35cm, 50cm and 70cm, along with Glitter Gems Unicorns in vibrant pinks, purples and rainbow colours. Or perhaps you’d prefer Pugsley, our favourite Pug who is dressed in a Unicorn Onesie.

Central to Keel Toys’ winter 2018 range are three themed Christmas collections; Pugsley, Pipp the Bear and Animotsu.

The fair will also showcase Keel Toys Retail Solutions, a fantastic, simple way to display key soft toy collections, including both FSDU and MDF permanent display units.

Spring Fair Hall 5 Stand G34

Toy Fair Gallery Stand 632

For Ireland enquiries please contact: Banaghan & Co. Ltd. 路 Co. Tipperary Tel. +35367 63800 路 Fax +35367 63801 info@banaghans.ie

For UK enquiries please contact: Alpha Toys Ltd. 路 Phone 0035367 63800 Fax 0035367 63801 路 info@alpha-toys.co.uk

Toys at Spring Fair Siku

Versatile vehicles

0035367 63800 info@alpha-toys.co.uk

Hall 5 Stand G34

Siku is a top-quality German die cast model brand best known for 1:32, 1:50 & 1:87 scale models in Farm, Construction and Trucks.

Other categories include ‘Siku Control’ Tractors, Trucks and Excavators, ‘Siku World’ – A World of Play sets to bring Siku products together in a large play area, and ‘Siku Blister’, detailed quality models with well-known brands and low prices for everyday sales.

Car licenses include Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti, Porsche, Mercedes, VW, Audi, BMW Tractor licenses include John Deere, Massey Ferguson, New Holland, Claas Construction licenses include Manitou and JCB. Siku toy models meet the highest quality and safety requirements and give plenty of hours of enjoyment and safe play in the kids’ playroom. To ensure these requirements are met, Siku toy models are manufactured from diecast metal and plastic parts. This makes them sturdy and hard-wearing, making realistic play possible with everyday scenes in road traffic, on the building site, with emergency rescue services, or in agriculture.

Display stands are available for both Siku Blister lines and Siku Boxed lines.

The Irish Fairy Door Co 0035367 6380 irishfairydoorcompany@alpha-toys.co.uk

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Hall 5 Stand G34

Hall 10-12 Stand D04-E05

National elf service PMS International

Fairy tale

01268 50 50 50 www.pmsinternational.com

Leading the way in product development in the world of fairies, The Irish Fairy Door Company continues to excite fairy lovers everywhere with its new and innovative products. 2017 saw the introduction of the hugely successful Dust Mixing Kit, along with the Tooth Kit, which is promising big things for 2018.

Building on the success of the now famous Worry Plaque, the team in Fairy HQ have developed some really intriguing products for 2018 but they’re top secret for now!

The Irish Fairy Door Company has created a huge online community with 280,000 Facebook followers, more than 19,000 Instagram followers and more than 6,000 Twitter followers.

The Worry Plaque even has its own Facebook page with nearly 16,000 followers and hundreds of positive stories from users of the product. The Fairy Door remains a staple part of the product range — how else is a child to invite a fairy to their home or garden?

PMS International will be showcasing their exciting new additions to the best-selling Elves Behavin’ Badly range, giving trade customers plenty of time to plan their lines and place their orders before the busy pre-Christmas Countdown.

Last year, PMS International’s exclusive Elves Behavin’ Badly range proved a huge hit with customers and consumers. .

With unique branding and eye-catching packaging, this cost-effective Elf line was a best-seller with our trade customers. Sales in 2017 exceeded all expectations and we had to reorder many popular lines over and over again to keep up with demand.

Our 2018 range comprises all our popular and core lines including our Elfie and Elvie dolls. But there are many new innovative and bespoke accessories and products in our new range to help Elfie and Elvie go about their mischief making and to enable even more exciting scenes to be created.

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Come and visit us at Spring Fairr Hall 5 Stand F30/G31

Contact us for further information call: 01293 543221 or email: orders@greatgizmos.co.uk co.uk

Toy Fair Gallery Stand 630

For Ireland enquiries please contact: Banaghan & Co. Ltd. 路 Co. Tipperary Tel. +35367 63800 路 Fax +35367 63801 irishfairydoorcompany@banaghans.ie

Spring Fair Hall 5 Stand G34

For UK enquiries please contact: Alpha Toys Ltd. 路 Phone 0035367 63800 Fax 0035367 63801 路 irishfairydoorcompany@alpha-toys.co.uk

The Puppet Company & Wilberry Toys

Spring Fair Wilberry: Hall 5 - 5L40 The Puppet Company: Hall 5 - 5G60

We are a UK based Design & Wholesale company supplying over 1000 high quality puppets and soft toys!

www.thepuppetcompany.com www.wilberrytoys.com Tel: +44 (0) 1462 446040 TNP - The Puppet Company - Advert Template - New.indd 39

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