Gifts Today

Independently audited

Supporting your industry for 27 years

Month: March/April 2016 Issue: 4

Volume: 27

SIA

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

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

ABC circulation of 7,098 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

ONE STOP SHOP FOR PERSONALISED GIFTS

Subject to Approval from licensor

est: 2004

NEW

Personalised Licensed Gifts SS16

Visit our website to see the full personalised range

Š P&Co Ltd./SC 2016

NEW

NEW

FOR AW16

FOR HIM

FOR SS16

FOR HE R

FOR CHI LDRE N

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www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Contents March/April 2016

Regulars 6 14 16 20

News Exhibition News Licensing News Trade Talk

Retail 18

Retailer ProďŹ le Philip Downer chatted to Penny Franks about his store Calliope

22

Ross Hewitt The surprising links between fishing and digital marketing

23

Grass Roots Retailers talk licensed gifts

P54 Collectables

26 Brian Wiseman Brian reflects on Spring Fair and the importance of delivering the right item

39 The Giftware Association News 67 New Products

Gifts Today team Editor

Cover Story

Penny Franks penny@lemapublishing.co.uk

40 SIA Home Fashion

Assistant Editor Paul Donnelley pauld@lemapublishing.co.uk

Gifts Today chats to Simon Pykett of SIA, the international company renown

Advertisement Manager

for quality handmade flowers

Mark Horsnell mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

ProďŹ le

Group Editor Mirella Cestaro mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk

Group Advertisement Manager

P28 Licensing

24 CB Imports Importers of artificial flowers

Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk

Publisher

Features

Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

28 Licensed Gifts

Production Director Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

We look at this growing sector

42 Handmade Flowers The world in full bloom

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

54 Collectables Do people hope they have the family

Media Solutions Manager

heirloom among their collections?

Bradley Mason bradleymason@hotmail.co.uk

Lema Publishing Ltd

PUBLISHING

1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930 A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Independently audited ABC circulation of 7,098 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

Show Previews 48 52 58 62 64 66

Pulse PG Live BCTF London Stationery Show Spring Fair Christmasworld

The London Stationery Show makes stationery buying a pleasure with hundreds of great brands and thousands of products from around the world, all in one place.

Beautiful pens… wonderful wrap… stunning notebooks and diaries… gorgeous gift and social stationery… stylish storage… this is where fashion meets function! Be part of it.

Register now at stationeryshow.co.uk for free entry

Follow us @StationeryBytes

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

SIAHome Fashion

sector with so much appeal. From brides looking to replicate their wedding bouquets all the way through to adding a touch of chic to your store displays, there is a wealth of opportunity out there.

We are fortunate to have companies who are able to replicate the appeal of real flowers, where it is exceptionally difficult to spot the difference between artificial and the real thing, which provide wonderful sentimental gifts for the recipient that will never fade and die.

Turn to page 40, to first read our cover story taking a look at SIA, who have been producing quality flora and fauna arrangements since founder Sonja Ingegerd Andersson first started her creations using silk paper in 1963.

You will find in this issue fantastic previews of some of our favourite UK exhibitions. The London Stationery Show (26-27 April) which is a two-day stationery fest held at the stylish Business Design Centre where you will always find something new.

If you buy or sell writing and paper products, or are thinking of doing so, then this is the exhibition for you.

Next, we move on to PG Live (10-11 May) which can be best described as the UK’s only trade exhibition dedicated to the greeting card industry.

This will be quickly followed

by Pulse London (15-17 May) who will open their doors at Olympia London, where you can discover the unexpected as this event brings you unseen brands coupled with cutting-edge products.

And finally BCTF (10-12 April), annually held at the Harrogate Showground and an event that has been promoting British hand-made giftware for 40 years – also, a note to remember, this year we will see further expansion of this show with their first London event taking place in September.

On a final note, Brian Wiseman takes a look back at Spring Fair, but he also starts conversation going with regard

The views of the contributors expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Comments, letters and criticism are welcome.

“

We bring you a great feature looking at the Handmade Flowers sector. This is truly a blooming sector with so much appeal.

From brides looking to replicate their wedding bouquets all the way through to perhaps adding a touch of chic to your store displays.

“

T

his issue it’s the time where we turn our attention to the world of Licensed Gifts. This is a burgeoning category and holds so much appeal, not only for perhaps those that collect for themselves certain licensed products, but also as a gifting solution.

With so many current hot licenses out there, all being instantly recognisable and many following the path of the latest blockbuster from Star Wars through to Frozen, it doesn’t look as though it is likely to ever lose its appeal with your customers.

You can find our licensing feature starting on page 28 where you can see what’s currently hot and a must have in-store. We also speak to a number of independent retailers who gave us their thoughts on this category and how licensed products are currently performing for them.

We also bring you a great feature looking at Handmade Flowers. This is truly a blooming

Intelex Minions

to supply of product – anyone up for the debate?

Retailers, have you had similar experiences?

Suppliers – here’s your right to reply. I’d love to hear your thoughts, why not email me: penny@ lemapublishing.co.uk

NEWS

regular

Classic Canes welcomes Codelia Chapman Walking stick specialist Classic Canes has announced the appointment of Cordelia Chapman as Account Manager.

Cordelia will work closely with company directors Charlotte Gillan and Diana Porter to provide sales and customer service support to the family-run firm’s 2,000 stockists in the UK and abroad. She will represent Classic Canes at trade fairs and assist with the day-to-day management of Classic Canes. She brings a wealth of customer service, sales and office management experience to the role.

In her spare time, Cordelia enjoys diving, cooking and gardening.

Web: www.classiccanes.co.uk

The generation game On 1st April, James Illingworth, the third member of the fifth generation of the Illingworth family officially joins Widdop and Co. James, the son of Chris Illingworth (Operations/Finance Director) starts his new role as Business Information Manager, a critical role in the future development of the business. He joins his cousins, Stephen and Daniel, who have already made their mark within the business driving forward innovative, cutting edge projects. Many of you will have met James at the Spring Fair when he attended the official launch of the new Widdop and Co branding on the Sunday morning.

James joins Widdop and Co from North Highland where he has been working in a consultancy role.

New UK distributor for topselling American candle brand Xystos, the home of flame and fragrance, has become the UK distributor for Candle-lite, which claims to have the best-selling line of candles in mass retail stores in the United States and to sell more candles in America than any other candle company or brand.

Xystos Director Tom Sykes said: “We are delighted to go into 2016 with such a high-profile brand in our portfolio. We are confident that UK consumers will fall in love with its true-to-life scents and the great burn performance of these candles.”

Tel: 0191 499 1570 Email: sales@xystos.co.uk Web: www.xystostrade.co.uk

A right royal celebration McCaw Allan team up with Julie Dodsworth Irish textile linen manufacturers has teamed up for their fifth year with British artisan designer Julie Dodsworth.

McCaw Allan were Julie’s first signing and went on to prove they have a knack for discovering new talent and design. Julie’s first textile designs went on to catch the eye of Churchill China, Wax Lyrical and Barbour clothing among the many license signings that followed.

Julie’s spring/summer season collection includes ‘time to nest’ inspired by her life and love of British waterways. Stanley Hadden of McCaw Allan was eager to express their enthusiasm of working with Julie. “Julie has a beautiful portfolio of designs plus she comes to the table very much with the retailer and end consumer at heart. It is always inspiring to work with this rare energy and creativity.” Julie’s new textile collection is available to retailers from www.mccawallen.com. Julie’s complete collection can be found at www.juliedodsworth.co.uk 6 gifts today

What would be more appropriate than to raise a toast to the Queen to celebrate her 90th birthday with a very British cup of tea – the beverage that has seen her nation through war and peace.

Lesser & Pavey are delighted to present a quality range of chinaware to help celebrate the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II birthday on the 21st April with the official street parties and celebrations during June.

The Queen who has been on the throne since 6th February 1952 and the support for the monarchy and her personal popularity remains high and so Lesser & Pavey expect this range to sell out quickly.

The range consists of fine china mug individually gift boxed with photographic imagery; mug and coast gift set; a pair of fine china mugs; fine china cup and saucer to follow the trend for a return to tea parties and fine chinaware; celebration plates in two sizes and six coaster set.

Tel: 01322 279225 Web: www.leonardo.co.uk

Over 2000 brand new gifts 7500+ lines to choose from Only £100 minimum order ‘Little & Often’ ordering system FREE next day delivery Award winning customer service

Firefly Bottles & Mason Jars

Equilibrium Sentiments

Summer Shower Figures

Equilibrium Warm Tone Butterfly

Retro Tea Pots

Leonardo Money Pots

Leonardo Flower Garden

Joe Davies (Manchester) Limited 149 Broadstone Road, Reddish Stockport SK5 7GA Tel: 0161 975 6300 Fax: 0161 975 6301 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk j Progressive Gifts Greats Awards 2015

13 times winners Soft Wood Word Plaques

New Script Frames

Best Service to the Independent Retailer

Great Service S i • Great Products d • Great Prices

NEWS

regular

RJB Stone has a sassy rebrand

New charity gift fair Sally Pavey of Lesser & Pavey has launched a consumer gift fair to take place on 30th September till 2nd October near Horsham, West Sussex.

The event aims is to raise money for Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity that undertakes to help parents with children suffering cerebral palsy and other similar motor disabilities, and Cancer Research laboratories in Brighton.

The event takes place in the modern venue of Roffey Park which is not normally open to the public, with a preview night on Friday 30th September and fair days on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October.

“We are very excited to be organising this event in a year when Dame Vera Lyn celebrates her 99th birthday. We are inviting gift, fashion, jewellery, home, children, food, cosmetics companies to apply for stalls as we aim to make the fair different to other fairs, truly offering something exclusive for shoppers whilst benefiting to very worthy causes,” said Volunteer Fair Director Sally Pavey. “It would be wonderful to have some stalls from the trade or gifts of raffle prizes to help with fund raising.”

To find out more please visit www.pinkgiftfair.co.uk.

Strong trading results announced Portmeirion, the AIM listed manufacturer and worldwide distributor of high quality homewares has said it expects profit before taxation for the year to 31 December 2015 to be slightly ahead of market expectations.

The Group expects to report record revenues for the year ended 31 December 2015 of over £68 million, an increase of at least 11% over the previous year. This is the seventh consecutive year in which we have achieved record sales. At a constant US dollar exchange rate our revenue increase would have been at least 8%.

Dick Steele, Non-executive Chairman, said: “I am delighted with the achievement of another record level of sales. Sales performance in the UK has been particularly robust throughout 2015, with strong growth in online sales, and the US performed strongly in the run up to Christmas. We look forward with confidence.”

8 gifts today

March 2016 saw the Home and Giftware company RJB Stone unveil their new trade logo ‘Sass & Belle, by RJB Stone’. This marks the last step in their 18 month plan to reinforce their brand presence and align it for their trade and retail activities.

The website address has also been changed to www.sassandbelletrade.co.uk.

Back in November 2014, RJB Stone launched the first phase of their rebranding with new logos and complimentary colourways introduced to both their trade and retail activities, giving the two names RJB Stone and Sass & Belle a cohesive uniformity.

Eighteen months on and with Sass & Belle brand awareness reaching great heights, the time has come for the company to soften the RJB Stone wholesale presence and use the trade entity to reinforce brand recognition.

Discover Sass & Belle on www.sassandbelletrade.co.uk

Hale appoints trade show Marketing Manager Cait Daniels, of Ginger Creations, has taken on the role of marketing manager for Hale Events.

Cait has been responsible for delivering the marketing content for Hale Events shows since 2010 together with Jennifer Trotman, who works with Cait to create content for press and websites, as well as building social media awareness, particularly through Twitter.

Hale Events, who are based in Somerset, organise trade shows in the South & South West of England.

Their events provide professional buyers with all the latest products and services for the Gift & Home, and Food, Drink & Hospitality sectors.

Mike Anderson, Hale’s MD said: “We are delighted to see Cait step up to this role, which will see her take responsibility for the budgeting, planning and delivery of all the marketing content for our shows. Her organisational and communication skills are going to help us enhance the quality of the information provided to our customers. Cait has already redeveloped all of our websites, and helped form the current identities of our trade shows. We look forward to working with her going forward.”

Cait added:“I look forward to this opportunity. Hale Events organise trade shows where passion and purpose come together, and I am thrilled to be part of the team.”

For information about Hale’s trade shows, visit www.hale-events.com or call them on 01934 733433.

www.villagecandle.co.uk Tel: 01254 300268 Email: sales@villagecandle.co.uk

VILLAGE CANDLE

R

NEWS

regular

Pioneer expands Disney in Britain Procos S.A., one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of party products, has awarded Pioneer Europe the distribution rights to its Disney Tableware and other licensed properties in Britain.

The Disney Tableware range will complement Pioneer’s popular Disney latex and Bubble balloons providing their customers with the essential ingredients to create magical Disney-themed parties.

This will significantly expand Pioneer’s Partyware offering in Britain. “We are proud to be working with Procos to expand our Tableware offering,” said Marie Gransbury, Managing Director for Pioneer Europe.

The distribution rights are effective immediately; however products will be available to order 1 April 2016. Initially, Pioneer will offer tableware and accessories featuring the core Disney properties as well as Lucasfilm and Marvel properties.

PMC celebrate their most successful Spring Fair With their largest stand to date, the Personalised Memento Company made a huge splash at Spring Fair. PMC launched a record number of new products this year which has helped to draw in a huge number of new trade customers, from small independents to major high street retailers.

Cara Beech, PMC’s New Product Manager said: “Spring Fair 2016 was the largest in PMC history, in both stand space and visits. With the growth of our personalised product range over the last 12 months we had a lot to shout about and wanted our customers both new and old to familiarise themselves with everything we had to offer. We are also excited to now be working with some of the largest retailers out there and look forward to building some great working partnerships. With excellent feedback at the Spring Fair, we are as confident as ever that we are reliably producing personalised giftware that is just what the consumer desires.”

Showcasing their enormous existing product range, PMC were also delighted to introduce their three new personalised licenced gift ranges; Paddington, The Snowman and the Snowdog and The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.

Web: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

10 gifts today

Wow! Stuff on short list Wow! Stuff has been recognised for its relentless focus on propelling the Science Museum to amazing new heights. The inaugural BLLA are being launched to shine the spotlight on those who excel in the brand licensing arena.

Product categories are judged entirely by a panel of respected retail buyers.

CEO Richard North said: “I’m thrilled that Wow! Stuff has been shortlisted for the Best Product Award for our popular Science Museum range at the BLLAs. The range has been educating and entertaining Britain for years; we have proved this over and over, as our products continue to amaze people.”

“Our products are all tested by real scientists in our Wow! Labs to ensure they really do have the Wow Factor! We are confident that 2016 will prove to be another fantastic year for our Science Museum range.”

The evergreen gift range includes the Smartphone Microscope, Virtual Reality Goggles, the best selling Connector Robot and the Hamleys bestseller My Mystery UFO! The range sold more than a million pieces across the UK in 2015.

Writing matters to Waterstones MD James Daunt From Shakespeare and Milton to Lennon and Gallagher, generations have picked up a pen and written mountains of music, poems, plays and stories that have stood the test of time.

National Stationery Week is proving that writing matters and is continuing a tradition dating back to around 3200BC. Waterstones Managing Director James Daunt believes that a strong education is the foundation of the written word backs the art of writing by hand.

“Reading, understanding and creativity are all tied closely and directly linked to education,” he said. “Starting right from day one, writing by hand is one of the fundamental foundations that opens the mind up to a world of discovery.”

Mr Daunt, who has been in charge of Britain’s largest book retailer since 2011, understands the power of the written word and believes that getting closer allows you to become a part of the world in which words create.

HearthWick’s hot stuff to continue HearthWick is the candle that keeps on giving repeat business to retailers and it’s a trend that looks set to continue in 2016 following a record-breaking year for Xystos, its UK distributor.

WoodWick’s autumn/winter collection includes this gorgeous HearthWick Ellipse Mercury Glass candle – yet another example of the outstanding quality products from Virginia Gift Brands. It has an RRP of £25.99.

Web: www.xystostrade.co.uk

Accessories

America’s Original Candle!

For more information please contact our Customer Service team; Email: sales@xystos.co.uk or Tel: 0191 499 1570 www.xystostrade.co.uk

“PG Live gives you the chance to really focus on cards, which you can’t do at other shows. It is short and sweet so everyone always has lots of energy!�

Hannah Tait, buyer, Oliver Bonas.

Don’t Miss Out! PG Live 2016 is proud to present thousands of RULJLQDO GHVLJQV H[FLWLQJ UDQJHV DQG H[FOXVLYH VKRZ RÎ?HUV IURP WKH WRS 250+ publishers, artists and designers from around the globe. Tickets to the largest global gathering of the greeting card industry can now be booked online at www.progressivegreetingslive.com

The LARGEST COLLECTION of Greeting Card Publishers IN THE WORLD

PG Live 2016 Tuesday 10 - Wednesday 11 May Business Design Centre, London

Book Your Ticket Now! +44 (0) 1635 297070 @PGLiveLondon www.progressivegreetingslive.com

exhibition news

Further growth for Harrogate Christmas & Gift

The doors of Harrogate Christmas & Gift 2016 closed on Wednesday 13th January 2016 with another hugely successful show for all involved.

Visitor numbers were up by 8% this year with exhibitors and visitors reporting brisk business.

Chris Krall, Managing Director IEP Wholesale Imports said: “We have had our best show ever and have made contact with buyers who we have tried to get in touch with for many years. We’ve been exhibiting at Harrogate since 2008 with our floral and home and gift ware but this year launched a new Christmas collection and the response has been overwhelming. I can’t think of a better show to have launched this range – no other show attracts the quantity of quality buyers like Harrogate and we will definitely be returning next year.”

Simon Anslow, Show Organiser, added: “Christmas & Gift has once again exceeded all expectations with visitor numbers up for the fifth year running and

the potential for further growth highly likely.

This is great news for the industry as a whole, indicating that the festive product and gift sector is more buoyant than ever. During the show we had numerous enquiries from new companies wanting to participate next year and potentially we may even have to expand into further halls in 2017.”

Next year’s show is from 8th to 11th January 2017 and exhibitor bookings will open in early March 2016. For more information visit www.harrogatefair.com

Firm focus on the future

Exclusively Housewares and Exclusively Electrical are looking ahead to Christmas 2016 and Spring/Summer 2017 this year when they open at the Business Design Centre, London this June.

“We know from contact with Exclusively visitors that trade shows are important, not just for finding new suppliers and new products, but also to get an overview of what is being planned for the seasons ahead,” said Show Director Simon Boyd.

“This year the Exclusively shows are aiming to give buyers a helping hand to search out and recognise ‘On Trend’ products – focusing particularly on Christmas 2016 and the spring/summer season for 2017.”

The shows will offer visitors a new On Trend display area, free accompanied Trend Tours around the show floor undertaken by trend forecasters Scarlet Opus, and a series of free quick-fire industry presentations for retailers keen to stay on top of consumer trends and gain an insight into what their customers will be looking out for in the future.

This will be the 15th edition of Exclusively Housewares, which continues to offer its visitors access to the largest UK line-up of housewares suppliers under one roof, all at one time.

Exclusively Electrical, which was successfully 14 gifts today

launched last year and runs alongside Exclusively Housewares in the Business Design Centre’s Gallery Hall, is also back with an impressive second year line up of 25 leading Small Domestic Appliance (SDA) suppliers.

“As two specialist shows we offer a depth and breadth of brands, products and suppliers that is very attractive to a great mix of retailers for whom housewares and SDA products range from the purely functional right through to ideal gifts,” said Simon.

Both shows will run on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15 2016 at the Business Design Centre, London. To register, visit either of the show websites: www.exclusivelyhousewares.co.uk or www.exclusivelyelectrical.co.uk.

British by design... British by design... British by design... British

bctf

British Craft Trade Fair

British Craft Trade Fair 10th - 12th April 2016 Great Yorkshire Showground Harrogate, HG2 8QZ, UK

Featuring 500 of the best British designer-makers creating unique, handmade gifts and homeware.

If you haven’t already registered, go to...

www.bctf.co.uk Tel: 01444 246 446 Email: info@bctf.co.uk

licensing news

Sitting comfortably

Wonderful world of Disney Cartamund has announced a number of new launches inspired by Disney Princess and DisneyPixar Cars. Each of these much-loved names now feature in a Snap game, a two-in-one game and a game box, all of which are available now.

Packaging and cards for both these games and the Snap decks will feature wonderful imagery from both Disney Princess and Disney.Pixar Cars.

Trudi Bishop, Head of Marketing and Licensing, Cartamundi, said: “These colourfully packaged and beautifully designed products bring together two iconic names with the fun and excitement of Cartamundi’s high-quality card games. I’m sure they will delight young fans of card games and Disney everywhere.”

Tel: 01268 511522 Email: retail@cartamundi.co.uk

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced the launch of a licensed range of RHS cushions from renowned specialist company Welovecushions, illustrated with imagery from the brand-new RHS Licensing Style Guide.

The range will soon be available, selling through garden centres and home furnishing outlets, as well as specialist gift shops around the world. It will also be available through the Museum Selection catalogue and website, and at www.welovecushions.co.uk and rhsshop.co.uk. The target audience is a wide one, ranging from young adults to discerning homeowners and design lovers of all ages.

Welovecushions is the latest addition to the highly successful RHS Licensing programme. Now in its third decade, the campaign boasts more than 50 licensees in the gardening, gifting and homeware categories. Supported by a new RHS Licensing Style Guide based on 500 wonderful images specially selected from more than 25,000 housed in the RHS Lindley Library, the world’s finest collection of botanic art, RHS Licensing is growing in 2016 to include educational toys, apparel and accessories, and an expanded garden category.

Unilver partners with Carousel Calendars Unilever UK is partnering with Carousel Calendars to create a new die cut calendar to the shape of the famous Marmite classic jar with a toast themed backboard design – one of the most innovative designs yet from the Exeter based company.

Marmite, the iconic British brand from Unilever UK, has very successfully cemented its place in British culture with its award winning “Love it, Hate it” marketing campaign and continues to be the UK’s best-selling spread, with over 12 million jars sold annually. Its popularity means that it is supplied by retailers nationwide, including large grocers, department stores and over 300 independents.

Carousel Calendars produces family organisers that come in an innovative format with a week to view set up that provides sufficient room to list all the family’s plans and activities.

For 2017, the company will be producing its most imaginative calendar yet.

The deal was brokered by licensing agent, Hot Pickle.

16 gifts today

Exciting times for Me to You Carte Blanche and Avec have announced their partnership on a new and exciting Me to You craft range. This deal is part of a year of celebrations, as Carte Blanche celebrate 21 years of Me to You and flagship character Tatty Teddy.

With Me to You product lines already performing strongly at retail, Carte Blanche is delighted to announce this addition to their growing list of licensees. Avec, one of the most innovative and fastest-growing crafting companies, is the latest partner to join the Me to You family, strengthening the brand’s offering in key categories even further.

Avec, founded by Becks Beere in 2012, has quickly become a leading partner of DTR license management and private label within craft, hobby, gift and stationery.

The group spans Europe, North and South America as well as Australia.

The first product collection will be available exclusively at The Range from AW16.

This will feature a bespoke photo-finish Tatty Teddy papercraft range, made up of designer papers, stamps, card kits, decoupage packs and accessories. Perfect for festive creative projects and personalised Christmas card making, this unique collectable range is a fantastic brand extension for one of the most recognised gifting characters.

Web: www.cbg.co.uk

Focus on trends and deals for Christmas at this year’s Exclusively shows!

With the UK’s largest line-up of top-quality homewares suppliers under one roof, it’s easy to spot new market trends and get your Christmas orders placed.

ADDIS HOUSEWARES s AEROLATTE s AMEFA

s

ANNIVERSARY HOUSE s

APOLLO HOUSEWARES s ARTHUR PRICE s AUTEUR s AYDYA

s CHARLES BENTLEY & SON s BERGHOFF WORLDWIDE s BHL GROUP s BLACK + BLUM

s BODUM s BOSKA CHEESEWARES s BRABANTIA s BRITA s BURTON MCCALL s CHARLES VIANCIN s CITY LOOK IMPORTS s COOKWARE CO s COUNTRY MATTERS s CREATIVE PRODUCTS s CROWN TRENT s CULINARY CONCEPTS s CURVER s DAVID MASON DESIGN s DENBY BRANDS s DKB HOUSEHOLD s DNC

s THE DRH COLLECTION s DUBOST COLAS PRADEL s EATON HOME & DINING s E-CLOTH s ECOEGG s EDDINGTONS s ELIA s EMILE HENRY s EUROPASONIC s FAIRMONT & MAIN s FALCON PRODUCTS s FISKARS s FOSSEWAY TRADING s GEH s GILBERTS s GOURMET GADGETRY s GREEN PIONEER s I GRUNWERG s HAREWOOD INTERNATIONAL s HAUS s HORWOOD HOMEWARES s HOT PLATE PRODUCTS LTD s IC INNOVATIONS s ICB s ICTC s IMPERIAL INTERNATIONAL s JERAY s JOSEPH JOSEPH s JUST MUGS s JWP s KILNER s KIS s KUHN RIKON s LE CHATEAU TEXTILES s LE CREUSET s LEKUE s LURCH s LUXURY HOUSEWARES s MAGEFESA BY VITRINOR s MAHITTI s MASON CASH s MASTRAD s MAXWELL & WILLIAMS s METALTEX s MEYER s MICROPLANE s MY GIFTS TRADE s NAVIGATE s NEAT IDEAS s NORDIC WARE s OCTOPUS PUBLISHING s OXO GOOD GRIPS s PENDEFORD HOUSEWARES s PHA KITCHESSENTIALS s PLAN B MARKETING s PLASTICFORTE s POLDER s PREMIER HOUSEWARES s PRICE & KENSINGTON s PYREX s RAVENHEAD s READY STEADY COOK s RKW s ROBERT WELCH DESIGNS s ROOT 7 s ROSTI MEPAL s H&L RUSSEL s RYLAND PETERS & SMALL s SABICHI s SALTER s SCOTT BROTHERS s SIMPLEHUMAN s SISTEMA s SMASH GLOBAL s SODASTREAM s STERCK s SWAN PRODUCTS s T&G s TAYLOR’S EYE WITNESS s TEFAL s TERRAILLON s TONTARELLI s TRADESTOCK s TYPHOON s ULTIMATE PRODUCTS s VACU VIN s VILLEROY & BOCH s WESCO s WESTERN HOUSE s WHITEFURZE s WHITFORD s WILTON BRANDS s WORLD KITCHEN s ZODIAC STAINLESS PRODUCTS s ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS s ARZUM ELEKTRIKLI s BENROSS GROUP s BEURER s CONNECT SERVICES s DUALIT s EPE s INTERNATIONAL s GROUPE SEB s HEALTHY FOODS/YONANAS s JURA PRODUCTS s KALORIK s KITCHENAID s MAGIMIX s MEYER s NUWAVE s RKW s SAGE APPLIANCES s SMART WORLDWIDE s SMARTWARES EUROPE s TEAM UKI s ULTIMATE s VITA-MIX EUROPE s WITT ITT

Follow us on www.exclusivelyhousewares.co.uk www.exclusivelyelectrical.co.uk

Run by the industry, for the industry

Exclusively Housewares will run alongside its NEW sister show Exclusively Electrical, designed especially for small domestic appliance buyers

Retail Interview

Full steam ahead for gifts Calliope opened their first store in 2013 and since then have grown every year. Their primary focus has always been to gift ranges that provide quality, design, provenance or individuality.

Penny Franks spoke with their Managing Director, Philip Downer to find out more.

Can you tell us first a little bit about yourself?

I’ve been working in retail since 1980, initially with Our Price Records, and subsequently selling books with Waterstones and Borders. When I’m not at Calliope I’m at home in south west London, but I spent a couple of formative years living and working in Boston, Mass.

“

Our shops are in the southern home counties, so there’s a combination of the metropolitan influence and more traditional, provincial trends that evolve more slowly but stick around for longer 18 gifts today

”

What was the inspiration behind Calliope?

Andy Adamson and I believed that there was an opportunity in the market to bring together a gift offer that wasn’t targeted at segmented group of consumers. We wanted to create a shop where you could find a reasonably priced gift for anyone, and we focused on market towns, rather than the larger conurbations. We now have three stores, in Dorking, Alton and Haywards Heath. Going back to first principles when Calliope started out in Dorking was a step-change away from boardrooms and airport terminals and back to face-to-face contact with customers, which was very satisfying.

It’s a strange name - what does it mean?

Calliope was the Greek Muse of Eloquence and Epic Poetry. The name has been applied to all sorts of things subsequently, most memorably

a steam-powered organ that was a feature of Mississippi river boats.

We borrowed some of that Victorian carnival imagery to create our shop logo.

How long have you been trading for?

Just over three years – we opened for business a couple of weeks before Valentine’s Day 2013.

You state that you look to provide your customers with aspirational gifts - can you tell us a little more about this?

We sell the consumer and character brands that customers are looking for – at the moment we are putting a lot of energy into Peter Rabbit, as this year sees the 150th anniversary of

Beatrix Potter’s birth. And we look for well-designed homewares, jewellery and toys that customers won’t be able to find elsewhere in town, which they would like to have in their own homes.

Do you feel that your customers are altering their spending habits?

Spending habits are always changing.

Online shopping plays a large part in this, of course, but our background in books and music mean that we have been dealing with this reality for many years. As the high street becomes more leisure-orientated, what’s most important is to create a place where customers want to spend time. Once you can show the goods in an attractive environment, and place the item in the customer’s hand, you should be home and dry.

Customers are probably more considered in their purchasing than they were during the Blair/Brown boom, but that’s not a bad thing if you are selling them products that have intrinsic qualities.

Is there a particular product category that performs well for you throughout the year?

Anything with a heart on it!

Anniversary products for notable birthdays, Ladybird books for adults, good quality gifts – anything that broadly answers the question: “Do you have a gift for…?”

How do you keep abreast of consumer trends?

Our shops are in the southern home counties, so there’s a combination of the metropolitan influence and more traditional, provincial trends that evolve more slowly but stick around for longer. It’s a nice mix. It’s important to keep attending the fairs, visiting exhibitions, checking out other shops, galleries and museums (particularly in the hipper parts of London), reading magazines, listening to staff feedback, and using a little intuition!

Do you attend many trade exhibitions and how important are these to you?

Andy does Spring and Autumn Fairs, and we’ve started taking a party from the shops to events like Top Drawer.

Fairs are important – it’s remarkable how quickly a certain look or idea is picked up and run with by multiple suppliers, and it’s important that we have that innovation properly represented in our shops.

“

How important are brands to your business?

Two types of brand matter to us – product brands, such as Joules, Sophie Allport or Happy Jackson; and licensed character brands, such as Paddington, Roald Dahl or Star Wars.

What about licensed products - how do you keep abreast of the latest licenses that may be coming through?

Andy is a movie buff, so he’s about 12 months ahead of the rest of us when it comes to cinema merchandise.

Otherwise, it’s a question of staying well-informed and be wise to the fact that if supplier A is dropping a wellknown license, supplier B is likely to be relaunching it with a full fanfare in the months to come.

Of course there are key times of the year when we see an increase in the gifting retail trade - what are these for you and how do you pre-plan the gifting content both in-store and online that you will offer?

One reason to love this business is

As the high street becomes more leisure-orientated, what’s most important is to create a place where customers want to spend time that the gift season keeps on giving.

Valentines, Mothers, Easter, Fathers, exams/graduation/back to school and Christmas are all fundamentally important to us. Because Andy oversees the full range, he is able to buy complementary products, so that we don’t end up overweight in, say, Christmas decorations and underweight in toys.

”

Finally, are there any exciting plans on the horizon that you would like to share with us?

We’ve opened a new shop every year so far, and we believe there are plenty more opportunities for Calliope. But as we grow, we need to consolidate as well, so that each shop retains its individual appeal and relevance for its local community.

What about social media - is this something that you are active with?

We have Twitter feeds at each shop, to which the shop staff and I contribute photos and words. We have over 700 followers on our principle Twitter account, which I think is quite good.

We also use Facebook to share photos of new products and displays, to promote events and to advertise – eg for staff. And we collect customer email addresses and postcodes so that we can create targeted newsletters when we have something to say or an offer to promote.

gifts today 19

Trade talk

Gifts Today loves to hear your views.

This issue we focus on licensed products – what strengths do these have in the gifting sector? We spoke to key industry heads to find out more.

Nick Morley Completely Independent Distribution

Helen Shields Enesco

We take a look at licensed gifts

We take a look at licensed gifts

this issue, how important are

this issue, how important are

licenses within the industry?

licenses within the industry?

For us, vitally important. Licenced products are why customers come to us and it is what we specialise in, 99% of our products are officially licensed. The

Licensed product is key to our success, it allows us to offer a quality product, with brand awareness, that is exclusive to Enesco.

way brands are marketed these days is done from a merchandise

What benefits can retailers expect by offering

point of view, so the brand and design really does sell a product.

licensed products in-store?

What benefits can retailers expect by offering

I believe that by offering well known licensed product you immediately

licensed products in-store?

have a product that people know about, be it aimed at adults or

There is a loyal merchandise-buying fan base for most brands

children. Of course there is a link between licensed product and

so retailers can expect great sales. Even very young children are

collecting too. We have an army of very dedicated followers of many

brought up on brands and have an affinity to certain characters and

of our licensed lines, not least across our seven Disney collections,

this loyalty can stay with them as they grow up. Although a number

they all want to know where they can purchase the products and they

of non-licensed products sell, there is a “must have” feel about

want to see what they are buying.

license products.

How do you keep abreast of current licensing

How do you keep abreast of current licensing

trends?

trends?

Our Creative and Licensing Manager, Wendy Addison, who has many

You can see what’s going on via the internet to see what’s trending

years experience and some great contacts, leads the way. Wendy

but listening to customers is a good start as they are the ones being

visits trade fairs, reads the press and is of course in contact with the

asked for things by the end user. Also the BLE is a good place to

major licensors. We do get approached on a daily basis but we are

see what the license holders are pushing over the next year.

very selective, it needs to fit our product portfolio.

What do you feel will be the next ‘must have’

What do you feel will be the next ‘must have’

license?

license?

DC Comic’s Suicide Squad will be the big must have license over

For us its more about the classics, Disney, Marvel, Beatrix Potter and

the summer, bringing lesser known characters to the fore as well as

of course the social media hits, Grumpy Cat, Pusheen and Boo, plus

re-establishing classics like the Joker and Harley Quinn. The nature

how we keep our existing licenses fresh and exciting. I think Star Wars

of the movie is a darker feel so will appeal to an older audience and

will continue lead the way for the foreseeable future and it seems like

means we can make higher end product as well.

Minions are here to stay!

20 gifts today

Monique Scott

Mary Overmeer

Groovy UK We take a look at licensed gifts this issue, how important are licenses within the industry?

Licenses are very important within the gift industry as we are so media driven. Access is far greater with social networking and

Puckator We take a look at licensed gifts this issue, how important are licenses within the industry?

Licenses are very important in the industry and licensed products are becoming more in demand every year.

marketing. Even young children now have computers and mobile

What benefits can retailers expect by offering licensed

phones and they communicate far more and pass on information to

products in-store?

their peer group.

By keeping up with the latest brands and consumer trends in licensed

What benefits can retailers expect by offering licensed products in-store?

Having a licensed product gives it credibility. It’s like meeting a friend

products, retailers can really take themselves to the next level and stand out from the crowd.

instead of a stranger; you’ve already been introduced. It means a

How do you keep abreast of current licensing trends?

retailer can be assured his customer will recognise the brand. It is

We are always on the lookout for the latest trends in licensing, in particular by

often much safer than picking something unbranded. Also you know the license it will be promoted as the licensing company need to insure it sells its brand.

researching upcoming film and TV releases and also by staying up to date with industry news, not just in the UK but throughout Europe and worldwide.

What do you feel will be the next ‘must have’

What do you feel will be the next ‘must have’ license?

license?

We have some extremely exciting licensed products in the pipelines. We’re not

Suicide Squad. Fantastic Beasts and where to find them. Star Wars

quite ready to announce them just yet but we are sure they are the next ‘must

is a grower and had a great re-launch so everyone is excited about the next movie.

have’ licenses. Watch this space!

Ben Craddock Half Moon Bay We take a look at licensed gifts this issue, how important are licenses within the industry?

When you offer a licenced range of gifts you start off with a competitive advantage in a crowded industry. You have a name that is already a household brand and is likely to have an existing and loyal fan base.

What benefits can retailers expect by offering licensed products in-store?

Licensed products attract customers to the retailers’ stores and help to create loyalty for future purchases. The ability to create display stories with a household name can also give a lift to non-licenced products in store.

What do you feel will be the next ‘must have’ license?

Harry Potter has seen a resurgence this year following the announcement of the new film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and the new book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The licence has wide appeal and there is high demand for good quality giftware making it an excellent range to stock.

gifts today 21

Social Media - Ross Hewitt

Going Fishing or Drowning Worms?

Written by: Ross Hewitt, Secret Pie

I

like fishing…it’s just another part of the dangerous, rock ‘n’ roll, gangsta’ life I lead along with golf, internet marketing, science fiction and writing. Oh yes, like a 40lb Mirror Carp, I’m quite the catch!

But fishing and digital marketing do share a lot of common ground and the links are far from tenuous. Seriously… stay with me on this one, don’t turn the page.

No angler worthy of that title begins a session wondering what type of fish they will catch, or whether there are even any fish in that particular water they are sat by. Usually the research is already done, and the bait and location are chosen because they already know what they want to catch and have found out where to go and what to use.

Your digital prospecting and promotion needs the same amount of diligent research, and it begins with a thorough understanding of who you are trying to ‘catch’.

When was the last time you considered which type of customer you are looking for? Do you know their gender, age, education, location and income? Do you know what is valuable to them and where they find out about things (e.g. magazines, websites, and social media)?

How do they behave? Are they excitable early adopters who grab bait quickly or are they more cautious and hook-shy?

How will they benefit from buying from your business? What itch do you scratch or desire do you fulfil? Will your product(s) sort out a basic need or are you a luxury purchase?

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.

What’s the solution? www.secretpie.co.uk When you have identified your ‘fish’ | Ross@secretpie. then take a look at your brand. I mean co.uk | 01904 410027 | a proper look, not a glance at your logo.

Consider everything: the knowledge of Twitter: @Ross_Hewitt your staff, the quality of the products or

the showroom, the after-sales service, the tone of voice in your marketing communication, the speed of response to

22 gifts today

complaints or queries, how you engage with communities, the professionalism of your website. This is what you have to ‘hunt’ with; is it well suited to the customers you are after?

If there is a mismatch between your bait and the fish you want then you are more likely to be drowning worms than catching whoppers. Don’t cast a line until you know the conditions are just right. Go back and review it all again.

You might need to change your bait or you might need to go after sprats instead of mackerel. Be honest or it doesn’t work.

Once you know your target customer is right for your brand then it is time to look in the tackle bag. In there you have your website, your social media accounts, email marketing, blog articles, online videos, Ebooks, magazine articles, exhibition stands, search engine marketing, in-store promotions and much more.

Which will work best for the product you want to put in front of your audience? Maybe your bigger ticket items struggle to be sold online to your cautious potential customers – if that is the case then stop splashing around in ecommerce ponds and use compelling email marketing and social media content to get them to come to an instore event where they can experience the product in the real world.

If you are targeting consumers experiencing a certain life event, such as welcoming a new baby to the world, then create a content marketing plan about new parenthood, gifts and essential products for babies. Work with external parenting bloggers and leverage their already existent baby related search engine rankings. Write your own blog articles about buying gifts for a new parent and point the reader to your more than suitable product. Start posting in the parenting forums. Be the best answer to a new parent or uncle or aunt’s questions and be in places where they do their research. Don’t just tweet

and post indiscriminately and hope they find it.

Perhaps a complex or technical gifting product that needs more explanation to your target customer hasn’t been translating very well in Facebook posts, even though you know that is where your audience hangs out. Invest in better tackle…get a great video made that explains the product quickly and visually and then post that onto your Facebook

“

Your digital prospecting and promotion needs the same amount of diligent research, and it begins with a thorough understanding of who you are trying to ‘catch’.

”

page. Better still create a series of videos and set up a YouTube channel dedicated to that product or range and promote that through your social media channel.

If you own a gift shop, and you just want to get more local people to come to your store then spend a little bit of money on Google Adwords and set the adverts to just be shown to people on your doorstep, which you can do easily, and the same applies to Facebook advertising.

Marketing, like fishing, is easy if you have done your research and are using the right tackle with the right bait. The hardest part is the research and the planning and that honest appraisal of your brand and your realistic customer.

A lot of fishermen I know guess at things and tell lies, and they are the noisy ones with empty nets. The successful ones deal only in knowledge and precision as they quietly haul in fish after fish after fish.

I wish you all tight lines this spring.

We spoke to independent retailers to find their views on licensed gifts and what’s currently hot

Grass Roots

Kevin Bellwood,

Christine Holmes,

Roobarb, Bridgnorth

Flaunt It, Welshpool

Do these perform well for you?

They do work well. They are not everyone’s cup of tea by any means but they do attract passing people who see them.

They come in and tell us “Oh, I didn’t know you did Doctor Who” or “I didn’t know you did that”. They will come in and purchase a Doctor Who teapot or a Doctor Who cup. We wouldn’t stock them unless they sold.

What about collectable items, how popular are these?

We don’t really stock collectable items as such. We don’t do, for example, collectable Star Wars items.

What licensed products work best for you at present?

Our best-sellers are Doctor Who but you have to be pro-active with selling.

You can’t just sit back and expect people to come through the door. People do obviously pop in but I think you have to use social media. That gets people interested in the gifts and makes people aware that you actually have the products.

Laura Carter, Beanie Girl, Stockton-on-Tees Do these perform well for you?

We have so many licences and they all do well for us. There are many shops around us selling licensed items so we have to be a bit quirky. We are on the outskirts of a small town so we have to give people a reason to come in to us. If you go to Manchester, you would go there for general shopping so you pass by various shops and see items anyway. We have to work to ensure people come to us for their games and not go to Manchester. We put a lot of effort into what we stock.

What about collectable items, how popular are these?

We are an official gaming store so we had to form a club to be able to sell some of the goods.

What licensed products work best for you at present?

We sell a lot of X Men items. They do very well for us. We also sell a lot of Funko Pop! figures. There is a whole range of them that people go for.

What do you think will work well this year?

This year is the twentieth anniversary of Pokémon so that is likely to be big.

We have very limited stock at the moment of Mew and Jirachi Pokemon 20th Anniversary Plush. We run a Pokémon club every Saturday so we expect that to get even more popular.

Do these perform well for you?

We are starting to go into a few more licensed products now. Just before Easter we got the You to Me bears goods stand delivered so we are really looking forward to getting into that. We have been asked a lot recently for licensed products so we are going to look into stocking more. We have always had personalised items like Booful and people like names that they recognise.

People love the licensed balloons like Disney and Minions – they are the bestsellers, more so than the generic ones.

What about collectable items, how popular are these?

As I say we are just about to start with the You to Me bears so we are hoping that they will do well. People have expressed an interest when they come into the shop.

What licensed products work best for you at present?

At the moment it is definitely the licensed balloons. People go for what is currently on TV or in the cinema. Frozen has been massive for us. The Boofle Bears have been very good. Scooby-Doo is still popular. Star Wars is steady but if you sell a Star Wars balloon, you will sell two dozen Frozen ones. I think the Star Wars designs are a little too dark, a little too adult with dark purples and reds colouring so they are not appealing to children. Toy Story is quietening down a bit but mostly the licensed children’s characters like Thomas the Tank Engine items do really well.

What do you think will work well this year?

Frozen 2 is out in the summer although we haven’t been given a release date but I expect that to be really big this Christmas especially if they bring in a new character. Minions is also doing well. If the item is jolly, it goes well. We do Boofle mugs and little gift plaques and they do well for us.

Simon Adams Toytown Woodbridge, Suffolk Do these perform well for you?

We have carried quite a bit of movie licensed products in the past, particularly with the big films that came out in 2015.

What do you think will work well this year?

We will be more selective this year, as we ended up with a few lines that just didn’t work as well as we had hoped.

What licensed products work best for you at present?

Secret Life of Pets will be a good one – animals is always a popular theme anyway and this will give that a boost.

What about collectable items, how popular are these?

Shopkins was the big one last year.

gifts today 23

CB Imports

Aiming to inspire CB Imports has grown to be one of the UK’s largest importers of artificial flowers, floral supplies, pottery and glassware, homeware, giftware, Christmas and seasonal products. We spoke to Sue McMahon, Sales Office Supervisor, to find out more.

For those who may not be aware of CB Imports, could you tell us a little about the company?

From its creation in 1990, as a mother and daughter making flower arrangements in their garage and selling on the local market, CB Imports has now grown to be one of the UK’s largest importers of artificial flowers, floral supplies, pottery and glassware, homeware, giftware, Christmas and seasonal products.

Our extensive product ranges aim to inspire by bringing the latest trends and ideas directly to our customers at the best possible prices. Supplying in excess of 30,000 products, with a stock holding of £5-6 million, our ranges are the UK’s largest and so you will not find a wider choice anywhere else.

With such an array of products, how can retailers come and see your ranges?

There are many ways to view our products which we feel make it easier for our customers to operate with us when making their selections.

We have an online shop via our website www. cbimports.co.uk, where customers can submit their

“

ranges aim to inspire by

Over the years, what would you say have been your biggest challenges?

CB Imports offer such an extensive product range that it can be a challenge to promote the range to such a wide customer base. However, with our showroom based in Wakefield and through regularly exhibiting at various trade shows, we manage to ensure that our customers see our variety of product.

bringing the latest trends

What drives you forward as a company?

Quality of product, price, outstanding customer service and listening to our customers.

order to our sales office who will call to arrange delivery and payment.

Customers are welcome to contact our sales office to book a visit to see our inspirational showroom located at Wakefield.

Our Area Sales Managers are available to visit customers direct – simply call our office to request this. And finally, of course, trade fairs. We exhibit at the Birmingham NEC (Spring Fair in February

You offer an extensive portfolio, but do you feel you are a specialst in any particular category?

Naturally, as our heritage illustrates, we feel our specialist category would definitely be within Artificial Flowers and Greenery.

24 gifts today

Our extensive product

and ideas directly to our

”

customers at the best possible prices

“

We ensure that we listen and respond to customer feedback, fulfilling their needs where possible

”

and Autumn Fair in September), Christmas and Gift in Harrogate in January, and also at Home & Gift Harrogate in July.

What emerging trends do you expect for this year?

We have seen a surge in the country garden and wild meadow trends, full of beautiful floral prints and patterns, and brighter versions of pastel colours. The tropical trend is also proving to be particularly popular among retailers for 2016.

Do you have a minimum order policy?

Our minimum order value is strictly £300/£500 (dependant on area) £300 for first time orders (proforma basis) and £300 minimum spend for each subsequent order (carriage paid). A 30-day credit account facility is available upon request.

How do you manage your customer service?

We have professional, friendly, dedicated sales and distribution teams with fantastic communication skills.

We ensure that we listen and respond to customer feedback, fulfilling their needs where possible.

What delivery times can your customer receive from you on orders placed?

Customers that order from us will recieve delivery within five to 10 working days.

Are there any exciting plans on the horizon that you would like to share with us?

We are looking forward to exhibiting at Home & Gift Harrogate in July 2016 for the very first time. We are also regularly updating the CB Imports website to ensure that it is as user friendly as possible.

Tel: 0113 307 4040 Email: sales@cbimports.co.uk Web: www.cbimports.co.uk gifts today 25

R

E

T

A

I

L

Special - Brian Wiseman of Present Company

n a m e s i W Brian s t r o r p i a re F g n i r p S m fro

Brian Wiseman

S

pring Fair took place at the NEC during early February and was looking resplendent in its updated format. Hall 4 looks set to become the new epicentre of the show’s impressive gift offering and I predict that many exhibitors will be wanting to locate there.

I was bitterly disappointed that I caught only the first two days of the show. An unpleasant sickness bug felled me and I was unable to return. Louise worked alone on Tuesday and placed the most important orders, but we felt forced to cancel our plans to return on Wednesday.

We are trade show buyers who still prefer to place orders at the shows whenever possible. For us it makes perfect sense to select ranges while we have the opportunity to pick from the displayed samples and draw on the advice and help of exhibitors. But times are changing and many suppliers report that visitors to the shows increasingly ask for contact details and passwords to enable their access to exhibitors’ websites. Exhibitors with attractive fliers and catalogues find that valuable orders are soon forthcoming from new or existing trade customers keen to 26 gifts today

The controversy of home and gift retailers selling online through marketplace websites such as Amazon and eBay continues, though some of the heat has gone out of the more trenchant views

rush round the shows and maximise their productivity. This is no bad thing at all. But it does mark a fundamental shift away from the traditional ethos of many exhibitors who would try to minimise the material they gave away on stands, lest it deter potential customers from ordering on their stand there and then.

While on the subject, next year’s Spring Fair will open as always on the first Sunday of February, 5th through to Thursday 9th.

We have already booked and confirmed our accommodation for the 2017 fair. That is the measure of how important trade shows remain for us.

The controversy of home and gift retailers selling online through marketplace websites such as Amazon and eBay continues, though some of the heat has gone out of the more trenchant views.

Some suppliers who see themselves very much as design houses have forbidden their trade customers from selling via these routes. In some cases, the policy has been accompanied by the launch of the supplier’s own sparkling website selling direct to the end consumer. Many other suppliers simply don’t much seem to mind how their goods are sold, as long as they are selling.

An occasional customer of Present Company was ranting to anyone who would listen that eBay had closed his seller’s account after issuing countless warnings. He agreed readily that on many occasions he had failed to despatch goods after receiving payment. Or sent the incorrect goods in error. Or substituted goods. Or failed to describe products accurately. He simply couldn’t see why eBay were taking such a tough line with him.

Amazon, eBay and other marketplaces have found considerable success with their operations and have gained the trust of buyers and sellers alike by imposing strict measures of competence and acceptable trading standards.

By these measures, many of Present Company’s suppliers would be hard pushed to maintain marketplace seller’s accounts.

The incompetence of many suppliers is

staggering. Here’s an example. We placed an order with a toiletries supplier at Spring Fair. We required the delivery to be booked in and gave a delivery date. Our instructions were ignored. When the order was unpacked, it bore little resemblance to the order we had placed. The supplier had simply sent substituted goods, presumably old stock lying around in the warehouse that they wanted to be rid of. We protested.

We were told that our account would now be marked to denote that we wouldn’t accept substitutions. Would we please pack the unwanted goods for uplift. The correct goods were immediately despatched. But many were broken because of inadequate packaging. Would we please pack the damaged goods for uplift. Replacement stocks were again despatched but many were again broken. And so it went on. We now have four invoices and three credit notes in respect of this one order. Alas, we must report too many instances of suppliers that simply cannot get it right. It is unusual to receive an order which does not raise problems. Is our experience unusual or do other retailers suffer problems with their orders?

Why is this so? We suspect that many suppliers have cut staff levels and now have inadequate resources to do the job. We also seem to deal with increasingly young and poorly trained staff with too little experience to offer satisfactory customer service.

Beacons of excellence do remain among the disappointing performance of so many home and gift suppliers. Of our larger suppliers, Transomnia and East of India distinguish themselves as thoroughly efficient operations with superb customer service.

Brian Wiseman has owned home and gift shop Present Company in Burgess Hill, West Sussex for 28 years. Brian’s wife Louise is a buyer. She is incandescent with rage that her precious time is wasted by idiot suppliers, “Substitutes – are they taking the ****?” brian_presentco@yahoo.co.uk

H e at able

S o f t Toys

Warming the World since 1995

Warm me in a microwave!

www.intelex.co.uk For more info please email sales@intelex.co.uk or call 01933 679777

Intelex Group

@IntelexGroup

Sales Agents Malerifabrikken are Danish producers of modern art and genuine oil paintings designed and painted by their own team of artists to the highest of standards at affordable prices with a portfolio of over 300 images in the collection for everyone to enjoy.

The UK & Ireland are currently our fastest developing markets and it’s now important for us to appoint well-connected trading partners to help us to get to the next phase in our development plan.

We are currently looking for well-connected sales agents calling department stores, home accessory, furniture retailers, gift shops and galleries.

In return we offer exclusive territories, generous commission, UK-based customer service, advertising, marketing, administration and support.

Should this be of interest please contact: Brand Select (UK) Limited on 020 8953 7059 / 07834 771224 or by email brandselectuk@gmail.com 11 Redwood Rise Borehamwood Herts England, WD6 5LB

www.malerifabrikken.dk

Licensed Gifts

xxx

Licensed to Thrill In recent years the licensed gift category has taken off, providing retailers and wholesalers with a new and potentially healthy revenue stream.

I

t is not new – it was around in the 1930s – but companies have come to appreciate its popularity and jumped on the bandwagon.

Licensed products have become the big thing in the last 30 years or so because their reach is so varied – if you don’t like one item, another is sure to take your fancy.

We spoke to a number of people with an involvement in the sector to gauge their views.

Ben Craddock from Half Moon Bay has a view on the popularity of the category: “Whether it’s childhood memories or a licence that you are a lifelong fan of, licensed gifts have wide ranging appeal and make a great choice for a retailer looking to add a well-known name to their range.”

Samantha Goodburn from puzzle and games maker Gibsons said: “Licensed gifts are always popular because of the trust associated with the brand.

Consumers develop a loyalty to brands that provide consistently high-quality products and therefore, if they see a product that is linked to the trustworthy brand, the confidence is passed on.”

When one thinks of licensed goods, one tends to think of the huge franchises – Harry Potter, Star Wars, Disney and the like – but there are other products that are licensed.

Emma Ball artwork is a must-have licence at the moment. Her artwork is printed everywhere, from tea towels to mouse-mats, cards and calendars.

“We decided to launch 11 Emma Ball puzzles at the beginning of the year, which are presented in compact gift boxes or stylish cardboard tubes,” 28 gifts today

said Samantha. “The nine cardboard tube puzzles contain 250 pieces and depict beautiful scenes from all over Britain. From Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands, each jigsaw is a montage of the natural beauty that can be found in different regions around the UK. “We have found that the Emma Ball licence works extremely well as a gift product because the regional scenes appeal to both tourists and residents alike. Whether the consumer lives in one of the towns depicted on the puzzles, or is buying a holiday gift for a friend, the beautiful artwork is appealing to all.”

And that is just one of the benefits that a licensed product can bring.

It can make a gift for every member of the family, from youngsters with a Paddington cuddly toy, to the distaff side and their lovely artwork, to nerdy cousins with their sci-fi models, to teenagers with their Geordie Shore calendars to, well, everyone.

With regard to the most popular licences, Ben Craddock told us: “Harry Potter has had renewed interest this year with a new book and play coming this July. Star Wars continues to be strong with more films on their way.”

“Jigsaw puzzles are the strongest

“Licensed gifts have wide ranging appeal and make a great choice for a retailer looking to add a well-known name to their range.”

Ben Craddock, Half Moon Bay category in our range as they are not only a great pastime, but can also help with dementia as they activate both sides of the brain and keep minds and muscles stimulated,” said Samantha Goodburn from Gibsons. “We offer a wide range of piece counts, from 100XXL for those with handling and sight difficulties, to 2,000 pieces for those who love a challenge.”

The ability to license also enhances the value of a product and adds to its shelf presence. The packaging that products come in can also be important, with striking and familiar visuals drawing the eye.

“We package our licensed puzzles in novelty tins which bring a brand to life. From a giant replica Marmite jar to our quirky Mr Men jigsaws, the novelty containers can be used again and

again,” said Samantha.

Being able to reuse the packaging is also a benefit since it makes the product ecologically sound.

It is probably television and film licences that most people are familiar with.

“TV and film licences are always a great success as they come with such a huge viewership,” said Samantha. “Our Sherlock Holmesinspired detective board game, 221b Baker Street, sold fantastically and was reported as John Lewis’s third best-selling game in their range in 2015. Following this success, we have recently relaunched our classic football game, Wembley, which will be released in time for the FA Cup semi-final.”

So there we have it. A licence to thrill…

Official Harry Po er Jewellery by The Carat Shop www.thecaratshop.co.uk

info@thecaratshop.co.uk

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are ©& TM Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Po er Publishing Rights © JKR. WB Shield : TM &© WBEI. (s16)

Licensed Gifts

Let it snow!

All in the knock

Enesco

The launch of this exciting new collection celebrates the rich history and superb artistry of Disney with seven prestigious limited edition figurines, reproduced from the original film maquettes which are preserved in the Walt Disney Archives. Maquettes are three-dimensional character models of Disney characters that are used by animators as a way to study crucial angles, reveal play of light and shadow and to clarify issues of perspective. Each figurine is presented with a storycard revealing the magical history behind the original maquette. Pinocchio, for example, was the first full length Disney film to use character maquettes, and colours on the new figurine have been hand matched to the paint palette used in 1938.

Tel: 01228 404022 Web: www.enesco.co.uk

Something to smile about Great Gizmos

Great Gizmos have recognised the growing popularity of licensed gifts and have expanded their NICI Smiley plush and accessories range.

Smiley has taken a tropical twist with new fruity additions! The popular Beanbag Keyrings are available in four different colourful fruit shapes: Pineapple, Apple, Strawberry and Lemon, with the well know Smiley face and branding.

The fun characters are also available as super soft cushions which are sure to brighten up any room.

Also new to the collection is a vibrantly coloured mug with the different fruits featured on it.

These new additions join the popular Smiley range that features, bags, wallets, cushions and more!

Tel: 01293 543221 Web: www.ggtrade.co.uk

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Completely Independent Distribution Completely Independent Distribution are very pleased to distribute the new range of NECA accessories which includes collectibles, novelties and prop replicas. One of the highlights of the range are the phenomenally-selling Body Knockers which rock from side to side when exposed to light — they never need batteries! Each figure stands at 6” tall and comes individually packaged. The collection features the very best characters including Deadpool, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Groot, and The Joker, to name a few. Enjoy hours of bodybobbling fun that’s powered by the sun! CID are based in Leicester and have a huge collection of music and character apparel and accessories.

Tel: 0116 258 1450 Email: salesteam@cidmerch.com Web: www.cidmerch.com

Border Fine Arts have been producing Beatrix Potter characters since 1987

Licensed Gifts & Collectables

2016’s Friends of Peter Rabbit Club exclusive 150th Anniversary Figurine

Since 2003 many dedicated collectors worldwide have taken the opportunities offered and enjoyed the benefits of being a member of our Friends of Peter Rabbit Club.

we’ve got giftware all wrapped up Enesco Limited, Head Office & Customer Services, Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0EN Tel: 01228 404022 Fax: 01228 404041 email: uksales@enesco.co.uk Overseas Customer Services: Tel: +44 1228 404066 Fax: +44 1228 404080 email: eurosales@enesco.co.uk © GUND 2016. BEATRIX POTTER™ © FW & Co. 2016.

Licensed Gifts

Sandwich anyone?

Personalised Memento Company The Personalised Memento Company (PMC) were delighted to unveil their range of personalised Paddington gifts at this year’s Spring Fair. The nation’s favourite bear has already made a huge splash in the personalised gifts sector, taking pride of place on a range of PMC’s best-selling products. These include ceramic mugs, notebooks, water bottles and lunch bags. The Personalised Paddington Lunch bag is a must-have for any fan of marmalade sandwiches and is an ideal gift for birthdays and Christmas.

PMC’s growing collection of licenced personalised gifts features a range of popular characters and designs, including Hello Kitty, The Snowman and the Snowdog, Me to You, The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, and Purple Ronnie. With over 7000 products and a variety of ways to sell, PMC have made personalised gifts accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk Web: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Love to celebrate Neviti

Expand your product range for christenings, baby showers and first birthday celebrations with the gorgeous Guess How Much I Love You collection from Neviti.

Based on the best-selling children’s book it features stunning, original illustrations and logos in a delicate pastel colour palette, this range includes all your celebration must-haves such as paper plates, cups, treat tubs and bowls. Other necessities such as napkins and pretty cake cases are featured in the collection which draws inspiration from the heart-warming story of a father hare explaining to his little son just how much he loves him. Room decorations complement the tableware and include adorable bunting, a simple way to add some colour to your party room and pretty confetti featuring a mix of designs – scattered across a party table or around a cake table this confetti adds a sweet touch to room décor. The range features the instantly recognisable characters from the story – Big Nut Brown Hare and Little Nut Brown Hare – and pretty motifs such as polka dots, butterflies and bees.

Tel: 0845 6381358 Email: info@cscimports.com Web: www.cscimports.com

Take note

Museums & Galleries MGL’s licensing partnership with the V&A extends back over many years and the fruits of that productive relationship are very evident in the company’s gift stationery portfolio, with imagery from the V&A’s stunning collections populating every product category.

A key item for gift buyers is MGL’s Elasticated Journal (SRP £7.99), a format the company has rapidly expanded over the last few years and which now numbers 12 V&A branded titles. Each journal is hard cover, with elastic band closure and an expanding internal pocket, and has 200 lined pages. Cover images feature much of the best work by the ever-popular Arts & Crafts designers William Morris, CFA Voysey, and Walter Crane. British 20th century design is represented by lovely floral chintzes.

A delicate 18th century Chinese wallpaper design is balanced by a bold Japanese block print. And finally, two of the journals feature scenes of London interest.

Eight soft cover Journals (SRP £6.99) extend the V&A branded stationery – exploring here Indian Fabric design (this winter the subject of a hugely successful V&A exhibition), but also introducing imagery aimed at men and designs giving a modern twist on English 18th century silk textile patterns.

MGL’s mini notebook sets also make a great gift (SRP £7.99) – in this product you get three different V&A designs on a theme in each of the six V&A sets. It’s worth considering MGL’s new V&A slimline notebooks (SRP £2.75), Year Planner Diaries (SRP £3.49) or bookmarks (SRP £1.49) as stocking fillers.

And MGL has your gift wrapped with a lush collection of V&A branded gift wraps (SRP £1.75), gift tissue packs (SRP £2.50), gift bags (SRP £1.99 - £2.75) and gift boxes (SRP £2.49 - £6.49).

Tel: 01373 462165 Web: www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

32 gifts today

Licensed Gifts

Football fans are scoring with licensed alcohol gifts Signature Gifts

Thanks to licensing agreements with three top football teams, Signature Gifts can proudly offer a large selection of personalised official alcohol for Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspurs, and Sunderland AFC. With labels covering all occasions fans can receive their favourite tipple with their own name and message printed in premium gold and silver foil detail. A wide range of wines, beer and spirit gifts, including Single Malt Whisky, Ale and Vodka are available and presented in a choice of gold gift carton, or red silk-lined gift box. Signatures’ alcohol license has you completely covered, as they drop ship their orders direct to the customers, meaning no risk to you holding stock and no minimum order.

With more teams in the pipeline, watch this space for more top alcoholic gifts.

RSP from £10.99

Tel: 01582 464 809 Web: www.signature-gifts.co.uk

Can’t beat a good classic Gibsons

With the current resurgence in the popularity of board games, Gibsons have been working on bringing their old classics back to the forefront. Wembley is a classic game which many consumers will remember from as far back as the 1970s and after collaborating with the FA, Gibsons have brought it back to life and better than ever.

The packaging has undergone a complete redesign and the new edition takes players back to the 100th anniversary of the FA Cup to vie for the title of Champion. Players must draw the team cards and manage their teams to the top. Will they invest their hard earned cash in star players or hope the odds are in their favour when they roll the cleverly weighted dice?

After the successful launch of their Iconic Brands range in AW15, Gibsons are set to release two new licensed puzzles this summer from much-loved brands. Breakfast cereal lovers of all generations can step back in time with the Vintage Kellogg’s jigsaw puzzle.

Presented in a beautifully decorated tin, the 250 cleverly interlocking pieces create a unique cereal bowl-shaped puzzle. Also due for release is the Pringles puzzle, presented in the classic tube which we all know and love. Dee-lish!

Tel: 020 8661 8866 Email: sales@gibsonsgames.co.uk Web: www.gibsonsgames.co.uk

34 gifts today

Signature newspaper recipe books Signature Gifts

Take your taste buds on a trip down memory lane with this collection of recipes straight from national British newspapers of the decade. With no embellishments or alterations, the content of this book is exactly as it was printed when the papers were first published, including all original adverts, giving you a unique window into your favourite decade. Signature’s exclusive license with the Trinity Mirror group allows them to create new and interesting books, giving recipients a brand new way to reminisce.

Your favourite decade’s pop-culture is instantly recognisable, and this handy book of recipes is not only nostalgic, but informative too! Each edition can be personalised with any name and message on the opening page.

Books are available for every decade from the 1930s to the 1990s. RRP from £12.99

Tel: 01582 464 809 Web: www.signature-gifts.co.uk

Licensed Gifts

Brilliant bed warming companions Intelex

The popularity of Intelex Group’s licensed products and their full range of Warmies shows no signs of slowing in 2015.

The licensed range under the Intelex Group portfolio includes fully heatable and wildly popular Minions, Bagpuss soft toys, slippers and boots, Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Boofle and the best-selling YooHoo and Friends.

The warming gifts category continues to grow in popularity both in the UK and around the world with thanks to fresh new designs that are attractive, functional and represent good value for money.

Intelex Group’s Warmies are welcomed by consumers as fun and convenient replacements for traditional hot water bottles, making great gifts for young children and the young at heart!

Tel: 01933 679 777 Email : sales@intelex.co.uk Web: www.intelex.co.uk

Get your gnashers out Neviti

Featuring the mischievous duo from the renowned Beano comic books, Neviti’s Dennis The Menace & Gnasher collection is sure to be a big hit with fans of the brand both young and old. The collection offers a vibrant selection of tableware including plates, cups, bowls, treat tubs and napkins featuring Dennis and Gnasher illustrations and fun phrases from the comic book. The range also offers some fun stationery including name stickers, perfect for your party guests to wear or for labelling cups or party bags, and fun invitations inviting ‘menaces’ to ‘join an awesome party’. The decorations in the range co-ordinate perfectly with the vibrant tableware and include red and black party balloons and an eye-catching paper bunting perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.

Tel: 01494 883428 Web: www.cscimports.com

NASA takes off Half Moon Bay

NASA has always been popular and with recent films including The Martian, Gravity and Interstellar have propelled NASA to superbrand status. What’s more, with Tim Peake recently presenting Adele with the Global Success Award at this year’s Brit Awards it is clear to see just how cool it is to be an astronaut right now. Half Moon Bay’s brand new range for 2016 has wide reaching appeal and has already hit the ground running! With over 15 different product formats, from retro bags to pin badges, you won’t be limited for choice in making a unique and appealing display.

Order today to get their wonderful range of NASA products in stock as soon as possible!

Tel: 01225 473 873 Email: sales@halfmoonbay.co.uk Web: www.halfmoonbay.co.uk 36 gifts today

Licensed Gifts

Book it in

Personalised Memento Company The Personalised Memento Company (PMC) are riding the wave of popularity for vintage-inspired floral designs, thanks to the launch of their latest licensed personalised gift range, The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. The collection includes a range of designs, inspired by the timeless original Country Diary artwork. These include traditional bright floral designs, modern blue tones and word Christmas designs.

The traditional diary is an ideal gift for her on her birthday, for Christmas or on Mother’s Day. It makes a thoughtful and practical gift that she will use all year round.

PMC are proud to remain the UK’s leading one-stop shop for personalised gifts. With over 7000 products in their range and more added weekly, PMC can cater for every occasion imaginable and are set up to drop-ship to order.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk Web: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Celebrate 150th Anniversary of Beatrix Potter Enesco

GUND’s Peter Rabbit Collection is an enchanting collaboration between two heritage brands, both much loved around the world, and GUND has created two wonderful Peter Rabbit items especially for this very special anniversary year.

The Limited Edition Peter Rabbit is being produced in a worldwide limited edition of 500 pieces. Featuring the anniversary logo embroidered onto Peter’s jacket pocket, this must-have commemorative soft toy comes in a luxury craft card lidded gift box with gold foil detailing and includes a numbered certificate of authenticity.

Tel: 01228 409066 Web: www.enesco.co.uk

What’s next for Mr Bean?

Puckator

The officially licensed Mr Bean solar character is still one the best selling products in Puckator’s catalogue and we are very pleased to hear that they are expanding further with this brand. You will have to watch this space for which exciting Mr Bean products are next to appear from the UKbased Puckator design office. In the meantime, why not check out the rest of the licensed gift items on offer on the website including brands such as The Beatles Yellow Submarine, Disney’s Frozen and Aardman Animations (coming soon).

Tel: 0800 011 6969 Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk Web: www.puckator.co.uk

Original slant Groovy UK

Groovy UK focus on Licensed gift products, including Star Wars, Marvel, DC Comics including the new Batman v Superman, and more. Groovy design and manufacture many original gift lines including, Bathrobes, Slippers, Lighting, Bags, Ceramics and Glassware.

New product concepts give everyday lines an original slant an are often unique.

The company are currently working on lines in conjunction with the new Warner Bros film, out in August, Suicide Squad which will include bags.

Groovy has produced a patented lighting range called Look-ALite and licenses included are Star Wars, Batman and Superman (new and old) Wonder Woman, Assassin’s Creed, Shaun The Sheep, Rocky, Breaking Bad and Suicide Squad as well as many more.

Tel: 0116 239 110 Email: j.johnston@groovyuk.com Web: www.groovyuk.com 38 gifts today

GA news

GA to unveil rebranding at June members’ day as they reach out to wider audience

T

he GA members’ day will take place at Federation House in Birmingham on Wednesday, 15 June, when the complete rebranding of the association will be unveiled.

The chairmanship of the GA will pass from Ravensden’s Michael Papé to independent retail advisor Henri Davis, the first person from a retailing background to hold the position. Blue Eyed Sun’s managing director Jeremy Corner will take over as vice-chairman.

Members’ day guest speakers have yet to be finalised, but the format for the day – which includes the AGM – will follow last year’s successful formula, with panellists debating current industry issues and, following a networking lunch, GA workshops and surgeries spanning a wide range of subjects of interest to both retailers and suppliers.

Recently-appointed chief executive Sarah Ward will tell the meeting how The GA team has been reaching out to existing and would-be members, covering 16 previously-unvisited trade shows in the first few months of the year.

These include The East Anglian Gift & Toy Fair; Wales Spring Fair; The Toy Fair and Craft, Hobby & Stitch International – with The Baby Show, Asian Bride and the National Asian Wedding Fair also on the agenda. A further eight shows will be visited in April and May. Sarah explained: “Our industry is extremely diverse and we are very keen to engage with businesses which do not necessarily attend, or exhibit at, what are generally recognised as being the key gift and home events, as we feel our services can be of real relevance to a wider audience.”

Association set to offer bespoke multimedia packages after video showcases members at Spring Fair The GA has moved into multi-media and produced what the association’s David Kukadia describes as “a mini-movie to showcase some of our amazing members and their products”.

David, who presents the video, said: “It features some of the most memorable bits from Spring Fair 2016 and the Gift of the Year Awards ceremony at which Cath Kidson presented the prizes.

“Because the film portrays an exciting and inspiring vision of The Giftware Association and its members – and shows what can be achieved through this medium – we are in the process of rolling it out to those who belong to The GA.” The association would like to offer bespoke multi-media packages to include the production of promotional videos, as well as website creation and photography. For more information contact david.kukadia@ga-uk.org or call 0121 237 1149.

To view The Giftware Association/Spring Fair/Gift of the Year Awards 2016 video go to youtu.be/ rDII2bPNVSQ

www.ga-uk.org

Business Boost Days The GA will hold a series of Business Boost Day seminars on Wednesday, 28 April and Wednesday, 18 May at its Federation House headquarters in Birmingham.

Topics that are expected to be covered include intellectual property; social media; agents’ law; importing/exporting; how to write a press release, and dealing with large retailers.

The charges for each day are: members £50; members that have been in business for two years or less £55, and non-members £100.

If you are interested in attending please contact GA events coordinator Chris Munns on 0121 237 1105, email christopher.munns@ ga-uk.org

gifts today 39

Cover Story - SIA

In full bloom SIA Home Fashion is an international company represented in countries across five continents. We wondered why handmade flowers are proving popular at present and what their appeal is. We chatted with SIA’s County Manager, Simon Pykett to find out more.

A

s a leader in their field, SIA have established themselves as a quality supplier of handmade flowers and fully understand the general appeal these can generate in-store for many retailers, and of course the myriad of uses that they are used for.

The brand is known as a reference for floral arrangements with an undisputed quality and savoir-faire.

Being an on-trend company, they know how rapidly the handmade flower sector has grown in the last few years and one which has experienced growth in many different and surprising ways.

Handmade flowers now sit firmly into the ‘must have’ category for

40 gifts today

home fashion and décor.

Therefore, it is not unusual to find them in a multiplicity of retailers from Department Stores, Home Décor Boutiques, Flower Shops and Garden Centres.

Simon Pykett explains a little more about how handmade flowers are currently represented.

“Most garden centres have for years been selling Mother Nature’s real flowers and now feature this product category as they can clearly see the advantages that offering their customers handmade flowers bring and can become a significant part of their turnover.”

Handmade flowers are therefore a useful and welcome addition to retail sales, as they represent a great way for retailers to enhance their window displays and in-store

environment. “What better way to announce a new spring collection than a display of daffodils or to reflect local consumer diversity with flowers from all around the world,” stated Simon.

“A real growth area for handmade

gift, but handmade flowers are a gift for life, they don’t die and are something to sit on a table or shelf to brighten up any home.”

Of course, as in any gifting category, handmade flowers are no different and trends emerge

Being an on-trend company, they know how rapidly the handmade flower sector has grown in the last few years and one which has experienced growth in many different and surprising ways flowers has been with the important and ever increasing Autumn Winter and Christmas sales. Here the trend and desire for flowers that look, feel and smell real are allowed some artistic licence, offering the consumer flowers of silver and gold, with orchids with glitter,” commented Simon.

Handmade flowers make great gifts, for a variety of reasons.

For example, how about 30 red roses for a loved one or a potted orchid for Mother’s Day? With a quality handmade flower offering, these last and have no sell-by date. Simon agrees: “Flowers have always been a very welcome

constantly in their use. Simon has noticed one such trend that appears to be growing steadily is their use for weddings. “A recent trend has been ‘brides to be’ who have their wedding bouquets and bridesmaids bouquets replicated so they can be kept long after the big day and long after when the real ones have lost their youth.”

Now perhaps is the time therefore to really get your store in-bloom ready for the summer months, which is also well-known as wedding season.

Email: Simon.Pykett@siahomefashion.com Web: www.sia-homefashion.co.uk gifts today 41

Handmade Flowers

Blooming lovely Handmade flowers are the perfect solution when the real bloom just isn’t an option.

T

here is nothing that the distaff side of the family likes more than receiving a bunch of blooms – on a special occasion like Mothering Sunday, a birthday, Easter or Christmas but especially when there is no occasion, just because.

The problem with flowers is that, like everything (almost) on this planet they seed, they bloom and they die.

There is a way to circumvent this process and buy a bloom as a gift that will last and last – handmade flowers.

We spoke to a number of people involved in this beautiful category to find out about the ins and outs, and why it is a growing area.

What, we wondered, explains their popularity? Simon Pykett, Country

massively, making them a viable, everlasting alternative to fresh flowers.

Ideal for events, artificial flowers are extremely versatile, as they don’t require a water source.”

And that, of course, is an incredibly important point. Individual hosts or companies may wish to decorate tables at an event with a beautiful bouquet but they have to be careful that the flowers are not delivered too early as they may die; they must be watered so that they look fresh. An event that had freshly laundered linen, clean cutlery and perfect placemats can be ruined if the flowers in the centrepiece have wilted, or worse still, died.

With handmade artificial flowers this, obviously, can never happen and is

“They are handmade, and hand-painted to the finest detail, using only the very best of material.” Simon Pykett Manager of SIA Home Fashion, said: “SIA handmade flowers are so popular because they are so close to their natural cousins which grow freely.

Special care is taken to ensure that not only do they look real, they feel real also, from the petals to the stem. The only real point of major difference is that SIA flowers do not die.”

Jessica Walton of CB Imports reported: “The quality and realism of artificial flowers has dramatically improved over the last few years and the range and variety has grown 42 gifts today

one less thing for the host or venue to worry about.

The main point about artificial flowers is that they are supposed to be identical to real flowers. You would have to get up close to be able to tell the difference, as Simon Pykett said: “They are handmade, and handpainted to the finest detail, using only the very best of material. It takes 60 seconds to make just one petal and up to an hour therefore to make one flower head. Consequently when they are finished they are unique; no flower

or petal is the same as the last, just as we find them in nature.”

Jessica Walton added: “It’s all about colour, texture and pattern. Obviously making the flower in the correct size and shape is important but without correct use of colour, care taken to introduce the correct texture and patternation the artificial flower is flat and lifeless.”

As the chef Marco Pierre White said in another context, “Mother Nature is the true artist” and while her blooms are indeed perfect there is a skill to ensure that artificial flowers look as authentic as possible.

It is this authenticity that makes them an ideal gift. “Whether you present a bouquet or a single rose, everyone likes receiving flowers,” said Simon Pykett. “SIA flowers are no different as we have both and you can keep them for much longer than those from Mother Nature, which wilt in time.

“Many buy SIA flowers as gifts for a loved one but many more consider them as an integral part of their home décor and something which can be

changed and refreshed easily.”

That is a view echoed by retailer Martin Keegan, who runs The Gift Shop in Lancaster: “I used to stock a selection of real flowers but they needed so much care and attention that it soon became unviable to stock them.

“I noticed artificial flowers at a trade fair and have been stocking them ever since. My customers vary – I supply a local community hall for their events but also many people buy to decorate their homes. It is certainly a growing area as far as I am concerned.”

Jessica Walton of CB Imports said: “Artificial flowers and greenery add colour and life to many other products such as homeware, outdoor living, glass, and weddings, without any of the mess or maintenance of fresh flowers and plants and they are everlasting so they don’t carry the same risk as fresh flowers.”

Both Simon Pykett and Jessica Walton report that roses are among their best-sellers proving the old adage that a rose by any other name smells just as sweet.

Simon Pykett Director M +44 (0) 7967 209156

Paul Francis Southeast M +44 (0) 7795 536574 Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Central and Greater London, Channel Islands, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey & Sussex.

Nicola Atkinson Southwest England and Wales M +44 (0) 7802 313128 Wales, Staffordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Avon, Berkshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall.

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

Maria Thomson M: +44 (0)7939 063094 maria.thomson@siahomefashion.com

Chris McVey Northern England M +44 (0) 7795 484412 Northumberland, Cumbria, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Lancashire & Yorkshire

Harriet Ayers Central areas M: 07714 656106 Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk & Suffolk

SIA

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

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

Hand-Made Flowers

Floral favourite CB Imports

Hydrangeas are a floral favourite, our range of Hydrangeas feature beautiful hand painted petals in a selection of pretty pastel shades.

A popular flower for both wedding bouquets and interior design arrangements, this large headed flower makes a really stunning statement. The combination of hand finished petals in various subtle shades gives this stem a really natural and vintage look, and blue is a key colour for 2016.

Tel: 0113 307 4040 Email: sales@cbimports.co.uk Web: www.cbimports.co.uk

Mezu Exceptional Silk Flowers /UR STUNNING SILK mOWERS ARE PERFECT FOR ALL YOUR mORAL requirements. Mezu have some of the most beautiful and REALISTIC SILK mOWERS THAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE MARKET PLACE TODAY

For our full range of gorgeous stems please visit our web site: WWW MEZUSILKmOWERS COM Or contact Donna on: 01248 422279 %MAIL INFO MEZUSILKmOWERS COM 44 gifts today

Drawing inspiration

Peony are the only faux flower company in the world endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society for their botanical correctness, even experts such as Alan Titchmarsh have been fooled! Founder and face of Peony, Julie Bates, draws all her inspiration from the family gardens of the Ruckley Estate in Shropshire where she grew up. Each bloom is carefully hand created, painted and arranged to create the illusion of fresh, professionally-styled floral displays which are as close to nature as possible. Peony has gone from strength to strength with Julie appearing on QVC UK four times a month promoting the brand and has attracted a celebrity following including Princess Anne, John Barrowman and Sophie Ellis-Bexter.

Tel: 01952 460 427 Email: sales@ruckley.com Web: www.ruckley.com

CB IMPORTS Hand finished for a naturally beautiful look!

ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS & GREENERY FLORAL SUPPLIES | BASKETS | POTTERY GLASSWARE | SEASONAL | HOMEWARE

% 10OFF USE CODE : GTD10 Expires 6th May 2016

Simply quote code ‘GTD10’ to our sales team when placing your order and receive 10% OFF. Voucher expires on Friday 6th May 2016. Available to new and existing customers. Please note minimum order applies.

Voucher not in conjunction with any other promotion.

Visit our website www.cbimports.co.uk Call 0113 307 4040 | Email sales@cbimports.co.uk The minimum order is £300 (excluding VAT) within mainland England (this excludes certain postal code areas: AB, IV, KW, PA, PH, Isle of Wight and Anglesey - please speak to a sales advisor for further details). For Northern Ireland and Eire our minimum order is £500 (excluding VAT).

Handmade Flowers

Exceptional silk flowers Mezu

Mezu silk flowers are so lifelike they are often mistaken for the real thing.

Today’s realistic silk flowers have made a major comeback and now have a place in the most discerning homes, hotels and restaurants as well as being used at glamorous events and weddings. Silk flowers are ideally suited for theatre, TV and stage productions.

Beautiful silk stems bring lasting pleasure since they never fade, wilt or die and they are perfect for hay fever sufferers too.

All flowers and leaves start off as a roll of fabric which is then dyed, cut and stamped for colour and texture, and cut into thousands of petals and leaves in the main factory. The petals, leaves and stems are then sent to home workers in a remote part of China. Then depending on the flowers some are then even hand-painted to achieve the final effect.

The petals are skilfully put together with the leaves, stems and stamens to make a single bloom.

Mezu has a real can-do attitude, working in partnership with its customers and meeting individual needs.

Tel: 01248 422279 Email: info@mezusilkflowers Web: www.mezusilkflowers.com

English country garden CB Imports

Lydia is a range full of beautiful hand-painted flowers, available in various trend inspired shades that all complement one another. This particular daisy stem features a faded ombre painting technique, and in a shade of pretty dark pink it is the perfect spring and summer floral. The English country garden trend is a sought after look and this range of delicate flowers fits perfectly into that style. From daisies and tulips to cabbage roses, each stem sits beautifully both individually and in an arrangement.

Tel: 0113 307 4040 Email: sales@cbimports.co.uk Web: www.cbimports.co.uk

Work of art SIA

According to SIA, a flower is a work of art. An art of living, a natural art. It is also a knowledge; a knowhow and a know-how-to-be. A flower arrangement gives a delicate and fragile, sometimes dazzling and tumultuous work of art.

It is always unique and singular. Flowers have a magic power.

SIA offers creations and atmospheres, where they can express their subtle spell. SIA’s flowers are tools, tools to enable you to create differently.

Email: simon.pykett@sia-homefashion.com Web: www.sia-homefashion.com 46 gifts today

FINE REPLICA FLOWERS & Foliage A passion for design and quality

Discover our collections - visit our beautiful showroom or order online www.floralsilk.co.uk | 01778 425 205 | sales@floralsilk.co.uk

Pulse Preview

Retailers can now start their journey to discover the unexpected and secure their free ticket to Pulse, the definitive event for inspiring giftware and modern living, taking place from 15-17 May 2016 at Olympia London.

Discover the unexpected at Pulse

P

ulse offers buyers and retailers an unmissable opportunity to source thousands of cuttingedge products from over 500 exciting brands at this summer’s largest design-led retail event. All beautifully curated by a market-leading panel of design and trend experts, as well as a whole line-up of new and unseen brands from the UK and overseas.

Cutting-edge trends and products Pulse works with the most forwardthinking trend and retail experts including Design Trends & Features Writer for the Evening Standard, Katie Law; Fashion Trend Consultant, Claire Foster; Stylist and Author, Sania Pell;

Luxury Brand Writer and Editor, Rachel Ward; and trend agency Unique Style Platform.

Inspiring autumn/winter 2016/17 design and fashion trends to be spotted at Pulse include Maximalist, Retro Romantic, Coastal Simplicity, Modernist and many more.

Visitors can also plan their shopping list ahead of the show with Pulse Unseen, a brand new online product gallery showcasing the latest product launches first.

Each month, over 10,000 retail buyers visit the Pulse website to browse through images of the latest product launches and design talent.

Pulse Unseen will now make it even easier for retail buyers to keep up to date with their favourite brands and discover exciting new ones throughout the year.

Pulse, 15-17 May 2016 Olympia, London Opening Times: Sunday 15 May

09:30 – 18:00

Monday 16 May

09:30 – 18:00

Tuesday 17 May

09:30 – 17:00

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Louise Wallace, Pulse Show Director commented, “It’s the perfect place to see new products first and buyers can contact Pulse exhibitors throughout the year. Also there are so many cutting-edge, standout brands at Pulse that deciding who to see can be a daunting prospect for both new and returning visitors. Pulse Unseen really helps to make this process easier as it allows buyers to regularly check who’s launching what and get a feel for a particular brand before coming to the show.”

Wallace added, “It’s also a great way to keep track of launches from numerous brands in one place throughout the year, meaning you will be able to see trend patterns appearing and make more informed purchasing decisions.”

Industry experts are also on hand, regularly highlighting their favourite products and providing a snapshot of the latest launches to look out for.

Retail buyers will be able to discover Katie Law’s list to find out what the Evening Standard’s Design Writer is coveting this season, top picks from the experienced fashion trend forecaster Claire Foster, and Elle Decoration Sania Pell’s wish list to name a few.

Trend expert Claire Foster added, “Pulse Unseen is a great way for visitors and buyers to get a head start on their buying for the season. Being

able to see the latest products from key exhibitors, highlighted with the Editor’s Picks, is invaluable and adds more validation to product choices.”

Unseen brands revealed Having searched high and low to bring buyers design like no other, Pulse is pleased to reveal an exclusive edit of 140 UK and international brands that buyers will have never seen before at any other UK trade events.

This includes brand new international brands in FOUND, Pulse’s international trail of discovery, emerging designers in Raw and a collective of East London inspired fashion accessories designers in Secret Emporium. The unseen lineup features: All Things We Like | CAYBOO | Chá com Letras | Cotton Ball Lights | Craft Collective | Design Susanna Sivonen | Eva and Anne | Gedigo OY | HJEM |InkyPinkyBlinky | Katie Davies | Katy’s Print Shop | LAURIGER | Michelle Carlsund Illustrations | MYRTE | Objects of Obsessions | Project mg | Puik Art | Riverstones | Rosemeyers | Scandinaviaform | Scenery Label | Zonnelijk and many more

Nothing but inspiration Featuring the very best collection of emerging talent, unseen products, expert retail and trend insight all year

“It’s the perfect place to see new products first and buyers can contact Pulse exhibitors throughout the year. Also there are so many cutting-edge, stand-out brands at Pulse that deciding who to see can be a daunting prospect for both new and returning visitors.”

Louise Wallace, Pulse Show Director round, Pulse is the UK’s most inspiring event for giftware and modern living.

This year, Pulse also brings visitors a packed ShopTalk seminar programme featuring distinctive speakers who will offer invaluable retail insight and inspirational stories. The stellar line-up

includes Notonthehighstreet.com, Liberty, Heals, Farrow & Ball and Imperial War Museum – a feature not to be missed at the show.

To register for Pulse and discover the unexpected, visit: www.pulse-london.com

Did you know?

• 2016 will be the 13th edition, Pulse launched in 2003 • Pulse is considered the only summer designled retail event in the UK • Launchpad in Pulse is the largest growing platform dedicated to emerging design talent • Pulse 2016 sees the launch of FOUND, named because they literally travelled the world to find unseen brands • Raw is also new and was named because of the raw talent you can find there gifts today 49

Pulse Preview

A perfect mix Hello petal

Alexander Thurlow Stand: D57 This gorgeous petal necklace from Alexander Thurlow makes an ideal gift for the forthcoming summer season. This colourful piece is part of the AT London range of Fashion Jewellery that is becoming so popular now with gift shops.

Showing again at Pulse they will also be previewing their new boxed range of jewellery.

Web: www.alexanderthurlow.com

Peace of Mind Stand: E68

PoM have had an amazing start to the year with their spring collection exceeding all expectations.

Taking diverse styles and unifiing them into a comprehensive and cohesive collection is Peace of Mind’s forte. They cleverly combine sterling silver, silver plate, gold, rose gold, exquisite charms and findings with their strong designs influences to create inspiring jewellery.

This season sees PoM going back to its roots. Designer Christine Holden is thrilled with the response, “We’ve taken beautiful Indian stones, rich colours and traditional settings and created a welcome touch of bohemia, it’s a softer alternative to the current geometric trend - which we do wonderfully, too! Our new initial necklace and birthstone charm collection has been massively popular. If you sell or are thinking of selling silver or silver plated jewellery, this is a trend you should really be buying in to.”

So after such a busy spring what’s in store for summer? Well, with Chris just returning from a very successful sourcing trip, expect great things, they always deliver. Pom is always evolving, always fresh and exciting; this is gift jewellery at its very best.

Tel: 01225 777749 Web: www.pom925.com

Opposites attract Alexander Thurlow Stand: D57

This gorgeous rose gold finished bangle from Alexander Thurlow makes an ideal gift for the forthcoming summer season. This cleverly designed magnetic hinged bangle is part of the AT London range of Fashion Jewellery that is becoming so popular now with gift shops.

Showing again at Pulse they will also be previewing their new boxed range of jewellery.

Web: www.alexanderthurlow.com

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PG Live 2016

The great greetings showcase

PG Live, 10 -11 May

The top 250 publishers, artists and designers from around the globe will be joining forces at the dedicated greeting card trade show PG Live to inspire, excite and delight retailers and distributors from right across the greeting and gifts spectrum. Taking place from 10 - 11 May 2016. Here’s a little preview of what’s in store for visitors to the eighth annual PG Live.

A

s the big day looms nearer, preparations for the eighth PG Live – a specialist trade exhibition, which brings the wonderful world of greeting cards to life – are well underway. Held in Islington’s stunning Business Design Centre, the two-day show will once again offer a relaxed and enjoyable opportunity for gift retailers to explore the latest offerings l a from this increasingly b lo Going Grecognised as a essential product area. widely ign and Greeting cards are m The UK is greeting card des o fr rs e der in card buy a key growth area in s, le is a world lea s such, greeting e iv GL gift retail, and more ing the P g and a ents. be roam publishin ill independ , w g s in ie d a tr n le gift retailers are u s d o ie n c tr a n 0 tailers 0 cou over 5 jor UK re m over 5 a recognising the merit o fr m g e rs in e id d y s a along and le ard bu of making dedicated retailers reeting c In fact, g s the UK’s major g forward in k o lo a card show PG Live a y ll d e a alre as w . ents, are ked show must visit show each year, independ ring the jam-pac as Liz Killick, owner of gift to explo emporium Calladoodles, Carshalton The bright, airy Business Design Centre in Islington, London is the perfect setting for one of the largest collections of greeting card buyers in the world.

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tells us: “PG Live always has a good atmosphere, plenty of new exhibitors and products, a delicious lunch and the chance to meet new friends and old!”

The BDC will be packed to the brim with an amazing array of original and creative designs, as publishers of all sizes – from major names and leading brands to boutique publishers and brand new designers – make the most of the opportunity to showcase their newest ranges and latest promotions.

This year’s show is the biggest ever and is officially a complete sell-out, with over 250 fabulous publishers, artists and designers showcasing their latest collections. Over 100 of these are exclusive to PG Live for 2016, making it the only chance to see the latest collections from UK Greetings, Gemma, Emotional Rescue, Cardmix, Paperlink and Icon Arts.

The list of new and emerging publishers is equally impressive, with over 120 ‘Springboarders’ coming together to showcase the very best up-and-coming names in the industry.

Plenty of groundbreaking design-led publishers like Janie Wilson, Lagom, Stop the Clock, U Studios and Really Good are joining the exhibitor list for 2016 (either for the first time or returning to the show) to complete the line-up.

“We’re delighted with the support which has been shown to PG Live 2016,” said Warren Lomax, joint show director. “And we are incredibly excited about this year’s show. We have more publishers exhibiting than ever before, and they have ensured there will be fabulous offers, key launches and more than a few surprises in store!”

Plans are already in place for whole host of attention-grabbing initiatives

Book your free tickets now!

Looking for fantastic greeting cards and original design?

There’s only one place to be during 10 – 11 May 2016.

Register now at www.progressivegreetingslive.com, follow them on Twitter @PGLiveLondon or call the team on +44 (0) 1635 297070.

which will be running at this year’s show, with a number of key industry celebrations taking place, from Carte Blanche’s 21st anniversary of its Me to You brand to Abacus Cards reaching its quarter-century. And of course, there’s no way the Queen’s 90th birthday would go unmarked by the greeting card industry’s most

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party mean that visitors are free to focus on the cards.

Renowned for its relaxed atmosphere, PG Live is the ideal place to uncover the most exciting new greeting card collections – it’s all there, just waiting to be explored.

important trade show, with a whole array of specially designed and signed making a stunning feature within the show before they are sent off to Her Majesty!

The famous PG Live hospitality remains as important as ever, and the fabulous free refreshments, delicious lunch and all-important opening night

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4.30p on 10 Ma May. m on 11 y,

Show Facts •

The UK greeting card market is worth £1.6bn card sales and is the highest per capita greetings card market in the world.* • The average person exchanges 31 cards a year.* • Over 550 stand spotlights keep the show bright and colourful.

• An impressive 4,300 cups of free tea and coffee are served at the show – each day! (* Source: GCA)

(t) 0116 230 4197 (f) 01536 401 031 (w) www.mint-publishing.co.uk gifts today 53

Collectables

Picture courtesy of Enesco

Collecting habit Is collecting a growing category and do people see items as future heirlooms?

F

or many it starts out as a childhood hobby: collecting football stickers, matchboxes or, that perennial favourite, stamps.

But collecting is a serious activity – one that can be potentially lucrative depending on what is collected, its rarity and its condition.

Almost any item can be collectable even if it appears that there is initial little interest. There are some items – often produced to commemorate an event – that no one believes will go on to become a collector’s item, yet this happens and, today, the canny collector is always on the look-out for the next big thing.

This means that wholesalers and retailers have to be on top form to ensure the collector gets what he wants.

Helen Shield from Enesco believes that collecting has changed over the years. She told us: “We are fortunate that we have brands with proven longevity and many thousands of longterm collectors for our Lilliput Lane, Border Fine Arts and Peter Rabbit collections. Our Lilliput Lane Collectors

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Club celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2016, we are very proud of this achievement.

“Many of our other collections, which we do not label as collectables have a dedicated following, with consumers buying multiple pieces, from Willow Tree to our many Disney Collections. I believe consumers just connect with a product or character, or even an artist.”

And there’s the rub. Although the old favourites are still there today, collectables do not have to be items that our parents or grandparents would have considered items worthy of collection. Say, for example, Star Wars figurines.

Simon Willis from Global Luxury Brands agrees. He told us: “The key things with collectables is that they have to create emotion with the customer; it is more than just about buying a product, they buy into the background as well.”

What, we wondered, is currently considered hot as a collectable item?

“For us it’s all about Disney,” Helen added. “We have a huge collectors’ following for our collections. Disney is a global brand with worldwide

“Many of our other collections, which we do not label as collectables, have a dedicated following” Helen Shield, Enesco recognition. We are so fortunate to also have an exclusive licence to manufacture limited edition Disney and Marvel figurines in the UK. There is a demand for these in the UK and Europe with a collectors’ event tour being planned for 2016.”

And what are people collecting at the moment and do they see them as gifts or a form of heirloom?

Retailer Alan Bryant from The Gift Shop in Sussex has noticed an increase in the number of people buying up every piece in a collection.

“Years ago,” he said, “people would buy the odd item, perhaps as a gift for a nephew or grandson. Now I see them coming in to get every item – every Batman or Star Wars piece, or piece of memorabilia.”

Simon opined: “It seems to come down to quality, something with a history or a background story to tell.

The personalities are important too, knowing there is some real person behind the product is really important to a lot of collectors and they like to get to know and interact with them be it at events or more likely on social media these days.

“We once had a slightly corny advertising slogan at Royal Doulton which said, ‘The gift of affection that started a collection’. It is as true today as it was back in about 1989. A great gift can become great collectable, which helps to keeps business steady and a demand for new pieces high.”

Enesco are aware of this and “are selective over new product launches and timely retirements to ensure the longevity of these collections,” said Helen.

Collections – they are here to stay and get bigger with each passing day.

Heritage Play Range EVA Foam

Studio Anne Carlton Chess Sets are now distributed by Ancestors® See the full range at ancestors.co.uk

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Ancestors® Group Bowles Well Gardens, Dover Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 6NP T: +44 (0)1303 857200 F: +44 (0)1303 857201 E: sales@ancestors.co.uk www.ancestors.co.uk

Collectables

Fantasy time National treasure Global Luxury Brands

After a history spanning many hundreds of years it is not often that we in the UK can claim a first for Herend but 2016 is one such year.

Last year the Robin was voted the UK’s National Bird in a public poll so it is fitting that Herend have agreed to make this the subject of the very fist UK exclusive figurine.

Available only during 2016, this totally hand-painted piece is a fine example of the skills for which Herend are known the world over. Colour and gold are used by the skilled painters to give this piece a rich and jewel-like appearance.

A superb addition to a highly successful and much admired range and one sure to be in demand the world over.

Puckator

Puckator’s fantasy collectables range is ever expanding and the latest additions are these new designs from UK artist Lisa Parker including A Brush with Magic, Time is Up and Way of The Witch. Available on wall clocks, dream catchers, book marks and bone china mugs, each comes with a unique design-led gift box. To see the full range of collectables on offer from Puckator, visit the website and stay up to date with product news by signing up to the newsletter.

Tel: 0800 011 6969 Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk Web: www.puckator.co.uk

Tel: 01538 807780 Email: enquiries@globalluxurybrands.co.uk Web: www.globalluxurybrands.co.uk

Fetch!

Solo

Training man’s best friend to retrieve can be difficult. “Retrieve!” is the common command for dogs which tells them they need to start hunting, but there’s no need training PHILIPP’s dog pendants as they can retrieve your keys without any commands in a flash.

A short leather leash connects the cute but robust, shiny lacquered die-cast canine to the fob. The MY DOG range is a truly welcome token of appreciation for any dog owner.

MY DOG Key Pendant is available in the following designs — Poodle, Chihuahua, Labrador, Retriever, Dachshund and Terrier.

An adorable point of sale in the shape of a walled grass-filled garden is available when the full range is purchased – call Solo or see the website for more details.

The full range of PHILIPPI is available exclusively from Solo.

Tel: 01789 262900 Email: retail@sololtd.com Web: www.sololtd.com

Something for everyone Enesco

All Border Fine Arts Classic sculptures are entirely hand crafted in their studios in the Scottish Borders by highly trained craftsmen.

Comprising nostalgic farming scenes, magnificent wildlife studies and even the occasional urban encounter — the broad range of subjects represented is guaranteed to hold something special for everyone.

Seven new figurines are being introduced for January 2016, each featuring a different subject matter — Sleepy Heads, collie puppies sleeping with a lamb in between them; Woodland Venture, a fox and two cubs; Winning Salute, depicting a jockey and horse finishing a race; The Bid’s to You, Sir!, capturing an auction scene; Root and Grain, featuring an International 475 tractor in a cow shed.

There are also two brand-new breed studies — Greyface Dartmoor Ewe & Lambs and Blue Grey Cow with Cross-bred Calf.

Tel: 01228 404022 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk www.borderfinearts.com Web: www.enesco.co.uk 56 gifts today

Amazing Unique

Electronic Gifts Visit Our Stand at A31

Established 1972

email: sales@steepletone.com Tel: 01869 812828

www.steepletone.com

Collectables

Top of the pile Global Luxury Brands

In the world of collectables it is those companies with a history for producing a quality product and those that value and listen to their collectors who consistently return to the top of the pile.

De Rosa have now re-launched in the UK and many retailers who used to stock the range are again marvelling at the quality of the work their skilled crafts people produce.

The range covers so many key collectable subjects, all sculpted with such care and with such detail, that they have wide appeal. Take a look at the new introductions, superb subjects beautifully presented.

Tel: 01538 807780 Email: enquiries@globalluxurybrands.co.uk Web: www.globalluxurybrands.co.uk

Celebrating romance Enesco

Tis the season to collect Gibsons

The Gibsons Limited Edition Christmas puzzle is reliably the company’s best-selling puzzle each year. Presented in the classic gold foiled box, this puzzle makes an extra special festive gift for any puzzle fanatic.

What’s more, each jigsaw puzzle comes with a serial numbered certificate, making it the perfect collector’s item. Beautifully painted by Marcello Corti, this year’s puzzle, The Christmas Grotto, depicts festive shoppers out in force and enjoying all the season has to offer.

The quirky shops and tempting gifts draw in mums and dads, while the kids queue up to see Santa Claus. A warming glass of mulled wine is on offer for those who need a little reward after all that shopping!

Tel: 020 8661 8866 Email: sales@gibsonsgames.co.uk Web: www.gibsonsgames.co.uk

The romantic tale of Disney’s Lady and the Tramp has enthralled generations of Disney fans and one of its most enchanting scenes has inspired a new tableau for the prestigious Border Fine Arts’ A Moment in Time collection, which showcases the exceptional skills of British artists.

Talented UK sculptor, Peter Mook, worked with the Border Fine Arts design team to create this outstanding study, capturing the magic of the moment in the 1955 movie classic when Lady falls in love with the ‘footloose and collar free’ Tramp.

Exquisite details featuring in the tableau include the wax dripping from the candle and the delicious meal of spaghetti that will bring Lady and Tramp even closer together!

Every Lady and the Tramp, seventh in the worldwide edition of 250, is handmade and exquisitely hand-painted by the highly gifted artists working in the Border Fine Arts studios in Langholm, Scotland.

Tel: 01228 404040 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk

Fab new jewellery Great Gizmos

Great Gizmos are introducing a new fab range of jewellery for kids from January 2016 from CHARM IT!, inspiring girls to express their individuality through creativity with the fun fashion jewellery range. With RRPs of £4.99 for the charms and £8.50 for the bracelets this is a range not to be missed.

CHARM IT! is a fabulously fashionable selection of collectable bracelets and interchangeable charms for fashion-conscious girls. There are 36 styles of charms in cute colours and themes to collect and six different styles of bracelets. All can be displayed on the rotating counter stand sales solution.

Charms include Donut, Ballet Slipper, Butterfly and so many more! Booklets are available to go alongside the display detailing designs available to collect.

Tel: 01293 543221 Web: www.ggtrade.co.uk

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British Craft Trade Fair

Dazzling, inspiring and magnificent are all words used to describe this iconic trade fair that takes place in Harrogate every year.

Best of British B

ritish Craft Trade Fair (BCTF) presents the largest selection of handmade products in the UK and differs from any other home and gift trade fair with its ethos solely championing British crafts.

Support for this creative and thriving industry continues to grow with more and more consumers recognising the quality of Handmade in Britain.

With all the exhibitors meeting strict criteria on quality and design, if you want to buy British, there is no better trade fair to visit.

An extensive mentoring programme provided by the organisers offering business advice, ensures that all exhibitors are professional, confident and ready to supply trade orders.

When you visit you will find over 500 makers, featuring a diverse assortment

of disciplines and materials.

Parking at the venue is free and free shuttle service is available from Harrogate station and Leeds/Bradford airport.

Featured over these pages are just a few examples of the amazing talent that you will see at this year’s fair.

If you are not already registered to attend BCTF please visit www.bctf. co.uk/registration

10-12 April 2016 Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate Opening times: Sunday 10am – 6pm Monday/Tuesday 10am – 5pm

Flo Candles

Flo Candles produce a range of soy candles and certified organic reed diffusers.

All are scented with 100 per cent essential oils enhancing the aroma and mood of any room.

Candles are free from artificial or toxic elements and that ensures that they burn cleanly.

www.flocandles.com

Nosey Parker Designs

Nosey Parker produce a range of unique and quirky homewares using quality fabrics and appliqué techniques on products including footstools, cushions, box canvas pictures, lampshades and cushions.

www.noseyparkerdesigns.co.uk

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British Craft Trade Fair

40 years of promoting giftware handmade in the UK BertyB

Scottish designer BertyB creates bold, unique printed textiles that celebrate the perfect imperfection of the maker’s mark.

She is influenced by mid-20th century aesthetics, in particular from the post-Second World War period and Scandinavian design of that time.

www.bertyb.co.uk

Charlotte Clark Designer Maker

Charlotte Clark creates curiously macabre designer ceramics to complement any home - from functional dinnerware to statement cushions and quirky ornaments.

All pieces are hand decorated using beautiful bone china then kiln fired which makes them dishwasher safe.

www.charlotteclarkdesignermaker.com

Wild Moorlands

Gillian Arnold

Gillian Arnold is an artist and surface pattern designer whose work is composed from plant life found growing wild around the UK using a unique monoscript process she has been developing over the past 20 years.

These compositions adorn her range of artwork, jewellery and homewares and her works celebrate the best of British design.

www.gillianarnold.com

Cardabelle Designs

Creating original, quality homeware for the kitchen, from the kitchen is Cardabelle Designs ethos.

Using one-off linocut prints in a modular technique, a selection of individual tiles, each representing an ingredient, are tessellated together to form complete recipes.

These are then screen printed on to organic cotton textiles and bone china to make original and distinctive homewares for every kitchen.

www.cardabelledesign.com 60 gifts today

Wild Moorlands is owned by Marisa Fernandes who is lucky enough to live in a small village right in the heart of The North Yorkshire Moors National Park.

Wildlife is abundant on the moors and an early morning walk in the purple heather reveals jumping rabbits, wandering sheep, white footed grouse and dancing hares.

Marisa takes her inspiration from these walks to create unique bags made with Harris Tweed, embroidered silks, glass eyes and leather.

www.wildmoorlands.co.uk

Vive Designs

Sarah King started Vive Designs with the aim of producing unique design-led homeware products for customers looking for bold interior products.

Her design aesthetic is based around art deco style with simple pattern and strong colour combinations being key.

The vibrancy of Perspex has a clean finish when laser cut and is suited to fine engraved patterns.

Vive Play is a range of popular board games redesigned with a contemporary twist produced to compliment any modern interior.

www.vive-designs.com

Kate HopkinsSearle

Shoes to be admired but never worn, these are the speciality of ceramic artist Kate Hopkins-Searle, the creator of GlacĂŠ Slippers.

These pairs of lifesized ceramic shoes are designed and made using contemporary and historical references from rococo style to famous designer Manolo Blahnik.

Each one is an elegantly sculpted and highly decorated work of art with every pair of GlacĂŠ Slippers an individual creation which takes Katie between 12 to 14 hours to make.

The shoes are fired up to five times at different temperatures to make the colours stand out and they are then finished with precious metal lustres.

www.kate-hopkins-searle.com

Home Front Vintage

Home Front Vintage specialise in rescuing genuine escape and invasion silk maps that pilots and special forces would have had hidden in their uniforms in case they needed an escape route during the Second World War and The Cold War. Taking pieces of these maps, they them remake them into fabulous gifts and accessories.

Each item is gift boxed and comes with information on the history and provenance of the maps.

www.homefrontvintage.co.uk

Judith Hobbs Studio Pottery

Jane Sleator Ceramics

These unique handmade bowls are designed specifically for home owners who love panache and originality.

A stylish rim with a cleverly designed cutaway, enables the contents of each bowl to be seen from the side as well as the top, adding food appeal to each dish.

The design cleverly turns fruit into natural focus points adding extra zest by revealing these rich colours at eye level.

Judith designs and makes bold pots and sculptures as well as a range of domestic ware which follow the same bold geometric lines.

Her work is very distinctive and will brighten up any home or garden.

www.judithhobbs.com

www.janesleatorceramics.co.uk

Jillian Riley Designs

Jillian Riley has a taste for the dark side so takes old poison and scientific bottles from which she makes moulds and slip casts them in parian clay.

They are decorated with oxides and decals of her own pen and ink illustrations.

Using reclaimed woods she turns stoppers which support individually hand-sculpted porcelain birds. Each piece is then finished with either sterling silver or copper making every piece unique.

www.jillianriley.co.uk

Glosters

Set up 11 years ago and based in Wales, Tom Gloster produces hand-thrown pots on the wheel in natural clean rounded shapes in stoneware and porcelain.

A lot of Tom’s work features Welsh words and phrases but it can be produced in English or any other language.

www.glosters.co.uk

London Stationery Show

Stationery heaven...

Show Essentials: Dates:

Tuesday, 26 & Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Venue:

Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 0QH

Web:

www.stationeryshow.co.uk

Email:

stationeryshow@firstevents.com

Entry:

Trade only. Register via the show website for free entry

Open:

Tuesday, 26 April 9.30am – 5pm & Wednesday, 27 April 9.30am – 4pm.

National Stationery Week: Dates:

25 April to 1 May 2016

Web:

www.nationalstationeryweek.com

World Stationery Day: Date:

Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Web:

www.worldstationeryday.com

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Visit the UK’s definitive paper and writing products event

G

ift retailers have a lot to see at this year’s London Stationery Show – it’s a two day stationery fest, packed with a fantastic mix of suppliers and brands from around the world offering a huge selection of fashionable paper and writing products.

The combination of top brands and suppliers such as Cross/ Sheaffer, Leuchtturm1917, Caran d’Ache, Moleskine, Lamy, Mustard, NPW, Il Papiro, Pyramid, Legami, Portico, Stone Marketing, Two Little Boys, Nuco, Busy B, Montegrappa, ExaClair, Flame Tree Publishing, Museums & Galleries, Pomegranate, SemiKolon and new entrants to the UK market from Europe and beyond, make it the ideal event to get a speedy overview of what’s hot and on trend in stationery and discover what consumers will be looking for in the run up to Christmas and into 2017.

Exhibition director Chris LeonardMorgan says, “Gift retailers have always recognised that beautiful, functional products make a perfect gift, but it is the close connection between catwalk fashion trends and their speedy transition to fabulous designs on notebooks, calendars, pens and pencils, desk accessories and organisers that earn stationery its shelf space – simply put, it offers a cost-effective way of staying on trend and adding colour and designer style to your product offer.”

Join in and benefit from National Stationery Week The London Stationery Show is the trade part of the consumer driven ‘National Stationery Week’, and offers retailers a fantastic opportunity to also get involved with the ‘Writing Matters’ campaign which aims to keep Britain, including children, writing.

“We’re very keen to see more gift shops making the most of the publicity this event generates, and contributing their own ideas,” says Chris.

National Stationery Week is now in its fifth year. Last year’s campaign generated £millions worth of media coverage and additional retail sales, reaching over 20 million consumers with the message that writing by hand is important and plays a vital part in personal communications.

“From a gift shop’s perspective it is a great opportunity to promote

Awards and puts together a series of quick-fire industry presentations designed to help busy retailers gain a wider understanding of the stationery sector, the trends, its future and the opportunities it represents.

The first stop, literally as you enter the exhibition, is a display of all the entries for the Stationery Awards.

Judged by a panel of leading gift and stationery buyers from John Lewis, Foyles, Bentalls, Fenwick Kingston, the London Graphic Centre, Quill London and The Stationery & Gift Boutique, Ampthill, the results are

“From a gift shop’s perspective it is a great opportunity to promote and sell design-led social and gift stationery, and lots of stylish and fun writing products.”

Christopher Leonard-Morgan

“The success of National Stationery Week generated enquiries from all over the world about running similar campaigns, so we introduced World Stationery Day – this year it is on Wednesday, 27 April – in recognition of this. Last year we had visitors from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and America at the show who took the ‘Writing matters’ concept back to their own customers and countries,” explains Chris.

This year’s programme will include a keynote address from a leading retailer (last year it was Paperchase), an industry performance review by a leading market research company and

a presentation by trend forecasters Scarlet Opus, who will cover what consumers will be looking for this Christmas and on into spring/summer 2017 – continuing what they started at the 2015 show.

“Meeting the people behind the brands and products and being able to discuss their thinking and business is as vital as seeing the products themselves,” says Chris.

“In the same way that writing by hand has its place in this increasingly digital age, so meeting face to face still has a hugely valuable role to play in social networking and doing business.”

Products, people, planning Whatever your priority – new products, new suppliers, new ideas – the London Stationery Show has plenty for everyone to discover and enjoy.

The most comprehensive stationery supplier line-up of any UK trade show, two thirds of whom do not exhibit

and sell design-led social and gift stationery, and lots of stylish and fun writing products. National Stationery Week provides all the marketing tools a shop needs to get involved online, so it is easy to benefit from the tremendous publicity boost that stationery receives during the week.”

Non-stop learning The London Stationery Show doesn’t just offer visitors perhaps the largest selection of paper and writing products, suppliers and brands under one roof – it also hosts the Stationery

announced at the end of the first day, and the entrance display updated overnight to highlight the winning products.

“It is rare to see such a large collection of products in one place – and incredibly useful to browse through. Every year our judges go away with a list of things to follow up on that they’ve never seen before, or might not have considered previously.” Chris reveals.

Secondly, the exhibition runs a short programme of industry talks to celebrate World Stationery Day, which launched last year.

anywhere else.

An amazing array of fabulous, colourful, funky, stylish and gorgeous products to satisfy every stationery addict.

The opportunity to listen and talk to many of the stationery industry’s leading companies – not just in the presentations, but in every aisle at the show. gifts today 63

x

SPRING FAIR

All abuzz

The retail trade came out in force to discover the latest trends and hottest new products at Spring Fair 2016

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ith a revamp to the halls this year, the gifting industry voted with their feet to ensure that this year really was buzzing with activity.

As one of the most important exhibition events in the show calendar, retail buyers turned out in force and took part in what was the 40th anniversary of this well-loved UK exhibition.

The show brought together thousands of exhibitors across 13 sectors from around the UK and also the wider global community, with hundreds joining Spring Fair for the first time and many of them choosing the show as their exclusive UK or international launchpad.

New brands for 2016 included On Interiors, Wow! Stuff, Boska, IB Laursen, SIA, Riviera Maison and Au Maison.

Keren Dicken, Sales and Marketing Director of Personalised Memento Company explained why the show is so important to them: “Spring Fair is a hugely important event for PMC. As one of the UK’s leading trade fairs and buying events, Spring Fair is an opportunity for us to showcase our product range in full. This allows customers both new and old to pick up and experience the products and to discover what ranges are likely to work for their business – all while meeting our team and allowing for relaxed discussions about our personalised gifts.”

This year’s exhibition incorporated 64 gifts today

a new layout which saw Greetings & Stationery relocated to Hall 3, adjacent to The Party Show. Some of the country’s leading gift and toy suppliers took up new positions in Halls 4 and 5, with Children’s Gifts, Toys & Gadgets alongside in 5. This new layout was a hit with exhibitiors and also embraced by visitors.

Keren stated: “The new hall layout certainly was positive for us, in that we received more visitors than ever before.

We were constantly busy due to our ideal location. The wider aisles made it easier for visitors to see our stand from a distance and ensured that there was never a quiet moment for us.”

The positive atmosphere in Hall 4 continued with Xystos director Tom Sykes reporting that sales at Spring Fair had, for them, broken all show records. “By the Monday night we had written the same amount of business as we had for the whole of the 2015 show – and on Thursday morning we had more than doubled it.

“Footfall on our new stand in Hall 4 has been terrific. The distribution

“By the Monday night we had written the same amount of business as we had for the whole of the 2015 show – and on Thursday morning we had more than doubled it.”

Tom Sykes, Xystos gains for WoodWick, our leading candle brand, have been fantastic. Our new Candle-Lite range has also placed extremely well, with new and existing customers opting to take it – as well as WoodWick – because it is a different line with a cotton wick than that which they currently stock – and they would rather deal with one supplier than two.

“We opened around 50 new accounts and have more than 200 prospects to follow up.

It’s been an extremely positive show and most lines in our portfolio have seen a doubling of sales.”

Also new for 2016 was a trend showcase between Hall 9 (Kitchen, Dining & Housewares) and Hall 8 (The Summerhouse), featuring some of the hottest and most searched for

products on the huge online database used by retailers to plan their buying trips to Spring Fair.

Bjarne Lund Jepson, Marketing Manager of new Summerhouse exhibitor, IB Laursen said: “Spring Fair has been very good for us. It’s the right place, all the big brands are here, it is a very professional trade event.”

More hot products were brought to the fore at the Gift of the Year 2016 Awards, presented by new Giftware Association ambassador Cath Kidston during a ceremony held at the Fashion Catwalk on Sunday February 7.

As well as presenting the biggest and best selection of new products available to the trade this year, Spring Fair also offered visitors a wealth of free business content across a number of seminar theatres and feature areas.

The look and feel of the show was enhanced by wide, boulevard-style aisles, providing a seamless and stress-free visitor experience as the exhibition halls became easier to navigate. Feedback from buyers was very positive, with the onsite guides and new show map deemed invaluable for orientation around an exhibition space the size of 27 football pitches.

As well as attracting tens of thousands of retailers, contract buyers, interior designers, specifiers and other trade visitors, the country’s premier buying event was also well-attended by celebrity designers and TV stars including The Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain and Paul Hollywood, who both launched licensed product ranges at Spring Fair.

The Bake Off stars joined other celebrities in the Kitchen, Dining & Housewares sector in Hall 9. Historic cutlery manufacturer Arthur Price hosted design collaborators Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen and Sophie Conran, with the latter also presenting a new range for T&G Woodware, while Ulster

Weavers launched a licensed range with British designer Kelly Hall.

Arthur Price owner Simon Price commented: “Spring Fair 2016 was a great event for us. We had a strong multiple product launch, met lots of important buyers and reached our business and brand objectives.”

Giants of the gift trade were also there in force, with major supplier Widdop & Co kicking off the show with a drinks reception to celebrate their new company name and identity, and Carte Blanche Group holding a party to celebrate the 21st anniversary of iconic brand Me to You. Retailers gave overwhelmingly positive feedback about their experience of

“My team found Spring Fair 2016 invaluable for meeting new manufacturers, catching up with existing suppliers and viewing the latest developments. As a retail buyer, I can’t afford to miss Spring Fair.” Martin de la Fuente, Ocado Spring Fair. Martin de la Fuente, senior buying manager for non-food at Ocado, commented: “Spring Fair still remains one of the most important dates in the buying calendar. It continues to provide buyers with the best opportunity to see new products and pick up on the latest trends. My team found Spring Fair 2016 invaluable for meeting new manufacturers, catching up with existing suppliers and viewing the latest developments. As a retail buyer, I can’t afford to miss Spring Fair.”

Independent retailers were also enthusiastic, with the owner of White Mint, Berkhamsted, Christopher Dell said: “Spring Fair as always was hall after hall of ideas, it helped me find some new brands to work with as well as giving me a chance to catch up with some familiar faces. We came out buzzing with ideas of what to do next.

From a commercial sense the people we find at Spring Fair have new ideas that keep our shop relevant and fresh which hopefully gives us the edge we need to keep getting people through our doors.”

Commenting as the show closed its doors on Thursday February 11, Portfolio Director Nick Davison said: “I want to thank all our loyal customers, and those new to the exhibition, for supporting Spring Fair and helping to make it such a fantastic show.

“There have been some exceptional results and wonderful special events taking place and there was a great atmosphere of camaraderie throughout the show, which is the best place to do business and for members of the industry to network with their peers.

“We are now looking forward to both Autumn Fair 2016, which takes place from September 4 – 7 at The NEC, and the next edition of Spring Fair, which for 2017 will run from February 5 – 9”.

Web: www.autumnfair.com Web: www.springfair.com

gifts today 65

Christmasworld

A world of Christmas Gifts Today’s MD Malcolm Naish paid a visit to Christmasworld 2016 recently and was one of 83,000 visitors who walked through the doors at Messe Frankfurt. He tells us how he got on...

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hadn’t visited Christmasworld for a few years, so my visit this year was a vivid reminder of just how successful Messe Frankfurt are at putting these vast exhibitions together at a very high standard with a marketing and publicity department that guarantees virtually every year a huge number of buyers from around the globe.

As well as the biggest selection of Christmas decorations, outdoor and indoor lighting plus all things Christmas, they had added a new product group for fresh flowers.

Now buyers could not only buy their Christmas products, but also deal with the growers and therefore add fresh flowers to their buying needs.

A growing number of visitors with the appropriate phone app also logged how many kilometres they walked each day at the show. Not being the tallest of men, I’m convinced I arrived back in the UK a couple of inches shorter!

You can’t help but be impressed by the Christmas products on display.

From the Christmas decorative products housed in Halls 8 and 9 to the Public Lighting and CrossStreet Lighting in Hall 11, these were a treasure trove of the very latest products to whet the appetites of Christmas buyers across a very wide

66 gifts today

spectrum of buyer.

The numbers are always most impressive – a total of 83,000 visitors, almost 3,000 exhibitors across the three product categories Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld.

Frankfurt welcomes the world, buyers from 150 countries were recorded with research conducted by the organisers confirming that many exhibitors were delighted with the order levels.

Thomas Tykesson, CEO of Konstsmide said: “For us this edition of Christmasworld was even better than last years and we took even more orders from Italian, French, Spanish, Australian, Brazilian and Mexican buyers.”

Sixty-two per cent of visitors were from outside of Germany, a slight increase on 2015.

No wonder hoteliers in Frankfurt can laugh all the way to the bank!

With an increase of 40 exhibitors on 2015, Messe Frankfurt can compliment themselves on a job well done.

They truly are a global operator employing 2,297 staff, with a network of 29 subsidiaries plus 57 international sales partners, allowing them to serve their customers on location in more than 160 countries.

I always look forward to the displays in the Galleria and certainly wasn’t

disappointed this year. It was here that their new fresh blooms offering was displayed plus Christmasworld ‘Trends’ display. Design by Modern Nature was the theme, replacing last year’s Ice Hotel theme. It couldn’t have been more different with a forest theme that included warmth and a pleasant feeling of cosiness with a modern approach.

The colour mood mirrored the theme using a touch of various shades of greens and browns, in combination with gold and copper.

addition to seasonal decorations.

Christmasworld believe it will be an important and eventually an indispensable platform for this product area. Housed in Hall 11.1 this area will display product on flower tables, flower arches and flower circles giving a totally different look to the standard exhibition stand type of presentation.

It’s fresh, different and just the right approach for the floral market.

A classic American barn will be the centre-piece of FLORADECORA and I

From the Christmas decorative products housed in Halls 8 and 9 to the Public lighting and Cross-Street lighting in Hall 11, these were a treasure trove of the very latest products to whet the appetites of Christmas buyers across a very wide spectrum of buyer The result was a touch of stylish glamour.

Messe Frankfurt can never be accused of sitting on their laurels. 2017 will see a completely new hall given over to the floral market.

FLORADECORA will attract buyers of fresh flowers, plants and flower arrangements – an important natural

believe that this different approach to display and presentation is tailor-made for fresh flowers and plant displays.

With Messe Frankfurt’s professional approach to marketing and publicising their shows, I look forward to seeing FLORADECORA in the flesh in 2017.

Make a date in your diary for 27th to the 31st January.

New Products

Silver highlights Peace of Mind This spring PoM launched its new initial necklace and birthstone charm collection. With the personalisation market getting bigger, if you sell or are thinking of selling silver or silver plated jewellery, this is a trend you should really be buying into. Adding a heart charm or loved one’s birthstone to one of PoM’s simple necklaces takes seconds and creates a unique and very thoughtful gift that can be added to again and again.

Tel: 01225 777749 Web: www.pom925.com

A glass apart Xystos The WoodWick ranges feature fragrances and candle vessels to suit all tastes and are testament to the belief that variety is the spice of life. Now, there is a candle for lovers of all things retro – and supplier Xystos expects them to be hot-footing it to the shops to buy this Vintage Hobnail Glass stunner. The RRP is £13.99.

Tel: 0191 499 1570 Web: www.xystostrade.co.uk

Scents of the sea Stoneglow Candles Modern Classics, Sea Salt & Oakmoss, a new fragrance/colourway to add to this best-selling home fragrance collection. The simple classic styling, high fragrances and unusual bottle shapes make this range a very popular choice. The new blue colour option is bang on trend, as is the wonderful salty, oceanic fragrance.

The range offers a wide selection of products such as 140ml Reed diffuser, 40 hour candle and 15 hour candle as well as a room spray and a gift set option.

Tel: 0044 208 595 8878 Web: www.stoneglowcandles.co.uk

gifts today 67

New Products

Gorgeous HearthWick Light up your life Joe Davies These gorgeous, eye-catching glass balloons proved a big hit on Joe Davies’ stand at the recent Spring Fair. The balloons made a fantastic retail display and as an added bonus contain lovely ‘firefly’ LED lights which look spectacular when lit. The balloons are available in three sizes and an array of colours including bright Mercury, metallic Mercury and plain finish. Retail prices start from just £3.99.

Joe Davies’ minimum orders are just £100 and everything in their extensive range is easy to buy in small quantities to suit the independent retailer.

Tel: 0161 975 6300 Web: www.joedavies.co.uk

Brighten up summer Quail’s Egg Summer parties will be brightened this year by this new range from Quail’s Egg. Five great colours in dishwasher proof stoneware that will give outdoor entertaining a really stylish touch. There are large salad bowls for that tabouleh and huge platters that are meant to be piled high with delicious goodies straight off the barbeque. The gorgeous straight sided jugs are crying out for summer punch and the dipping bowls are perfect for homemade hummus and aubergine dip. We can’t wait for the weather to get warm enough. If vibrant colours are not for you, then the delicate and subtle Dapple range may suit you better.

Available in the same shapes but with a larger selection of serving dishes and cups, the table in the orchard with sunlight filtering through will look irresistible.

Tel: 01304 379911 Web: www.quailceramics.co.uk

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Xystos HearthWick is the candle that keeps on giving – repeat business to retailers, that is! And it’s a trend that looks set to continue in 2016 following a record-breaking year for Xystos, its UK distributor. WoodWick’s autumn/winter collection includes this gorgeous HearthWick Ellipse Mercury Glass candle – yet another example of the outstanding quality products from Virginia Gift Brands. It has an RRP of £25.99.

Tel: 0191 499 1570 Web: www.xystostrade.co.uk

New Products

Lasting love Xystos Romantics everywhere will fall in love with WoodWick’s new Boudoir Collection from Xystos, which features six captivating scents. Pictured is Lasting Love, a combination of mimosa and white violet topped with sparkling bergamot. The fragranced wooden wick candle that crackles as it burns has never looked and sounded so good. Lasting Love will beguile retailers and their customers. The RRP is £17.99.

Tel: 0191 499 1570 Web: www.xystostrade.co.uk

Baby shower celebrations Neviti Mums-to-be will be excited to hear about Neviti’s new baby shower collection, a comprehensive range of table ware and decorative items with an fresh, graphical design that offers something a bit different. Taking its inspiration from fashion magazines, Showered with Love has a contemporary feel and unisex design that makes a refreshing alternative to the gender-based ranges available. It comprises everything mums-to-be require to host a stylish celebration, from invitations to paper plates, cups, napkins and cupcake cases, all featuring a multi-coloured polka dot background and expectant mum design.

To add some fun to the occasion, choose from bubble pots which can be added to place settings or included in party bags. Hosts can also stimulate the conversation with a lively baby guessing game card (challenging guests to predict baby’s vital statistics, such as gender and birth weight) or treat friends to a little surprise with scratch card game cards.

When it comes to decoration, Showered with Love features some eye-catching pieces that make dressing the party venue a breeze for the mum-to-be – colourful bunting, vibrant balloons and cute table confetti. Sweet treats get some extra sparkle courtesy of pretty cases and co-ordinating cake picks, while making up thank you gifts is simple with the Showered with Love party bags, ideal for filling with a little something and a handful of yummy baby shower rock sweets from the range. Glass decorations and a gorgeous guest book complete the collection.

Being Sentimental Joe Davies This Spring Fair saw record sales of Joe Davies’ best selling Equilibrium Collection of Jewellery and Fashion Accessories. Equilibrium has fast become an intrinsic line for many of Joe Davies’ independent gift retail customers as the design, quality, competitive pricing and attractive presentation gives it that elusive ingredient X that ensures brisk sales.

Over 500 new Equilibrium designs debuted at Spring Fair and Sentiment and Rose Gold designs performing particularly well.

Everything in Joe Davies’ extensive collection is easy to buy in their trademark ‘Little & Often’ quantities so buying an eye catching selection doesn’t have to break the bank. Minimum orders are just £100 and delivery is free nationwide.

Email: ccrawford@neviti.com

Tel: 0161 975 6300

Web: www.neviti.com

Web: www.joedavies.co.uk gifts today 69

Ambiente

bigger and better More visitors and more international visitors at Ambiente 2016 The range of gifts on display ranged from the classic to trendy and the 937 exhibitors in the Giving section represented the complete spectrum of international gift ideas.

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fter 137,000 visitors (up almost 2 per cent on last year) from 143 countries had browsed and bargained and sorted out deals, the doors closed on Ambiente, the world’s leading trade fair for the consumer-goods industry.

The show took place across 27 halls at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre and, for the first time, more visitors were from outside Germany with Italians, French, Spaniards, the Dutch and the British leading the way, which is fitting because next year’s Ambiente Partner Country will be the United Kingdom.

“The whole world does business here at Ambiente. Frankfurt in February is where the trends are set for the international consumer-goods industry over the coming year,” said Detlef Braun, a member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt GmbH. The range of gifts on display ranged from the classic to trendy and the 937 exhibitors in the Giving section represented the complete spectrum of international gift ideas.

It is often difficult to find gifts for men but the exhibitors at Ambiente were able to come up with good ideas for demanding gentlemen. Among the gifts on offer were a multifunctional architect’s pen with a stylus attachment, screwdriver, spirit level and scale ruler, a high-quality carpenter’s pencil which can write on all kinds of materials and handmade gifts such as high-quality chess sets, where the pieces are based on ancient warriors 70 gifts today

and archaeological finds, among other things. Among the practical gift sets are booklets on how to knot a stylish neck or bow tie.

The area for personal accessories was all about being stylish when out and about. There was also an emphasis on gadgets that make modern life easier. For example, key rings and mobiles are connected to each other through an app. When one of the two goes missing, the other is able to help with finding it.

One of the focal points in the Young & Trendy area was on expanding the range of products for children because toys and gifts for this target group are a big market all around the world.

Exhibitors such as Aden + Anais, Carletto with the Ty brand, Coppenrath Verlag, Haba, Jellycat, Moses Verlag, Neue Freunde and Rex International showed the attractive and practical favourites for children that will be available in the shops next season.

Awareness of the environment is becoming more important when we buy presents and Ambiente 2016 introduced a special new feature to inform and support buyers: the Ethical Style Guide. It sets out various aspects of sustainably manufactured products including, for example, resourcefriendly, fair and socially responsible production processes, and it provides visitors with transparency and orientation, pointing them to relevant exhibitors.

Next year, Ambiente will be held from 10 to 14 February 2017 and the spotlight will be on British design.

SIGNATURE GIFTS PREMIER supplier of

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Convenience of a one-stop shop with skills from specialist businesses @signaturegifts

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Discover the unexpected 15–17 May 2016 Olympia London

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