Gifts Today March April 2024

Talk: Key industry figures discuss the ever-evolving role of garden centres in the dynamic world of gift retail, from sharing their best sellers to predicting hot trends for 2024

Talk: Garden centre buyers share details of their gift offers, from success stories to new arrivals, and chat about the spending habits of green-fingered shoppers

FMessage from the Editor

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inally, spring has arrived! At the time of writing, Easter is nearly upon us, and retailers are preparing for this popular gift-giving occasion.

In particular, garden centres are looking forward to an increased spend over the bank holiday weekend from green-fingered shoppers keen to spruce up both their outdoor - and indoor - spaces.

In fact, despite facing a deluge of rain across the UK, the Horticultural Trade Association’s (HTA) Market Update in March reports that garden centres in February remained positive. HTA chief executive Fran Barnes said garden centre sales saw a rise of 6% compared with February 2023 and 11% compared with February 2022, indicating a positive start to the upcoming spring season.

She noted that gardening sales in the first two months of the year are typically small, but these figures suggest that “consumers are taking a proactive approach in preparing for the spring gardening season and enhancing their indoor spaces while waiting for the weather to improve’’.

The next show season is coming up soon, and you will find previews of three events on our pages: HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, which will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 27-30, London Stationery Show and The Exclusively Show - which both take place at the Business Design Centre in Islington on May 14-15 and June 11-12 respectively.

“Consumers are taking a proactive approach in preparing for the spring gardening season“

For this issue, we asked a dozen key industry figures who supply this blossoming retail sector to share their best sellers and predict what gift trends will be hot news on the green scene this year.

And we spoke to several garden centre buyers about their gift merchandise mix and what’s selling well for them. They also kindly shared examples of what caught their eye at the various spring trade exhibitions, from spotting new suppliers and stand-out products to surprise finds.

Talking of dates, don’t forget about the next big gifting opportunity: Father’s Day on Sunday June 16. And of course, we’re also heading into the wedding season. According to the UK Wedding Report 2024 (from wedding planning site www.bridebook.com), despite the cost-of-living crisis, the average total cost of a wedding rose £1,591 yearon-year in 2023 to £20,775, surpassing £20,000 for the first time. And the average number of wedding reception guests totalled 89 – that adds up to a lot of presents! Surprisingly, www. bridebook.com’s Engagement Report 2024 reveals that this year, the most popular dates to tie the knot fall not in the ‘traditional’ month of June but August and September. However, April to July are still pretty popular, so it makes sense to ensure your wedding gifts sections are well stocked into autumn. Check out our Product Focus feature on page 50 for some heartfelt inspiration!

We are always keen to hear from any readers who would like to take part in our features, interviews, or news pages. You can email me at clare@lemapublishing.co.uk or connect with me via LinkedIn.

Clare Turner, Editor clare@lemapublishing.co.uk

Insights-X bids farewell

In a surprising but carefully considered step, Insights-X, which took place in Nuremberg every October, is to be discontinued. After eight editions, the stationery trade fair organised by Spielwarenmesse eG is closing its doors.

Christian Ulrich, spokesperson of the executive board at Spielwarenmesse eG, said: “Although Insights-X regained significant momentum after the pandemic and the major exhibitors returned, ultimately the required result was not achieved.”

Although many key players and innovative brands had already registered for the ninth edition, Spielwarenmesse eG said that regrettably Insights-X was still not performing from a commercial perspective.

The company is therefore concentrating its future efforts more heavily on the elements of its portfolio that produce results, including Spielwarenmesse and SPIEL. Nonetheless, for many stationery companies there will be a reunion in Nuremberg from January 28 to February 1 2025, with the cross-sector Creative and Back-to-School sections of the Spielwarenmesse show.

Langs launches new website

Giftware and home décor supplier Langs’ long-awaited new website is now up and running at www.richardlang.co.uk.

Langs joint managing director Keith Edmondson said: “Following extensive collaboration with our customers, we are delighted to confirm that our new website is now live! Features have been developed with our customers in mind, and we would like to thank them all for their support and understanding while this has been created.”

He added: “This is just the start, with lots more exciting features and ideas already being worked on to offer our incredible customers the very best experience, as they deserve.”

Based in Derby, Langs was established more than 50 years ago and has a proven track record of offering innovative and unusual gifts. The company says: ‘We specialise in finding ‘something different’ and providing value for money without losing sight of quality.’

Mary Portas confirmed to speak at NOPEX

Natural & Organic Products Expo (NOPEX) has announced that the renowned retail expert, broadcaster, author and activist Mary Portas OBE will headline the trade exhibition, which takes place on April 14 and April 15 at ExCeL London.

Mary said: “Our High Streets lie at the heart of our economy and are the lifelines for our communities, playing a role in people’s wellbeing and sense of identity. Although they are experiencing unprecedented challenges, the opportunities are huge. I look forward to sharing my insights and answering questions in front of this important audience at NOPEX in April.”

During her keynote presentation, Mary will discuss the everevolving natural and organic products industry, with a focus on sustainability, ethical practices, and consumer trends. She will speak on the Main Stage at 12pm on April 15.

Event director Annie Lindsell said: “We are beyond excited to have Mary Portas join us as a keynote speaker at NOPEX. Her vast experience and deep understanding of the retail landscape will undoubtedly bring immense value to our attendees. Mary’s passion for sustainable and ethical practices aligns perfectly with the focus of our event, and we have no doubt that her talk will inspire and empower visitors.”

Since 1997, NOPEX has been a place where independent retailers, supermarkets, multiples and buying professionals meet to source natural, organic, planet-based, free-from and sustainable products. Co-located with Natural Food Expo and Natural Beauty Expo, NOPEX promises to be an exceptional opportunity for attendees to gain insights, discover new ranges, and deepen their understanding of the natural and organic products space.

This year’s speaker line-up promises to be the best ever, with more than 50 speakers taking to the stage. To register for a free trade ticket, visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk.

ExaClair refreshes sales team

Hyve announces new Advisory Board for Spring & Autumn Fair

Spring & Autumn Fair organiser Hyve has created a new Advisory Board designed to “drive the continuous enhancement of the two shows and ensure that UK retail has a thriving marketplace in which to do business”.

Garry Wright, national account manager of Exacompta Clairefontaine’s UK subsidiary ExaClair, will be moving on to join CTS Wholesale following his last day with the company on March 29.

Succeeding Garry will be Keeley Sheperd, who will be joining as head of commercial sales in April. Already a well-known and respected professional throughout the office products industry, Keeley brings more than 20 years of experience, which includes time spent with VOW, Office Friendly, and most recently 3M.

ExaClair managing director Chris Exner commented: “We thank Garry for over eight years of excellent service and wish him well in his new endeavours. Furthermore, it’s my pleasure to welcome Keeley to the team during this exciting period for the company, as we continue to develop our presence across the commercial and educational sectors.”

With a portfolio of more than 25,000 products across 15 international brands, Exacompta Clairefontaine is a recognised leader across the stationery industry.

Chaired by Stephen Spencer, Ambience Director at Stephen Spencer + Associates, the Board comprises 15 of the industry’s leading figureheads including trade association representatives John Halliday from Bira (British Independent Retailers Association), Sarah Ward of the Giftware Association, Karen Wilson from the Greetings Card Association, and Ben Massey from the National Association of Jewellers; plus exhibitors including Stephen Illingworth from Widdop & Co, Nick Ronald from Casa Verde, Aylish Ellwood from Enesco, Tim Hollis from Talking Tables, Jason Bensohn from One Dot World; and retailers Kay Hutcheson of Coopers of Stortford, Samantha Gibbs from Nest, and Maggie Thornton from Alligator Pear.

The Board will provide valuable industry insight and advice assisting in the ongoing development and growth of Spring and Autumn Fair, which collectively offer retailers the opportunity to source millions of products across Home, Gift and Fashion from more than 1,500 exhibitors every February and September.

Autumn Fair takes place from September 1 to September 4 and Spring Fair returns from February 2 to February 5 2025. Both events are held at NEC Birmingham.

Sponsors onboard for National Stationery Week

Plans for National Stationery Week (NSW) 2024 are well underway, with 10 leading brands having already pledged their support as sponsors for the weeklong event, which will spread the love at both retail and consumer levels about all things stationery.

National Stationery Week will run from Monday May 13 to Sunday May 19 and, as ever, will encompass the London Stationery Show.

Ohh Deer, Maped Helix, Pentel, Staedtler and Zebra Pen are onboard as headline sponsors for NSW, each sponsoring a day, while Sinclairs has signed up as sponsor of the #Shelfie competition that kickstarts the build-up, and also joins The Art File, ExaClair, Lamy and The Pilot Pen Company as a countdown week sponsor.

For the second year running, the Cheshire-based independent stationery retailer Sarah Laker who owns Stationery Supplies in Marple and Wilmslow, is heading up the campaign for NSW. She said: “NSW is

my favourite week of the year. I’ve taken part in it since the beginning in 2011, so I was beyond excited to be asked to spearhead the NSW campaign again this year and delighted that we have such a strong line-up of sponsors already.”

Sarah is currently fine-tuning the timetable of initiatives for NSW, with marketing activities for the build-up weeks as well as each individual day, all of which will have a dedicated sponsor.

There are three NSW social media hashtags - #NatStatWeek #WritingMatters #LoveStationery - which will be employed on Facebook and Instagram.

L-R: Garry Wright and Mark Daisley, former managing director at ExaClair

L-r: NSW ambassador Sarah Laker (second right) with fellow indie (second left) Sandra Jarvis of Creative Cove, Pentel’s director of sales UK and ROI Graham Craik and marketing manager Wendy Vickery at last year’s London Stationery Show

‘92% of gift retailers reported that in 2023, their stationery product sales grew or remained on a par’ PG&H Retail Barometer

Ambiente, a buyer’s paradise

Gift Today’s publisher Mark Naish visited Ambiente to see what’s hot and just how the show is faring after only its second event since the pandemic...

Having visited Ambiente so many times over the years you wonder if the show can come up with any new surprises. Well I’m pleased to report, yes it can!

Ambiente 2024 was a vibrant well attended show giving both exhibitors and visitors a chance to connect and trade.

“Celebrating Business Together” was the motto of this year’s fair, consisting of Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld. All the halls that I visited were consistently busy with buyers visiting the 4,928 exhibitors across the three categories (representing a 10% increase in exhibitors).

Despite a rail strike threatening to ‘derail’ (sorry) proceedings nearly 140,000 buyers and trade representatives made their way to the show. Incredibly 74% of visitors and buyers are international, so if you want to reach a global audience Ambiente is the place to do it! Though, Great Britain comes in third for the most international visitors.

Eco & sustainable

Given that sustainable living has been picking up speed in the last few years it was good to see that Ambiente had buyers well covered in this area.

Conscious and sustainable gifting as the organisers would call it was the top trend this year, with over 300 exhibitors that were part of Ambiente’s Ethical Style programme.

The number of exhibitors with sustainable ranges showed that there is a demand from consumers for this type of product.

On one of the many tours that the organisers put on I had a chance to see some exhibitors through the eyes of designer Mark Braun who since 2015 has been professor for Product and Industrial Design at HBKsaar.

On another tour Ineke Hans, a well known dutch industrial designer, was fantastic. She was good humoured and put some of the exhibitors through their paces demonstrating their fantastic products.

I was at Ambiente for four days and the halls were never less than buzzing. While I appreciate exhibiting internationally can be seen as expensive, but when you contrast that with the very high number of quality, international visitors and the chance to get your ranges to a broader market then Ambiente really has no equal. Professionally run and with plenty of buyers, what more could you ask for as an exhibitor?

If you are a buyer and you want to find something di erent then it really is worth making the e ort to visit in 2025!

He took us to the Talents section and to the stand of 11 Percent, whereby designer Nicholas Plunkett showed us his tableware. Created using recycled porcelain and cellulose fibres, with 11% coming from used toilet paper. This brings reusable, sustainable materials to a new level and the thought alone might make some uncertain. However, the dishes are hygienic and safe, as they are fired at 1,250ºC, whereas harmful bacteria is destroyed at 130ºC. But as the designer said, “is it enough to stop our disgust”. That is a personal decision, but he was having a good show and there was no denying the beauty and quality of his range.

Ambiente 2025 Dates: 7th - 11th February

Awards

Gifts Today’s sister title Tableware International hosts its own awards during Ambiente; the Tableware International Awards of Excellence. Working very closely with organisers Messe Frankfurt, the evening was a great success!

Running on the Sunday evening they were very well attended with 15 very happy winners. Covering categories from casual glass and tableware to HoReCa. Congratulations to all the worthy winners! sustainable materials to a new level and

Thomas Kastl Director Ambiente Dining

The happy winners

New products

New scent alert!

Best Kept Secrets

Best Kept Secrets has announced the launch of its eagerly anticipated Luminescence Collection for S/S24. Rooted in customer feedback and market insights, this collection exemplifies the brand’s commitment to delivering exceptional products while championing sustainability.

A standout feature of the collection is its brand-new vessel design, meticulously crafted to align with current colour and design trends. These decorative glass vessels showcase an ombre effect, adding a touch of sophistication to any space.

Scheduled for release in March, the collection introduces four new fragrances, including Midnight Rose & Oud. With its luxurious yet versatile scent profile, the Oud fragrance is poised to become a favourite in 2024.

Informed by the latest scent trends, the collection embraces the essence of summer garden florals and botanicals. Fragrances such as patchouli evoke the tranquillity of a woodland walk, offering consumers a sensorial journey that resonates with the season.

Call: 01670 512222

Email: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

Visit: www.bestkeptscrets.co.uk

Cyanotype collection

Exacompta Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine has introduced an Invincible Ete (Invincible Summer) collection of premium stationery products, which features patterns based on the popular cyanotype photographic printing technique.

Developed as a tribute to the work of Anna Atkins - a 19th century botanist who first used the technique to create herbaria precisely reflecting all the magical details of nature - the collection includes a wide range of striking notebooks, alongside a sketch pad and correspondence set.

Each item incorporates an attractive grained paper cover, with all notebooks containing the Clairefontaine 90gsm brushed vellum paper that is world renowned. A compact cardboard display enables retailers to profile the entire range.

Call: 01553 696600 |

Email: sales@exaclair.co.uk

Visit: www.exaclairlimited.com 12

Anklets & posies

Joe Davies

Building on the success of the Equilibrium Anklets collection introduced in Spring 2023, the range has expanded twofold for S/S24. Sleek anklets may seem like a small detail, but they hold the key to effortless summer style.

New designs include charming pastel butterflies, shimmering crystal droplets, honeycomb and bees, seashells and many more.  So if you’re seeking an accessory that seamlessly merges playfulness with chicness, look no further.

Meanwhile, find the ideal gift solution for any special occasion with the newest Timeless Posy collection. Whether it’s a birthday or a simple gesture to let someone know they are in your thoughts, this beautiful range has something for everyone.

From posies that have been carefully picked and preserved to last, or the option of more traditional naturally dried flower posies, each is presented in an elegant gift box and includes its own gift tag for your personal message.

These gifts are available to order in Joe Davies’ signature ‘little and often’ quantities, with a low minimum order value of £100 for carriage paid orders, and free nationwide delivery.

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

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

Take a moment

LT Creations

The Moments collection of tealight holders from LT Creations is now in full colour! Pictured is True Friends Moments, which is made of premium quality acrylic with a solid oak base and features a thoughtful phrase that has been brightened up with a splash of colour. Each piece of wood is different in finish and appearance, giving every item its own character. Moments need only one tealight candle to bring the design to life. One tealight is included in the presentation box. There are around 30 designs available, but there are almost endless possibilities in terms of designs that the company can create bespoke for you.

Call: 01592 760473 | Email: sales@ltcreations.co.uk

Visit: www.LTCreations.co.uk

On message

Personalised Memento Company

Personalised Memento Company has created a range of great new products for 2024, including this fantastic Personalised Photo Upload Mantel Block. Simply upload your chosen photos and thoughtful message to create a sentimental gift that will be treasured every day. Available in a variety of titles, this makes a great gift for all occasions. Visit PMC’s trade website today to register for your account and get started.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

Visit: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Diary of a gift shop

Jo Williams, owner/director of award-winning gift shop Joco in Nuneaton, reflects on the spring trade show season and looks forward to Easter trading

There’s still a bit of a nip in the air and the weather hasn’t been the kindest to us, which has kept a lot of people snuggled up warm at home. However, we’ve been very busy as always in the first quarter of 2024.

Often, people think the start of a new year brings a chance to sit back a little and reflect on the exhilarating buzz of the festive season, but it’s been rather the opposite for me.

I’ve travelled around the country visiting showrooms, attending trade shows, finding new suppliers, sourcing new products, and judging the Gift of the Year Awards. I love this time of the year - not only for the fresh spring mornings, but because it’s an opportunity to chat with suppliers and other retailers about the months ahead.

I always find visiting trade shows an absolute mind reset and positivity booster. Everyone is excited about their new products, from suppliers exhibiting for the first time to seasoned well-established companies.

The fairs also give us retailers a chance to network with others, find out what’s popular in their areas, and discover whether a range we currently don’t stock would work in our own shop.

This year is expected to be tough again for retail. As a small independent, we must work hard to be visible and bring our customers something different to what’s available everywhere else - and this is all while we navigate the increased costs for bricks-and-mortar stores, which are out of our hands.

At Joco, we’re expanding our exclusive ranges to ensure we are often the only place to purchase specific items within our area. This not only gives our customers more choice but also, we can direct them to other local retailers for items we no longer stock - which keeps money within the town. Supporting other businesses locally is what will help town centres survive in these difficult times.

We’ve also increased the number of Charlie Bears in-store and customers love them - so much so that we’ve had to invest in a new display cabinet for them all! We’ve added a new limited edition ceramic collection of Charlie Bears (introduced by Camal Enterprises and unveiled at Spring Fair), which is a collaboration between The English Ladies Co and Charlie Bears, and these will be in the shop very soon.

Our wax melt supplier Freckleface has launched some new spring and summer fragrances (another fantastic range which our customers adore). And we recently began stocking Gingko Book Lights, which have certainly made our customers stop and look. They are a talking point, and we think these will be a popular addition to our collection.

“Easter is fast becoming a popular time of year for gift-giving”

We eagerly await the delivery of Edge Sculpture miniatures, which we’ve already pre-sold to collectors of this range of artwork. Due to the size difference from the original sculptures, the price point will make the pieces more accessible to a wider customer base.

Easter is fast becoming a popular time of year for gift-giving, not only for traditional chocolate eggs, but also for decorations, cards, and gifts. We have a selection of Easter decorations which have been selected to enable them to be used throughout the year, as customers are focused on the cost and longevity of what they purchase at the moment.

Finally, our window displays reflect the spring season with bright hues, and we have introduced a lot of coloured glass, floral garden accessories and collectables, which will brighten any home.

Destination Hong Kong

HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair is billed as the preeminent marketplace for the gifts industry, where trending lifestyle items and innovative ideas merge

Featuring a curated selection of gifts and premium products from around the world, HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from April 27 to April 30.

Described by the organisers as the world’s leading fair in its category, HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair will bring together more than 3,300 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions.

This premium event offers an ideal platform for exhibitors to showcase their latest products, fostering valuable networking opportunities and facilitating collaboration among industry professionals.

The highly-acclaimed Hall of Fine Designs will return as a convergence of reputable brands from around the world. Key brands include Red A (Hong Kong), Tiny Memory (Hong Kong), YASHICA (Japan) and more.

The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association will also assemble Hong Kong companies to form a pavilion, showcasing the skills and branding excellence of Hong Kong’s product designers. In addition, winning works from the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards will be on display to highlight the creativity and flair of Hong Kong brands to global industry players.

The eagerly anticipated Cultural & Creative Corner is set to make its grand return this year, captivating visitors with its vibrant showcase of designer brands and products with unique styles. Among the highlights, the Shannxi Pavilion will showcase the region’s exceptional craftsmanship and creativity through the participation of 10 esteemed exhibitors.

To cater to the latest trends, the HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair has introduced a brand-new zone, Outdoor & Sporting Goods, showcasing a wide range of products including camping gear, dance shoes, and sporting goods.

Furthermore, a range of events will be held during the Fair to keep visitors abreast of the latest market information and encourage exchanges between exhibitors and buyers. There will be seminars hosted by industry players and associations to share insights on key areas crucial to the sector’s development such as consumer market trends, sustainability and the silver economy. Representatives from Coresight Research, Google and Pinkoi will be sharing lifestyle consumer insights and online-merge-offline (OMO) strategy.

What: HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair

Where: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

When: April 27-30

Email: London.office@hktdc.org | candy.mk.kwong@hktdc.org

Visit: https://tinyurl.com/bdhyp9wz

Bringing fine art to the desk

Museums & Galleries has introduced two new home and giftable ranges for stylish spring living

Billed as the UK’s leading producer of quality art cards, gift stationery and design-led home and giftware, Museums & Galleries’ collection showcases some of Britain’s brightest fashion, art and heritage brands.

The company also works directly with talented independent artists, galleries and private collections to source unique imagery for its ever-evolving product range.

Its mission is simple: to promote artistic quality and

celebrate ‘timeless style’ through an exclusive, unique product collection.

It produces a wide range of quality licensed everyday and Christmas greeting cards and notecards, and a comprehensive selection of licensed gift stationery including gift wrap, tissue paper, gift bags, writing sets, journals, notebooks and more.

Museums & Galleries is now celebrating the arrival of the latest additions to its home and gift collections.

Clothbound Journals for the year ahead

Museums & Galleries’ new clothbound journals have supergenerous paper blocks containing 240 lined pages, so they offer plenty of room and longevity for keen gardeners, avid planners or regular writers – either as a gift or for yourself..

The clothbound covers not only give a luxurious feel complementing the chunky books, but also feature stunning designs in the freshest, brightest colours, with many images inspired by gardens and the natural world.

Helen Ahpornsiri’s ‘Mint Meadow’ notebook is a delightful and contemporary take on the theme, as is the Natural History Museum’s ‘Ulysses Butterflies’.

Bird lovers will appreciate Catherine Rowe’s ‘Kingfisher’, Matthew Williamson’s ‘Hummingbirds’ or Walter Crane’s ‘Cockatoos and Pomegranates’.

More traditional tastes are catered to by the V&A Museum’s ‘Kimono Cranes’ and ‘Strawberry Thief’ by William Morris, and the British Museum’s ‘Wave Pattern’ inspired by Hokusai block prints.

The books have lie-flat binding - which is very helpful for writing in - and feature coloured or foiled paper blocks and matching ribbon bookmarks.

Perfect Paperweights

Paperweights make a beautiful addition to any home or office. Whether displayed as an elegant ornament, or used as a handy desk accessory placed on top of loose papers to keep them from blowing away in a breeze, they make a thoughtful gift for a stationery addict - or a gardener with a working space vulnerable to draughts.

Museums & Galleries has made crystal dome paperweights for several years now, and has substantially refreshed its collection for 2024.

A real highlight of the new additions is a paperweight featuring leading printmaker Angela Harding’s charming print ‘Young Hare’. A fabulous colour wheel, as well as looking supremely decorative, can act as an aid in colour planning the garden, while nature lovers will thrill to Catherine Rowe’s ‘Kingfisher’ and Emillie Ferris’s cute ‘Hedgehog’.

There are now 18 designs in the collection, with imagery licensed from the V&A Museum, the National History Museum, the British Museum, leading designer Matthew Williamson, and popular images from across Museums & Galleries’ stationery collections.

The paperweights come in a lined presentation box with a branded bellyband.

Call: 01373 462165

Email: sales@mgml.co.uk

Visit: www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

Big moves for LSS

London Stationery Show 2024 has a lot to write home about, with an alluring exhibitor line-up, added features and new enthusiastic owners

Yes, we may be living in a digital world, but the stationery sector is proving its mighty endurance, with product innovation continuing to perpetuate consumers’ interest and desire - be it in accessible writing instruments, wonderfully designed journals or the latest desk accessories, not to mention arts & crafts developments.

And there’s nowhere better to see this wondrous cornucopia of products than at the London Stationery Show (LSS). Taking place on May 14 and May 15 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, it’s the UK’s only dedicated exhibition covering gift stationery, writing instruments, arts & crafts and office supplies.

LSS 2024’s strong roster of exhibitors is a feast of many leading brands as well as new designer names, including Crayola, Leuchtturm1917, Blueprint Stationery, Stone Marketing, ExaClair, Daler Rowney, Royal Talens, Manuscript Brands, Jakar International, Studio Pens, Pentel, Snopake, Staedtler, IG Design Group, Sinclairs, Stabilo, Pukka Pads, Edding, Hahnemuehle, Ultratape, The Pilot Pen Co, Zebra Pen, Nu:notebooks, Tallon International and many more.

This will be the show’s first outing since being acquired from Ocean Media Group by Max Publishing at the end of last year. LSS is a great fit for the company, which also owns the Progressive Greetings Live greeting card trade show as well as several B2B titles including Progressive Greetings and Progressive Gifts & Home.

Chantelle White continues with LSS as its event manager, while Chris Leonard-Morganwho founded the show in 2012 - is back in the fray, with the news that he has joined the team as a special advisor having been very warmly received by the stationery community.

Chris is in no doubt that “London Stationery Show is in good hands. Max Publishing is well placed to take advantage of the opportunities and synergy which exist with its titles to take the London Stationery Show and stationery itself to a

higher level and wider audience. I feel very happy that I will be a part of it, rather than just watching from the sidelines!”

LSS will also include a display of Stationery Awards finalists, with the winners announced at the end of the first day of the show at a free to attend awards event, sponsored by The Stationers’ Company.

Entry to LSS is free for bona fide stationery buyers, retailers, wholesalers, licensors and licensees. Registration for now live, with the agenda of workshops and talks to be revealed shortly.

L-R: Max Publishing’s Warren Lomax, Rob Willis, Jakki Brown, and Ian Hyder, with LSS event manager Chantelle White (centre)

What: London Stationery Show

Where: Business Design Centre, London

When: May 14-15

Call: 07795 951244

Email: chantellew@max-publishing.co.uk

Visit: www.stationeryshowlondon.co.uk

successful sales

With more than 19.5 million enthusiasts throughout the British Isles, crafting is truly a popular pastime that spans several generations, as Exacompta Clairefontaine UK marketing manager Lawrence Savage explains

“Creativity is alive and kicking!”

Although there has been a slight decrease (14%) in UK workers basing themselves exclusively from home since 2022, data from ONS (Office for National Statistics) shows that 44% of employees still work from home at least part of the time, whether in a hybrid or fully remote capacity.

Thus, with more leisure time and an improved work-life balance being created through this trend, combined with an increasing older population (more than 11 million people are aged over 65), these factors have contributed significantly to the growth of the arts and crafts industry. It currently has a turnover of over approximately £400 million across the UK and is expected to experience a healthy CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 5.4% globally up until 2028.

Consequently, it’s no wonder that there are more than 19.5 million crafting enthusiasts throughout the British Isles, ensuring creativity is alive and kicking! It’s probably no surprise that around 70% of children aged from five to 10 take part in arts and crafts on a regular basis. But with 28% of people aged 65 to 70 also indulging in these activities, it’s truly a popular pastime that spans several generations.

In fact, with the demands of modern life on both young and old being thoroughly documented these days, studies highlight how crafting can boost

self-confidence, reduce stress, and have a positive impact on an individual’s mood. It has also been demonstrated to help reduce blood pressure, enhance fine motor skills and mental agility, slow the onset of dementia, and reduce anxiety and feelings of isolation.

By expanding product listings to incorporate a wider range of crafting items, gift retailers can tap into this developing market sector, which can act as complementary offering alongside more traditional giftable stationery and accessories. Furthermore, this can also open opportunities to hold in-store events or community outreach workshops.

The popular papercraft brand Décopatch has thrived across many retail outlets by using a combination of innovative display POS and workshop days, which give consumers the chance to try before they buy.

In addition, the bestselling selection of Clairefontaine origami or the comprehensive range of Avenue Mandarine puzzles and games would make ideal themes for such interactive events.

Ultimately, investing in these initiatives can really help drive sales and reoccurring customer footfall over the long-term. For further advice on how crafting can help your business, please contact ExaClair, the UK subsidiary of the Exacompta Clairefontaine group.

New selection

Exacompta Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine has added a selection of products to its stationery range. The Tulip collection features a choice of premium notebooks and accessories, described as ‘quintessentially simple through their natural beauty’. Each item benefits from an innovative design that incorporates fragments of discarded tulip bulbs within the cover, offering a refined approach that combines a pleasing aesthetic with the environmental notion to strive towards a circular economy. A stylish embossed pattern has been introduced to enhance each item, which also complements the classic motif, offering an extra touch of depth to the products.

The selection includes notebooks alongside a pack of magnetic bookmarks and a boxed stationery gift set, which brings together a notebook with a pencil, binder clips, 10 paper clips and an eraser. Every notebook contains Clairefontaine 90gsm brushed vellum ivory paper. A compact cardboard display enables retailers to profile the entire range on their counter.

Meanwhile, ideal for Father’s Day, the Flying Spirit collection epitomises luxury stationery with its supersoft genuine lambskin leather in four traditional colours of black, white, beige and cognac. The A5 size notebooks contain 90 sheets of Clairefontaine 90gsm brushed vellum ivory paper with PEFC certification, and are available as feint lined or dot grid versions. Presented in a stylish kraft gift box, a range of matching leather pencil cases is also available.

Call: 01553 69660 | Email: sales@exaclair.co.uk

Visit: www.exaclairlimited.com

Roarsome range Puckator

With cartoon designs and bright hues, Puckator’s Dinosauria range appeals to children of all ages. There’s a wide selection of roarsome stationery, from a Ring Bound Notepad & Pencil Case to Shaped Top Wooden Rulers.

A favourite is the new Multi Colour Pen, which is packed full of different ink colours. With four designs showing different dinosaurs, these pens are sure to be a hit with junior dinophiles!

Call: 0800 011 696 | Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk

Visit: www.puckator.co.uk

Make a note Also the Bison

Also the Bison offers a range of sustainably produced gifts, homewares, stationery and accessories, with handpainted designs printed onto items - all made in the UK or Sweden.

The Flamboyance of Flamingos Print Journal and Notebook Set features pink flamingos species from around the world, from the bright American Flamingo to the rare pastel Andean Flamingo.

Each bird has been hand-painted in watercolour by artist Maddie Chambers before being digitally printed in the UK onto 300gsm recycled card using eco-friendly inks. The 100% recycled colourful gift set includes one Journal with 76 lined pages and one Notebook with 36 plain pages.

Email: hello@alsothebison.co.uk | Visit: www.alsothebison.co.uk

Animal magic Personalised Memento Company

Brighten up a kid’s day with this fun Personalised Animal Alphabet Colouring Book from PMC. It’s filled to the brim with animal-themed pages, providing hours of creative fun. Plus, it’s personalised with the child’s name - not only on the front cover but hidden throughout the whole book - adding that extra special touch.

With a growing range of on trend giftware and selling solutions to suit all retailers, there’s never been a better time to sell personalised gifts. Visit PMC’s trade website today to register for your account and get started.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

Visit: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Working it out Discovery Journal

This Lockable Anxiety Journal is billed as the perfect tool to help you understand and manage your anxiety in a logical, practical way. It’s designed to help you find triggers, causes and patterns that lead to anxious episodes and is available in three different versions (adult, teen and ASC).

By filling out the journal for just five minutes a day, you can discover what’s causing your anxiety by making connections between your emotions and what happens in your day. Every entry has a series of tick boxes, circling and rating systems designed to help you recognise when anxiety is developing, and develop strategies for overcoming it in the future.

The discreet three-code lockable, six-ring refillable binder is crafted from faux leather. With no long-term commitments or extensive writing exercises, it makes it easy for you to build a foundation of recovery.

Email: hello@discoveryjournal.co.uk

Visit: www.discoveryjournal.co.uk

Giftware brands flock to Exclusively

With The Exclusively Show 100% sold out to exhibitors, there will be a feast of trend-leading giftware on show for retailers to enjoy

All under one roof at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington on June 11 and 12, The Exclusively Show brings together gift suppliers across tableware, glassware, barware, kitchenware, and small domestic electricals.

Regular exhibitors include Arthur Price, Denby, Dartington Crystal, The DRH Collection, DKB Household, Kilner, Le Creuset, Lifetime Brands, Meyer, Rayware, Robert Welch and Viners.

In addition, there are some new and returning brands such as Museums & Galleries, Portmeirion, Bodum, Minky, International Cookware & Pyrex, Aarke, ABS Pottery, Zero Water, and Premier Housewares.

The event is the perfect way for UK and international multiple and independent gift buyers to see the best products and merchandising trends which will shape consumer purchasing decisions over the next one to five years.

There are a host of ways for retailers to access both exhibitors, products, and show features to make the most of their visit. Some of the great show deals available include opportunities to have travel costs refunded up to £75 for visitors, a limited number of free hotel rooms for multiple and overseas buyers, and a gift voucher of £100, which independent retailers can use against any order of £300 or over placed at the show. All attendees can enjoy a free two-course lunch and are also invited to the drinks reception on Tuesday evening.

In the ever-popular trends feature, Exclusively will include insights into the key trends for the 2025 season with mass market longevity for up to five years ahead, with specific examples in terms of themes, colours, patterns, shapes, materials, and finishes on display in the Trends Showcase.

Trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus is offering bookable tours of the show, majoring on products which it rates as ‘winners’ in terms of the trends on display. As exhibitors are starting to submit products for the ‘So On Trend’ displays at Exclusively, Scarlet Opus director Phil Pond has given a sneak preview of three key themes: Realism, Reimagine, and Resolve. BHETA chief operating officer and chair of the

BHETA-owned show Will Jones explained: “The Exclusively Show is always an exciting event. With its reputation for predicting commercial opportunities for the year ahead - and given that it is already sold out to exhibitors - this year is a must-attend for retailers.

“From the big names to specialist independents and overseas buyers, we are expecting a huge turnout. So I urge everyone retailing giftware as well as housewares, tableware, kitchenware, small domestic electricals, laundry, and storage, to come along to the industry’s leading show which is a highlight of the year.”

What:  The Exclusively Show

Where: Business Design Centre, London

When: June 11-12

Call: 0121 237 1130

Email: info@exclusivelyhousewares.co.uk

Visit: www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk

Cultural charm

Rex London

Whether your customers are keen on quirky home decorations or simply enjoy hosting family and friend get-togethers, these new serving trays from Rex London will catch their eyes.

Made of metal, they come in two designs: Old Leopard Brewery, inspired by vintage Indian beer packaging; and Cerveza Española, inspired by vintage Spanish beer packaging. As unique as they are functional, these trays bring a touch of cultural charm and are perfect as a party centrepiece. But that’s not all! Your customers can complement the serving trays with a set of four matching metal coasters, each featuring a soft cork back to protect the table from any scratches and spills.

Call: 020 8746 1700

Email: info@rexlondon.com

Visit: www.rexlondontrade.com

New arrivals

Lesser & Pavey

The driving force behind the men’s gift market is the constant desire to find something to buy for a gent, whether it be a birthday present or a treat for Father’s Day, which falls on Sunday June 16.

Lesser & Pavey is targeting this market with a range of practical and charming fine china mugs that highlight hobbies and passions, with photographic images by MacNeil of historic cars, planes, motorbikes, trains and more. Each mug is packaged in a decorative gift box. In addition to individual mugs, the range includes a set of four mugs in a deluxe presentation gift box, coasters, placemats and lap trays.

Another introduction is ‘bigger than ever’ diffusers. The company explains: ‘The bigger the better it would seem now. We tested one litre diffusers at Autumn Fair with a big launch at Spring Fair, and they were truly loved, as shown by the orders we receivedand this continues. They not only fragrance the home but have become statement pieces on the home décor front with their tonal colours.’

Offering high quality fragrance and priced to be appealing, “for the chaps - but they may appeal to women too - the fragrances are stronger (as with some aftershaves): more spiced, woody scents come through with Tobacco & Rum, Tuscan Leather, Oud & Bergamot, and Amber & Sandalwood. For the softer scents, we have fresher fragrances with Oud & Sandalwood, Pomegranate & Peony, Rose & Bergamot, and Cocoa & Cashmere”. Each features a stylish wooden top, black eco-friendly canes, and attractive packaging with a view panel.

Call: 01322 279 225 | Email: sales@leonardo.co.uk

Visit: www.leonardo.co.uk

A

warm glow

Joe Davies

Add a touch of charm to any home with the new range of cream glazed and Skandi LED Tealight Houses from Joe Davies. Ceramic houses are always popular home décor gifts because they bring a warm, enchanting glow that transforms any room into a cosy haven.

The neutral cream shade of these items complements any colour scheme, and is finished with an on-trend cream glaze and biscuit-fired bases - making the perfect combination. This cute collection won’t disappoint.

At Joe Davies, customer service is paramount. From its signature ‘little and often’ ordering quantities to its minimum order value of just £100, the company strives to make your shopping experience as easy and affordable as possible.

Tel: 0161 975 6300 | Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

LT Creations’ Harris Tweed wall clocks are made from reclaimed oak whisky barrel staves! A fantastic clock gift with a selection of Harris Tweeds tartan patterns to choose from, this is a truly handmade item from start to finish.

With 50-plus combined years of experience in creating traditional handcrafted goods (from Tracey’s kiltmaking days, Kev’s time as a blacksmith, and Gregor’s background in design and a passion for all things craft), LT Creations has developed its own range of unique products.

Product dimensions and the look of each piece of oak will vary due to the nature of each stave, providing layers of character that makes each piece distinct. All clocks come fully boxed.

Call: 01592 760473 | Email: sales@ltcreations.co.uk

Visit: www.LTCreations.co.uk

The green scene

Spring has finally sprung and garden centres across the country are reaping the rewards, with customers keen to celebrate the new season in style with gift purchases galore. From families popping in for fun pick-ups and avid gardeners looking for nature-inspired

inspiration to eco-conscious design seekers, our special feature reveals how the industry is catering to their needs. Read on for the inside scoop from suppliers and buyers on what’s new, what’s trending, and what’s ascending in this resilient retail sector…

Bring in the new!

The Wheat Bag Company

Now celebrating a decade of trading, as ever The Wheat Bag Company is always bringing out new products and designs to offer their customers.

This year got off to a busy start for the supplier with two busy trade shows: Top Drawer S/S24, which took place at Olympia London in January; and Spring Fair, which was held at NEC Birmingham in February.

The Wheat Bag Company says: ‘It was really encouraging to see so many of our existing customers and lots of new ones. Our new products and designs were well received and lots of orders were taken for them.

‘The new Wellie Boot collection, designed by Emma Lawrence, went down a storm. We also introduced our new Microwavable Wheat Bottles which are filled with wheat and lavender in the shape of a hot water bottle: perfect for snuggling to keep warm and cosy and soothe aches and pains. These are available in 25 designs including our New William Morris Fabrics, which are beautiful.

‘We are delighted to supply so many retail outlets throughout the country, and our portfolio of trade customers is growing year on year.

‘We update our website regularly and our next trade show is the Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival at Harrogate in July, which we love exhibiting at. We will be celebrating our 10th year of trading at the event, so please come along and join us for a glass of Prosecco!’

Call: 01747 840 500

Email: sales@thewheatbagcompany.co.uk

Visit: www.thewheatbagcompany.co.uk

40 years and counting!

Wild Things Gifts prides itself on offering top quality handmade crystal window ornaments, which are all original designs and handcrafted in Britain

Wild Things Gifts employs a small, very busy team of 15 creative, independent and multitalented women at premises in Exeter - and 30 highly skilled craftworkers around Devon. The two token men are warehouse manager Steve Holman and founder Jules Vahrman who, in his words, should have retired years ago!

The company is best known for its top quality, colourful, rainbow making crystal window ornaments, which all aspire to its strapline of ‘Magical Timeless Gifts’.

The firm is focused on paying attention to every design detail, and sourcing the best crystals and suppliers it can find. Jules says: “Most designs are inspired by nature, while many of the rest consist of various ranges of angels - somehow angels and crystals being a natural fit. The latest birth month flowers range has strong features of vivid stained-glass effects, with the rich colours offsetting the sparkly crystals.”

Wild Things supplies re-sellers throughout the world, including overseas distributors, along with garden centres, visitor attractions, shops, and mail order companies. It offers an assortment of displays, from counter spinners, racks, and floor spinners to an all-singing, all-dancing self-lit booth display.

This flagship display features two massive 27-watt LED cluster bulbs and holds 132 hanging products and, Jules says, “boasts one of the best sales to floor space footage performances in the business, being only 76cm wide but holding upwards of £2,500 retail worth of stock”.

The floor spinner for carded products holds a similar amount of stock, with the added bonus of being easily moveable. The carded range has relevant literary quotes on the back which generally refer to the motifs, from Anton

Chekhov and Alfred, Lord Tennyson to Christina Rossetti. Jules comments: “They’re timeless quotes for timeless products.”

In 2024, retailers - both independent and multiple - looking to source fast-selling products that are made in Britain, need look no further than Wild Things Gifts!

How did it all begin?

Wild Things Gifts was founded by Jules Vahrman in 1984 in a disused 6ft x 8ft shower room (with bright orange peeling Peter Max wallpaper) in a house in Leamington Spa. He made prismatic holographic earrings out of tiddlywinks, acetate and holographic foils, and sold them to university students.

Then in July of that year, the company went official under the Enterprise Allowance scheme (an initiative set up by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative UK government), selling Laser earrings to an international distributor.

In the intervening four rollercoaster decades, Wild Things has survived the demise of its distributor, and evolved via ‘designer jewellery’ such as cufflinks and brooches - selling to Liberty (following a fortunate encounter with the  London luxury department store’s craft buyer at the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate) and others - into today’s go-to source of top-quality handmade crystal window ornaments.

Call: 01392211268

Email: sales@wildthingsgifts.com

Visit: wildthingsgifts.com

Botanical bliss

Heaven Scent

Heaven Scent has created beautiful new botanical candle tin designs, featuring delightful illustrations by Sarah Pettitt.

Each candle fragrance is inspired by botanical fragrances in nature in Britain and around the world - and the candles burn cleanly, using the best plant waxes sourced from sustainable ingredients.

Call: 01225 868788 | Email: contact@heavenscent.co.uk

Visit: www.heavenscent.co.uk

Pretty patterns

Classic Canes

Walking sticks, seat sticks and umbrellas make ideal accessories and gift lines for garden centres. Family business Classic Canes specialises in these practical yet attractive products and supplies independent garden centres across the country with everyday walking sticks, ladies’ patterned sticks, folding canes, country sticks, and traditional and contemporary seat sticks.

Managing director Charlotte Gillan says: “Our ranges of patterned canes are very popular with garden centre buyers who love patterns such as British wildflowers, bees, hedgehogs and songbirds for their customers.

“Garden centre customers are also knowledgeable about - and appreciate - the many different woods we use to create walking sticks, so a typical garden centre stick display contains a great deal of variety to suit everyone.”

Call: 01460 75686

Email: info@classiccanes.co.uk

Visit: www.classiccanes.co.uk

Nature inspired Miss Milly

With the garden centre environment being all about nature and the natural world, gifts featuring flora and fauna are very popular. Miss Milly has a lot of designs suiting these themes in its magnetic brooch and keyring ranges.

With a hand-painted or enamelled finish, the magnetic brooches (which were shortlisted for the Gift Of The Year Awards in 2023) have been a huge success, and work well as a scarf holder or traditional brooch. With no fiddly clasps (or ensuing pin holes), they are suitable for those with dexterity issues - and your best clothes! Popular designs include the tree of life, bees, cats and dogs, and various flower styles. The brooches come mounted on a presentation card that can be used for display if required.

Miss Milly’s enamelled keyrings work equally well as bag charms and are available in a plethora of animal and bird designs, from cats and dogs to elephants, a giraffe, hedgehog and cow. If you would like to create a colourful counter-top display, Miss Milly offers a free spinner when you purchase 100 keyrings, and will happily pull a selection together for you.

Call: 01905 622509 | Email: hello@missmilly.co.uk

Visit: www.missmilly.co.uk

Glow up!

Joe Davies

These stylish glass orb lights from Joe Davies make the perfect garden centre line. Each planetlike pattern is slightly unique due to its handmade qualities. The lights create a beautiful, coloured glow when switched on, and make a striking glass feature when turned off. They are mains powered to UK British Standards.

With different shapes and sizes there are plenty to choose from and, even better, the stunning colourways of greys, blues, and pinks will match any home décor.

Free nationwide delivery, carriage paid orders of just £100, and an easy to buy ‘little and often’ ordering system are all hallmarks of Joe Davies’ award-winning service.

Call:

0161 975 6300 | Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

Sustainable selection

Henry & Co.

Just two years after launching in the home fragrance market, Henry & Co. is now featured in many garden centres across the UK and Ireland and is one of the fastest growing home fragrance brands in the UK.

Founder Mark Rees comes from a retail background and understands consumer buying habits, while creative director Jo Ashton is constantly looking for new and inspiring products and fragrances to add to the range and fuel consumer demand.

The brand prides itself on its sustainable approach, use of natural ingredients, and being hand-poured in the UK. Henry & Co. has a comprehensive wax melt selection including the best-selling Artisan Wax Melts range and the newly launched Artisan Wax Melt Bar, which is a finalist in the Gift of the Year Awards.

Call: 0333 1882006 | Email: hello@henryandcompany.co.uk

Visit: www.henryandcofragrance.co.uk

Eco chic Opticaid

Discover Opticaid’s new eco chic glasses cases and 250 gsm premium lens cloths, designed in collaboration with the Scottish brand I Like Birds. The range encompasses eight birdylicious designs with contrasting plush linings and coordinating lint-free cloths.

A finalist in the Gift of the Year Awards, the cases are crafted from 58% recycled materials. The accompanying cloths, which are also suitable for phone and tablet screens, are available to purchase separately. Both complement Opticaid’s I Like Birds reading glasses and RFID blocking card wallets.

Opticaid director Gillian Marchbank says: “In our 35th year we’ve extended the product range significantly with more gifts, as well as our best-selling reading glasses. We now sell over 120 designs, and while large statement frames are on trend at the moment, we still sell smaller reading glasses exceptionally well in garden centres. They have a diverse customer base, and our range nicely reflects this.”

Call: 0113 239 1400

Email: sales@opticaid.net

Visit: www.opticaid.net

Adorable array

Rainbow Designs

Brighten up garden centre displays this summer with adorable bunnies, bears and caterpillars from Rainbow Designs’ award-winning, licensed classic character collections.

With best-selling ranges including Peter Rabbit, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, Guess How Much I Love You, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, these collections offer beautiful high quality gifts and easy pick-up lines for every generation of garden centre visitor.

The nation’s favourite bear, Paddington, is the focus of three of Rainbow’s best-selling collections. The Paddington For Baby range of nursery toys, comforters and rattles make beautiful gifts for newborns and young babies. The Adventures of Paddington toy range keeps preschoolers entertained, and the premium Classic Paddington collection makes a heartfelt keepsake for Paddington fans of all ages.

Peter Rabbit is a favourite woodland character that brings any garden centre display to life, and Rainbow’s collection of toys and gifts features the mischievous Peter Rabbit and adorable Flopsy Bunny in an array of nursery soft toys, gift sets and wooden toys.

Gifts from The Very Hungry Caterpillar range make wonderful treats for little ones, encouraging the fun of gardening and a love for the great outdoors. Rainbow Designs’ Very Hungry Caterpillar soft and wooden toy collection, with strong primary colours and a variety of textures and sounds, is designed to stimulate senses and encourage development through play.

Call: 01329 277300 | Email: sales@rainbowdesigns.co.uk

Visit: www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

Creative fun

Exacompta

Clairefontaine

Décopatch is a simple papercraft to learn and enjoy: tear or cut paper into small pieces, glue them to the object being decorated, and repeat until covered. Offering great creative fun for kids and adults alike, three new Mini-Kits featuring a lion, a mermaid and a superhero are being added to this popular range, making a great introduction to the world of Décopatch!

Each kit contains one ready to decorate papier mâché shape, two sheets of Décopatch paper, one glue pot and a brush. For retailers seeking to expand their in-store merchandising, a comprehensive package of demonstration solutions and workshop events are available.

Call: 01553 696600

Email: sales@exaclair.co.uk

Visit: www.exaclairlimited.com

Dazzle and delight

Billed as the first brand in the UK to pair unique sentiments with a carded jewellery range, Joma Jewellery has been helping to spread joy and create perfect gifting moments for more than 15 years

At Joma Jewellery, ‘A Little Means A Lot’. Lovingly designed, intricately crafted, and the epitome of sentiment and sophistication, the brand’s gifts are recognised - and loved - across the world.

With more than 22,000 fivestar reviews, as well as lasting value, quality, and affordability that customers can trust, it’s no surprise that one of its expansive collections of A Little Bracelets (there’s over 300 sentiments to choose from!) - which features heartfelt poems and pretty charms to cater to every occasion, big or small - is sold every 30 seconds worldwide.

Gorgeous gifting is at the heart of everything Joma Jewellery does - with new designs, collections, and sentiments helping it to grow bigger and better than ever before.

The new season has provided the opportunity for Joma Jewellery to introduce even more A Little sentiments, as well as expand on some of its most giftable, customer-loved collections, such as Forever Yours, Happy Little Moments and Stacks Of Style.

When it comes to gifting, it’s universally known that the unboxing is just as important as the present itself. That’s why every piece of Joma Jewellery comes beautifully wrapped and tied with a silk-finish bow in one of the brand’s signature gift bags - so you don’t have to worry about a thing!

With high profit margins, low minimum order quantities, proven customer loyalty, a Premium Membership Programme, free shipping, hundreds of new products every season, and a whole host of other incredible perks for stockists to benefit from, Joma Jewellery remains a go-to gifting haven for meaningful and heartfelt jewellery.

Discover bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, and more that are ready to light up your offering and help customers create the ultimate gifting moment with their loved ones.

Call: 01295 263430

Email: enquiries@jomajewellery.com

Visit: wholesale.jomajewellery.com

“Gorgeous gifting is at the heart of everything Joma Jewellery doeswith new designs, collections, and sentiments helping it to grow bigger and better than ever before”

Spruce up for

spring

Refresh any space with blooming lovely collections from Something Different Wholesale

Bring life to the home and garden with beautiful new gifts from Something Different Wholesale. Garden lovers will be drawn to blossoming florals and fresh, nature-inspired elements with uplifting and mood-boosting colour palettes. Welcome the new season and explore these uniquely designed products that are sure to offer your customers ‘Something Different’.

Visit The Potting Shed

Transform any space into a lush green hideaway with The Potting Shed collection. Offering rustic charm and botanical beauty, this collection features charming plant pot-shaped mugs, whimsical wheelbarrow planters, and fragrant citronella candles. Brighten your surroundings with these delightful gifts for gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Don’t Worry, Bee Happy!

Wholesome and charming, the Bee Happy collection features sentimental gifts and bee-utiful home décor suitable for every occasion. Discover mugs for couples, wax melt gift sets, a colourful bee house, and much-loved hanging sentiment signs. Each item is designed to spread happiness and bring joy to the home.

Step Into the Enchanted Forest

Dive into the pages of a garden fairytale with the Enchanted Forest collection. This captivating collection transports you to a realm where magic and nature intertwine. From sipping a magical brew in a frog-shaped mug to wearing luck-infused mushroom jewellery, these whimsical treasures will transform the home into a quaint cottage straight out of a storybook.

Lisa Parker’s Mystical Plant Pots

Each terracotta plant pot is adorned with the mesmerising and magical artwork of fantasy artist Lisa Parker, bringing a touch of mystique to green spaces. From majestic hares to mystical moons, these striking motifs are beautifully detailed and finished in an antiqued bronze effect. The plant pots add a touch of whimsy and wonder to any garden or indoor plant collection.

View the full product ranges at www.somethingdifferentwholesale.co.uk.

Call: 01792 940288

Email: customercare@somethingdifferentwholesale.co.uk

Visit: www.somethingdifferentwholesale.co.uk

Embracing environmental values

House of Marbles has taken significant steps to support garden centres by expanding its range of environmentally conscious toys and games

House of Marbles has a delightful assortment of FSC-approved and plastic-free gifts spanning across a variety of price points.

The company ensures there’s something special for everyone. Whether they’re avid gardeners, celebrating a special occasion, or simply seeking fun pick-ups, there’s such a wide selection of wooden pocket money toys, nostalgic games and beautiful educational books to choose from.

Keep an eye out for Sunshine Print-Paper: a new addition to the hugely popular Natural World range. This innovative kit enables children and adults to make beautiful prints with their favourite objects using only sunlight and water, encouraging a hands-on connection to science and nature. It’s a finalist in the Children’s, Educational and Pre-School category of the Giftware Association’s prestigious Gift of the Year Awards, and is set to be a best seller this year.

There are also some fantastic new products in the House of Marbles’ Over the Rainbow range, which has exploded in popularity. Based on the best-selling Rainbow Dancer Ribbon Wand, the supplier has introduced a miniature version to suit smaller hands, making it perfect for younger children. The bright ribbon flows through the air as kids whirl and dance, creating mesmerising patterns.

Designed with the adventurous spirit in mind, House of Marbles’ Adventurer’s range comes jam-packed with fun tools and accessories for any excursion exploring outside, from camping to a family day out. With items including classic marbles and handy pocket-sized magnifying glasses, this collection promises endless fun and discovery for all explorers at heart!

Retailers wanting to make a real impact in-store can choose from the collection of affordable pocket money products presented in vibrant counter display units. These not only attract those important impulse buys, but also offer a hassle-free and inviting display option.

If you need any advice on House of Marbles’ most sought-after items and latest ranges, its dedicated team of sales agents can provide guidance and support, or you can place orders easily on its trade website.

Garden centres can count on House of Marbles as a trusted supplier, offering an array of entertaining products that embrace environmental values. With a carriage-paid threshold of just £200, stocking up is convenient and cost-effective too.

All things natural Enesco

Herb Dublin items are created by hand in Ireland using only the finest quality natural ingredients. Designed to promote relaxation, detoxification and all-round wellness, Herb Dublin includes 12 everyday candles, six Christmas candles, six diffusers, two bath products, seven body products, and two gift sets.

Using herbs, flowers and oils as well as fragrance in all products, scents across the collection include rhubarb, sea salt, lemongrass and ginger, and buttercup and bee balm.

Presented in a beautifully rustic and wooden crate, the Herb Dublin Seaweed Hamper is a finalist in the Gift of the Year Awards. It’s a wonderfully indulgent self-purchase or thoughtful gift for someone who deserves a bit of ‘me time’.

Call: 01228 404022

Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk

Visit: www.enesco.co.uk

Cuddle time

Warmies

For more than 25 years, Warmies has been supplying soft and cuddly microwavable products - with added benefits. Gently scented with real dried lavender sourced from growers in Provence, as well as an all-natural grain filling, Warmies provide a perfect sensory experience. Not only do they smell fantastic, they also help relieve stress, aches and pains with their long-lasting warmth. Like a weighted blanket, Warmies’ gentle pressure provides a sense of comfort and security by creating a calming and grounding sensation. After being put in the microwave, Warmies’ warmth also aids sleep by promoting relaxation.

Call: 01933 679 777 | Email: sales@warmies.co.uk

Visit: www.warmies.co.uk

Sustainable luxury skincare

Òir Soaps

New to the market, Òir (pronounced Oar, which means golden in Gaelic) Soaps make beautiful solid alternatives to traditional cosmetics which, most importantly, are not another empty plastic bottle! All products are handmade just outside Edinburgh, using sustainably sourced natural ingredients.

Founder Jolene Roberts says: “The colours are clays and charcoals, and the scents are always pure essential oils, plus we never use palm oil in any of our products. And we’re especially proud that our shea butter comes directly from a woman’s cooperative in Ghana - helping the women who make it to lead more independent lives.

“But it’s not just about what we can do to help our impact on the health of the planet. Our products are a real treat to use, and look amazing in any bathroom; they’re bound to be a focal point. The packaging is also gorgeous (and totally plastic-free), so everything is very giftable.”

Email: hello@oirsoap.co.uk | Visit: www.Oirsoap.co.uk

Timeless keepsakes

Sienna Glass

Sienna Glass began a decade ago as a small family business run from the kitchen table, and has grown to working from its own warehouse, supplying more than 400 product lines globally.

The company’s products are a testament to the artistry of its skilled artisans. From signature items such as friendship balls and hearts, to an array of high-quality glass giftware for every occasion and home and garden décor, it provides timeless keepsakes that resonate with its customers.

Sienna Glass has tailored its packaging to be both eye-catching and protective, with low minimum orders and individual item purchases to facilitate quick sell-through and restocking. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, a variety of promotions are planned throughout the year.

Call: 01905 384857 |

Email: sales@siennaglass.com

Visit: www.siennaglass.com

Spinning tales

LT Creations

Following on from the success of bright and colourful designs introduced by LT Creations throughout 2023, the company has added a whole new range of greeting cards.

LT Creations’ Keepsake Cards with a removable hanging decoration offer a plug and play solution to your greeting cards range with this spinner stand. And with 80-plus designs to choose from, these cards make the ideal two-in-one gift.

The designs focus on the majority of occasions such as birthdays, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, sympathy, and Christmas. There is also a general selection suitable for any occasion.

All the new greeting cards include a removable hanging decoration that can be kept and displayed long after the card has been recycled.

The cards are blank inside for your own message, and printed in the UK, with biodegradable and compostable cello bags. All the cards and envelopes measure 5 x 7in (12 x 16.5cm).

Call: 01592 760473 | Email: sales@ltcreations.co.uk

Visit: www.LTCreations.co.uk

A colourful centrepiece

Rachel Ellen Designs

There are few product ranges that are as recognisable, unique and diverse as that from Rachel Ellen Designs, which is one reason why it’s such a success for many garden centres.

With space less of an issue than it is for some retailers, garden centres are able to create striking displays packed with proven best-selling products including stationery, water bottles, textiles, tinware, gift packaging and much more - almost a shop within a shop.

The company recognises more than ever the importance of displaying its products well, and recently launched a counter top display that creates a fantastic centrepiece.

Although able to display a wide range of items, these printed 6mm MDF displays are primarily used to showcase three core products: writing sets, secret diaries, and colouring books. As the cherry on top of the cake, Rachel Ellen Designs also supplies point of sale material to complete the look and encourage customer engagement.

Call: 0115 970 0321 | Email: sales@rachelellen.co.uk

Visit: www.rachelellen.co.uk

Lighten up!

Straits Trading

Straits Trading’s Grass Floral Bundles are a beautiful home accessory and ideal for gifting. The free-standing arrangements are exquisitely detailed. Each bundle has vibrant flowers, lush foliage, and additional buds and berries. New for S/S24 are light-up grasses, alliums and reed grass with LEDs in the top. These are battery operated so can be easily moved and positioned.

Bee-utifical bees

Alexander Thurlow

Bees have been a popular design focus for many years, and Alexander Thurlow has given the humble honeybee a new look to freshen it up for summer.

Combining the brand’s new and very popular gold finish with bees has made these beauties even more vibrant and striking: a must for all gift shops this year. In particular, the golden bee charm bracelet - with its delicate and pretty summer vibeis bound to be the star of the show.

The company also has a range of great value flower jewellery to suit all tastes, which makes for a truly fabulous gift for the upcoming season - and fully recyclable and sustainable packaging adds the finishing touch.

Alexander Thurlow’s friendly team is ready to help you with any enquiries, whether it’s to create the perfect order for you, bespoke design work, stock availability, or just for a chat. Visit the online trade site to see the full range.

Call: 020 8766 6466 | Email: sales@alexanderthurlow.com

Visit: www.alexanderthurlow.com

For gardening enthusiasts

Rex London

For gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers, Rex London presents its recently launched bug hotel. Crafted in the shape of a ladybird, this addition encourages pollinating insects to visit and make themselves at home in the garden, supporting the ecosystem.

The company says: ‘Unlike other typical bug hotels, this effortlessly fits into even small outdoor spaces thanks to its compact size, and a hanging loop attached to the back makes wall mounting quick and easy. With bright red sides, this bug hotel is not just a habitat but also a colourful statement for your customers’ outdoor havens.’

Call: 020 8746 1700 | Email: info@rexlondon.com

Visit: www.rexlondontrade.com

Meanwhile, the company’s best-selling Christmas Glitter Water Spinners collection features light-up festive lanterns and ornaments containing jolly characters in a swirling, glitter snowstorm. There is a wide range of traditional favourites including Father Christmas, cheerful Snowmen, and adorable woodland friends. Watch as the light catches the pretty flurries of glitter to make a magical, moving display. Fitted with a ‘Try Me’ function, they are easy to display.

Call: 01254 300 260 | Email: sales@straitstrading.com

Visit: www.straitstrading.com

sunshine… The Somerset Toiletry Company

A reimagining of a familiar favourite, the new and improved Tropical Fruits range is stored in contemporary, recyclable vessels adorned with eye-catching packaging, designed to bring the sunshine to any shelf space.

Fresh fruity fragrances continue to beat the heart of this range, and promise to take your senses on a first-class trip to paradise. With a new look comes improved formulations and an expanded offering.

The range includes a foaming body wash, body scrub, soap bar, body cream, body mist, and gift set. They are available in four exotic fragrances of Mango and Passionfruit, Strawberry and Papaya, Coconut and Lime, and Orange and Grapefruit.

Call: 01761 451122 Email: sayhello@tstcglobal.com

Visit: www.thesomersettoiletryco.co.uk/

Joe Davies

This season it’s all about floral-inspired jewellery and designs, so if you’re looking to make a statement this S/S, then the Equilibrium Floral Accents Collection from Joe Davies is a real must-have!  Featuring delicate mother-of-pearl flowers in soft pinks and neutral creams, paired with pretty freshwater pearls and shimmering beads, each piece captures the essence of the season perfectly.

Call: 0161 975 6300

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

Horticulture-inspired Radley X RHS

The UK’s leading gardening charity Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced an exciting collaboration with the leather handbags and accessories brand Radley, which will bring horticulture-inspired designs to a new collection.

The Radley X RHS collection includes handbags, purses and tote bags, and features designs inspired by artwork from the RHS Lindley Collections, the world’s finest collection of botanical art, as well as the magnificent RHS Gardens themselves. The designs are based on the work of female artists Caroline Maria Applebee and Gertrude Jekyll. The result is a collaboration abloom with flora and fauna in shades of Hosta, Cactus, Lavender, Wisteria and Mimosa. The designs feature colour and foil-embossed details using leather expertly printed and appliquéd onto signature shapes. The RHS name will appear on swing tickets and sewn-in seam labels and on POS material in stores.

Call: 01483 212360 | Email: Cathysnow@rhs.org.uk

Visit: www.rhs.org.uk

Weavermill

Weavermill, a sister company of LT Creations, is dedicated to offering high-quality, stylish scarves that are perfect for any occasion, without breaking the bank. All come beautifully gift-boxed, making an ideal present for a special occasion. There are a wide variety, including lightweight, mediumweight, plus a selection of seasonal scarves. Weavermill’s mission is to be the go-to destination for clothing accessories, known for its high-quality products, chic designs, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Call:

Bare Kind

Bamboo sock brand Bare Kind is an ethical supplier, with sustainably sourced bamboo, plastic-free packaging, and B-Corp certified statusand 10% of the profits are donated to save the animal on the socks. With more than 50 adorable designs to choose from, partnering with 30-plus conservation charities around the world, your customers will be delighted to choose from this super soft range of animal-saving socks.

Call: 07899004764

Flower power

Miss Milly

These new handmade raffia earrings from Miss Milly are a perfect addition to spring and summer wardrobes. With the capsule collection offering bold hoops and stunning flower designs, the eye-catching, statement earrings are in keeping with the brand’s love of everything colourful, but a new departure in terms of materials and design. And three of the four flower colours feature gold-coloured findings - a rare departure for Miss Milly.

While they might look a bit cumbersome, the earrings are lightweight and easy to wear. They are available in cream, taupe, aqua and blue with contrasting centres. The hoops are offered in seven colours: aqua, blue, turquoise, pink, fuchsia, lime green, and taupe.

Call: 01905 622509 | Email: hello@missmilly.co.uk

Trade talk

Key industry figures discuss the ever-evolving role of garden centres in the dynamic world of gift retail with Clare Turner, from sharing their best sellers to predicting hot trends for 2024

Aylish Ellwood Trade Marketing Manager Enesco

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

Enesco supplies many garden centres, from independents to multiples, all year round. There’s no doubt they’re viewed as a well established channel of distribution for us, and where we expect to see future growth.

We have a breadth of product. Highlights include Yankee Candle, EAU Lovely and Herb Dublin from our home fragrance offering; our first eco-friendly collection Kloche; and our longstanding best-selling gift line Willow Tree. And we have high hopes for our brand-new 3D Letterbox wooden flower bouquets from Wild & Wood. Launched at Spring Fair, it’s a perfect fit that offers something very different for garden centre consumers.

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

The changing nature of garden centres over the past 10 years or so has created fantastic family shopping destinations, offering quality cafes and restaurants, and engaging activities for younger family members, together with opportunities for gifts and lifestyle shopping.

Overall, a brilliant concept! The extra space allows retailers to create

“Consumers will be looking for gifts which tick all the boxes: quality, good value for money, and a sustainability story”

eye-catching displays in a relaxed environment which, in turn, encourages visitors to have a ‘special day out’ - expecting to spend money, allowing for that impulsive purchase.

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

Consumers will be looking for gifts which tick all the boxes: quality, good value for money, and a sustainability story. A great example is our Kloche collection. It’s a world of miniature, created from sustainably sourced woodand with a SRP of £14.95 it makes a great pick-up item.

Affordable luxury - a ‘treat’ on a day out - will continue to be important to consumers, and what better way to treat yourself than by buying your favourite fragrance to create that happy place in the home? It’s the perfect end to a perfect day out at your local garden centre!

Vanessa Curry Managing Director Best Kept Secrets

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

Best Kept Secrets’ home fragrance gifts have become hugely popular with garden centres, given our ability to create such broad and widespread appeal within the magic price point of under £15. Our most popular collections this season are Our Fragrant World, Just Because, and Seriously Scented.

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

Well, garden centres have something for absolutely everyone, and are just growing constantly. They have become true destinations, hence the reason gifting in garden centres has become so popular. We’ve certainly seen a huge uplift in sales over the past 12 months alone.

Garden centres can really transcend customer demographics, and have become a space to purchase the perfect occasion giftwhich is why Best Kept Secrets does so well in this space.

“Garden centres have become a space to purchase the perfect occasion gift”

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

We closely monitor trends to ensure our new product development remains relevant and innovative. However, our main inspiration stems from our customers’ feedback. We listen to their needs and identify gaps in the market to provide the best possible products for any occasion, prioritising sustainability.

One highlight of our S/S24 collections is the introduction of a new vessel design, following current colour and design trends. Our stunning Luminescence collection features decorative glass with a beautiful ombre effect.

Our focus remains on offering quality gifting options under £15. We are committed to providing exceptional quality, affordability, and sustainable practices in all our products. Our dedication to eco-conscious choices and ethical production processes drives our innovation as we introduce new home fragrance collections within this price range.

Despite our growth, our commitment to quality, affordability, and sustainability remains unwavering. We strive to uphold these values with every addition to the Best Kept Secrets family.

Zara Grindrod Sales and Marketing Director

Rainbow Designs

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

Many of our product ranges are now widely available in garden centres throughout the UK, as we offer ideal gifts for those shopping for new babies and infants, as well as keepsake plush suitable for all ages.

Our best-selling lines include our high-quality, licensed character nursery essentials, such as comforters, ring rattles and gift sets. Particularly popular are ranges featuring gardenbased animals, including Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Guess How Much I Love You, Paddington Bear, and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh.

“There is a growing demand for gifts made from sustainable materials”

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

In recent years, garden centres have undergone a significant evolution that has turned them into popular social venues, which are ideal for days out. Now offering more than just gardening essentials, many have diversified and now stock a wide array of unique gifts catering for all ages, while also providing upscaled retail experiences and hospitality.

The high-quality, unique gifts and toys now available in many garden centres makes them an ideal retail destination for gift buyers seeking that extra-special present which conveys thoughtfulness and effort.

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

There is a continued emphasis on learning at home, and therefore a constant demand for educational toys that are fun and stimulating and also inspire creative and sensory play.

Our Peter Rabbit and The Very Hungry Caterpillar soft and wooden toy collections, which feature developmental soft toys, pull alongs, shape sorters, and dominoes, are popular purchases.

With increasing awareness of environmental issues, there is also a growing demand for gifts made from sustainable materials, and we are focused on developing sustainablycreated products to last, that can be passed through generations - such as lines from our Signature Peter Rabbit and Always and Forever Winnie the Pooh collections.

2024 is also set to be another momentous year for Paddington, with a third movie screening in the autumn. With our extensive range of lines in our Classic Paddington collection, as well as dedicated ranges for baby and preschool ages, the nation’s favourite bear is likely to be on many wish lists!

Stephen Thurlow Director

Alexander Thurlow

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

A large number of new garden centres have joined us over the past year. Gifts are a great addition to what they already offer. Our best sellers are our Bluebell designs closely followed by our Forget-me-Nots and Lilies.

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

Absolutely. The whole retail environment has changed and garden centres offer a great day out for all the family with their ever increasing range of gifts, plants, and of course coffee shops.

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

Well, who knows? But hopefully our best-selling range of flower jewellery will push its way to the top of the trend list!

Lawrence Savage

UK Marketing Manager

Exacompta Clairefontaine

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

We have more than 25,000 products across our premium stationery and crafting brands, with many ranges distributed through a wide variety of high street and online retailers. The garden centre sector is a growing area for us, so we’re keen to continue building relationships within this market.

Amongst our most popular items is our range of Clairefontaine origami, which includes the new bunch of flowers kit and a selection of animal and bird-themed packs. Our best-selling Décopatch mini kits also present an attractive offering, with both children and adults able to enjoy this fun paper crafting activity.

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?   Over two-thirds of British adults visit garden centres every year, proving they are still a fantastic retail destination for family members, especially around seasonal purchasing times such as Easter, Halloween and Christmas. makes them a great venue for gift hunting, especially when it comes to birthdays and stocking fillers.

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

Personalised items are still hotly sought after, which continues to drive growth within the luxury stationery sector. Our latest Clairefontaine stationery collections also satisfy ecologically aware consumers seeking sustainable gifts. For instance, our new Tulip notebooks incorporate fragments of tulip bulbs within the cover itself and are filled with the 90gsm brushed vellum paper that is loved by journalling and note-taking enthusiasts globally.

“Personalised items are still hotly sought after”

Trade talk

Charlotte Gillan Managing Director

Classic Canes

“People are looking for practical presents”

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

We supply many independent garden centres, both in the UK and abroad. Our products are a natural fit with their clienteles of stick users and people who need to buy presents for them.

The most popular ranges are our patterned canes, many of which have floral and nature-inspired designs that sit easily with other garden centre gifts and accessories.

Garden centres also sell many everyday wooden walking sticks for men and women. Traditionally, these were often sold through tobacconists and gentlemen’s outfitters. But these shops are harder to find now, and a lot of that business has moved to the garden centres.

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

Garden centres are wonderful places to go gift shopping. They often have the space to stock a really wide range and offer the choice that customers want to see.

For people with limited mobility, like many walking stick customers, they are easy to navigate as you can park right outside and, anywhere a garden centre trolley can go, a mobility scooter or wheelchair can go too. Walking sticks sit somewhere between clothing and gifts in many garden centres and are a bridge between the two.

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

People are looking for practical presents that the recipient will actually use. Patterned walking sticks that are both a mobility aid and a style statement are great choices for gift buyers.

Folk art themes are selling very well at the moment and natural subjects such as bees, songbirds and British wildlife are such a good fit for garden centres that it’s hard to see them ever not being best sellers. However, it’s worth including some of the latest contemporary designs for the more alternative and arty customers too.

Lucy Jeffrey Founder Bare Kind

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

Our range of wildlife bamboo socks is very popular with garden centre customers. Typically we see nature and animal lovers visiting these retail outlets, and as our socks are a gifting product, they do exceptionally well in the gift sections, as well as alongside apparel ranges.

We donate 10% of profits to help save the animal on the sock, so our best sellers tend to be in our ‘friends of gardeners range’ which includes Bumblebees, Hedgehogs, Badgers, and Barn Owls.

We also have a coastal range that frequently makes it to the top sellers list, including Puffins, Otters and Seals, as well as our farm range of Sheep, Pigs, Cows, Donkeys, Ducks and Chickens - all of which complement a lot of the gifts that garden centres already stock.

Jules Vahrman Founder Wild Things Gifts

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

We have a self-lit booth display which is designed specifically with garden centres in mind. Recently our Pretty Little Birds glass ornaments with crystal drops have been a runaway success - but all our crystal window ornaments seem massively popular with the ‘garden centre set’. In terms of volume, best sellers are our Classic Guardian Angels.

“Birds seem to be everywhere this year!”

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

They certainly are for our demographic, which is the mature person who has probably paid off their mortgage.

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

Birds seem to be everywhere this year!

Kevin Fleming Director

LT Creations & Weavermill

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

We are stocked in multiple garden centres across the country. Customers stock a wide selection of our ranges, and some of the best sellers are our Moments tealight holders, Whisky barrel heart tealight holders, and colourful hanging decorationsnormally supplied on our custom-made spinner display stands. Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

Absolutely. Garden centres are normally able to offer a one-stop-shop destination for gifts, often due to the availability of space that allows them to display any gifts in the best way possible, whether on display stands or mixed in as part of a larger range. This also allows them to adapt very well to the big seasonal changes that the gift industry experiences.

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

Fashion. More and more I’m seeing them diversify their offering and fashion, as well as gift fashion, seems to be a growing trend amongst the centres I’ve visited recently with our Weavermill gift-boxed scarves. People are always looking for something different, and one-size-fits-all fashion seems to be a growing trend, so I’m excited to see this continue.

Paul Hooker Managing Director

Joe Davies

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

Garden centres form a strong part of our customer base, with many stocking a large selection across the Joe Davies range. Best sellers include Village Pottery, Equilibrium jewellery and accessories, pick-up lines, and multiple ranges of home sentiment products. Suncatchers and fragrance products sell well year-round. Another hit is our Sock Society brand of socks, many featuring outdoor themes. Seasonal best-selling lines include snoozies!, nuzzles and of course Christmas home decorations.

Anthony David Commercial Director

Something Different Wholesale

What are your best sellers in garden centres?

We’re proud to have established partnerships with many garden centres that stock our home and garden gift ranges. We supply more than 3,000 products that are designed in-house at our offices in Swansea.

Our hand-drawn designs by our talented team have been a big hit, including our bee, wildflower and mushroom-themed ranges. Our best-selling Halloween and Christmas products have also been popular.

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

With plenty of space and people visiting for a day out, garden centres make an ideal destination for gifts. The extra space means that centres can maximise on sales opportunities. Spinners and counter units feature strongly in our sales to customers.

“Mushrooms and autumnal-themed products will perform strongly”

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

Following on with trends that really started at the end of last year, mushrooms and autumnal-themed products will perform strongly throughout 2024. This will feature across home, Christmas and even into fashion and accessories. This will be complemented by countryside-themed gifts across home and ceramics.

Sophie Aldred Customer Care Manager Straits Trading

Garden centres are certainly a popular option for shopping here in the UK. Often based out of town with a larger retail space, there’s a greater excuse to turn a garden centre visit into a morning or afternoon out. With many garden centres also offering cafes, consumers are more likely to take their time and enjoy the shopping experience by starting or ending their visit with some refreshments.

What gift trends will be big news in garden centres this year?

We research and analyse trends up to 18 months in advance to ensure our customers offer products that align with ever-changing consumer demands. There’s a growing emphasis on supporting local businesses and reducing carbon footprints, with customers being more inclined to purchase items that are locally produced.

Our ‘Made in the UK’ products such as fragrance oils and bath salts are popular purchases in garden centres in particular. Gifts that promote relaxation and self-care such as candles, crystals and notebooks for journalling will see increased interest too, with the importance of mental health and overall wellbeing.

“Our hand-drawn designs by our talented team have been a big hit”

What are your best sellers in garden

We supply a growing number of garden centres. Understandably, items from our Endless Summer range, particularly the Grass Floral Bundles, have been best sellers for several years. The free-standing flowers look great on display and are beautiful for gifting. This year, our glassware is a popular choice. The items are painted with delicate floral designs and make lovely gifts.

Customers also love our Christmas range. Many garden centres become a winter wonderland in the run-up to December 25. The displays we’ve seen are phenomenal and items like our glitter water spinners are very eyecatching. The vast array of products on offer throughout the departments makes it easy to find something to treat loved ones during the festive period.

“We have some incredible garden centres in the UK; they are so much more than plant nurseries”

Are garden centres a good destination for gift shopping?

We have some incredible garden centres in the UK; they are so much more than plant nurseries. They have a wide range of departments for the home and garden and in most cases, excellent accessible facilities. Plus, they often have restaurants, farm shops, and play areas, making them a great destination to meet up with friends.

I first fell in love with garden centres when my son was a baby. I found that it was easy to park my car and then navigate with a pram. And the laid-back shopping experience meant I enjoyed browsing and was more likely to make a purchase. My love is still as strong now; I consider a visit to a garden centre as an excellent day out!

Gifts Today

SHOP TALK

Clare Turner chats to garden centre buyers about their gift offers, from success stories to new arrivals, and finds out more about the spending habits of green-fingered shoppers

Bryony TaylorEdwards Head of Marketing & Home, Gift & Fashion Buyer & Celia Leeson-Cox Visual Merchandising Manager

Yarnton Home & Garden Oxfordshire

What’s your gift merchandise mix?

We are a family-friendly garden centre with a Home & Gift section of about 1,500sq m. We stock a wide range of gifts from books, toys and jigsaws, to spa products, candles, home fragrance, childrenswear, babywear and gift foods.

“‘Gifting’ as a category is getting really fun”

What’s selling well?

Our extended Toy Shop is proving really very popular, with favourites such as Jellycat, children’s crafting, and pickup wooden toys being real winners over the half-term holiday. Our fabulous tutus and sweatshirts from Bob & Blossom are irresistible and make great gifts for little ones. And as we head into our gardening season, children’s garden tools and nature-themed toys always top the list.

Did you spot any stand-out products at the spring shows?

With such an extensive range, we attend ALL the trade shows one way or another, and we’ve noticed a real sea change in the sustainable gift collections - most particularly in paper garlands and decorations. ‘Gifting’ as a category is getting really fun, and we’re loving paper flowers for gift wrapping!

What do you offer that high street gift retailers don’t?

We offer a very different proposition, mainly because we have a lot more space. So we’re able to sell a diverse mix in our Home & Garden departments, and source from both small and large suppliers.

Being a garden centre, our USP is our plant areas of course - indoor and outdoor - and many of these can be ‘living gifts’. We’re also able to offer garden furniture, BBQs and pizza ovens (all with related accessories), many of which make great gifts for the outdoor chefs among us!

St Peters Garden Centre Worcester

What’s your gift merchandise mix?

We have a large gifts, greeting cards, toys and clothing department in the garden centre. The gifts department encompasses fragrance, toiletries, candles, wellbeing, and core gifting. The main focus of our gifts area is seasonality and a constantly changing mix of products.

We recently refitted the area and installed a full height back wall to give us more impact and atmosphere. It also allows us to give more height to displays.

We’ve seen an increase in sales within our fragrance, candles and wellbeing categories, which we’ve now expanded. This increase is predominately coming from self-gifting and impulse purchasing, which is making us concentrate our efforts on price point.

The focus towards sustainability and impact on the planet is also having a large input on our purchasing. Now, more than ever, we are asking the questions of ‘where?’ and ‘how?’ to our suppliers. The ability to inform customers about where and how products are made is a story we’re telling directly on the shop floor.

What’s selling well?

Right now our best-sellers in fragrance and wellbeing are Freckleface, The Wheat Bag Company, and Heaven Scent. Within core gifting, it’s Jellycat, Redecker and Gisela Graham. What is really positive to see is that in fragrance and wellbeing, the best-selling ranges are from UK suppliers - an increase we hope to see in other categories.

Did you spot any stand-out products at the spring shows?

I picked up most of my new suppliers at the Spring Fair’s Gift of the Year Awards feature area [which showcased shortlisted products]: Clockwork Soldier, Pigeon Loft, Belly Button Designs, and Trixie, to name just a few. We also placed orders with current suppliers for new ranges ready for spring, which then sets up our supplier base for the Spring/Summer season.

What do you offer that high street gift retailers don’t?

Garden centres as a retail environment have changed hugely over the past 10 years. We have become destinations to spend a day!

We’ve expanded the centre to include a 300-cover, table service restaurant; an outdoor coffee shop complete with a yurt; and an in-house farm shop and butchery - all of which sit alongside our core gardening roots.

As a large, independent garden centre, we have the ability to create inspiring displays, and provide a complete customer experience throughout the shopping journey.

“The main focus of our gifts area is seasonality and a constantly changing mix of products”

Laura Matheson

Head of Buying

Emma Kelly

Head of Operations

Bents Garden & Home

Warrington, Cheshire

What’s selling well?

Ornaments are still a large trend for us, with neutral colours, wood, and black being the best colourways. We’ve introduced some brighter trends this year too, following on from the 1970s-led trend of clashing colours, which have been well received.

Our best performing category is toiletries and we’ve been doing well with reed diffusers and wax melts. We’ve also seen an increase in all our Buddha-related products and mini zen gardens.

“We stand out due to our theming and inspirational displays”

Did you spot any stand-out products at the spring shows?

The team went to Spring Fair and the main trends they found were an increase in home fragrance and novelty gifting. They picked up Freckleface from the show, which we now have in-store - and the brand’s products look great.

What do you offer that high street gift retailers don’t?     We try, where possible, to support local and small brands that you can’t find in most high street retailers - and we also mix in some unusual more expensive pieces to give the ‘wow’ factor and offer something different.

We stand out due to our theming and inspirational displays, so you can easily recreate how things look at home.

Charmaine Fox Gift Manager

Caulders Garden Centres

Nine branches in central Scotland

What’s your gift merchandise mix?

We have a vast variety of products, which are perfect for the home, garden and special occasions. We even stock clothing from Regatta and Stormafit, along with a selection of ladies’ seasonal footwear.

What’s selling well?

Our best sellers are sentiment items; home fragrance, especially wax melts and scented sachets; Easter ornaments; and greeting cards.

Did you spot any stand out products at the spring shows?

I loved Langs’ and [Scottish gift wholesaler] D & C Supplies’ products. They continually produce beautiful fresh new designs and ranges.

What do you offer that high street gift retailers don’t?

We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service, knowledgeable and friendly staff, beautiful unique gifts, Scottish grown plants and, last but not least, our fantastic restaurants. You can make a visit to a Caulders Garden Centre into a day out for all the family, and purchase everything you need under one roof!

“We have a vast variety of products”

Anna Bryant

Head Buyer

Ransoms Garden Centre

St Martin Jersey

What’s your gift merchandise mix?

The garden centre world is ever-evolving for a day out experience, so we stock everything from custom ordered luxury Orla Kiely sofas to gorgeous selfcare items by Salt & Steam.

Gifts is a strong area for us, and we have invested in new fixtures for the area, to give it that clean ‘wow’ look and make our products shine. We are one of those locations where customers come in to grab dog food and go out with a trolley of other things that caught their eye and they just had to purchase!

What’s selling well?

Widdop’s Mother’s Day range sold well for us, with its distinctive design and great price points. Wax Lyrical candles and diffusers are popular, as customers want to refresh their homes now that spring has arrived. We’ve also had a great start to the year with floristry from Floralsilk. The arrangements are such perfect gifts, or an easy and chic way to uplift an interior after Christmas is packed away.

Did you spot any stand-out products at the spring shows?

We love the Widdop Especially For You spinner, with heart-shaped tea light holders and sentiments. We know these are going to sell extremely well when we get them in; they’re great little pick-ups.

Ty UK had some fab bright new introductions and they will be great additions to our current ranging. They had new lines in Squish and we will be adding in the Bellies range too.

Plus, Joe Davies’ karaoke cheese boards (with cheese-related song lyrics on) really gave us a laugh - we know our customers will be chuckling over these too.

What do you offer that high street gift retailers don’t?     As an independent family-run garden centre in Jersey, we can react to trends quickly and meet our customers’ needs. We offer customer orders for anything we can get hold of, providing that extra level of service. As we stock a wide variety of products, we cater for all ages and styles in one location - and free parking, making everyone happy!

“Gifts is a strong area for us”

Hazel Small

Gifts Buyer

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

What’s your gift merchandise mix?

Gifts make up about 37% of our total sales. Within the gift category, stationery (including cards) represents 22%, food and drink 16%, home 15%, toys 14%, and accessories 13%, with the balance spread between other smaller categories.

What’s selling well?

We’ve just had half term, so have sold a lot of toys and some higher price point plush, as well as pocket money pick-ups. We’re also doing well with toiletries and fragrance, with lavender products having a resurgence of interest.

“We try to create a really welcoming shopping experience with plenty of space, creative displays, and a good mix of products under one roof”

Did you spot any stand-out products at the spring shows?

We decided to spread our wings a little this year and visited Showcase 2024 [billed as Ireland’s premier design and craft fair] in Dublin. The exhibition standard was excellent, and we saw lots of inspiring Irish companies who really seemed to offer something genuinely different. I always enjoy meeting smaller suppliers who have made their own products, particularly if they are using local materials.

What do you offer that high street gift retailers don’t?

We try to create a really welcoming shopping experience with plenty of space, creative displays, and a good mix of products under one roof.

We’re not tied to any particular brands, so we can offer something different across the seasons and can react more quickly to current trends than the larger retailers. We also offer free parking of course, and cafes onsite for lunch or coffee and cakes!

Karen Carpenter Giftware and Seasonal Purchasing Manager

Woodlands Garden Centre Sevenoaks

Kent

What’s your gift merchandise mix?

We stock a wide range including baby gifts, children’s books, toys, games and puzzles, stationery, cards and gift wrap, gardening gifts, jewellery, clothing and accessories, wedding and anniversary gifts, gifts for him and her, special occasions, and food and drink.

What’s selling well?

I reintroduced DCUK last spring, after taking a break from stocking them. Their products are flying out and are my best-selling gifts since Christmas, with the Floral Hat and Boots Ducklings being number one.

I’ve stocked Stoneglow candles forever, and their Modern Classics range sells all day, every day. But since introducing the Explorer range this year, New York has been a best-seller.

Jellycat is a new range; ‘If I Were A Rabbit’ has been our best-selling book this year, and Otto Sausage Dog and Bashful Monkey are our best-selling plush. I have some great Easter lines and I can’t wait to expand the range.

“We pride ourselves on being able to offer a wide range of hand-picked unique gifts”

Did you spot any stand-out products at the spring shows?

I’m pleased to say that Toasted Crumpet is my latest addition to the gift department. I’ve been looking to stock them for a while. After seeing their stand at Spring Fair, which looked stunning, I decided to go ahead and order. It arrives in March, and I’ve no doubt it will be a winner with our customers.

What do you offer that high street gift retailers don’t?

We pride ourselves on being able to offer a wide range of hand-picked unique gifts - many sourced from small local businesses - at competitive prices. I’m continually refreshing our ranges as we have regular customers who like to see newness. Our gifts range from birth up to 100!

We offer a gift-wrapping service and a loyalty card scheme. Customers earn points which convert to cash and can be saved throughout the year, or redeemed in-store against a purchase, or used in our restaurant. And we also have ample free parking.

The word on the street...

Maybugs co-owner Greg Rose is back to dish the dirt on what’s hot, what’s new and what’s dropped at his three-strong gift shop chain in the East Sussex towns of Hailsham, Eastbourne and Bexhill-On-Sea

Having returned from a fabulous Spring Fair (the best in many years, and incidentally my 24th year of attending), my desk is bursting with invoices - and the stores have received a tsunami of deliveries. As we enter the spring months, we’re feeling buoyant off the back of a successful start to the year.

What’s Hot?

Let’s talk about websites. We’ve always had a website at Maybugs, and we’re now on our third incarnation over the years. Despite many worrying months, hours of work and tearing my hair out, orders always seemed to be sporadic. Google wouldn’t list us, no matter how many ‘how-to-do’ videos I watched, or how many Facebook posts I shared with our customer base. I thought Amazon had this sewn up, and I was at the point of giving up.

Then I gave myself a talking-to and said: “Greg, don’t treat it as an afterthought. Treat it like you would a physical store.” Since November, I’ve been giving the website as much love and attention as I would if it was our fourth Maybugs store, and dedicating as much time to it as I would a new branch - and it’s produced results. In

January, our online store actually took double our Hailsham store’s turnover, and February was equally as good.

What I’ve learned is that you can’t just put things on a website and expect people to buy. You have to nurture every product as you would in a shop: move things around if they aren’t selling, keep your home page fresh each week (like you would a window display), and give the same customer service that you would in-store - because that’s something Amazon can’t do!

What’s New?

After many years debating whether to stock ranges from Alex Clark and wondering if this would have a detrimental effect on our Wrendale ranges - simply because they are similar in design subject - we’ve taken a gamble and put six spinners into each of the stores (quite a big gamble!).

Early signs are that it’s working and, at time of writing, we sold 124 units in just the first week - and Wrendale sales have continued to be strong. So it looks like we have a winner on our hands.

We didn’t find many brand-new suppliers at the Spring Fair, but what we did discover was that all our main

suppliers had fantastic revamps of their ranges, including Widdop & Co., Langs and Candlelight - all of whom we spent big with.

It was also lovely to see range developments from some of our favourite brands such as Carrie Elspeth and Alice Wheeler London.

“I’ve been giving the website as much love and attention as I would if it was our fourth Maybugs store - and it’s produced results”

Our favourite find was the Strawberry range from Widdop & Co., which sits perfectly with the new Strawberry Patch range from Candlelight. Both are very on trend, and are sure to be hits with our customers.

What’s Dropped?

Valentine’s Day has never really been a thing for us in our stores, but each year we feel we must do something. Once again, this year we were proved right and despite all the fuss, it seems the majority of customers bought ‘cheap’ and chose less expensive cards and gifts. While we did see an uplift in sales, it’s nothing like Mother’s Day… Bring it on!

Meet the hug!

Camal Enterprises

The English Ladies Co launched its first collection of Charlie Bears ceramics at Spring Fair, to smiles and gasps of delight. It has produced a set of limited-edition bone china characters under licence with Charlie Bears, that bring to life some of the most popular Charlie Bear figures.

The collection was very well received with feedback appreciating the detail and likeness to the original Charlie Bears. Strictly limited to a worldwide edition of only 600 pieces, the ceramics will be produced in two small handmade batches - so order early to ensure allocation!

Meanwhile, The English Ladies Co’s partnership with Disney is approaching the tenth anniversary of when the initial licensing contract was signed. Product development takes up to 12 months and the first collection was launched at Spring Fair in 2016, with just three Disney Princess figurines and matching teaware sets.

Since then the collection has grown from strength to strength, and now encompasses properties including Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Nightmare Before Christmas and Lilo & Stitch.

Individually handmade and hand-decorated, the figurines are produced in small batches, and each carries a small symbol on the backstamp, depicting the Year of Manufacture. Keen collectors can identify the first production and subsequent issues of the most popular pieces.

Call: 01782 344900 | Email: sales@camalents.com

Visit: www.englishladiesco.com

A hotchpotch of gifts

Personalised Memento Company

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

Visit: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Characterful collections

Rainbow Designs

Rainbow Designs’ 2024 collection is brimming with licensed character toys and gifts. These contemporary and playful soft toy collections, coupled with muchloved characters, make thoughtful forever gifts and keepsakes for babies and children, to be shared across generations.

Ranges include Paddington, Peter Rabbit, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, Elmer, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and new for 2024, Disney’s The Lion King and characters from The Wizarding World.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Disney’s The Lion King, Rainbow Designs has launched a Disney Baby Lion King range that includes the My First Simba Soft Toy, Comfort Blanket and Ring Rattle, as well as the Simba Sensory Play Mat, with a peek-a-boo flap and baby-safe mirror.

Arriving later this year, the Wizarding World range is a collection of nursery toys which will feature the characters of Harry Potter, Hedwig and Dobby in formats that include My First Soft Toys, Rattles, Comforters and Activity Toys, with more additions planned for 2025. This exciting new range is perfect for fans who want to share their love of the Wizarding World with their new arrivals.

Finally, 2024 is also set to be yet another big year for Paddington, with the highly anticipated release of a new movie and the third series of the award-winning TV preschool show, ‘The Adventures of Paddington’. There will be product launches across all three of Rainbow Designs’ Paddington ranges: Classic Paddington, Paddington For Baby and The Adventures of Paddington.

Call: 01329 277300 | Email: sales@rainbowdesigns.co.uk

Visit: www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

Sleep tight

MORI

Personalised Memento Company has been hard at work creating a range of anniversary gifts, featuring beautiful designs from Hotchpotch. Spanning across a variety of gifts, there is sure to be the perfect present to celebrate the momentous occasion. Keep an eye on the company’s website to see the full range due to be released soon, or simply get in touch with PMC to discover more about how personalised gifts can work for your business.

The award-winning sustainable baby and child lifestyle brand MORI is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved children’s picture book ‘The Gruffalo’, with a S/S24 collection.

Created in partnership with Magic Light Pictures, the range features whimsical woodland prints and favourite characters from the storybook, which has delighted generations of children.

The range for newborns up to six-year-olds is made from organic cotton and bamboo, and includes Clever Zip and Summer Sleepsuits, Long Sleeve and Summer Pyjamas, Long and ShortSleeved Bodysuits and a Front Opening 1.5 TOG Sleeping Bag.

Email: wholesale@babymori.com | Visit: www.babymori.com

Take art

Classic Canes

Walking sticks specialist Classic Canes has teamed up with the National Gallery in London to produce a range of patterned, height-adjustable walking sticks featuring some of the nation’s best-loved paintings.

Managing director Charlotte Gillan explains: “It works really well because patterned canes are a very popular product for us, and this way they benefit from artwork by the likes of Van Gogh, Stubbs and Monet. They are extremely popular as presents and, being height-adjustable, they are also easy to buy for someone else, because you know they are going to be the right size.”

Call: 01460 75686 | Email: info@classiccanes.co.uk

Visit: www.classiccanes.co.uk

Bear up!

Elgate Products

With over a decade of success, Paddington’s licensing partnership with Elgate Products is going from strength to strength with a new range of giftware featuring the much-loved bear from Peru.

Elgate Products is a family-owned business which started trading in 1971. From humble beginnings wholesaling postcards and giftware along the south coast of England, it has grown to become a leading importer of design-led giftware in the UK.

The company has an extremely diverse customer base, ranging from small independent retailers, webbased retail and UK charities through to wholesalers, department stores, and multinational and global blue chip accounts.

Call: 01843 609200 | Email: sales@elgate.co.uk

Visit: www.elgate.co.uk

Sparkle & shine

Enesco

Disney Facets from Enesco feature figurines of superb quality, bringing the world’s most iconic and beloved characters to life, through stunning ‘gem cut’ sculptures. With the look of cut crystal at a fraction of the cost, these multifaceted high-grade acrylic figures sparkle and shine with showstopping detail.

The characters include Stitch, Tinker Bell, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, and many more. Measuring between 9cm and 10cm, each is presented in a branded window gift box. This exciting range of collectors’ items perfectly captures the dazzling personality of each character, with Disney Facets proving to be a huge success.

Call: 01228 404022 | Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk

Visit: www.enesco.co.uk

For Peter Rabbit fanatics

Orchard Toys

THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT collection is Orchard Toys’ first ever character licence and has been launched in collaboration with Penguin Ventures, the licensing and consumer products team at Penguin Random House Children’s.

Fans of the Classic Beatrix Potter tales, and Orchard Toys games and puzzles will love the new THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT collection. It features six stunning games and jigsaw puzzles that blend the fun, educational and engaging gameplay of Orchard Toys with Beatrix Potter’s iconic characters to bring Peter Rabbit to life: Fish and Count (hailed as a Hero Toy for 2024 at London Toy Fair), Don’t Wake Mr. McGregor!, 4-in-a-Box Puzzles, Rabbit Race, Veg Patch Lotto, and Heads and Tails.

The collection is developed under licence from Penguin Ventures on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co. (Beatrix Potter’s publisher and owner of The WORLD OF PETER RABBIT). ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ has sold more than 46 million copies around the world and has been translated into 49 languages, since it was first published in 1902.

Call: 01953 859539 | Email: sales@orchardtoys.com

Visit: www.orchardtoys.com

Step inside

Primeur

Home and garden specialist Primeur has launched a collection of doormats produced under licence from Bree Merryn, one of Britain’s most popular wildlife artists.

With many retailers already stocking Bree’s distinctive wall art and licensed gift collections, the doormats help create a seamless look throughout the home, from the moment you set foot inside.

A total of 18 Bree Merryn artworks have been used in the initial launch, across a range of qualities and price points, with more in the pipeline for future line extensions. The range includes Printed Washable Mats, Boot Trays, Coir Mats, Portrait Rubber Barrier Mats and a Luxury Collection.

Call: 01274 518800

Email: sales@primeur.ltd.uk | Visit: https://primeur.co.uk/

Pride of place

Joe Davies

Photo frames make the perfect gifts for newlyweds or engaged couples - and the new Celebration Collection from Joe Davies captures timeless elegance and offers a great way to display the most treasured moments in people’s lives.

With classic silver frames and delicate diamantes to add a pretty and sparkling finish, these are sure to be a hit. Available with various captions, such as engaged, wedding, and anniversary, they cater to a range of occasions.

Joe Davies has a reputation for awardwinning service and a great range of gifts, jewellery, and fashion accessories dedicated to independent retailers. All products are available in its trademark ‘little and often’ quantities, with a minimum order value of just £100 and free nationwide delivery.

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

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

Share the news

Personalised Memento Company

Get the excitement under way for the Big Day by sending beautiful Personalised Wedding Save The Date Cards from PMC. With the option to fully personalise with any chosen text, they are a wonderful way to share important information about the special occasion with loved ones, allowing them to mark the date in their calendars.

With a classic botanical design, they are ideal for a large range of different wedding colour schemes and themes. The Cards are part of PMC’s Botanical Wedding range, which includes matching mugs, wedding party gifts, and more.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

Visit: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Finishing touches

Stackers

The idea of Stackers was born 12 years ago out of a love of organisation, and the idea that everything has its own place. The company says: ‘We noticed that there was a lack of beautiful and flexible jewellery storage, so we decided to create it ourselves. Although Stackers is still rooted in these values, our collection has now grown to include travel, home, cosmetics and recently our bag collection, with an aim of helping to keep every aspect of your life beautifully organised.

‘The Stackers Wedding Collection is perfect for brides, bridesmaids, grooms and groomsmen. Many products can be personalised and come in a variety of beautiful shades, so you can find something to match your colour scheme.’

The Collection includes a Champagne Bottle Bag, Memory Storage Trunk, Ring Box, Cosmetic & Jewellery Bag, Shoe Glass Display Frame, and Jewellery Glass Display Frame.

Call: 01622 714212 | Email: hello@stackers.com

Visit: www.stackers.com

Very special sentiments

Best Kept Secrets

The Just Because collection from Best Kept Secrets is a popular choice for gift retailers. Last year, the brand expanded the collection with the introduction of new Three Lite Boxes and reed diffusers. Each item is thoughtfully packaged with meaningful messages, making them ideal gifts for any occasion, including engagements and weddings. Managing director Vanessa Curry says: “Our commitment to providing cost-effective options for consumers without compromising on quality is reflected in the expansion of our home fragrance range. The Just Because Collection offers the perfect way to express gratitude, brighten someone’s day, or simply convey care, making it an ideal choice for weddings. We believe that the quality, fragrance profile, and price point of our products help consumers convey sentiments in a heartfelt manner.”

Just Because Three Lite Boxes is a finalist in three categories of the Gift of the Year Awards: Home Fragrance, My Gift of All Time, and Under £15.

Call: 01670 512222

Email: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

Visit: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

Heart to heart

LT Creations

LT Creations has created a truly heartwarming gift, by utilising reclaimed oak whisky staves and barrel bands and transforming them into a range of Whisky Barrel Heart TeaLight Holders. With reclaimed whisky barrel staves, each piece of wood is different in size, finish and appearance. This means no two pieces are ever the same, making it a unique present which can be cherished for many years to come. The Twin Whisky Barrel Heart TeaLight Holder (pictured) has been a staple gift for weddings, engagements and anniversaries since it was launched. All come individually boxed.

Call: 01592 760473

Email: sales@ltcreations.co.uk

Visit: www.LTCreations.co.uk

Let’s talk about...

“Passion and purpose

which have the ability to transform our lives, pushing us to achieve our goals,” says Retail100

Consulting director and co-founder Elaine Hooper

With the first seasonal peak of Valentine’s Day behind us, it provides an opportunity to reflect on what this occasion actually signifies. It can mean many different things, but two words that keep resonating with me are passion and purpose.

Whether in a personal or professional capacity,  passion and purpose have the ability to transform our lives, pushing us to achieve our goals.

Very topical at present is someone who embodied this in a professional capacity. The late great British businesswoman, human rights activist and environmental campaigner Dame Anita Roddick, best known as the founder of The Body Shop, was so passionate about her brand - and the values it stood for - that it resonated with all of us (who can remember the heydays of the beauty products retailer; Dewberry body lotion anyone?).

Everybody wanted to be part of The Body Shop gang because of how the fragrances made you feel, and the ethos of the company and its stance against animal cruelty. It was an emotion, not a hard-sell brand strategy.

When I think back to many successful brands I’ve worked with, it’s always the same passion for their brand, and wanting customers to love it as much as they do, that makes the brand a success in a crowded market.

Many books have been written on the subject of purpose - by which I mean the reason, or the ‘why’ behind what we do - and passion. But ultimately, people buy from people.

You can have the best product in the world but without conveying how passionate you are about it, or

why you want to share this with other people, it’s not going to work. Sadly, I believe this is what happened to The Body Shop. They no longer had anyone to tell their story about what made them different, and other brands did a better job.

Just imagine talking to someone about the thing in your life you feel most passionate about. How does it make you feel? Excited, creative, resilient, and energised… and that passion fuels our journey. Your energy and belief will enable you to become an inspired leader. And if you surround yourself with people who also believe in what you do, then that is half the battle won.

But you can’t succeed with passion alone. You need a ‘why’- the purpose - and that provides the direction and strategy. When these two align, work becomes a source of joy, and challenges become opportunities for growth.

A really great example of this is an experimental way of working we trialled at John Lewis called ‘matrix working’. We were tasked with delivering a new product range

in record time, with new fixtures, branding, sourcing, developing, and all the complexities that came with it.

To engage multiple crossfunctional teams in a large company is a challenge in itself, as they will all have their own KPIs [Key Performance Indicators] and your project does not necessarily support their goals. So what do you do?

“Ultimately, people buy from people”

The first step is to find a leader that is passionate about the project, and has the ability to surround themselves with people who believe the project is worth going above and beyond for.

Then together, using everyone’s different skill sets and strengths, you create a purpose. It is a team purpose: one that everyone believes in and wants more than anything to make a success. If you create this magic, then

Elaine Hooper is a director and co-founder of Retail100 Consulting, which is a consultancy firm with 100 years of retail experience that helps retailers and brands grow.

Coming from a retail background, she worked for John Lewis for 32 years. Categories and roles covered included space planning, project proposition lead, and senior buyer in seasonal, beauty and home categories.

Elaine is skilled in end-to-end strategy, licence and private label product development, sourcing, and maximising brand potential, with experience in leading teams, coaching, and mentoring.

Email: hello@retail100consulting.co.uk

Visit: www.retail100consulting.co.uk

it really feels like anything is possible.

Working together, we not only achieved our goal, but the magic of our team was infectious. Soon everyone was talking about the project and the team - and many people wanted to be part of it and support it.

It’s a way of working that I often think about and advocate for every day. I made lifelong friends because of it, and it’s how [fellow director and cofounder] Sara Allbright and I realised our values were so aligned for our own future at Retail100 Consulting.

In summary, I would ask anyone who reads this to take a moment to reflect on your values, interests, and strengths. What ignites a sense of joy and purpose within you? If you need a prompt, try new things and step out of your comfort zone.

Be really clear, and define objectives that resonate with your passion and purpose - because once you have this, you have your ‘why’and then you will be unstoppable. If anyone would like to discuss this in more depth, please reach out to us at hello@retail100consulting.co.uk.

www.linkedin.com/company/retail100-consulting