Retail Advice

Sarah Laker owner of Stationery Supplies Marple and Wilmslow

How Was It For You?

Amica Accessories

In the wake of the recent trade shows, Henri Davis gets some insight from exhibitors and retailers on how things went – and the hopes for the coming season.

“Jess and Vicky from Amica Accessories were exhibiting at Home and Gift and they were pleased by the number of new accounts they opened as well as the size of orders being placed”

In last month’s piece I talked about my experience at my first trade fair since Spring Fair 20 and now in the space of a month we have been able to attend Home and Gift and PG Live so I am interested to know how it was for the exhibitors and visitors and whether it lived up to expectations.

From an exhibitor’s perspective the level of business at both shows was very good. Jess and Vicky from Amica Accessories were exhibiting at Home and Gift and they were pleased by the number of new accounts they opened as well as the size of orders being placed. It was definitely quieter, but the retailers visiting were serious buyers and because some of the bigger businesses were not exhibiting they found they had more retailers finding them for the first time as they had more time to look around.

Lucy at card publishers Poet and Painter were exhibiting at PG Live. She was nervous about the effects of coronavirus on footfall but actually they had a great show. There were less exhibitors and visitors but the visitors were definitely there to buy. “It was brilliant to see all of our lovely industry friends again, and it definitely felt there was a bit of ‘Dunkirk’ spirit in all pulling together to make it happen amidst the uncertainty.” They were launching two new Christmas collections, including the new Pop Up! bauble range, and both sold very well. I think buyers were very happy to see something fresh and original for this year - after all, most of us are in this because we love cards so something new is a good tonic for the tired soul!

Order values were consistent with 2019. Although it’s clearly been incredibly tough on everyone, many retailers were reporting that their card sales were the most consistent part of their offering through the pandemic, which was encouraging.

James Ellis of James Ellis cards was at PG Live too and while he felt it was quieter than other years it was what he had expected in the circumstances so given the orders they took and the conversations with existing and potential new customers he was satisfied with the outcome of the show and had really enjoyed meeting up with so many industry colleagues.

Sarah Laker owner of Stationery Supplies Marple and Wilmslow said, “It was a real pleasure to be back at a trade fair, there was an excited buzz and everyone was smiling, laughing and chatting. It felt like ‘normal’ after such a torrid 16 months and it was great to meet up with industry friends. Everyone had made such an effort with their stands, I had not been to PG Live before but I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who sells cards.”

So the overwhelming feeling seems to be that it was definitely worth being at the shows, from an exhibitor’s point of view, business may not be at the levels you have seen before but there are plenty of retailers who want fresh new product and being back face-to-face talking about product seems to have been a real moral boost for everyone.

Let’s see what the next few shows bring with Autumn Fair, Top Drawer and the London Stationery Show just around the corner.

Committed to sustainability

Museums & Galleries are taking steps across the business and supply chain to improve sustainability and lessen the company’s impact on the environment. From ecobands to green energy and more, every aspect of the business is reviewed to see where positive changes can be made.

Over the last few years, M&G has developed its traditional base of paper-based cards and stationery products into gift items in other media, resulting in an ever more complex and global production and supply chain with a variety of environmental impacts. M&G is committed to a continuous process of review and change in order to improve sustainability in all its operations. This is an ongoing, progressive, businesswide effort to more sustainable product development and reducing M&G’s environmental impact. M&G was at the forefront of reducing plastic packaging for its cards, developing the ingenious, completely paper-based plastics-free ecoband which neatly ties card and envelope together whilst at the same time providing the best branding solution. Ecobanded cards are now available across all the company’s card ranges. Introduced three years ago, ecobanded products have been tested in multiple high-traffic retail environments with huge success, and have significantly reduced the use of plastics in the business. The cards themselves, and all M&G board and paper-based products, are made from FSC certified paper. M&G is a SEDEX registered company (SEDEX is committed to more sustainable and ethical global supply chains). The M&G HQ in Corby receives its energy from a green supplier. M&G recycles existing packaging and uses old products as packing material for deliveries (they do not buy in packing material). The company has also switched to bio-tape to replace plastic tape for all packaging. Recycling takes place across the business in the offices, warehouse and design studio. Museums & Galleries Ltd’s historic mission is to find the best and most attractive designs from Museums, galleries, designers and artists around the world, and present them on commercial products with contemporary appeal. M&G believes this mission is completely consistent with progressively developing sustainable and ecologically healthy manufacturing and business practices.

“M&G is committed to a continuous process of review and change in order to improve sustainability in all its operations”

T: 01373 462165 Email: sales@mgml.co.uk www.museumsgalleries.co.uk