Gifts & Home September 2021

September 2021

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This Month With trade shows back on the agenda, notably Home & Gift, Harrogate, and London’s PG Live in July, it’s been a truly wonderful few weeks reengaging with the industry in person.

Home & Gift may have been smaller this year, but according to the majority of exhibitors, buyers were serious and placing orders, while at PG Live, the greeting card community - both publishers and retailers - had a joyous reunion, with thousands of new designs showcased for the coming season.

(Turn to pages 9 and 11 respectively).

As we go to press with this issue of the magazine in mid-August, we’re well and truly back in the game, with Autumn Fair opening its doors at the NEC from September 5-8, (turn to pages 7 and 15), and Top Drawer welcoming visitors at London’s Olympia from September 12-14. (Turn to page 9).

And that’s not all that’s happening in September! After a virtual event last year, The Greats Awards are live and happening, taking place at the historic Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in London on Thursday September 23. We want you to be there to be part of the industry event of the year, so find out more by turning to pages 20-21. To buy your tickets, contact event manager Clare Hollick on 01183 340085; email: clare@createvents.co.uk or visit Max-Tickets.net.

Meanwhile, as this is our ‘get ready for Christmas’ issue, we get the lowdown on what’s trending for the festive season (turn to pages 33-35), and discover why clothing has become the new ‘big thing’ for gift retailers (turn to pages 42-45). Plus, we get the inside story on interiors (turn to pages 47-49) and take note on why stationery continues to excite and delight as a gift, ahead of the London Stationery Show taking place at London’s Business Design Centre on October 5-6. (Turn to page 13).

Additionally, Widdop’s creative director Stephen Illingworth reveals what visitors are discovering at the company’s Autumn Bounce Back event. (Turn to pages 40-41).

We also find out how gift retailers have been faring since their shops re-opened in April (turn to pages 30-31), and how importers are coping with the current international shipping crisis (turn to pages 24-27).

As always, the issue is bursting with news and views, so turn to pages 5-13 for the very latest updates on the industry happenings.

Enjoy reading!

Sue

Sue Marks, Editor

@Prog_Gifts

Inside 5-13

News

15

Autumn Fair

20-21 The Greats Awards 2021 24-27 Industry Issue: The Freight Debate 30-31 Feedback: Retailer Round Table 33-35 Spotlight On... Christmas 2021

35

40-41 In Profile: Widdop & Co 42-45 Spotlight On... Clothing 47-49 Spotlight On... Interiors 53

Spotlight On... Stationery

61-62 Best Sellers

45

Above: Sue talks interiors at Home & Gift, Harrogate, with David Lorimer, distributor of David Fussenegger.

Turn to The Inside Story on pages 47-49.

www.max-publishing.co.uk The home of market leading trade magazines Publishers: Jacqueline Brown, Warren Lomax, Ian Hyder and Rob Willis

The Greats Awards takes place on 23 September 2021 at the HAC (Honourable Artillery Company) in London. For tickets, visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk

Sue Marks Editor

Jo Pilcher Advertisement Manager

Ian Hyder Publishing Director

suem@max-publishing.co.uk

jop@max-publishing.co.uk

ianh@max-publishing.co.uk

Subscribe to Progressive Gifts from £60 (UK) to £90 (International) You can organise this quickly and easily online at our secure site: www.max-subscriptions.net For assistance, please email subscriptions@max-publishing.co.uk ISSN 2515-7523

Max Publishing Ltd, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP. Tel: 020 7700 6740 Fax: 020 7607 6411 www.progressivegifts.co.uk Copyright 2021. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

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Industry

NEWS

Greats To Be Back With A Live Event The Winners To Be Revealed Shortly Excitement is building for The Greats Awards 2021 event which takes place on September 23 at London’s Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), where the winners of this year’s competition will be announced.

“It’s wonderful to be back with a live event this year, and very exciting to be recognising and rewarding the fabulous winners who have been so resilient during the past year,” comments PG&H/GiftandHome.net’s editor Sue Marks.

As always, the lunch and afternoon event, compered by stand-up comedian Stuart Goldmsith, will be a glittering occasion, with prelunch drinks to be served on the lawn, and a specially prepared lunch by the HAC’s chef, followed by the Awards ceremony. Guests will then be able to continue to party and network at the venue at the end of the afternoon.

Below: The Honourable Artillery Club (HAC).

Below left: Guests enjoying lunch at The Greats Awards in 2019.

To date, the impressive line-up of Greats sponsors include (in alphabetical order): Candlelight; Carte Blanche Greetings (CBG); Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift; Joe Davies; Life Charms: Progressive Gifts & Home; Premier Decorations; Progressive Greetings Live; Spring Fair and Autumn Fair; Wrendale Designs and The Giftware Association.

For remaining sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ian Hyder on ianh@maxpublishing.co.uk and Rob Willis on robw@maxpublishing.co.uk.

For all other Greats enquiries, please contact Sue Marks on 020 8361 2055 or e: suem@max-publishing.co.uk. For more details, visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk See Countdown To The Greats on pages 20-21.

Josie’s Wins Muddy Stiletto Award James Webster, owner of Josie’s Interiors on Coopers Street in Bideford - a finalist in The Greats Awards 2021 Best Lifestyle or Homewares Retailer of Gifts category - was delighted to hear that his shop had won the Best Interiors Store in Devon Muddy Stilettos Award 2021.

“I have actually won every year since 2017, with the exception of 2020, when the Muddy Stilettos were cancelled due to Covid,” said James. “I have worked seven days a week for the past six years, building up Josie’s from working all by myself to now having a team of 14 incredible people around me. Knowing I have built this up from nothing, off my own back, and that people love it is incredibly humbling and makes it all worthwhile!”

More exciting new is that on July 23, James opened a new Josie’s outlet concept store in the Affinity Devon Outlet Shopping Centre, offering exclusive interiors at up to 60% off RRP. “It has been a huge success,” James confirmed.

Above: Josie’s Interiors won a Muddy Stilettos Award for being the Best Interiors Store in Devon.

Maybugs Opens To Great Acclaim

Lifestyle Pop-Up Shop Lifestyle and fashion accessories company A Gift From The Gods (AGFG) has returned to bricks and mortar retail with a unit in The Broadway Shopping Centre in Bexleyheath. The brand has opened a 12 month pop-up, taking advantage of the discounted business rates. “We opened with a soft launch on July1, and the addition of a café area this month will see the implementation of a full marketing campaign,” confirmed founder Jane Reucroft.

The 1,800 sq ft ground floor unit, situated adjacent to M&S and River Island, offers AGFG’s full product portfolio – bags, stationery, keyrings, jewellery, home, sleepwear and chocolates - and is complemented by a range of ‘Guest Gifts’ from other brands including greetings cards, accessories and homewares.

The inclusion of a small café area with a capsule collection of hot and cold beverages, and branded A Gift From The Gods cakes, will build on the success of AGFG’S chocolate bar range that launched in 2020 and adds an experiential element to the retail setting.

Prior to opening in Bexleyheath, the brand previously had retail shops at The Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley, Kent and Canary Wharf from 2007 - 2010. A Gift From The Gods also had a very successful retail merchandising unit in The Broadway Shopping Centre, Bexleyheath (formerly The Mall) in 2006.

Left: A Gift From The Gods new pop up shop in Bexleyheath.

A brand new gift superstore, Maybugs - located in a former Laura Ashley building - opened its doors in Eastbourne at the end of July, with dignitaries Caroline Ansell MP and His Worshipful The Mayor of Eastbourne, Cllr Pat Rodohan, cutting the yellow ribbon.

“It's so nice to see an independent retailer flourishing after the past 18 months. I wish the Maybugs team the very best of luck,” enthused Caroline, with the Mayor stating: “there's nothing like this in Eastbourne. It gives locals another reason to come back to the town and shop locally, rather than defaulting to online shopping. It's such a beautiful shop, and such a pleasurable experience."

With customers queuing around the block an hour before the store officially opened, co-owner John Dale added: "It makes me so proud that all our hard work has paid off. We set out to create something unique - the future of gift retailing - creating an experience as well as an exciting shopping environment."

It's a second gift shop for Greg and John who opened their first branch in Hailsham's Vicarage Field in 2018, followed by Flowers by Maybugs, a contemporary florist and floral design studio, last year.

Above: Big smiles from happy customers at the opening of Maybugs in Eastbourne.

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Industry

NEWS

Autumn Fair Readies For September Discover New Products And Exciting Launches Home, gift and fashion will be back at the NEC at Autumn Fair, which takes place from September 5-8, co-located with fashion and footwear show Moda. Gifts will be located in Halls 6, 7 and 20.

(See Stepping Into Autumn on page 15).

“For the first time in 18 months, the best in home, gift, fashion, design and sustainability will fill the halls of the NEC,” said event director Jessica Dawnay. “With four Home, Gift, Fashion and Design & Source sectors, the show will deliver a platform for discovering new product and doing business, as well as a host of exciting launches including the Online Marketplace, hosted curated meetings, product

trails enabling visitors to search for sustainable and Made In Britain products and brands, and the Autumn Fair app.”

Plus, the integration of Moda will offer thousands of trend-forward collections. “Footwear, fashion and apparel have spearheaded the strong growth seen in UK retail so we’re delighted that Moda will form part of a wider fashion destination offering access to exclusive brands and the latest collections, as well as a greater variety of products, inspiring trends and cross-over buying opportunities,” said Jessica.

Returning to the show will be retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Pavilion in Hall 20, showcasing new and unique products from start-ups and small businesses.

The show has introduced Covid-19 status checks for all attendees on arrival at the show. l Autumn Fair will also be welcoming the Shandong Pavilion, showcasing products from 30 suppliers from China’s Shandong Province.

Visitors will be able to see, touch and experience products in person, while virtual sales meetings will allow buyers to speak directly to the suppliers.

Visit www.autumnfair.com

Female Founders Initiative The Retail Trust will be supporting the Spring Fair Female Founders initiative, launching at Autumn Fair 2021. The programme has been created to champion and celebrate inspiring female entrepreneurs.

The initiative will support the growth of female founded retail businesses by offering six businesses a free stand at Spring Fair 2021, followed by 12 months of business mentoring with leading female entrepreneurs.

Above: Visitors at Autumn Fair in 2019.

Retail Trust Partnership Launches At Autumn Fair The Retail Trust has been selected by the Hyve Group as the charity partner for Spring and Autumn Fair over the next two years.

Launching at Autumn Fair (September 5-8, NEC), it will incorporate offsite volunteer days, team challenges and onsite activity.

Prior to Autumn Fair, a host of onsite wellbeing initiatives will be announced, which are likely to include a Wellbeing lounge.

The charity will also be the Wellbeing Partner across all Hyve Group’s retail shows in the UK - Spring Fair, Autumn Fair, Pure, Glee and Scoop - providing dedicated support, awareness and fundraising for the retail sector. A dedicated Wellbeing section will launch on each of the event websites featuring. informative and supportive articles alongside videos that support the wellbeing of both retailers and wholesalers.

Visit www.autumnfair.com

Four Day Spring Fair

Above: The Retail Trust creates hope, health and happiness for everyone working in retail.

A Strain On Small Businesses Gift and home retailers are among the 65% of small UK businesses that have been put off taking orders from EU customers, according to a recent poll by the online magazine Shop Small, Love Local.

At the beginning of July, the EU introduced new rules on how VAT is accounted for on cross-border trade. As a result, businesses selling good valued at €150/£135 or below to customers in the EU need to charge import VAT. Some 56% of small businesses said they did not fully understand the changed rules. A further 22% were worried about the cost implications for their business. According to Shop Small, Love Local the main area of confusion for small business owners is how to calculate, collect and pay the VAT due on sales.

Poll respondents included small businesses from across the UK selling goods including giftware and homewares. A third of respondents stated that they would regularly have received orders from EU customers.

The online poll was conducted though the Support UK Small Business network on Instagram for the Shop Small, Love Local campaign.

Left: New EU VAT rules have Bira and the FSB are among organisations offering advice to independent confused many gift retailers. retailers that are selling to EU customers.

Following overwhelming industry support, Spring Fair (which normally takes place over five days), will become a four day show in 2022, opening its doors to visitors from Sunday February 6 until Wednesday February 9 at the NEC Birmingham, with the addition of late night openings - until 7.30pm - on Sunday February 6 and Monday February 7.

“After extensive research, analysis, and collaboration with over 3,500 exhibitors, buyers and partners, we have taken the decision, which reflects industry opinion and buying behaviours, that Spring Fair will become a four day show,” explains Spring Fair’s event director Simon Lau. “We have listened to our customers who had overwhelming feedback that the show was a day too long.”

Simon continued: “Buying behaviours have changed in recent years. Visitors have communicated that they welcome a four day show and that a more condensed few days, with the same number of talks, demonstrations, and meetings, would make it a more dynamic and action-packed event. We are also really pleased to introduce two late night openings. A trend common in retail already, the additional opportunities to trade will greatly benefit visitors attending for one day only.”

Visit www.springfair.com Above: Spring Fair 2022 will be a four day, action packed show.

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Top Drawer Returns To Olympia Trends Lead The Way Top Drawer will be bringing together a curated edit of top brands and new names across the design and lifestyle spectrum from September 12-14 at London’s Olympia.

Nine sectors feature Gift ((contemporary brands); Home (interiors, accessories, kitchen and dining, furniture, lighting and outdoor living); Fashion (accessories and jewellery from established brands and rising stars); Wellbeing (home fragrancing and beauty products); Craft (designer-makers); Greetings & Stationery; Play (gifts, toys, fashion and home accessories for

Industry

NEWS

Celebrating The Big 4-O children) and Food Emporium (giftable food and drink from artistans).

The line-up of brands includes: 1973, Aery, Also Home, Beyond Living, Caroline Gardner, CHALK, Clockwork Soldier, CRWST, Designed in Colour, Forma House, House of Disaster, Hyggen Agency, Kikkerland, Lisa Angel, Lorna Syson, Mother, My Doris, Ohh Deer, Plantophile, PR Home, Roka London, S-C Brands, SEVIN London, Spice Kitchen, Swole Panda, T2, Teddo Play,The Candle Brand, The Creative Ox and The Workbench. Over 1500 brands will be showcased.

Returning to the show will be expert speakers at both RetailFest and Design Talk.

Left: Top Drawer will bring together design-led gifts and homewares.

Thumbs Up For Home & Gift Home & Gift, exhibitors reported an excellent show in July, with retailers there to place orders. “It was brilliant to be back,” enthused Steve Davies, managing director of Joe Davies. “Within five minutes of the doors opening we knew that we had made the right decision. It felt like we turned the corner, and over the next four days we saw a huge number of customers.”

Neil Gaukwin, general manager of House of Disaster, concurred. “We were very, very busy. From the moment the doors opened at 9am on Sunday morning we had people on the stand and we were taking orders.”

On the Best Kept Secrets stand, managing director Vanessa Curry commented: “It was a great show, and so good to be back.”

Gallery Direct also reported an excellent show. “We had non-stop customers on the stand who were serious buyers and were here to place orders,” confirmed the company’s PR and marketing manager Judith Bell.

Ceramics designer and renowned potter Keith Brymer-Jones, a judge on BBC 2’s The Great Pottery Throw Down, was a familiar face, chatting to visitors on the Forma House stand, and displaying his expert skills at the potter’s wheel.

Above: Visitors to Home & Gift are shown relaxing at the Gin on the Lawn event.

25th Anniversary Celebrations Despite Covid-19 restrictions, Best Kept Secrets managed to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary during the summer with the afternoon off, a glass or two of bubbly and lots of birthday cake. “We laid on some fantastic food too, and thankfully the day was glorious so we were able to enjoy the sunshine,” recalled managing director Vanessa Curry.

Vanessa took over the helm from her father Alan Edwards and his wife Denise in 2018, who started the company in 1996. Together with her husband Paul, they have rebranded the business, introduced new products and steered the company through the pandemic.

“Reaching 25 years in business is a real achievement, especially after the past year. I’m so proud to be running this company,” stated Vanessa.

This month (August) sees Rex London celebrating 40 years. The company started with a market stall on the Portobello Road in 1981 and has gone on to become a very successful online retailer and wholesaler of ‘gifts of random kindness’, winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise along the way for outstanding continuing growth in overseas sales.

“We are now completely customer-focused in what we buy, with everything conceived, designed and sourced from our London HQ,” confirmed ceo Nigel Biggs.

If he could bring back any product from the archives, Nigel says it would have to be inflatables. “We originally sold them in the 1980s and they were such a fabulous, fun product,” he recalls. “Bananas at football grounds became a massive thing and were all supplied by us.”

As for challenges along the way, Nigel says Brexit and Covid are two of the toughest.

“Fortunately, we are starting to come through to the other side, so there’s light at the end of the (Channel) tunnel!”

Above: Rex London’s ceo Nigel Biggs.

Record Year For Potters Crouch With sales of home fragrancing products soaring during the pandemic, David Brown, director of Potters Crouch, confirmed that the company has had a record year, seeing growth of around 30%, with the company looking to a further 30% growth in the coming 2021/2022 year.

“Our growth has also seen us need to strengthen our management team and streamline our processes, with Matt Elvidge joining us as chief operating office in a new role to drive things forward in the office which is a new development for the company.” (See People on page 13).

All Potters Crouch candles are handmade in the UK using natural ingredients.

Below: New from Potters Crouch: gift bags and gift cards.

Left: Best Kept Secrets recently celebrated 25 years.

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PG Live Deemed A Triumph Fantastic Turnout For Dedicated Card Show The return of PG Live 2021 at the end of July finally brought together the UK greeting card community at London’s Business Design Centre, with independents and multiples sharing their joy at being back together again.

Buyers from leading multiples including Oliver Bonas, John Lewis & Partners, Tesco, Cardzone, TK Maxx, Morleys, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason hot footed it to the show, along with independent retailers across the length and breadth of the UK, who were all there to discover the thousands of brand new launches.

Among the first visitors through the door was Aga Gabrysiak (now Marsden), coowner of gift shop Highworth Emporium in Highworth. “I arrived in time for the opening ribbon cutting ceremony,” said Aga, “and placed my first order with Five Dollar Shake soon after!”

Andrea Pinder, owner of gift shop Presentation in Barrowford declared: “What a show! So much better than I expected. I placed

my first order within 10 minutes. The laughter and banter was brilliant. I’m so glad I saved my buying for PG Live.”

Davina Parkhouse, owner of gift shop The Bean Hive in Kettering, and The Bean House By the Sea in Falmouth, enthused: “PG Live is my favourite trade show, I love it and spent a fortune!”

At Lovely Libby’s gift and clothing boutique in Rayleigh, owner Libby Holden commented, “I saw a lot of brand new companies, and placed orders. In fact, I held off placing card orders prior to the show as I knew that I would be buying here.”

Having travelled up to London from Tiverton in South Devon, husband and wife Jo and Mike Webber, co-owners of Jo Amor, said: “It was great to see the new brands, while also catching up with publishers, designers and the people in the industry that we know and love and have missed so much.”

PG Live 2022 will take place June 7-8, 2022, at the Business Design Centre, London.

Industry

NEWS Mickey & Friends In The Finals

Mad Beauty’s Mickey & Friends collection is among the finalists in the Licensing Awards 2021 Best Licensed Giftware Range, Home Décor, Tableware or Housewares category.

All winners will be announced at a physical evening awards event on Tuesday 14 September, held in The Great Room at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Tickets and tables can be reserved online by visiting Max-Tickets.net or by contacting Clare Hollick at Create Events: clare@createvents.co.uk or +44 (0)1183 340085.

Left: PG Live’s official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Below: Retail Round Tablers: Jo Webber, front (Jo Amor), Richard and Aga Marsden (Highworth Emporium), Paul and Rachel Roberts (Mooch), Mike Webber (Jo Amor), Tabi Marsh (Papilio at Heritage) and Libby Holden (Lovely Libby’s).

Hey, Retail Buddy Having formed the Retail Buddies’ WhatsApp group two years ago at PG&H’s Retailer Round Table at Home & Gift in Harrogate, gift shops, to include Jo Amor In Tiverton, Mooch in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, Love Libby’s in Rayleigh, Papilio in Thornbury and Highworth Emporium in Highworth, enjoyed the opportunity to meet up and compare notes in person at PG Live at the end of July.

Exclusively Gift-Led Gift-led products will be showcased at the live Exclusively Show which takes place at London’s Business Design Centre from August 24-25. The show will include foodie gifts and baking kits, alongside baking, cookware, kitchen and small electrical appliances.

A bonus for retailers attending the show is that independent retailers, to include gift retailers, can not only claim back up to £50 worth of travel expenses, but could also potentially benefit from an extra bonus - the Exclusively £100 Gift Voucher - if they are members of the British Independent Retail Association (Bira).

All independent retailers who are members of Bira will receive the voucher when they register. Once validated at the Bira stand, the voucher can be used towards any single order with a minimum value of £300 minimum (net VAT), placed at Exclusively. The voucher will be accepted by all Exclusively exhibitors.

Safety for exhibitors and visitors will be paramount with show organisers BHETA confirming that they will be following the guidelines to the letter.

The event will host over 130 exhibitors and feature some 200 brands.

Visit www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk Above: London’s Business Design Centre, the home of Exclusively.

A Trio Of Trends Three of the biggest trends to influence our homes over the next three to five years, will be showcased at the live Exclusively Show, taking place from August 24-25 at London’s Business Design Centre.

Revealed as Neo Luxe (punk, sophistication and dark romance from earlier centuries); Reset (preserve, conserve and protect), and Togetherness (positivity and wellbeing) each one will be highlighted with products from the show, backed up with a series of seminars Some 250 press, bloggers and influencers will be attending Exclusively in August, sharing the trends with their readers and followers. Visit www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk.

Left: Togetherness reveals happy, colourful, vintage inspired patterns, giving out a positive feelgood factor.

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Gift Of The Year Competition Is Open For Entries Could Your Products Be A Winner?

Home & Gift, Harrogate, was the launchpad for the 44th Gift Of The Year (GOTY) competition, organised by The Giftware Association.

As the Association’s Chris Workman explains: “we’re excited to see which products and designs will be entered this year, as well as discovering what the creative industries have been hard at work at during the past year.”

He continues: “This year is all about seeing those gifts in real life and meeting the people behind the brands. We will also be celebrating the winners from the previous year, as it was a fully digital competition. Additionally, we have made a few tweaks to the back end of our website - giftoftheyear.co.uk - to make the user journey even smoother and to ensure that products can be seen in their best light.”

This year’s competition will again feature 20 categories as well as the People’s Choice Award which made its debut last year. The judging was opened up to the end consumer and general public, giving products extra exposure to a buying audience. Building on last year’s success, this year, all shortlisted companies will have entry to the People’s Choice award.

The Giftware Association has also released an online Gift of the Year 2020 winners’ brochure featuring the winners and highly commended products from last year’s competition, as well as the shortlisted companies to enable extra exposure. Visit giftoftheyear.co.uk

Industry

NEWS Puckator Teams Up With Pusheen

Tubby tabby Pusheen the Cat is the latest addition to Puckator’s licensed collection.

The company has partnered with the social media star to launch a new range of giftware for ‘lovers of all things cute and feline’.

The range includes beauty accessories, drinkware and bags, with all products featuring Pusheen in various poses and costumes, to include the popular Pusheenicorn.

Below: Pusheen beauty giftware from Puckator.

Worth Taking Note The London Stationery Show, the UK’s only trade show dedicated to writing and paper products, is returning, taking place at London’s Business Design Centre from 56 October 2021.

“We’re very much looking forward to bringing new and existing customers together to do business face-toface” confirms event director Alex Butler. “It’s been a challenging time for everyone, and as much as we’ve all adapted to a new digital world, the pandemic really has highlighted the importance of experiencing products in person before buying.”

Alex continues: “We know our audience has missed those chance findings - stumbling across an amazing product that you didn’t know you were looking for - that only happen at exhibitions. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the Business Design Centre this Autumn.”

Registration is now open via stationeryshow.co.uk.

PEOPLE l Following a head office

restructuring at John Lewis & Partners, the buyer for gifts and candleshop, Sara Allbright (right) - who joined the department store as a graduate trainee 18 years ago - left at the beginning of August, handing over the gift reins to Kerry Nicholls.

Also leaving the business was head of buying for gifts, cook & dine Anna Berry. In a farewell message, Anna commented: “I am so blessed to have worked with the most fantastic team.”

Above: Visitors making their mind up at the London Stationery Show two years ago.

l Potters Crouch has

Smelling Sweet Long established card and gift retailer Penmark has diversified, launching a new home fragrancing business Henry & Co. It made its debut at Harrogate Home & Gift with two ranges of reed diffusers, wax melts and candles. “We are very much aiming at independent gift and card retailers as well as garden centres, giving them new quality brands,” explains Mark Rees, managing director of Penmark, which also owns Love Aroma retail outlets.

The inaugural collection features two brands, Henry & Co and Echo Fragrances. While the Henry & Co collection offers 16 popular scents, ranging from fresh linens to red raspberries, the Echo Fragrances collection features 12 fragrances that are inspired by the most popular perfume brands.

“The launch of our home fragranced ranges is part of a major transformation across the whole business, including the plans and ambitions for our retail side, the company structure, appointment of key personnel, investment in the infrastructure and installation of an EPOS system,” confirmed Mark. “Retail most definitely has a positive future. That said, it is ever more location-driven and proposition-driven. We will therefore be looking at expanding through acquisition, and through organic growth if the right deals are to be had with landlords.”

Plans include refurbishing Penmark’s Ashbourne and Trentham based stores to the new Henry & Co concept. The Love Aroma shops will become Henry & Co Home Fragrance stores, and the Allenton store will be converted to another We Are Cards outlet.

Above and leftt: Henry & Co and Echo.

appointed Matt Elvidge (right) in the newly created position of chief operating officer. His remit includes moving paper processes into paperless and automated, giving customers a portal to place orders directly onto the system which will go directly to picking and packing and then to invoicing.

David Brown will continue to look after the company’s sales and marketing functions with Jo Martin continuing to cover creative and technical director functions. l Congratulations to Aga

Gabrysiak and Richard Marsden, co-owners of gift shop Highworth Emporium in Highworth, who married earlier this month. The couple met on the History & Heraldry stand at Spring Fair in 2007 and married exactly 13½ years later. In addition to gift retail, Richard is also managing director of gift company Eco Chic/Scentiment.

Above: Newlyweds Aga and Richard Marsden on their wedding day.

FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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Autumn Fair

Stepping Into

Autumn Autumn Fair, taking place at the NEC Birmingham from September 5-8, will be opening its doors for the first time since 2019, with exhibitors and retailers excited to finally re-engage in person.

Co-located with fashion and footwear show Moda, PG&H put event director Jessica Dawnay into the hot seat to find out more about the show’s highlights.

“We are so excited to be back and can’t wait to welcome our community to the NEC Birmingham after such a long time apart,” enthuses Jessica Dawnay, event director of Autumn Fair.

“The show will be brimming with newness and inspiration, with tens of thousands of new products and over 600 brands. Feedback is really positive,” confirms Jessica. “If the last year showed us anything beneficial, it is how much people and businesses have missed face to face networking. It has given the industry a fresh appetite for physical shows.”

Spanning Home, Gift, Fashion and Design & Source, the show includes Online Marketplace, hosted curated meetings and product trails, enabling visitors to search for sustainable and Made in Britain products and brands. In addition, an Autumn Fair app will further enable visitors to source products and connect with brands.

New this year is the integration of Moda, which will be showcasing trend forward collections across fashion, footwear,

jewellery and accessories. “Moda will drive key crossover buying opportunities, additional footfall, and a host of new retailers,” explains Jessica. “As retail gets back on its feet, many businesses have diversified to offer their customers more choice, so Moda’s integration into Autumn Fair is a total nobrainer as lifestyle boutiques, department stores and garden centres want one easy to navigate, streamlined buying journey offering a one stop shop, where they can source fashion, lifestyle, accessories, gifts and homeware under one roof.”

On the sustainability front, she adds that following the successful launch of the Sustainability Trail at Spring Fair 2020, the focus will continue at Autumn Fair with the launch of The Sustainability Library and a host of onsite initiatives.

Top right: Jessica Dawnay, event director, Autumn Fair.

Above: Entrepreneur Theo Paphitis, shown at the #SBS Pavilion in 2019, will be back at Autumn Fair this September.

Above right: Home fragrance will be among the sectors being showcased.

Left: Visitors browse the aisles at a previous show.

“And don’t miss a visit to the #SBS Pavilion,” states Jessica. “We are continuing our partnership with Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Small Business Sunday, dedicated to showcasing new and unique products from ambitious start-ups and small businesses, and we’re excited to see all our winners at the show.”

Also taking place at Autumn Fair will be curated meetings, planned across two days, bringing together buyers from national and independent retailers with relevant quality suppliers.

As for online, Jessica explains: “it’s imperative that we deliver a 365 experience for brands and buyers. Earlier this year we launched Online Marketplace, a global digital trading arena enabling trusted brands and vetted buyers to trade all-year-round on a secure wholesale platform. It already features over 5000 products from 50 brands including Rex London, Felt So Good, Lisa Angel and Sass & Belle, as well as boutique

brands including Betty Hula, Seedball, and VENT for Change. With newness and curation at its heart, the Online Marketplace showcases a regular flow of new collections and enables brands and buyers to deepen relationships started in person at Autumn and Spring Fair.”

As for the safety of exhibitors and visitors, Jessica confirms that the show has introduced Covid-19 status checks for all attendees on arrival, and has also updated its Safe & Secure Guidelines.

Visit www.autumnfair.com Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Autumn Fair - Birmingham NEC 5th - 8th September 2021 Hall 7, Stand B62-C63

www.aromatizetrade.co.uk Tel: 01254 300268

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Email: sales@aromatize.co.uk

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WHAT’S NEW Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest products to be showcased at Autumn Fair 2021

Nature Inspired Jewellery Talbot Fashions is showcasing its gift boxed natural paua shell jewellery and fashion accessories. The latest

Fashion Mitts

additions to its range

We are smitten with the latest addition from Hot Tomato. Their super soft,

include a selection of

faux suede mitts come in nine gorgeous colours, are free-size and a fab way

red paua shell designs,

to work your favourite colour into your everyday ensemble. See the full

which are perfect

collection, plus many more launches at Autumn Fair.

accessories for the

Hot Tomato

festive season. Its other

T: 01225 422188

bestsellers include

E: sales@hot-tom.com

wildlife, flowers, hearts,

W: www.hot-tom.com

sea life, Christmas

Hall 20 Stand E20

designs, Celtic and classics - Talbot Fashions offers exclusive designs at very competitive prices.

Talbot Fashions T: 01273 776415 W: www.talbotfashions.com Hall 7 Stand E50

Cocktail-Inspired Fragrances Home fragrance expert Ashleigh & Burwood is adding

Home Fragrance Covered

three new scents to its signature Lamp Fragrances and

Aromatize is the leading UK supplier of

The Scented Home collection. The new additions, which

home fragrance products in the UK. Its

will be available as Lamp Fragrance, Reed Diffusers and

vast portfolio includes brands such as

Reed Diffuser Refills, draw on the popularity of boozy

Aroma Accessories, Woodbridge and

gourmands with fruity cocktails and aromatic gin-inspired

Village Candle, and covers every

fragrances. The new fragrances are Rhubarb Gin, Pink

element that is required in the home

Pepper & Tonka and Passionfruit Martini.

fragrance market. No company offers as

Ashleigh & Burwood

many designs or variations of electrical

T: 01932 267060

wax melt burners, electrical diffusers and

E: COT@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

non-electric accessories at such

W: www.ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk

competitive prices.

Hall 7 Stand C20

Aromatize T: 01254 300268 E: sales@aromatize.co.uk W: www.aromatizetrade.co.uk Hall 7 Stand B40-C41

Art Deco Jewellery The stylish Art Deco Collection from the popular Equilibrium brand at Joe Davies features a range of necklaces, bracelets and earrings all making a bold statement.This simple and elegant range has been designed with all the glamour and glitz of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Elements of the design include stunning lapis blue and emerald green colours which contrast beautifully with the silver and clear diamantes, adding a touch of extra glamour.

Joe Davies T: 0161 975 6300 E: sales@joedavies.co.uk W: www.joedavies.co.uk Hall 7 Stand A30-B31

PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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Over 700 models available from stock

Beautiful natural Paua shell

Please contact us for a trade catalogue: Tel 01460 75686 www.classiccanes.co.uk

Come and view our entire collection at

Autumn Fair Birmingham N.E.C in

Hall 7 Stand E50

By Talbot Fashions

Est. 1980

Call now for our catalogue or place your order online Minimum order just £25 (Ex VAT & P&P) info@talbotfashions.com

01273 776415

www.talbotfashions.com Progressive Gifts half page_Aug 2021.indd 1

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WHAT’S NEW Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest products to be showcased at Autumn Fair 2021

Dragonfly Candles Three designer glass tumblers have been sourced by Best Kept Secrets, each available in twelve ‘Seriously Scented’ fragrances in White Wax and, of course, with Sparkly Toppings. A stunning presentational box in navy blue and pink with a Dragonfly theme adds enormously to the whole package. As well as this there is a matching designer Dragonfly bag which results in a truly glamorous fragranced candle gift at a sensible price.

Best Kept Secrets T: 01670 512222 E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

British Made Candles

W: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

Potters Crouch Candles offers top quality, hand-made in the UK, scented candles using natural

Hall 6 Stand K24 and Hall 20 Stand A25

ingredients. All its products have a quality fragrance and are 100% cruelty and vegan friendly.

The new Wellness Range offers seven new scents including Violet, Sandalwood & Orris Root; Vanilla, Oud & Jasmine and Sandalwood, Mint & Peppercorn.

Potters Crouch Candles T: 01727 836454

Socks A Plenty

E: info@potterscrouchcandles.co.uk

Sock Academy and its three brands; United

W: www.potterscrouchcandles.co.uk

Oddsocks, Cockney Spaniel and Cucamelon,

Hall 20 Stand E41

are ready to make the perfect addition to any gift range. It has had lots of fun with its new designs within United Oddsocks this year,

Stormtrooper Licensed Gifts

from the gruesome 'Dead Legs' to the

One partnership you can expect to see at

beautiful 'Flower Box' so there is bound to

Autumn Fair is Puckator's official Original

be something that takes your fancy. The team

Stormtrooper range. This collection has

can't wait for you to come and see them at

grown considerably in the past year, now

Autumn Fair!

sporting products such as the highly

Sock Academy

popular LED digital thermometer bottle

T: 01582 882124

and the Relaxeazzz plush travel pillow

E: sales@sockacademy.com

and eye mask. Puckator's LED digital

W: www.sockacademy.com

thermometer bottles are created using

Hall 20 Stand F45

the highest quality stainless steel and are BPA free PVC. Puckator T: 0800 0116969 E: customerservices@puckator.co.uk W: www.puckator.co.uk Hall 7 Stand D48-E49

Books For Everyone Bookspeed has been a family-run business for over 30 years and it has established itself as the marketleading supplier of books and games. It specialises in creating bespoke ranges no matter what type of retailer you are. Bookspeed is an expert in the cultural, heritage and gift retail sectors, which translates to the thousands of books and carefully curated ranges being available.

Bookspeed T: 0131 4678100 E: sales@bookspeed.com W: www.bookspeed.com Hall 20 Stand D44-E45

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The Greats Awards 2021

Countdown To

The Greats Awards 2021!

In a year that’s seen shops open and close and reopen again, and retailers, to include gift retailers, pulling out all the stops to go on trading, this September’s Greats Gift Retailer Awards are more important than ever, recognising and rewarding independents and multiples that have demonstrated a true fighting spirit to succeed.

With an exciting new London venue for 2021, join us on Thursday September 23 at London’s historic Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), when the winners of The Greats Awards 2021 will be revealed!

Above: Team Bug at Maybugs in Hailsham.

Far left: The coveted Greats trophy.

Left: The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC).

Below: What better excuse for opening some bubbly! Jane Peakall, co-owner of Daisy Lanes in Rayleigh, celebrates the great news.

Bottom left: James Webster and his team clink glasses at Josie’s Interiors in Bideford.

With just a month to go, Thursday September 23 will see the winners of this year’s Greats Awards announced and crowned at a fabulous Awards event at Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) and Artillery Garden, located on the edge of London’s trendy Shoreditch area, on City Road.

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Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

“It’s a unique, vibrant venue that’s steeped in ancient history, and everyone who is a part of the gift industry is invited to join in the celebrations!” comments Progressive Gifts & Home’s editor Sue Marks.

“Of course, this year’s Greats Awards will be extra special, bringing together all strands of the gift and home industry in a live event for the first time in two years, so expect lots of hugging!” adds Sue. The finalists were announced at the beginning of July, with James Webster, co-owner of Josie’s Interiors in Bideford, admitting to feeling a bit emotional. “I was so

thrilled to hear that Josie’s is in the finals for the Best Lifestyle or Homewares store that it actually brought a tear to my eye!” admitted James.

At Maybugs in Hailsham, delighted coowner Greg Rose, a finalist in the Best

The Greats Sponsors 2021 To date, the impressive line-up of Greats sponsors include (in alphabetical order): Candlelight; Carte Blanche Greetings (CBG); Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; The Giftware Association, Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift; Joe Davies; Life Charms: Progressive Gifts & Home; Premier Decorations; Progressive Greetings Live; Spring Fair and Autumn Fair and Wrendale Designs.

For remaining sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ian Hyder e: ianh@max-publishing.co.uk or Rob Willis e: robw@max-publishing.co.uk. For all other Greats enquiries, please contact Sue Marks on 020 8361 2055 or e: suem@max-publishing.co.uk. For more details, visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk

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The Greats Awards 2021

Newcomer - South & Wales category, said: “It's been the most difficult year for everyone, so it's wonderful for Team Bug to be recognised in this way for their hard work. It means so much to all of us!"

In Essex, Jane Peakall, owner of Daisy Lanes in Rayleigh, exclaimed: “after such a tumultuous year, it’s so exciting to have some good news for a change!”

Meanwhile, at Yarnton Home and Garden, Yarnton, a finalist in the Best Garden Centre Retailer of Gifts category, excited gift buyer Bryony Taylor-Edwards enthused: “We’re jumping for joy! Two years of hard work sourcing beautiful gifts has finally paid off!”

There was more jumping for joy at the Jumping Bean in Beckenham and Honor Oak. “It’s amazing!” said co-owner Nilou Noorbaksh. “If only you could see the smiles behind our face-masks!”

Up in Scotland, Lisa Keogh, owner of Original Artists in Gourock, a finalist in the

Left: Big smiles from a clearly delighted Briony Taylor-Edwards, gift buyer at Yarnton Home and Garden Centre.

Below: The team at Original Artists in Gourock, shout about their success.

Below right: Big smiles from Ainslie Fowler and her sisters at The St. Ives Co. Below left: Smiles revealed! Nilou and Terry, co-owners of the Jumping Bean.

Gift Retailer of the Year Scotland category, added: “we’re over the moon,” while in Troon, Claire O’Donnell, owner of The Herbary, a finalist in the same category, commented: “it’s been such a strange year.

I feel so grateful to have been recognised.”

At the other end of the country, sisters Ainslie Fowler, Tegan Mackay and Safi Mackie, coowners of The St. Ives Co., revealed: “just reaching the finals is a huge achievement and something we are already very proud of.”

As Keiron Cockley, co-owner of four Brocante gift stores in Cornwall, put it: “to receive a nomination from your industry peers is so special, and after a long year, the

An Invitation To The Greats Awards All winners, to include the winners of the Best Service and Honorary Achievement Awards, will be announced at a live, glittering lunch and afternoon event at the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) on Thursday September 23.

All strands of the gift and home industry are invited to share in this exciting, very special day.

recognition that you are doing something right is wonderful.”

First launched in 2003, The Greats Gift Retailer Awards are owned and organised by Max Publishing and Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide.

Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk

How To Buy Tickets To book tickets to The Greats Awards lunch on Thursday September 23, 2021, at the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), contact awards manager Clare Hollick for tickets at Createvents tel: 01183 340085; e: clare@createvents.co.uk or visit Max-Tickets.net Below: Thumbs up from Brocante’s co-owner Keiron Cockley, shown with colleague Marina Norman, content manager.

The Honourable Artillery Company: The Lowdown l The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) was established and incorporated with a grant

of Royal Charter on August 25, 1537, “for the defence of the realm”. l The HAC has occupied Artillery Garden since 1641. l From the 17th century, the Company has been described as a regiment, and remains so

to this day, as the oldest regiment in the British Army. l The HQ and Mess were built in 1734. l In 1964 it became a charity. l HRH Prince Philip was admitted as a member of the HAC on March 4, 1957, five years

after the Queen became Captain General.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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M

Y

M

Y

Y

MY

K

BIRMINGHAM NEC AUTUMN FAIR 2021 HALL 7 STAND D31 5th - 8th SEPTEMBER 00-00_GH_August 2021.indd 1

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WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL

BE RETURNING TO THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEC AUTUMN FAIR 2021!

We look forward to seeing you at stand D31 in Hall 7, to view our new contempary collections of Design-led Homewares & Fragrances.

Follow us on ...

Candlelight Products LTD, Ustun House, Waddington Way, Aldwarke, Rotherham S65 3SH 01709 723000 I contact@candlelight.co.uk I www.candlelight.co.uk

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Industry Issue

The Freight

Debate

Some seven months after leaving the EU, international trade has been hit with a worldwide shipping crisis, driven by the cost of transporting containers which have rocketed from around $2,000 dollars for a 40ft container to $18,000+, with speculation that this figure may reach $22,000 at the time of PG&H going to press in mid August.

PG&H spoke to some of the key players in the sector to find out how they are managing and working around the issues, as well what this will mean to retailers in terms of inevitable price increases, which they will be forced to pass onto their customers.

Despite exorbitant shipping costs, it remains extremely difficult for importers across the board to include gift importers - to secure a shipping slot. Most carriers don't want UK cargo because of the issues when the vessels dock and are therefore favouring European ports.

Consequently, many UK suppliers have had to truck containers over, which adds an additional cost of up to £2,000 per container and can take an extra seven to ten days to reach the delivery point in the UK. Businesses are therefore having to find ways to offset and absorb the inflated costs in the short term, while restructuring their businesses to navigate the challenges in the longer term.

Top: International trade has been hit by a worldwide shipping crisis, with the cost of transporting containers rocketing.

Left: The lack of sailing vessels has compounded problems for freight.

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Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

Minimising The Impact On the positive side, Lesser & Pavey’s managing director Julian Hunt reports that the company is managing the issues with increased costs and delays from the Far East very well.

“Careful planning, our extremely well managed supply chain, and our continued development of new products, has helped minimise the impact and we continue to trade strongly. I would hope and expect other importers to be doing the same so that our industry will continue to prosper.”

Above: Julian Hunt, managing director, Lesser & Pavey.

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Industry Issue

Freight Fright “It’s a double whammy for importers,” points out Gisela Graham’s sales director Piers Croke. “First, a sevenfold increase in the cost of bringing the goods over here from our makers! Ouch! We made our 2021 price list in January based on freight costs of 2018- 2O20. Against this price list we took the bulk of our orders from customers up to April, for delivery in August to October.

Then in May, without warning, freight costs went stratospheric. What to do? We decided (with a gulp!) to honour our January list - though we did note that one European importer unilaterally upped his prices by 9% on orders already taken.

“Second, there was suddenly a shortage of containers to bring the goods in - the reason in fact, for the freight cost hike. So, as well as having to pay more, we importers are now having to fight to find container space. An extreme example: two of the big high street chains, we’ve heard, have booked containers for 11 times the 2020 price ($25,000 a go) to be sure of being able to fill their Autumn/Christmas shelves.”

Continues Piers: “The shortage of containers meant delays would be inevitable. We ourselves have managed - touch wood! - to find ways around the shortage, sending our agents around the smaller ports to ferret out where extra containers can be found. But one way or another we reckon to be able to deliver pretty well on time although it’s going mean extra shifts in the warehouse.

“And the future? Our guess is that freight prices are going to fall back, as the empty containers gradually make their way back from Europe and USA to the manufacturers’ ports. Let’s hope sooner rather later!”

Above: Cranes loading.

Above: Gisela Graham’s sales director Piers Croke.

Absorbing As Much Of The Cost As Possible “These are unprecedented times for any business that imports from the Far East and elsewhere,” says Steve Davies, managing director of Joe Davies. “Covid has interrupted the usual circle of trade, resulting in a sudden intense demand for products, coupled with severe shortages of containers and ships in the Far East in particular. Demand outstrips supply and this has resulted in unimaginable price increases. Container costs have already increased by around 650% and we are not yet in the `busy` season. Rates are set to increase to over 1000%, and space on vessels will go to the highest bidder, with the situation looking likely to continue well into 2022. At the moment, it`s difficult to find anything positive to say about this and any silver lining is proving very elusive.”

Steve continues: “Fortunately, we made a very early decision to place larger than usual orders with suppliers for shipment asap. This has resulted in us having good stock levels with plenty of shipments in the pipeline before things go really crazy. Nevertheless, I’m afraid that we`ve had no choice but to increase prices. However, as always, we are absorbing as much of the cost as possible both to support our customers and to keep selling prices viable. We have also made a commitment not to increase prices on any orders already placed with us.

“Our view is that for the remainder of 2021 and into next year, placing orders with factories, and securing vessel space, will become increasingly difficult. There will be product shortages across the gift industry, and UK retail as a whole, and stock will be at a premium.

“It`s difficult to contemplate, but in these uncertain times, Independent retailers should do their level best to place their orders early to secure stock for the second half of the year. The usual patterns of business just won’t apply this year.”

Left: Steve Davies and the Joe Davies team are shown outside the company’s Shudehill premises.

Advising Customers To Forward Order “The lead times have been getting longer over recent years and, of course, the post-Covid shipping delays are difficult,” says Enesco’s marketing & product director Helen Cottrill.

“We have, however, been advising and encouraging our customers to forward order for many months and our order book reflects this. This gives us time to react to demand, have regular orders arriving in our warehouse and to maximise potential.

“Our products are not available from anywhere else, and we launch the product globally at the same time, so the end consumers know the product is coming and are happy to pre-order from their favourite stockist.”

Above: Helen Cottrill, marketing and product director, Enesco.

Continued on page 27 Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Industry Issue

Above: Ships and containers at the port.

The ‘Perfect Storm’ “Homewares and housewares, like most consumer goods, are not immune from the current supply and demand issues driving increases in costs and their knock-on effect to both trade and consumer pricing,” comments Claire Budgen, commercial and marketing director at Lifetime Brands Europe, whose brands include Maxwell & Williams and Creative Tops. “These issues show no sign of abating, and their sustained impacts cannot be ignored or avoided, driven by extended production lead times, increased product costs and shortfalls in freight capacity, creating the ‘perfect storm’.”

Highlighting the mitigating measures that Lifetime Brands Europe is taking, Claire believes that there are three factors that are key to riding the ‘storm’: partnership, planning, and prioritisation. “We’re working closely in partnership with key supply chain partners to secure both product manufacturing and freight capacities.

We’re also planning meticulously to be in stock with the right products, as well as managing both availability and cash flow in detail. As we continued to trade throughout the pandemic, we were initially caught out by the upsurge in demand for some of our product categories, but subsequently invested heavily and continue to do so. We have great availability with over 1.5m more units on just our key sellers than this time last year, but the increased cost of freight is a complete anomaly to our pricing structure.”

Explains Claire: “We’ve been working extensively with our freight forwarders who, in all fairness, have been fantastic. Both from an information flow, freight planning and availability point of view, I think we have fared exceptionally well, including securing capacity on chartered vessels. The element of pricing though is seemingly uncontrollable. Newness and innovation are vital, and they must be combined with a proposition that offers true choice, so we’re completely focused on driving this through.”

Above: Lifetime Brands’ commercial and marketing director Claire Budgen.

Working Strategically With Our Partners “The challenges and impact are considerable,” comments Gift Republic’s managing director Sam Wahid. “Port congestion globally has delayed goods leaving and arriving at destinations, with the congestion at ports not only causing increased waiting time for our customers - ultimately putting orders at risk of cancellation but also creating problems for production.”

Adds Sam: “The backlog at the ports means products can't be moved from warehouses, which in turn slows down production due to shortages of storage space. To overcome the challenges, we have had to work more strategically with all our partners and give clear insight to shippers and carriers on goods ready dates more than five weeks in advance. We really hope to see 2022 return to normality."

Above: Sam Wahid, managing director, Gift Republic.

A Gift Retailer’s View Prices Will Go Up Greats 2021 finalist Jo Barber, owner of No. 14 Ampthill in Ampthill, has already alerted customers to inevitable price rises.

“It’s not us being greedy or taking a fatter margin but a result of several different factors, from raw materials to shipping costs,” she told her customers in an online newsletter. “As much as we don’t want to, we find ourselves having to review the prices of a number of the products we sell. Although we do stock a lot of products made in the UK it’s highly likely that components will be sourced from overseas, with candles an example, where materials to manufacture the jars and the lids will almost certainly originate from outside the UK. But it won’t only be us implementing these changes - almost everything we buy will soon increase in price.”

Citing a shortage of labour at the factories, and the fact that raw material prices have increased greatly due to worldwide shortages, she added: “As a result of these factors, factories have imposed price increases of between 310%, but unfortunately, the challenges don’t stop with factory price increases.

We’ve held many of our prices, but we’ve reached a point where we will have to pass future increases on.”

Above: Gift retailer Jo Barber.

Left: No. 14 Ampthill.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Spring/Summer Fragrances available to ORDER NOW

Get in touch with us today on 01173161200 or via hfcustomercare@newellco.com

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Reeves & Reeves design and create the most wonderful array of jewellery collections. It works mainly in sterling silver, adding touches of 18k Gold and Rose gold vermeil and a scattering of eye popping, semi-precious stones to add the perfect detail to every unique design.

Its Nature collection encompasses many of its bestselling designs and includes bumble bees, highland cows, flowers and acorns right through to the more unusual wildebeest skull.

The Heart collection sells fantastically all year around, with a wonderful range of styles, prices and designs.

For those who love the timeless appeal of sterling silver in all its

forms our Delicate collection, Chunky Silver and Timeless classics fulfil all their desires. Its classically simple lines create some beautiful and stunning designs that will endure.

Some of its collections have a slightly more specific customer and really do fill a niche in the market. The Equestrian range is very stylish and classical in its design with a contemporary feel that makes it a highly sought after collection. Engravable jewellery still very much has its place and it has created a perfect range to suit all requirements.

Reeves & Reeves has worked hard and has great fun in creating all of its collections.

T: 01460 221630 E: heath@reevesandreeves.com www.reevesandreeves.com

We can certainly say that the last 18 months have been like no other we have ever experienced. Despite the pandemic GLB’s partners have kept up their development work and new pieces are coming into stock ready for what the team hope will be a very strong final quarter.

De Rosa has been very strong online during lockdown and reopening has certainly helped even more. The

prestige pieces have been much in demand and the new Tiger has been no exception. Herend continues to delight with pieces large and small and demand has grown three-fold in the past 18 months as customers look for something different and of quality. The team have seen a demand for Christmas ranges since April and Fitz & Floyd certainly offer something unique - fabulous models with great detail and exclusive to GLB in the UK. Goebel has also been in high demand for their festive and art inspired ranges as well as for the truly exuberant Britto collection. One well worth looking out for. Although GLB will not be at Home & Gift this year, the team would be delighted to hear from retailers looking for ranges of quality which not everyone has.

Contact the team for further details: Tel: 01538 807780 Email: simon@glb.uk.com www.globalluxurybrands.co.uk

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Feedback

Retailer Round Table

Talking Heads After 17 months without trade shows, seven retailers made the most of getting together at PG&H’s Retailer Round Table at Harrogate’s Home & Gift in July to reflect on the past few months since re-opening.

Life on the high street, the positives of having a transactional website and Christmas trading were some of the many topics on the table.

“We’re in a countryside location and are experiencing increased footfall and strong trading,” confirmed Helen Crawford, co-owner of destination lifestyle store Old School Beauly in Beauly. “In fact, we've had a particularly strong year due to various factors. For example, we've been very active online, shipping orders every day and growing a significant digital customer base. We're also experiencing the rise of staycationers, many of whom plan ahead as opposed to going somewhere spontaneously. They're researching our social media and website to make sure that we're open, that our loos are open and they can get something to eat. We need to give customers the confidence to shop. If we, as an industry, can tick that box, I think the future is really bright for retail.

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PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

Retailer Round Tablers 2021 (in alphabetical order) l l l l l l l

Clare and Hannah Bishop, co-owners, Cornucopia, Worcester Helen Crawford, co-owner, Old School Beauly, Beauly Janet Hartree, owner, Ewe & Me and Ewe Too, Grantown on Spey Bill Nettelfield, owner, Bill & Bert’s, Colchester Jenni Taylor, manager, Alligator Pear, Tadworth Maggie Thornton, owner, Alligator Pear, Tadworth (Chair: Sue Marks) Above: PG&H’s editor Sue Marks (centre, front) with this year’s retail round tablers.

Left: Hannah Bishop.

Below: Helen Crawford (left) and Clare Bishop.

“However, it is a story of two halves and those who relied on office footfall have seen sales plummet,” Helen pointed out.

“It’s therefore important that the retail sector is looked at as a whole, as we all need to get through because it strengthens the entire trade. In fact, we should all be ambassadors for the recent Bill Grimsey report which recommended that the government should write off the Bounce Back Loan for independents.”

On the subject of staycationing, Janet Hartree, owner of Ewe & Me and Ewe Too in Grantown-on-Spey concurred. “It’s very much about people getting into their cars and away from their home environments. There’s no doubting that people are really happy to be out and about again.”

Clare Bishop, co-owner of Cornucopia with her daughter Hannah, confirmed that there had been a steady flow of customers since reopening. “Interestingly, we now get customers coming in early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and although we’re seeing fewer customers they’re definitely spending more,” she emphasised. “Also, people are continuing to update their homes which has inspired us to look at different products.”

As for the shop’s online business, Hannah Bishop explained: “We started out on Trouva in 2019 but have subsequently created our own website. Now we use both online and social media to engage with customers as we’re finding that they want to buy into the Cornucopia ‘look’.”

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Feedback Having started trading in 2019, Bill Nettelfield, owner of Bill & Bert’s in Colchester, has only just been able to make a year-on-year comparison, due to the lockdowns, but confirmed that the shop is trading 40% up on last year.

“Although we don’t have a website, we are very active on social media,” he explained. “Fortunately, this year, we’re benefitting from staycationers. Holidaymakers have been coming down from Scotland, Newcastle and Leeds to stay in Clacton or Mersea Island, and during their time there they are visiting Colchester, which is really helping to drive sales for us.”

On the topic of staycationing, Janet Hartree highlighted that since re-opening on April 26, the caravan site and holiday homes have been full. “However, that wasn’t reflected on the high street for a couple of weeks. Generally speaking, we found that people were reluctant to go into shops. Plus, some retailers were only open for a limited time, or closed early, or both, which rebounded on other retailers such as myself who were working hard to get customers back in store. To make it work, retailers need to work and pull together, and this is actually a golden opportunity for high streets to pull their finger out. We need to put up bunting in our town, and hang up baskets of flowers, so that we look and feel like a community.

Although we have recently launched a minimal, transactional website, it can’t provide the very personal service that we can offer through the shop. That’s something that’s irreplaceable.”

Helen Crawford explained that the Old School Beauly is experiencing ‘layers’ in relation to who is buying what and how.

“We've got over 7,000 products on our website and lots of related social media video content, but the website - which saw sales increase by 540% during the lockdowns - is not the biggest part of our turnover. Many customers are using it not only to purchase online but also to research the products we offer.

There's always going to be a customer who prefers to come into the shop and buy which is great!” said Helen.

It's been a similar story at Ewe & Me and Ewe Too. “Although we’ve only just launched our website, a lot of our customers are already telling us that they saw something that they wanted to buy on there and have come into the shop to buy it,” commented Janet Hartree.

At destination store Alligator Pear in Tadworth, manager Jenni Taylor emphasised the amount of work that has gone into improving the shop’s website and social media activity during the pandemic, which has subsequently turned into a good source of sales. “We’ve put on more product, we’ve advertised the website on social media and it’s paid off in increasing our online sales. We also run competitions and ask people to follow us and tag in a friend.

However, we’ve found that customers still want to come into the store to shop with us because they like to see and touch the products. Also, given

Retailer Round Table

Left: Bill Nettelfield.

Below left: Janet Hartree.

Below right: Maggie Thornton.

Bottom: Jenni Taylor.

the varying ages of people who shop with us, not all of our customers are on social media,” Jenni pointed out.

As for product sectors that are currently trending, Alligator Pear’s owner, Maggie Thornton, highlighted interiors - especially throws, cushions and faux plants - along with clothing, which was echoed by all attendees. “We also do fantastically well with Freckle Face soya wax melts,” she added.

On the clothing front, Bill Nettelfield said the sector was a huge seller for Bill & Bert’s. “We stock mid-priced brands to include Italian brand LVClothing and Lottie&Moll womenswear.”

In addition to interiors and clothing, Helen Crawford said that it’s the Old School Beauly’s own brand candles and accessories that ring up the most sales. “There’s been a thoughtful shift to provenance. Customers want to know who made the product and where it comes from. People are really starting to make that connection now.”

Sales of greeting cards too, continue to keep the tills busy. “After the lockdowns, people came in to buy bundles of them,” recalled Clare Bishop, while Maggie Thornton added that it’s often cards that pull people in who are then drawn to the store’s gifts, fashion and lifestyle products.

As for the all-important fourth quarter, for all attendees, Christmas buying kicked off at Home & Gift, with Bill Nettelfield feeling very positive about the Christmas trading period. “However, getting stock, coupled with price increases, will be the issue,” he stated. “For example, a recent invoice I received had a surcharge of 28%!

I’m also concerned that continuity of stock will be an additional problem.” (See The Freight Debate on pages 24-25).

Maggie Thornton added that given the current freight and shipping issues, she and Jenni Taylor had already drawn on their department store backgrounds and pre-ordered stock early. “To not be able to get hold of stock would be the worst thing that could happen. However, of course, we realise that we’re very lucky to be in a position where we can forward order,” she added.

“Aside from the run up to Christmas, which we’re really looking forward to, we also do extremely well in the week leading up to New Year, so given that we had to close last year, I’m looking forward to our usual busy trading period,” enthused Janet Hartree.

Meanwhile, concerning for Helen Crawford at Old School Beauly was that the Scottish government was continuing to put out a negative message. “To make the next quarter successful for independent retailers we need a positive, inspiring message from the top telling people to go out there and shop on their local high street,” she stated.

Nevertheless, with the ‘shop local’ message really hitting home now, as people look to support their local high streets, and ‘shop local’ campaigns aplenty across the media, it’s fingers crossed that all things being equal, the tills will be ringing merrily on high from now until December.

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Best Kept Secrets Ltd Morpeth, NE61 6JT Tel: 01670 512222 Email: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk Web: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

Celebrating Family and Friends Trade Price £3.75 + vat RRP £8.99 Extensive Range Of Seriously Scented Fragrances Autumn Fair Hall 6 K24-20A25

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Spotlight On... Christmas

Making Merry If you haven’t come across gonks yet, you will this Christmas! They’re the ‘big thing’ in Christmas decorations Scandi-inspired mythological creatures considered to be a Nordic version of Santa Claus. Faceless, they’re easy to spot with their long white beards and pointy knitted hats!

But, of course, that’s not all that’s going to be trending.

With traditional red and greens still strong, and icy white and silver working its magic, PG&H went in search of what else will be making Christmas a magical one this year.

According to the trend forecasters, ‘togetherness’ is, unsurprisingly, going to be the buzzword this Christmas, as families and friends will - fingers crossed! - at last be able to ‘make merry’ and celebrate the festive season together.

For most, it will be an extra special celebration, with hosts and hostesses really pulling out all the stops when it comes to creating the nostalgia of Christmases past, with much loved family decorations dusted off and brought out of their boxes and new ones added, while scented candles, wax melts and reed diffusers will be helping to evoke the familiar Christmassy fragrances that we all know and love.

For those who like to trend spot, there could also be a rather special addition to the guest list! “Gonks are a big trend this Christmas,” highlights Joe Davies’ head of product development Laura Leigh. “These quirky little fellows are Danish Nordic characters that are said to watch over the Right: Village Pottery from Joe Davies.

Below: Joe Davies’ Skandi style gonks.

home. We’ve introduced Skandi style gonks in soft pinks and greys, following on from the success of our jolly spotty gonks in traditional Christmas red. They make the perfect Christmas decoration and gift to dress a mantelpiece, window or the Christmas table. Styles range from from shelf sitters and standing tall to fat gonks.”

Meanwhile, Laura says that warm and cosy are the main trends for Christmas 2021, with the company ensuring their gift products give the home a toasty warm feeling. “There’s nothing cosier than the glow of Christmas lights,” continues Laura.

“Our Village Pottery range includes traditional red village houses as tea light holders, lanterns and brand new oil warmers, ensuring the home can smell like Christmas and glow with the lights of candles. Each piece has a unique vintage, craft look finish and, in keeping with the light up theme, there is a new collection of festive rattan decorations with warm white LED lights to brighten the home at Christmas.”

Above: Three gonks from the Gallery Direct range.

Below: Among the Gallery Direct Christmas themes this year is frosty whites and silvers.

The collection has been made to look festive, with pine cone details, red berries, gold colourway and luxury gold bows. “There are different shaped wreaths for the front door, while, for the table, hearth and mantelpiece there are cone shaped Christmas trees and a light-up parcel shape, as well as hearts and stars for hanging on the wall. These decorations are sure to bring a festive charm to shop displays as well as to homes,” adds Laura.

Meanwhile, gonks are also a staple in this year’s Gallery Christmas offer. “To add a fun touch to the festive season, Gallery’s gonks make a cute addition to any interior,” says Chris Lewis, head of sales & business development (Accessories). “The popularity of these amusing Scandinavian characters is gaining momentum here in the UK as they

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

33

a crystal fantasy for every animal lover ™

See us at Autumn Fair Hall 7, Stand E20 Scan the QR!

sales@wildthingsgifts.com www.wildthingsgifts.com Main office 01392 211268

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Spotlight On... Christmas are ideal for perching on shelves or furniture to brighten a room and to bring a smile to people’s faces.”

For Christmas 2021, Gallery Direct has introduced several themes to suit different tastes and interior styles. Ranging from nostalgic pieces and traditional colours that create a warm family feel, reminiscent of happy times gone by, other key trends feature frosty whites and silvers that create a winter wonderland look and feel; luxe candy pinks and golds, with rich mineral hues and striking sparkly accents; a gold collection featuring shimmering glitter and gold, and a blue and green story to add a touch of natural charm.

Of course, traditional colours too, are continuing to trend.

“Christmas is a very traditional festival so it comes as no surprise that traditional colours and themes are proving as strong as ever red and gold and the Scandinavian look,” says Gisela Graham’s sales director Piers Croke. “But we’re finding blues and greens are making ground, and purples too.

We always feature a white frosty look in our collection,” he adds, “which this year is called Winter Dreams. The sheer white is offset with a touch of purple in the Crocus Fairies dresses, where we’re optimistically looking ahead to April. But our customers and consumers always expect us to spring some

Left: Ashleigh & Burwood’s festive scent, Christmas Spice, is available in a new threepiece gift set.

Below: Candlelight’s new Apothecary collection.

surprises, and we’ve risen to the challenge.

For Christmas 2021 we have designed some very off-the-wall collections which have been very warmly received by the trade.”

Of course, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without familiar festive imagery, with Lesser & Pavey among the companies bringing out new Christmas-themed products in the company’s Desire home fragrancing collection. Examples include a new silver satin finish on aroma lamps, humidifiers and plug in aroma lamps, with designs featuring angel wings, a fairy, tree of life, stars, butterflies and feathers, along with a dream catcher. “We have designed a range that projects the images of Christmas, with a white light and traditional fragrances sold as accessories to allow for fragrance preferences,” explains director Johnny Greves.

The fragrance of Christmas continues in the company’s Desire range of candles, in gold, red, green and white glass surrounds, along with lids and tassels. “The striking new range of diffusers have been specially created for the festive season with designs, colours, and fragrances to enhance the home,” says Johnny.

Other Christmas ranges have been Above: Among the new tree decorations in Gisela Graham’s Flower Fairy collection.

Left: Lesser & Pavey’s Christmas-themed satin Aroma lamps.

Festive Fun & Games Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without playing games, with Gift Republic confirming that consumers are expressing a desire to purchase more board games, escape rooms and murder mysteries.

“For this coming Christmas, we’ve developed a series of 80s and 90s-themed escape rooms that transport people back to their favourite decades,” confirms senior designer Stephen Grace.

“We’ve also noticed how much people love and want to spoil their pets so we’ve developed a doggie bath bomb so that pooches can be pampered after a long walk in the park.”

Right: Escape the ‘90s from Gift Republic.

designed specifically for the festive table to include enjoying a drink with family and friends.

Traditional tabletop includes new hand painted glassware range by Lynsey Johnstone, as well as a range of snowy scenes, captured in glassware.

Other festive imagery shows Santa delivering presents under the Christmas tree and a robin in the snow.

As Deborah Bettinson, PR manager (B2B) at Ashleigh & Burwood points out: “there is always a streak of tradition flowing through fragrances, colours and concepts at Christmas time. This year, the traditional festive red colourway is bolstered by midnight blue and offset with cool silver and sage green.”

Adds Deborah: “Festive fragrances also have a strong gourmand influence as so many of our Christmas memories are bound up in the foods we enjoy at this time of year.

Memorable Christmas fragrances include spicy and sweet notes such as cinnamon, clove, caramel, vanilla and nutmeg for a warming combination. With notes of orange, clove and vanilla we’re launching Christmas Spice, one of our best loved Christmas scents, in a host of new product formats this season including two new home scenting gift sets.”

Candlelight meanwhile, is focusing on the earthy and natural. “Our Apothecary range is ready for the Christmas period, with deep glass vessels and natural cork lids,” highlights E-commerce and marketing manager Kate Winch. “It features three aromatic fragrances - Midnight Pomegranate, Orient and Amber and Honey Blossom - with each one created to complement the style of the range.”

From gonks to room settings, and from fairies to fragrance, it’s getting to feel a lot like Christmas!

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35

Hello Autumn We create bespoke book ranges for every kind of retailer.

Where will we be?

Autumn Fair - NEC Birmingham Stand: 20D44-E45 5-8 September 2021

@SpeedMyBook

@Bookspeed

@Bookspeed

@Bookspeed

36_GH_September 2021.indd 1

Top Drawer - Olympia London Stand: E29 12-14 September 2021 Books to compliment & enhance your retail store. www.bookspeed.com Tel: 0131 467 8100

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest Christmas products to be showcased this month.

Say It With Fragrance.

Bling will always be popular at Christmas! Lesser & Pavey have these diamente diffusers available in silver and rose gold ready for the festive season this year. These diffusers come in 100ml, 200ml, 500ml diffusers with quality perfumes and reeds, with some available in gift sets of three diffusers, with candle and diffuser gift sets as well. These are presented in attractive gift boxes to add to the product’s finished look.

Lesser & Pavey T: 01322 279225 E: sales@leonardo.co.uk W: www.leonardo.co.uk

Christmas Glassware Lesser & Pavey is launching new additions to the highly successful range of stylish hand painted glassware featuring dragonflies, flowers, bumblebees, ladybirds and other natural themes . These are the newest additions to the Lynsey Johnstone range which continues to grow. Each item in the range is beautifully gift packaged and will make a perfect gift. See all its latest ranges on stand 7E30-6A31.

Lesser & Pavey T: 01322 279225 E: sales@leonardo.co.uk W: www.leonardo.co.uk

Christmas Inspired Crystals Expanding on the ever-popular Crystal Fantasy range, Wild Things Gifts has introduced three brand new designs ahead of the holiday sales season - Reindeers, Snowflakes and Christmas Trees. Stock is readily available now for this new range along with its classic Christmas favourites as well.

WIld Things Gifts T: 01392 211268 E: sales@wildthingsgifts.com W: www.wildthingsgifts.com

Christmas Gift Set Ashleigh & Burwood’s Christmas Gift Sets in The Scented Home collection contain everything needed to scent the home with heartwarming and festive fragrance. The new three-piece sets, containing a petit diffuser, candle and scented sachet are ideal to get the home ready for Christmas, or for festive gifting. The new set is available in two popular festive scents; White

Personalised Christmas

Christmas and Christmas Spice.

The Personalised Memento Company (PMC) is launching

Ashleigh & Burwood

an extensive new range for Christmas 2021; with

T: 01932 267060

personalised gifts for every member of the family. This

E: COT@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

lovely pawprint design is available on a stocking making

W: www.ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk

sure no one is left out on Christmas morning! See PMC’s website for its full range of drop ship gifts.

PMC T: 01782 744900 E: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk W: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

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37

2021 GIFTWARE Available at www.gbeye.com

COMING SOON!

Call: 0114 276 7454 or email: enquiries@gbeye.com 2021 07 02 Gift Box Friends advert.indd 1 38_GH_September 2021.indd 1

05/07/2021 10:19:08 19/08/2021 12:08

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest Christmas products to be showcased this month.

Wax Melt Gifts Sets Medley of Sensations is a new and impressive gift concept allowing customers to sample twelve different scents whilst giving over one hundred hours of Seriously Scented fragrances. A truly attractive gift box creates an incredible first impression

Christmas Brooches

but the best is yet to come as the

Hot Tomato has launched some gorgeous new

customer opens to see the array of

brooches for the coming season. Editing your own

twelve colours. Melody of Sensations

look couldn’t be easier with these beauties, whether

is available in ‘All Year’ and

worn solo, or in a cluster of your choosing. They make

‘Christmas’ collections.

a lovely gift too - if you can bear to part with them!

Best Kept Secrets

Hot Tomato

T: 01670 512222

T: 01225 422188

E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

E: sales@hot-tom.com

W: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

W: www.hot-tom.com

Christmas Interiors Hill Interiors has scoured the globe to deliver a Christmas collection with sublime handcrafted detailing across a wide variety of finishes. From stunning smoked glass to beautiful bark-edged wood, the collection is a celebration of craftmanship and carefully curated materials that exudes premium quality, yet is affordably priced.

Christmas To Suit All Styles Gallery Direct offers an extensive range of Christmas lines, including a lovely selection of cushions. The variety available means there are ones to suit different trends, from more traditional looks featuring wreaths and trees with red

Hill Interiors

highlights, to cute fun styles, to contemporary designs in

T: 01845 567044

subtle colours. Its collection of decorations offers a

E: sales.enquiries@hill-interiors.com

wonderful selection, including classy baubles and rustic

W: www.hill-interiors.com

garlands, snowy trees and warming candles, and delicate wreaths and cute characters.

Gallery Direct T: 01795 439159 E: sales@gallerydirect.co.uk W: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Christmas With a Difference If you are looking for unique Christmas gifts and decorations, or searching for the trending pop culture collectibles, then look no further than Nemesis Now! Its extensive collection of licensed and alternative giftware features exclusive products from the world’s finest fantasy artists and is home to the most in-demand licensed pop culture merchandise.

Nemesis Now T: 01782 596660 E: sales@nemesisnow.com W: www.nemesisnow.com

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Autumn

In Profile: Widdop & Co.

Bounce Back Currently part way through an 11-week Autumn Bounce Back showroom event, Widdop & Co’s creative director, Stephen Illingworth, highlights an exciting Autumn/Winter for the company. Open to visitors until September 17, there’s still time to head to Manchester!

From The 12 Dreams of Christmas to weddings, celebrations, occasions, Disney and other licensed offerings, there are 8,000 products on site, as Stephen explains.

“This Autumn, we decided that instead of exhibiting at Autumn Fair, we would do what we do best and host our own spectacular Widdop’s Autumn Bounce Back showroom event,” explains Stephen Illingworth, Widdop & Co’s creative director.

“During Covid, we realised that what we have to offer here really does resonate with our customers and allows us to take our customers on that journey with us, right here in our very own Manchester showrooms. We have over 8,000 products on site including a multitude of sentiment, licensed, homeware and everyday gifting products that are on trend and style-focused. Our five extensive showrooms are currently guiding visitors through trends and styles, really bringing it all to life, with the last day on September 17.”

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Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

Christmas has, of course, always been a huge focus at Widdop. “From the traditional to novelty, and from licensed gifts to homeware, we have it all covered,” confirms Stephen. “For Christmas 2021 we took customers on a journey through The 12 Dreams of Christmas - each one representing key trends in Christmas occasion gifting and decoration. From the more traditional toy shop, Royal affair and holiday cottage styles to the more modern realms of opulence, refined glamour and safari nights, we’ve offered something for every style and occasion, all of which is in stock now. We’ve covered simple to intricate, and sparkling contemporary designs to traditional favourites, with our customers able to travel through a range of festive themes.”

In fact, Christmas covers a large part of Widdop’s product offering. “With our very

Above: Stephen Illingworth, Widdop & Co’s creative director.

Below right and left: Different Christmas looks for 2021.

Below middle: Off to the North Pole.

Bottom left: Celebrating family.

own North Pole Novelties brand, we can drive innovation year in and year out,” points out Stephen. “For Christmas 2022, we are launching Widdop & Co Presents Christmas at the Movies ranges that encompasses several brand new licensed products.”

In addition, the wedding season is very much back in the spotlight now, with Stephen feeling confident that it’s going to

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In Profile: Widdop & Co. be bigger and better than ever. “With all the postponed weddings dating back as far as 20 March 2020, wedding events are back on, and people are wanting to make them more special and sentimental - getting friends and family back together for such a monumental occasion.”

The company offers three key ranges to cater for all styles and themes, for both wedding and anniversary occasions. “Amore is our staple wedding range, keeping it classy, simple and traditional with neutral colours, soft blushes and floral accents. Love Story is modern and trend-led, all about shabby-chic barn weddings that we know are popular, with wooden, rustic and cottage-feel gifts and decorations. And finally, Always & Forever reflects utmost sophistication and glamour, encompassing glitz and glam into spectacular wedding giftware.”

Sentiment ranges too, have always been a huge part of Widdop’s offering, across baby, wedding, anniversary and memorial. In fact, Celebrations is Widdop & Co's largest brand. “Designed in the UK to cover all of life's precious moments, the collection provides quality, functional, uplifting gifts and keepsakes at affordable prices,” states Stephen. “Designed with subtle branding to focus on the occasion, Celebrations is a one stop shop for a price conscious but generous consumer, ranging from baby scans to 100th birthdays.”

Also huge for the company is licensed giftware as a whole. “This is a huge category for Widdop and something we only see going from strength-tostrength,” emphasises Stephen.

Good news for the company is that Widdop’s Disney contract has just been extended for a further two and a half years.

Explains Stephen: “this Autumn, we are putting a big focus on our Disney and other licensed offerings, and with the launch of our new

Above: Baby photo frames welcome a new addition.

Below: Disney Baby.

Below right: Gifts for the bride and groom in Widdop’s Amore range.

Bottom: That’s Not My...

Disney Mickey & Minnie baby range, it’s set to get bigger and better. We have a huge collection of licensed products, including Disney, Warner Brothers, That’s Not My… and Brightside. From Christmas and baby to everyday gifting, we have a licensed product to cover it. We understand the popularity and importance of continuing to grow our licenced offering and focus heavily on this during our key product launch seasons. Our Christmas 2022 Widdop & Co Presents Christmas at the Movies, launching in January 2022, will have a bigger-than-ever focus on licenced items so watch this space!”

With sustainability a huge focus for suppliers, retailers and consumers, Stephen confirms that Widdop has plans in place to be carbon-free by 2025 and is already reducing the amount of plastic packaging the company uses in its products. “Sustainability is a huge focus for us and we are continuing to look at ways to improve this in everything that we do,” he stresses.

Meanwhile, social media is continuing to be a driving force in engaging with customers. “We took a short break from social recently, taking time to step back and reevaluate what social meant to us and our customers. We needed to re-focus and establish a robust and meaningful way forward that ensured we were communicating the right messages at the right time that best suited our customers.

We want to use social as a means for people to get to know Widdop - what we do and how we can help our customers in the current climate.”

As for the current global supply chain issues - freight costs, shipping delays etc -

will prices inevitably have to go up? “Yes. As expected, we have seen price increases due to the recent supply chain issues, but we are confident that we will not see any more for the remainder of this year,” predicts Stephen.

So what plans are in the pipeline for the rest of the year? “Aside from focusing on our licensed offering and expanding it even further, planning is well underway for both Christmas 2022 and our Spring launches, with both set to launch in January 2022,” Stephen confirms.

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Focus On... Clothing

Fashion

Forward

Today, one size clothing is the new big thing, with independent gift retailers and lifestyle stores of all shapes and sizes viewing the category as an essential, either as a reason for customers to visit or as an impulse purchase.

With fashion show Moda co-locating with Autumn Fair in September, PG&H asked a selection of gift retailers to reveal what’s trending.

G

ift retailer Caroline Ranwell, owner of Hugs & Kisses Gifts in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, is about to open a standalone clothing shop - No. 43 Clothing & Accessories 300 yards from her main gift and card shop.

“I started to put clothing into Hugs & Kisses just before the pandemic hit - calling it VIP Clothing - because I wanted something that would increase the spend in store, as well as offering customers another product category,” she explained.

“We started with loungewear and ponchos and then added jumpers, but before we could expand the category, we found ourselves in lockdown. However, clothing has done so well for us that I’m opening a dedicated clothing and accessories shop this Autumn where we’ll also be selling blouses and shirts, tops and T-shirts, dresses, Magic Trousers, shorts and leggings, skirts and jumpsuits, jackets and cardigans, as well as knitwear, which are all currently available on our website. Everything is one size, and our expansion plans include offering footwear this year. However, until the doors of No. 43

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Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

Above: A striking blue poncho from Cadenza.

Left: An easy to wear, casual top from Made in Italy.

Below: Chalk’s popular ‘star’ top.

open, customers are being invited to private viewings at my home.”

Also emphasising the importance of clothing in her Rayleigh gift store, Lovely Libby’s, is owner Libby Holden. “During lockdown it was a massively important category,” she stressed.

“We found that buying clothing was a release for our customers, making them happy during such a tough time. They bought clothes for themselves as well as for their friends.”

She continued: “Everything we offer is one size - it’s good for all ages, shapes and sizes - and brands we do well with include Chalk, LV Clothing and Terminal One. However, our best selling item of the year has to be Magic Trousers. We’ve literally sold thousands of them, and as for jeans and leggings, we literally can’t keep them in stock!”

It’s a similar story from Libby’s mum, Tracy Holden who owns gift shop The Olive Branch in Billericay. “We introduced clothes

at the start of the pandemic and discovered that they are a great attraction, making a brilliant extra add on as it’s an impulse purchase for most customers. For example, when someone comes in to buy a gift and sees a top or a jumper that they love, they can’t seem to resist buying it at the same time. Everything we sell is one size, including trousers.”

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Focus On... Clothing However, some gift retailers have been ahead of the curve for some time. “During lockdown, and with our internet offer expanding, one of our fastest selling categories has been clothing,” confirms Keiron Cockley, co-owner of four Brocante stores in Cornwall.

“We opened a specific clothing branch, La Cote, six years ago, as we wanted it to run alongside the Brocante home and gift offering, trialling a tiny range of tops one winter in our Fowey branch. We found that the demand was so strong that we expanded it to an entire room of the shop, dedicating it

purely to clothing, as well as introducing several running rails that were dotted around the store. Now clothing is a large part of the offer we have in all our shops.”

On the question of sizing, Keiron says that one size items sell best for Brocante.

“It’s something we’re happy about, as we don’t have to carry a whole size range.

It also means we have never had to have a clothing sale with random end of line products.”

Given that all four Brocante shops are located in Cornwall, Keiron says that the clothes are an affordable pick up for customers. “They are probably down on holiday and either haven’t got the right item with them or fancy a quick change.

This price point means you don’t have to over think it.”

He highlights that ‘easy to wear’ is the biggest customer turn on. “We don’t carry formal wear, as it wouldn’t be appropriate for the areas we trade in, so imagine lots of stripes and loose fitting, soft fabrics.

Dungarees have been incredibly popular this year, but our Magic Trousers and palazzo pants fly out. We try and keep just a few colour ranges so it all merchandises well, and we can feed new lines in at any time.

However, we have slowly introduced some higher price point items from a few quality brands such as Chalk and Robell. As they are noticeably superior, people don’t flinch at the ticket price and we merchandise these items separately.”

Julianne Moore, owner of clothing/lifestyle store MiMi, carries a wide range of different fashion labels, spread over four floors in her main Hartley Wintney store, which also houses a boutique shop in the garden. There is also a second MiMi store in Wokingham. Labels include Made In Italy, Chalk, Adini and Nomads.

“At the moment we’re offering mostly one size, but we’re looking at going more into sized clothing, where we offer 20 sized labels. We forward-buy eight to 12 months in advance, so our Spring/Summer 2022 orders are almost done now, and to show customers what’s new in store, we change our windows three times a week.” Julianne adds that in general, “people come in for one thing and go out with something completely different.”

Jo Webber, owner and fashion buyer at Jo Amor in Tiverton, has sold clothing for the

Above and left: Also from Made in Italy, two casual dresses.

Below: Glamorous summer sandals from Lunar, among the footwear exhibitors at Moda.

past 28 years, selling brands that include One Hundred Stars, with four new fashion brands introduced earlier this year. “Fashion is a very important part of our business representing two thirds of what we sell, making us a destination store that’s known for its fashion buying,” she states. “It gives us a foundation to base all our buying on, with a lot of our clothing bought six months ahead, giving us a feel for the colours, themes and patterns coming through for the next six months. Pre the pandemic, most of the clothes were forward ordered, but since being forced to operate online we’ve introduced one size clothing to reduce the returns, starting with Chalk.”

With early Christmas shoppers on the lookout for something different, one size tops could be the answer for many a shopper looking for something to delight and surprise a friend with. And it could even be a case of, I’ll buy one for a friend and one for myself too!

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Come see us at Autumn Fair – Stand 20F45

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01525 882124

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Focus On... Clothing

Sock It To Me F

ew people (aside from fuddy duddies!) would disagree that it’s definitely a treat for the feet - and the morale - to put on a pair of brand new pair of socks, especially if they’re brightly coloured and patterned, the sort of socks that you might not buy for yourself but would love as a gift.

“For Christmas 2021, our Powder range is inspired by the great British outdoors, as a year on home soil has led to a rediscovery of our wonderful British wildlife and produce for many of us,” says Powder’s head of marketing, Hannah Graham. “Socks truly are the perfect gift, firstly because everyone needs them! Plus, you can still find something perfectly personal in terms of the design, so that even at a great price point you can show someone you really care. Also, with our bespoke packaging you, don’t even need to add these to your wrapping pile!”

Oliver Slacke, founder of Swole Panda, which offers sustainable bamboo socks and

clothing, concurs. “Socks are the perfect gift. Everybody needs them, yet nobody wants to buy them for themselves throughout the year. It’s not Christmas without a pair of socks in your stocking.”

So, what’s trending for Christmas 2021?

“It’s about fun motif patterns,” reveals Oliver.

“From watermelon designs to bicycles, we have a huge range of different styles in subtle and bright colours with this year’s Autumn/Winter 2021 collection containing lots of oranges and blues.”

Meanwhile, for managing director Gary Schaffer, the brands within Sock Academy are making Christmas 2021 the most socktastic ever. “We have our biggest, boldest seasonal range yet, taking every opportunity to put the ‘cool’ back into ‘yule’!

At United Oddsocks we’ve launched our first ever advent calendar, A Very Oddsock Christmas, containing 12 funky socks with a festive twist, available in ladies and men’s sizing. The fun continues with a brand new

Above left: Some of the new Autumn/Winter sock designs from Swole Panda.

Above: Cosy Hare, ladies ankle socks from Powder.

Above right: Among the new themes from Sock Therapy this Autumn.

Left: Sock Academy’s advent calendar will be making its debut this Christmas.

Right: Equilibrium’s new range of gift boxed bamboo socks are available from Joe Davies.

kids product - A Holly Jolly Christmas presented in a book format. Cosy Toes are our first ever cosy socks, featuring exceptional quality and bright seasonal designs wrapped up in a bright and bold gift box, while our baby sock brand, Cucamelon, has My First Christmas, with two adult pairs and one baby pair of cute, cosy matching socks.

And finally, in our Cockney Spaniel range, Let’s Get Blitzened, is a boozy, fun and Christmassy box of three matching pairs, while for men, there’s Bah Humbug! for those who can’t get into the Christmas spirit!”

At Smiling Faces, Andy Osborne says that 2021 has seen the company’s Sock Therapy range and customer base grow considerably.

“Themes such as cats, dogs and bees have remained best sellers, and for A/W 2021 we are launching more popular designs, plus specific Scottish and Welsh themes.”

As Laura Leigh, head of product development at Joe Davies, points out: “Socks have been growing in popularity over the last few years, making a great gift for occasions such as Christmas, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. They have a small retail footprint, especially for independent stores, while also being a great selling opportunity on a spinner for garden centres or bigger stores.”

The company’s brands include Equilibrium, Sock Society, Nuzzles and Dog Lover which have all introduced new designs for the coming season with invisible Secret Socks, made from 100% cotton, brand new from Joe Davies for Autumn/Winter.

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Add that all important finishing touch with our textiles collection, from luxurious cushions and throws to tactile rugs. Our range is the perfect choice when adding texture or colour into any interior space.

Visit us at Autumn Fair The Summerhouse

Complete your luxurious living space

Hall 20 Stand D20 - E21

with our collection of velvet and vintage flora cushions. Available in a variety of jewel tones, this collection features co-ordinated fringing or

5 - 8 September 2021, NEC

piping for an on trend statement look.

View our full collection online at www.gallerydirect.co.uk

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Spotlight On... Interiors

The

Inside

Story

When the initial lockdown hit last March, the first thing that a lot of people did was to take a good, hard look at their home. With working from home becoming the norm for those who could, sprucing them up became one of the most popular - and rewarding - trends of the pandemic.

While baking banana bread has come and gone, updating old sofas with lovely throws, proudly plumping up new cushions, and adding a colourful rug here and there, along with eye-catching faux flowers and plants in statement vases and containers is ongoing, as PG&H discovered.

e may all love summer and being outdoors, but there’s something rather comforting in getting our living space ready for Autumn/Winter an innate ‘cosying up’ nesting instinct - that leads us to want to up the ante.

Coupled with people spending so much more time in their homes nowadays - not just working from home, but entertaining friends and family instead of going out to restaurants - there’s a strong desire to make them the best they can be. And, of course, the

W

Top 5 Interior Trends l l l l l

Maximalism and opulence Matt black Richly coloured luxe cushions Dried florals Faux greenery

Above: New soft furnishings from Broste.

Below: Part of the Mixed Metallics collection that’s new for Autumn/Winter from Gisela Graham.

Below left: A matt black vibe from Candlelight.

great thing about sprucing up interiors is that it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Investing in pieces such as throws, cushions, rugs, photo frames, mirrors, vases, faux flowers, planters and lighting all make a huge difference in giving interiors an updated, fresh new look and feel, and, best of all, they come at an affordable price.

As Candlelight’s Kate Winch, Ecommerce and marketing manager, says: “Every few years, a new trend emerges within the home décor industry that looks like it will take hold and stay awhile. Matt black is bringing a sophisticated finish to interiors - it’s chic, urbane and surprisingly versatile, sitting effectively alongside timber, metallic and natural materials and assimilating beautifully into both traditional and contemporary homes.”

Gisela Graham’s sales director Piers Croke points out that the new homebound conditions have encouraged creative thinking all round. “Retailers have been responding to clamouring, homebound consumers and Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Creating gifts of random kindness for 40 years

Discover our extensive range of beautiful gifts RexLondonTrade.com/GiftsHome Order online | No minimum order | Free delivery options

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Spotlight On... Interiors Left: Luxe cushions in rich colours from Gallery Direct.

Below right: Sumptuous Savona rose throws from David Fussenegger.

Below middle: The Farrah Furniture Collection from Hill Interiors.

Bottom: A set of three pineapple mirrors from Bombay Duck.

have been ordering and re-ordering interior products strongly from us. Plus, consumers have started to think about their home in new ways and become more ready to experiment. As wholesalers and designers we have started to be braver and follow our instincts rather than slavishly following ‘trends’, and our sales teams are thinking more independently too, taking our ranges and putting them together for their retail customers in new and original ways. Our 20 strong selling ranges, designed or curated by ourselves, span a spectrum ranging from ‘safe’ to ‘wild’, with the stylish Mixed Metallics collection comprising vases and ornaments complemented by our faux flowers and leaf ranges.”

On the soft furnishings front, Jayne Zalega, business development director - textiles, at Gallery Direct, highlights that rich colours on cushions are a key trend for Autumn/Winter, to include floral prints on velvet and luxurious, deep-coloured velvets with fringing. “The cushions are perfect for adding a warm, luxe look to rooms,” states Jayne. Adds the company’s accessories buyer Matt Baldock: “Greenery is big trend in accessories, and faux ‘dry look’ florals are also proving to be very popular. Currently this is a huge, growing trend, along with Christmas florals featuring seasonal berries and branches and a touch of sparkle.” Matt adds that the ‘orangery’ look is also trending, featuring wooden kitchenware and rustic ceramic pots and

planters, combined with faux succulents, ferns, cacti and hanging plants.

“Recent times have fostered even closer relationships between people and their homes,” concurs Hill Interiors’ managing director Julian Potter, “with an increased focus and budget for curating spaces that add to a general sense wellbeing, which has been the happy outcome of this shift. Our Autumn/Winter collection carries versatile furniture ranges finished with parquetry and hand-cast metal details, layering texture into interiors. Plus, a huge variety of complementary handcrafted accessories, rugs and wall art make pulling together Pinterest-worthy looks easy for customers.”

Julian adds that customers are continuing to

show a huge appreciation for natural textures - stoneware and dried florals in particular - and handcrafted details.

“Several of our collections pick up on this trend, delivering a subtle cosiness befitting the season, featuring unique and tactile finishes. Plus, there’s a brand new dried flower range from our floral brand The Recipe, adding to the collection of artificial flowers, foliage and plants.”

David Lorimer, UK distributor for Austrian textile company Fussenegger, adds: “Having spent most of the past 18 months at home due to the pandemic, people have been able to take stock to see what they love and don’t love about their homes. Minimalism is certainly taking a back seat now and maximalism and opulence is taking over.”

He says that there is a huge demand for a warmer, richer colour palette. “Think of old stately homes but on a smaller scale,” he suggests. “Rustic styles are taking a warmer, cottage feel, rather than a pared back look, and with prints and pattern galore, David Fussenegger taps into all these trends. People can furnish their interiors with different looks, such as a velvet range that includes a gorgeous roses blanket for a country house feel, while for the minimalist homeowner who wants to warm up their home, the company’s abstract range brings in colour and texture yet still gives a more minimalist look.”

As for little ones, he says that having spent more time with kids and pets over the past 18 months, there is a need to make sure they are catered for in their own space.

“The company has a great selection of children’s and pet blankets and accessories which will fit nicely into home interiors creating a cohesive look.”

As the days get shorter and the nights longer, clearly it’s time to light a scented candle and cosy up at home.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Eco-friendly - recycled & recyclable Fairtrade & handmade by Indian craftsmen

NEW PRODUCTS - PRE-ORDER NOW - In Stock AUTUMN 2021

Tilnar Art is very proud to have designed and now be launching our new AluminArk Collection of Recycled Aluminium Animals along with a new Brushed Silver Collection & additions to our current collections.

See you at a Trade Show soon!

Autumn Fair - 5-8 September 2021 - Hall 6 Stand A44 Glee - 14-16 September 2021Hall 6 Stand E10-F11 01277 297259

sales@tilnarart.co.uk

www.tilnarart.co.uk

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest interior and home products to be showcased this month

Hearts and Stars This range of ceramic vases, plant pots and wax melt and oil warmers are an exciting new addition from Lesser & Pavey. They come in an assortment of white and grey colours and a mix of

Delightful Doorstops

stars and hearts in varied sizes. The

As part of its soft furnishings catalogue, Gallery Direct offers a fantastic range of

range compliments the Lesser & Pavey

doorstops, which make ideal gifts and are perfect for adding character and

statement ‘on trend’ style pieces for

personality to interiors. The selection includes the lovely Marmalade Design

the home market launched earlier in

collection which offers a diverse range of premium novelty animal themed designs.

the year.

Each is made with high quality fabrics, with hand applied detailing.

Lesser & Pavey

Gallery Direct

T: 01322 279225

T: 01795 439159

E: sales@leonardo.co.uk

E: sales@gallerydirect.co.uk

W: www.leonardo.co.uk

W: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Personalised White Wooden Storage Crates These white wooden crates are part of a wider range of fantastic new storage and personalised mini wooden boxes.

Extensive Range Of Home Accessories

With a variety of new designs available

Accessories and soft furnishings are perfect

these are perfect for storing anything

for adding the finishing touch to rooms, to

from keys, mail, make-up or toys. Visit

give interest and personality. With the huge

PMC’s website to find out how to become

range available from Gallery Direct, there are

a trade customer of the one stop shop for

ones to suit all tastes and styles of interior;

personalised gifts.

from soft and subtle, to bold and bright, and

PMC

from chic and contemporary to rustic and

T: 01782 744900

charming. Subtle natural tones and wood

E: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

pieces, combined with faux plants and stems,

items including personalised glass jars

W: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

are perfect to help bring the outdoors inside.

Gallery Direct T: 01795 439159 E: sales@gallerydirect.co.uk W: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Bring The Outside In Candlelight is adding to its ever-growing collection of faux plants for this year and is really bringing the outside in. From ferns, to ivy and ceramic, to woven baskets pots, its new collection has something for everyone.

Candlelight T: 01709 723000 E: contact@candlelight.co.uk W: www.candlelight.co.uk

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Spotlight On... Stationery

Taking Note

Below: Visitors to the London Stationery Show in 2019.

Below left: Stationery from Rex London.

Below middle: Two notebooks in the new Sucseed range from VENT for Change.

Below right: Dream Odyssey Star Print notebook and pen boxed gift set from A Gift From the Gods.

Bottom: Floral notecards from The Seed Card Company which are made from seed card.

With gift shops heading to the dedicated live London Stationery Show at the Business Design Centre on October 5-6, where exhibitors will be putting a spotlight on writing and paper products, PG&H takes a look at gift stationery to discover what’s trending for the coming season.

Despite living in a world where smart phones and tablets rule, technology has, if anything, reinforced a love of trend-driven, tactile stationery that stylishly says something about the user. A lovely notebook, journal or notecard makes the experience of writing down thoughts and feelings that much more enjoyable, while for those looking for stationery for their desks - whether in the office or at home - a colourful notebook cover can help to inject a feeling of positivity into the day.

At Rex London, marketing and communications manager Anna Williams, points out: “For many organisations, some form of flexible working will become the new norm, even as we progress out of lockdown measures. The huge rise in home décor trends, particularly around home offices, increased massively during the pandemic and with many people still working from home for at least one day a week, they will be looking for ways to refresh their space.”

Back to school too, evokes thoughts of notebooks, pens, pencils and rulers. “With a return to normality for the new academic year imminent in the UK, back to school is certainly on everyone’s mind,” continues

Anna. “Stationery is a huge part of that annual ritual for parents, so standing out with fun yet functional products is key for us.”

For those looking for an eco-friendly stationery gift, Kay Patel, co-founder of The Seed Card Company adds: “Our notecard sets, made from seed card, have been popular sellers on our online shop, with customers buying them as gifts for others as well as for themselves. Floral, foliage and outdoor garden-inspired designs are especially popular. Over the last 18 months, people have been transforming their outdoor spaces small and large and more and more people, from all age groups, have made gardening a hobby. This has been reflected on the designs chosen for the notecard set, and it’s a trend we don’t see stopping anytime soon. It helps that our notecards also grow flowers,” adds Kay. Sustainable stationery brand VENT for Change recently launched a new Sucseed range of sustainable notebooks. made using reclaimed coffee beans, lavender, cherry and kiwi husk, plus100%

recycled paper. Each notebook features a page marker made from reclaimed corn pulp. “We’re loving the use of these new reclaimed and recycled materials to deliver a stunning tactile finish that reflects their origins,” states the company’s founder Evan Lewis.

With Christmas in mind, fashion lifestyle brand A Gift From The Gods has added to the company’s stationery ranges by introducing a gift boxed notebook and pen set for Autumn/Winter 2021, with one for each of the company’s design stories. “As proven best sellers and, often bought

together, it was a natural upgrade to bring the A5 notebook and pen together as a gift boxed set, with the quality of the production and box design adding value,” comments founder Jane Reucroft. “Stationery is still a popular gift option and people are always looking for gift wrapped or gift boxed items.”

One way or another, stationery has an important role to play in the lives of many people. From helping to plan and organise their lives to a personal space that allows them reflect and jot thoughts down, design-led stationery continues to makes an affordable, practical and much appreciated gift.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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The UK’s leading supplier of drop ship Personalised Gifts

est 2004 WWW.PERSONALISEDMEMENTO.CO.UK

sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk Licensed Football Gifts

For Him - For Her - For Children - For The Home For All Occasions

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest new products to be showcased this month

Sonic The Hedgehog Licensed Gifts In a year when Sonic the Hedgehog turns 30, Fizz Creations is delighted to announce the introduction of the character to its extensive collection of licensed gifts and lighting. The new line up features mug gift sets, puzzles, stress squeezers and a couple of outstanding lighting products, to name a few! The Sonic the Hedgehog Mood Light is the star of this range - at 13 cm tall this expertly designed light features the iconic blue Sonic head with amazing 3D spine detail.

Fizz Creations

Where’s Wally Collection

T: 01903 327006

Fizz Creations is delighted to announce a brand-new collection with Where’s Wally? The

E: sales@fizzcreations.com

range includes family fun games: Where’s Wally? Hide & Seek, Where’s Wally? Character Hunt

W: www.fizzcreations.com

and Where’s Wally? Mystery Puzzle. The range is completed by a series of day-to-day gifting products including a 500ml double-walled metal water bottle, a heat changing mug and a three-piece dinner set.

Fizz Creations T: 01903 327006 E: sales@fizzcreations.com W: www.fizzcreations.com

Rainbow Ceramic Gifts Joe Davies is happy to launch its new Rainbow Graphique collection of ceramic gifts. These lovely ceramic gifts include a keepsake hanging heart, standing hearts that make great mantelpiece decorations, mugs and gorgeous tea light holders. The design is a brightly coloured rainbow design with heartfelt messages for Mum, Sister, Friends and many more best-selling captions.

Joe Davies T: 0161 9756300 E: sales@joedavies.co.uk W: www.joedavies.co.uk

Credit Card Size Fashion Purse Hot Tomato’s latest credit card purses are proving ever popular as we increasingly embrace a contactless society as it seems that the credit card is king! Featured here is their faux suede, metallic brickprint design with eleven, concertinaed pockets offering fantastic storage capacity. See the full collection in Hall 20 stand E20 at the Autumn Fair.

Hot Tomato T: 01225 422188 E: sales@hot-tom.com W: www.hot-tom.com

New William Morris Design Brand new from Lesser & Pavey is a stylish new range of tableware featuring designs from William Morris adding to the existing collection.

The new design is a grey and white pattern which is called Bachelor’s Button. The range features chinaware mugs, a jug, tea for one, a teapot, and a butter dish as well as coasters, placemats, trays, a cutting board and a lap tray. See more from Lesser & Pavey on stand 7E30-6A31 at Autumn Fair.

Lesser & Pavey T: 01322 279225 E: sales@leonardo.co.uk W: www.leonardo.co.uk

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest new products to be showcased this month

Little Dogs Design Based on artwork painted by Classic Canes managing director Charlotte Gillan, this practical folding walking stick is height adjustable and makes an ideal present for a dog lover. The featured breeds are the West Highland White Terrier or Westie, Dachshund, Jack Russell, Cairn Terrier and Scottish Terrier or Scottie Dog, interspersed with pawprints on a grey

Creatures Great and Small

background. This is one of 700

Creatures Great and Small is a fun presentation of three current Best Kept

models stocked by the family firm,

Secrets products - candles, wax melts and natural soaps. Developed with

ensuring there is a stick for everyone.

designer Tracey Russell, a farm and wild animal theme is created reminiscent

Classic Canes

of the great TV series All Creatures Great and Small. Wonderfully impressive

T: 01460 75686

designs of animals with amusing straplines results in a really novel set of

E: nfo@classiccanes.co.uk

products. Themes included in the range are: ‘Herd it’s Your Birthday’ –

W: www.classiccanes.co.uk

‘Moooved House’ and ‘Thank You Pig Time’ Best Kept Secrets T: 01670 512222 E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk W: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

Pusheen Licensed Gifts Alongside an extensive collection of other well-known licenses, Puckator will be showcasing its brand new collaboration with Pusheen at Autumn Fair 2021. Made up of products spanning areas including homeware, lunch accessories and beauty, you can find a Pusheen product for each room of the house. This range also includes some of Puckator's newest products - the fold-over cool bag and the stacked bento lunch box.

Puckator T: 0800 0116969 E: customerservices@puckator.co.uk W: www.puckator.co.uk

Wedding Bracelets Life Charms is extremely excited to share its range of redesigned adjustable wedding bracelets. The range includes nine designs with new charms and new improved packaging.

If you are looking for something modern and fast selling to add to your offer for 2021, the team would be delighted to discuss you becoming a stockist of Life Charms jewellery.

Life Charms T: 0203 4882656 E: info@lifecharms.co.uk W: www.lifecharms-trade.co.uk

Music & Greetings Card Merge Say it with Songs’ extensive range of ready-made greeting cards include key lyrics and a song preview, allowing customers to pick the perfect words and music to suit any occasion and express the intended message.

On the front of each card is a key song lyric and on the reverse there is a scannable code that is activated with a smartphone that links through to the chosen song which can be played through Spotify, Amazon Prime or YouTube for instant streaming.

Sat It With Songs T: 07793 845182 E: ellie@sayitwithsongs.com W: www.sayitwithsongs.com

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest new products to be showcased this month Retro-Inspired Christmas Spread festive cheer throughout the home with the retro-inspired 50s Christmas print and cute wooden Christmas decorations from Rex London. Part of its extensive product range available now for the upcoming festive season.

Rex London T: 0208 7461700 E: info@rexlondon.com W: www.rexlondontrade.com

Vintage Design Pen & Brush Pots Coulson Macleod is excited to announce the launch of its Pen & Brush Pots in 57 new designs for its Vintage Words range. Each 10oz ceramic pot is printed and finished in-house, and supplied with a kraft packaging wrap.

Celebrating all manner of interests and hobbies, each desk-tidy features wonderful quotes in a letterpress-style font on the reverse, and vintage 19th century steel-engraved illustrations to the front.

Coulson Macleod

Bamboo Socks Bamboo is some kind of magic material, as it is cool in

T: 01536 419944 E: hello@coulsonmacleod.com W: www.coulsonmacleod.com

the Summer, while still managing to be warm in the Winter. It is also super soft and sustainable too. Sock Therapy then adds its own

British By Design

funky designs and bright

The English Tableware Company brand epitomises everything great

colours. The result is a pair of

about British Design. Inspiration can come from anywhere and it actively

socks you’ll never want to

seeks new trends and ideas. It uses natural forms and illustrations to

take off!

create gorgeous giftware and accessory collections for the home. The

Smiling Faces

aim is to make every product special, paying particular attention to the

E: sales@smilingfaces.co.uk

detail and carefully sourcing each product for its quality and appeal.

W: www.smilingfaces.co.uk

The English Tableware Company T: 01246 2605000 E: info@englishtablewarecompany.com W: www.englishtablewarecompany.com

Stylish Storage A pretty and practical addition to any nursery or playroom, this set of three nesting cases is ideal for storing toys, stationery, crafts and more, and is available in eight other popular Rex London prints. A hugely popular product in 2020, the storage tin sets selection has been expanded to include new designs for 2021, still in keeping with the retro-inspired aesthetic to add a touch of vintage to any home.

Rex London T: 0208 7461700 E: info@rexlondon.com W: www.rexlondontrade.com

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GiftsandHome.net is published by gift sector experts, for gift trade experts

From the publishers of Progressive Gifts & Home, and the organisers of The Greats Gift Retailer Awards.

With an unrivalled email subscriber base of 7,559 readers and industry leading open rates, - largely dominated by retail buyers, the twice-weekly this fast-paced sector.

The modern, easy to navigate website provides a in-depth articles, an industry jobs board, retail analysis, digital issues of Progressive Gifts & Home, and much, much more.

Advertising and Commercial Opportunities: Advertisement Manager - Jo Pilcher jop@max-publishing.co.uk

000_GH_March April2021.indd 2019.indd 1 1 60_GH_September

Editorial and Content Opportunities: Editor - Sue Marks sue@suemarks.co.uk

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Best Sellers Progressive Gifts & Home asked a selection of gift retailers about the products which have been flying off their shelves this month.

Beverley Yates, manager, Maddison, Harborne Sister gift shop to Bentleys in Stourport-on-Severn, Bentleys in Solihull and Bentleys in Birmingham.

All shops are located on high streets.

CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Decorative Home Accessories

Widdop & Co: across the board;

We do really well with jewellery, jewellery boxes and photo frames as well as wedding giftware.

Quirky, very different giftware.

Bentley & Bo: interiors Home Fragrancing

Marmalade of London: across the board; Yankee Candle: WoodWick Heart of the Country: Greenleaf scented sachets

The company has got it spot on. Plus, everything is made in the UK. These soya wax candles are among our best sellers.

During the pandemic, customers popped them into a greeting card.

Jewellery

Indulgence: across the board; Shrieking Violet: dried flowers

Rhodium plated jewellery that’s competitively priced.

Customers who buy it love to talk about the products.

Fashion Accessories

Jelly Crumble: scarves;

Gianni Conti: bags

Scarves for all seasons.

Good quality and competitively priced.

Top end, Italian fine leather bags that last a lifetime.

Greeting Cards

Janie Wilson

A very strong brand for us. We also do well with Janie Wilson candles.

Giftwrap

Glick

Overall, a good quality, affordable product with something for every occasion.

Other Hot Hits

Jellycat

Top: Amore Widdop & Co. Above: Marmlade of London’s new Mosney Mill Botanicals collection.

Absolutely flies out!

Lorna Standing, retail manager, Milestones Museum, Hampshire Cultural Trust, Basingstoke A very large gift shop that’s situated on the top floor of the Museum.

CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Decorative Home Accessories

Widdop & Co: Cloisonne

Decorated metal items. They’re colourful, and very different. People collect them.

Home Fragrancing

The English Soap Co: candles

Incredible fragrances, beautiful packaging.

The company has a lovely Christmas range.

Beautiful packaging and great fragrances.

Lesser & Pavey: Desire Jewellery

Joe Davies: Equilibrium

This our top seller. We do massively well with this range.

Fashion Accessories

Pure Fashions: lightweight scarves and pashminas

Gorgeous rich colours. Great quality, lovely designs and materials.

Greeting Cards

Madame Treacle

A colourful, unusual and very popular range. Our best seller.

Other Hot Hits

Bramble Foods

This is an own brand range for us across sweets, preserves, chutneys, pickled eggs, gherkins etc.

Above right: Extra large reed diffusers from Lesser & Pavey’s Desire collection.

Right: Equilibrium two tone jewellery from Joe Davies.

PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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Julianne Moore, owner, MiMi, Hartley Wintney and Wokingham Two large clothing and gift shops (on four floors in Hartley Wintney), plus The Shed boutique in the shop’s garden.

MiMi in Wokingham is located in a new development, Peach Place Plaza, CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Decorative Home Accessories

Selbrae House: slate;

Anything with bees on flies out of the shop.

Very relevant to now for people eating at home and for garden entertaining.

Sifcom: olive melamine plates, jugs, cups

Home Fragrancing

Right: Selbrae House bee coasters and place mats.

Below right: Life Charms’ Rosey Rabbits.

Jewellery

Peppermint Grove: across the board;

Heyland & Whittle: recycled glassware range

Envy: long pendants;

Life Charms: across the board Fashion Accessories

Powder: across the board;

Fabulous packaging that’s very eye-catching. Amazing fragrances that last for months.

New range that’s recyclable.

When the candle is finished you can repurpose it into, for example, a tumbler or toothbrush holder.

Our best sellers are the longer pendants. We take the whole range.

The Rosey Rabbits collection is flying out.

Black Ginger: across the board

It’s all about the packaging. We take everything and offer the sunglasses throughout the year.

80% of our scarf wall is stocked

by Black Ginger.

Greeting Cards

Say It With Songs

A brand new company for us that’s such fun.

Giftwrap

Artebene

The rollwrap is very colourful and well priced.

Other Hot Hits

Marble Clothing: women’s tops

A Scottish brand which is only wholesale - a great plus for us.

Davina Parkhouse, owner, The Bean Hive, Kettering, and The Bean Hive By The Sea, Falmouth Both gift shops have an eye-catching bright pink exterior.

CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Decorative Home Accessories

Quail Ceramics: hand crafted collectables;

Practical, quality, everyday items such as animal themed egg cups, vases and salt and pepper sets.

Quirky, eye-catching, good quality products. Fast stock turnaround.

Bombay Duck: across the board Home Fragrancing

St Eval: across the board;

Right: A Giggles cushion from Bombay Duck.

Below right: Boxer Gifts’ quirky fishing mug.

Lollyrocket Candle Co: handmade in UK

The candles and reed diffusers smell amazing. People love discovering them while on holiday in Cornwall.

Locally made soya candles by a small all female company. Massive following.

Jewellery

Materia Rica: across the board

A design-led Spanish company that creates art-led, walnut wood laser-cut jewellery that can be popped into a greeting card.

Greeting Cards

Rifle Paper Co.

Stunning cards and good quality, although pricier than some other cards.

Giftwrap

Petra Boase

Fun, quirky animal print paper that’s perfect for our brightly coloured shops. We call it the shop wrapping paper!

Other Hot Hits

Boxer Gifts: quirky, novelty gifts

The company does a massive range with something for everyone.

Perfect for Secret Santa gifts.

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Best Sellers

What better testimonial for products than those of your fellow retailers. Here's all the information you need to get in touch and start stocking!

LIFE CHARMS T: 0203 4882656 E: info@lfecharms.co.uk W: www.lifecharms.co.uk

LESSER & PAVEY T: 01322 279225 E: sales@leonardo.co.uk W: www.leonardo.co.uk

WIDDOP & CO T: 0161 6881226 E: salesenquiries@widdop.com W: www.widdop.co.uk

JOE DAVIES T: 0161 9756300 E: sales@joedavies.co.uk W: www.joedavies.co.uk

SAY IT WITH SONGS T: 07793 845182 E: ellie@sayitwithsongs.com W: www.sayitwithsongs.com

SIFCON INTERNATIONAL T: 01992 718033 E: sales@silplc.com W: www.silplc.com

MARMALADE T: 01242 257509 E: helen@marmaladeoflondon.com W: www.marmaladeoflondon.com

HEART OF THE COUNTRY T: 01543 481612 E: sales@heartofthecountryltd.co.uk W: www.heartofthecountryltd.co.uk

SHRIEKING VIOLET T: 0208 5219151 E: sales@flowerjewellery.com W: www.flowerjewellery.com Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

63

SOCK THERAPY BAMBOO SOCKS F RO M S M I L I N G FAC E S

• • •

Fantastic Eco wooden Counter Display Low Carriage Paid re orders to ensure you remain fully stocked Best Selling Designs with regular new launches

Now is the perfect time to stock this fabulous range of quality well priced bamboo socks For more details register on our trade website www.smilingfacestrade.co.uk or contact us to request a PDF catalogue or agent call.

Email: sales@smilingfaces.co.uk SF_A4_advert_final_aug21.indd 1 OBC_GH_September 2021.indd 1

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