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Industry Issue
AYear In Gifts
Despite another very tough year for retail, with Paperchase among the high street brands obtaining a CVA, and (at the time of going to press) Clintons warning landlords that it could be closing 66 outlets, the good news has been that gift independents seem to have a spring in their step, confidently opening new stores, although inevitably, there have sadly been many casualties too. PG&H looks back at a year that saw two gift companies receive Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: International Trade, and ‘honours’ bestowed on a host of gift independents for being shining stars on the high street.
Who Opened What l The Indigo Tree in
Below: The Indigo Tree, Crystal Palace. Below left: HOLD, Brighton. Bottom: Kemps, Whitby.
Streatham opened a second store in Crystal Palace. l Lagom Designs’ Kelly Hyatt fulfilled a dream to open HOLD, a design-led lifestyle bricks and mortar store in Brighton.
l Tracey and Chris Bryant, owners of
Expressions in Swindon and the Cats Whiskers in Bishops Cleeve, acquired Polkadot in Keynsham. l Utility, which has three established gift shops in Liverpool, opened its first store in Manchester. l Liz Kemp, owner of Kemps General Store in Malton, opened Kemps On the Coast in Whitby. l For The Love Of The North opened a fourth shop at Spanish City, Whitley Bay. l Brocante opened a second shop in Fowey, bringing the total number of Brocante stores to four.
Right: Mooch in Olney. Below left: Peter Delaney, managing director of Gallery Direct. Below right: Alan Morgenroth (right) with Simon Willis.
l MOOCH in Northamptonshire
opened two shops - Olney and Towcester - to complement their shop on St Giles Street Northampton and a concession in Bell. l Gifted opened a fourth store in Bury St Edmunds.
Who Acquired Who
l Interiors company Gallery Direct strengthened
its business with the purchase of Parlane. l Portmeirion Group acquired Nambe, a US-
based premium, branded homewares business. l Retailer Alan Morgenroth,
owner of Goviers of Sidmouth, sold the business to Simon and Janet Willis, owners of Global Luxury Brands (GLB). l Xystos bought bath and body brand Di Palomo from owners Unex Designs.
Who Celebrated Milestones
l Wedgwood’s 260th anniversary
was commemorated with five new £2 coin designs from The Royal Mint. l Joe Davies celebrated 100 years. l Lang’s celebrated 70 years. l The Hollies at Little Budworth celebrated 60 years. l Yankee Candle and Two’s Company both celebrated 50 years. l Wild Things celebrated 35 years. l Arran Aromatics and Between the Lines celebrated 30 years, as did Cardgains. l Enesco celebrated 25 years as did Pintail. l Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) celebrated 21 years. l Gift retailers Utility in Liverpool and Manchester, Let’s Go Round Again in Wombourne, The Gift Box in Peebles and Welsh jewellery company Carrie Elspeth all celebrated 20 years. l The Old School Beauly celebrated 10 years.
Who Was Honoured
l The Queen’s Award for Enterprise:
International Trade was presented to two gift companies: Wrendale Designs and Rex London. Above centre: The cake says it all. Above: Utility celebrated 20 years. Right: Wrendale’s Hannah and Jack Dale.
Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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