Celebrations Galore

“Never did I think, when writing the next issue of Libby’s Lines, that my little shop would have just been crowned winner of The Greats Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – London, South, South East & East Anglia category at The Greats 2023 Gift Retailer Awards! We are still on cloud nine from such an incredible evening, but I must admit, the glitz and glamour seems like a distant memory as I sit here surrounded by 12 boxes of brand new stock waiting to be unpacked, checked, and priced!

The shop has been buzzing this month, starting off with the most monumental event of the year – the Coronation of King Charles III. I must admit, I was a little apprehensive as to how popular the occasion would be, and if people would be as invested in the Coronation as they were in the Jubilee. I had a dreaded vision that we were going to be stuck with a tonne of Coronation keepsakes, but I am so glad we took the plunge. Although (in true British style!) the weather wasn’t quite what we hoped for on the day –which definitely affected footfall and the final push to clear any remaining stock – the community seemed to embrace the occasion with open arms. Pretty much every shop, as well as the high street itself, was dressed head to toe in red, white and blue, and that definitely seemed to inject Coronation fever into everyone and give revenue a boost for a month that is typically a little slower in retail. Such physical reminders of the celebrations everywhere you looked, combined with the focus of community organised events, relating to the Coronation, has provided the benefit of reinforcing the significance of the high street – that they remain at the hearts of the community. This has certainly bolstered and reignited the ‘shop local’ spirit which was at the forefront of minds after the pandemic, and will positively benefit independents over the coming months.

We also launched a social media competition relating to our Coronation window, which hugely boost our online engagement as well as generating a buzz around the shop both on and offline! The window featured a life-size cardboard cut-out of the King, and to enter the competition customers had to take a selfie and upload it online with the hashtag #CakeWithCharles to win both our Coronation range and afternoon tea for two in our tearoom. The reel we created to advertise the competition had a collective reach on our socials of over

11,900, of which 45% were non-followers of our accounts –an amazing statistic for a small independent! Alongside the online entries we also had members of the public sharing images of our cardboard King on local community pages, praising our efforts for the Coronation. Although this may not have translated directly into monetary sales, the Coronation and the opportunities it presented enabled us to create content that triggered enthusiasm and spread the word about Lovely Libby’s.

As is always the way in retail, we are now focusing on the next big calendar dateFather’s Day - which is always a funny one for us. It doesn’t even begin to compare with the popularity of Mother’s Day, and has a lot to do with the fact that male gifting options are few and far between. We find the majority of male gifts are either token keepsakes or focus on particular themes that are often too niche to appeal to everyone. The prime example of this is football-themed products. Given how many different teams there are, it would be almost impossible to provide an option for everyone on the shop floor! Therefore, in light of the success of our personalised Mother’s Day gift boxes this year, we’ve decided to recreate this concept for Father’s Day. We are hoping that by putting this array of gifting options together in one organised place – including that large selection of football team themed products!customers can navigate our website as a one stop shop to create a gift box that is entirely unique at a price point that suits them. With each item individually wrapped and presented in a branded gift box, we also hope this will make gifting that little bit easier and convenient within the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and we are excited to see how they go down!”

Ivyline will once again have a major showcase at Glee 2023, where the British supplier will present new collections for AW23, SS24 and Christmas. New lines have been created to optimise current consumer trends, whilst placing Ivyline front and centre as the go-to brand for the latest styles, sustainable designs and home décor must-haves. Scott Thomas, managing director at Ivyline said: “Our AW23 offering has been carefully curated to arm retailers with everything they need to make the most of this key sales period. From products that support cross merchandising opportunities to those that drive up gift and impulse sales, our AW23 is the perfect onestop-shop for retailers that value quality and style without compromising on the importance of sustainable practices.”

Ivyline

Visit - Glee - Stand: 6E60-F61

T: 024 7633 9180.

E: sales@ivylinegb.co.uk

W: www.ivylinegb.co.uk

Nominated as a Gift Of The Year Finalist… a gift from nature as truly as magical as it sounds. Children and adults alike will get so much joy and entertainment watching in amazement as their name starts to appear on these mysteriously enchanting plants. Simply water the beans and let the magic begin.

Global Journey Gifts

Visit: Glee – Stand: 6A50-B51.

T: 0161 872 0333

E: isamuels@global-journey.com

W: www.global-journey.com

Enjoy a moment of relaxation in one of these hammocks! The non-printed hammocks are not only extremely comfortable, they are also OEKO-TEX certified and the wood used is FSC certified that makes this product environment friendly. These hammocks have beautiful details and are inspired on the latest trends in colours and patterns.

Kaemingk B.V.

Visit: Glee – Hall 20 Stand: G20-H21

E: info@kaemingk.com

W: www.kaemingk.com

The company is delighted to introduce new, exclusive, fabric designs for its wheat bags.

Fancy Flamingos and Country Pheasants are now available, with more designs to follow. Its handmade microwaveable wheat bags can be placed on the body for a natural way to soothe aches and pains. Comforting, warming and relaxing they make the perfect gift. Filled with cleaned English wheat, they are available in either unscented or with added Lavender.

The Wheat Bag Company

Visit: Glee – Stand: 7A71

T: 01747 480499

E: Sales’thewheatbagcompany.co.uk

W: www.thewheatbagcompany.co.uk

At this year’s Spring Fair, Bachmann Europe launched its new distribution line – PepPlay. This new range of children’s arts and crafts products is suitable for ages 3-10 and feature colourful designs to appeal to both children and parents alike. Stock has now arrived for delivery in time for the holiday season.

PepPlay is a premium eco conscious brand, with many of the products designed to be reusable and recyclable. All the products are non-toxic and conform to all safety standards. The range is made up of around 20 products initially and the reusable doodle mats are a particular highlight and come in a range of designs. The placemats are designed to make mealtimes fun at home or on the go. They are printed with fade proof black ink on food grade, non-toxic Polymer sheets and are BPA free. Colour in the pictures, wipe clean and the mats are ready to be reused again.

Bachmann Europe Plc

Visit: Glee – Stand: 7A47

E: sales@toyway.co.uk