9_11_15_17_19_21_23_muk.qxp_31/33/35/37/39/41 16/08/2019 12:51 Page 11
Industry News
Sustainability Leads The Way Autumn Fair Announces Talks And Workshops With customers demanding products that eschew plastic and are kinder to the planet, sustainability is growing in importance for gift retailers, with September’s re-edited Autumn Fair - which, this September, has moved to the Atrium at the NEC - aiming to bridge the gap between retailers and suppliers. The show will host talks and workshops from leaders in sustainability, to include Jeremy Corner, chairman of The Giftware Association and managing director of Blue Eyed Sun, and a distributor of BambooCup, who will be speaking about how retailers can cut single-use plastics. “I recently shot, edited and shared 31 videos about my Plastic Free July Challenge to raise awareness and experience how challenging it was,” Jeremy Above: Jeremy Corner, the UK told PG&H, “and I will be sharing that with attendees in my talk Going distributor of BambooCup, will be speaking about sustainability Plastic Free: Where do you start and why?” at Autumn Fair in September. Other leading sustainability names at the show include James George, business engagement manager at the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, who will be discussing the evolving nature of the circular economy and what true sustainability looks like; Agnès Gendry, head of buying at Lush Cosmetics, who will be explaining how the company works with suppliers to understand their ethical and sustainable credentials in order to drive visibility in their supply chain; and David Meller, responsible sourcing director at NSF International, whose session ‘Plastic Isn’t The Problem’ will educate buyers on the bigger plastics picture. A new international Sourcing zone is also being launched in Hall 10 at Autumn Fair this year for retailers looking to benefit from markets outside of the UK. Autumn Fair takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from September 1-4. Visit www.autumnfair.com (Blue Eyed Sun will be exhibiting in Hall 6; stand A43).
Celebrating 20 Years This summer, Let’s Go Round Again in Wombourne celebrated the shop’s 20th milestone anniversary. “We had an amazing day supported by customers old and new and a fabulous team of shop ‘fairies’, plus a guest appearance by Adam Starr who did live Facebook and Instagram posts throughout the day, helping to drive customers into the shop,” enthused owner Hilary Jones. She says that the highlight of the past 20 years has been winning a Greats award in 2013. “It's an amazing day to relive in my thoughts and I'm really proud of how far I've come since opening the shop with my mum in 1999 while still working part time at a 'proper job'.” Below: Hilary Jones, second on the right, is shown at Let’s Go Round Again’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
Sustainability Achievable In Three Plus Years
Carrie Elspeth Diversifies
Following a major study conducted by Spring Fair, Autumn Fair and Pure London, part of the ITE Group, two thirds (66%) of UK retailers believe it will take their business three years or more to achieve true sustainability. UK retailers said that they hoped to increase the percentage of products that are sustainable by 33% on average by the end of next year.
To celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary year, Carrie Elspeth, best known for her colourful beaded jewellery, will be diversifying into scarves this Autumn. Some 20 colourful designs, designed by the company’s founder and creative director, Carrie Shapiro, will be launching at Autumn Fair (Hall 9; stand F90) which takes place from September 1-4 at the NEC in Birmingham. “As with all my jewellery, retailers will find well designed quality products, reasonably priced with colour in abundance,” she told PG&H. “We’ve been wanting to do another product for some time, and scarves fit in well. As a company we are all about colour and the scarves reflect that.” Adds Carrie: “The scarves retail for around £15, which makes them very competitively priced.”
Totally Thai October’s STYLE Bangkok will be bringing together lifestyle products ranging from gifts and home décor to fashion and accessories, furniture and housewares when the show returns to BITEC in Bangna, from October 1721. Among the themes will be eco lifestyle products as well as global and Asian trends. Show highlights include the new Art zone, which will be featuring rare art pieces from renowned as well as up-and-coming Thai artists, and the Inspiration zone, featuring innovative products with modern designs in both the Innovation and Design Showcase and Design Bazaar. The zone will feature several lifestyle ‘masterpieces’ developed from different projects to include those designed from waste and eco products. Elsewhere, STYLE will be highlighting the Talent Thai & Designers’ Room zone showcasing close to 70 aspiring fashion and lifestyle designers, with products ranging from gifts, fashion, jewellery and accessories to home décor and furniture. Also taking centre stage will be the Trend Spotting niche Showcase zone which will highlight four fast growing trends in niche markets - from items for pets, to products for Mom & Kids, and products specially catering to senior citizens. A variety of local Thai crafts from all regions of Thailand, will also be exhibited. Visit www.stylebangkokfair.com Above: Among the products at Style Bangkok in October.
Above: The new range of Carrie Elspeth scarves will be packaged in stylish gift bags.
FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT GiftsandHome.net PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
11