FEEDBACK 2022 was the year restrictions were finally dropped after the pandemic and life began to return to normal. However, the war in Ukraine, Brexit, and many other events, have caused a number of challenges worldwide. Progressive Party took stock of the past year including what went well and what was difficult, and looked ahead to 2023 with some key execs.
THE YEAR AHEAD GLORIA VETA brand and sales director, Gemar “This year we stand poised, ready to soar the new future. The world of balloons is changing, and the possibilities are endless. “Looking back at 2022 among the many difficult challenges we faced, we did find new opportunities and a few bright spots, and personally I prefer to ponder more on the opportunities, rather than dwell on the negatives. “First and foremost, we are satisfied that our business, that had rebounded strongly in 2021, continued to grow at a more sustainable pace. “Gemar is entering 2023 with many new ambitious projects, starting with our commitment to sustainability, as we present balloons which are 100% biobased, made with renewable caoutchouc sourced from FSC certified plantations.
MIKE O’CONNELL managing director, Rubies “Our enviable distribution network across Europe has grown over 2022, with the acquisition of our new fulfilment centre in Central Europe. In addition to wider distribution than ever before, our German market presence has
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“We are also introducing Gemar Creator, a unique design tool to create balloon compositions using cutting edge digital resources. More than just a design tool, it’s a marketing tool that will completely rewrite the rules of balloon design and grow the professional use of balloons. “Another important project involves people, as we just announced the creation of Gemar UK, a new business created to deliver the full Gemar experience to the UK market. Gemar UK will be headed up by John-Paul Banbury, Mark Drury and Richard Turnbull, who have a vast experience in the balloon and party industry. Together with Gemar, the UK team plans to grow and further establish Gemar in the UK. This association marks an exciting new chapter for our business and will bring the UK into the amazing Gemar community. “What do I see in the future? I imagine a future inspired by balloons.”
increased significantly and as a business we have strengthened our teams across the continent, including the hiring of Justin McGiffin as head of licensing and Pete Silver as head of sales. Being able to navigate the peak season with Halloween and the festive period might be perceived as a challenge by others, but to us, with our enviable relationship with suppliers and lightning-fast shipping and dispatch across the entire continent, this year went smoother than ever... and busier. “In 2023, we have high hopes for a
TONY LEWIS director of sales and marketing, Disguise EMEA “Disguise continues to expand and grow in EMEA as a business and we expect to see further reach in existing territories. More great product is being developed in partnership with our licensors and customers and further expansion of our licensed portfolio. “We’ve launched in April 2022, our huge Disney range through Europe and have established our distribution network in each single EU country. In order to cover the different channels (mass, toys specialists, party stores, apparel, discounters..), we are working both directly with retailers and with distributors all over Europe. “2022 was a building year with very positive and encouraging results. 2023 is an incredible year for Disney with their 100th anniversary, Frozen 10th anniversary and two highly anticipated movies in June and November so it should be very promising. Let’s go for 2023.” surge in popularity for generic costumes around World Book Day and Halloween, building on their success from last year’s Halloween. On top of this, blockbuster film premieres and streaming service releases like The Flash and the Mandalorian and Star Wars will inject freshness into the market and rejuvenate the character and costume selection for consumers. On the other hand, Disney and Warner Brothers centennial celebrations will create more of a buzz than seen before around their product and media array.”
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE
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