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Max Publishing Ltd, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP. Tel: 020 7700 6740 Fax: 020 7607 6411 www.progressivegifts.co.uk www.thegreatsawards.co.uk Publishers Jacqueline Brown, Warren Lomax and Ian Hyder
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Have you noticed that as this new year unfolds, there’s been a big emphasis on ‘being kind’. This was brought home to me by one of the UK’s most successful lifestyle and gift retailers Oliver Bonas, which has adopted UK Youth as its charity for the next two years, even appointing a marketing and ‘Be Kind’ member of the OB team. It’s a reminder to us all to ‘do good’ in some way, something more and more gift retailers seem to be taking on board. And talking of being kind, gift suppliers have certainly taken on board being kind to the planet, with a growing core of companies doing everything they can to reduce plastic waste. We’ve spoken to a broad range of businesses in the industry to see how they’re approaching sustainability, so turn to Going Zero Waste on pages 39-43 to find out more. Meanwhile, a lot like the industry itself, there’s always something to celebrate, with 2019 the year that Joe Davies celebrates its centenary. We caught up with chairman Peter Davies, (third generation), and managing director Steve Davies (fourth generation), turning back the clock to 1919 to hear how it all began. It’s a fascinating read that mirrors society, so enjoy reading 100 Years On... on pages 59-63. Elsewhere in this issue, despite dispiriting newspaper headlines in the run up to Christmas, how did gift retailers fare? While sadly many of the general multiples struggled, for many gift independents, the festive season was, thankfully, seemingly a very good one. Turn to Were The Tills Jingling? on pages 35-37. Moving onto Spring, shades of coral are set to be the big colour palette this season, so how is the industry is embracing it? All is revealed in our Trendy Terracotta article on page 65. You can also discover what’s hot in jewellery and fashion accessories (see pages 103-107), as well as candles (see pages 83-85), and nursery/children’s gifts (see pages 119-123). We also look at what’s new for Spring/Easter (see page 117) and chat to three very successful gift retailers with ‘Mooch’ in their shop name. (See pages 67-69). And finally, for gift retailers who have been meaning to enter The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2019 and haven’t, this really is your very last opportunity! Entries for The Greats close on January 31, so look out for the entry form enclosed with this issue, or email your entry directly to me at suem@max-publishing.co.uk. An entry form can also be downloaded by visiting www.thegreatsawards.co.uk For more about The Greats 2019 turn to A ‘Great’ Opportunity on pages 47-49. For most of us now, the focus is on Spring Fair which takes place from February 3-7 at the NEC. My comfy shoes are at the ready, along with a bottle of water (re-usable of course!), so I’m all set to go! To hear about what exhibitors are doing, and how retailers are approaching the show, turn to pages 51-55. Enjoy the issue, and hope to see you at the NEC! Above: Sue recently visited Portmeirion to catch up with sales and marketing director Phil Atherton. (See a Point Of Difference on pages 71-73). Left: As one of the judges of Gift of the Year competition, Sue is shown at the ‘live’ judging in January. (See Gift Of The Year on page 131).
Cover: Let's Party from The Leonardo Collection by Lesser & Pavey.
Progressive Gifts & Home is published 7 times a year. Subscription: UK; one year £50, two years £85 or three years £110. Overseas; one year £75, two years £125 or three years £165. Please send your cheque to: Progressive Gifts & Home, Max Publishing Ltd, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP. Tel: 020 7700 6740 Fax 020 7609 4222/020 7607 6411 email: ianh@max-publishing.co.uk
Russell Sutton
Subscriptions enquiries maxsubscriptions@marketingreinforcements.co.uk Tel: 020 8943 9541 ISSN 2515-7523
Copyright 2019. 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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Inside
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Feedback: Christmas WERE THE TILLS JINGLING?
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The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2019 A ‘GREAT’ OPPORTUNITY
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In Profile: Best Kept Secrets DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET?
Spring Fair 2019 PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD
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Retailer: House UK TALKING HOUSE
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Trends TRENDY TERRACOTTA Take 3 MOOCHING AROUND
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In Profile: Portmeirion A POINT OF DIFFERENCE
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Industry News
The Greats 2019 Last Chance To Enter! Entries galore have been arriving at the PG&H offices as gift retailers go all out to see their shop name on a trophy in May. “It’s been fantastic to hear about the way gift retailers, both big and small, independent and multiple, have been pulling out every marketing stop they can to get people through their doors,” comments PG&H’s editor Sue Marks. “Retailing has never been tougher, but we know that there are some great gift retailers out there. It’s clear that they are not only great at what they do but also extremely marketing motivated.” With a closing date of January 31, 2019, there’s still time - just - to enter this year’s competition. An entry form is enclosed with this issue, or can be downloaded by visiting www.thegreatsawards.co.uk Alternatively, entrants can email their entries to suem@max-publishing.co.uk
A Cut Above The Rest
For retailers wanting to bang the drum about exceptional members of staff who go the extra mile, or the suppliers that provide the best service to the independents, email: ianh@max-publishing.co.uk (See A Great Opportunity on pages 47-49). The Greats Awards are owned by Max Publishing and Progressive Gifts & Home magazine. Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk Top right: Could your shop’s name be on a Greats trophy? Above: Guests enjoying lunch at last year’s Greats Awards. Left: Kate Everson, owner of The Gift Gallery in York, is shown with her trophy as winner of North & Northern Ireland category.
The Greats Sponsors 2019 Current sponsors of The Greats 2019 Awards include (in alphabetical order): A Gift From The Gods; Boxer Gifts and Boxer Books; Candlelight; Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift; Joe Davies; Premier Decorations; Progressive Gifts & Home; Progressive Greetings Live; Spring Fair/Autumn Fair and The Giftware Association. For remaining sponsorship opportunities, please contact Angie Bryant on 01993 212994; email: angieb@max-publishing.co.uk
A Date For Your Diary The winners of 2019 Greats Awards will be taking place at London’s glittering Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, on Wednesday May 15, with all strands of the gift industry invited to share in this very special day for gift retail. Taking Walk On The Wild Side as its theme, The Greats Awards will be an exciting, fun networking event for the great and the good in gift retail, providing an opportunity for everyone to get together and let their hair down. Tickets to the event are available from event organiser Clare Hollick email: clare@createvents.co.uk; tel: 01183 340085.
The ITV 4 documentary series Made in Britain has featured many great British manufacturing businesses, with one of the latest being Devon-based UK crystal and glass manufacturers Dartington. The 30 minute programme revealed to viewers how the company’s classic Dimple Double Old Fashioned tumbler is mouthblown and hand crafted from molten crystal to create the iconic drinkware piece. The filming included the design ethos of head designer Hillary Green, with commentary from commercial director Richard Halliday. "Our hand-made glass making is very visual and makes great watching,” stated commercial director Richard Halliday. “We were delighted to be invited to take part in this production and it showed our brand and the skilled making team in a very positive way." As the last factory scale producer of crystal in the UK, Dartington Crystal employs 130 staff at its Torrington HQ. The company also owns the Scottish Caithness Glass brand, Royal Brierley cut crystal and John Beswick ceramics. Top: The manufacture of Dartington’s Dimple Double Old Fashioned tumbler was featured on ITV 4’s Made in Britain Series Above: A skilled craftsman at work in the factory.
Fans Meet Their Hero Jim Shore collectables were riding high at Lords Collectables at The Roundhouse, Birchgrove Garden Centre in Pinchbeck. Over 400 UK collectors queued from 5am to meet their hero, with Jim spending five hours talking to them, where they enjoyed admiring, sharing stories and talking about their collections. Below: American artist Jim Shore is shown with some of his UK fans at a recent signing.
Above: The Grosvenor House, Park Lane.
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Industry News
Get Ahead At Spring Fair Topical Presentations Range From Trends To Technology Spring Fair (February 3-7, NEC) will deliver a wide range of insightful presentations and workshops for retailers, to include Brexit strategies, retail technology and inspirational personal stories behind well-loved brands. Taking place on the Main Stage, there will be speakers from companies that include Wrendale, Pinterest, The V&A and colour and trend consultancy The Colour Hive. Trends will also be explored in The Studio at Spring Fair with speakers including trend spotter and futurist Paola de Luca and Jane Bellman, founder of Unique Style Platform. Elsewhere, practical knowledge will be available at the new Retail Skills Theatre. Helpful advice includes product photography and packing, Epos systems, fleet and freighting, social media strategies, stock planning, post Brexit currency management, in-store and online visual merchandising, and building a brand identity. Following on from the success of Autumn Fair 2018’s Product Match app, which helped visitors find and locate the best suppliers for their business, Spring Fair will see the launch of a newly improved and updated version. Visit www.springfair.com Above: Visitors at last year’s Spring Fair. Left: Seminar attendees at last year’s show. Three theatres will host a variety of speakers.
‘Firsts’ At Spring Fair 2019
Right: MrD Batick Flower socks.
With more and more gift retailers looking to expand their fashion ranges in 2019, FashionFirst will be returning to Spring Fair (February 3-7, NEC), for the second consecutive year. A dozen exhibitors will feature in the area, alongside over 400 exhibitors showcasing as part of the Fashion, Jewellery & Luggage and the Jewellery & Watch sectors. Debut companies include MrD London, Joolzery, Kimchi and Coconut and YHIM. Officially launched at Autumn Fair 2018, DesignFirst too, will be making its Spring Fair debut, featuring exclusive manufacturers that will introduce buyers to original products. The show will also be launching TasteFirst, welcoming suppliers of giftable food products as part of the Gift showcase. In Children's Gifts & Toys, there will be new showcases for start-up toy exhibitors in ToyFirst and NurseryFirst, offering access to the unique and exclusive product ranges new to the market. l The Summerhouse, will be back for 2019 with new exhibitors including the PTMD Collection, Vintage Garden Room and Vanilla Fly. Also returning to Spring Fair will be a dedicated Glee concession in Hall 3. Visit www.springfair.com
Celebrating 100 Years To celebrate Joe Davies’ centenary this year, the company is inviting customers - both old and new - as well as friends and suppliers, to join them on their stand at Spring Fair (Hall 5 D50/E51) on Monday February 4 at 6pm. Drinks and refreshments will be served. (See 100 Years On... on pages 59-63).
Paladone To Launch New BDP Products Following the successful introduction of biodegradable plastic (BDP) egg cups into Paladone’s supply chain in May, the company has announced that it will be widening its reach still further by producing over 200 products made from BDP plastic. The products are naturally decomposable in landfill, as well as being recyclable, with Paladone looking to increase its biodegradable plastics offering on the company’s best-selling plastic Above: The range of Paladone egg cups which are made from lines in 2019, covering over 80% of its plastic gifting. biodegradable plastic (BDP). Says Paladone’s marketing manager Alex Ryan: “We pride ourselves on a strong ethical trading practice, and take a planetary approach to the product development process. Eco-design principles have become part of our creative process. As a company, we constantly review the materials used, their construction, and the way in which products are packaged.” (See Going Zero Waste on pages 39-43).
Trouva’s Interior Tips Trouva, the online platform for independent boutiques, has revealed its 2019 Trend Guide, showing several key influences on consumers’ housewares choices for the year ahead. It encourages online shoppers to ‘buy into’ several interior looks, which have been identified with the help of the platform’s network of knowledgeable independent buyers. Inspired by the Art Deco and Memphis movement, Circular Silhouettes features circular shapes, curves and scalloping; Terracotta spotlights the trend for a warm ‘baked earth’ colour (see Trendy Terracotta on page 65), while New Neutrals heralds the takeover of grey by beige and other warm tones such as cream, peach and brown. Unsurprisingly, given the hostility towards single-use plastic in 2018, Trouva’s trends include sustainability (see Going Zero Waste on pages 39-43) and a movement towards ‘buying less and buying better.’ Trouva’s boutiques include several gift shops to include Mooch in Ealing, Mustard Gift Shop in Oadby and Oklahoma in Manchester. Above: Circular trends as revealed by Trouva.
Moorcroft Launches New RHS Collection RHS licensing partner Moorcroft has produced a brand new range for 2019, the RHS Beatrix Stanley Collection. It features art pottery, with designs based on the floral watercolour studies of the gardener and painter Lady Beatrix Stanley, along with the iris that celebrates her name. “Moorcroft is delighted to have been able to work with the RHS again and to have access once more to its unrivalled botanical library for this captivating art collection, and renowned ceramic designer,” comments Moorcroft’s Catherine Gage, director of legal & marketing. “Nicola Slaney has produced a vibrant but delicate homage to the works of Lady Stanley.” The range includes: Ooty; Solanum; Peacock Flower; Lady Beatrix Stanley; a design based on the rich blue Lady Beatrix Stanley iris and Sibbertoft. Above: Moorcroft’s new RHS Lady Beatrix Stanley collection.
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Industry News
Ambiente New Housewares Hall Messe Frankfurt Invests Over €250m Ambiente 2019 (Frankfurt am Main, February 8-12) will unveil its new Halls 12.0 and 12.1 for Housewares & Storage. The development is part of on-going modernisation, including new infrastructure for data to ensure exhibitors can access new ways to show products, says Ambiente’s vice president Nicolette Naumann. Nicolette explained: “We have invested in the construction of hall 12 at a cost of over €250 million and are currently on the home stretch with the master plan of Messe Frankfurt. Once it has been completed, we will have invested around €1 billion in our exhibition grounds.” Exhibitors from Hall 5, along with some of those from Hall 6, Above: View of the city entrance to will relocate to the new Hall 12 for the next four shows. Meanwhile, Messe Frankfurt, home to Ambiente. the Kitchen Trends (1.1, 1.2) and Kitchen halls (3.0 and 3.1) will be connected to Hall 12 via a new Kitchen and Housewares Express shuttle bus. Ambiente’s next phase of investment is focusing on Hall 6, with its tabletop exhibitors moving to a Hall 5 location for 2019 while a year of refurbishment is underway. The various Hall 5’s will be the focus for redevelopment after next year’s show. This February, Ambiente will welcome 4,400 exhibitors from 88 countries and trade buyers from 168 countries. Highlighting Ambiente’s position as a truly international sourcing destination, Nicolette stated: “53% of buyers are from outside Germany and the number is going up each year.” The UK is in the show’s top five countries for visitor numbers, after Italy, China and France. Divided into three sections: Dining, Living and Giving, Ambiente’s Dining sector makes up half of the show with around 2,200 exhibitors, from volume sourcing to high end. “We are proud to cover the whole market at Ambiente,” stated Nicolette. Global Sourcing is set to expand for Ambiente 2019 occupying six different levels and including a new Premium Dining section. Other show highlights include the Ambiente Academy. Visit www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com
PG Live 2019 Registration Is Open Registration is open for PG Live’s two day dedicated greeting card show that takes place on Tuesday 4 June and Wednesday 5 June at the Business Design Centre in London’s Islington. Buyers have the option to register for the show via its dedicated website, through social media channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+), by email or by phone at +44 (0) 1635 297070. “We have simplified the online registration and it works really well, but for those who prefer to speak to a real life person, there is always someone at the other end of the phone,” confirms the show’s marketing manager Jacqui Parr. The Springboard area will again be fanfaring newbie publishers in addition to leading brands which include The Art File, Paper Salad, Five Dollar Shake, Belly Button, Wendy Jones-Blackett, UKG, Hallmark, IC&G, Paperlink, Gemma, Danilo, Noel Tatt, Icon Arts, Second Nature, Nigel Quiney and Emotional Rescue. Visit www.progressivegreetingslive.com
India Will Play A Starring Role With India as Ambiente’s ‘partner country’ this year, traditional artisans will be showcasing handmade crafts ‘live’ at Ambiente (February 8-12, Messe Frankfurt). Ambiente’s vice president, Nicolette Naumann highlighted the scale and significance of Indian exhibitors at the show, particularly in the expanding Global Sourcing halls, with companies able to deliver handmade products via containers in two months. Left: An Indian artisan at work.
Gifts From The Heart Oliver Bonas Names Its ‘Be Kind’ Charity Partner Homewares, gifts and lifestyle retailer Oliver Bonas (OB), has confirmed that UK Youth is the company’s new Be Kind Charity Partner for 2019 and 2020. The charity was selected because of the vital work it does to support young people across the UK. “Our partnership with UK Youth allows us to go beyond fundraising and spreading awareness for the charity,” explained Oliver Bonas’ founder and managing director Oliver Tress. “It also allows us to engage with Above: Velvet Constellation, the young people within the UK Youth network to offer experiences, and among the Oliver Bonas develop life skills, which we believe will make a real difference to their lives.” products that will be sold in During 2019 and 2020, Team OB will be supporting UK Youth through aid of UK Youth. raising awareness of the charity’s work, as well as organising donations from the sale of a range of products in store and online, team fundraising, and providing unique engagement opportunities for young people to develop their work skills and experience. Oliver Bonas will also be donating 4p, out of every 5p paper bag sold, to UK Youth. Selected products will be sold in aid of the charity across the two-year partnership with many developed with the UK Youth team and the young people they support. Already available are a velvet constellation cosmetics bag, gold glass photo frame and a ceramic bowl set.
With mental health issues very much to the fore this year, Lesley Dunne, owner of Greats award winning gift shop Feathering Your Nest in Rayleigh, was determined to make a difference this Christmas. “Feathering Your Nest is lucky to have a double front, with huge windows, so while one of the windows had a traditional fanfare of girlie gifts with lots of pink, the other window featured a take a #selfie but with a message for being kind and for mental health issues. The angel wings window not only attracted the attention of passersby, but the media too. “We had a full page, feature in our local paper The Echo, and I was also interviewed on BBC Essex Radio,” confirmed Lesley. Above: Feathering Your Nest’s ‘angel wings’ window.
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Industry News
Gallery Direct Purchases Parlane Both Companies Will Deliver Benefits To Customers, Says New Owner Leading interiors company Gallery Direct has strengthened its business with the purchase of Parlane International. The purchase, which was completed at the beginning of January, was part of a strategic decision to expand Gallery’s home accessories collection to boost the company’s interiors offering. "This is great news for Gallery's and Parlane’s clients," commented Gallery Direct’s managing director Peter Delaney. "The two companies share the same core values and work ethics. Like ourselves, they are a well-established business who have developed a strong, trusted brand, focusing on design, quality and value for money. They have close working relationships with their suppliers, who produce excellent products for them. Many are designed in-house by the Parlane team or are exclusively procured from their high quality international suppliers. I am confident that the two businesses will work closely together to deliver benefits to both companies and their respective customers.” Added Parlane’s managing director Mike Burgess: “We’re very proud of our business, which has been developed over the last 48 years with the outstanding team here in Bourton-on-the-Water. However, we have grown to a size where we now need to partner with a like-minded business. The synergies between Gallery Direct and ourselves are obvious and we are delighted to become part of the Gallery team going forwards.” Above: Peter Delaney, managing director of Gallery Direct. Left: Parlane’s former owners Mike and Caroline Burgess.
‘Shoptainment’ Will Be A Global Trend
Below: Artisans at work at Tom Dixon’s new London gift shop.
In-store experiences must surprise and entertain consumers, says The Future 100 report from The Innovation Group. According to analysts, retailers will be going to greater lengths to encourage consumers to see shopping as an inspiring way to pass the time, rather than just as a transactional experience. The Future 100 report on retail trends highlights ‘Shoptainment’s latest wave’, citing activities at American department store Neiman Marcus over the past year. The retailer has surprised its existing customers and attracted new ones with events that have included body piercers, graffiti artists, acupuncturists, and ‘personalisation experts.’ “Retailers are clear that today’s consumers need to be inspired to part with their cash. But they’re no longer relying on traditional editorial channels to dream up a story around their products,” says Lucie Greene, director of JWT Innovation. “Instead, in the latest evolution of retailers creating content, they’re orchestrating spectacles - both in terms of video content online and in real life - to entertain and fuel consumers’ desire to make that purchase.” Among the UK retailers tapping into the ‘shoptainment’ trend is UK designer Tom Dixon who has focused on a different model for his new gift shop at Coal Drop Yard, Kings Cross. Focusing on shopping, entertainment and food, shoppers can see designers and artisans at work in an open plan workshop. The neighbouring building includes a restaurant, where diners can buy the tableware.
Wrendale Designs Launches New Kitchen Collection Wrendale Designs has launched a new kitchen collection by Sally Swannell, which includes boxed sets of placemats and coasters, as well as illustrated tea towels that have been made in the UK. Sally Swannell’s artwork, published by Wrendale Designs, also includes a selection of stationery items and greeting cards as well as a best-selling Christmas collection, with the Wrendale kitchen collection complementing Sally’s other ranges. The gift boxed fine bone china mugs are available in six everyday designs and two Christmas designs.
Celebrating 30 Years As the UK’s largest buying group, specifically catering for independent retailers in gifts and greeting cards, Cardgains knows a thing or two about celebrating special occasions! Therefore it comes as no surprise that the organisation will have plenty to shout about on its stand at The Cardgains Village at Spring Fair - taking place at the NEC from February 3-7 - to mark its milestone 30th anniversary. (Hall 3 Stand L10/M11). Among the many events is a new Wheel of Fortune style game on the stand, where members can win £30 vouchers from Cardgains and participating suppliers, which they can use against orders placed at the show. Cardgains will also be presenting a cheque for £20,000 to a representative of the MND Association, the group’s charity for 2018, and will be announcing a new charity for 2019, along with details of the fundraising event, which is open to industry friends and colleagues. “We have come a long way since 1989 when the concept was launched,” said Cardgains joint managing director Chris Dyson. “Thirty years on we have helped and assisted hundreds of independent retailers and suppliers develop in the independent sector and intend to do so for many years to come.” Portmeirion, Heart of the Country and Sass& Belle are among the latest gift companies to join the organisation’s supplier portfolio.
Wraptious Winners Wraptious recently launched its biannual competition, which sets out to find the next artist to join the company. “We had 2,000 submissions this year, and our winners were the talented Phill Taffs and finalist Clare Buchta,” confirms the company’s media and marketing manager Naomi Smith. Phill Taffs range of five designs is inspired by his love of the outdoors, with Clare Buchta specialising in land and seascapes of the British Isles. Designs for both artists can be found on a range of cushions, cards, prints and boxed canvases. Above right: A Wraptious cushion designed by Phi Taffs. Above: A Clare Buchta greeting card for Wraptious.
Left: The brand new Sally Swannell kitchen collection from Wrendale Designs.
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Industry News
The Way Forward Xystos Buys Di Palomo From Unex Xystos has bought leading bath and body brand Di Palomo from owners Unex Designs, with the Unex directors confirming that after a successful 18-month period of being distributed by the company, this was “unquestionably the correct commercial decision.” ‘We are delighted to own this prestigious brand and regard its acquisition as a natural development as we increase our own intellectual property portfolio,” commented Xystos’ managing director David Lewis. “This is the direction our business is taking as we look to further invest in brands we own and strengthen our portfolio through natural growth and company/brand acquisition.” Added Martyn Bartlett-Judge, managing director of Unex: “Xystos have unrivalled and invaluable experience in this market sector and are perfectly placed to take the brand that we have developed and cherished over the past 12 years to the next level. Fellow directors George Copeland, Rob Tyler and I wish Xystos the very best of luck in this acquisition and look forward to seeing the brand go from strength to strength under their banner.” Above: Xystos has acquired Di Palomo. Left: Xystos’ managing director David Lewis.
Top Trends At Top Drawer Three trend experts - Louise Healy-Adonis, Sommer Pyne and Kirsty Whyte - had their fingers firmly on the pulse of what will be trending in 2019 when Top Drawer opened its doors in mid-January. Speaking at a RetailFest panel discussion, Louise (associate director at Futures Flamingo Global), Sommer (founder of House of Curious) and Kirsty (creative & product director at SoHo House Retail), discussed the three hottest trends of 2019, where the key buzzwords are ‘authenticity’, ‘individuality’, ‘meaningful’, ‘mental health’, ‘spirituality’, ‘recycling’ and ‘community’. “(Im)Perfect is about authenticity, and celebrating being different,” explained Sommer Pyne. “For example, wonky ceramics, hand drawn lines and recycled materials that produce uneven shapes. It’s about stepping away from mass produced.” According to Louise Healy-Adonis, New Tribe is another trend that will be huge for 2019. “The drivers are individuality, personalisation, traditional skills re-imagined, and heritage, with the younger generations searching for ‘meaningful’,” she emphasised. “And with mental health issues to the fore for so many young people, there is a focus on turning away from technology and learning meditative skills such as knitting, sewing and weaving.” Added Sommer: “Retailers for example, can offer these type of learning and community experiences in their shops. It’s about people becoming part of a tribe.” A third trend, New Spirituality, was defined as being about self-acceptance, mental health and feminism, finding security in uncertain times. Explained Kirsty: “This trend is all about self-care, self-help and emotional commonsense. Spirituality is something that is being taken very seriously as it is starting to enrich people’s lives.” Left: The Trend Report panel at Top Drawer. From left to right: Louise Healy-Adonis; Sommer Pyke (House of Curious) and Kristy Whyte (SoHo House Retail).
Award Winners The winners and runners up of the Top Drawer PaperAwards SS19 were announced just prior to the show in mid-January. There were three categories, with the following companies, all exhibitors at the show, receiving framed commemorative certificates. Engaging Print: winner: Raspberry Blossom; runners up: Hotchpotch and Cambridge Imprint; Emotive Design: winner: The Cardy Club; runners up: Maya Stepien by Lagom Design and Right: Big smiles from the winners and runners-up of Fossile By The Art File; and Exciting Use of Colour: winner: Magic Numbers by the PaperAwards. Lagom Design; runners up: Dicky Bird and Meraki. High calibre judges included Hazel Walker of Paperchase; Emma Hawkins of Fortnum & Mason; Holly Tucker MBE, founder of notonthehighstreet, David Hicks, founder and managing director of Really Good/Soul, and Alejandra Campos, show director of Top Drawer.
Searching For New Stationery Talent Five retailer categories, along with a Stationery Designer of the Year category, will be making their debut at the Stationery Awards 2019, part of Stationery Show London, which takes place at the Business Design Centre in London from April 30-May 1. The five new retailer categories are: Best Customer Experience Initiative, Best POS/ Merchandised Display of Stationery, New Store of the Year, Best Specialist Stationery Retailer and Best Non-Specialist Retailer. All entries should relate to the past year of trading, from January 2018 to January 2019, with an online entry form submitted to www.stationeryawards.co.uk by February 15. A further new category - Stationery Designer of the Year – is being sponsored by GO Stationery. Entrants will be competing to work with the production and sales team at GO Stationery to see their ideas taken into production and sold out to UK retailers. The closing date for entries is February 28. In addition, the Stationery Awards are now open to all stationery suppliers - not only those exhibiting at Stationery Show London. The closing date is March 29. Finalists in each category will be announced ahead of the show, with the winners revealed at an Awards ceremony taking place on the first evening of the show (April 30). Visit www.stationeryshowlondon.co.uk
Coining Wedgwood’s 260th Anniversary Among the five brand new coin designs recently announced by The Royal Mint, was a £2 coin to commemorate Wedgwood’s 260th anniversary in 2019. The coin was designed by Wedgwood, with the main image featuring an interpretation of the Jasperware vase that is arguably the company’s best known product. The vase, created by Josiah Wedgwood in 1774, took around four years to perfect and is considered to be his crowning achievement. “As the most widely recognised icon of our established English brand, it was the obvious choice for the coin,” commented a Wedgwood spokesperson. Above: The new Wedgwood £2 commemorative coin celebrates the company’s 260th anniversary in 2019.
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Industry News
All Change KitchenCraft Announces New Brand Structure
Below: Creative Tops’ Seas The Day from KitchenCraft.
KitchenCraft’s new brand structure will be unveiled at Spring Fair and Ambiente, where new brands such as Maxwell & Williams, Chef’n, Rabbit and London Pottery will be presented under the KitchenCraft name. Additionally, in a significant move, Creative Tops and the brands they currently manage - to include Katie Alice, V&A, Mikasa and La Cafetiere - will also now come under the KitchenCraft umbrella. The two, major Spring shows see the first stage of going ‘live’ with the new brand structure. Although the name Creative Tops will be retired as a trading name, it will instead be used as a brand name, coming from KitchenCraft, and re-focusing on its strengths in surface pattern design across gifts, tablemats, coasters and small tabletop collections. “We felt it was important not to lose the individual strengths that each of the brands we now manage has, but instead to reinvigorate them and give them a point a focus, and form an integral but clear part of our overall strategy,” explains managing director Matthew Canwell. “In addition, we aim to simplify ordering processes for our retail customers going forward, and having one main trading name was an essential part of that process.” KitchenCraft will have two stands at both Spring Fair and Ambiente - one focused on cook products and one focused on dining products. “The shows form an essential part of our launch process, showcasing our new product development programme and making it easy for our customers to see, understand and become excited by what the next year has to offer,” Matthew continues. “We have our largest launch ever this year, across both the cook and dine categories, and mindful of a tough retail climate, we feel there is a great commercial balance behind them all.” With investment in new stands for both shows, KitchenCraft will be making interactive and digital features a focus. There will be cookery demonstrations to showcase products, while offering inspiration for use in-store.
NY NOW Debut Making its debut at New York’s NY NOW (February 3-6, Javits Centre) will be Transcend, an innovative showcase featuring leading brands and designers. It will be supported by Transcend Talks taking place on the show floor, which will highlight how to grow a retail business as well as a career in retail. For the first time, the New York National Stationery Show (NSS), will colocate with NY NOW. Art and design licensing show SURTEX, which runs alongside the NSS, will also be co-locating. NY NOW attracts buyers and media from all 50 US states and more than 60 countries worldwide.
Gift Of The Year Finalists 2019
B&LLA@s Open For Entries
The Gift Of The Year 2019 competition achieved its highest entry to date, confirmed organisers The Giftware Association. Following an online judging in December, and a ‘live’ judging at The Button Factory in Birmingham on January 10, the finalists have been announced across all 15 product categories, with PG&H sponsoring the Beauty, Bath & Spa category. For the full list of categories, finalists and shortlisted companies turn to page 131. “As always, it was amazing to see so many products grouped together representing all corners of the giftware industry,” commented Sarah Ward, ceo of The Giftware Association. “It was also good to see many smaller companies among the well-known names.” Continued Sarah: “With Gift of the Year continuing to go from success to success, and with more entries and variation than ever this year, we will be continuing to grow the competition as well as looking at our new consumer competition.” The category winners, and Judge’s Choice winner, will be announced at an awards ceremony starting at 6.30pm in Hall 20, at the end of the first day of Spring Fair on Sunday February 3. It is free to attend, and will be celebrating the best in the home and giftware.
The Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards are now underway, with the closing date for entries February 27. The 2019 awards programme will build on rewarding excellence in brand licensed merchandise and IP management, as well as retail execution. The entry and nomination process is free and via online submission. Forms can be accessed from the dedicated B&LLAs website: www.brandlicensing awards.co.uk A validation process for each of the awards sections will take place, involving panels of industry experts relevant to the categories. The winners of this year’s Awards will be unveiled at a lavish afternoon event held at The Dorchester, Park Lane, London on Thursday April 25 which will be attended by over 400 retailers, licensees, brand owners and licensing representatives.
Left: The judges are shown browsing the products.
Independently Speaking Following on from a successful show last August, The Housewares Show will again be taking place on Wednesday March 6 at Cranmore Park in Shirley, Solihull. The show, organised by buying group AIS, is designed specifically for independent retailers, and features hundreds of brands across categories that include gift and home, home fragrancing, tabletop, glassware, cookshop and small domestic appliances. Visit www.housewaresshow.co.uk
Above: Last year’s winner of the Best Brand Licensed Gifting Product or Range: Orla Kiely Stationery Collection from Wild & Wolf. Shown from left to right are: Susy Smith, group editorial director of Hearst Magazines (category sponsor), Emma Puzey, licensing manager of Wild & Wolf and host Richard E Grant.
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Industry News
Mixed Festive Feedback Christmas Winners And Losers
Enesco Celebrates 25 Years Below: Dunelm’s sales increased by 9%.
With high street retailing come in for a battering by the media, both pre and post Christmas, there was nevertheless some Christmas cheer in the festive results. Following the encouraging news that Selfridges had a record breaking Christmas, with sales rising 8% in the 24 day lead up to Christmas, homewares multiple Dunelm too, announced that sales increased by 9%, with a 37.9% surge online. The company’s full year’s profits are predicted to be ‘modestly ahead’. At John Lewis, total sales for the week to December 22 were up 4.2% and up 4.5% the week after, compared to last year, with very strong sales on Christmas Eve and a confident start to the store’s clearance sales both online and in shops. “Although home sales were down 2.3% on last year, Gift Cook and Dine had a great week, up 25%, as shoppers bought last minute Christmas gifts. Gift food was also up 103%,” confirmed John Lewis & Partners’ head of shop for trade for Scotland and the North of England, Barry Matheson. Other major retailers who defied the gloom and doom mongers included Argos, whose sales grew strongly over Christmas, with strong sales growth in the Christmas weeks. Additionally, Tesco’s reported its best Christmas sales figures for a decade, up 2.6% in the six weeks to January 5, and Morrisons saw its Christmas sales climb for the fourth consecutive year. However, among the biggest losers was Debenhams, with a six week like-for-like sales drop of 3.4%. It resulted in chairman Sir Ian Cheshire being voted off the board, as was Sergio Bucher, although he will be staying on as chief executive. To see how independent gift retailers fared, turn to Were The Tills Jingling? on pages 35-37. l Boxing Day footfall dropped for the third consecutive year across the UK, decreasing by 3.1%. (Source; Springboard).
Ashford Bucks National Retail Trend
Left: Made in Ashford.
With retail starting the new year on a downward trend – Marks & Spencer has announced the closure of a further 17 stores, and Paperchase is looking at a CVA - the latest footfall and vacancy rate figures for Ashford demonstrate that Ashford’s town centre is impressively bucking the national trend. Footfall for the 2018 year to date is up by 5.8% on the previous year, with December 2018’s footfall up 27% compared to December 2017. Some 80,500 visitors shopped in the town the week before Christmas, with footfall up an impressive 52% during Christmas week itself. Additionally, the 2018 trend showed the vacancy rate reducing, while the national benchmark is seeing an increase. Almost 6.2 million people visited the shopping centre last year with Park Mall’s Made in Ashford’s 2018 trading figures up 30% on December 2017, while independent retailers' 2018 trading figures were up by 17% on 2017 figures. Comments Melissa Dawkins, curator and manager of Made in Ashford in Park Mall - an independent led shop run by a community of over 50 small creative businesses from Ashford and the surrounding areas: "Made in Ashford saw our best Christmas ever, with trading up 30% on December last year. We finished our year up 17% on our previous year which we are very pleased with. The shop is going from strength to strength.” Speaking specifically about gifts, Melissa told PG&H: “Around 80% of Made In Ashford is gifts, ranging from candles to jewellery to glassware and hand-painted ceramics. We also sell signs, scarves and some clothing. Our current best sellers however, are pictures made from pebbles. With a price point of £10-£15 they’re really good value and fit in well with an average in store spend of between £20£30. We have started 2019 by doing a refit - by ourselves - to make our shop even better and we are very confident and excited about the future in our town."
Pantone’s Living Coral The Pantone Color Institute has announced that Living Coral is the Colour of the Year for 2019. Pantone describes the colour as ‘nurturing’ and links it to ‘optimism and joyful pursuits.’ According to the company, Living Coral appeals across ages and genders and has an uplifting influence in the home, adding a dramatic pop of colour across decorative accessories, tabletop or on the wall. Additionally, its use in product packaging is said to encourage consumers to reach out and engage. (See Trendy Terracotta on page 65).
Congratulations to Enesco, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Having purchased Lilliput Lane and Border Fine Arts, the company was registered as Enesco European Giftware Group in January 1994, with both companies joining forces and moving to headquarters in Carlisle that remains Enesco’s home today. “Back then, at the start of our story, it was the height of the collectables era, with names such as Cherished Teddies, Lilliput Lane and Border Fine Arts as part of our portfolio,” recalls director of marketing Helen Cottrill, who celebrated her own milestone 25th year with the company in 2018. She adds that while times may have changed, the narrative around Enesco’s vision and values has not. “We’re still the leaders in both classic and contemporary collectables as well as the gift-giving market, with our portfolio expanding to include licensed products from big name brands such as Disney, Beatrix Potter and Peppa Pig. We also have the exclusive distribution of Gund, Willow Tree and, brand new for 2019, LIHIT Lab. We look forward to the next chapter in the history of Enesco.”
Lorraine Mugs Up With Portmeirion For those who regularly tune into ITV’s Lorraine show, they couldn’t fail to spot the lovely mug she was using when she presented a fashion slot on the Friday before Christmas. To the delight of Portmeirion, it was Geese from the Sara Miller London Portmeirion range. “It’s always so exciting seeing the TV coverage of our products,” Sara told PG&H. “I don’t watch a lot of TV myself but my phone starts buzzing with messages from friends who’ve spotted something!” Continues Sara: “There has been quite a lot of coverage lately on prime TV shows and it’s really lovely to know that people are enjoying using our products.” Sara Miller London, launched in 2016, is a sophisticated, elegant luxury brand that celebrates Sara’s innate love of print, pattern and colour. Her vibrant designs currently grace tableware, home fragrance, stationery, greeting cards, giftwrap, kitchen textiles, silk giftware, jewellery and watches. Above: The Sara Miller London Portmeirion Geese mug that was used by Lorraine.
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Feedback
Christmas 2018
Were The Tills
Jingling?
It Was Phenomenal “We had a phenomenal Christmas at The Present which definitely exceeded our expectations!” confirmed Louise Bawcutt, owner of The Present in Barnet. “We had a good, steady November but Christmas really kicked off at the beginning of December, with consistently good takings every week day, so we weren’t just relying on the busy Saturdays. In fact, on some Fridays, we took more than we did on Saturdays. “Our busiest time was from Monday December 17 right through to Saturday December 22. However, Christmas Eve was the busiest day of all re takings. Just before December 24, we even had to re-merchandise the shop due to the amount of stock we’d sold. We had customers consistently buying throughout the day, with most purchasing a selection of mid-priced products. There was the odd high end sale too, and we were ringing the till constantly all day.” Louise highlighted that the strongest product sectors were fashion accessories, with Powder’s monogrammed socks the star performers, closely followed by the company’s scarves and gloves. “In fact, we re-ordered the socks five times! People were buying 10 pairs at a time which is an £80 sale. Also popular were scarves from PoM. Men’s Equilibrium scarves from Joe Davies were another winner.” Added Louise: “We normally steer clear of high priced tree decorations but took a chance this year with Gisela Graham and bought some of their higher prices themed decorations which sold out in the first two weeks. Also, Bluebell alphabet coasters were the surprise hit - a brilliant pick up. Customers came in and bought them for table gifts for their whole family, so were picking up 10 at a time. “Overall, the average spend was between £20-£40, and there was a greater volume of customers buying four or five items rather than spending £40-£50 on one product, so our buying in 2019 will focus on that.”
It’s no secret that for many multiple retailers, Christmas 2018 was said to be the ‘worst in retail history’ with discounting - especially from Black Friday onwards - hitting margins hard. But what about independents, especially independent gift retailers? While some undoubtedly found the festive season tough, others had a cracker of a Christmas as PG&H discovered.
On A Par “Christmas was very much on a par with last year - reasonable, given the current economic climate with footfall better than expected,” confirmed Jonathan Faull, co-owner of Uno in the Mumbles. “There was a period some 10 years ago when Christmas started in October, but that is no longer the case. For us, it gets busy in November and really kicks off in the second week of December. Jewellery was a winner for us, significantly up on last year, and we also saw very strong sales with our Sophie Allport collections, which are continuing to build. Powder too, did very well across the board, as did Lampe Berger and Parfum Berger from Maison Berger. However, candle sales were disappointing, although not surprising, given the saturation in the market place. We’re now looking forward to a positive 2019 and getting growth back into the high street.” Above: Uno in the Mumbles. Below: Sophie Allport ceramics.
Top: The Present in Barnet, North London. Above: Among the Christmas tree decorations from Gisela Graham.
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Feedback A Christmas Cracker “We had a great Christmas, particularly with our Christmas decorations room and seasonal gifts,” enthused Maggie Thornton, owner, Alligator Pear in Tadworth. “People started shopping earlier this year for their trees, and a lot of customers said they wanted to get organised rather than leaving it till the last minute. The shop really started to get busy during the first week of December, particularly on the Thursdays and Fridays leading up to the weekends. Christmas Eve was fairly busy, with customers coming in for their last minute gifts, and, as we expected, we saw a lot of male shoppers! However, unusually for us, the Saturday before was busier. “Our top selling items were Intelex Warmies - we sold out every time we had stock delivered - Powder initial socks; Candlelight's Pink Eyelash collection; our leopard print and fur story in clothing, scarves and gloves. Plus Sagaform’s Wine Buff was popular as was our best selling mini supoon from Forma House. Gin too, continued to be a very strong trend for us, in particular Sunnylife’s gin glasses, and gin-related books and novelties. We even held a gin event as part of our late night shopping evening!” Adds Maggie: “Although interiors was tough for us this year, as we struggled to find exciting new ceramic ranges, clothing is definitely a category that is growing, so that will be a sector that we will continue to expand in 2019.” Above: Among the products in Candlelight’s Pink Eyelash range. Left: Alligator Pear in Tadworth.
Average Spend Was Up “In Edenbridge, Christmas kicked off on Saturday November 3, with November proving to be an excellent month following a very weak September and October,” explains Karen Ebers, owner of Something Special in Edenbridge. “December sales matched last year, with Christmas Eve the busiest day of the year, as expected. The average spend was up but footfall was down - again, no great surprise. Adult gifting was a little disappointing but children's gifting made up for it as it was very strong for us. Photo frames, mugs, scarves and calendars all did well as usual. However, traditional Advent calendars, pillar and dinner candles, paper serviettes and tablecloths all seem to be in decline.”
Christmas 2018
Sales Were Up “Despite the challenges in 2018, which resulted in us doing less marketing and promotions, we still had a 3% increase in sales over the week before Christmas,” confirmed Maxine Ellison, director of Max & Melia in Clapham, South London. “We usually start our sale in the week before Christmas, copying the major chains. This year however, we didn’t have time and it hasn’t appeared to affect our sales. Looking to 2019, we will also look at starting the sale a bit later.”
Continues Maxine: “We first opened the Christmas shop towards the end of November, which gives us the perfect opportunity to invite our VIP customers and offer them first choice on any new ranges as well as 20% off. It’s our way of saying ‘thanks’, and also makes the customer feel appreciated, which I believe is what small business is all about. This is then followed by the Amex ‘shop small’ event, which brings in new/less regular customers and continues the momentum. “Our busiest day was Saturday 29th December, and we were still busy on the Sunday and Monday, although some customers had mentioned going away on those days. Christmas decorations and our own range of candles were our best selling categories. This year’s surprise hits were kitchenware from a range of suppliers that included Kaemingk, Coach House and Gisela Graham. Mugs were very popular, plus Arthouse Meath has a lovely range of soaps that sold out, along with the fabulous Lady Muck range. However, jewellery didn’t sell as well as previous years. As we have a varied customer audience, it is hard to find the right balance between quality, variety and price. Our average customer spend is about £25£30, which limits which suppliers we are able to stock. Also, those that sell directly to customers have such tight margins we that we can’t compete.” Top: Max & Melia in Clapham, South London. Above: Lady Muck soap.
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Industry Issue: Environmental Issues Right: Danilo’s award winning Blue Planet II calendar. Below left: Some of the landfill friendly products from Paladone that use the BDP additive. Below right: VENT for Change ethical notebooks.
Going Zero Waste Prince Charles may have been mocked when he talked about ‘saving the planet’ several decades ago, but today, his words are definitely ringing true, with everyone with a conscience determined to seek out products that are plastic free, plastic biodegradable and environmentally friendly. This was brought sharply into focus by the recent John Lewis & Partners’ 2018 retail report - How We Shop Live Look which was marked by sustainability going mainstream. Sales of sustainable water bottles were up by 37%, and the number of brands stocked up by 85%. In fact, in the week that the last episode of BBC TV’s Blue Planet 1 aired, with its call to reduce plastic waste, John Lewis saw an increase of 170% in searches for sustainable coffee cups. Four months after the first Blue Planet series finished, sales of reusable coffee cups, travel cups and flasks were up by 71%. A genuine determination to ditch plastic was underlined by the IRI’s recent European Shopper Insights Survey, with two-thirds of British shoppers now identifying with retail companies that clearly demonstrate their commitment towards using less packaging, respecting the environment and demonstrating fairness, transparency and integrity. The good news is that the UK gift industry has been taking environmental issues very seriously, with companies both large and small taking an active
role. Among the trailblazers has been Paladone, which recently launched a range of giftware using Breakdown Plastic (BDP) technology - naturally decomposing plastic last summer, hailing it as a first for the global gift trade. The BDP additive makes the products home compostable, naturally decomposable in landfill and recyclable. More items using BDP have been lined up for 2019. Ethical stationery brand Vent for Change, which supports children’s education projects with every item sold, also prides itself on its impeccable eco credentials. “Every item in our range is made with the environment in mind,” confirms founder Evan Lewis. Products include pocket books made using reclaimed coffee cups and 100% recycled paper, hardback notebooks made using FSC certified papers and pencils made in the UK from recycled CD cases. “As a responsible stationery
Who Are The Worst Retail Offenders?
l The top 10 supermarket multiples are putting over 810,000 tonnes of single use plastic on
their shelves each year. l Supermarkets are also responsible for 1.1bn single use bags and nearly 1bn bags for life. (Source: A recent survey by Greenpeace and the Environmental Investigation Agency)
With David Attenborough touching the world’s consciousness through the BBC’s Blue Planet II series, and ‘single-use’ announced as Collins’ Word of the Year for 2018 - its use has increased four-fold since 2013 - retailers are now hotly pursuing suppliers to take a greater responsibility for finding ways to reduce their packaging, and/or to use more environmentally friendly substrates in the manufacture of their products. PG&H took a look at what giftware companies are doing to protect and respect planet earth, through addressing all aspects of their operation.
brand, considering our environmental impact is one of the most important elements in the design and creation of every item in our range,” says Evan. Rex London too, is introducing more sustainable and eco-friendly product ranges. “These include distinctive bamboo drink and dinnerware ranges, as well as reusable water bottles and recycled accessories,” confirms the company’s chief operating officer Taig Karanjia. Additionally, all paper products produced by Rex London, to include notebooks, wrapping paper and cards, are all ethically sourced and sustainable. “As only 9% of plastic is currently recycled, we are in the process of removing plastic entirely from the packing processes of our orders, and replacing it with recycled, bio-degradable paper. We are also phasing out of PVC packing materials, with the sole use of sustainable, recyclable packing resources, and also require our suppliers to Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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Browse the big names, explore the rising talent and embrace your passion for cards with new designs and exclusive show offers from more than 250+ publishers, artists and designers.
THE GREATEST COLLECTION OF GREETING CARDS IN THE WORLD “What a fantastic show. It is where you always find the crème de la crème of card suppliers, companies and ranges. It’s a real chance to see all the people who are passionate about cards in one building – and that makes it truly special, especially as it is such an amazing industry to be in!”
Jenni Taylor, greeTing cards buyer, benTalls, KingsTon
Be Part Of The Show
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PG Live 2019 Tuesday 4 - Wednesday 5 June Business Design Centre, London +44 (0) 1635 297070 www.progressivegreetingslive.com @PGLiveLondon
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Industry Issue: Environmental Issues Left: Rex London’s bamboo Big Top Circus dinner set. Right: Portmeirion is among the companies making environmental changes.
cut back significantly on the amount of plastic used in the packaging of our products. Where plastic cannot be avoided entirely, we insist that they use recyclable PET plastic as opposed to PVC.” At Portmeirion, the Group’s distribution team has recently been working on a packing project where the company has replaced all its plastic bubble filling with paper. “Using paper is much better for the
environment and this change helps us as an organisation to improve our carbon footprint,” confirms sales & marketing director Phil Atherton. Widdop and Co too, is addressing packaging and freight issues. Fiona Gallagher, quality and CSR manager explains: “This is a tricky one given that quite a lot of our products are fairly fragile and do need protection during shipping, which inevitably means packaging. However, we now use air blankets instead of standard bubble wrap when sending out goods, as air blankets use substantially less plastic than bubble wrap. We are also working to remove all PVC packaging by 2020 replacing it with PET, which is much more widely recycled. All cardboard is recycled throughout the business.”
Creating A Buzz On the housewares front, Eddingtons, well known for its kitchen giftware, has been creating something of a buzz by addressing alternatives to plastic, with the company’s reusable food wrapping range, Bees Wrap - made from beeswax, organic cotton, organic jojoba oil and tree resin - taking beeswax products from niche to mainstream. “There are times in your business life when a current issue strikes a chord with the zeitgeist,” says Roger Murphy, managing director of Eddingtons. “And so it has been with the media attention surrounding David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II series, first screened in October 2017, which has acted as a lightning rod Left: Eddingtons’ for the many initiatives that were already underway Bees Wrap. around sustainability and better awareness and management of our environment.” He continues: “We have worked alongside the teams at Bees Wrap and If You Care for nearly three years where we have witnessed first-hand the passion for providing products that can make a small but positive change in this area, and also, how well they have been received by the UK consumer who is more and more prepared to pay a premium for an authentic product that addresses their concerns.” Continues Roger: “I guess we are much like many of our peer group in wanting to make a positive contribution but wrestling with the dilemma that if you can't change everything at once, how worthwhile or credible is it to take that first step? Alongside this is the balance as a company that we must seek to avoid a positive environmental decision having a negative economic consequence. However, things are moving so quickly that the indications are that this is no longer a worthy environmental ideal but increasingly an integral part of our ongoing retail landscape that we all have to - and rightly so - address. Lakeland’s recent communication on its signing up to the WRAPS UK Plastic Pact is further evidence, if any were needed, that a change isn't ‘gonna come’ - it's already here!” states Roger. Roger confirmed that the Eddingtons team is now looking at all aspects of its operations and taking those “first small, cumulative steps that, over time, and in tandem with many others in our industry, will help to make that all important difference for the long term.”
Millennials Leading The Way
l British shoppers, particularly younger millennials (18-24-year-olds) are among those who are most worried about the growing concern around the use of nonrecyclable packaging, particularly within the FMCG retail industry, reveals a report by ICI. l Responses from British shoppers scored higher than their European counterparts, with 73% stating that they would prefer to buy products with packaging that could be recycled. l Some 67% said that they preferred to buy products that respected the environment. (Source: IRI’s European Shopper Insights Survey)
Celebrities On Board For #PassOnPlastic A new initiative by Sky Ocean Rescue and ocean conservation movement Project 0 has seen a host of celebrities create a reusable limited edition product range to inspire people to #PassOnPlastic. Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Cara Delevingne, Fearne Cotton, Ronnie Wood, Rita Ora, Harry Kane and Bob Geldof are among the celebrities who have come up with designs. The products offer reusable versions of the five most common single-use plastic items currently contributing to the quarter of a tonne of plastic that are entering oceans every second. Artwork has been created with a bespoke ocean-related design for the new Pass On Plastic range, which includes a reusable water bottle, a coffee cup, a tote bag, an on-the-go cutlery set and a threeContinued on page 43
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PRINTED PAPER STRAWS
! e e r F t l i u G y Part
8mm, Totally Re-cyclable, Funky Printed Paper Straws! GIN TIME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
PROSECCO TIME
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Industry Issue: Environmental Issues piece beeswax wrap set an alternative to cling film. All proceeds from the range will go to initiatives protecting ocean health, including Sky Ocean Rescue’s partnership with WWF UK, reports IPM Bitesize. Also hoping to make a difference to Britain’s oceans is housewares company T&G, which is making a donation to Plastic Oceans UK from the sale of Ocean, a recently launched gift-led collection that’s been inspired by a love of the sea. The company, which has long been a champion of FSC wood and cork, is making a donation to Plastic Oceans UK, helping to support ocean education and sustainability programmes. Above: Among the celebrity artwork appearing on the five most common single use plastic items. Below: Cork, wood and wire are used in T&G’s Ocean range which is helping to support ocean education.
How Retailers Are Approaching Environmental Issues Retailers, both large and small, are increasingly looking to protect the environment, but as Florian Kleinlercher, managing director of multiple gift retailer Between The Lines says, getting rid of plastic has yet to be accepted as standard in some areas. “Taking greeting cards as an example, people tend to like wrapped cards,” he points out. “However, going forward, we are hoping to work with suppliers who can offer us an alternative.” At Mooch in St Giles Street and Mooch at Bell in Northampton, owners Rachel and Paul Roberts offer their customers a selection of environmentally aware products such as reusable cups and metal straws. “We already use biodegradable carrier bags and this year we also introduced cotton bags,” confirms Rachel. “Environmental factors are definitely of interest and where we can find products that have great credentials - vegan, low carbon, fair trade etc - we will always prioritise them. We don’t often get customers specifically looking for them, but they are nearly always interested when we tell them about the environmental benefits of choosing these type of items.” Among the multiple retailers forging ahead with what they will and won’t accept is Paperchase, which sells a wide spectrum of giftware alongside greeting cards. The company recently revised its product and packaging environmental guidelines for suppliers which covers the substrates used for the packaging of products as well as shipments, as well as how samples are submitted to the buyers for consideration. Sainsbury’s meanwhile, has announced that it is to ‘go naked’ on all cards stocked by the supermarket from April 1, 2019, while Asda is adopting the same approach on the vast majority of its greeting cards too. Both are part of meeting the supermarkets’ collective target to reduce plastic waste. Scribbler meanwhile, has announced it is making a switch to biodegradable bags for its own brand cards from the start of 2019.
Plastic Showdown Industry trade shows across the globe have also been showing their environmental credentials, with reducing plastic waste a recurring theme at last year’s International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. Hydration was at the forefront for many exhibitors, who revealed design-led re-usable water bottles suitable as self-purchases or as gifts. “A goal for our 2019 trade shows - which included Giving & Living in January - is to be single use plastic free,” confirms Mike Anderson, managing director of show organisers Hale Events. “We have introduced a badging system for exhibitors and visitors that removes the need for any plastic wallets, and we are working with our show contractors to reduce their single use plastic too.”
Top: Between The Lines in Midhurst. Above: Paperchase is among the retail multiples reducing their plastic consumption. Below: Sainsbury’s will be ‘going naked’ in April.
Above: Visitors to January’s Giving & Living were the first to use the show’s new environmentally friendly badging system.
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Come and rearrange the candles on our display at Spring Fair to reveal the hidden words.
A glass of prosecco or a cold beer for the correct answer!
The Spring Fair Hall 5, Stand A10/B11
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Left: Nic Stone. Below: This is the year to do some blue sky thinking, says Nic. Bottom: 2019 is the Year of the Pig, with the New Year bringing renewed hope.
GIFT OF THE
GAB
Blue Sky Thinking PG&H’s columnist Nic Stone, owner of The Bottle Kiln in West Hallam, says that Christmas sales proved that retailers can no longer rely on the tried and tested. It’s all about looking to the “So how was your Christmas trading? Good I hope, or OK at least. Ours wasn’t bad, slightly better than I had expected, though, of course, not having snow helped a lot. In the end, the sheer amount of gloom, doom and general uncertainty in the run up to Christmas means that you feel enormously relieved when things turn out to be simply normal. But then gloom does seem to be the new normal. It was, however, another year in our business where we waited to see which of our previously solid seasonal lines would fall by the wayside. In previous years it has been calendars, then boxes of cards, then wrap, as these things become progressively cheaper (and let’s face it better) in the supermarkets and multiples. This year it was the turn of Christmas single cards. The special, different and higher end cards for relatives and close friends seemed like something we would always do better and, therefore, that people would make a special trip for; but even this has now begun to decline. Happily we compensated by selling more of other products. Clothes and handbags did sterling work in 2018, and it may help the increasing number of independents going with us in this direction, that the department stores are gradually all closing down - who knows? What we do know is that uncertainty in retailing is here to stay and it simply won’t do any more to stick to what we have always done to ensure success in the future. We need, above all, to be resourceful, inquisitive, creative and sometimes a little risk-taking in order to establish where the future opportunities lie. I write this as I nurse a rather vicious hangover from a pub crawl last night with
friends that began a little earlier in the day than I am used to, it being the holiday season and all. And while no-one wants nausea and a pounding head, it occurs to me that some of my best ideas come when I am hungover and everything seems slightly strange and disconnected. Something similar happens when you experience insomnia or are thrown into unfamiliar situations. It’s uncomfortable but can stir up the grey matter. Recent research has shown that the brain is most ‘elastic’ when we are exhausted, and you can imagine the evolutionary drivers for this. What is for sure is that I never had a brilliant idea
sitting in my office at work. They come when I’m on holiday, or having stimulating conversations with new people, at trade shows, or on shopping trips in a new city. Sometimes it’s visiting a museum, watching a documentary, reading a good book or following someone’s blog. And the New Year is the time to try something new; after the long haul up to Christmas (that you survived!) everything
seems possible. What I like best about this time of year is that the stakes are suddenly much lower. After weeks of sweating the figures day after day (Saturdays especially) suddenly it doesn’t matter nearly as much if you have a snowy week, or a quiet weekend, or, for that matter, if a new product line doesn’t set the world on fire why not try something new? What is most important, in the rare but vital creative moments, is to step back a little to see the big picture, think about the changes in our businesses and the overall business environment, and to see if any of these could present opportunities as well as the obvious threats, or, if there are icebergs ahead we simply must navigate around. I wrote a year or so back about the peer group business organisation I belong to (TAB), and how they help you constantly to re-evaluate your business and its relationship to your life. This month we will meet up and spend the best part of a day looking at the problems, successes and lessons of the past year, plans for the future one, and to ensure that they fit with our long term life plans, ie is what I am doing effective, and is it taking me where I want to go? You don’t have to be in a group like ours to carry out this exercise – do it with family, associates or on your own. But taking stock does matter, and thinking creatively about your life and business round about now may be the most valuable few hours you spend all year.” PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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Greats A4 Ticket Booking advert 2019.qxp_Layout 1 13/12/2018 17:50 Page 1
The ONLY awards that celebrate gift retailing in the uk TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE lunchtime Wednesday May 15th 2019 the grosvenor house ballroom, park lane, london I would like to book………………place(s) at £168 per place + VAT I would like………………table(s) of ten at £1680 per table + VAT I would like………………table(s) of twelve at £2016 per place + VAT I enclose a cheque made payable to Max Publishing Debit my Visa/Mastercard (please delete as necessary) Card No.........................................................................................................Expiry date............................ Start date................................ Security code...........................................
Address if different to company address..................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Name............................................................................................ Company Address...................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Tel........................................................................................ email............................................................................................................................ All bookings must be accompanied with payment. We will be unable to refund any cancellations after 1 May. Tickets and invoice will be sent to you once payment has been received. Please return this booking form with payment to:
Createvents Ltd, 450, Brook Drive Reading Berkshire RG2 6UU Tel: 01183 340085 or by E-mail: clare@createvents.co.uk www.createvents.co.uk
Sponsors currently include:
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A ‘Great’
Opportunity!
The countdown to The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2019 has begun, but there's still time - just - to tell us why your shop could be a winner! PG&H is on the look-out for those extra special gift retailers, gift departments, lifestyle stores, specialist jewellery shops and garden centres that, despite a tougher than ever retail climate, are nevertheless staying at the top of their game. The closing date for entries is January 31, 2019, with the winners announced at a glittering Awards lunch at London's Grosvenor House Ballroom on Wednesday May 15. There’s all to play for, so if you think your gift shop’s name could be on a trophy this year, we want to hear from you! With preparations for The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2019 well underway, it's all systems go to discover which gift retailers are a cut above the rest. “The Greats reflect the enormous diversity and vibrancy within the gift retailing arena, recognising and celebrating those who have shown entrepreneurial flair in responding to the changing retailing landscape,” says PG&H’s
editor Sue Marks. “Therefore, we want gift retailers of all shapes and sizes to tell us about their marketing initiatives, their community involvement, how good they are at display, whether they’ve expanded or opened a new outlet, what they do online, as well as how they use social media.” Above: The Nuneaton News carried a half page story on Joco Interiors’ success at The Greats. Left: Amanda and Will Oscroft, owners of Love It, are shown at The Greats Awards with their prestigious trophy as winners of the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year East Anglia category. Right: Alligator Pear hit the headlines in the Epsom Guardian and also in KT magazine.
The Greats 2019
Below: Last year's winners are shown on stage at the Grosvenor House proudly waving their Greats trophies in the air!
‘Great’ things happen to Greats winners and finalists and in 2018, among the winners making the most of their success was Amanda Oscroft, co-owner of Love It in Stamford and Bury St Edmunds. Following on from Love It’s success as winner of the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year - East Anglia category, Amanda, was made an ambassador for Stamford. “I was in the shop polishing our lovely Greats trophy, when a journalist from Stamford Living magazine popped in and asked me what I was doing,” Amanda explains. “She was very impressed by the fact that Love It had headed off some very tough local competition, and wrote a feature on me, and Love It. The next thing I knew I received a letter saying that I had been made an ambassador for Stamford! I was absolutely thrilled.” Even more exciting news was in the post however, with Amanda and her husband Will, receiving a letter addressed to them from the House of Commons, from local MP Nick Boles, congratulating them on their Greats’ achievement. “Saying we were chuffed is an understatement!” exclaims Amanda.
The Greats Sponsors 2019 The impressive line-up of 2018 Greats Awards sponsors currently include (in alphabetical order): A Gift From The Gods; Boxer Gifts and Boxer Books; Candlelight; Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; The Giftware Association; Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift; Joe Davies; Premier Decorations; Progressive Gifts & Home; Progressive Greetings Live and Spring Fair/Autumn Fair. For remaining sponsorship opportunities, please contact Angie Bryant on 01993 212994; email: angieb@maxpublishing.co.uk
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The Greats 2019
Among the other Greats winners who saw their ‘name in lights’ in their local newspapers were Maggie Thornton, owner of Alligator Pear in Tadworth, (winner of The Greats Independent Retailer of the Year – Home Counties, South and South East category); Jo Williams, owner of Joco Interiors in Nuneaton, (winner of The Greats Best Newcomer Midlands, North & Scotland) and David Lorimer and Keiron Cockley, coowners of Brocante in Mevagissey, Fowey and St Ives, (winner of the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year - South West category), with all shops receiving substantial publicity. “The local newspaper, the Epsom Guardian, ran a story, as well as the KT Connections local magazine,” enthused Maggie. “And we also had a fantastic response to our social media posts promoting our finalist positions at The Greats.” From the Awards' inception in 2003, The Greats has set out to recognise and reward every strand of great gift retailing from the tiniest gift shops in the smallest of villages to major multiples on the high street, garden centres and online retailers.
Win A £50 Golden Ticket As an extra 'gift', all independent finalists and winners of The Greats 2019 will receive a £50 bonus that can be spent against orders placed at dedicated greeting card show PG Live 2019, organised by Max Exhibitions, which takes place on June 4-5 at London's Business Design Centre in Islington. Right: The Business Design Centre, the home of PG Live. Greats winners and finalists will each receive a £50 voucher to spend at the show.
Honorary Achievement Award
Above: Last year's winner John Athwal OBE received the prestigious Greats Honorary Achievement Award which was presented to him by category sponsors The Giftware Association's (then) chairman Henri Davis.
John Athwal OBE, founder and managing director of Premier Decorations was named as the winner of the 2018 Greats Honorary Achievement Award. “I was gobsmacked, I didn’t have an inkling that is was going to be me,” commented John. “I felt very honoured and very humbled.” Do you know a very special person who deserves the 2019 Award? If so, we want to know more about the nominee, and his/her wider contribution to the giftware industry. Nominations are completely confidential and can be emailed to Ian Hyder at ianh@max-publishing.co.uk
Best Retail Employee Award What could be nicer than rewarding employees who treat your shop as their own and go the extra mile for both you and your customers every day? If you've got that 'special someone', a right hand man or woman working in your gift shop or gift department, now's your chance to nominate them for The Greats Best Employee Award. We want to know more about that person and why he or she stands out. Either download a Greats Best Employee entry form by visiting www.thegreatsawards.co.uk or email your entry direct to Sue Marks at suem@max-publishing.co.uk Above: David Lorimer, co-owner of Brocante, is shown proudly holding the shop’s Greats trophy in an article that appeared in the local Cornish media.
Retailers are also invited to enter members of staff for the Best Employee Award, and to vote for their top suppliers in the Best Service to the Independent Gift Retailer categories. Email ianh@max-publishing.co.uk and tell him why they deserve to win. However, it's not just about selfnomination. We're also looking for suppliers, reps and agents to bang the drum about the gift retailers that they think are a cut about the rest. Nominations should be emailed to: suem@max-publishing.co.uk An entry form can be downloaded by visiting www.thegreatsawards.co.uk or by emailing your entry to suem@maxpublishing.co.uk. l The Greats Awards are owned by Max Publishing, publishers of Progressive Gifts & Home.
Above: Last year's Retail Employee of the Year winner was Peter de la Mare, shop manager at England At Home in Brighton.
An Invitation To The Awards Lunch
The Greats Suppliers’ Awards While The Greats is dedicated to recognising and rewarding gift retailers, the awards also set out to highlight those special companies who provide exceptional service for their customers, with three separate awards - gold, silver and bronze - to be won. To nominate your favourite suppliers, visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk and download an entry form or email ianh@max-publishing.co.uk Above: Beaming smiles from the gang at Joe Davies. The company won the gold award in the Best Service to the Independent Retailer category.
The winners of The Greats 2019 will be announced at a fabulous Greats Awards lunch being held in the Ballroom at London's Grosvenor House on Wednesday May 15. This year, the theme is Take A Walk On The Wild Side, so expect plenty fun as the event goes animal crackers! All guests attending the Awards will receive a fabulous goody bag bursting with a diverse range of gifts.
How To Buy Tickets To book tickets to The Greats Awards lunch on Wednesday May 15 at London's Grosvenor House, contact awards manager Clare Hollick at Createvents on 0118 340085 or clare@createvents.co.uk. Previous events have been a sell-out, with a waiting list for tickets, so don't delay!
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VISIT US TO DISCOVER OVER 100 NEW DESIGN-LED GIFTS MAISON ET OBJET
NUREMBERG TOY FAIR
SPRING FAIR
STAND: A56 – B55, SMART GIFT HALL
STAND: F22A, HALL 10
STAND: 6H42-J43 HALLS 6 / 7 / 20
18 – 22 Jan Parc des Expositions de Villepinte
30 Jan – 3 Feb Spielwarenmesse, Germany
3 – 7 Feb NEC, Birmingham
T: +44 (0) 1225 789909 sales@wildandwolf.com www.wildandwolf.co.uk 050_GH_February 2019.indd 50
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Spotlight On... Spring Fair 2019
Putting Your Best Foot Forward Dig out those comfy shoes, fill up your (re-usable) water bottle - it’s time to hit the aisles at Spring Fair, which is taking place at the NEC, Birmingham, from February 3-7. Featuring 15 product sectors, PG&H asked a cross-section of exhibitors for their showstoppers, with gift retailers also revealing how they will be approaching the show this year.
Aroma Heaven For the second consecutive year, Village Candle will be returning to Spring Fair (Hall 5; stand D40/E41) with its own brand booth. (Previously, products have been showcased through a distribution partner). The company will be offering a larger stand and broader brand experience than last year, with the offer featuring Village Candle’s full range, the new Spring fragrances and two new lines: Soy-Blend and the Fun Fantasy Fragrance collections. “In addition, we will also have a Fragrance Bar, where DROM fragrance house will be giving fragrance demonstrations of some of their most popular fragrances and new additions for the 2019 season on Sunday February 3 and Monday February 4,” explains Village Candle’s vice president, ecommerce and brand management, Dana Schwarz. One of the key featured fragrances will be Glam Apple from Village Candle’s AW19 collection. Adds Dana: “Visitors will be able to gain insights from a perfumer’s perspective, especially how a fragrance is created for us.” Left: A preview of Village Candle’s DROM Fragrance Bar.
Top: Daisy Park, South Molton. Below: The NEC, Birmingham, home of Spring Fair.
Go With A Plan “There are two of us who will be going to Spring Fair from Daisy Park, and we will be going for two days,” confirms Emma Paisey, owner, Daisy Park in South Molton. “We plan it out with the help of the show’s ‘little black book’ and go to the furthest point first, then work our way back to our starting point. We begin in the homewares and Summerhouse areas, and are always trying to find something different. However, it’s always so difficult to find something original, as other local retailers either stock the items I may be interested in, or we stock them already. Continues Emma: “This year, I’m looking to stock jewellery and, hopefully, additional new stationery lines and greeting cards. We have a rough idea how much we want to spend, and if a company lets us have an account straightaway we lean towards them rather than having to pay via pro-forma,
Spring Fair 2019: The Lowdown DATES: February 3-7, 2019 Volume sector opens on February 2 VENUE: NEC, Birmingham TEL: 0203 855 9551 WEB: www.springfair.com
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G IFTS
LIMITED EDITIONS
BEAUTIFUL HOMES
creative solutions for tabletop and giftware
Contact us for more details on new product introductions and existing collections from our exclusive brands or come and see us at N.E.C. Spring Fair, Hall 4 Stand H55 Email: info@glb.uk.com Telephone: 01538 807 780 www.globalluxurybrands.co.uk
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Spotlight On... Spring Fair 2019 which can be difficult for independents. Anything to help with cash flow is so important to us. “Sometimes we place orders while we’re at the show, and sometimes we wait until we get back, so it’s a real mix, especially if we already stock certain suppliers, as we can review and plan more easily. If it’s a new supplier however, we tend to order on the day to secure the order. There’s always a lot of conferring, so we tend to regroup our thoughts with a cuppa. If we’re not too sure, we either revisit and order or dismiss it as not right for us.” Emma’s survival tip: “Go with a plan in mind and take lots of short breaks. We take a large bag with comfy straps to carry the brochures in.”
Be Organised “We normally spend three days at Spring Fair, and how we approach it has changed over the years,” explains Gemma Guillmead, co-owner of Just Delights in Penryn. “In previous years, we used to walk up and down the aisles looking for new suppliers, but over the years, we have refined it down to seeing the suppliers that we need to see, leaving the rest such as home interiors and greeting cards - for later in the week. We especially like to spend time in a little corner of the show, just off the Summerhouse, where there are some smaller suppliers. It’s where we found Austin Sloan handmade wooden signs and plaques and some lovely aprons from Denmark.” Adds Gemma: “Socially, Spring Fair is also a good time for us to catch up with members of the family who own the retail outlet Jeyes of Earls Barton in Northampton. It’s great to be able to compare notes at the show!” Above: Just Delights, Penryn. Gemma’s survival tip: “Make a list before you go and be organised. Also, try not to have too much to carry – you don’t need all the big, heavy brochures. Additionally, I try not to take a coat with me so that I don’t have to queue at the cloakrooms each day which helps to save time.”
Distinctive Designs
Building On Their Heritage Ulster Weavers’ Heritage 1880 linen range has been inspired by the company’s linen heritage, and will be one of the company’s key new collections at Spring Fair (Hall 9; stand 9E30-F31). “1880 continues our story of innovation,” comments the company’s marketing manager Nancy McMullan. Elsewhere in the new 2019 Ulster Weavers collection, bright colours and animal prints will be dominating the designs as reflected in the Menagerie range. The company will also be launching a new children’s range, Little Weavers. “The collection includes an extension of some of our new 2019 ranges, as well as unique designs aimed to spark a sense of adventure, creativity and fun. But we have also managed to squeeze in a few unicorns, sloths and mermaids!” Nancy highlights. Also being showcased on the stand will be Ulster Weavers’ sister brands: LoveOlli featuring giftware and fragranced homeware, with fashion accessories from StoryHorse. Above: Ulster Weavers’1880 linen range will be new for Spring Fair.
Following an eight year break, A Gift From The Gods will be returning to Spring Fair (Hall 3; stand Q16 to R19), showcasing statement pieces that will be sitting alongside the company’s brand new collection for Spring/Summer 2019 that’s all about freshness and vibrancy. “Extended ranges of stationery, loungewear, fashion accessories, gifts, and tote bags will all be making their trade debut for 2019, with bold pastels distinctive graphic prints, textiles, and metallics taking centre stage,” confirms the company’s head of wholesale, Chloe Bayles.
Above: Among the new collections from A Gift From The Gods.
Creating Opulence At Temerity Jones, (Hall 4; stand G40/H41) the company will be continuing the current trend for all things opulent and has added a new range inspired by the Koi carp. “This Japanese styling and deep blue, greens and gold has created a luxuriant collection,” comments Temerity Jones’ creative director Craig Masson. “We will also be remerchandising our existing stories to give them a fresh perspective, hopefully inspiring our customers to do the same.” Left: The new Koi collection from Temerity Jones.
Continued on page 55
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Spotlight On... Spring Fair 2019
Summer Lovin’
Plan Ahead “We will be going to Spring Fair for two days, Monday and Tuesday, and will be visiting our regular suppliers to start placing orders for Christmas,” says Maxine Ellison, director of Max & Melia in South London. “Typically, we spend the first day placing orders for Christmas, spending most of the day with our top three to four suppliers. We ensure that we know what kind of stock/colours/themes we have left over from this Christmas, so that we don’t duplicate, as you can create new themes without buying a lot of stock. For example, we have some green baubles which we had mixed with warm golds and copper, and for Christmas 2019, we could use those greens to lift a white, natural Nordic theme.” Maxine continues: “We use the second day to find new suppliers. Unless there is a special offer that’s only available at the show, I don't feel pressured to place an order there. I am also keen to find new suppliers that consider social and environmental factors during manufacturing and production as it’s always easier to sell a product that has a story. As well as looking for new trends, I’m also hoping to see a lot more llamas for summer!” Maxine’s survival tips: “Plan ahead! Collect business cards and ask for access to trade websites, as carrying 20 catalogues can get very heavy! Then place orders when you have a chance to review which supplier suits your needs. Also, don't always ask for delivery asap. It’s good to space them out so that your shop has a steady stream of new stock.” Top left: Max & Melia, Clapham, South London. Right: Half Moon Bay’s Disney collection.
Gift Republic’s new Spring/Summer Collection will be focusing on the essentials for a fun summer. (Hall 6-7; stand J42/K41). “We will be launching our tropical printed Beach range, which includes seven holiday must haves - a miniature travel bottle set with customisable stickers, a printed eye mask, slogan luggage tag, dirty beach laundry bag, aquaholic water bottle, a fan an and an update on our best-selling giant glitter beach ball,” highlights managing director Sam Wahid. The company’s Llama collection has also been expanded, based on Gift Republic’s best-selling Llama Duster. New products include the Calma Llama stress toy and Leaping Llama space hopper to a furry Llama wine cover, as well as new editions to the company’s bath bomb range. Adds Sam: “We are also expanding on our Vinyl range, to include a wireless phone charger and vinyl shaped mug, as retro and vintage styling very on trend for summer.” Above: Gift Republic’s Beach range for Spring/Summer.
Be Methodical
Above: The Keekin’ Glass, Prestwick.
“We usually go for three days - Sunday, Monday and Tuesday - and tend not to go with a budget in mind,” says Heather Newlands, co-owner, with Kenny Carey, of The Keekin’ Glass in Prestwick. “We usually start with greeting cards, then carry on to the main gift halls. We spend first day and a half looking around everywhere, and making notes as to where we want to go back to, and where we want to see specific companies. If it's a new supplier, we tend to order at the show. We go and see companies we already deal with later on, or have probably ordered with beforehand. There is some conferring at the show, although Kenny does tend to let me make most of the buying decisions.”
Heather’s top survival tips: “Try and eat lunch slightly earlier or later when the food areas are not so busy. Also, try and be methodical walking through halls to cover all the aisles. I always mark-up the Spring Fair little black book before we go with the companies we want to see and where they are – I still prefer paper to using the app. Also, try not to be hungover. There’s nothing worse than trailing round then NEC feeling like death!”
A Raft Of New Licences Half Moon Bay (Hall 6-7; stand G22H23), will have two stands at Spring Fair this year, one for its entertainment licenses under the Half Moon Bay division, and one for its Shruti division which was acquired last summer. “The stands are just across the aisle from each other, so customers will be able to explore the whole of Half Moon Bay’s product offering very easily,” points out marketing assistant Emily Moores. “The Half Moon Bay stand will focus almost exclusively on its new Spring/Summer 2019 launches, spread across 13 brand new licenses, as well as additions to classic collections such as Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and Star Wars. We will also be showing our newly launched division, Ice House Books at Spring Fair this year. The gift books are aimed at independent retailers and includes titles from some of our well-known and new licenses such as Moomin, Thunderbirds, Spencer Wilson and Jolly Awesome, as well as fun, own-brand content.”
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ANNIVERSARY
I N V I TAT I O N: We would be delighted to welcome all customers and friends to join us for drinks on our stand at NEC Spring Fair (Hall 5 Stand D50/E51) on Monday 4th February, 6pm, to celebrate our 100 year Anniversary. 16 Times Winners of the PG Greats Awards
Gold Award Winner 2018 BEST SERVICE TO THE INDEPENDENT RET AILER
Tel: 0161 975 6300 Fax: 0161 975 6301 www.joedavies.co.uk 2019 01- Pro Gift 100 Year Anniversary ARTWORK OUTLINED.indd 1 058_GH_February 2019.indd 58
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In Profile: Joe Davies
100 Years On... One hundred years and four generations on, Joe Davies is among the best known and most successful importers and distributors in the gift industry, evolving from the company’s early days of selling hearth furniture to offering a vast array of over 11,000 gift products that include jewellery, fashion accessories, photo frames, festive and much, much more besides. PG&H met up with managing director Steve Davies, and chairman Peter Davies who has spent over 60 years with the company - to hear how it all started when a young man named Joe Davies was demobbed from the army in 1918 and found that he’d lost his job. In the days when commercial travellers lugged their products around in suitcases, using horses and carts as the mode of transport, and a gift for the home - such as a vase - was a luxury purchase for the parlour, Joe Davies came back from WW1, having served for the duration, to find that his job as a commercial traveller for Manchester wholesaler Richard Rowbottom had disappeared. Disappointed but undeterred, Joe showed his entrepreneurial spirit, deciding to go it alone. He set up Joe Davies in 1919, renting a small premises at 20 Shudehill in Manchester, and securing a major agency for the company Benjamin Parkes of Dudley - well-known makers of fenders and hearth furniture, a hugely popular line at the time. Following a few successful years as an agent, he opened up a small showroom in Shudehill and began to buy goods on his own Top: Joe Davies, who founded the business 100 years ago. Above right: What Joe Davies was selling back in the day. Right: Joe (right) and his son Norman Davies.
account, thereby taking the company’s first foray into wholesaling. The products sold were mainly hearth furniture and domestic hardware made in the Midlands. Joe had a pony and trap to visit local customers and used the train, carrying wicker baskets of samples, to venture further afield. Porters with handcarts met salesmen off the trains to help them carry their wares to the UK’s ’nation of shopkeepers’. Joe’s son Norman joined him in 1928, working his way up to become the firm’s commercial traveller, and was proud to have had one of the first cars in the area. “The main business was still hearth furniture, curbs and other fireplace-related ornaments,” explains Peter Davies, Norman’s son, who celebrated 60 years with Joe Davies in 2018, and is still actively hands on and involved part time in the business. (When he joined in 1958, products in the 60’s portfolio included suitcases, ironing boards, domestic hardware, smoking sets, and a few ornamental pieces such as figures and vases imported from Germany. “Pawnbrokers were among our best customers,” recalls Peter, “They were on every street in every town and always paid on the nail”). However, back to the late 1930s, to make room for additional stock, the showroom moved to Thorniley Brow, a small street just off Shudehill. However, the Second World War brought its difficulties, with the building across the street bombed to destruction. “Thankfully however, Joe Davies survived, and when the war was over, my father Norman continued to grow the company, making long trips to the North East and Scotland with his samples,” continues Peter, who joined the company as, in his words, “the floor sweeper and boiler stoker.” He was subsequently promoted to the showroom, and then, following in his father’s footsteps, he went on the road selling. “I had the first Volvo in the area, and chose it because it had the biggest boot for me to put my samples in! The many independent Co-op societies replaced pawnbrokers as our largest customers. At the time the Co-op was a major force in retailing and gave us some wonderful orders.” In fact, demand for Joe Davies products was so great, that retailers across the board had to stock up for the next 12 months every January, for fear that if they placed an order later in the year, the products would have sold out.
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NEW Pairables Concept allows you to Mix & Match from over 30 designs to create your own collection
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Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk 2019 01 - Pro Gifts snoozies Pairables Spring Fair 2019 ARTWORK OUTLINED.indd 1 060_GH_February 2019.indd 60
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ANNIVERSARY
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In Profile: Joe Davies
Peter’s son Steve, the company’s current managing director recalls, “growing up, the house was always full of samples, wrapped in yellow dusters, and dad was constantly dragging heavy suitcases around, loaded up with brass and silverware. It was really hard work, as he spent six days a week visiting shops up and down the country, as well as calling in on manufacturers. As a child, I can still remember him taking me to visit copper jug factories in Birmingham.” Peter takes up the story. “By the time I became a commercial traveller in the 1960’s, we had six employees, and the product mix had changed. People were gradually becoming more prosperous, with money to spend on ornaments for the home, as well as on gifts, and we were an early supplier of these type of ‘frivolous’ products.” He continues: “Our early buying adventures were spent going to Birmingham - pre motorways - visiting copper and brass factories. When silver plate became available, thanks to mass production, and at reasonable prices, the ‘fancy goods’ sector evolved into the gift industry as we now know it, although, with the exception of the Blackpool gift show, there weren’t many trade shows for retailers to visit. However, some companies did hire rooms at the Mount Royal Hotel in London’s Marble Arch in order to showcase their wares, and it was at that time too, that imports started coming in from the Far East and Japan, such as stainless steel dishes and figurines.”
Left: The iconic 1970’s Joe Davies building at 29 Shudehill. Below left: The Harrogate show in 1989.
Joe Davies then started to import gifts from Italy, which was a great source of Murano glass, Capodimonte porcelain, silver, and ceramic figurines. “The gift industry has always mirrored society, and by the ‘60s and ‘70s, people had more disposable income, evolving from savers to spenders, and were only too happy to spend it on items for the home - such as crystal glassware and china - something the working man in the previous decades couldn’t possibly have afforded,” Peter highlights. For Joe Davies, business in the ensuing years went from strength to strength. In the late ‘70s, Norman bought a larger building, 29 Shudehill, and converted it into a modern showroom with a warehouse. “The Top Sellers Of car park was the bombsite opposite our old premises,” remembers Peter. All Time Around this time, goods from 1. Home brasses 2. Japanese chokin Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan 3. Poly resin photo frames started to feature in the market. The 4. Jewellery hangers gift trade boomed, and so did Joe 5. Snoozies! Davies. Explains Peter: “We took on 6. Equilibrium jewellery our first non-family managers - Syd Wood, who retired recently, but stayed with us for 40 years, and Anne, who took over the accounts and masterminded the installation of our first computer in 1984.” In 1980, Peter, together with Norman, made their first trip to the Far East - Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan - at a time when Joe Davies were still buying from the UK. “The Far East was a game changer, opening up a whole new market to buy from as well as a completely new range of products,” recalls Peter. “We were blown away, especially by Hong Kong companies, the products they produced and the efficient and honest way they conducted business. We still trade with some of the people we first met in the 80’s. The imported products were priced to sell and sold very well indeed, completely transforming our business. In fact, we had to build an extension to our warehouse in the late 80s! “It was then that we created our Shudehill giftware brand, named after the area where we had always traded from - the commercial trading centre of Manchester and the North West. It was Continued on page 63
Service With A Smile With some 16 Greats Awards for Best Service To The Independent Retailer standing proud in the company’s showroom, Steve emphasises the importance of outstanding customer service. “A personal service is something that buying from the internet doesn’t offer, so it’s our job to make ordering from us as easy and pleasurable as possible for our customers. We’re passionate about customer service, and understand how hard it is to be a retailer, so our website is one of the easiest to use, with products ordered one day and received the next, and someone at the end of a phone. It’s a super-efficient system that works on every level.” Right: Steve Davies (second right) with the team at The Greats 2018, where the company won gold in the Best Service category.
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www.joedavies.co.uk ANNIVERSARY 2019 01 - Pro Gifts Equilibrium Spring Fair ARTWORK OUTLINED.indd 1 062_GH_February 2019.indd 1
Telephone: 0161 975 6300 email: sales@joedavies.co.uk f: joedaviesgiftware
ONLY £100 minimum order OVER 500 NEW Equilibrium lines FREE Nationwide delivery ‘Little & Often’ order system
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In Profile: Joe Davies
highly regarded - and we hope still is - representing decent products at very competitive prices, sold in sensible quantities to our retailers. Such was the demand, that we had to ‘ration’ product out to our customers. It really was a different world then! “In those days, the normal distribution path for imports was through wholesale and cash and carry, or to retailers in big, full carton lots. We did things differently. It enabled them to have some exclusivity, and we all enjoyed a period of growth, making it a really good decade for the company.” As for trade shows, the company’s first foray was in 1988 at Harrogate. Remembers Peter: “What an eye opener that was! We took £64,000 worth of orders in five days and opened accounts with so many new customers, many of whom we still trade with today. We were exhausted, but utterly delighted.” Other shows followed, to include the Wales Spring Fair show in Llandudno, the Torquay show and, eventually Spring Fair in the mid ‘90s. “We were mobbed and have never looked back,” Peter states. “Unfortunately, my father Norman, who died when he was still relatively young, missed out on all the excitement. However, my son Steve joined the business in time for Autumn Fair in 1994, having spent 10 years travelling and working overseas, mainly in Asia, and quickly made his mark,” says Peter. “He successfully took over the buying role, and greatly enhanced our reputation for great products at great prices.” In fact, Steve was already very familiar with China, and now spends a good deal of the year out there. “The growth in China has been a modern industrial revolution and economic miracle, with people from the countryside migrating to the cities to work in the factories,” comments Steve. “This has translated into new reasonably priced products galore, affording us huge opportunities. When I came into the business, the factories were producing products at an amazing rate, and with the introduction of poly resin, you could make anything you wanted. We
Spring Fair 2019: What’s New Brand new at Spring Fair will be silk flowers to accessorise the company’s vases and ceramics. “We will also be showing new jewellery and fashion accessories items in our hugely popular Equilibrium collection which has grown from an initial 12 bracelets to almost 500 products,” highlights Steve. “Our photo frame range has expanded, plus, we’ve got a bigger range of Sunny By Sue glassware for gin and cocktails, as well as new snoozies!, more from the Sock Society and a great festive range for Christmas 2019.”
Joe Davies: The Lowdown l Joe Davies, who founded his eponymous company in 1919,
was born in the late 1880’s, one of ten children. l Today, the company employs around 120 staff, to include a
team of sales reps, at its owner/occupied premises in South Manchester, encompassing a showroom, warehousing and offices. l Over 80% of Joe Davies’ product is own brand, under the Shudehill label. l For almost 50 years, the company has also been the UK’s leading distributor for Lesser & Pavey’s Leonardo collection, and is currently a distributor for snoozies!, the Sock Society, Poo-Pourri, Bug Art and Sunny By Sue (from EastWest), Price’s Candles and Landon Tyler. Left: Peter Davies and Syd Wood in Aberdeen, Hong Kong. Right: snoozies! are currently one of Joe Davies’ best selling ranges. Below: At Spring Fair 2018.
were bringing back things that no-one had ever heard of before. Naturally, it was a very exciting time, with the opening up of China giving us fantastic growth over the last 30 years.” So what does Steve believe gave Joe Davies the edge in such a hugely competitive market place? “We’ve always been a bit different because of our ‘Little & Often’ policy. Traditionally, importers sold products in large quantities. We stood out because our customers were high street retailers, which meant that we sold our products in smaller quantities to please them. It gave us our point of difference in the market. We’ve also been lucky enough to find and develop some incredible products over the years and our range has grown to include over 11,000 gift items, 5,000 of which are new every year. This gives our customers a huge opportunity to select across a broad range of attractive, well priced, up to date gifts and has given us a real market edge over the years.” In 2001, the company moved from Shudehill to much bigger premises in Reddish, Stockport, which has enabled the company to grow further still. Plus, a B2B website was launched in 2010, which once again, revolutionised the business. “Additionally, in 2017, commercial director and right hand man Paul Hooker spearheaded the installation of a brand new computer system which is “dramatically improving all aspects of the company’s operations, and has again revolutionised the business,” highlights Steve. Looking to the next decade, how do Peter and Steve view the future? “Over the last 100 years Joe Davies has mirrored the history of the gift industry. The family business has come through two world wars, numerous recessions, a bank crash and massive social change. So, whatever the future brings, we will be ready. We’ll continue to do what we have always done, growing the business by selling great products and putting our customers at the heart of everything we do. If we can do this then the future is very bright indeed.”
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TRENDS
Trendy Terracotta Right: Hot Tomato’s coral and gold earrings.
Terracotta was a big colour trend at January’s Top Drawer SS19, with the warm, earthy hue featured on everything from homewares to housewares and from jewellery to fashion accessories, echoing Pantone’s colour of the year Living Coral. Described as ‘orange with a golden undertone’, it’s edgier than millennial pink, and is already becoming the ‘must have’ colour for Spring/Summer.
Above: The Mr and Mrs collection from Sue Pryke.
Above: Village Candle’s limited edition Grapefruit Turmeric Tonic.
Left: Ulster Weaver’s 1880 linen range.
Below: Dartington’s Juno vase.
Right: An address and birthdays book from Caroline Gardner. Below: A hip bottle from Auteur. Below left: Among the reed diffusers in Candlelight’s Inspirational range.
Below: A coral bracelet from Miss Milly’s Floria collection.
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COME VISIT US AT SPRING FAIR, BIRMINGHAM STAND 9E30-F31 Tel: 0844 844 1325
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Take 3: Shops Called Mooch
Mooching Around Mooching around is something we all enjoy doing, especially if it involves browsing around a gift shop! PG&H caught up with three Greats 2018 retailers who all have Mooch in their shop name - to discover what gives them the edge on the high street, as well as what’s in the pipeline for the coming year. Winner: Independent Retailer of the Year - Midlands & Wales: mooch gifts & home in Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn “We love the changing seasons and the buzz we create when we launch our new collections to our loyal ‘moochers’,” enthuses Jon May, who co-owns mooch gifts & home with Luke Jacks. “It makes everything worthwhile. Our stores are a ‘one stop shop’ for any occasion, and we know we have to stand out on both our local high streets - in Bewdley and in Stourport-on-Severn - for having warm, welcoming stores and quality gifts that are beautifully packaged.” Adds Jon: “We take great pride in both the interior and exterior of our stores which
offer old fashioned values served in a modern age. Plus, we go that extra mile to bring products to our stores first. When other retailers follow we move onto something new.” He says that in 2018, there was good growth across fashion jewellery, home fragrance and greeting cards, with Mooch’s own label and bespoke lines growing significantly too, helping to set the two mooch stores apart from their competitors. Explains Jon: “We launched our own candle range 18 months ago, which has built up a good loyal fan base, and have extended these fragrances into reed diffusers, a sector that we will be aiming to widen in 2019. In addition, we work with several small British suppliers to produce a range of bespoke, mugs, coasters, bags, soft toys and cards that are exclusive to us. Additionally, working closely with one of our suppliers, we offer personalisation on a range of pressed metal number plates. Again, we will be looking to extend this in 2019.” Over the past year, he confirms that the average spend has increased, partly due to the new ranges - to
Top: Mooch in Ealing, West London. (See page 69). Above: mooch gifts & home in Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn (below).
include male grooming collections from Scottish Fine Soaps - but also because of the extension of the Home department on the first and second floors of mooch’s new Stourport store. Additionally, Jon and Luke are very pro-active on social media. “We have a good loyal base of social media “moochers” who engage with our posts very well,” Jon confirms. “The power of social media is huge, and we will continue to work with our suppliers in 2019 to bring competitions and exclusive offers to extend our reach, and to grow our page ‘likes’ to 4K+ on Facebook alone, without paying for additional page sponsorship.” What’s in the pipeline for 2019: “We remain optimistic for 2019, and will be aiming to ramp up our online profile to offer our shopping experience to a wider audience.”
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Take 3: Shops Called Mooch
Finalist: Independent Retailer of the Year Best Newcomer: North & Scotland: MOOCH on St Giles Street and MOOCH in Bell MOOCH on St Giles Street was opened in 2017 by Rachel and Paul Roberts, with the average transaction value increasing by just over 20% year on year. A second MOOCH shop opened in 2018 in Bell. “Part of the reason that our transaction value has increased is down to the products we range, and also down to the fact that we have significantly increased the breadth of our ranges,” explains Rachel. “When we opened, we set out to create an environment that is much more than just a transactional shop, with many of our customers becoming friends. We always have a chat with them, sometimes about products, often just about what’s happening in their lives, as building these relationships is becoming the backbone to our business. Paul and I love meeting new people and
finding beautiful products that make them smile, or that take the stress out of finding brilliant gifts.” She continues: “We also offer some nice little twists. For example, we wrap everything and seal it with a beautiful foiled tag. If we don’t have something we’ll endeavour to get it - even if we don’t stock it. And when customers ask us for things, we listen carefully to find out what products we need to introduce to our range. We also don’t do ‘selling’. We train our team to tell the ‘stories’ behind each of our products, so we’re always on the look-out for products that have great stories attached to them! We are also champions for our town and get involved wherever we can to help to encourage business growth and pride in the town. In addition, I’m also a regular contributor to our local media, speaking positively about the future of independent retail and small business.” Adds Rachel: “Because we’re still quite young, we’re adapting what we do every day. This year we introduced a couple of ranges of gifts for kids, a more upmarket jewellery range, and also Above: MOOCH on St Giles Street. Left: A busy day at the shop.
introduced kitchen based gifts. We also have a range of own brand candles and diffusers which our customers love, as well as a couple of ‘exclusive’ product ranges from local suppliers. Our personalised products – such as cushions - are really popular too, and we also sell engraved items. MOOCH is also very active on social media, with the shop running different campaigns throughout the year, to include Small Business Saturday, and sharing daily #giftideas in the run-up to Christmas.” What’s in the pipeline for 2019: “We’re really optimistic. We would like to open a third MOOCH store, but it’s getting more difficult to find the perfect location. We also need to grow the size of our shop on St Giles Street, but that too, is proving difficult. So our challenge in 2019 is a really positive one - we’re going to grow again. We just need to navigate a few twists and turns to make it happen.”
Finalist: Independent Retailer of the Year - London: Mooch Ealing (two stores) “A highlight for us last year was launching a transactional website at the end of 2018,” says Evelyn O’Flaherty, who coowns Mooch in Ealing with Sandra O’Connell. “As retailers, we are always searching for items that are unique - on trend products that are quirky in some way,” she explains. “Although we do stock some mainstream products, ideally, we are looking for items that people can’t find online, and we enjoy sourcing from designer-makers both in the UK and in Europe. In addition, we create our own bespoke products. Sandra makes personalised cushions and I design and create jewellery, with both sectors continuing to be very popular with our customers.”
Looking back at 2018, Evelyn highlights that best sellers included kimonos and gowns from One Hundred Stars, as well as scarves from various suppliers. “However, one product that really did brilliantly was Pet Hates dog toys featuring British politicians such as Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn! As soon as we put them into the window we sold them!”
Above: Getting ready for Spring: Mooch in Ealing.
What’s in the pipeline for 2019: “Our biggest challenge will be opening a third shop more or less opposite our original shop, which we opened in 2016,” comments Evelyn. “This was followed by a second shop in Ealing in 2017. The new shop, which has a working title of Mooch Inside, will focus more on vases, lighting and soft furnishings as well as a range of small interior items.”
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Spring Fair 3 – 7 FEBRUARY 2019 HALL 2 STAND C04-D05 + C30-D31 BIRMINGHAM | UK Seasonal decorations Christmas lighting Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands Glass baubles Floristry
WWW.K AEMI N G K .C O M
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In Profile: Portmeirion Group
Some 12 months into a four year growth strategy, Portmeirion is continuing to invest in the company’s brands, focusing on new designs, growing new markets on a global stage, and reinforcing the company’s relationship with its customers, both in the UK and around the world. There is also a big emphasis on Portmeirion Group’s unique heritage - which includes Royal Worcester (founded in 1751) and Spode (celebrating 250 years in 2020) – with giftability across the portfolio taking centre stage. With Spring Fair and Ambiente ready and waiting to open their doors, Portmeirion Group’s sales and marketing director Phil Atherton invited PG&H to the company’s Stoke-on-Trent showroom to take a peek at the key new launches.
A Point Of Difference
With retailers constantly looking for new, new, new, Phil Atherton couldn’t be more excited to unveil the company’s brand new launches for Spring/Summer. There are three collections Botanic Garden Harmony (Portmeirion), Atrium (Portmeirion) and Kingsley (Spode). Complementing the new ranges will be a range of home fragrance products from Wax Lyrical, among the largest British manufacturers of home fragrance - acquired by Portmeirion in 2016 - which plays an increasingly large and integrated role in the Portmeirion Group portfolio. “Featuring the brand name Wax Lyrical gives the home fragrance products authenticity, promoting opportunities for the company on a global stage,” explains Phil. “The appeal, especially for international markets, across both collections, is that most items have been manufactured in the UK, with the ceramics produced at our factory here in Stoke-on-Trent, and the Wax Lyrical branded products manufactured at the company’s factory in the Lake District.” Starting with the ceramic ranges, the designs have been heavily influenced by the current trend to bring the outside in, while remaining steeped in each of the three brand’s individual heritage. Having celebrated
Portmeirion’s founder Susan Williams-Ellis’ centenary in 2018, (see Ahead Of Her Time on page 75), Botanic Garden Harmony reflects Susan’s groundbreaking Botanic Garden design, with the collection aimed at attracting new consumers. Colours too, reflect the outdoors - moss green, forest green, stone and amber - with Phil pointing out that the laurel leaf embossing links back to the original Botanic Garden design. It’s a ‘first’ for the range, as is the fact that it has been single glazed. Would Susan have
Top: Brand new for 2019, Botanic Garden Harmony from Portmeirion. Above: Phil Atherton, Portmeirion Group’s sales and marketing director. Below: The new Kingsley collection from Spode takes its patterns from the Spode archives.
approved? “She would have loved it,” enthuses Phil. “Susan was a pioneer in mix and match and casual designing, and her aim was always to bring the outdoors in through her designs. Coupled with the laurel leaf embossing and single glaze, the collection is a great accomplishment, both for the brand and as a standalone range.” Portmeirion’s Atrium meanwhile, reflects the florals that have been seen on the catwalks, complemented by geometrics and texture. There are also wine glasses and champagne flutes, with the packaging very gift-led. “With a focus on history and heritage, the new launches reinforce enjoying a ‘Portmeirion moment’,” explains Phil. “By that I mean being casual and relaxed when entertaining, which was very much Susan’s philosophy.” Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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In Profile: Portmeirion Group It’s a similar story in relation to the new Spode range, Kingsley, which features a pattern taken from the Spode archives – that the company believes will resonate with Spode collectors and new consumers. Again, the collection features coordinated glassware, alongside coasters and cutlery, making these items very giftable too. Line extensions are also a big part of Portmeirion’s 2019 offer, with licensed brands at the fore, to include Sara Miller London, Sophie Conran and Wrendale Designs. There is a broad spectrum of substrates that range from ceramics and melamine to glassware and textiles, with, for example, decorated stemware a new addition to the Sara Miller London Portmeirion collection. Gifting however, remains at the heart of Portmeirion Group’s offer. “Our objective has been to make all of our packaging more giftable, from a plate to a trinket box,” highlights Phil. “Plus, with Christmas 2019 in mind, we have substantially increased our range of giftable baubles, building on the success of Christmas 2018. In all product areas, based on our own in depth research, we have listened to the views and demands of our consumers and have responded accordingly.” To tie in with the Spring/Summer new product launches, there is also going to be a huge emphasis on trade marketing, with a campaign underway to support retailers in every way possible. Each customer will be able to receive a pack that contains key point of sale items, along with product information that includes a back story. “We will be educating our customers to educate their customers,” Phil emphasises. “We want to ensure that we support the sell-out of product from the retailer as well as selling into the retailer. It’s about push and pull, and we will be taking a significant part of the responsibility for that.”
Above: Portmeirion’s Atrium reflects the trend for florals. Below: Tahiti, the new design from Sara Miller London Portmeirion.
A brand new website too, launched at the beginning of the year, is viewed as a further educational tool, enabling consumers to learn about the history of the brands and what they stand for. Social media is also seen as a crucial way forward - regarded as a huge influencer by the company - with bloggers, vloggers and product placement very much in the frame for 2019. But back to retailers, what advice would Phil offer in the current retail climate? “To
always have a point of difference, particularly in relation to giftware,” he comments. “Retailers also have to create exceptional displays which need to be changed regularly. But there also needs to be a focus on key price points. And, of course, the location of the shop is critical, as are the relationships retailers build with their customers. Despite the negative headlines about the future of the high street, I believe that independents,
Ready For Brexit As for the challenges posed by Brexit, how is Portmeirion Group approaching the deal/no deal uncertainty? “From our perspective, whatever Brexit may or may not bring, we have put steps in place to make sure we have adequate product in stock in case of delays at the port,” Phil explains. “We have also ensured that the supply chain for our UK factory here in Stoke-on-Trent is as robust as it can be, so we are working very closely with our suppliers. “In addition, we are also working closely with the DTI to make sure we have all our bases covered”.
multiples, and online retailers still have opportunities to grow. However, in terms of bricks and mortar retailers, with increasing footfall a major challenge, the most successful retailers will be those who not only offer personal service and product knowledge, but also get under the skin of their customers.” He adds that in store experiences ‘retailtainment’ - is growing too, “so with that in mind, the retail landscape is going to change,” predicts Phil. “Also, I see retail outlets becoming more like showrooms, with staff required to educate their customers about products, especially in areas such as tabletop. Additionally, I think we will see more retailers open coffee shops to give customers another reason to visit, with the tableware available to buy in store.” On an international stage, markets continue to be strong for Portmeirion Group, most notably the USA, South Korea and Australia, with the company expanding its global reach, with a push to drive sales in the Middle East, Latin America and South Africa. Taking an overview of the market place going forward in 2019, how does Phil view the gift and home industry? “There’s lots of exciting product out there and the industry
still has growth potential because people enjoy giving gifts,” says Phil. “Therefore companies who offer the right products, those that have a point of difference, will be the ones that will be the most successful in the long run. It’s a great opportunity for independents.” In the longer term, what else is in the pipeline for Portmeirion in 2019? “Looking ahead, we will be celebrating Portmeirion’s 60th anniversary in 2020, along with Spode’s 250th anniversary, so there will be new limited edition pieces plus much else besides!” Phil smiles. For now however, the focus is very much on Spring Fair and Ambiente, with Phil looking forward to unveiling the company’s exciting new launches! Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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Loving Hearts
These delightful ceramic hearts come in 14 heart-warming designs, such as: “Mum”, “Grandparents”, and “Heart”. Each heart comes with a string making them great gifts.
Magnolia
The Magnolia homewares collection brings the simplistic elegance of magnolias into your home, mixed with organic textures and trending tones of off white and olive green for a look that’s both sophisticated and warm.
Hamptons
The Hamptons homewares collection brings the peace and serenity of the seaside into your home by pairing clean, white wood with organic coral prints in trending tones of navy and blue for a modern coastal look.
See the full range at...
Spring Fair NEC Birmingham 3 - 7 February 2019
Hall 4 Stand 4H50 - J51 For more info, contact our Customer Service Team Email: sales@xystos.co.uk or Tel: +44(0)191 499 1570 www.xystostrade.co.uk 082_GH_February 82 Gifts Febraury 2019.indd2019.indd 1
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Designer Profile: Susan Williams-Ellis
Ahead Of Her Time
Portmeirion, one of the UK’s most successful ceramics companies, was founded by the late Susan Williams-Ellis in 1960, with Susan remaining the company’s principal designer for many decades. Today, Susan would be extremely honoured to know that London’s Victoria & Albert museum has dedicated a room that pays homage to her fascinating life and groundbreaking work. With the exhibition open to the public until the end of July, PG&H went behind the scenes to discover more about what made Susan among the most outstanding trendsetters in her field. Born on June 6, 1918, Susan Williams-Ellis was one of Britain’s most celebrated designers in the second half of the 20th century. Her designs were at the forefront of contemporary style and continue to inspire the ceramics industry to this day. When she married Euan Cooper-Willis in 1945, the couple moved to Wales, taking control of Susan’s father Sir Clough Williams-Ellis’ souvenir gift shop in the village of Portmeirion. This ignited their flair for business, which would subsequently see them launch Portmeirion pottery in Stokeon-Trent in 1960. However, it was three years down the line, with the launch of the abstract, reliefmoulded Totem range, that really put the company on the map, with people fascinated by the tall, elegant, design-led coffee pots. Magic City followed, and then, Susan’s (now) world-renowned and most celebrated ceramics collection, Botanic Garden, in 1972. It was inspired by the hand-coloured herbal book, The Universal Herbal; or Botanical, Medical, and Agricultural Dictionary by Thomas Green. Susan had an eye for detail and mesmerising illustrations of flower prints, and, going against the grain, she created individual motifs for each piece in the collection, using a uniform leaf border on each product.
“At that time, you might have had dessert sets which had different patterns on each plate, but for the traditional tableware setting, everything had to match,” Susan explained at the time. “I thought, why can't we have different patterns all within one collection? The department store buyers in 1972 said that no-one would stock it, as there were too many designs, and that noone would want to buy it as it didn't match. However, I think I proved them all wrong!" Portmeirion’s creative director Julian Teed remembers working with Susan: “It was an absolute honour to have worked with her for over 15 years, witnessing first hand her wonderfully creative mind at work. Her vision
Above: The book that inspired Susan’s most celebrated design, Botanic Garden. Shown is a cup from the collection. Left: Portmeirion’s founder and designer Susan Williams-Ellis at work in her studio. Bottom: Some of Susan’s groundbreaking designs from the 1960s.
was to create affordable and beautiful tableware to be cherished for years to come, and she succeeded greatly at achieving this.” Continues Julian: “The factory and village were an extension of Susan’s family. She never switched off. On many occasions, she could be found in the factory at night taking cups of coffee to those on the night shift. She surrounded herself by the things she loved most in life design, animals, flowers and her employees.” Also taking centre stage at the exhibition are many other of Susan’s ground-breaking designs, to include the renowned Magic City pattern, as well as her first ever creations for the company, the Malachite and Moss Agate patterns. “Having Susan’s designs on display at the V&A for everyone to see is just incredible,” enthuses Julian. “For her work to be marked in this way is a testament to the impact and contribution she made to British design style and the pottery industry as a whole. Over the years, pottery trends have changed and the display reflects how instrumental Susan was in ensuring Portmeirion was at the forefront of that change. She was a visionary and a woman ahead of her time. Most importantly, she knew what would sell, frequently saying that good design was good business.” Today, Botanic Garden continues to be manufactured at Portmeirion’s factory in Stoke-on-Trent - each piece passed through 22 pairs of hands - something else that Susan would surely be delighted about! Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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DISCOVER
Spring Fair 4B10-C11 T: +44 (0)1932 267060 • E: info@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk • www.ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk
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BIG
In Profile: Ashleigh & Burwood
Is Beautiful
Having joined Ashleigh & Burwood three years ago from The White Company, Anna Borrett, the company’s new product development manager, has played an integral role in re-imaging the company’s products, packaging, fragrances, branding and profile at trade shows, with The Scented Home collection currently in the spotlight for Spring/Summer. Along with supersized glass reed diffuser containers and refills, there will also be the exciting launch of a debut collection of multi-wick decorative tin candles at the Spring shows. But that’s not all, as PG&H discovered. If you ask Anna Borrett if size really does matter when it comes to reed diffuser containers, refills and candle diameters, her answer will be a resounding “yes!”. Over the past few months, Anna has been working closely with the Ashleigh & Burwood in-house team to help to bring to market a range of major new additions to the popular The Scented Home range which has become a core collection for the company since its launch in 2013. Brand new for Spring/Summer are three large 500ml reed diffusers in best-selling fragrances Fresh Linen, Jasmine & Tuberose and Morrocan Spice, complemented by double-sized 300ml refills in these and five additional scents. “These new additions will bring loyal consumers their favourite scents in larger, longer-lasting sizes, with a RRP of £30,” Anna explains. “Plus, the reeds are made from rattan which means they can be rotated for a longer lasting fragrance. These larger, highly scented diffusers and refills not only represent excellent value for money but make a lovely statement in the home too,” she adds. Alongside these new larger reed diffusers and refills, The Scented Home collection is also debuting a range of multi-
Above: Making its debut at the Spring shows will be a range of multi-wick candles in decorated tins. Left: Ashleigh & Burwood’s new product development manager Anna Borrett. Below: Major new additions have been introduced to The Scented Home collection.
wick candles that will add breadth, as well as a greater in-store presence. Housed in decorative tin vessels, with eight fragrances that have been created in the UK, the candles are hand-poured using a veganfriendly, refined mineral wax blend. “And, because of the vessel’s large diameter, the new multi-wicks give fantastic ‘mega throw’ fragrance that matches the impact and quality standard that our customers know and trust in The Scented Home collection,” Anna points out. “The new candles are a great way for people to buy into our highly fragranced products without having to invest in a larger candle first. The candle tins are at a very affordable price point, very giftable, and are also a vehicle for getting across the vibrancy of our ranges. With the addition of these new products, The Scented Home is now a complete collection.” To ensure that the candle tins sit within any style of interior, the lid carries much of the decorative element, meaning that once the candle has been lit it’s the flickering flame that draws the Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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EW O R
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NEW GIFTWARE RANGE
PAPERWORLD Frankfurt - Germany | 26-29 January 2019 Hall 3.1 Stand D20 SPRING FAIR NEC Birmingham | 3-7 February 2019 Hall 4 Stand 4G30-H31 Follow us on:
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@EastWestGifts
GIFTING WITH A DIFFERENCE www.eastwest.co.uk info@eastwest.co.uk
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In Profile: Ashleigh & Burwood
Where I Burn My Candles At Home “I home test all of our new fragrances in development, and my favourite place to burn a candle is on my hall table,” confirms Anna. “Because of the fragrance throw, it not only scents the hall but the upstairs landing too. And something I love is that I can still smell the fragrance when I come down the stairs in the morning.”
attention. The base of the vessel is decorated with a block colour to help to give the room a colour ‘pop’. In fact, they have come about through feedback from customers. “We had regularly been asked by our retailers to introduce a candle at this price point in order to offer a variety of price options,” Anna continues. “Therefore the introduction of the new multi-wicks has been very much about making sure that these smaller candles offer the same high quality as our larger candles, giving customers who already know and trust the brand another format but at a lower price point.” The company’s first foray into in-house manufactured candles was the colourful, visually striking Wild Thing range - designed
Above: The Scented Home’s new 500ml reed diffuser refills. Below left: Pandamonium is one of three new fragrances in the Wild Things range. Below right: The Scented Home’s Enchanted Forest.
in-house by Sumitta Spencer-Townson which was launched in 2017, featuring stand-out designs and candles in re-usable vessels. After the candle has been burned, it can be replaced with a candle refill, a reed diffuser, or something else, reflecting today’s emphasis on recycling and the environment. In terms of waste, all the plastic used for the vessels and refills are PET, so they can be fully recycled. The Wild Things range now offers 12 designs and fragrances to include three that are new for Spring/Summer - Rhino Saw Us, You’re Having a Giraffe and Pandamonium - with retail customers including ZSL London Zoo, where visitors will also be able to purchase a matching zebra cushion this Spring, an add-on to the I Zee You fragrance. In another ‘first’ for the company, Ashleigh & Burwood has broken new ground by introducing a certain ‘collectability’ to the range, taking the step of bringing out Wild Things limited edition pieces. There will be small runs, with each piece numbered. “So once they are gone they are gone for good,” states Anna. In addition to the three 2019
The Scented Home: Talking Reed Diffusers
l Sales of The Scented Home reed diffusers reached six figures in 2018. “If we popped down to the river at Hampton Court, which is close to our head office, and laid our reed diffusers end to end, following the meandering path of the Thames into London, it would take us to Canary Wharf,” Anna reveals. l An average of 731 The Scented Home reed diffusers were sold every day in 2018, with the top selling fragrance Moroccan Spice. It sold over 1,600 pieces in November alone, averaging 53 pieces per day. l Always striving to be ahead of the curve, Ashleigh & Burwood launched the company’s first reed diffusers to the market place in 2001.
introductions, animals currently in the range include a jaguar, flamingo, peacock, tiger, humming bird, rabbit, zebra, koi and toucan, with the Big Cat Sanctuary (trademarked by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation Limited, registered charity no.1104420) receiving 20% of the profits from sales of the Born With Catitude candle which was inspired by the Sanctuary’s jaguar, Maya. With so much new product, the annual brochure too, has undergone a makeover, doubling in size to make more space for larger images that showcase the company’s products to their best effect. Ad hoc brochures will also be launched throughout the year to tie-in with the seasons.
“Even though there have been cost increases over the past year, we have absorbed them,” points out Anna. “Therefore all our new products will maintain the same high quality that consumers are used to, with the same percentage of fragrance. We have not cut corners in any way.” She continues: “What stands us in good stead is our long experience in fragrance that goes to back to the launch of the company in 1993. People are spending more time in their home and they want it to smell lovely and fresh when their friends and family come round. For over 25 years, our values have remained the same - fragrance, quality and creativity - where we continue to see fragrance as an art form, believing that a person should take the same care in choosing how to fragrance their home as they do in choosing what perfume to wear.” Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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Spotlight On... Candles
Scent On The
Of Spring As candle lovers snuff out their winter fragrances and look to the green shoots of Spring, home fragrancing suppliers are ready and waiting to waft them to faraway places, seaside locations and the great outdoors. Look out for more candle tins, decorated vessels, multiwick candles and white wax, as companies get ready to unveil their new collections at Spring Fair in February. With our insatiable love of candles going from strength to strength, suppliers are upping their game year on year, bringing out fragrances, vessels and packaging that keep consumers wanting more. Holidays have been the inspiration for the new Destinations range from Candlelight, which will be released as part of the company’s new 2019 collection, featuring six fragrances: Kashmir Pear & Fig; Moroccan Red Cinnamon; Japanese Wild Summer
Cherry; Nantucket Bay Seasalt; Savannah White Poppy and Thai Flower Market. “Our designers have captured some of the most vivid and memorable fragrances from across the globe,” comments Candlelight’s sales director Debbie Isles. “But it’s not just the fragrances. They have taken inspiration from the fabrics and textures of the Middle East, New England and Africa to create some truly awe-inspiring packaging designed to ensure that the range is a real treat for the senses.” Heart & Home too, has a raft of new scents and formats for 2019. Jacquie Russo, marketing and communications manager, says that much of what the company is doing is in response to the ever-changing marketplace.
“New candle formats feature multi-wick, coloured glass and white wax - which is becoming increasingly popular - while still meeting key price points. We are also focusing on our best-selling fragrances but with brand new jar formats giving our consumer base a fresh experience with a proven popular scent. In addition, we are also launching boutique collections - Artisan and Alphabet - offering customers original ways to enjoy our best-selling fragrances.” Continues Jacquie: “We have also noted that consumers are seeking out more Top: Heart & Home’s Spring range, Scent with Love, is aimed at Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. All candles are vegan.
Above: Best Kept Secrets’ Peony Blush. Right: The new Destinations collection from Candlelight.
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Spotlight On... Candles
sophisticated and complex fragrances, as well as those with a masculine feel, both in design and scent, with wood-based fragrances being key favourites. We have aimed to reflect these trends in our new collections with River Rock aimed at a more unisex market. With candles a convenient and appreciated gift, we have also incorporated all the best features of our collections, including soy blend wax, and contemporary formats and fragrances, to produce an array of gift packages.” Vanessa Curry, managing director of Best Kept Secrets, says that contrary to popular belief, candle sales hold up very well in Spring. “It’s the second most important selling season of the year, with the quick
succession of Valentine’s Day, Mothering Sunday and Easter all crucial. The nights are still relatively long, so burning a candle in the evening remains high on the agenda.” Adds Vanessa: “Candles in tins remain a strong choice, perhaps because there is a perception that they are a safer option. However, fragrance, colour and design continue to be the leading criteria in
customer choice. As buyers and users of candles are mainly female, colour favourites are invariably around shades of pink.” She says that top selling fragrances in Spring remain floral with the company’s Pink Pomegranate, Lavender and Peony Blush leading the charge. “It’s as if we are trying to create that outdoor feel, indoors,” she states. “And this year, more than ever, pink is the top choice.” Also ringing up sales are the company’s fruity fragrances. “Watermelon, Raspberry Supreme Top: New from Ashleigh & Burwood, Rhino Saw Us, a new luxury scented candle in the Wild Things collection. Above: Cello from Xystos. Left: Stoneglow’s updated Modern
and Strawberry & Pineapple Punch are the main contenders, with a pink theme to the fore,” Vanessa confirms. At Ashleigh & Burwood, product manager Anna Borrett believes that a new candle is like a cushion, updating an interior look without a total redesign. “Our Wild Things luxury scented candles include three new designs for SS19 featuring vibrant, expressive colour combinations teamed with new animals - a panda, giraffe and rhino. We have also added ten decorative tin candles into The Scented Home collection.” Stoneglow meanwhile, has focused on updating its Modern classics range. “For Spring/Summer we have given our iconic Modern Classics range, featuring candles as well as diffusers, a facelift,” explains Stoneglow’s head of design Winnie Wong. “There are seven, decadent fragrances, with simplicity being key for this collection.” “Consumers are far more discerning than they once were,” says Xystos’ director Tom Sykes, “appreciating that buying the cheapest candle isn’t necessarily a good option, and in the case of the wax market, the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is particularly true. In our Cello range, we will be featuring the 12 top
selling UK scents which will always be on trend, while continuing to innovate and discover new fragrances.” For Spring/Summer, there will be three new scents - Ginger Fizz, Cucumber Spritz and Poppy Blush - with the company also introducing tea light and electric melt burner products in porcelain, along with new essential oils and glass ultrasonic diffusers. Tapping into the continuing trend for gin, Pintail Candles is launching its popular G&T fragrance across the range, to include the company’s large triple wick candles. Making the most of the trend, they have created a new boutique Rhubarb Gin fragrance, also adding Elderflower Pressé to its candle ranges. “Fresh, invigorating fragrances, evoking dramatic upland landscapes and rugged coastal living are becoming very Continued on page 85
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Spotlight On... Candles popular, following the trend in home interiors for natural stones, quartzite and granite, with salt fragrances, with the oceanic notes of our Sea Salt fragrance capturing the mood,” comments director James Long. Village Candle too has tapped into the key trends for 2019. As Dana Schwarz, the company’s vice president for eCommerce + brand management explains: “The new SS19 collections take inspiration from nature, beauty categories and new market trends in garden and florals, soft and muted pastel colours, fresh oceanic and watery, and unexpected fragrance combinations. For SS19 we will be offering six new limited edition fragrances in the Traditions range, to include Fresh Cut Peony, one of our top selections for the season.”
A new development for Village is a soy-blend collection of soy wax and essential oils that will be available in April featuring a numbered 1-7 fragrance range. Wax melts meanwhile, continue to be very on trend, with the lower price points allowing customers to ‘buy and try’ into the brand. Village will also be bringing to market a new ‘petite’ jar (92g), at a ‘try me’ size. Also new is a Fun Fantasy fragrance collection that offers a playful,
Top: Goose Creek’s pastel pink Love Letters from Aromatize. Above: Fresh Cut Peony, a new limited edition fragrance in Village Candle’s Traditions range. Left: Pintail Candles’ Gin Stars.
mystical fragrance experience, as well as a new look in the metal lid. At Aromatize, 18 new fragrances have been added to the Goose Creek collection for Spring/Summer. “We will be stocking the large 24oz candle jars and wax melts which feature fruity, floral, fresh and gourmet scents,” comments Aromatize’s managing director Marvin Lomax. With such an eclectic array of fragrances and formats - as well as more entry levels for those who want to try before they buy - candles really are a buyer’s market, with suppliers becoming increasingly innovative in bringing new, new, new to market.
Fragrancing The Outdoors A new launch from Luminara this Spring is the Luminara Outdoor range. ”It’s the first weather resistant range, and yet another ‘first’, offering an outdoor LED Living Flame candle that operates in all weathers,” highlights sales director Paul Travis. “The Luminara fragrance diffusing candle continued to take market share in 2018 as the only fragrance diffusing LED candle and brand leader,” continues Paul. New natural fragrances for 2019 include Island Gardenia, Sea Mineral Mist and Vanilla Sea Salt. Pods are inter-changeable. Complementing Luminara at Spring Fair will be a new, established South African premium fragrance brand, Charlotte Rhys Capetown. The product range includes candles, reed diffusers, atmosphere room sprays and bath and body products for ‘him’ and for ‘her’. “These luxurious products are manufactured in South Africa and are 100% endorsed by Beauty Without Cruelty, with the company committed to the protection of natural resources and to reducing negative impact and stress on the planet having integrated awareness and ethics into its core business strategy,” explains Paul. Fragrances selected for the launch include St Thomas, Aquatic Splash, Underneath The Leaves, Green with Sun Warmed Energy and classic No17, Fresh with Woody Depth. Right: Luminara’s new outdoor LED Living Flame candle. Left: Charlotte Rhys Capetown.
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CHARLOTTE RHYS CAPE TOWN
AT HOME WITH CHARLOTTE RHYS Luxury Bath, Body and Home Products
Come and see us at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham - 3rd to 7th February 2019 Hall 4 - Stand 4E31. Professional Beauty Show, Excel London - 24th & 25th February 2019 - Stand D10 Tel: 01622845995 Email: enquiries@charlotterhys.uk.com
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest gift products for the Home Fragrance market to be showcased this month
Spring Daisies Each season, Village Candle introduces brand new limited edition fragrances for Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. This season, eight new limited edition Spring fragrances debut at Spring Fair. A key fragrance – Dancing Daisies – encompasses Spring with its bright and effortless happiness. A fresh floral fragrance that transports you to a sunstreaked field full of daisies. Spring awakens with daisies dancing joyfully in the meadows.
Village Candle Email: enquiry@villagecandle.com www.villagecandle.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5 Stand D40-E41
Mystical Unicorns Enter the playful fantasy land where mystical unicorns dance to rainbow colours and confectionery kisses. Magical dreams conjure up sweet and fruity notes of tart lemon, strawberry wishes, hot pink candied cherries and lime confetti as your inner unicorn delicately prances and softly descends into the pastel forest. As long as we dream, life will always bring magical unicorns and sparkly adventures.
Playful & Mystical Village is introducing a Fun Fantasy fragrance collection to bring a playful and mystical fragrance experience to consumers and retailers alike. Escape into a world full of glitter, sparkle, unicorns and mermaids. This range offers a real point of difference to the customer and encapsulates the current trend of all things mystical. Offered in two sizes, large and new petite, in five fun fragrances: Mermaid Tales, Forbidden Forest, Unicorn Dreams, Magic Spell and Fairy Dust. This fragrance collection is launching in late Spring.
Village Candle Email: enquiry@villagecandle.com www.villagecandle.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5 Stand D40-E41
Village Candle Email: enquiry@villagecandle.com www.villagecandle.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5 Stand D40-E41
Forbidden Forest Lush green, wet moss and a hint of smoky air lies deep in the intriguing forest where only some venture to go. At first glance, the bright and cheery pine forest invites and then transforms into a mystical world where gnarly twists of cedarwood, eucalyptus clouds, dark fireside smoke and drifts of patchouli mysteriously mingle to capture your spirit and darken your mood in the hidden forbidden forest.
Village Candle Email: enquiry@villagecandle.com www.villagecandle.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5 Stand D40-E41
Casting A Magic Spell Magical Mermaids The indigo hue of the sea is the mysterious backdrop for the meandering mermaid. Much like fairies, each mermaid sprinkles magical folklore and tales in all she encounters. Mermaids mystify in aquatic notes as they dance in the sea in soft movements gathering tiny treasures of forbidden apple, melon and citrus swirls. Swimming through the sea-salted water and dewy greens, the day turns to night and invites all creatures to this delightful dance amongst the glittering goddess mermaids and coral maze.
Dark, mysterious moonlight captivates as you are now under our magic spell. Cast a spell as this magical effect invokes a vision of enchanted apples, dark blue hibiscus and a warm splash of ocean water. This unexpected chant enlightens and uplifts through innocent petals of white gardenia and a subtle velvet curtain of clean musk that bewitches your journey of intrigue and taboo light.
Village Candle Email: enquiry@villagecandle.com www.villagecandle.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5 Stand D40-E41
Village Candle Email: enquiry@villagecandle.com www.villagecandle.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5 Stand D40-E41 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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First Ever Fragranced Diffusing Living Flame Candle. The Per fect Alternative to Real Candles - all with infrared remote and security timer.
Choose from 11 luxurious scents crafted with rare ingredients and essential oils to diffuse subtly, safely and beautifully. And they couldn’t be easier to use. Simply pick your perfect fragrance pod, place it in your fragrance candle and then prepare to get carried away... See us at:
Introducing brand new fragrances.
Spring Fair NEC Birmingham, 3-7th Feb 2019 Hall 4 Stand E31 Professional Beauty Show Excel, London, 24-25th Feb 2019 Stand D10
Distributed by: Virtual Candles Limited. tel: 01622 845995 // email: info@luminaracandles.co.uk // www.luminaracandles.co.uk
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest gift products for the Home Fragrance market to be showcased this month
Citrus Burst Citrus takes centre stage for Ashleigh & Burwood’s new season fragrances. Refreshing Lime & Basil is launching as a 250ml and 500ml lamp fragrance and coming to The Scented Home as a reed diffuser and diffuser refill. A tantalising burst of freshness, this scent blends invigorating lime with aromatic herbaceous notes of basil and energising rosemary, perfect for the revitalising Spring season.
Ashleigh & Burwood Tel: +44 (0) 1932 267060 Email: info@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk www.ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand B10-C11 Ambiente: Hall 9.1, Stand F20
Inspirational Scents
Zesty & Spicy Continuing Ashleigh & Burwood’s citrusy Spring/Summer launches is the zesty and unusual Bergamot & Oud. The new fragrance is joining their collection of purifying lamp fragrances for use with their range of fragrance lamps and will be available in 250ml and 500ml sizes. Zesty citrus notes of bergamot sparkle among spicy hints of clove and cinnamon, deepened by a rich base of luxurious oud and fragrant musk.
Ashleigh & Burwood Tel: +44 (0) 1932 267060 Email: info@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk www.ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand B10-C11 Ambiente: Hall 9.1, Stand F20
Candlelight is introducing more new and vibrant designs to the company’s very successful branded Candlelight candle collection. The range is being launched at Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham. The Inspirations range of candles and reed diffusers has captured unique fragrances such as Orangeblossom Musk, White Petal, Honeysuckle & Ivy, Mimosa, Pear Flower and Midnight Rose. This range is simple yet elegant, with its tonal colours and printed foil finish.
Candlelight Tel: 01709 723000 Email sales@candlelight.co.uk www.candlelight.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand H70-J71
Exotic Destinations Candlelight is introducing more new and vibrant designs to the company’s very successful branded Candlelight candle collection. The range is being launched at Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham. The Destinations range of candles and reed diffusers has carefully captured six unique fragrances in its Destinations range. This includes Kashmir Pear & Fig; Moroccan Red Cinnamon, Japanese Wild Summer Cherry, Nantucket Bay Seasalt, Savannah White Poppy and Thai Flower Market.
Candlelight Tel: 01709 723000 Email: sales@candlelight.co.uk www.candlelight.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand H70-J71
Fragrance Collection
Personalised Reed Diffusers The Personalised Memento Company’s new personalised reed diffusers are available in a range of on trend designs, making them perfect for a variety of occasions. These fresh scented reed diffusers offer an excellent alternative to traditional candles and show that thought and care has gone into selecting a gift.
PMC Tel: 01782 744900 Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk www.personalisedmemento.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand E90-F91
Price’s Candles is set to launch six brand new fragrances at Spring Fair, to complete the best-selling fragrance collection. The full 30 contemporary scents are offered in a candle tin, candle jar, boxed jar, medium jar, large jar and a 100 ml reed diffuser, ensuring retailers really do have every option available! Visit Price’s Candles at Spring Fair.
Price’s Candles Tel:+44 (0)1234 264500 Email: sales@prices-candles.co.uk www.prices-candles.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, E80-F81
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest gift products for the Home Fragrance market to be showcased this month
Deliciously Scented Charlotte Rhys Capetown launches in UK with the distributor of Luminara Living Flame Candles, Virtual Candles, adding a new dimension to the company’s premium portfolio. Charlotte Rhys offers deliciously scented, sophisticated, luxurious bath, body, home and lifestyle products. All products are manufactured in South Africa and are 100% endorsed by Beauty Without Cruelty. We are committed to the protection of natural resources and to reducing negative impact and stress on the planet and have integrated awareness and ethics into our core business strategy. Launch fragrances include St Tomas an Aquatic Splash, Underneath The Leaves, Green with Sun Warmed Energy and classic No17, Fresh with Woody Depth. The product range includes candles, reed diffusers, atmosphere rooms sprays and bath and body products for Him and Her, covering every aspect of personal and home fragrance, presented in premium packaging. Retailers will be supported with full POS and demonstration support. Be one of the first to sell this exotic range. Come and see the full new Charlotte Rhys range at Spring Fair.
Charlotte Rhys Tel: 01622 845995 Email: enquiries@charlotterhys.uk.com www.charlotterhys.uk.com Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand 4E31 Professional Beauty Show, Excel, London, Stand D10
Smelling Sweet Lesser & Pavey are delighted to launch new additions to their attractive diffusers and candle ranges at Spring Fair this February. With bright, colourful, tropical designer gift boxes, packaging and labels, these four tropical fragrances encompass Tropical Citrus and Sage, Wild Fig and Cassis Noir, Tangerine and Vanilla, and Lotus Blossom. The new fragrances are available as a small glass jar candle, medium glass jar candle, tin candles, diffusers and diffuser and votive candle gift sets.
Lesser & Pavey Tel 01322 279225 Email: sales@leonardo.co.uk www.leonardo.co.uk
New Sizes, New Fragrances Luminara is introducing vintage pillars in grey and blue, plus a new Crocodile Black range in three sizes. All offer Luminara quality and innovation. To help bring Luminara to a wider audience we are also introducing a range of 5cm diameter ivory pillar candles with RRP from £20 to £30. These exciting new additions include full Luminara functionality, 5hr security timer and are IR remote enabled. Exciting new fragrances for 2019 are Sea Mineral Mist, Island Gardenia and Vanilla Sea Salt.
Luminara Tel: 01622 845995 Email: info@luminaracandles.co.uk or call www.luminaracandles.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand E31 Professional Beauty Show, Excel London, Stand D10
New Outdoor Candles New for 2019 a comprehensive range of Outdoor Luminara Soft Touch Living Flame Candles, weather resistant to IPX5 compliance for genuine outdoor use. The range includes ivory pillars and giant ivory pillars, both available in three heights. Metal decorative lanterns in Vintage Bronze & Antique White in both 12” and 16” complete with Luminara Living Flame Candles. All Luminara candles offer a massive 500 hours burn time from 2 D batteries included. They come with a 5hr security timer and are infra-red enabled.
Luminara Tel: 01622 845995 Email: info@luminaracandles.co.uk or call www.luminaracandles.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand E31 Professional Beauty Show, Excel London, Stand D10
Romance Of Candles With a growing demand for quality realistic wax LED candles giving the romance of real candles in the home without the safety worries, Luminara is the perfect choice with its Matchless Illusion flame wax candles. The Matchless range offers the retailer a quality Wax Illusion flame candle range consisting of pillar candles, tapers and tealights giving 350 hours from two C batteries with infrared remote control and 5hr security time in presentation packaging. Already ranged by John Lewis for Autumn/Winter to support their winning Luminara range Matchless will complete the Luminara Living Flame offering for 2018/2019.
Luminara Tel: 01622 845995 Email: info@luminaracandles.co.uk www.luminaracandles.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand E31 Professional Beauty Show, Excel London, Stand D10 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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NEW
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from Luminara Candles
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LED Candles
See us at:
Spring Fair NEC Birmingham, 3-7th Feb 2019 Hall 4 Stand E31 Professional Beauty Show Excel, London, 24-25th Feb 2019 Stand D10
Distributed by: Virtual Candles Limited. tel: 01622 845995 // email: info@luminaracandles.co.uk // www.luminaracandles.co.uk
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest gift products for the Home Fragrance market to be showcased this month
Gift For Mum Mother’s Day remains the most purchased for event in the Spring/Summer season. The Lovely, Lovely Mum candles serves to celebrate those special ladies who deserve a treat this March. All of the candles in the Just Because range are fragranced with neroli, citrus and sandalwood and peppered with plenty of sparkle to mark this very special day.
Best Kept Secrets Tel: 01670 512222 Email: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4; Stand B33
Launching For Spring White Musk is one of the newest scents available in The Fragrance Collection from Price’s Candles. The soft, sweet fragrance combines the downy skin of almonds with the silky fresh notes of white musk and is available in various candle sizes and a 100 ml reed diffuser. The full range of 30 fragrances in the Fragrance Collection is available to order now.
Candles For All Occasions Best Kept Secrets has joined forces with Tracey Russell Design to offer a unique new candle product. Tracey has a countrywide and an international reputation as one of the leading designers of greeting cards in Great Britain and has now turned her design flair towards candles. The result is an amazing set of occasion candles with designs and sentiments that ensure there really is something for every event, ceremony and celebration.
Best Kept Secrets Tel: 01670 512222 Email: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4; Stand B33
Price’s Candles Tel: +44 (0)1234 264500 Email: sales@prices-candles.co.uk www.prices-candles.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4; Stand E80-F81
Summer Nights Launching from Price’s Candles in February is Oriental Nights - a spicy, flowery bouquet marked by citrus and zesty top notes along with a heart of rose - all combined with a cosy base note of sandalwood. Available in a range of sizes from the smallest candle tin to the largest candle jar, alongside a 100 ml reed diffuser. Available to order now.
Price’s Candles Tel: +44 (0)1234 264500 Email: sales@prices-candles.co.uk www.prices-candles.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4; Stand E80-F81
Heavenly Treats Treat yourself to a complete ‘Heavenly’ experience with this full collection of home fragrance and hand and body lotions from Sandy Bay. This truly heavenly fragrance, presented in pretty matt green glassware and packaging, opens with refreshing top notes of watermelon and basil, leading to a dreamy heart of cucumber and sweet floral accords. A soft gentle musk base adds the perfect sumptuous touch to this wonderfully indulgent scent.
Inspirational New Fragrances Sandy Bay is proud to introduce three fabulous new fragrances to our unique Gentlemen’s Club collection: Dolce Vita, inspired by Italy’s Amalfi coast; Hemmingway, created to depict the vibrant, sensuous Cuban Capital of Havana, and Espionage, a dark sultry fragrance. Also new to our Home collection are Linden Flower, a captivating exotic fragrance, with floral notes, enveloped in a velvety, luxurious warmth, and Sel de Mer, a light, bright ozonic fragrance with refreshing citrus and floral notes set into a luscious salty heart.
Sandy Bay London Tel: 01992 579949 Email: enquiries@sandybaylondon.com www.sandybaylondon.com Spring Fair: Hall 6; Stand S33
Sandy Bay London Tel: 01992 579949 Email: enquiries@sandybaylondon.com www.sandybaylondon.com Spring Fair: Hall 6; Stand S33
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Best Kept Secrets Ltd Morpeth, NE61 6JT Tel: 01670 512222 sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
Just Because Candles
P.S. We also have Gin Queen !! Trade Price ÂŁ3.75 + vat
RRP ÂŁ8.99
Different fun messages for friends, family and special occasions Classic Cotton fragrance with a multi coloured topping and plenty of glitter!! Spring Fair Hall 4 Stand B33
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Do You Want To Know
A Secret? Morpeth-based Best Kept Secrets, founded by Denise and Alan Edwards in 1996, is renowned for its USP ‘seriously scented’ colourful, sparkly glitter toppings that are sprinkled like hundreds and thousands on top of the company’s candles, which are available in tins and glass. “Our customers can’t get enough of them,” says Vanessa Curry, who took over the running of the business last January when her parents, Alan and Denise Edwards, stepped down to take life a bit easier. Since taking over the reins, and having worked alongside her parents for almost ten years, Vanessa is continuing to deliver the same high level of service that has been at the heart of the company’s
success for over two decades. Customers are able to phone and speak to Vanessa herself, or a member of her team, which includes Denise’s daughter-in-law Caroline Baylis who looks after the accounts side of the business, Cheryl Holton, who deals with sales and customer relations, head of production for candles Sydney Bowles, and Helen Wright for soaps. As Vanessa highlights, it’s that personal ‘hands on’ connection that customers love.
In Profile: Best Kept Secrets
The company may be called Best Kept Secrets, but managing director Vanessa Curry is only too happy to share some of the ‘secrets’ ahead of Spring Fair. For starters there’s a rebranding, some delicious sounding new fragrances, and the unveiling of a brand new collection. Left: Four brand new Seriously Scented candle fragrances for Spring. Below: Vanessa Curry, managing director of Best Kept Secrets.
“Although retailers can place their orders online or by email, it’s having the option of actually speaking to a member of the team that really makes all the difference. We love chatting to our customers and, if there is ever a problem, they know that they can speak directly to us. Aside from our products of course, it’s another reason why customers stay with us and repeat order. My dad always told me, ‘look after the customers because they will look after you’. They’re wise words and it’s something that I have passed onto my sales
Coming Clean About Soap
Vanessa’s Favourite Fragrances The diffuser fragrance that Vanessa most enjoys coming home to is Best Kept Secret’s Tuscan Velvet, with her favourite candle fragrance Plum Champagne. “Additionally, I love our Hotch Potch soap featuring four different fragrances. It has a gorgeous smell and looks lovely too.”
As for the company’s soaps, all the ingredients are natural, and hand made in the factory by Helen Wright and Fiona Jobson, with a huge increase in sales, not only due to the rise in people with sensitive skin, but also the backlash against plastic waste which includes soap pumps. “There’s clear evidence that customers are turning away from liquid soaps because of the plastic packaging content,” points out Vanessa. “There is a noticeable return to solid soap subject to the soap being made with natural products including essential oils. Moneywise too, you get more longevity from a bar of soap than from a pump soap.”
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Best Kept Secrets Ltd Morpeth, NE61 6JT Tel: 01670 512222 sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
Seriously Scented Candles
Forty Four Seriously Scented candle fragrances with sparkly toppings & plenty of glitter!! Trade Price ÂŁ3.75 + vat, RRP ÂŁ8.99 Spring Fair Hall 4 Stand B33
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In Profile: Best Kept Secrets staff too.” (Denise’s advice meanwhile, was to “check, check, check re quality control”, something that Vanessa has also taken on board). To avoid cross contamination, there are two separate factories one for candles and reed diffusers, and one for soaps and bath bursts. (See Coming Clean About Soap on page 95). “The soap factory is a ‘clean’ area, where there is no sign of the glitter you find in the candle factory,” points out Vanessa. “Our aim is to make ‘seriously scented’ candles, diffusers and natural soaps by hand at sensible prices, with 80% of products having an RRP of under £10.” So what’s currently the big sales driver? “Candles, candles, candles and more candles,” laughs Vanessa. “Everyone loves candles!” For Spring Fair, four new
fragrances are being launched: Ruby Stars, Pink Pepper & Patchouli, Lemon Sugar and Forbidden Sapphire, with some of the fragrances reflected across the company’s reed diffuser collection as well. Another new candle collection that is ringing up sales is Just Because, the brainchild of Vanessa, where customers can purchase a Just Because reed diffuser and soap to complement the candles in the range. “The idea for Just Because came to me in the middle of the night!” she reveals. And with Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day on the horizon, there are lots of different candles, sprinkled with glitter of course, to mark these important occasions on the gift giving calendar.
Left: Among the candles in the Just Because range. Below left: Hotch Potch, a handmade natural soap. Below right: Reed diffusers have been given a smart new look for 2019.
Reed diffusers meanwhile, are becoming so important for the company, that they have been rebranded for Spring Fair. “We are excited to launch our new reed diffusers with super-smart new packaging and interesting new fragrances,” highlights Vanessa. So where does the inspiration for new product come from? “It’s mostly quite random,” she admits. “For example, some close friends recently moved to Baku in Azerbaijan which is on the Caspian Sea. Their house is on Silk Road, and that inspired us to create a fragrance to reflect this - Caspian Silk. We also use focus groups and listen very closely to the feedback we get from our retailers,” she continues. “With our new collections for Spring Fair, we have worked very closely with our designers too. We’re really looking forward to the show and will be building on the success of Autumn Fair, where we had our best show of 2018.” As Vanessa points out, as a small, independent company, Best Kept Secrets isn’t governed by the restraints of, say, a big multiple where everything takes much longer to come to market. “We can respond quickly if we get a rumble at a trade show. So if several retailers are asking for the same thing - a new colour or fragrance for example - then we can be on the case very quickly. In the same way, if someone asked us for a cinnamon fragrance in mid June then we can make it for them. Independents are the mainstay of our business, but we’re finding that our Just Because range is opening doors with garden centres as well. Plus, we have also started to work with the designer Tracey Russell, where we are picking up extra business through people buying her cards and adding a complementary candle to their purchase.” Another expanding sector for the business is bespoke and contract work, which ranges from visitor attractions “stretching from John O’Groats to Land’s End and beyond,” as Vanessa puts it. The company also does work for charities such as the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Autism Northumberland, as well as for artists to include Sue Fenlon and Jan Laird. Adds
Vanessa: “We also do a lot of own brand work for bridal boutiques and beauty salons, as well as white label work.” Export too, is on an upward trajectory and currently includes Ireland, Italy, Australia, and the Czech Republic. “We will, of course, be including Made in Britain on our new diffuser packaging because people automatically know that they are getting a good quality product, and that the candles and diffusers are safe to use,” Vanessa points out. “Also, today, people are more aware of where the products they buy come from, with many shops wanting to place their orders with local manufacturers, especially those who use British ingredients.” Vanessa says that what she loves most about her role at the helm of the company aside from her staff and the products of course - are the challenges. “I never stop thinking about the business,” she states. “It has very firm foundations and my aim going forward is to build on those foundations and grow the company’s sales and strengths while remaining customer focused.”
So what’s in the pipeline for the coming year? “We’re currently working on new fragrances to add to our Seriously Scented candle collection and Just Because diffusers to celebrate special occasions, as well as family and friends. “In addition, we’re working on a corporate gift for a household name retailer having beaten off very stiff competition from eight other contenders.” Will all the candles have lots of sparkles and glitter? “Of course,” Vanessa smiles. “But telling you where we get them from is one trade secret I’m not prepared to share!” Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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Co me and see all our new 2019 ranges and design additions to our hugely popular portfolio.
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Retailer Face To Face: House UK
Talking
Left: House in Oxford. Below: The coffee van makes an eye-catching display area.
House
Taking inspiration from US specialist Williams Sonoma, Steven Lew is quick to point that although House is a housewares/homewares store, it regards every product as a potential gift purchase. “We’re ‘cook, dine and entertain’, so we have something for everyone,” he emphasises. (Gift-led brands for example, include LSA International, Sara Miller London, Sass& Belle and Joseph Joseph). “It’s then up to our staff to match the customer with the perfect gift, whether that’s a set of six stem glasses or a block of kitchen knives,” Steven adds by way of explanation. Highlighting what he means, Steven points to House’s world exclusive The Egg knife block, launched last November, which has been featured on several ‘ideal gift’ blogs and UK style guides, with, according to Steven, “sales going crazy!” In the run up to Christmas, typical conversation starters with customers were about their Christmas lists, and who was left on them. For example, in one store, a customer was struggling to choose a gift for his brother who seemingly had everything. However, on finding out that the customer’s brother had a passion for fishing, a sales assistant suggested a fish boning knife - an ideal gift that was greatly appreciated. House UK’s stores are also mindful of local differences in stock, especially where there are significant numbers of tourists. And, of course, there is obviously a seasonal difference between merchandise in the UK and Australia. There is, nevertheless, a strong collaboration between the UK and Australian buying teams. Plus, House also
At House UK - a homewares store from Australia that arrived in the UK last Spring - founder Steven Lew says that “everything the shop sells is a gift.” PG&H caught up with Steven on his most recent trip to the UK, where he was visiting his own branches, as well as those of other retailers, to get an up to the minute sense of the market. With over one million consumers having already passed through the retailer’s doors in the UK, PG&H talked ‘House’ with Steven to find more about the retailer’s approach and ambitious future plans for the UK, which includes opening 75 new stores over the next three to four years.
benefits from Steven’s experience of the UK market as a homewares wholesaler for more than a decade (see Steven Lew: The Lowdown below). The UK’s merchandising director, Kate Thompson, points out that the biggest difference with regard to House, and her previous retail experience, (which includes House of Fraser), is that House is very
quick to react. Whether it’s remerchandising or changing stock, it is not uncommon to update stores on a daily basis. Steven highlights: “If Kate calls saying something needs to change, we’ll discuss it in the morning, and change it by the afternoon!” Clearly Steven is passionate about retail, recognising that it is about learning, reacting and adapting in today’s fast moving environment. Moreover, he believes that contemporary retailing isn’t just about selling product, it’s about putting on a performance. For example, at House’s managers’ conferences, which are held in Australia, Steven makes his presentation dressed in a costume - which has
Steven Lew: The Lowdown
l Steven Lew is the founder and executive chairman of Global Retail
Brands; ceo of House (with over 100 stores) as well as Robins Kitchen, which are Australia’s largest and second largest independent kitchenware chains. l Steven also heads up PlayCorp, a worldwide distribution company, with a focus on homewares, which has been supplying UK retailers for over 10 years. Right: House’s Steven Lew.
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unveiling our Spring Collections …just a little heads up…
we are NOT at SPRING FAIR, NEC …however, panic not, please see our goodies online or via your sales agent e: info@onebuttonuk.com t: 0116 2793715
www.onebuttonuk.com
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Retailer Face To Face: House UK included a gold sequin tailed suit! - to emphasise his attitude. “People say there’s no business like show business, but there is - it's called retail!” he smiles. Also, it’s clear that Steven is always there to support his staff. Back in Australia, prior to flying to the UK, he visited150 of his stores in the previous three weeks. “It’s about getting out there and supporting stores. If you don’t, you are not going to succeed,” he emphasises. His philosophy, regarding learning and engagement, is shared with staff, where there is substantial investment in creating teams that deliver ‘silver service’ levels of customer service. For example, when opening new stores, House UK typically hires a restaurant kitchen to create a classroom environment, where staff members can learn from using the products that House stocks.
Individuals are also provided with kitchenware to take home and use, so that they can share real experiences with customers, rather than reading about a product’s features on the packaging. “It’s really important for our team to use the products we sell,” Steven points out. “It’s not too dissimilar to a fashion brand where the staff wear the clothes.”
House UK:
The Lowdown
l House UK’s first stores opened in
Oxford (last April), Bracknell and Sheffield’s Meadowhall, (plus an online store), which was followed by Norwich and, more recently, stores in Cambridge, Bromley and Stratford.
Above: The Egg knife block, by Cuisinepro, exclusively sold by House, made the ‘must have’ gift lists pre-Christmas. Below left: Faux flowers reflect the current trend for bringing the outside in. Below right: Gift-led kitchen textiles.
House’s staff training also explores ‘the customer approach’ - creating opportunities to learn more about customers’ needs, aims and cooking methods, as well as building up a rapport with them. “It’s about having fun with our customers and solving problems,” Steven explains. “If you simply ask if someone is happy browsing then you should probably be working next door!” He adds that interaction is also about enlightening customers in an engaging way, such as sharing the fact that the most dangerous tool is a blunt knife. (The company apparently sells an amazing number of knife sharpeners!) With House UK’s empire set to grown (see What’s In Store And Online? below), the future looks exciting. “We’ve had approaches from retailers for store-in-store concessions, so we will be looking at different possibilities,” comments Steven, who reveals that “getting a first Christmas under our belt,” was a top priority, with the stores enjoying a strong performance over the crucial festive period.
What’s In Store And Online?
l “Top level product at affordable prices, thanks to our buyers doing a great job at working
with our suppliers,” states Steven. l “Large volumes and depth of stock, which is refreshing for our customers,” adds Kate. l Exclusive brands to the UK including Cuisinepro and Baccarat. l ‘Try me’ sizes at an entry price, such as 75% off the retail price, so that customers can get
a feel and taste for House’s products and hopefully come back for more. l Other promotions include an amount spent on a ‘Try me’ product, deducted from further
purchases of the range. l Opportunities to try products while in the store. l A VIP programme where regular customers collect points. “If you’re investing in us, we’re
investing in you,” emphasises Steven. l House’s online store boasts the same service level as stores, and engages customers as
VIP’s, asking them about their purchase post-delivery. “In Australia, we have less than 0.25% returns,” emphasises Steven, highlighting House’s high level of customer satisfaction.
Looking to the future there is an aggressive shop opening campaign afoot. “75 stores is still around the number of stores we’re looking at opening over the next three or four years, but as we’re a private company, we’ll be led by opportunities. Plus, the market is changing quickly with the right locations needing to have commercial sustainability.” As he points out: “There are a lot of retailers going under and it’s not because they are bad retailers, but because they are locked into bad leases and high rents.” Interestingly, Steven carries a map that is covered with highlighted towns that have the potential for new openings, but visits any serious possibility several times to look at “the shopping bag barometer not footfall numbers.” House UK is also gathering feedback from customers who are “telling us where they’d like to see us,” comments Kate.
In addition, the retailer is also trialling different sizes for its stores, with Cambridge and Stratford based in smaller units. “We don’t have a cookie cutter approach,” says Steven, adding that the feature that unites each of House’s branches is passionate staff that provide that silver service. On the marketing front, there is a growing programme of in-store activities which will include VIP nights, with the stores also looking forward to working with their local communities. With a future that could also include visual reality technology on packaging, it’s clear to see that House will definitely be cooking up a storm in 2019. Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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THE COMPLETE GIFT SOLUTION HAS ARRIVED
JEWELLERY
CHRISTMAS
HANDBAGS
TABLEWARE
CANDLES
To become a stockist email: bryn@alliedimports.com www.baileyandbrooke.co.uk
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Spotlight On... Jewellery/Fashion Accessories
All Things Bright And
Beautiful Above: Joma Jewellery’s Shona shell bar necklace and bar ring. Left: Boxed Tide jewellery from Talbot Fashions.
There’s so much happening in jewellery this Spring, with shells topping the trends charts, and big, bold colours reminiscent of the tropics. With Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day around the corner, there’s every reason for gift retailers to up the ante.
says shells will have a strong presence within the company’s Equilibrium collection. “Delicate clam shells and ammonite shells, combined with seahorses and starfish, are plated in real silver and rose gold,” she comments. A combination of clam shells and freshwater pearls will also be a prominent feature of the collection, ensuring that the recent lean towards pearls has a strong prominence in the range. Colours too, will be hot and vibrant this season. “Jewellery 2019 is going to be bursting with tropical and citrus colours,” proclaims Miss Milly’s managing director
If there’s one jewellery trend that seems to have really nailed it this season its shells. As Joma Jewellery’s marketing manager Sophie Stainton sums up: “Shell designs are a big trend in jewellery for Spring/Summer 2019, taking inspiration from sandy beaches and tropical holiday getaways. Our Shona shell collection is inspired by organic beauty, with each design holding a unique natural shell charm, set and finished in luxurious yellow gold.” At Talbot Fashions, Tide jewellery has long been one of the most popular collections for the company, featuring a gift
Above centre: Shells will be a key part of Joe Davies’ Equilibrium collection. Right: Birds and Hearts from Miss Milly’s Floria collection. Inset: A new addition to the Bailey & Brooke jewellery collection is Luminosity. The colourful new collection includes an array of bracelets, earrings, bangles and necklaces.
boxed natural Paua shell range with over 600 designs. “The natural swirls of the New Zealand-sustainably sourced Paua shell creates individual patterns, making each piece of jewellery unique,” highlights the company’s buyer Ginny Bryant. New designs, which are exclusive to Talbot, include a bee, moongazing hare, cat, holly, mistletoe, snowdrops, owl, bluebells and angels, with further exclusive designs launching in 2019. Also fanfaring detailed shell jewellery for Spring/Summer 2019, is Joe Davies’ buyer Mary Richards, who Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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WINNER
'Forget-me-not' collection BTAA Fashion jewellery award 2018
Handmade with REAL flowers!
NEW! 23k Gold plated sterling silver
®
Shrieking Violet
www.flowerjewellery.com Spring Fair, Birmingham NEC - 3rd-7th Feb - 19D04
Hong Kong Interna�onal Jewellery - 28th Feb - 4th Mar - CEC 5G-B06
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Spotlight On... Jewellery/Fashion Accessories Sarah Watmore. “Expect more flamingo themes throughout the gift industry, along with parrots, toucans, palm trees, citrus fruits and watermelons. In fact, we have created our most colourful Floria jewellery collection to date, with corals and limes recreating the watermelon theme, and even the pastel pieces appearing more vibrant. The different styles, with marble effect, shell backing or iridescence, allow for a variety of tones within a single Pantone colour. We’ve looked at signature bold, easy-to-wear pendants with coordinating earrings, rings and bracelets.” At Hot Tomato, earrings are seen as the hottest jewellery category for 2019, ranging from statement pieces to studs. Hot Tomato’s director Alex Machin says: “retailers should be on the look-out for colourful raffia accents across all jewellery areas as well as pretty embroidered detailing.” Scream Pretty meanwhile, is embracing the new Galentine’s Day trend which sees women gifting to female friends on Valentine’s Day. “Women will be looking to buy hoop earrings, splitting a pair with their best friend,” confirms director Jessica Pearce. Lily Charmed’s director Lucy Lee says that the company is seeing a big upsurge in jewellery with a sentimental message. “The luxury gift wrapping that every piece of jewellery is displayed in makes the gift extra special,” she highlights. “Bestselling new designs for 2019 are our shooting star necklace and cassette mix tape.” Bracelets too, will be coming into their own. Carrie Shapiro, founder and creative director of Carrie Elspeth, says that following the success of the
company’s wellbeing range of jewellery, the company has added gemstone charm bracelets to the collection in pinks, blues and pastels. “Jewellery can be more than a gift,” points out Carrie. “Following on from our chakra range, we are launching a brand new collection of semi-precious gemstone bracelets. They’re ideal for collecting and great for stacking, with a card inside the organza gift bag explaining the properties of the stone.” Also highlighting bracelets is a Gift From the Gods. “Our jewellery must-haves are stackable friendship bracelets, which mix and match pastel colours and textures to create a Spring/Summer look,” says Chole Bayles, head of wholesale. Sea Gems meanwhile, will also be launching new classic collections for Spring. “Designed in Cornwall, our unique silver jewellery and
gift collections - Silver Origins and Celtic Lands - capture the essence of our iconic landscape, nature, wildlife and heritage,” says the company’s Kate Evans. For gift retailers looking to ring the changes, there’s every opportunity to refresh and renew ranges as the new Spring season kicks in. Continued on page 107
Top left: Lily Charmed’s shooting star necklaces. Top right: New from Sea Gems. Above left: Statement earrings from Hot Tomato. Above right: A selection of bracelets from A Gift From The Gods. Above: Carrie Elspeth gemstone bracelet stack. Left: Scream Pretty’s huggie hoop earrings. Right: Bailey & Brooke have created a collection of chic handbags and wallets.
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YEARS
ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
CarrieElspeth H A N D M A D E
I N
WA L E S
SPRING FAIR NEC 3RD-7TH FEBRUARY
HALL 18 STAND P04-Q05
NEW Spring 2019 Collection
Spring Fair - Stand 19C20-D21 SEAGEMS.CO.UK T: +44(0)1736 335840 E: sales@seagems.co.uk
Full colour catalogue available sales@carrieelspeth.com | 01446 771271 | www.carrieelspeth.com
© All desig ns protected by Sea Gems Copyrig ht & Desig n Rig ht .
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Spotlight On... Jewellery/Fashion Accessories
Followers Of Fashion Navy is tipped to be a winner in the fashion accessories stakes this year. At Shruti, several new ranges are being launched for Spring/Summer 2019 to include a Hellebores and Irises collection of gift and fashion items in the new RHS range, featuring cosmetic bags, scarves, stationery and water bottles. “Trend-led inspirations give the collection a soft, oriental feel with navy backgrounds interspersed with pops of coral and gold foil,” comments Shruti’s marketing assistant Emma Rees. Also new from Shruti is the Planet Cat range of bright, colourful gift and fashion items reflecting 2019’s trend for escapism. Formats include wash bags, travel mugs and water bottles.
“Spring/Summer palettes are often filled with pretty pastels and vibrant hues but it’s the introduction of classic navy for Spring/Summer 2019 that we absolutely love,” enthuses Katie Loxton/Joma Jewellery’s marketing manager Sophie Stainton. “A mix of classic and contemporary, the Katie Loxton Sienna slouch bag is a hero for the season, accented with gold hardware.” “Navy with yellow combinations are always great sellers and we have a striking new, digital effect scarf reflecting this,” says Miss Milly’s Sarah Watmore. “Alongside
abstract and asymmetric designs, we also have a neon leopard print, bright Cuban art style windows and a new colourway in our peacock feather scarf. We have also added to the featured animals and birds in our keyring/bag charm range with flamingos, geckos, toucans and bees in striking colour combos, along with new cat and dog designs.” Bees are also going to be a big trend for Wrendale Designs this year. “With the humble bumble bee set to be trending this Spring we’ve introduced our Flight of the Bumblebee design across several products to include a new bee keyring which we have added to our growing keyring collection,” says Hannah Dale,
founder and creative director of Wrendale Designs. At A Gift From The Gods, head of wholesale Chloe Bayles says that the company’s fashion accessories stars for 2019 offer the tropical trend in classic green and pink, with gold highlights, in a new cosmetic bags range. “Our new Get Your Goddess On graffiti prints highlight the urban scrawl trend on make-up bags, with the geo trend in printed purses matching our tassel keyrings.” As for everyday bags, Joe Davies’ buyer Mary Richards says that rattan and woven straw bags will be a big trend for the Spring/Summer season. “This stylish look is right off the catwalk and will be a prominent feature of our Equilibrium fashion bag collection,” confirms Mary. “Combined with the strong tendency towards colourful shell designs, tote bags are another staple for Spring/Summer.”
Above: Graffiti cosmetic bags from A Gift From The Gods. Left: Joe Davies summer tote bags.
Top: Wrendale Design’s bee keyring. Above left: Planet Cat from Shruti features illustrations created by Angie Rozelaar. Right: Katie Loxton’s navy Sienna slouch crossbody bag.
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STUNNING SCULPTURE FROM FRITH!
Our artist have again created some fabulous designs for 2019. Building on the unprecedented success of our Cockapoos in 2018 we have added this cute girl – Jessie – as well as two stunning Cocker Spaniels – all hand made in the UK. Please come and see them together with all our best sellers. Also our new MINIMA collection has been expanded – where else can you get an exclusive and innovative miniature work of art retailing at only £25?
SPRING FAIR NEC 3RD-7TH FEBRUARY
HALL 18 STAND P04-Q05
See us at Spring Fair in Hall 4 on G52
SEAGEMS.CO.UK
Please collect our new catalogues or contact us on 01666 577110 – email sales@bluepoppyart.co.uk www.bluepoppyart.co.uk
T: +44(0)1736 335840 E: sales@seagems.co.uk © All desig ns protected by Sea Gems Copyrig ht & Desig n Rig ht.
PROVEN, ORIGINAL
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest Jewellery & Fashion Accessories to be showcased this month
Semi-precious Gems Carrie Elspeth is celebrating 20 years of trading this year, with the established Welsh brand creating another on trend collection that is sure to get your tills ringing. Still proudly producing amazing, affordable and quality designs in the UK, Spring sees the launch of one of the company’s most colourful collections yet, crammed with luscious semi-precious gems and glass. Gorgeous packaging and full point of sale items are available. Get in touch now for your full-colour Spring catalogue.
Carrie Elspeth Tel: 01446 771271 www.carrieelspeth.com Spring Fair: Hall 19 Stand 19C20-D21
Feelgood Jewellery After the huge success of their wellbeing range of jewellery, Carrie Elspeth has expanded on this by adding 30 different gemstone bracelets to the collection. Perfect for collecting and great for stacking, these beautiful charm bracelets come with an organza gift bag and a card explaining the properties of the semi-precious stones. At the time of going to press, this range had been shortlisted in Gift of the Year competition. Feelgood jewellery that’s lovingly handmade in Wales! Get in touch for your full-colour Spring catalogue.
Carrie Elspeth Tel: 01446 771271 www.carrieelspeth.com Spring Fair: Hall 19 Stand 19C20-D21
Embroidered Beauties We are loving Hot Tomato’s latest collection of scarves, especially these gorgeous, vintage style, embroidered beauties. This fab fashion accessory company always manages to turn heads and reliably keeps you up-todate with the latest trends, offering good margin and a great point of difference in store – what’s not to love? You can find Hot Tomato in The Summerhouse at Spring Fair: Hall 8 Stand A19 – to avoid disappointment!
Hot Tomato Tel: 01225 422188 Email: sales@hot-tom.com www.hot-tom.com Spring Fair: Hall 8 Stand A19
Effortless & Elusive Amidst the hundreds of new designs that Hot Tomato will be launching are these beautiful, facetted glass, drop earrings - effortlessly capturing that elusive moment when vintage style and modernity collide – utterly lovely! Designing and sourcing some of the most wonderful fashion accessories around, Hot Tomato sets itself apart. If you’ve not tried them before, then beat a path over to The Summerhouse at Spring Fair.
Hot Tomato Tel: 01225 422188 Email: sales@hot-tom.com www.hot-tom.com Spring Fair: Hall 8, Stand A19
Spring Collections Sea Gems Cornwall, a family run company with over 35 years experience in design- led jewellery and gifts, is launching brand new and exciting collections for spring 2019. Our Silver Origins boutique jewellery brand features contemporary handcrafted 925 sterling silver, cleverly combining high polished and textured surfaces together with gold vermeil or semiprecious stones enhancing the beauty, spirit and story of each piece. Designed in Cornwall, you will discover striking organic designs, the intricate beachcomber range, delicate botanical and wildlife designs and fun, whimsical motifs that celebrate love and life. The Celtic Lands silver collection evokes and celebrates our rich heritage, with timeless motifs and elaborate knot work. We’re launching new designs that give a fresh look and feel to the already successful brand. The art of fine enamelling, with its fusion of vibrant colours, creates truly unique jewellery and gifts in our Mackintosh, Celtic and nature ranges. Inspired gift ranges include pens, bookmarks, compact mirrors, pillboxes and scarf rings.
Sea Gems Tel: + 44 (0)1736 335840 Email: sales@seagems.co.uk www.seagems.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 18, Stand P04 – Q05 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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The Walking Stick Specialists
SPRING FAIR NEC 3RD-7TH FEBRUARY
HALL 18 STAND P04-Q05
Spring Fair International: Stand 20K10-L11 or please contact us for a trade catalogue.
SEAGEMS.CO.UK T: +44(0)1736 335840 E: sales@seagems.co.uk
www.classiccanes.co.uk
© All desig ns protected by Sea Gems Copyrig ht & Desig n Rig ht .
SPRING
2019
Globe Enterprise
T: +44 (0)208 845 5057
Spring Fair
Unit 3, Sperrin Business Centre
E: info@globeenterprise.co.uk
3-7 February
Stonefield Way, Ruislip
www.globeenterprise.co.uk
NEC Birmingham
Middlesex, HA4 0BG
Instagram: @globehomeuk
Hall 6-7, Stand 6M01
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www.globeenterprise.co.uk
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest Jewellery & Fashion Accessories to be showcased this month
Chic & Functional Bailey and Brooke have created a stunning collection of stylish, on trend handbags and wallets. Expertly designed and manufactured, the Bailey and Brooke design team travelled the world, visiting all the designer fashion shows, to create these chic, functional handbags. From casual to formal affairs, we have a handbag to suit your requirement. Our handbag collection is a perfect complement to any ensemble, the epitome of refined luxury.
Allied Imports Email: bryn@alliedimports.com www.baileyandbrooke.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4; Stand C50
Global Inspiration Introducing new addition to the Bailey and Brooke jewellery collection – Luminosity. Inspired by the colours of the world desert sunsets in Morocco, the vibrant rich tones of Marrakesh to the fresh crystal blue coastline of the French Riviera - the vibrant Luminosity collection has been designed to add a little sunshine whatever the season. This new collection includes a vast array of bracelets, earrings, bangles and necklaces, each one featuring a myriad of colours and accents.
Allied Imports Email: bryn@alliedimports.com www.baileyandbrooke.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4; Stand C50
Busy Bee Designs 2019 is going to be the year of the bee, a bold statement, and when it comes to fashion the humble bumble bee will be hot, hot, hot! This sweet Equilibrium Bumble Bee collection from Joe Davies (Spring Fair, Hall 5, Stand D50/E51) is simple, yet rich and will sit alongside the already highly successful hand painted Honey Bee range. The new collection will incorporate sentiment pieces including Bee Happy moving crystal necklaces, mis-matched bee earrings and dainty two-tone honeycomb message bees.
Joe Davies Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk visit www.joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5; Stand D50/E51
Music To Our Ears Having successfully concentrated on men’s gifts over the last few years, The Music Gifts Company has decided that the focus for this year’s Spring Fair should be about their female customers, with a wonderful new collection of silver jewellery. The company is working with a new designer to produce some beautiful pieces. See these and the entire range as well as their men’s range Element in the new location for Spring Fair, Hall 4; Stand C01.
Stylish Seashore Collection Equilibrium fashion jewellery from Joe Davies looks set to make the most of the Spring and summer holiday season this year with the introduction of the Seashore collection. Stunning, delicate and very pretty, the range incorporates delicate shells, seahorses and starfish plated in real silver and rose gold. The collection is right on trend for 2020. The Seashore range joins over 600 brand new items making their debut in the Equilibrium collection, along with 2,000 other new gifting lines from Joe Davies at Spring Fair.
Joe Davies Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk visit www.joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5; Stand D50/E51
Sensational Sentiment Bracelets Transomnia’s new Lily Loves range is going down a storm with buyers since its launch just a week ago. Top-sellers in the range so far are the Lily Loves sentiment bracelets. These are supplied in a starter pack with a CDU containing six each of 12 different sentiments for friends and family, each with a heart or star-shaped copper charm.
Transomnia Tel: 01892 703660 Email: sales@transomnia.com www.transomnia.com Spring Fair: Hall 7, Stand E01
The Music Gifts Company Tel: 01202 57 00 57 Email: orders@musicgifts.co.uk www.musicgifts.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand C01
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Talbot Fashions
Wholesale Jewellery, Gifts & Accessories
See us at
Giving & Living Exeter
Hall A Stand 505 13th - 16th January &
Spring Fair Birmingham
Hall 19 Stand F23 3rd - 7th February
Call now for our catalogue or place your order online at: www.talbotfashions.com Minimum order just ÂŁ25 (Ex VAT & P&P) Howard Terrace, Brighton, East Sussex, BN 1 3 TR Tel: 01273 776415 E mail: info@talbotfashions.com 7
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest Jewellery & Fashion Accessories to be showcased this month
Fruity Palette With tropical and citrus colours at the forefront, the latest Miss Milly collection is the most eye-catching yet and a reasonably priced mix of beautifully crafted, stand-out jewellery and soft, tactile scarves. If you’ve not yet taken the plunge, our minimum order is only £100 and we’re happy to put starter packs together. We have a very loyal customer base for our unusual jewellery combining bold design with everyday wearability. Everything available to order online.
Tropical Trend True to form, One Button embraces the latest Tropical Trend. Check out these fabulous fun prints, rich bold colours all topped with that distinguishable quirky design edge we are famous for. While we are not attending Spring Fair NEC, the new and fabulous launch is online or with your sales agent.
One Button Tel: 0116 2793715 Info@onebuttonuk.com www.onebuttonuk.com
Miss Milly Tel: 01905 622509 Email: hello@missmilly.co.uk www.missmilly.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 19; Stand C18
Gold Plated
New Collection Shrieking Violet are launching their new Aura collection at Spring Fair 2019. Available in forget-me-not, heather, mixed flowers, four-leaf clover and poppy, necklaces with matching earrings are set in sterling silver with an oval hoop surround.
Shrieking Violet are excited to offer their already popular real flower jewellery in 23 karat gold plated sterling silver. We believe that the single miniature rose necklace would make the perfect Valentine’s day gift. All jewellery is supplied in an attractive branded gift box with an information booklet. RRP £74.99
Shrieking Violet Tel: +44 (0)20 8521 9151 Email: sales@shriekingviolet.co.uk www.flowerjewellery.com Spring Fair: Hall 19, Stand D04
Shrieking Violet Tel: +44 (0)20 8521 9151 Email: sales@shriekingviolet.co.uk www.flowerjewellery.com Spring Fair: Hall 19; Stand D04
Personalised Metal Jewellery The Personalised Memento Company are delighted to announce the launch of their new personalised precious metal jewellery range. Each piece in the range is personalised with a name or message, such as this striking personalised triple heart necklace, which features sterling silver, gold plated and rose gold plated hearts. Each heart can be individually personalised, creating a unique gift that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and much more.
PMC Tel: 01782 744900 Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk www.personalisedmemento.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4; Stand E90-F91
Mustard Melange Who doesn’t love a bit of mustard? True to form One Button has a melange of fabulously wearable pieces to embrace this hot look. Dare to wear, it’s all about hitting the right tonal level. We love these pieces, and from the reaction from Top Drawer at Olympia, you do too! Check out all our new fabulous collections.
One Button Tel: 0116 2793715 Info@onebuttonuk.com www.onebuttonuk.com PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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HE
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C M PA N Y
Wholesale Jewellery, Gifts & Accessories
Beautiful Natural Paua shell
STOP
STOP
at our stand in its new location
Hall 4 Stand C01 WAIT
WAIT
until you see our great range of gifts
GO
GO
home happy
two great collections one unique stand See us at
Giving & Living Exeter
Hall A Stand 505 13th - 16th January &
Spring Fair Birmingham
Hall 19 Stand F23 3rd - 7th February
Call now for our catalogue or place your order online at: www.talbotfashions.com Minimum order just £25 (Ex VAT & P&P)
5% only
Howard Terrace, Brighton, East Sussex, BN 1 3 TR Tel: 01273 776415 E mail: info@talbotfashions.com 7
www.talbotfashions.com
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at (exclusions apply)
musicgifts.co.uk
orders@musicgifts.co.uk
01202 57 00 57
Spring Fair NOW IN HALL 4 Stand C01
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What’s New
Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019
Great Giftbags Sell your stunning jewellery in our magnificent floral print giftbags, new for 2019, and you will find that customers will keep coming back for more. The packaging makes the present perfect and is a great selling feature for all of our jewellery retailers. Try something new for 2019 and you will see a smile on your customers’ faces.
Globe Enterprise Tel: 0208 845 5057 Email: info@globeenterprise.co.uk www.globeenterprise.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 6-7 Stand 6M01
Creating Pandamonium Following the pandemonium of Christmas and New Year’s festivities, how about some Panda-monium to look forward to? With a fantastic new collection centring around these fluffy, humorously lazy bears, the design team will be making a big splash with their new range of Pandarific gifts this Spring.
Housewares By Nadiya High profile TV personality and author Nadiya Hussain has launched her first range of licensed products. Nadiya's Make Life Colourful range has been developed with BlissHome and includes mugs, bowls, spice racks, aprons and tea towels, with Nadiya hands-on in the design and development of the range. Nadiya recently presented two new programmes for the BBC, published a new book, appeared at several BBC Good Food Shows, and guested on wide ranging TV shows. Contact Ian Downes for more information.
Start Licensing Tel: 0208 337 7958 Email: ian@startlicensing.co.uk
Puckator Tel: 0800 011 6969 Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk www.puckator.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand C10-D11
Bringing The Outdoors In Urban Botanicals is a range that aims to bring the outdoors to the indoors! The exotic aromas, packaged in fun vibrant vessels, will transport you to a relaxing urban oasis. The stunning collection of ceramic diffusers and candles are available in four punchy scents and tropical colourways. These are sure to make a ‘wow’ statement.
Stoneglow Tel: 020 8595 8878 Emal: sales@stoneglowcandles.co.uk www.stoneglowcandles.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 8, Stand A15
Personalised Letter Candles Floral Sophistication A host of beautiful new ranges will launch from Shruti, the home, gifting and accessories division of Half Moon Bay. Collaborating with the RHS, Shruti’s brand new Hellebores and Irises collection of gift and fashion items are set to bring a touch of floral elegance to Spring, with the designs sourced from the RHS Lindley Library. Featuring cosmetic bags, scarves, stationery and water bottles, the RHS Hellebores and Irises collection is set to become the epitome of floral sophistication for Spring.
Half Moon Bay Tel: 01225 473873 Email: sales@halfmoonbay.co.uk www.halfmoonbay.co.uk
Boxer Gifts are delighted to announce the introduction of their brand new letter candles. Perfect for that touch of personalised decoration for any room in the house, these candles really lighten up your living space and give you a warm feeling inside. Just don’t let the immature members of the house crudely rearrange them…
Boxer Gifts Tel: 01133 955 595 Email: sales@boxergifts.com www.boxergifts.com
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Spotlight On... Easter/Spring Gifts
Green Shoots With Spring on its way, and Easter giving retailers a third ‘special occasion’ in mid-April, PG&H looked at what will be trending over the coming months, with egg cups, rabbits, hares and chickens leading the way. Products with that fresh, Spring-themed feel are just the thing to welcome in the season, with Easter gaining ground as an occasion to celebrate. “It’s taken a while but now the German way of Easter has seriously caught on over here, as can be seen in the April editions of the UK’s home interest magazines,” says Gisela Graham’s sales director Piers Croke. “It’s a growing market, with the iconography firmly fixed on chicks, ducklings, rabbits and Spring flowers, with new additions including carrots. Plus, decorating the Easter breakfast table is also catching on. Therefore gift shops need to make sure they have plenty of egg cups! For 2019, we have four co-ordinated egg cup themes spanning a wide spectrum of tastes and styles.”
Also mindful of the importance of seasonal trade is Dunoon, which has introduced bunnies and chicks on its Nevis shape mugs that have been designed by artist Kate Mawdsley. “Many UK retailers are now following the European trend of celebrating Easter, with consumers and retailers demanding more seasonal related gifts. Therefore these
Above right: A bunny doll from SIL. Above: Dunoon’s Nevis Bunnies and Chicks. Below left: Easter giftware from Gisela Graham. Below right: Rabbit and hares from Parlane. Below: Chickens will be trending on Elite tins. Bottom left: Rustic Retreat from Candlelight.
mugs make an ideal Easter gift,” says Dunoon’s sales director Peter Smith. As Parlane, managing director Mike Burgess says: “Springtime symbolises regeneration, birth and the chance to embrace something new. It immediately conjures up ideas of flowering daffodils and, of course, rabbits. As rabbit and hare products are very popular with our customers, we always make sure we have something in the collection.” Adds Mike: “Our latest SS19 collection includes a set of hare tealight holders, a mother and baby rabbit kissing, as well as a playful rabbit planter.” At Elite Tins, owner James Brierly says: “Easter always conjures up images of eggs, with our tin eggs enduring products, available either empty or chocolate filled. And while Easter sales should always include eggs, next come rabbits and chickens. Sales of chickens peak during Spring, and continue all year long, fitting with the season, but also the idea of kitchen, with 2019 seeing a new local artist Vanessa
Lubach’s art across a range of kitchen storage. We see these products fitting the option of an Easter gift, perhaps in place of, or in addition to, the traditional egg.” Adds James: “Easter gifting has grown immeasurably over the last ten years and should be taken seriously at retail to boost sales over the everyday.” Candlelight’s sales director Debbie Isles highlights that among the trends for Spring is countryside-inspired homeware which complements the trend to bring nature indoors. “This is reflected in our Rustic Retreat range which includes ornaments such as a leaping rabbit, an owl on a stand,
a stag’s head and our popular standing ducks with blue or red wellies. It also features useful additions, including willow log baskets and a full set of doorstops.” At SIL, the company’s new Happy Easter range evokes the spirit of children’s books past and present, from Beatrix Potter to Enid Blyton, with the starring role taken by a Bunny doll. Other Easter-related giftware features seasonal shades of yellow, pink and blue. From a retailer’s perspective, with a long gap between Easter (April 19 - April 22) and Father's Day (June 16), it's clearly a Spring occasion to make the most of. Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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NEW
FOR 2019
3-7 FEBRUARY 2019
STAND 5E22-F23
VISIT US AT SPRING FAIR TO PREVIEW OUR NEW RANGES FOR 2019! www.orangetreetoys.com sales@orangetreetoys.com 01242 244500
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Spotlight On... Children’s/Nursery
Be My Baby With so much talk about gender, nursery colours are definitely moving away from the ‘pink for girls, blue for boys’ days of old, with more and more suppliers offering neutral grey for 2019. But that’s not all that’s trending for babies and children this year, as PG&H discovered. Environmentally sustainable products are also much in demand, along with giftware that can be personalised. Gift sets too, are making gift giving easier than ever. “Providing a thoughtful present with perceived value is essentially what all gift buyers are looking for and presentation is becoming ever important in that buying decision,” says Anthony Temple, managing director of Rainbow Designs. “I believe we will see more gift set options appearing throughout the year, and not just during the traditional festive period.” Continues Anthony: “Gift sets provide a great option for buyers as they often combine practical nursery essentials with keepsakes or cuddly sentimental items.”
Top: Funny Faces from Petit Collage, an on-the-go toy from Wild & Wolf. Above: Doodles from Joe Davies. Inset: Items from Rainbow Design’s Guess How Much I Love You gift set featuring a soft toy and cuddle robe.
doing extremely well for the same reason, with a new colourway continuing the use of vegetable-based inks coming in SS19.” Joelle adds that bamboo is also showing no signs of stopping, with the company expanding its existing bamboo dinnerware range. A further trend highlighted by the company is on-the-go toys which can be played on holiday, in cars, on a plane or at a restaurant. “Parents want to cut down on screen time for their children and are on the lookout for toys that will spark their imaginations and keep them thoroughly entertained,” says Joelle. Colour trends too, are continuing to evolve. Steve Davies, managing director of Joe Davies, highlights that the nursery
For 2019, Rainbow will be introducing new gift sets into the company’s Peter Rabbit and Guess How Much I Love You collections, with three new gift set options all including a soft toy with either a baby soft blanket, three muslins with illustrations from either the classic story or a cuddle robe.” “Environmentally sustainable children’s products too, will continue to see a massive uplift due to more parents recognising the importance of the health of the planet,” says Wild & Wolf’s senior Eye, Eye As always, plush is a market marketing executive Joelle Engolia. leader, with new trends coming “The demand for recyclable through for 2019. “I think we materials among consumers is will see soft toys continue to increasing, with our entire Petit follow the trends set by fashion Collage product collection made in colour and fabrics,” says Keel Toys’ sales director Steve Cox. “In from responsibly-sourced materials, particular, sequins that are all the rage in every including FSC-certified wood. product sector, and in colours - rose gold and neons Our organic cotton soft baby - which are predicted to be big in 2019.” development toys too, are Continues Steve: “Eyes in soft toys have
developed over the years from simple black button types through to the large round eyes we have seen since 2007. These now feature glitter eyes, and even colours to match a county’s flag. As an integral part of soft toys, I think there will be new innovations in 2019 to more expressive eyes.” Above: Eyes will dominate in plush say Keel Toys. Shown is French Bulldog part of the Signature Cuddle Puppies range.
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‘Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times...
...if one only remembers to turn on the light’ Albus Dumbledore
Gift Giving…All Wrapped Up! ENESCO LIMITED Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, England, CA3 0EN. UK Customer Services Telephone: 01228 404022 Email: trade@enesco.co.uk Overseas Customer Services Telephone: +44 1228 404066 Email: eurosales@enesco.co.uk HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WB SHIELD: TM & © WBEI. J.K. ROWLING’S
Join us at the International Spring Fair
NEC, Birmingham 3rd - 7th Feb 2019 Hall 4, H80-J81
4H81
4H91
4H80-J81
4H90-J91
4H100
WIZARDING WORLD ™ J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s18) © 2019 Enesco Ltd.
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Spotlight On... Children’s/Nursery market is trending towards neutral colours, such as beige and grey for Spring/Summer 2019. “These colours will be a feature of our nursery collection with our already successful Doodles range of cute crocheted characters extended to include more neutral coloured designs to reflect this trend.” Also highlighting a trend for grey is PMC. “Traditional blues and pinks are still perennial favourites,” says the company’s new product manager Cara Beech. “However, they are gradually making way for designs that heavily features shades of grey, as grey-themed products tend to fit better with modern décor and blend easier with other modern homeware items. This makes
personalised baby and children’s gifts that use this theme significantly more desirable. Our personalised Royal Crown range is a good example, as it combines a chic look with gentle grey tones.” Widdop and Co too, highlights a clean, white/grey netrual combination borrowed from the home sector. “It has been translated across new product categories ranging from stylish nursery furniture to a toy chest, a chest of drawers and a rocking Above: A peg photo frame in Widdop and Co’s Bambino range. Left: PMC’s grey toned wooden heart from the company’s Royal Crown range. Right: Lesser & Pavey’s melamine tabletop range.
horse as well as new plush and giftable baby clothes,” says marketing manager Sue Grant, who adds that there will be exciting developments for the company’s Bambino brand in 2019. Adds Sue: “Additionally, two relatively new events in the baby calendar - gender reveal and baby showers - have gone from being fairly non-existent a couple of years ago to fast-growing occasions. Gifts, decorations and keepsakes around these events all make their debut in the brand. Additionally, milestone cards continue to develop in the Instagram age with pregnancy milestone cards documenting this exciting time of life.”
Continued on page 123
Brands That Go On Delivering The new January 2019 launch from Enesco has just been unveiled, with its director of marketing, Helen Cottrill, commenting: “Not only do we have an exclusive Beatrix Potter Baby collection, but we are also showcasing our brand new Peppa Pig gift collection of organic bamboo functional products, bibs, tabards and drawstring bags, plus 2019 is also Peppa’s 15th anniversary.” Continues Helen: “Additionally, to coincide with the launch of the live action Dumbo movie, we also have a collection of Dumbo gifts and collectables aimed at the young pre-school consumer, Above: Gund’s Sleepy Sounds Whale from Enesco. Left: Rainbow Designs’ The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
and are delighted to be continuing our distribution arrangement with Gund, where the Sleepy Sounds Whale is one of many soft, cuddly introductions.” At Rainbow Designs too, there are several classic characters in the company’s portfolio with a special anniversary in 2019. Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar will celebrate its 50th Anniversary, while Elmer, David McKey’s patchwork elephant, turns 30. “It will also be 15 years since we were first introduced to Peppa Pig,” comments Rainbow Designs’ managing director Anthony Temple. “There will be many celebrations and activities surrounding these prolific brands as well as the arrival of some exciting new products. Plus, in line with the momentous anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, we will be launching a brand new Tiny and Very Hungry Caterpillar Collection featuring a beautiful selection of nursery toys crafted specifically for the newborn to 18 months age range.” Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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Snuggle up to our Extra Long Hot Water Bottles
Visit Us at Spring Fair on 3rd - 7th Feb. Stand 5H30-J31
14 cover designs to choose from 3 new chunky cable knit covers for 2019
Supplied in attractive gift packaging
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Spotlight On... Children’s/Nursery
Personalised Toddler Books
Fiona Burge, key account manager of Really Good/Soul, says that the company is seeing various looks for the children’s/nursery sector that still emphasise timeless innocence and fresh appeal. “However, the colours on offer in gifting lines are more open to a variety of options,” she concurs. “At Soul, our award winning juvenile range Tickle covers the preschool and primary sector, with the gift range featuring animals and icons across keepsake tins, puzzles, skipping ropes, money tins, tooth fairy tins and books. However, while many companies are going down the netural colourway route, primary colours are leading the way for Lesser & Pavey’s new in-house designed animal range of melamine tabletop. “Little ones are attracted to the colours and animal shapes, while adult names them,” comments managing director Julian Hunt. “This helps to start the fun process of learning.” Meanwhile, the toys of yesteryear too, continue to be popular. “We are seeing
Signature Gifts has seen a growing popularity in the board book, which the company says has become the ‘go to’ product for parents who want to get their children into reading at an early age. “The thickness of the pages make it easy for little hands to navigate without the need of help from a grown-up,” says David Smith, the company’s copywriter and PR executive. “The books are also very durable and will survive being thrown dropped and chewed on among other things. At Signature, we’re continuing to grow our board book range with our latest releases including personalised Disney and Marvel titles featuring recognisable characters such as the Disney Princesses and super-heroes such as Spider-Man and Black Panther. All characters in these books have been re-designed in a style that will appeal to toddlers, and each book includes their name throughout.” Right: Signature Gifts’ Marvel Hero board book featuring the cover and inside spread.
Top left: Soul’s award winning Tickle luggage tag. Above: Rex London’s Space Age game encourages learning through play. Inset: House of Marbles’ Pop Up Pantomime theatre.
continued growth in the popularity of vintage-inspired toys and games, especially if they are at pocketmoney prices,” confirms Lauren Woodsford, trade marketing and online manager at House of Marbles. “They really appeal to parents and grandparents, especially as they offer great value for money. In 2019 we are adding some quirky additions to our 2018 range to include retro kaleidoscopes in owl themed packaging, chattering clockwork teeth and a pop up pantomime theatre with traditional puppets.” Staying with nostalgia, Rex London too, is also continuing to see popularity and sales growth in its classic and retro play toys and games. “We put this down to parents’ concerns that children have too many digital diversions, spending too long staring at screens,” says head buyer Candy Smith. “Children it seems are happy to embrace these more analogue pleasures, as they don’t really differentiate between the two - imagination and creativity are the same in the age of digital as they were in the age of clockwork.” The company is also continuing to focus on educational products that encourage learning through play. “Basically, it’s about getting children out of their chair and interacting,” says Candy. It would seem that, both for retailers and children it’s all to play for! Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest Children's & Nursery gift products to be showcased this month
Enchanting Alphabet Letters Building on its highly popular licensed brand collaboration with Disney contemporary gift retailer Enesco has unveiled a brand new series in its Enchanting Disney collection. Each letter features a different character from one of Disney’s best-loved films at the base of the figurine. The letters mostly feature characters with names that either begin with that letter, or share a phonetically similar sound within their name. They measure 7.0cm and have an SRP of £8.95 each.
Enesco Tel: 01228 404022 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk www.enesco.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand H100
Oinktastic
In The Frame Photo frames are ideal for capturing memories, especially showing off baby photographs. The brand new modern gloss frames from Joe Davies are available in pink and blue, featuring high quality silver metal baby icons and a high gloss frame. The entire Joe Davies gift range will be on display on the company’s extensive stand at Spring Fair, available to buy in their ‘little and often’ system. Joe Davies also offers a low minimum order value of just £100 for free nationwide delivery.
Joe Davies Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand D50/E51
Enesco presents a brand new collection of Peppa Pig licensed products to make little one’s mealtimes more fun! The Peppa Pig organic bamboo dinner set features a bright, colourful pattern, and fun scenes of Peppa and her brother George enjoying a picnic and playing in the great outdoors. Building on the theme of playtime, Enesco also presents the Peppa Pig organic bamboo game plate. The Peppa Pig organic bamboo dinner set retails with a SRP of £22.00 and the Peppa Pig organic bamboo game plate retails with a SRP of £15.00
Enesco Tel: 01228 404022 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk www.enesco.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand H100
Classic Nursery Characters Rainbow Designs will be adding over 30 new lines to their classic character portfolio in 2019. This year marks the milestone 50th anniversary for Eric Carle’s classic storybook character The Very Hungry Caterpillar. To celebrate the occasion, the Home of the Classic Characters is launching an exciting new nursery range. The beautiful, new Tiny and Very Hungry Caterpillar collection features a selection of products crafted specifically for the newborn to 18 months age range. New nursery toys include a wooden and plush ring rattle, colourful apple-shaped comfort blanket with attachable clip and textured jiggle attachable toy. Also new are the booties presented in a gift box, developmental activity spiral, and a fun-packed activity toy for sensory play. To mark the 50th anniversary, Rainbow Designs will also be launching a colourful, super cuddly Made With Love Very Hungry Caterpillar, created from knit fabric with embroidered detail. There will also be new additions to the Classic Winnie-the-Pooh Hundred Acre Wood collection of whimsical, high quality baby soft toys. Brand new for 2019 is a jiggle Winnie-the-Pooh, baby soft booties in a gift box, a Winnie-the-Pooh cot mobile and a gift set featuring a comfort blanket and ring rattle presented in an illustrated box. For Disney fans of all ages there is a new Classic Winnie-the-Pooh in a Union Jack bag, and the Made With Love Winnie-the-Pooh 20cm toy made from knit fabric to both deliver a homemade feel and a forever keepsake.
Rainbow Designs Tel: 01329 227300 www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand H21 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest Children's & Nursery gift products to be showcased this month
Flamingo Fun 2019 brings some very exciting new ranges for Orange Tree Toys including Animal Fairies and Animal Pirates. With products ranging from skittles and push alongs to musical instruments and puzzles, these two colourful collections are perfect for little ones from 12 months and up!
Orange Tree Toys Tel: 01242 244500 Email: sales@orangetreetoys.com www.orangetreetoys.com Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand E22- F23
Hide Your Treasures Who didn’t fall in love with the adorable gold hording beasty, the Niffler, from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? BB Designs nifty plush Niffler backpack makes the ideal place to store your valuables. Grasping its own zip up bag to keep shiny things nice and safe, he also has a secret pouch in his back to hide more of your treasures. Just make sure you don’t meet a real Niffler!
BB Designs Europe Tel: +44 (0) 1923 804 805 Email: customerservices@bbdesignsonline.com www.bbdesignsonline.com
Dinosaur Designs Dinosaurs are just one of the brand new ranges coming to Orange Tree Toys in 2019! Based around their popular Dinosaur push along, and featuring two brand new dinosaur characters, this collection is perfect for learning and developing through play.
Orange Tree Toys Tel: 01242 244500 Email: sales@orangetreetoys.com www.orangetreetoys.com Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand E22- F23
Pen To Paper Write your spells with this elegant, fully functional Hogwarts writing quill pen with ink pot shaped stand. This fantastic Wizarding World ballpoint pen imitates the quill used by Hogwarts students in their lessons, but thankfully a ballpoint tip and ink cartridge means no messy ink pots. A geekily precious accessory to offer Harry Potter’s great admirers a chance to write like the Harry Potter himself.
BB Designs Europe Tel: +44 (0) 1923 804 805 Email: customerservices@bbdesignsonline.com www.bbdesignsonline.com
Sing Along Signature Gifts have become one of the first companies to produce bespoke board books which include sing-along sound chips. Little ones can sing along with this range of colourful books which are designed to help develop listening and language skills. With their name on every page, your child will love engaging with this book, which has been made especially for them.
Signature Gifts Tel: 01582 464 809 Email: info@signature-portal.co.uk www.signature-gifts.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand D60-E61
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Thoeon Lagroup G l 6, Hal M51 L50
www.thelagoongroup.com
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights some of the latest Children's & Nursery gift products to be showcased this month
Colourful Childhood Give the gift of happy memories with a bright, beautiful childhood record book from Colour Chronicles. Deemed as the continuation of the baby book, this stylish childhood memory book is to be filled out once a year from age one through to sixteen. It prompts delightful answers from the child and their grown up, preserving the years, building into a lasting treasury to be looked back on and jog happy memories of childhood. Available in six rainbow colours, there’s a book of everyone.
Colour Chronicles Tel: 07880 558888 Email: hello@colourchronicles.com www.colourchronicles.com
Puzzles & Games From 25 piece mini tubs to 130 piece attaché cases, and building on the huge success of Floss & Rocks shaped boxed puzzles, the company have now launched an amazing range of shaped puzzles to go inside fantastic shaped boxes to give them double appeal. There are 20pc, 40pc and now 80piece puzzles. Shapes include sharks, butterflies, unicorns and dinosaurs. Cost prices range from £2.50£5.85 with pack sizes of four.
Magic Water Cards Floss & Rock are launching 65 new lines at Spring Fair. Included in the launch is brand new development of Water cards. They are available in four designs and include 10 cards and a water pen. Fill the pen with water, colour in the pictures and the designs magically appear. Once dry the colour disappears and can be played over and over again. This has educational benefits as there are words to learn and numbers to count. Cost price of £5.00 and pack sizes of four.
Floss & Rock Tel: 01253 831540 Email: enquiries@flossandrock.co.uk www.flossandrock.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5; Stand G30-H31
Floss & Rock Tel: 01253 831540 Email: enquiries@flossandrock.co.uk www.flossandrock.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5; Stand G30-H31
Delicious Doughnut? If you want to snag yourselves the sweetest novelty gift for 2019, head over to Puckator’s website and search ‘portable speakers’. These compact travel sized Bluetooth speakers pack a big punch and have excellent sound quality. Available in six designs there’s plenty of choice for customers of all interests.
Puckator Tel: 0800 011 6969 Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk www.puckator.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4; Stand C10-D11
Personalised Panda Lunch Bag Liven up school dinners with this adorable personalised panda lunch bag from the Personalised Memento Company. Each lunch bag features two carry straps and has a practical wipe clean interior with insulated lining. The cute panda design also features on a range of products for children, which are ideal for Back to School and birthdays. What’s more, each item in the range is personalised and can be drop-shipped to order.
PMC Tel: 01782 744900 Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk www.personalisedmemento.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4; Stand E90-F91
Delightful Disney Six new Disney collections will launch during 2019, with each collection featuring original Disney artwork across heat change mugs, lunchboxes and accessories. Launch ranges include Disney’s Dumbo, Aladdin, Toy Story, The Lion King, Disney Princess and a capsule collection of coloured mugs featuring original Disney classic characters. Also showcased will be a new Paddington Bear and Moomin range. Friends will also be showcased along with a classic Beano range; a Thunderbirds collection with Lady Penelope and Brains sub brands, a Captain Marvel collection, and a first collection of gift books under new publishing imprint Ice House Books.
Half Moon Bay Tel: 01225 473873 Email: sales@halfmoonbay.co.uk www.halfmoonbay.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 6; Stand G22-H23 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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LET YOUR SALES BeGin
See Us At: Spring Fair NEC Hall 4F53-G53 • Frankfurt Ambiente Hall 4.0 A31 Tel: 01805 626226 • www.dartington.co.uk • sales@dartington.co.uk
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Finalists & Shortlisted Companies The Gift of the Year 2019 winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony being held at Spring Fair on Sunday February 3, in Hall 20 at 6.30pm.
l Christin Ranger Jewellery l Gin U Studio Design l Sheila Kerr Jewellery
FESTIVE & OCCASIONAL GIFT BEAUTY, BATH & SPA l l l l l l l l l
Bathing Beauty (Finalist) (x2) Betty Hula (Finalist) Gone Crabbing Beefayre Sara Miller London Heyland and Whittle The Greenfrog Soap Co Mad Beauty Rex London
BRANDED PRODUCT l l l l l l l l l l l l
BB Designs Europe (Finalist) Clockwork Soldier (Finalist) Talking Tables (Finalist) Widdop and Co. Blue Eyed Sun Half Moon Bay Paladone Products Project Maya Thumbs Up (UK) Signature Gifts My Icon Story The Lagoon Group
CARDS & WRAP l l l l l l l l l l l l
Blue Eyed Sun (Finalist) The Handcrafted Card Co (Finalist) U Studio Design (Finalist) Molly Mae Poet and Painter Splimple Rocket68 The Art File Really Wild Cards The London Studio Cherry Orchard The Green Board Game Co.
CHILDREN’S GIFT l l l l l l l l l l l
Cheatwell Games (Finalist) Little Cooks Co (Finalist) History Heroes Finalist) eatsleepdoodle Selfie Clothing Widdop and Co. My Little World Clockwork Soldier Gift Republic Atelier Home and Gift Yummikeys
COMMEMORATIVE & COLLECTABLE GIFT l l l l l l l
My Icon Story (Finalist) Gibsons (Finalist) Colour Chronicles (Finalist) Widdop and Co. Emma Lawrence Designs Signature Gifts Storyteller
l Leather Guild l English Pewter Co
CONTEMPORARY GIFT l l l l l l l l l l l l l l
Flightgiftcard (Finalist) Gingko Electronics (Finalist) Transomnia (Finalist) Fallen Fruits (Finalist) The Somerset Toiletry Company Ella Iconic Root7 Talking Tables Wild & Wolf Two Little Boys Burgon & Ball Uberstar Wendy Tournay Ceramics Thumbs Up (UK)
DESIGN & CRAFT l l l l l l l l l l l
Clockwork Soldier (Finalist) Paper Mirchi (Finalist) Abbeyhorn (Finalist) Bathing Beauty The Sugar Shed Corinne Lapierre Artisanne The Crafty Kit Company Rocket68 Eloise Hall Katie Cardew Illustrations
ETHICAL GIFT l l l l l l l l
Bathing Beauty (Finalist) Bee Green Wraps (Finalist) VENT for Change Finalist) The Recycled Candle Company Artisanne Gone Crabbing The Greenfrog Soap Talking Tables
FASHION ACCESSORY l l l l l l l l l l
Arora Design (Finalist) Jex Shoes (Finalist) Thumbs Up (UK) (Finalist) Navigate Meg Hawkins Art Wrendale Designs Sheepers Storyteller Sock Academy Something Different Wholesale
FASHION Jewellery l l l l l l
Emma Lawrence Designs (Finalist) Billy's Beach Hut (Finalist) Icarus Originals (Finalist) Jewelcity Martick Jewellery Carrie Elspeth
l l l l l l l l l l l
Gibsons (Finalist) Gift Republic (Finalist) Kate Sproston Design (Finalist) Bakedin Two Little Boys Corinne Lapierre The Lagoon Group Kimm & Miller (UK) Talking Tables Big Potato Games Sock Academy
FOOD & DRINK l l l l l l l l l l
Bakedin (Finalist) Hot Smoked (Finalist) Ross & Ross Food (Finalist) Bee Green Wraps Two Little Boys Uberstar Petite & Sweet Forever PB Spice Sanctuary (UK) Inc O'Donnell Moonshine
GARDEN & OUTDOOR l l l l l l l l l l l l
Hot Smoked (Finalist) Wrendale Designs (Finalist) Wildlife World (Finalist) Burgon & Ball Jonart Design Professor Puzzle Apples to Pears Wrendale Designs Burgon & Ball Jacwicks Designs Wildlife World Artichoke Cards
GIFT STATIONERY l l l l l l l l l l
IF (that company called) (Finalist) Clockwork Soldier (Finalist) Wild & Wolf (Finalist) Hello Day Ella Iconic Map Marketing Personalised Memento Company U Studio Design Stib Deckled Edge
HOME ACCESSORY l l l l l l l l l
Parlane International (Finalist) Stone (Finalist) Gingko Electronics (Finalist) Designed In Colour My Gifts Trade English Pewter Co Burgon & Ball Martha's Grandad Gingko Electronics
HOME FRAGRANCE l The Recycled Candle Company (Finalist) l Europium World (UK) (Finalist) l Purbeck Candles (Finalist) l Classic Candle Company l The Somerset Toiletry Company l Stoneglow Candles l Canova l Heyland and Whittle l Ashleigh and Burwood
HOT NOVELTY l l l l l l l l l l l l
Abrams & Chronicle Books (Finalist) Bubblegum Stuff (Finalist) Big Potato Games (Finalist) Cozy Time (Finalist) From You To Me The Lagoon Group Gone Crabbing Thumbs Up (UK) Thinking Gifts Company Transomnia The Pop Out Card Company Something Different Wholesale
KITCHEN & DINING l l l l l l l l l l l l
Apples To Pears (Finalist) Dartington Crystal (Finalist) T&G (Finalist) Thinking Gifts Company History & Heraldry Castelbel Half Moon Bay Muggi Katie Cardew Illustrations Winter In Venice Selbrae House Cherry Orchard
PET GIFT l l l l l l l l l l l l
Leather Guild (Finalist) Talking Tables (Finalist) The Sugar Shed (Finalist) BlossomCo Woof&Brew Kate Sproston Design Heyland and Whittle Hownd My Dog Bites Jonny's Sister Talking Table The Sugar Shed
UNDER £10 l l l l l l l l l l l l l
Bakedin (Finalist) Dartington Crystal (Finalist) Really Good (Finalist) The Lagoon Group (Finalist) From You To Me A Gift From The Gods Burgon & Bal IF (that company called) Clockwork Soldier Muggi Big Potato Games Gift Republic Bubblegum Stuff
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PRG GF Gift of the year 2019 134 x 91mm.pdf
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Original British Design Visit us at the NEC Spring Fair and discover our comprehensive collection of homeware, toys and gifts. est. 1981
Hall 6 Stand G40 - H41
www.rexlondontrade.com
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Find us at Spring Fair Hall 6, Stand L50-M51 www.thelagoongroup.com
07779064894 WWW.POETANDPAINTER.CO.UK ENQUIRIES@POETANDPAINTER.CO.UK
EMMA LAWRENCE DESIGNS NEW Necklace Collection
the perfect Card & gift in one!
See more exciting new products featuring Emma’s licensed designs at Spring Fair: Smart Fox: Hall 5 A56 My Gifts Trade: Hall 9 C20-D21 Greetings cards & gifts designed to make you smile!
07801 442924 emma@emmalawrence.com www.emmalawrence.com
w w w.emmalawrence.com
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YEARS
ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
CarrieElspeth H A N D M A D E
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WA L E S
PErsonALisEd WEdding PLAnnEr GIFt oF the YeAR ShoRtlISt 2019 Personalised with a couple’s name. Perfect for planning the big day, keeping notes plus handy to-do lists.
NEW Spring 2019 Collection
Spring Fair - Stand 19C20-D21 Full colour catalogue available
SPRING FAIR HALL 4 E90-F91 sales @ personalisedmemento.co.uk
sales@carrieelspeth.com | 01446 771271 | www.carrieelspeth.com
Tel: 07880 558888
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www.personalisedmemento.co.uk
Email: hello@colourchronicles.com
www.colourchronicles.com
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SPRINGFAIR BIRMINGHAM 03.02. – 07.02.19 3Q20-R25
www.artebene.com
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COZY TIME GIANT
HAND WARMERS
THE FULL HAND WARMER RANGE AND MORE AT SPRING FAIR 2019 HALL 5 ROW M STAND 78 www.cozy-time.co.uk 136_GH_February 2019.indd 136
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Market leading digital platforms
Market leading trade exhibitions
Max Publishing, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP For further details please contact us on T: 020 7700 6740 or www.max-publishing.co.uk or email hello@max-publishing.co.uk
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Seasonal Decoration at its best 25. – 29. 1. 2019
all you wish
for
Christmasworld makes your wishes come true. Discover the new trade fair concept with an even more diverse offer of seasonal and festive decorations! We look forward to seeing you here. christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com will delight you as a marketplace for fresh flowers and ornamental plants.
info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83
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What’s New 'Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019'
Exciting New Characters Intelex Group, the innovators behind the world’s first ever fully-microwavable soft toys, are delighted to showcase their best-selling Warmies range at Spring Fair, adding 10 new, exciting characters to the world’s best-selling heatable soft toy collection. The range will feature llamas, a flamingo and a swan along with other playmates, taking the company’s plush collection to 38. However, visitors will still be able to find some of their favourites, to include unicorns, dragons, dinosaurs and pooches, allowing clever retailers to capitalise on popular trends.
Intelex Tel: 01933 679 777 Email: sales@intelex.co.uk www.intelex.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand H30-J31
Festival Vibe SIL are launching a Festival range, which strikes a laidback hippy pose with soft colours and groovy designs. Running through the collection are two colourways of coral and turquoise, carried across a range of giftable items. We love the notebooks covered with swirling psychedelic patterns inspired by the mystical East, and the picture frames featuring the same design. For your own summer of ‘love’ there are some great heart-emblazoned cushions, while spiritual types will go a bundle on the fringed dreamcatchers, matched with fabulous fringed and tasselled keyrings.
Sifcon International Tel: 01992 718033 Email: sales@silplc.com www.silplc.com Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand E10-F11/F10-G11
Savannah Safari SIL take you out on the savannah with their gorgeous Safari range for 2019. Moving on from last year’s tropical trend of flamingos and bright colours, they’ve created a sophisticated range with blacks and tropical greens focusing on interiors. Star items are leopard and zebra prints across cushions, footstools, picture frames and even drawer knobs, as well as elephant, giraffe and tiger ornaments, and some striking Africaninspired textiles and basketware.
Sifcon International Tel: 01992 718033 Email: sales@silplc.com www.silplc.com Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand E10-F11/F10-G11
Carp Crazy After the success of 2018’s fishy ornaments, Temerity Jones has gone koi-carp crazy for Spring/Summer 2019. With shades of jade green, gold and blue with highlights of goldfish orange, they’ve created a range that takes in beautiful Japanese-inspired koi windchimes, high-gloss glass-printed wall art and a set of delicate ginger jars. They’ve also used the designs across textiles and a set of four matching placemats.
Sifcon International Tel: 01992 718033 Email: sales@silplc.com www.silplc.com Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand E10-F11/F10-G11
With Mum In Mind Understated Elegance New for this season is the Cottontail Meadow collection from Ulster Weavers. This range is printed on a textured oatmeal cotton and comes with embossed leather tabs which gives the collection a look of understated elegance. Featuring a lush spring meadow in a woodblock style this range would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift.
Add some colour this season with Ulster Weavers new Aviary collection. This range has a lightly washed and distressed look which adds subtle depth and texture to the pink and teal roses on this design, making it the perfect gift for Mother’s Day.
Ulster Weavers Email: web.enquiries@ulsterweavers.com www.ulsterweavers.com Spring Fair: Hall 9 Stand E30-F31
Ulster Weavers Tel: 0844 844 1325 Email: web.enquiries@ulsterweavers.com www.ulsterweavers.com PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019
Country Art Our five hares have been designed and handsculpted in the UK and come from the creative mind of world famous artist Andrew Bill. Each tells a different story whether fighting for life or gazing at the stars, and make the perfect ornaments for any home.
Nemesis Now Tel: 01782 596660 Email: sales@nemesisnow.com www.nemesisnow.com Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand C30-D31
Licensed Chalice In the Game of Thrones, you either drink to victory or you don’t live long enough to pour. This officially licensed goblet is covered in the House Sigils from the most prestigious families in Westeros and each side bears a fantastically detailed raised picture of the Iron Throne, with the Game of Thrones logo in the centre. A gift fit for any claimant to the throne of Westeros.
Nemesis Now Tel: 01782 596660 Email: sales@nemesisnow.com www.nemesisnow.com Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand C30-D31
Get Schwifty Step into another dimension with our officially licensed Rick and Morty collection. With everyone’s favourite fugitive of dimension C-137 and his hapless grandson, it’s always a good time to get schwifty!
Nemesis Now Tel: 01782 596660 Email: sales@nemesisnow.com www.nemesisnow.com Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand C30-D31
Rock ‘n’ Roll There’s a new way to show your allegiance to rock and roll titans ACDC. Our in house design team have worked tirelessly to construct a plethora of collectables, from tankards to shot glasses, wallets to hip flasks and crystal clear pictures, suitable for any die-hard fan! Take a ride down the Highway to Hell today! All Hail ACDC!
Nemesis Now Tel: 01782 596660 Email: sales@nemesisnow.com www.nemesisnow.com Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand C30-D31
Personalised Terrariums Dragon Figurine Contemporary gift and homeware retailer Enesco is delighted to present a brand new figurine from the much loved 1939 Disney feature-length animated film Sleeping Beauty. The Maleficent as Dragon figurine depicts the moment in the movie the evil fairy transitions into a fire-breathing dragon. Standing 20.0cm in height and retailing for £125, the Maleficent as Dragon figurine is available to order along with other items from the Disney Showcase Collection.
The Personalised Memento Company’s new range of personalised glass terrariums are the company’s newest homeware gifts. Available in a range of personalised designs, each terrarium features an artificial succulent, ensuring it stays fresh and green permanently. These items are perfect as housewarming, birthday and teacher gifts.
PMC Tel: 01782 744900 Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk www.personalisedmemento.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand E90-F91
Enesco Tel: 01228 404022 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk www.enesco.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand H100 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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A major new license launching at Spring Fair 2019
Featuring greetings cards in two sizes alongside a range of gift stationery. Our NEW catalogue is available now. See the full collection at Spring Fair:
Our NEW catalogue is available STAND N16–P17, Hall 3 now. See the full collection at Spring Fair:
STAND N16–P17, Hall 3 E: sales@mgml.co.uk
museumsgalleries.co.uk
Tel: 01373 462165
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019
Spectacular Trees Kaemingk presents an extensive collection of top quality trees, luxury and high end as well as contemporary and entry level. The collection is supplemented with mini trees, wreaths and garlands. This year we launched a range of artificial greenery for outdoors. These products, while looking beautiful in your home, are fully weatherproof and will look glorious in your garden.
Kaemingk www.kaemingk.com Spring Fair: Hall 2 Stand C04-D05 + C30-D31
Light-up Tree Lumineo offers a wide range of innovative lighting for your home and garden. Whether you’re looking for tree lights, decorative indoor lighting, lasers and projectors, acrylics, twig trees, Lumineo has it all. New is our light-up tree, to let your garden sparkle, a tree which is easy to set up, available in three sizes up to 10ft, and different colours.
Kaemingk www.kaemingk.com Spring Fair: Hall 2 Stand C04-D05 + C30D31
Test Your Knowledge Foodie Quizzes range with a fabulous new After Dinner Quiz which has been shortlisted for Gift of the Year and is designed to look like an enticing box of chocolates, as well as a Movie Quiz in a cinemastyle popcorn box. Both new quizzes are brilliant fun, contain 300 questions and provide endless hours of entertainment. To see these and lots more brand new gifts, visit our stand at Spring Fair.
The Lagoon Group www.thelagoongroup.com Spring Fair: Hall 6 L50-M51
Tropical Safari Get the latest trend for tropical. Our quirky safari animal vases are a great way to show off exotic blooms and foliage and our beautifully hand-painted, wall-hung giraffes, cheetahs, zebras and monkeys are an excellent way to turn up the heat and introduce the latest interior fashion for all things tropical.
Parlane Tel: 01451 812700 Email: sales@parlane.co.uk www.parlane.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 8, The Summerhouse, Stand C08-D07
Real Touch Flowers Beautiful, handcrafted faux flowers from our Spring/Summer 2019 Flora collection. This season, we have introduced a capsule collection of luxurious ‘real touch’ flowers that are remarkably velvety soft, just like natural petals. Built to last, Parlane faux flowers are an investment. They instantly inject colour and are also great added to real flower arrangements to give them a boost.
Parlane Tel: 01451 812700 Email: sales@parlane.co.uk www.parlane.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 8, The Summerhouse, Stand C08-D07
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FRITH SCULPTURE INNOVATIVE AND EXCLUSIVE!
BLUE POPPY ART SCULPTURE NATURALLY SINCE 1993 Our artists have again created some fabulous new designs for 2019. Building on the unprecedented success of our Cockapoos in 2018 we have added more designs to our range as well as these charming Cocker Spaniels – all hand made in the UK. Please come and see them together with all our best sellers. Also our new MINIMA collection has been expanded with many different subjects – miniature works of art retailing at only £25! Visit our stand and take advantage of our special offers – including free stock!
See us at Spring Fair in Hall 4 on G52 and Ambiente in 9.1 D85
www.frithsculpture.co.uk • sales@frithsculpture.co.uk • T: 01666 577110
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What’s New Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019
Beavering Away The artists at Frith have been beavering away recently – so much so that Thomas Meadows has created one! Retailing at only £40 it is bound to sell well, as there is currently so much interest in these interesting characters as they are slowly being reintroduced around the UK. The latest area is the Forest of Dean which is close to Frith’s HQ.
Frith Sculpture Tel: 01666 577110 Email: sales@frithsculpture.co.uk www.frithsculpture.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand G52 Ambiente: Hall 9.1 Stand D85
Specs Appeal On the back of the phenomenal success of the comic spec holders from Joe Davies, the company is excited to launch their new wobble head specs appeal range. These bright colourful characters that hold your specs now come with fun moving heads that wobble. To complete the range they have included some new wall mounted spec holders so you can find your glasses in any room in the house, using the same popular characters.
Delightful Donkeys Frith’s new MINIMA collection is expanding this year with new subjects including these delightful donkeys. The miniature works of art cover many subjects of British wildlife, farmyard and cockapoos. This year there will also be feral goats, rhinos and garden birds which are boxed and retail at only £25. The ideal present for the person who has everything – we all know at least one of those! See them and over 200 other sculptures at Spring Fair.
Frith Sculpture Tel: 01666 577110 Email: sales@frithsculpture.co.uk www.frithsculpture.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand G52 Ambiente: Hall 9.1 Stand D85
Joe Davies Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand D50/E51
Iconic Mexican Art Frida Kahlo, was a uniquely talented artist and activist renowned for her self-portraits and works inspired by the nature and artefacts of Mexico. Groovy UK is very excited, having just signed the Frida Kahlo licence, to boost the creativity and unique style of Groovy, alongside growing new product areas within their licences. Beautiful print and pattern come together on a collection of apparel, accessories, bags, ceramics and homeware to create homage to one of the 20th century's most iconic women.
Groovy UK Tel: 0844 372 7820 Email: hello@groovyuk.com www.groovyuk.com Spring Fair: Hall 6 Stand H40-J41
Monet’s Water Lilies New from walking stick specialists Classic Canes is this heightadjustable folding cane featuring Monet’s water lilies, designed in association with the National Gallery. Folding canes make very practical gifts for anyone who needs a stick for support and balance at times. Classic Canes stocks over 90 folding models so there is something to suit every sense of style.
Classic Canes Tel +44 (0)1460 75686 Email: info@classiccanes.co.uk www.classiccanes.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 20 Stand K10-L11
Urban Graffiti Groovy UK has just signed a new licence with Brandalised - an urban graffiti licence with high visibility and recognition - featuring a collection of artworks and photographs of Banksy graffiti. Groovy has developed ranges with iconic images such as ‘Lizzie’ The Queen, The Guard Dog (a balloon dog) and the street sign painter with the Yellow Daisy art. All ranges have unique features that sit perfectly with the Brandalised brand. Ranges include: bags, purses, keyrings, mugs, tea towels, aprons, oven gloves, coasters, placemats and stationery.
Groovy UK Tel: 0844 372 7820 Email: hello@groovyuk.com www.groovyuk.com Spring Fair: Hall 6 Stand H40-J41
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3 - 7 February. NEC Spring Fair - Birmingham, UK Hall 4 Stand C10-D11
Call: 0800 011 6969 customerservices@puckator.co.uk www.puckator.co.uk 146_GH_February 2019.indd 146
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What’s New
Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019
Colour Themed Splosh! is a set of six bright and contemporary designs on Dunoon’s Cairngorm large mug shape. They feature dramatic colour themed splashes of watercolour in lime, pink. blue, red, turquoise and yellow. Designed by Caroline Bessey and made in fine bone china in the heart of Staffordshire, England.
Dunoon Tel: 01785 817414 Email: sales@dunoonmugs.co.uk www.dunoonmugs.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 9 Stand F18 Ambiente: Hall 4.2 Stand E22
Humorous Designs Musical Mayhem is a set of three humorous designs on Dunoon’s Cairngorm large mug shape. They feature tongue in cheek caricatures of musicians playing their orchestral instruments. All intricately drawn by illustrator Cherry Denman in her inimitable and fun style. Made in fine bone china in the heart of Staffordshire, England.
Tropical Fun Dunoon has extended their fun designs on their large size Henley fine bone china shape with Jungle Jive, Llamarama and Catastrophe. These are three patterns featuring on trend tropical birds, llamas and ever popular playful cats. All intricately drawn by illustrator Cherry Denman in her inimitable and humorous style. Made in fine bone china in the heart of Staffordshire, England.
Dunoon Tel: 01785 817414 Email: sales@dunoonmugs.co.uk www.dunoonmugs.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 9 Stand F18 Ambiente: Hall 4.2 Stand E22
All About You Signature Gifts are excited to showcase their latest personalised book at Spring Fair. The Book About You is the ultimate personalised book and is jam packed with fun facts and stats about one person in particular. That’s right, it’s all about you! Clever computer algorithms are used to take the recipient’s birthday and generate a compendium of astonishing facts and interesting trivia that all relate to the recipient. From news headlines and the number one single from the day you were born, to the total weight of food you have eaten in your lifetime, The Book About You will impress with the attention to detail it provides. The personalisation does not stop there however, as the book has room for the recipient’s name and a personalised message on the first page, as well as their name featuring on the cover of the book in foil embossing. The Book About You is the standout gift for 2019 and is a fascinating, unique product that will be treasured by anyone that receives it.
Dunoon Tel: 01785 817414 Email: sales@dunoonmugs.co.uk www.dunoonmugs.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 9 Stand F18 Ambiente: Hall 4.2 Stand E22
Genie Of The Lamp Ahead of the highly anticipated live-action remake of the Disney classic Aladdin, your customers ain’t never had a friend like this before, as Enesco proudly presents a new figurine in its Disney Traditions by Jim Shore collection. Your customers’ favourite genie of the lamp is captured perfectly in Born Showman, presenting the lovable blue Genie in a scene reminiscent of his lively performance during the musical number Friend Like Me. Standing 21.0cm tall it has an SRP of £44.00.
Enesco Tel: 01228 404022 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk www.enesco.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand H100
Signature Gifts Tel: 01582 464809 Email: jed.barton@signature-gifts.co.uk www.signature-gifts.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand D60-E61
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IT’S COCKTAIL TIME
WITH A HAND DECORATED GLASS FROM SUNNY BY SUE SPRING FAIR NEC Birmingham | 3-7 February 2019 Hall 4 Stand 4G30-H31 Follow us on:
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@EastWestGifts
GIFTING WITH A DIFFERENCE www.eastwest.co.uk info@eastwest.co.uk
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What’s New
Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019
Create, Sculpt, Release 2018 was a fantastic year for Edge Sculpture, with market appreciation for the entire portfolio being pursued with energy and an appreciation from our stockists that has been nothing short of breathtaking. From a personal point of view, this is, of course, very flattering indeed, but more importantly, stokes the fire of motivation to continue to create, sculpt and release even more diverse pieces that serves to maintain Edge's unique style of work. Going forward into 2019, I have been sculpting some fantastic new subjects for Spring Fair, with a sea turtle, polar bear and sloth (pictured) - just a teaser of what to expect when you visit the stand. See you there. All the best, Matt Buckley. Sculptor & creative director
Shaken Not Stirred
Edge Sculpture Tel: 01952 884804 Email: sales@edgesculpture.com www.edgesculpture.com Spring Fair: Hall 1, Stand H20
Joe Davies are excited to be showing this brand new range of cocktail glasses from Sunny By Sue at Spring Fair, with the trend for the hand painted glasses looking set to continue. As with Joe Davies’ entire range of 10,000 lines, all are available to order with a low minimum order value of just £100 for free nationwide delivery, and with their famous ‘little and often’ policy ordering could not be easier.
Joe Davies Tel: 0161 975 6300, Email sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand D50/E51
Garden Scents
Christmas Angels
Potager Garden is a new range from Stoneglow - natural wax candles and diffusers in familiar fragrances of herbs, fruits and vegetables - blended together to create an aromatic retreat to the garden. All beautiful presented in colourful gift packaging. Made in the UK by Stoneglow Candles.
Buyers looking for spiritual inspiration for Christmas 2019 need look no further than these must have angelic dolls. Available in silver, gold, red and white these angels have beautiful porcelain faces and hands, magnificent colour-changing fibre optic wings and intricately detailed dresses. In each colour, we offer a 16” tree top angel, an 18” doll and 24”, and 32” musical moving Angels, which play eight different Christmas songs.
Stoneglow Candles Tel: 020 8595 8878 Email: sales@stoneglowcandles.co.uk www.stoneglowcandles.co.uk
Lesser & Pavey Tel 01322 279225 Email: sales@leonardo.co.uk www.leonardo.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand D10-E11
Good Enough To Eat Winter in Venice's Creamery Collection is presented in four different fragrances comprising of Raspberry Sorbet, Honey Candied Lemon Lace, Chocolate Orange & Vanilla, and Butter Cookies & Cream. Made using natural extracts such as Chocolate, Vanilla, Raspberry and Lemon, this collection is just outrageously cute! Our intensely rich creams, lotions, gels and fizzers are made to mimic vintage ice cream flavours from our childhood.
Winter in Venice Tel: 0845 652 1223 Email: sales@winterinvenice.co.uk www.winterinvenice.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 20 Stand E09
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What’s New
Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019
Touch Of Class Best Kept Secrets are delighted to announce the addition of four new fragrances to their award winning Seriously Scented Candle range. All the new fragrances have received a very positive response by focus groups across the country. Ruby Stars, Pink Pepper & Patchouli, Lemon Sugar & Forbidden Sapphire will bring an additional touch of class to the range which is already in great demand. And, of course, they all have sparkly toppings and plenty of glitter.
Best Kept Secrets Tel: 01670 512222 Email: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand B33
Quirky Ducks These quaint, quirky ducks from Joe Davies are bound to make an impression as a unique gift for that special someone or as part of a collection. Following on from the popular existing single polka dot duck figurines, Joe Davies are excited to launch their additional items. Included in this range are the new small and large sizes, along with a sweet mother and baby duck sheltering underneath a matching dotty umbrella.
Special Moments Best Kept Secrets has had great success with the Just Because range. A fun collection of occasion candles celebrating family, friends and special moments. Its great success demonstrated a gap in the market for a fun but Seriously Scented candle with an important message for those we care about.
Best Kept Secrets Tel: 01670 512222 Email: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand B33
Joe Davies Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand D50/E51
Great Outdoors Multi-tool Go confidently into the wild with the Wilderness multi-tool by Gentlemen's Hardware. Designed for camping trips and forays into outdoor survival, this is an essential bit of kit for explorers, wanderers and lovers of the great outdoors. The stainless steel tools held within the compact handle include a knife blade, a saw, a tin/bottle opener, a corkscrew, a flat-head screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver and a removable flint rod. Presented in a branded gift box.
On The Go Essentials The ideal essentials you need to thrive when on-the-go in the urban jungle are in this Thrive kit from Pretty Useful Tools. Perfect for solving practical solutions at festivals, glamping trips or jet-setting on fabulous adventures. Includes hand cream, lip balm, ribbon hair bands x 3, hair grips x 6, nail file, ear plugs, comb and mirror. Presented in Camo Coral printed gift tin.
Wild & Wolf Tel: 01225 789 909 Email: sales@wildandwolf.com www.wildandwolf.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 6 Stand H42-J43
Wild & Wolf Tel: 01225 789 909 Email: sales@wildandwolf.com www.wildandwolf.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 6 Stand H42-J43
Mega-Tastic Challenges After the phenomenal success of their David Walliam’s range in 2018, The Lagoon Group are excited to be launching a new addition to the range with the Mega-Tastic Challenges Game. This new, family game features characters from David Walliam’s best-loved books. Players need to collect character cards by successfully completing a physical or mental challenge, so it is both educational and fun! Come and see the World of David Walliams range as well as lots more exciting new gifts from Lagoon at Spring Fair.
The Lagoon Group Tel: 020 8563 6520 Email: sales@thelagoongroup.com www.thelagoongroup.com Spring Fair: Hall 6, Stand L50-M51 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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2019 Welcomed by Angels!
175mm
155mm
in 3 sizes.
125mm
www.gaeltagkeltika.com Call +44 (0) 20 8998 1781 Email sales@gaeltag.com 152_GH_February 2019.indd 1
VISIT US AT SPRING FAIR AT HALL 4 STAND 4D O1
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What’s New
Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019
Mix’n’Match Pairables Joe Davies’ best-selling snoozies! collection sees the debut of snoozies! pairables at Spring Fair. The concept allows customers to mix and match over 30 different designs to create their own unique collection. For the first time, re-orders are by individual design and colour. The rewards for retailers will be large increases in sales of the best-selling options, and the ability to pick different designs from across the range. Demand for snoozies! in 2018 exceeded stock and with the new developments customers are urged to place pre-orders early.
Fireball Finalist create a hypnotic moving flame effect. They obviously hypnotised the Gift of the Year judges – the fireballs are finalists in the Contemporary Gift category of the 2019 awards. Retailing at £23.99 and £34.99, they’re already setting the gift world alight!
Joe Davies Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk visit www.joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand D50/E51
Transomnia Tel: 01892 703660 Email: sales@transomnia.com www.transomnia.com Spring Fair: Hall 7, Stand E01
Decadent Hand Butters This gorgeous collection of decadent Winter in Venice hand butters comes nestled in a beautiful reusable storage tin. This delightful gift contains 12 individually fragranced 25g hand butter tubes made using 10% shea butter, almond oil, vitamin E, and natural fruit and plant extracts - ideal to sooth dry and chapped hands in need of intense moisturising and care. Our award winning British brand is free from parabens, paraffins, sulphates, minerals, DEA; and are not tested on animals.
Winter in Venice Tel: 0845 652 1223 Email: sales@winterinvenice.co.uk; www.winterinvenice.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 20, Stand E09
Rustic Ceramics Following the success of their Village Pottery range, Joe Davies, has introduced new pieces to add to the quirky ceramic tea holders and plant pots collection. These fun pottery houses, owls, caravans and camper vans can hold small houseplants and tea light candles with the windows cut out so the light from the tea light can shine through creating a magical, warming ambience. The colour palette of soft muted, greys, aquas and browns make them suitable for any home décor. The ceramic material and antiqued style glaze gives them a rustic artisan feel.
Joe Davies Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk visit www.joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand D50/E51
Wi-Fi Plaques
Home Fragrance Trio The Cello home fragrance collection of candles, reed diffusers and accessories will lead the charge for one-stop shop Xystos, with a raft of new products at Spring Fair. The Spring/Summer launch sees the addition of three new scents, Ginger Fizz, Cucumber Spritz and Poppy Blush, in different sized jars, as well as wax medallions, scent cups, standard and hourglass reed diffusers and essential oils. These follow the strong-selling Autumn/Winter fragrances of Frosted Pine, Winter Mittens and Mistletoe Kiss.
Xystos Tel 0191 499 1570 Email sales@xystos.co.uk www.xystostrade.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand H50-J51
A new range of wooden wi-fi plaques from Joe Davies will make perfect, stylish new home gifts. With everyone constantly online, these hanging and standing table signs are handy for letting family, friends and guests know the wi-fi password in the home. They are on trend with a neutral grey and white colour palette so will fit with any colour scheme and come with a printed face paper to write the all-important code on. They start at the great retail price of just £4.99.
Joe Davies Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk visit www.joedavies.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand D50/E51
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We’re really looking forward to showcasing our new designs at Spring Fair! Our collaboration with Rosie Made a Thing is sure to be a hit. Paper Salad’s amazing new designs feature pattern embossing, gold foiling and neon print and won’t fail to impress with 60 products in the range!
Rosie Made
A Thing
Visit us at
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3rd-7th Feb Stand 3K10–L11 01274 655980 sales@glick.co.uk www.glick.co.uk Unit 1 Allenby House, European Ind. Park, Knowles Lane, Bradford BD4 9AB
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What’s New
Progressive Gifts and Home highlights a selection of new gift products launching at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, 3-7 February 2019
Putting A Lid On It The Personalised Memento Company have expanded their range of personalised candles with the introduction of a brand new scented jar candle with a lid. Each of these candles can be personalised with a name or message, across a variety of fashion-forward designs. The candles are paired with a brushed metal lid, completing the gift. Each candle is personalised and drop-shipped to order.
Home’s A Beach Eight new Splosh ranges are being introduced by Xystos at Spring Fair, including two homewares collections. Hamptons features a variety of coastal products that incorporate soft white washed wood and deep blue coral reefs that capture the essence of beachside living, while the Magnolia range brings the simplistic elegance of magnolias into the home mixed with organic textures and trending tones of off-white and olive green.
Xystos Tel: 0191 499 1570 Email: sales@xystos.co.uk www.xystostrade.co.uk Spring Fair: Stand 4H50-J51
PMC Tel: 01782 744900 Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk www.personalisedmemento.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4 Stand E90-F91
Italian Inspired Delights Bath and body products will complement the Xystos candle offering at Spring Fair, with the company’s newly acquired Di Palomo brand – inspired by fond memories of Italy – continuing to win admirers with a range of appealingly presented products such as Black Cherry and Wild Fig & Grape. The Naked Bee – slogan, ‘All of the good stuff, none of the bad stuff’ – is also a firm favourite with UK buyers: its Orange Blossom Honey personal care range includes everything from shampoo to restoration foot balm.
Xystos Tel: 0191 499 1570 Email: sales@xystos.co.uk www.xystostrade.co.uk Spring Fair: Stand 4H50-J51
Rum Lovers The Rumbler and Rum Cocktail are a must for rum lovers that want to get the best tasting experience. The low tumbler is specially shaped to enhance the aroma and flavours of this versatile spirit while the same flared lip is used on the taller Rum Cocktail which is ideal for mixing great rum, mixers and plenty of ice. Hand-made in England by skilled glassmakers from 24% fine lead crystal.
Dartington Tel: 01805 626226 Email: sales@dartington.co.uk www.dartington.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand F53-G63
Wine Time “Say it with wine” - the new Wine Time collection. This generously sized wine glass has been adorned with a colourful wine related phrase that will be sure to raise a smile every time it is used. Perfect for white, reds and rosé, Wine Time makes a lovely gift for a wine lover, supplied in an attractive tin for presentation and safe storage. With several humorous phrases to choose from, you can add character to yours or a friend’s wine glass collection or start a brand new one to add to later.
Dartington Tel: 01805 626226 Email: sales@dartington.co.uk www.dartington.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand F53-G53
Luxurious Luna Adding to the success of the Luna collection, new for 2019 is the indulgent aroma Papyrus Woods & Jasmine fragrance, presented in a stunning interior teal and gold. Additionally, all seven fragrances from Luna are now available in perfume cards, so you can take your favourite fragrance with you in your car and handbag. Made in the UK.
Stoneglow Tel: 020 8595 8878 Emal: sales@stoneglowcandles.co.uk www.stoneglowcandles.co.uk Spring Fair: Hall 8, Stand A15
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Find us at Spring Fair: Hall 4, Stand F01, NEC, 3-7th February 2019
WINNERS!
Best New Product
COLLECTION
by Tilnar Art
Home, Gift & Clothing Category GLEE 2018
01277 362 815 I sales@tilnarart.co.uk I www.tilnarart.co.uk GF2019_A4_01-19.indd 1 156_GH_February 2019.indd 1
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LESLEY DUNNE
SOUNDING OFF
Not Much Ho, Ho, Ho-ing Unfortunately for PG&H columnist Lesley Dunne, owner of Feathering Your Nest in Rayleigh, there was no fairy at the top of the Christmas tree to wave a magic wand this year. The impact of government bickering and an uncertain Brexit certainly did nothing to help to put money in the tills, as Lesley explains. “How was Christmas for we indies? The government's behaviour in the run up to Christmas was certainly extraordinarily alarming. Whether you're a Brexiteer or a Remainer, the news reports were totally absorbing, shocking and mighty scary. Mr D was giving me regular updates from the HQ armchair. In fact, I have to confess that I was quite relieved when they went off for their two week break, sipping cocktails in The Bahamas or Bournemouth, as the break seemed to lift customers’ spirits from the looming catastrophe just in time for the chachiang. Or did it?
A Brexit ‘disaster zone’ wasn't what we retailers wanted to hear on the approach to our busiest time of year. We wanted our customers to be softly lulled into spending their hard earned cash on their loved ones, especially pianos. Gosh, we sold right out of those this year! And let's not mention Martin Lewis, he's not our friend!The uncertainty over our future economy helped keep the coffers tightly closed for many retailers, whether online or bricks and mortar.
Above: Feathering Your Nest’s Christmas window. Left: PM Theresa May’s battle over Brexit didn’t instil much confidence in consumers in the festive run up.
Intertwine Brexit news reports with the doom and gloom of the death of the high street, and oh my word, there just wasn't anything to feel jolly about. Christmas spirit was pretty low on the barometer and Santa was nowhere to been seen. My usual oncea-year trip to Lakeside Shopping Centre for our teenager's Christmas lists left me, yet again, heartbroken, with 50% plus sale signs on every window. Moreover, the centre was pretty empty for late December. The only shop I had to queue in was Primark for stocking filler essentials. The major chains have cut so deep into their margins, how much lower can they go in this crazy race to the bottom? Profit warnings from major chains in all sectors were damming. It's hardly surprising, with rising rents, rates, wages and pensions, but throw in unbelievable discounts and how much profit can you make? FYN didn't have a sale before Christmas but we paired up a couple of slow moving lines.
The penny seems to have finally dropped for the government, which is promising to invest £675m in saving the high street, starting this year, but that didn't save this Christmas, and I seriously doubt whether it will save many retailers afterwards either. The damage has already been done and it's been a long time coming. Some 85,000 jobs were lost in retail in 2018, 2,692 shops closed in the first six months of last year, averaging 14 closures per day. While I welcome a 30% rates reduction, and Amazon and other big online retailers paying their dues with the proposed digital tax in 2020, it's far too little and far too late for many. How can we get our customers back shopping on the high street when it's all too easy to click the button and have it delivered the next day without moving off the sofa? Millennials and generations Z, our future customers, are phone savvy geeks who consistently surf around for the best deals and hold very little loyalty, and even the baby boomers have joined the cyber shopping frenzy. Footfall is not what it was in the good old days. It seems we all have so much stuff, do we really need anything else? An emerging trend seems to be experience days, tickets, trips, creating memories rather than landfill. Hmmm, how can we weave this into a gift and card shop? Speaking with other retailers, some were up, some were down and others remained the same. So how was it for FYN? Well, we were down on previous years (I don't do down) but I'm in good company. I did expect it with all the doom and gloom. The best sellers - Ashleigh & Burwood, WoodWick, Katie Loxton - continued to perform, and and gin was the thing. But I hedged my bets and kept a tight rein on my budget. Overall, I am not too disappointed because I haven't got masses of dead stock to clear. So, all in all, it could have been a lot worse. New Year will see me cautiously buying, looking to sell more online, trying to find the next big thing (no change there) and watching the news very carefully.” PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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Best Sellers Progressive Gifts & Home asked a selection of retailers about the products which have been flying off their shelves this month. Georgina Collins, owner, Bijouled, Harrogate A medium sized jewellery and gift shop on a main high street CATEGORY
SUPPLIERS/RANGES
COMMENT
Fragranced Giftware
Chase & Wonder: candles and reed diffusers
Beautifully packaged. The candles and reed diffusers make fantastic presents.
Jewellery
Treaty: across the board;
The jewellery sells consistently well for us all year. It’s quality, easy to wear and affordable. A ‘must have’ iconic brand with a uniquely edgy style.
Vivienne Westwood: across the board Fashion Accessories
Powder: across the board;
One Hundred Stars: across the board
Trendy, colourful, stylish and affordable, it’s popular all year round. From kimonos to scarves and dressing gowns, these are the stand out products, because of the use of maps and print.
Greeting Cards
Lance Black
These were our best selling Christmas cards, thanks to their naughty sense of humour and original illustrations.
Giftwrap
Cavellini
Fantastic, quality wrap. It is so beautiful that customers frame it too.
Other Hot Hits
Clare Jordan: bespoke glass signs
These are stand out products because they are so different, giving us a point of different on the high street.
David Theobalds, owner, Emporium Gift Shop, Cheltenham and Winchcombe Both are medium sized gift shops. Cheltenham is on a secondary site and Winchcome is in a market town. CATEGORY
SUPPLIERS/RANGES
COMMENT
Decorative Home Accessories
Evans Lichfield: cushions;
A wide range of designs to suit any interior. Great products and service. Everything sells out.
East of India: across the board Fragranced Giftware
Pintail: Christmas; Heaven Scent/Emporium own brand
A perfect size. A pick up or teacher’s gift. Our own branded candles and reed diffusers have increased sales year on year for the past seven years.
Jewellery
Rodney Holman: fashion jewellery
Quality costume jewellery from a locally based family business.
Fashion Accessories
Black Ginger: mittens; Moda Express: bags
The mittens were our best selling item at Christmas, with over 500 pairs sold of one design. A wide choice of on trend bags and accessories.
Greeting Cards
Lucilla Lavender
We started with one range and now have four. Our best selling cards.
Giftwrap
Globe Enterprise
Superb quality giftwrap and bags that are a little bit different.
Other Hot Hits
Apples To Pears: Gifts In A Tin
The company have some good gardening products too.
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Tracey Bryant, co-owner of The Cat’s Whiskers, Bishops Cleeve and Swindon Medium gift and card shops on secondary sites. CATEGORY
SUPPLIERS/RANGES
COMMENT
Decorative Home Accessories
East of India: across the board;
Simple designs and beautiful sentiments. The products are among our best sellers. Distinctive designs that our customers love.
Wrendale Designs: textiles
Fragranced Giftware
Marmalade of London: across the board; Michel Design Works: across the board
Jewellery
Fabulous fragrances and packaging. Also, they are a local supplier. Long lasting, beautiful quality and gorgeous packaging. Products range from home fragrancing to bath and body.
Coeur de Lion: across the board Joe Davies: Equilibrium
High end, design led, upmarket jewellery.
Fashion Accessories
Powder: across the board
Something different. Products come in striking packaging that really catches the eye.
Greeting Cards
Woodmansterne
There’s a card for every occasion. They are by far our best sellers.
Giftwrap
Glick
Quality, colour and design sells this wrap.
Other Hot Hits
Jellycat: across the board
A super soft, high quality, sought after brand that sells and sells.
Affordable, trendy jewellery that has a fast turnover.
Sally Matson, owner, Red Card, Petworth A small gift and card shop based in a market town. CATEGORY
SUPPLIERS/RANGES
COMMENT
Decorative Home Accessories
Rader: ceramics;
This simple, elegant white ceramicware is a great seller for christening gifts. Practical and pretty jugs.
Toasted Crumpet: jugs
Fragranced Giftware
Peppermint Grove: candles;
Bath House: across the board
Amazing candles from an Australian supplier. We sold out at Christmas. Fantastic packaging, beautiful products and good price points.
Jewellery
Hot Tomato: bracelets Joma Jewellery: earrings
Great price points and really pretty jewellery. We sell loads! Very on trend earrings that are great for all ages.
Fashion Accessories
Oli Olsen: boxed metal keyrings; Chilly’s: re-usable water bottles
These keyring designs are fabulous and come in smart packaging. Great for teenagers, boys or girls. The bottles are packaged in a lovely tube and make a perfect present for anyone. They were among our best sellers at Christmas.
Greeting Cards
Emily Brooks
Bright colours and very retro. A new publisher for us that’s proving to be a winner.
Giftwrap
Lagom
Very trendy wrap that’s well priced and popular with customers. It’s something that’s a bit different.
Other Hot Hits
Lexon Mino: speakers
These are tiny speakers that look like a Nespresso coffee pod. The sound is extraordinary. They were our Christmas best seller.
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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!
JOE DAVIES T: 0161 975 6300 E: sales@joedavies.co.uk W: joedavies.co.uk
APPLES TO PEARS T: 01453 826759 E: sales@applestopears.com W: www.applestopears.com
GLICK T: 01274 655980 E: info@glick.co.uk W: www.glick.co.uk
HOT TOMATO T: 01225 422188 E: sales@hot-tom.com W: www.hot-tom.com
GLOBE ENTERPRISE T: 0208 845 5057 E: info@globeenterprise.co.uk W: globeenterprise.co.uk
HOT TOMATO T: 01225 422188 E: sales@hot-tom.com W: www.hot-tom.com
JOMA JEWELLERY T: 01295 263430 E: enquiries@jomajewellery.com W: www.jomajewellery.com
JOE DAVIES T: 0161 975 6300 E: sales@joedavies.co.uk W: joedavies.co.uk
GLICK T: 01274 655980 E: info@glick.co.uk W: www.glick.co.uk Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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BEHIND THE COUNTER
Lucy Jones
Above: Lucy Jones. Right: Lulu Loves, Stubbington.
With Spring Fair about to welcome visitors, Lucy Jones (formerly Hamblin), a finalist in The Greats 2018 Retail Employee of the Year category, and store manager at Lulu Loves in Stubbington, reveals what she enjoys most about her role and why she loves being on the buying team at trade shows.
Lucy Jones’ original career ambition was to be an air hostess, but instead she went into the hospitality and catering sector, eventually changing course and going into retail. “I worked for Past Times where I quickly moved up to the management team,” she explains. “However, after Past Times’ demise, I applied for the manager’s job at Forget Me Not in Stubbington, and was shortlisted down to the final two, but unfortunately the job was offered to someone else! Fortunately, that person didn’t take it, so it was
LAST WORD
Emily Coxhead
Above: Emily Coxhead. Right: The Happy News.
PG&H put The Happy News creator Emily Coxhead into the hot seat to find out what makes her happy and why St Ives has a special place in her heart. Best known for ‘sprinkling a little bit of happiness all over the planet’ Emily’s licensed products include giftware from Widdop and Co, cards from Pigment, stationery from Blueprint and dated products from Portico.
Which three words best describe you? “Happy, creative, sensitive.” Tell us a quirky fact we don’t know about you? “I won the Biggest Smile award when I left high school.” What was the best piece of business you’ve received? “You can’t please all of the people all of the time. I also subscribe to designer Anthony Burrill’s ‘Work Hard & Be Nice To People’ principle.” Which one piece of advice would you pass onto to a budding entrepreneur? “Work really hard and make your own luck. Don’t give up.” 162
Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
What do you think gives The Happy News the edge? “We strive to find small ways in which we can get people thinking in a positive way. The Happy News is about recognising mental health and anxiety issues and celebrating all that’s good in the world.” What’s your favourite book? “Matt Haig’s Notes On A Nervous Planet. It’s about how everything impacts on us.” What’s your favourite TV programme? “Friends. People tell me I’m most like the character Phoebe.” What’s your favourite film? “Feelgood movies by the director Richard Curtis.”
subsequently offered to me, and seven years later, here I am managing the store’s sister shop Lulu Loves as well as being operations manager of both shops.” Lucy explains that on a day-to-day basis, what she especially enjoys about her role at LuLu Loves is displaying and merchandising the products. “Nothing is a chore. A good day for me is when customers have left the shop feeling happy with their purchases. It’s lovely to think that buying something at Lulu Loves has made someone’s day.” Something else that’s a high point of her role is going to trade shows with her buyer’s hat on. “We always have a ball! It’s lovely to be able choose the products we love, although obviously they have to be commercial!” she laughs.
Where do you most enjoy going on holiday? “St Ives in Cornwall. It’s where my then boyfriend, now my fiancé, proposed to me.” What’s your working day like? I come alive at night when there are no distractions. But having said that, I do tend to work a 14 hour day!” How do you like to relax? “By visiting a secret spot where there’s a tiny waterfall.” What’s your definition of happiness and which three things make you happy? “Family, donuts and the seaside. You have to find your own happy, your own version of happiness. For most people that will change, it won’t always be one thing.” Which one thing would you take to a desert island? “Music, stuff I can sing along to. That would always make me feel really happy!”
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BESPOKE
GIFT IMPORTERS & DISTRIBUTORS
Manufacturer & distributor at your door. Your one stop shop for bespoke photo frames.
It costs as little as £250 per annum to advertise in the Product Directory. Contact Angie Bryant on 01993 212 994 for further information.
Just a few reasons to buy from Joe Davies
Wood, plastic, metal & glass frames.
Over 8000 gift items Low £100 minimum order ‘Little & Often’ order system Free carriage
T: 01908976443 E: sales@homsquare.co.uk www.homsquare.co.uk
Please contact our Award Winning sales staff for further details. Tel: l 0161 975 6300 Email sales@joedavies
www.joedavies.co.uk
GIFTS & GREETINGS
TRADE ASSOCIATION
The Giftware Association is at the heart of the UK’s gift and home industry with 70 years unique experience listening to your needs and finding solutions to your problems. We can help you make money, save money and save time with or knowledge and contacts within the industry. Website: www.ga-uk.org Email: enquiries@ga-uk.org Tel: 0121 237 1104 10 Vyse St, Birmingham B18 6LT
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