AGG Industry Insiders February 2019

FEBRUARY 2019

FOR HOME & LIFESTYLE RETAILERS. EST.1975

INDUSTRY INSIDERS

We talk to the experts about the latest trends & products, 2018 highlights and what to look forward to in 2019 Proudly supported by the Australian Gift & Homewares Association - the Voice of the Industry

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Welcome to the Giftguide Industry Insiders issue, brought to you by the Australian Gift & Homewares Association (AGHA). As a trusted leader across the gift and homewares sector, the AGHA is delighted to bring you these important industry updates and valuable insider knowledge contained within.

In this issue

16 La La Land

8 Holiday Trading & Co

18 Flair Gifts and Home

10 Artiwood Educational Toys

20 Alfresco Gardenware

12 Villa Maison

22 Ladelle

14 Compendium Australia

24 ColCam Enterprises

On the cover, L to R: Andrew McGregor, Artiwood Educational Toys; Ludivine Chu, La La Land; Sharlene Toister, Compendium; Julia Longmuir, Alfresco Gardenware; James Gadsden, Ladelle; Rayna Hooper, Holiday Trading & Co; John Doyle, Flair Gifts & Home; Elly Clues, Villa Maison; Greg Collier, ColCam Enterprises

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contents

12 14 10 24

February 2018  5

forward

FASHION

Holiday Trading & Co was built and continues to be based on blending fashion and home to create inspirational lifestyle retail environments.

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holiday trading & co

N

ext year seems to be another year of celebrations with many companies including Holiday Trading & Co reaching an

anniversary milestone.

Ten years in business is a great accomplishment and creative director, Rayna Hooper, says she is looking forward to launching some of her most beautiful ranges to date to mark the occasion.

2018 was a year of huge growth for the company with many great opportunities.

“Our turnover grew by over 40 per cent nationally in Australia and we established our own sales team in New Zealand, which has positively driven our NZ sales right across both the North and South Islands.

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“2018 saw a significant increase in our staff numbers. Particularly in production and design personnel, warehousing staff and the associated administration support that is required.”

February 2019 9

TOY STORY What started out as a personal passion 20 years ago, still remains at the heart of Artiwood Educational Toys today―a commitment to high-quality, ethically sourced, safe and creative toys.

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artiwood educational toys

A

ccording to the Australian Retailers Association’s executive

director, Russell Zimmerman, toys will be the number one choice this Christmas.

“This year we are noticing a range of toys that are designed to stimulate imagination and creativity, which is a refreshing change from the technologydriven pattern we have seen in previous years,” he adds.

This is good news for Aussie wholesaler, Artiwood Educational Toys, which specialises in eco-friendly and educational kids products.

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Australia MADE IN FRANCE &

Dividing her time between France and Australia, Elly Clues gets the best of both worlds and loves to shares this with her clients.

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villa maison

F

or most people running

buying tours, generally of interest to our

their business is more than

Villa Maison clients, but we have also

enough to keep them busy,

introduced other tours for the general

however, for Villa Maison

public who want a fully supported, small,

director, Elly Clues, there are so many more things she loves to do, including buying tours in France.

bespoke and personal experience.

“One of our tours this year is for a 50th birthday, and another tour for next year

“Combined with Villa Maison, our tours

is to celebrate a company’s 20 year

continue to be a part of my life, I just love

anniversary. I have done some special

it,” she enthuses.

buying tours this year where I have assisted

“This year we have launched four tour

clients to buy Brocante and ship it home

dates and two tours have sold out already.

and I have also considered day tours, but

We have retained our special Brocante

there are only so many days in the week!”

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DEEP impact 14  giftguideonline.com.au

Compendium Australia’s mission is to provide beautiful gifts that create meaningful human connections.

compendium australia

Comment Boxplease swap this one with the one on page 16, top right. Thanks.

S

tationery is becoming

“There is also certainly more awareness

trendy again, something

and desire these days to document our

that Compendium Australia

daily existence. Beautiful journals allow

owner & general manager,

us to do that so we can relive precious

Sharlene Toister, certainly has noticed.

memories, as well as leave a legacy for

“The gift of a beautiful book or a card with future generations. heartfelt sentiments makes for a treasured

“And in terms of stationery―who

keepsake,” she says. “Long after chocolate doesn’t love beautiful products has been eaten and flowers have wilted,

on their desk? It somehow makes

a beautiful card and book will still impart

getting through the work day a whole

their special emotions and memories.

lot easier.”

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THE REAL

world

Sydney based Australian business La La Land supports artists here and around the world by presenting their works on cards, gifts and homewares.

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la la land

L

a La Land is often used as a nickname for Los

Angeles, where the rich and famous live.

For business partners and co-founders Ludivine Chu and Elie Azzi, this formed part of the inspiration when they named their newly launched Sydney brand La La Land.

“La La Land was created in 2009 when we wanted to promote the work of local artists,”

“We try to pick artists that have something unique whether in their style or subject they choose.“

says Chu. “Elie thought of the name La La Land. We both thought it was easily remembered, it also sounds like a place and lots of people think artists are in ‘La La Land’ so we felt it was relevant.”

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tell

SHOW &

Flair Gifts and Home is always looking for something different to ensure they can offer unique & unusual pieces to the Australian market.

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flair gifts & home

W

hile travelling the world as a senior

buyer for the Coles Myer Group, John Doyle saw an opportunity in the market for decorative items to be imported to Australia, and in 1992 Flair Gifts & Home made its debut.

That same year his daughter, Amanda Brandt, joined the business and as the company grew so did her involvement.

“Each and every season we never tire of the excitement in releasing new products and enjoying the positive reactions of our customers when purchasing our lines and adding them to their ranges,” says Brandt.

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zone GREEN

Alfresco Gardenware was born out of a love for gardens and a need for work/life balance.

T

he green

customer service and

movement warehouse team,” couldn’t says co-founder have come

at a better time for

Julia Longmuir.

“We’ve also

Alfresco Gardenware,

landscaped our display

which had a great 2018

garden, improved our

and is looking forward to office and IT systems. an even better 2019.

“We’ve had a fantastic

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China has been a bit of a struggle as they move

2018―new products,

towards a reduction

new customers, a solid

in carbon emissions,

alfresco gardenware

something we fully support, but it has had its impact on the production timeframes.�

As people are becoming more and more environmentally aware, there is an increasing demand for products in the home to support a sustainable future.

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ground up

FROM THE We talk to Ladelle owner and managing director, James Gadsden, about the brand’s achievements this year and what we can expect in 2019.

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ladelle

W

hen was the

2019 and what can we expect from

company

Ladelle in the new year?

launched and

There is an increased focus on

what have been

sustainability including organic product

the highlights & challenges so far?

ranges. We have implemented full supply

Ladelle Company was founded in 1983

chain audits of all suppliers to ensure they

and the Ashdene brand in 1990. Supply

meet covenants such as BSCI and FSC.

chain issues especially out of China, the

We have also ensured any harmful dyes

falling Australian dollar against the US

or ingredients used in manufacturing

dollar are lowlights and highlights have

have been replaced with environmentally

been great acceptance by the industry of

friendly ones. Where possible we are

our new ranges.

moving to natural and organically grown

What are some of the trends for

cottons for our textile ranges.

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journey

AN UNEXPECTED

The launch of ColCam Enterprises wasn’t planned but grew out of a wonderful opportunity and has evolved into a successful business.

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ColCam Enterprises

A

nimals always seem to get an emotional response, whether they are real or not. A big trend this year, as seen at the

overseas trade fairs, is big animal decorative pieces. In fact, the bigger the better!

For Colcam Enterprises, the animal range has been its biggest seller. “Our unique animals have really hit the mark this year,” says Greg Collier, managing partner. “They just walk out the door!”

“Our rope animals have developed from a simple puppy, and evolved into a huge popular range.”

Colcam was launched in 2008 after helping one of the company’s Indonesian contacts showcasing his goods at a Sydney trade event.

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February 2019 25