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www.giftfocus.com
Issue 91 September/October 2015
www.giftfocus.com
’tis the season
Christmas products yule love
show previews
Autumn Fair
Top Drawer
shine like
a star
Women’s fashion
jewellery
Official media partner
for Autumn Fair
BEST
WISHES
Greetings cards
PLUS
• Gifts for teens
• Toys and games
• Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn
WIN!
A selection of Puckator
products worth £750 RRP
September/ October Issue 91
Managing Editor
Alexandra North
contents
Deputy Managing Editor
Rosie Orgles
Editor
Rachel Westall
+44 (0)1376 535 614
rachelw@giftfocus.com
Chief Sub Editor
Tim Nelson
Sales & Marketing Manager
Robert Clark
+44 (0)1376 535 606
robertc@giftfocus.com
19
news&events
industry news
on with the show
Production +44 (0)1376 535 616
artwork@kdmediapublishing.com
brand spanking new
10
Christmas products – part 2
14
features
shining bright
Latest launches and hot new products
the ga
120
Graphic Designers
Alex Bolton, Stephanie Hodder
hot property
Subscriptions
Kay Tilbury, Olivia Horrod
+44 (0)1376 514 000
KD Media Publishing Ltd
Pantile House, Newlands Drive
Witham, Essex CM8 2AP UK
www.giftfocus.com
Cover image courtesy of:
Ashleigh & Burwood
Gift Focus is solely owned, published and
designed by KD Media Publishing Limited.
Whilst every effort was made to ensure the
information in this magazine was correct at the
time of going to press, the publishers cannot
accept legal responsibility for any errors or
omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of
the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial
contributions. The views expressed do not
necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Gift
Focus is published six times a year. Subscription
rates for overseas readers are £75 per annum
(incl. p+p), Cheques should be made out to
KD Media Publishing Limited and sent to Gift
Focus, Pantile House, Newlands Drive, Witham,
Essex CM8 2AP UK.
Gift Focus magazine is proud to be associated
with and supporters of:
Average Net
Circulation: 7,217
29
Women’s fashion jewellery
All the latest from The Giftware Association
Production Assistant
Charlotte Potter
19
Trade fair dates and news
Deputy Production Manager
Sarah Young
Web Development Manager
Stuart Weatherley
special feature
festive fun
Account Manager
Sharon Connelly
+44 (0)1376 535 607
sharonc@giftfocus.com
Production Manager
Scott Brothwell
6
All the latest from the world of gifts
best wishes
35
Greeting cards
123
Catch up on what’s new in the world of licensing
omg! #coolgifts
40
Gifts for teens
competition
141
Win a selection of Puckator products worth
£750 RRP
let me entertain you
focus on...
shows
company profile
26
double the fun
118
We chat to John Allan, owner of Stone the
Crows, about juggling wholesale and retail
autumn fair’s in town
128
57
Autumn Fair preview
it’s all in the name
q&a
43
Top Drawer and Home preview
Busy Bee Candles
retailer interview
111
Toys and games
114
The low-down on Brand Licencing Europe
Our experts tackle your retail related queries
ready to shine
company profile
130
What to look forward to at IJL
134
scotland’s trade fair autumn
almost sold out
116
Heyland & Whittle
retail technology
David Fairhurst looks at what’s considered
good linking practice
insurance
126
Mark Saunders reveals what to expect at
this year’s show
136
Brokers TH March answer readers’
insurance-related questions
(01/07/13 to 30/06/14)
MEDIA SUPPORTER
ANTI COPYING IN DESIGN
anti copying in design
138
Dids Macdonald looks at what can you do
if you find your designs copied on the web
up & coming
146
We talk to nine-year-old Henry Patterson
about starting his company Not Before Tea
146
giftfocus 3
Shrieking Violet
’Tis (nearly) the season
Home & Gift has passed for another year but if
you didn’t make it to Harrogate, there’s still time
to source fabulous stock for Christmas and the
seasons ahead by visiting Autumn Fair and Top
Drawer – we have previews for each on pages 57
and 43 respectively.
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend is a phrase I firmly
agree with, and we’ve got plenty of bling, delicate chains and statement
pieces in our women’s fashion jewellery feature on page 29.
We chat to Haitham from Busy Bee Candles on page 26 and find out
what scents he can’t get enough of and what products the company’s
launching for Christmas. Our Up & Coming feature, page 146, is an
interview with nine-year-old Henry Patterson who started his company
Not Before Tea from successfully selling jars of edible mud and worms!
The range now includes a children’s story book and gorgeous giftware
featuring its characters.
Browse part two of our festive guide on page 19 and if there’s not
enough Christmas inspiration there, there’s our Toys and Games feature
on page 111 and Gifts for Teens on page 40.
I’ll see you next at the NEC!
Rachel
Rachel Westall
Editor
Editor loves…
Foutala’s versatile cotton
towels can be used as a
scarf, sarong, picnic blanket,
throw or trendy shawl.
They’re lightweight and
come in 48 colours.
Foutala
VISIT US ON
Facebook www.facebook.com/giftfocus
Twitter @gift_focus
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/giftfocus
giftfocus 5
industry news
Catch up on all the latest in our news round up
Glebe Cottage’s coffee cup greeting cards
Dazzling launch at Autumn Fair
Eco-friendly card publisher, Glebe
Cottage, has become the first
greeting card publisher to create
cards using paper from recycled
coffee cup waste. Every year in the
UK we use billions of disposable
cups for tea, coffee and other drinks.
Until recently, used cups and the
laminated paper cups are cut out
from, could only be sent to landfill
as there was no facility to separate
out the 12-15 per cent of plastic that
lined them. A new recycling plant
at James Cropper paper mill in the
Lake District has changed all that,
recycling the equivalent of 2.5 billion
coffee cups a year. The resulting
board, aptly named ‘coffee latte’,
contains 50 per cent recycled coffee
cup waste and 50 per cent FSC fibres.
Glebe Cottage has always had a passion for reducing its
environmental footprint, especially by using materials that can divert
waste away from landfill. Sales Director Sue Morrish said, “We were
privileged to visit the James Cropper paper mill in February. When we
saw this innovative new uncoated paper, we knew it was a perfect fit
with our environmental credentials and were thrilled when our print
tests showed that it also printed beautifully.” Glebe Cottage is now using
the coffee board for its Becky Bettesworth collection and plans to start
using it for other art ranges over the coming months.
Autumn Fair 2015, organised by i2i Events
Group, has unveiled detailed plans for its
debut presentation of The Light Show,
in partnership with the Lighting Industry
Association (LIA). The Light Show is the
only LIA endorsed decorative lighting event
taking place in the UK this year, due to take
place from 6th - 9th September in Hall 2 of
The NEC, Birmingham.
Such overwhelming support from the
most prominent lighting manufacturers
signals the importance of The Light Show
as an essential industry showcase, and
represents an important growth area for
Autumn Fair.
Up to 6,000 dedicated lighting sector buyers are expected to attend
the event, while Autumn Fair as a whole typically attracts up to 30,000
retailers from around the UK and wider world each year.
The agreement to put on The Light Show at Autumn Fair this year
was formalised by i2i Events at Autumn Fair 2014. Commenting on the
new partnership agreement, Chief Operating Officer of the LIA, Peter
Hunt said, “The LIA and the decorative lighting industry are excited
about the move to Autumn Fair this year. September is traditionally the
start of the lighting season and with a steadily improving economy we
expect to see a really strong offering by UK lighting suppliers.”
The Light Show at Autumn Fair has replaced the Lighting at Interiors
show formerly held each year in January, also at The NEC.
For more information and to register for free, visit the website
www.autumnfair.com
It’s a yes for The National Association of Jewellers
Following successful
votes at the
respective BJA
EGM and NAG AGM
held at Goldsmiths’
Hall in London, a
clear membership
mandate has now
been given for the
formation of The
National Association
of Jewellers (NAJ).
The NAJ will be the result of the unification of the National Association of
Goldsmiths (NAG) and the British Jewellers’ Association (BJA). Members of
both Associations cast their votes in support of bringing the industry giants
together to create one coherent and authoritative voice for both retailers
6 giftfocus
and their customers.
The NAG/BJA unification working party was instrumental in formulating a
comprehensive proposal for the unification of the two associations. The NAJ
will represent more than 2,000 businesses and will strengthen the provision
of education, training and lobbying government with a clear vision on
raising standards.
The NAJ will create a strong brand identity that will be recognised by
consumers as a mark of excellence, focusing on increasing consumer
confidence in the purchase of jewellery and creating a robust code of
practice that all members will be expected to abide by.
Gary Wroe, Chairman of the British Jewellers’ Association, said, “With
the unification of both associations, I am incredibly positive about the new
association’s potential. Combining the knowledge and expertise from both
associations, I’m confident that the NAJ will have an invaluable influence
on the jewellery industry, improving brand identity, ensuring the maximum
consumer confidence and ultimately creating an association that our
members can be proud of.”
news&events
Appointments
Gecko is pleased to announce the latest addition to its London based team, Desiree Pringle, who has joined as Creative Director.
“With a background of design and product development whilst working with major high street retailers, Desiree is a great fit to
strengthen the team and take us onto our next stage.” said Andrew Morton, WB The Creative Jewellery Group Managing Director.
Brighton company celebrates 21 years
in business.
Paladone Products is set to hit 21 years successfully inventing and selling
gadgets and toys from its Shoreham-by-Sea HQ to more than 70 countries
around the world.
With a client list including Sainsbury’s, Debenhams, Primark, Firebox,
Argos, M&S and Amazon, it’s almost guaranteed that you either own, or have
gifted one of Paladone’s inventions at some point over the last 21 years.
Along with the Henry Desk Vacuum, various lines have been internationally
recognised including the Tetris Light (Gift of the Year 2013) and the Rubik’s
Cube Light (Gift of the Year 2015).
The year 2015 has also seen Paladone awarded one of only two highly
prized gift licenses from Disney for the greatly anticipated Star Wars: Episode
VII – The Force Awakens alongside other worldwide stellar licenses like DC
Comics’ Batman, Volkswagen, Animal Planet and Roald Dahl.
When asked what Paladone means now, Managing Director Graeme Carr
said, “Paladone is a team who work hard for the same cause and play hard
when given the opportunity. The businesses successes have been matched
by some amazing Christmas and summer parties, and that’s something
we’re very proud of – we’re a company that celebrates our employees
and their successes – there’s a healthy respect between all of our staff and
management, and this generally gets us all pulling in the same direction”
For further information, please visit www.paladone.com
Tilnar Cycle Challenge is huge success
The first annual Tilnar Cycle Challenge, which was set up by the Fair Trade
supplier Tilnar Art, took place on 20th June 2015 and was an outstanding
success with over £10,000 being raised for charities across the UK through
entry donations and personal sponsorship. The challenge inspired people
around the country and across the world to get on their bikes and see how
far they could cycle in a day between 6am - 9pm for charity.
The Tilnar Cycle Challenge raised money directly for Cancer Research
UK and Porridge and Rice, who support children in the slums of Nairobi, by
donating £9 of each £12.95 entry fee to the charity selected by the entrant.
Porridge and Rice was picked as one of the chosen charities, as Tilnar Art
purchases many of its ranges from Kenya and it wanted to raise funds
for a charity supporting the communities where it buys its products. The
challengers also had the opportunity to raise sponsorship for their own
favourite charity.
Tilnar Art’s owner Tom was inspired to ride 150 miles on the day, nearly 50
miles further than he had ever ridden before and it even inspired his three
and five-year-old daughters to cycle two and seven miles respectively, and
everyone is determined to cycle further next year.
For more information including videos and testimonials in the 2015
Review Section, please visit www.tilnarcyclechallenge.org giftfocus 7
industry news
Kenro launches new trade website
The well-known UK and Ireland photo and digital products distributor, Kenro, has launched a
new trade website, aimed at making it easier for retailers and trade users to order stock.
After more than a year of consultation and development work, the trade e-commerce
website provides dealers with a 24-hour ordering facility for all their products – with fast
shipping on all in-stock items. All standard orders received by 1pm (Monday-Friday) will be
dispatched the same day.
Styling has a clean, contemporary look and navigation is very simple, giving customers
with a trade account an easier way to search, check stock levels, order and re-order goods
any time, day or night.
After receiving your personal login, trade customers may check prices, search for product
availability in real-time, add items to their shopping cart, check the order total (to enable
free shipping), place and track the order and then receive an electronic invoice for payment
within the usual credit terms.
If you wish to apply to open a trade account, call Kenro’s head office on +44 (0)1793 615
836, or email sales@kenro.co.uk
The fifth BTAA Fashion Accessory of the Year Awards
The BTAA Fashion Accessory of
the Year Awards 2015 is being held
at a champagne reception at The
Fashion Catwalk in Hall 4 of Autumn
Fair at 2pm on 6th September 2015.
Now in their fifth year, the awards
are becoming a key event in the
travel goods and fashion accessory
calendar. The awards are open
to any UK or overseas company
currently marketing travel goods and
fashion accessories in the UK. There are six different categories
which companies can enter: Luggage & Travel, Fashion Handbags,
Small Leather Goods, Fashion Jewellery, Fashion Accessories (scarves,
hats, gloves, umbrellas, belts, et cetera) and a new category – Made
In Britain. The winners in each category receive £500 towards exhibiting at
Autumn Fair 2016, together with an engraved glassware trophy. The
highly commended entrants win £100 towards exhibiting at Autumn
Fair 2016 and a glass engraved trophy.
All winners and highly commended products will be displayed on
the BTAA Fashion Accessory Of The Year stand next to the catwalk in
Hall 4 for the duration of Autumn Fair 2015.
The Chief Executive of the BTAA, Paul Yates, who will be hosting the
awards, said, “The BTAA Fashion Accessory of the Year Awards has
grown significantly since they were launched in 2010. The increase in
entries received year on year has made the awards a very prestigious
event within the industry. I’d like to thank all the sponsors, i2i Events
Group, Go Travel, Mag Mouch Sophos, T H March and Arthur J
Gallagher, who made this event possible.”
8 giftfocus
Christmas in July
As the temperatures on the streets of London hit more than 31 degrees, the
annual Christmas in July showcase, hosted by Flare Communications, was
preparing to welcome its guests.
Throughout the day Flare attracted visits from national press, bloggers
galore plus some favourite faces from TV, radio, film and music. Brands in
attendance included Lonely Planet, Sass & Belle, Ashleigh & Burwood and
Tell Tails, to name a few.
“We were looking for excellent press connections, beautiful presentation
and an incredibly supportive team and we found it! Professional and fun,
good value with remarkable results, we were very proud to be among the
excellent businesses attending and we highly recommend it to all brands.
A very happy 10 out of 10 from Sass & Belle!” said Joyte Brown, PR &
Communications Executive for Sass & Belle.
Flare Managing Director, Lisa Robinson said, “We open the doors to
beyond our client base to ensure we have a great selection of brands for the
press. The event’s growing year on year, not only with brands but increasing
press in attendance. Plus, our celebrity guests add a little more dazzle! The
brands all give positive feedback on the ROI, as coverage is secured and we
have 50 per cent of the event booked for 2016.”
For further information, please visit www.flarecommunications.co.uk
on with the show
Trade show updates from home and abroad
Diary dates
Maison & Objet
When
Where
Website
4th - 8th September, 2015
Paris Nord Villepinte, Paris
www.maison-objet.com
International Jewellery London
When
Where
Olympia, London
Website
www.jewellerylondon.com
Autumn Fair
When
Where
Website
NEC, Birmingham
www.autumnfair.com
HOMI Milan
When
Where
Website
12th -15th September, 2015
Fiera Milano, Italy
www.homimilano.com
Top Drawer and Home
When
Where
Olympia, London
Website
www.topdrawer.co.uk
Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn
When
20th - 21st September, 2015
Where
SECC, Glasgow
Website
www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk
A great year for Exclusively
The reaction to this year’s
Exclusively Housewares
and its new sister show
Exclusively Electrical has
been overwhelmingly
positive, show organisers
have confirmed.
Both shows, which ran
on 9th and 10th June at the
Business Design Centre in
London, closed knowing
that their combined visitor
numbers were up, rebookings from exhibitors had hit their highest level
ever and that several new initiatives for both shows this year had all received a
positive response.
“We’ve had an exciting, buzzy couple of days,” said Simon Boyd, Shows Director,
“and the whole team is already full of ideas for 2016.”
The introduction of Exclusively Electrical, with its focus on small kitchen and
domestic appliances, was well received, with the new show attracting plenty of
good retail names from the larger stores.
Will Jones, Sector Director of Housewares at BHETA (British Home Enhancement
Trade Association), commented, “All the retailers I spoke to were positive and in the
main upbeat about the shows and appeared reasonably optimistic about market
conditions. They appreciated the efforts the shows are making to get suppliers
thinking ahead to their key sales period.
“Retailers want to know they can order at the shows for delivery at the end of
October ready for the festive build up to Christmas. June is a perfect mid-year
opportunity for buyers to firm up and confirm their Christmas offers and look ahead
to the spring/summer season next year.”
Exclusively Housewares and Exclusively Electrical will take place from 14th - 15th
June 2016 at the Business Design Centre, London.
Bubble London welcomes influx of buyers
Bubble London spring/summer 2016 opened its doors to scores of high-quality
buyers on Sunday 12th July, including Selfridges, London, John Lewis, Harrods,
Fenwick, Kids Cavern of Liverpool, Childrensalon of Kent, and online retailer Alex
and Alexa. The renowned children’s trade show experienced a six per cent yearon-year rise in overseas visitors, while the percentage of department store buyers
attending rose from 3.5 to 5 per cent.
In addition to the influx of overseas buyers, the show also experienced a dramatic,
11.1 per cent increase in visitors from the north and the midlands – an indication of
growing optimism in these areas.
The show also established itself as a key destination for Asian and Middle Eastern
buyers, with South Korea’s Sentokids, Hong Kong’s Pompom Little Couture, Indian
store Gron Stockholm, Pink or Blue of Jeddah, and Pitter Patter and Db Babies
Trading of Dubai all attending.
The autumn/winter 2016 edition of Bubble London will take place on 31st January
- 1st February, 2016. Please visit www.bubblelondon.com for further details.
10 giftfocus
news&events
Readers’ poll
What we’ve learnt from the latest reader poll at www.giftfocus.com
We asked: Is it important to stock products made in the UK?
You said:
38%
We try to stock as many products as possible: 42%
Not an important factor: 20%
Yes, we only stock products made in the UK:
January Furniture Show welcomes big names
The January Furniture Show, 24th - 27th January, 2016 has it all
wrapped up as it plays host to some of the gift world’s biggest
and best-known names. Already signed up are: Gallery Direct,
Pacific Lifestyle, Libra, Culinary Concepts, Hill Interiors, Mindy
Brown, British Art Company, Stone the Crows and Dar Lighting.
Theresa Raymond, Co-Director of the January Furniture
Show, commented “Interior designers, buyers and specifiers
– interested in gifts and lifestyle – should make a date to visit
the show, as it’ll be a great opportunity to see an array of new
products, innovations and designs from a wide gathering of
companies. Accessories and gifts are playing an increasingly
important role in furniture stores and we’re seeing this echoed
across many of our exhibitors.”
Hill Interiors makes a welcome return to the show after a
brief absence. General Manager Julian Potter commented, “Hill
Interiors is very excited to be exhibiting at the January Furniture
Show at the NEC and we’re looking forward to seeing the
changes brought in to secure the future of this event.”
For further information visit www.januaryfurnitureshow.com
Home & Gift’s new look a success
Home & Gift Harrogate proved to be a huge success with both retailers
and exhibitors at this year’s edition, which took place from 19th - 22nd
July, in Harrogate.
The new Design Point Debut & Spotlight, where buyers could
spot fresh, new design talent and source innovative products, were
extremely well received by retailers. Anne Boyd, Retail Operations
Manager/ Buyer from Sealbhanach, mentioned “I had a wonderful time
at the show in Harrogate. I found 21 new companies and I placed just
over 30 orders. Some are for pre-Christmas delivery and some are for
spring next year, so it was a very successful trip.”
Over 800 companies exhibited this year at Home & Gift with
exhibitors reporting outstanding business being done across the fourday show. Tom Sykes, General Manager of Xystos, said, “Xystos enjoyed
its best-ever Home & Gift, almost doubling the business written last
year. Footfall was much higher in Hall Q than at the Cairn Hotel, where
we’d been for many years, and the quality of buyer excellent.”
Heather Robinson, UK Sales Team Leader, Wild & Wolf added, “Last
day orders have increased year on year. It’s an all-round good show
with a chance to re-ignite old contacts. Harrogate Home & Gift is a
must exhibit event and great for launching new product lines.”
Cleere Scamell, Show Director for Home & Gift said, “We’re absolutely
delighted with the tremendous response that Home & Gift has received.
As with any great product, it’s important for events to keep fresh and
up to date, and this year we added plenty of new features to make sure
retailers had an even more productive and enjoyable time.”
Home & Gift is famous for mixing business with pleasure successfully,
and it wouldn’t have been the same without its famous networking
events. Hundreds of retailers and exhibitors joined together for a glass
of Pimm’s at the iconic Sunday Sundowners, and many of the other
social events that took place.
Home & Gift will take place next year from 17th - 20th July 2016. For
more information, please visit www.homeandgift.co.uk
giftfocus 11
on with the show
on with the show
Trade
showTrade
updates
home and abroad
Scotland’s
Fairfrom
Spring
A date for every northern retailer’s diary is
Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring, which takes
place in Glasgow from 24th - 26th January,
2016. With almost 500 exhibitors from
Scotland and beyond, this large trade
show is a principal gift buying arena for the north of the UK.
New for 2016 is The Craft Gallery, where approximately 30 specially selected
quality craft producers will exhibit in their own designated gallery organised by
Craft Scotland and Springboard Events. Exhibitors have been invited to apply and
those who were selected by the panel have been chosen because of the quality
of their products, design, innovation and commercial appeal.
Other highlights will include The Launch Gallery for young, original companies,
the seminar theatre where interesting seminars and related events will be held,
The Best Product Awards and the adjacent Scotland’s Speciality Food Show.
For further information, please visit www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk
Looking ahead
Brand Licensing Europe
When
13th - 15th October, 2015
Where
Olympia, London
Website
www.brandlicensing.eu
HOMI Moscow
When
Where
Website
www.homimilano.com/homi-moscow
BIG + BIH
When
Where
Website
19th - 23rd October, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand
www.bigandbih.com
Crocus expo Centre, Moscow
What’s new at Giving and Living in 2016
The coast and tourism are huge driving forces
for the south west economy, so it’s no wonder
that Giving & Living has such a fine selection of
products ideal for this market. It’s known as the
best show in the country for buyers keen to order
coastal merchandise – every year launching a
wave of new ideas snapped up by those who
successfully target the holidaymaker market.
Celebrating this in 2016, Giving & Living has created a special area dedicated to the
Coastal market. Visitors will also see a huge range of more general gifts & homeware,
from gifts that can be personalised for your venue, to those that reflect the UK’s
heritage. Giving & Living takes place at the Westpoint Exhibition Centre, Exeter, and
runs from 17th - 20th January, 2016.
For more information, visit www.givingliving.co.uk
High demand for exhibition
space at Christmasworld
The focus on Christmas and festivities is
a complete success with 95 per cent of
the exhibition space at Christmasworld
2016 having already been booked by the
registration deadline at the end of April.
At present, the planning work for the halls is in full swing with the aim of finding
the best-possible solution for exhibitors coupled with a clear layout. To this end,
the international trade fair for festive decorations will make as few changes as
possible to the five-hall structure so visitors can enjoy a comprehensive spectrum
of products revolving around seasonal decoration at its best. From atmospheric
advent and Christmas decorations, via seasonal indoor and outdoor decorations
for the various events of the year, to shop window and large-scale decorations for
city centres, malls and hotels, the latest trends and new products will be on show
in Frankfurt am Main from 29th January to 2nd February 2016.
Christmasworld buyers benefit from the two concurrent fairs: Paperworld and
Creativeworld held (30th January to 2nd February). For more information, please
visit www.christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com
12 giftfocus
Mega Show Part 1
When
20th - 23rd October, 2015
Where
Hong Kong Convention &
Exhibition Centre
Website
www.mega-show.com
Jinhan fair for Home & Gifts
When
21st - 27th October, 2015
Where
Guangzhou Poly Jinhan Centre
Website
www.jinhanfair.com
Mega Show Part 2
When
Where
Hong Kong Convention &
Exhibition Centre
Website
www.mega-show.com
Handmade in Britain
When
13th - 15th November, 2015
Where
Chelsea Town Hall, London
Website
www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk
(All dates are subject to change. Contact the
organisers for more information before making
travel arrangements).
For further in-depth show previews and reports,
turn to:
P43
Top Drawer
P57
Autumn Fair
P114
Brand Licensing Europe
P116
IJL
brand spanking new
Check out some new and exciting products in the current market
Element – part of The
Music Gifts Company
RRP: £6.99
Element – part of The Music
Gifts Company – has an
original range based around a
wide variety of men’s hobbies
including cycling, golf, football,
rugby, tennis, cricket, fishing,
motor-racing and more. There’s
an incredible selection of
gifts to choose from – mugs
and coasters, cufflinks, socks,
hankies, keyrings, pins and
birthday cards. Founder David
Gee comments, “We’re thrilled
with the designs and believe that the whole concept fills an
important gap in the marketplace. With 20 years experience in
designing and supplying gifts to the trade, we’ve taken great care
to ensure that the brand has the right key elements.”
T: +44 (0)1202 570 057
E: info@elementgifts.com
W: www.musicgifts.co.uk; www.elementgifts.com
Anglesey Paper
Company
RRP: Not Applicable,
please register on the
trade website
The company’s newly
launched display system
will soon prove a market
leader in retail interior
lighting display systems.
It’s easy to assemble with
one or two people and
fits into a small one metre
footprint – and comes
complete with 10 shades of your choice from the extensive range.
Anglesey Paper Company supplies a full swatch book and order
form from which you can provide a made-to-order service for your
customers delivered weekly to your store.
Whether you currently sell lighting or not, the free-standing
display provides a great way for you to provide your customers
with that something different in home décor.
T: +44 (0)1248 422 612
E: trade@angleseypapercompany.co.uk
W: trade.angleseypapercompany.co.uk
Duckydora
Di Palomo
RRP: £10-£20
New to
Duckydora’s
giftware range
are its wipe clean
toiletry bags,
available in three
sizes. The large
wash bag has
handles making it
ideal for holiday
essentials, the
medium-sized bag is perfect for a weekend away, and the small
bag is perfect for keeping make-up essentials in – an ideal gift for
Christmas, birthdays or Mother’s Day.
At this year’s Autumn Fair, Duckydora is delighted to be
launching Verona, its new hand-painted tableware range.
Featuring a simple teardrop motif in pale plum on an ivory
background, the Verona design is sure to bring a touch of elegance
to your kitchen.
T: +44 (0)8434 873 104
E: judith.chambers@duckydora.co.uk
W: www.duckydora.com
RRP: £25
Di Palomo’s
eau de
parfum set
is a perfect
introduction
to the brand.
The set
includes four
10ml dabon bottles
of each
fragrance eau
de parfum
– ideal for
handbags –
all presented
in beautifully packaged gift set. Scents include Wild Fig & Grape,
White Grape, Orange Blossom and Tuscan Rose.
T: +44 (0)1803 612 772
E: debbie@dipalomo.com
W: www.dipalomo.com
14 giftfocus
brand spanking new
Heart of the Country
RRP: £89.95 for Bluetooth George, £59.95 for George
After a record breaking
show at Home & Gift,
Heart of the Country looks
forward to introducing the
buyers at Autumn Fair to
Mr&Mrs Fragrance. Mr&Mrs
Fragrance is an Italian
brand that effortlessly
blend passion, technology,
design and fragrance to
produce an incredibly
exciting home fragrance
which has already shaken
up the UK home fragrance market. Members of the family include
George and Sissi, electronic diffusers which utilise Mr&Mrs
fragrance capsules on air; Niki and Cesare who cling on to your
car airvent sharing their beautiful fragrances; and finally Ercole
(Cesare’s brother) who hangs out in wardrobes keeping it fresh
and keeping moths at bay.
T: +44 (0)1543 481 612
E: sales@heartofthecountryltd.co.uk
W: www.heartofthecountryltd.co.uk
Goodlookers
RRP: £12.99
Goodlookers is excited about the launch of the quirky, yet very
functional magnifying make-up glasses. These glasses are designed
to have a single, switchable lens for the easy application of eye
make-up. Available in a funky stripe design with a slogan zip-up
leatherette case, these glasses make a perfect gift for someone
that needs a closer look in order to look good. They’re also great
for applying contact lenses too. The product is available in a single
magnification, suitable for the majority of reading glasses wearers.
T: +44 (0)1634 713 900
E: sales@goodlookers.co.uk
W: www.goodlookers.co.uk
Wood-Knit-Bee
Solo
RRP: from £5.50
Wood-KnitBee’s range of
Christmas soaps
was launched
earlier this
year. Lovingly
hand-made and
crafted in Sussex,
they have an
individual charm
that sets them
apart from the
rest. The soaps are scented with pure essential oils including
pink lavender, verbena and patchouli and are free from palm oil,
parabens, petro-chemicals, artificial colouring and perfumes.
Each is beautifully packaged with its own original artwork painted
by the maker and printed on quality recycled materials using
biodegradable wax inks. The one-of-a-kind quality of these natural
soaps makes them a perfect gift.
T: +44 (0)1892 549 966
E: info@wood-knit-bee.com
W: www.wood-knit-bee.com
RRP: £24.90
New for
autumn 2015,
the humble tea
light is given
an ingenious
makeover in
Lift. The new,
innovative tea
light holder is
made of dark
wood and
‘floats’ in the
blown glass tube – with just two magnets, it appears to be held by
an invisible hand in mid-air. The outer magnet allows the tea light
to slide from the bottom all the way up to its full height of 20cm,
and the candlelight freely exudes its light throughout the room,
creating an intimate and romantic mood.
The new brochure is hot-off-the-press and is available from
August. The full Philippi range is available exclusively from Solo.
T: +44 (0)1789 262 900
E: sales@sololtd.com
W: www.sololtd.com
giftfocus 15
brand spanking new
Black Ginger
Xystos/Luminara
RRP: from £2.50
For autumn/winter 2015,
Black Ginger has added
to its ever-popular scarf
hanger range. There are
exciting new designs and
lower prices starting at
just £1. There are also
lots of new ranges to see,
including purses, bags,
clocks, kitchenware and
lots of men’s gifts. Added to
that is a range of jewellery
designed and made right
here in the UK. There’s also
a range of scarves starting
at £1.15 with styles that
include both 100 per cent
cotton and 100 per cent silk.
You can visit Black Ginger at Autumn Fair, Hall 3 Stand R20.
T: +44 (0)1189 403 731
E: info@blackginger.co.uk
W: www.blackginger.co.uk
RRPs: from £29.99 to £39.99
Christmas is for children, but care has to be taken when kids are
around candles with naked flames.
With Luminara from Xystos there are no such fears: this is an
attractive candle that gives ‘the realistic illusion of a dancing
flame’, but which can be placed anywhere without the worry or
risks associated with real candles. New indoor colours are gold
and silver, which join ivory, the only outdoor version available.
T: +44 (0)191 499 1570
E: sales@xystos.co.uk
W: www.xystostrade.co.uk
Wit With Wisdom
Mezu Silk Flowers
RRP: from £2.50 to £6.50
Wit With Wisdom is
bringing Fridge Wisdom
to Top Drawer. From the
company that brought
you clever and funny
wooden signs it now
brings you printed
aluminium fridge
magnets. Ranging in size
from 8cm to 20cm and
printed in the company’s
signature Farrow & Ball
chalky colours, with funny cooking and wine-based sayings that
are sure to have your customers laughing, they’re a great gift at a
great price. A magnet board can also provided for you to display
them in store.
A great addition to the ever-popular signs that are available in
over 100 sayings as well as any bespoke sign you can come up
with – all made in England.
T: +44 (0)1494 814 062
E: paula@witwithwisdom.co.uk
W: www.witwithwisdom.co.uk
RRP: £5-£6
Offering some of the most
beautiful and realistic
silk flowers that can be
found in the marketplace
today, Mezu’s passion is
reflected in its range of
life-like flowers, and the
company’s Old English
rose in pale apricot
tinged with pink adds
an elegance to any
floral arrangement.
Mezu’s selection of natural
colours in an extensive
range of Old English and
Hybrid tea roses are part
of a gorgeous collection
which includes hydrangeas, delphiniums, lilies, orchids, tulips and
lilacs, to name a few.
T: +44 (0)1248 422 279
E: info@mezusilkflowers.com
W: www.mezusilkflowers.com
16 giftfocus
Christmas
christmas
festive fun
Stock up for the biggest buying season of
the year with part two of our festive guide
WoodWick’s new
Christmas Classic
Trilogy candle
from Xystos gives
consumers three
evocative festive
scents in one product
– Cinnamon Cheer,
Frasier Fir and Candy
Cane Cupcake.
“The end-user
demands new and
imaginative candle
offerings throughout
the year,” says
General Manager
Tom Sykes. “Christmas is no exception and users are increasingly
looking for candles which not only give their homes a traditional
look but make a lifestyle statement.”
T: +44 (0)191 499 1570
www.xystostrade.co.uk
Bath and body
brand Di Palomo
has launched its
second limited
edition fragrance for
Christmas 2015 with
the hot fragrance for
the autumn/winter
season, Mulberry.
The eye-catching
packaging and alluring fragrance offers
newness to the Di Palomo core range. Sold in
trade packs consisting of best-selling products,
the programme offers retailers a number of
ways to cross sell and increase margins.
The range includes top selling products
such as eau de parfum, hand and nail cream,
reed diffusers and a selection of gift sets. Retail
prices range from £8 - £25 and the products are available to buy as
individual lines or as a trade pre-pack attracting a 20 per cent discount.
T: +44 (0)1803 612 772
www.dipalomo.com
Launching in October is
the irresistibly huggable
Dexter Dog Push Along
from Little Bird Told Me.
With his super soft furry
coat and cute button nose,
this Golden Labrador is
guaranteed to melt the
hearts of little ones and become a firm favourite gift this Christmas.
Children from 12 months and up will delight in taking Dexter for a
walk, but when their little legs tire there’s room on his back to hop on
and enjoy the ride.
T: +44 (0)1484 682 430
www.littlebirdtoldme.co.uk
Neviti’s Winter
Wonderland
collection features
a quintessentially
winter scene,
with snowflakes,
reindeers and
snowy tree motifs,
perfect for dinner
parties, Christmas
and New Year
celebrations. The
range includes
sparkling bauble
place card holders
embellished with
golden snowflakes
and filled with snowballs. Another item is the stylish reindeer glass
decorations in a golden shade, ideal for adding some interest to
your party drinks. Combine practicality with elegance with the
collection’s paper napkins to bring the magic of a snowy winter
scene to your table in a classic colour scheme of white and gold.
Add sparkle to your celebration with the table confetti, containing
a mix of clear crystals and golden snowflakes. And the after-dinner
chocolates are a perfect treat, each individually wrapped and
featuring a snowflake or reindeer design.
T: +44 (0)845 638 1358
www.neviti.com
giftfocus 19
festive fun
Artcuts has released
a new collection of
three dimensional
laser cut, hand-finished
Christmas shapes.
These hanging tree
decorations look fantastic
in both traditional and
contemporary settings.
They’re available in three
festive metallic finishes:
silver, gold and red, which
look beautiful when they
catch the light; the decorations are also available in popular tartan
mini check fabrics. Artcuts is a UK manufacturer with all products
designed and made in the UK.
T: +44 (0)1342 843 843
www.artcuts.co.uk
The bright colours of a Christmas display can make some gifts
look a little dull but oriental brocades can always be relied
on to add a bright and cheerful touch with frequent sparkling
highlights. From pocket-money purses and pouches for those
precious objects, through to jewellery boxes, collectable dolls
and kimono gowns, brocades feature strongly in Mandarin
Arts’ range of silky accessories. With a host of new additions this
autumn, it’s a great time to add an oriental touch to your display.
T: +44 (0)1873 812 255
www.mandarinarts.co.uk
20 giftfocus
Darth Vader may be on
the dark side but this
tea light holder perhaps
shows there’s some good
in him. This is a perfect gift for Christmas (or Halloween) for any fan of
Lord Vader or Star Wars and, with the release of Episode VII, it’s the ideal
time to stock it in any gift shop. Half Moon Bay supplies a wide range
of classic licence, retro and nostalgic gifts.
T: +44 (0)1225 473 873
www.halfmoonbay.co.uk
New to
Personalised
Memento
Company (PMC)
are the acrylic
decorations
featuring subtle
design elements
fully personalised
in a huge range of
shapes. The new
Santa decoration
is presented in
a charming gift
box and makes a
perfect Christmas
keepsake. The decorations are available in a range of designs
including a heart, teddy, star and Christmas tree, there’s even a
dog bone for pet lovers.
Each gift is made to order and personalised at the company’s
Stoke-on-Trent premises. The majority of PMC’s lines are
personalised and dispatched for next day delivery. The
established keepsake Christmas gift range includes wooden, slate
and metal decorations, and the best-selling glass baubles.
T: +44 (0)1782 744 900
www.personalisedmemento.co.uk
All Personal Gifts provides a comprehensive
range of fine silver-plated gifts which can
be engraved for that personal touch and
come in top quality presentation boxes. In
addition to the silver-plate collection they
also offer high quality metal products which
will suit all tastes and budgets. The whole
range consists of business card cases, desk
and table clocks, handbag mirrors, cufflinks,
photo frames, bookmarks, desk and office
gifts, novelties and games, key rings,
tableware items and wine and spirit gifts.
T: +44 (0)845 170 7000
www.allpersonalgifts.co.uk
festive fun
NOA’s jewellery is an
original combination
of different contrasting
materials, such as
aluminium, brass, silver
and ceramics as well as
stainless steel and wood.
With its beautiful vibrant
colours and designs, the
range is magical.
Hand-crafted in the
UK, NOA’s jewellery
collections are a perfect fit for gift shops and galleries as well as
fashion boutiques. The range of jewellery includes men’s cufflinks.
A new catalogue with exciting new designs is now available to
download from the company’s website.
T: +44 (0)2920 758 409
www.noajewellery.com
One of the most enticing things about Winter in Venice scents is that
they’re not overtly feminine or masculine. Some may have the more
feminine notes of lavender or rosemary, but they’re always balanced
– say with the woody earthiness of cedar, transporting you back
to memories of childhood playing in forests, or the herb garden at
Grandma’s – comforting, uplifting thoughts.
To Winter in Venice, great pampering is about escapism; they
describe it as almost meditative, creating a head space that allows your
spirit to soar freely and lets your body unwind from the rigours that life
can throw at us.
Each scent in the company’s range takes you to a different place –
bluebells in the woodlands lit by a pool of light; the sophistication and
passion of Paris; the gorgeous heat of Provence; frolicking in the sand
dunes; lavender gardens and creature comforts.
This is done by selecting essential oils from herbs and plants that
trigger a particular feeling when you smell them, from the get-up-andgo zingy citrus of pink grapefruit, to the dreamy soft French Linen range
with milk thistle extract.
T: +44 (0)845 652 1223
www.winterinvenice.co.uk
22 giftfocus
Christmas is about fun and colour
and Joe Davies has a huge collection
to cover all tastes. What’s available
as a Christmas gift has greatly
changed over the last five years,
with traditional Christmas figures
and decorations being joined by
home décor, ceramics, message plaques, illuminated gifts, fashion
accessories, Christmas fragrance, and much more. The company report
tremendous sales of their LED Christmas trees. Available in a variety of
sizes, and priced to hit the key retail price points, they make a perfect
addition to any retail display.
T: +44 (0)161 975 6300
www.joedavies.co.uk
Christmas is a time for
indulgence and the
Pintail Candles Merry
Christmas range is
certainly no exception.
The company’s
fragrances have been
carefully selected to
evoke the traditional
ambience of Christmas. Whether it’s the festively fragrant
Cinnamon & Orange, the deliciously comforting scent of warm
gingerbread or the deeply nostalgic aroma Christmas Spice, these
beautifully presented candle tins make a perfect choice for a
Christmas treat.
T: +44 (0)1539 559 007
www.pintailcandles.com
Boxer Gifts is
incredibly excited
about its festive
new additions.
The company has
launched a range
of beautifully
hand-finished personalised snowmen Christmas decorations, with a
special little character for every single member of the family.
The little ceramic snowmen display a child’s name, a generic
design or a space to write your own message. Families will love
to build their own set of snowmen, which they can display on the
specially designed ceramic holder, along with an LED Christmas tree.
The range is displayed on a bespoke spinner, which holds 420
items, offering great sales potential from a small footprint.
In its Books from Boxer range, there’s a little book full of silly
Christmas cracker jokes. The size and retail price make this a brilliant
stocking filler.
T: +44 (0)1133 955 595
www.boxergifts.com
Snowdrop
Bauble
Pretty snowdrops
to hang from
your tree
The
Royal Crowns
Issued to celebrate
Royal events
The ever expanding range of Klima
miniature porcelain animals can be
viewed on
n www.trendle-co.com
JH Designpoint
AWARD-WINNING AND EXCLUSIVE MUGS,
VASES AND BAUBLES
DESIGNED AND MADE IN THE UK
Time for a brew...
...whether you prefer tea or coffee,
you’ll enjoy the amusing quotes
0141 339 4927 | enquiries@jhdesignpoint.net
www.jhdesignpoint.net
HAND
PAINTED
For more details please contact Trendle Products
*ULPHV)DUP&URZFRPEH7DXQWRQ7$$4b
PDLO#WUHQGOHFRXNb7HO
festive fun
Christmas
at Temerity
Jones is a very
nostalgic affair.
It’s all candy
canes, tinsel and
vintage baubles.
The range sits
together well
and really evokes
Christmases of
yesteryear spent
with your family
and friends,
playing Ker-plunk
in the front room
and sneaking into
the drinks cabinet for a snowball!
There’s a great selection of gifts for him, her and the home – it
really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
T: +44 (0)1992 807 477
www.temerityjones.com
Best Kept Secrets
has a new series
of 12 distinctive
reed diffusers ready
for the winter gift
season. The new
products offer
a range of new
fragrances, seven
coloured reeds, a
high quality cube
glass diffuser with
100ml of scent
and come in an
attractive gift
pack. The new
range includes
the following
scents, including
Lemongrass,
Tuscan Velvet, Faerie Wishes and Kisses, and Watermelon.
The new range follows the same superb fragrances which are
available in the Best Kept Secrets candle tins and glass candle
ranges, and complement the new gift set ranges available
including Super 7s and Three Lites.
T: +44 (0)1670 512 222
www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
24 giftfocus
Enesco has a wonderful selection of new festive items from
Heartwood Creek. Innovation is the keyword in this launch, as we
see the introduction of long-awaited musical and rotating pieces by
popular demand.
There are two Revolving Figurine Musicals: Santa (tune: Deck the
Halls) and Angel (tune: O’ Holy Night); and a One Starry Night Nativity
Musical Waterball (tune: O’ Holy Night). But the star of the show has
to be the aptly-named Toy Soldier Express Christmas Train Musical
Masterpiece (tune: O’ Christmas Tree), depicting Santa in his very own
train that journeys around the beautifully decorated Christmas tree
guarded by toy soldiers.
T: +44 (0)1228 404 022
www.enesco.co.uk
If you’re looking
for a gift that’s a
perfect stocking
filler or gift, then
Santa Balls
from Artscape
is your first stop,
from luxury glass
baubles to aprons,
kitchenware and
of course socks.
Santa Balls gifts all feature humorous,
grumpy and irreverent slogans which
are an ideal gift for all the family. To
assist merchandising the ranges, the
company supplies a variety of pre- or
self-selected spinner packages. Products
are manufactured to the highest quality
and, where possible, are made in the UK. If there’s something
the company haven’t thought of that you want, just ask about its
bespoke service.
T: +44 (0)20 8681 8368
www.santaballs.co.uk
www.artscapeonline.com
Dora Designs has launched
a beautiful Christmas range
for autumn 2015 consisting
of two doorstops and a
paperweight. Designed in
Aztec knitted fabric they’re
fun, bright, beautifully crafted
and would make ideal
Christmas gifts or as little
treat for yourself.
T: +44 (0)1780 430 188
www.doradesigns.co.uk
hot shots
Magic Beanz, wax melts and Happy Hippy fragrances; Haitham and Dee Al-Ubaidi, founders of
Busy Bee Candles, chat to Gift Focus about their fragrance business
When and how did Busy Bee
Candles launch?
Busy Bee Candles really did begin as a
hobby. I’m a civil engineer by training and
my wife Dee always worked in offices. We
both enjoyed crafts in our spare time. I have
a keen interest in woodturning and handmade furniture and Dee has a keen equestrian
interest that continues today.
We began making candles and wax melts
for our own use at home around 10 years ago.
It was a completely new craft pastime and we
made gift baskets for family and friends for
birthdays and Christmas from our creations.
They loved the candles and wax melts so
much that they asked if we could resupply
them, and the idea of Busy Bee Candles as a
business was born.
Who runs the business?
The business continues to be run by Dee and I
with help from a small team. In the early days,
I remember family and friends being roped
in to help us pour and pack orders. We’ve
26 giftfocus
moved on quite a bit but we still retain the
family atmosphere here. We have a whole lot
of fun as well as working extremely hard.
“Our workshops in Wales
are heated with biomass,
our energy consumption
is minimal and we pride
ourselves on offering
amazing products that are
gentle on the planet as well
as the pocket.”
What values are important to Busy
Bee Candles?
Busy Bee Candles has been since its
conception, a green company. We only use
sustainable soy wax in our products, steering
away from the cheaper and environmentally
damaging paraffin waxes used by other
companies. We also offer our products with
the minimum of packaging, unlike some who
place a huge emphasis on the presentation
of their products and less so on their
performance.
Our workshops in Wales are heated with
biomass, our energy consumption is minimal
and we pride ourselves on offering amazing
products that are gentle on the planet as well
as the pocket.
Describe your product offering.
Busy Bee Candles has a huge fragrance and
product range. Over 250 scents are offered
in two candle ranges, wax tarts and several
original products. We’ve gained a reputation
for offering incredible wax melts that don’t just
fill a room with fragrance but entire houses.
I’d say our USP is remarkable performance
products, hand-crafted and at a price that
beats the mass-produced. Quality is king.
What are your current best sellers?
Magik Beanz. This wax melt product
introduced in 2014 has become our bestselling line incredibly quickly. Each pot
of Magik Beanz contains 15 small yet
staggeringly powerful scented melts. Just five
Magik Beanz melts are required for a burn in
an oil burner and their fragrance time and
strength are very hard to beat. At an RRP of
company profile
just £1.99, they provide around 20 hours of
strong fragrance time per pot.
More recently, we’ve introduced a variant
of the Magik Beanz product called Hot Shots.
These are even stronger and are offered in
little pots of five melts. The RRP of just £1.19
has proven a huge hit and users are telling us
that only two of these little melts are required
for an incredibly strong fragrance throw.
As well as our melt products, our room
and linen freshener has become extremely
popular. This is simply based on performance.
Each 100ml bottle contains around 700
sprays. A few sprays in a room provides hours
of gorgeous fragrance. Incredibly good value
at an RRP of just £6.50.
Do you visit trade shows?
We attend two trade shows per year:
Spring Fair and Autumn Fair at the NEC in
Birmingham. We thoroughly enjoy meeting our
stockists at these trade shows and showing our
products to new retailers.
Spring Fair 2015 was a great success for us
with a huge number of new retailers both in
the UK and overseas. We’re looking forward to
Autumn Fair this year in particular as we have
some incredible new products and seasonal
gift sets that we think will prove a huge hit for
businesses in the busy run up to Christmas.
Personally, I just can’t wait! You’ll find us in Hall
5 Stand K72.
“Carve out a niche rather
than offer everything – if you
do offer the products carried
by everyone else, you’ll only
end up competing on price.”
Do you have any tips for new traders?
We’re often approached by new start-up
gift shops looking to stock our products. My
best advice with regard to home fragrance
products is to be selective. In my view, it’s
better to offer just one or two specialist
ranges than to flood your shop floor space
with the products available in every other
shop in your area. Carve out a niche rather
than offer everything – if you do offer the
products carried by everyone else, you’ll only
end up competing on price.
Why do your customers keep coming back?
In two words, quality and service. Our
products are one-of-a-kind in many respects
but above all in their performance. We back
this up with the best service we can possibly
offer and this has seen our customers coming
back time and again. You’ll often find us
just chatting with our retail customers and
stockists on social media.
switches and incredibly beautiful hand-made
crackle effect shades. The interest from our
retailers has been staggering for these, so we
have high hopes.
We’re also introducing several gift sets
aimed at the autumn, Halloween and, of
course, the Christmas markets. These include
a wax melt advent calendar and burner and
melt gift sets. These feature our most popular
seasonal fragrances, including several new
scents as well as beautifully simple packaging
at excellent price points.
We’re also developing other products
for 2016, but these are top secret for the
time being. g
What’s your favourite scent?
My personal favourite is Happy Hippy: a
strong Nag Champa scent that seems to
tickle my nose from 50 feet! Dee’s favourite
scent is Bubbles & Cheer: a beautiful vanilla
champagne fragrance that’s just stunning and
very strong.
What’s next for Busy Bee Candles?
Lots. We’re launching a brand new range of
electric tart warmers in time for Autumn Fair.
These have been in testing with us for over six
months and we’ve developed them to be the
best on the UK market. These feature longer
leads for ease of placement, variable heat
Busy Bee Candles
T: +44 (0)1550 750 419
www.busybeecandles.co.uk
giftfocus 27
women’s jewellery
shining bright
Fashion jewellery to dazzle this autumn/winter
Sea Gems’ new charm-style expandable bangles and bracelets,
embellished with motifs and semi-precious stones such as
rainbow moonstone, are a strong story in this summer’s collection
that can be layered and stacked. Some have simple discs on them
others have hearts or little birds. This stunning yet accessible
range is beautifully packaged with POS.
T: +44 (0)1736 335 840
www.seagems.co.uk
Not only has Carrie Elspeth produced an autumn collection, but
the award-winning Welsh jewellery company also has a Christmas
range ready to launch. Customers will be thrilled at the variety of
sophisticated styles that Carrie creates, and even more delighted to
know that by purchasing any Carrie Elspeth items, they’re supporting
a genuine made-in-the-UK company.
T: +44 (0)1446 771 271
www.carrieelspeth.co.uk
Following on from
the success of having
most of last season’s collection featured on both Loose Women and on
This Morning, Rosa Red has continued to produce stunning, distinctive
designs that stand out from the crowd. The Darcey earrings (above) were
recommended by Gok Wan as one of the season’s stand out designs and,
at £4.95, represent excellent value. Also available is a matching necklace
and bracelet. Rosa Red has earned a reputation for selling suites of
jewellery, which offers the customer a degree of flexibility. The bestselling Liza design comes in eight colours – teal and russet are new for
autumn/winter 2015 and prices start at £2.95 for the earrings.
T: +44 (0)1415 727 297
www.rosared.co.uk
Hazel Atkinson’s beautifully hand-crafted jewellery is the essence
of femininity, combining vivid colours with strong design. This
season, Hazel has launched a new exciting Linear range. Black
is the new black, and combined with multi-coloured stripes, is
perfect for the coming months. Hazel’s lightweight anodized
aluminium jewellery can be worn as a fun and carefree daytime
accessory or a sophisticated and elegant piece of eveningwear.
Hazel’s jewellery is worn by all generations of woman from
teenagers to grandmothers.
T: +44 (0)1159 411 110
www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.co.uk
giftfocus 29
shining bright
Ancient
Wisdom’s
wholesale
coral earrings
are handmade in Bali,
Indonesia. All
of the pieces
are beautifully
crafted in 925
sterling silver,
with a smooth texture and bright colour. Wholesale prices start
from £4.25, and RRP from £12 per pair of earrings.
T: +44 (0)1142 729 165
www.ancientwisdom.biz/sear
The Little Shop Of opened in April 2009 to sell The Little Book of
Earrings. The book came about after Jackie McLaren had searched for
years for a neat way to store and organise her earrings. The company
was after something that would hold the earrings securely but could
also be kept in a drawer for safekeeping or, when travelling, could be
carried in a suitcase.
The company now offers the Little, Little Book of Earrings. These little
books hold up to 12 pairs of earrings and are ideal for travel. Also new
is The Little Book of Necklaces. Working on the same book-like idea, it
offers a solution to the problem of tangled, damaged necklaces.
T: +44 (0)20 3371 1522
www.littleshopof.co.uk
Metallic finishes in warm tones,
such as copper and rose gold, are
key for this season. Miss Milly’s
Carmen collection uses these in
a sumptuous mix of materials,
combining the metals with crystal
and leather, and making good
use of ever-popular hearts and
festive stars. Intricate detail and
superb craftsmanship highlight
this collection as a great range for
Christmas gifting.
With a low £50 minimum order
and no minimum order quantity,
Miss Milly believes firmly in the
commercial viability of its products
and allows retailers to try them out
with minimal commitment.
T: +44 (0)1905 622 509
www.missmilly.co.uk
For something really special,
D & J Glassware’s beautiful
collection of glass pendants
is an exciting way to offer your
customers original pieces at an
affordable price.
Each piece is carefully
crafted by hand and comes on
a waxed cotton necklet. The
pendants are supplied in their
own velvet pouch and are gift
tagged to support their handmade origins.
T: +44 (0)1953 450 280
www.dandjglassware.co.uk
The Music Gifts Company has seen a growing trend
towards ladies’ jewellery over the past couple of years,
which has seen the range increase its offerings. The latest
additions for the forthcoming season are sterling silver
harp earrings, as well as a stylised treble clef pendant
and a pair of heart of clef earrings, which match the bestselling pendant. “We work closely with our French jewellery
designer to create unusual gifts which still have a music
theme.” All the jewellery comes beautifully gift boxed and
pieces are priced from RRP £19.99.
T: +44 (0)1202 570 057
www.musicgifts.co.uk
30 giftfocus
shining bright
Established in 1980,
Talbot Fashions is one
of the largest UK-based
fashion jewellery and
accessories wholesalers,
based in Brighton.
New lines this autumn
include memory lockets,
geometric necklaces,
dinosaur pendants
on black thong, silver
plated open hearts on
leather thong, and semiprecious triple layered necklaces. There’s also delicate origami,
Fatima hand and compass design pendants on fine chains, semiprecious dipped pendants and new additions to the range of
sentiment jewellery.
Other styles include the Paua shell jewellery range of Scottie
dogs, cats, tree of life, owls, butterflies and Maori styles.
T: +44 (0)1273 776 415
www.talbotfashions.com
Dew is a sterling silver collection
from Kit Heath that offers fantastic
style and quality at affordable gifting
prices. Kit Heath describes the
Dew customer as having a pretty,
feminine style; whether shopping for
mothers, girlfriends, your wife, sisters
and daughters, the collection boasts
jewellery that’ll be cherished for
years to come.
Real stone combinations in
amethyst, topaz and turquoise
continue as key colours, and with
an array of vivid zirconia claw set
designs also coming through, this is a collection ready to dazzle
for the party season.
With a new line of delicate floral and nature-inspired pieces
using freshwater pearls and combinations of rose and yellow
gold, antique oxidised designs and statement stones, Dew has a
great choice for autumn.
T: +44 (0)1271 329 123
www.kitheathretailer.com
Already well known for its beaded
gemstone jewellery, Welsh company
Ronin has introduced a collection of
exquisite gemstone stud earrings.
“We’ve been asked quite often by Ronin
stockists if we could add stud earrings
to our range and we felt that now was
the right time for them – coloured
gemstones are becoming more and
more popular, as is evident by the
numerous celebrities seen wearing
them. We’re thrilled with the results.”
There are eight different gemstone
colours to choose from, set in sterling
silver. They’ve also been rhodium
plated to stop tarnishing. The trade price is £9.95 –
this price includes a gift box and gem info card insert.
T: +44 (0)1269 826 000
www.ronindesigns.co.uk
Life Charms is a new and exciting collection of gifting jewellery
on vintage card designs, all designed and created in London.
Every necklace design comes complete with gorgeous original
packaging and there are over 50 designs to choose from – plus
the fabulous Bridal collection.
T: +44 (0)1276 605 117
www.lifecharms.co.uk
Tribal Steel by Midhaven is a fast selling and established range of over 200 leather and stainless steel
bracelets, necklets and cufflinks in over 30 colours and many sizes for men, women and teens. This is a great
value range with RRPs from £8 - £50. The service is excellent and volume enquiries are also welcome.
The company has many new designs with new ranges of silver jewellery in cubic zirconia, marcasite with
crystal, lavish silver and rose plate with cubic zirconia.
T: +44 (0)1299 851 513
www.midhaven.co.uk
32 giftfocus
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55 Donaldson Street, Southbank Business Park,
Kirkintilloch, Glasgow G66 1XG
Tel/fax 0141 572 7297 | Email sales@rosared.co.uk
www.rosared.co.uk
greetings
Halloween
cards
best wishes
New greeting card designs to hit the market
Holy Mackerel is
over the moon to be
launching Small Fry,
a brand new range
of cards featuring a
wonderfully eclectic
mix of artists and styles. The collection includes
brand new animal designs by best-selling artist Erica Sturla – from ringtailed lemurs to flying pigs.
Sized at 10cm square, these bright and contemporary designs make
a superb splash of colour in any display, and are a great add-on to gift
purchases. There are 36 designs in the range so far, with more on the way.
Holy Mackerel also has display units to show them off in all their glory.
T: +44 (0)1297 33899
www.holy-mackerel.co.uk
Founded by Zoe Mellor, Toby Tiger has been leading the way in
ethical, colourful and playful childrenswear for the last 16 years.
Her vision for the company grew from wanting her own children
to be dressed as children in bold, simple, comfortable yet stylish
clothes. The company has extended its childrenswear range to
include fantastic homewares and stationery. Toby Tiger’s paper
products are printed in the UK and are made from sustainable
materials. There are greetings cards for every occasion, including
a range for new babies and expectant parents.
T: +44 (0)1903 766 777
www.tobytiger.com
As we schuss
towards Christmas
why not update
your winter card
collection with
this pair of sporty
skiers? These lino
printed threedimensional cards
are part of the new
winter collection at
Judy Lumley Print.
The speed-crazed downhill skier and the stylish girl with good form
are both are part of the range of more seasonal cards which include a
robin, a turkey, a partridge and, of course, Santa.
T: +44 (0)7952 404 586
www.judylumley.com
Jo Clark launches her latest Christmas range, which includes
some more super cute and cheeky kitty cat designs, alongside a
second helping of the hugely popular fruit and veg themed cards.
They have a seasonal flavour to bring a smile to friends and family,
helping to spread the festive cheer. Jo has the tea breaks covered
too, some nice new biscuit cards just waiting to make you giggle,
not to mention the fabulous Valentine’s cards your customers are
sure to fall in love with.
T: +44 (0)7886 193 734
www.joclarkdesign.co.uk
giftfocus 35
best wishes
Laura Darrington has had a
busy summer launching 24
new masculine designs titled
The Colourblock Collection,
which has a retro, typography
style and covers everyday, age
and relation captions. Thirty
new spring 2016 designs will also be launched at the
beginning of September.
T: +44 (0)1162 849 660
www.lauradarrington.co.uk
Plant a Bloomer gifts and cards are created from seed paper,
hand-crafted from discarded coloured paper and cardboard
boxes. Each greeting from the Woodland Friends range comes
with a detachable, plantable animal. Delicately laser cut from
seed paper, the animals are embedded with gold and silver mica
flakes and wildflower seeds. When planted the paper will break
down into the soil and the seeds germinate to produce seedlings.
The set includes a robin, deer, owl, hedgehog, squirrel and fox.
T: +44 (020) 8788 3452
www.plantabloomer.com
Hallmark has recently added a collection of photographic cards to
its Warner Brothers portfolio. The cards in the range, which were
showcased at PG Live, feature children dressed up as superheroes.
In addition, for younger girls who love superheroes, Hallmark is
introducing a Super Friends collection.
Aimed at film-fanatics young and old, Hallmark’s movie-inspired
collection consists of exciting and original cards with Batman,
Superman, Wonder Woman, Harry Potter, Looney Tunes, Friends, Big
Bang Theory and The Hangover all featured in the range.
T: +44 (0)800 902 0900
www.hub.hallmark.co.uk
Alljoy Design has a range of new Christmas cards, with over 65
designs to choose from. The new Christmas cards have a very
intricate laser cut design and are finished with sparkly gems
and glitter. The card size is 128mm x 178mm, and comes with a
red envelope.
T: +353 (0)1 630 1213
www.alljoydesign.com
Jo Stockdale is excited to show the new designs in her Script range, put together
for those who prefer a few cheeky words with their animal cards.
Featuring a selection of animals in Jo’s recognisable style, these cards have
humorous quotes, which bring a whole new meaning to her work. Rabbits in pots
and dogs wearing hats are just a few of what will be a whole new and exciting line
of cards for Jo to continue with alongside her already popular Art range.
As usual, the cards are left blank inside to enable that all-important year-round
flexibility and are 148mm x 210mm. They are presented cello wrapped and bagged
in sixes with colourful envelopes.
T: +44 (0)1748 821 172
www.jostockdale.com
36 giftfocus
best wishes
Rosanna Rossi has launched
a further 12 general birthday
titles to its striking Retro
Rocks male collection.
There are now 36 designs
featuring a range of retro graphics with strong design and bold colours.
All cards are highlighted with emboss detail and finished with die-cut
edging. Each card is presented with a complementing recycled brown
envelope and measures 150mm square.
T: +44 (0)7900 698 522
www.rosanna-rossi.co.uk
Stitchlings is a new greetings card range from Soul, the little sister
company to Really Good Ltd. Stitchlings is the second range to be
created by Mei Fields for Soul this year; the simple black lines with
a splash of bright colour and finished with jewels, incorporate a
fresh look for the Soul 2015 catalogue. The company’s in-house
designer Lollie Dunbar has produced a mouth-watering range
called Patisserie, a feminine collection using a beautiful palette
of colours.
Really Good welcomes back the Not Particularly Orange line
with 20 designs of the familiar Robert Duncan figures from a whole
generation ago. The Overboard range is a topical vintage tattoo
inspired collection – again by in-house designer Lollie.
T: +44 (0)1235 537 888
www.reallygoodtrade.com
Clear Creations has launched its newest collection: Bella Bell, consisting
of 18 designs for an array of occasions covering birthdays, wedding and
graduation. These designs stay true to the delicate and tasteful style of
Clear Creations whilst capturing the eye of all keen card buyers.
Each design is printed onto the highest quality of board and handembellished in the UK with Swarovski crystals and glitters. They retail
at £1.25 and come in packs of six.
T: +44 (0)20 8885 0009
www.clearcreations.co.uk
38 giftfocus
Blue Eyed Sun is launching four new ranges of Valentine cards:
Knit Wit, Cutie Pie, Pincushion and Impressed.
Cutie Pie features cute, hand-crocheted characters by Jo
Corner. This fun new range is printed on beautiful thick board,
and includes nine Valentine designs, which all come cellowrapped with a red envelope. Cutie Pie cards are £1.04 each,
RRP £2.25.
Pincushion is based on original hand-stitched artworks, and
are all lovingly hand finished with jewels. The range includes 18
stunning designs printed on high quality board and wrapped
with a red 165mm square envelope. Pincushion cards are £1.25
trade each, £2.99 RRP.
All of Blue Eyed Sun’s cards are printed on high-end boards
from sustainable managed forests and are blank inside, cello
wrapped with an envelope and sold in sixes.
The cards are available to order through its easy-to-use, trade
only website, the 2016 spring brochure and there’s also a team
of sales agents across the country that can come in to see you
with samples and help you choose the right look for your shop.
T: +44 (0)1273 823 003
www.blueeyedsun.co.uk
omg! #coolgifts
The latest gifts on the market teens will love
If you’re looking for
inspirational and fun gifts
for teens, visit RJB Stone,
the home of Sass & Belle.
Packed full of positivity
and perfectly on trend,
the Sass & Belle Tribal
Adventure collection
is charismatic, cute
and cool and includes
iPhone cases, notebooks,
cushions and mugs. For
real party animals, Sass & Belle’s Party Safari Animal range offers trendy cocktailbar style drinking mugs among its quirky designs and the girly new Best Friends
collection is the perfect way to say you’re my BFF. Don’t know what that means?
Don’t worry – RJB Stone’s sales team is here to help.
T: +44 (0)20 7346 0100
www.rjbstone.com
Midhaven’s Tribal Steel for teens come a great range of colours from
black to bold to pastel. Choose from simple unisex styles in 3mm or
4mm, worn individually or stacked. For girls, the company has a feast
of colour, charms and texture. Sizes are 16cm -18cm and items RRP
from £9 to £20.
T: +44 (0)1299 851 513
www.midhaven.co.uk
40 giftfocus
Teens are never an easy age group to buy for, but
Puckator has it covered. The company has a wide
selection of beauty accessories for girls and lots of
gadgets for the boys. Just launched are brand new
designs in the popular Ear Wave Headphones range.
The four new designs include the pug, doughnut,
flamingo and penguin. They’re perfect for both
boys and girls alike, and a pack of 24 comes with an
attractive counter display.
T: +44 (0)800 011 6969
www.puckator.co.uk
Ancient Wisdom has
added new mystical
eyeball jewellery to its
collection. Each eyeball
bracelet and necklace
is hand-made to order,
which means no two
eyeballs will ever be alike.
The eyeballs are made
from optical glass to
create the effect of
realistic eyeballs. Look
closely and you’ll see
snake eyes, tiger eyes,
alien eyes and even
human eyes looking right
back at you.
Necklaces come on a
54cm long black suede
cord and bracelets are
made of wax coated real leather cord. The wholesale price is
£2.65 per necklace or bracelet, and the RRP £6.50.
T: +44 (0)1142 729 165
www.ancientwisdom.biz/geye
teens
2015 is a huge year for Star Wars and the hype is at an
unprecedented high. With back to school, college or university
upon us, the range of retro bags, rucksacks and duffle bags from
Half Moon Bay make fantastic gifts for sons, brothers, boyfriends
or friends. The Half Moon Bay range includes a number of
designs from the Star Wars universe and also features classics
like Batman, Superman, Justice League and Doctor Who.
T: +44 (0)1225 473 873
Snoozies, the cosy little foot coverings, have been a sales
phenomenon for Joe Davies and its customers and the Bling
collection is perfect for the teenage market. Sherpa Fleece lined
for extra warmth, bright and funky, the range is available in six
vibrant colours with sizes to fit all.
Huge growth in worldwide demand has led to some great
quantity discounts and now Joe Davies can sell the best-selling
Bling Ballerinas with an RRP of £8.99 – down from £12.99 last
Christmas 2014.
T: +44 (0)161 975 6300
www.joedavies.co.uk
Gecko’s studs are perfect
for teens. Renowned for a
collection of essential silver
jewellery at low prices,
Beginnings (formerly known as
Basics) is great for fast-selling
favourites, stylish designs
and quality appeal. The studs
come in a variety of designs
including strawberries, sparkly
cherries, flowers and hearts.
T: +44 (0)1376 532 000
www.geckojewellery.com
Ideal for Christmas stocking fillers, these new Happy Jackson
notebooks, pencil case, handy pouch and storage bag appeal to teens
and adults. Known for cheeky slogans and bold colour palette, the Wild
& Wolf Happy Jackson collection is a best seller for stockists all over
the UK and beyond. The company is pleased to be adding a few more
naughty stationery lines to the mix this autumn.
T: +44 (0)1225 789 909
www.wildandwolf.com
giftfocus 41
double the fun
Exciting plans are in place for the largest edition of Top Drawer and Home to date
Top Drawer and Home are leading the way
in redefining the trade show experience with
their dynamic blend of fresh, contemporary
products and inspirational seminars in a
bustling London location. Don’t miss the
opportunity to experience this ultimate
design destination in time for the autumn/
winter season.
In brief
Show
Organiser
Where
When
Website
Open
Twitter
Top Drawer and Home
Clarion Events
Olympia London
www.topdrawer.co.uk
Sunday - Monday
9.30am - 6pm;
Tuesday 9.30am - 5pm
@TopDrawerLondon;
@home_london
Top Drawer and Home return this September
with a host of new exhibitors, in what will be
the biggest show yet.
The two trade shows under one roof will
offer buyers the opportunity to re-stock
and refresh their stores in time for the allimportant Christmas season. The Top Drawer
and Home team have travelled far and wide
to curate and edit a super trade event, making
it easier for buyers to find beautifully designed
products with commercial appeal. And with
90 per cent of exhibitors exclusive to the
show, Top Drawer and Home will be the only
place to see many of these exhibitors
this season.
To facilitate an enjoyable browsing
experience, where buyers can easily locate
the products that’ll make their stores stand
Home
After the success of last year’s inaugural
autumn edition, Home returns alongside Top
Drawer, showcasing an impressive selection
of modern, classic and vintage homewares
to suit every budget. A significant number of
Home exhibitors are international exhibitors
that have never exhibited at the show before.
Seminars
In another exciting development, expect to
see a new seminar programme at the show
this September. Specifically designed with
the retailer in mind, The Academy will feature
presentations from some of the biggest experts
in the retail industry across the show. g
out, the show is conveniently arranged into
five different product sectors: Gift, Stationery
& Greetings, Fashion Accessories, Children’s,
and Wellbeing.
Register online now to attend both shows
at: www.topdrawer.co.uk
www.home-london.net
giftfocus 43
double the fun
Repeat Repeat
Home Show – Stand C15
www.repeatrepeat.co.uk
Repeat Repeat has added coasters and mats to its successful
Menagerie range designed by Gillian Naylor and Mark Faulkner.
Inspired by the art of découpage, the range features a weird world
of vibrantly coloured flora and fauna. Both the bone china and
melamine coasters are made in England – helping to maintain
British manufacturing.
Wild & Wolf
Stand D29
www.wildandwolf.com
Wild & Wolf will be showing new exciting Makery lines – only
this time for younger crafters. The Makery Kids range features
a range of cute kits such as a crown, friendship bracelets and
a bunny purse. There are also extensions to the haberdashery
range with new tape measures, scissors and ribbon. This
collection is ideal for stocking fillers and a rainy crafter-noon.
The company will also be exhibiting a brand new Gentlemen’s
Hardware men’s accessories and cosmetics collection (launched
at Autumn Fair). The home-grown brand has been crafted for
true gents; established with the best-selling hardware and
stationery, the range has now extended to include travel,
outdoor and cosmetic companions.
Puckator
Stand D41
www.puckator.co.uk
Puckator is launching hundreds of new
design-led gift lines at the show. Its UKbased design team is constantly striving
to produce contemporary and exciting
new collections. One of the latest ranges is
Pugs & Kisses, which now has a Christmas
version for the festive season. The Tropical
Flamingo, Botanical Gardens and London
Map collections are all set to be big
sellers and with such a variety of products
available, you can create some fantastic displays.
Expanding on its ever-popular solar powered dancing characters, Puckator
has introduced some brand new designs including the Saluting Guardsman
which can stand alongside the top-selling Queen. The company also has an
officially licensed Dancing Mr Bean, he’s part of the growing licensed giftware
range, which includes brands such as The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine and
Disney’s Frozen.
Join Puckator in celebrating its 25th birthday this year; visit the stand to
collect a limited edition Puckator bag and free gift.
44 giftfocus
double the fun
Heyland & Whittle
Stand G49
www.heylandandwhittle.co.uk
Heyland & Whittle is
delighted to announce
the launch of its latest
fragrance, Clementine &
Prosecco. With top notes
of clementine, sparkling
wine, yellow apple and
pear, incorporated with
middle notes of apricot,
peach, plum and a
base note of sugar and
dry fruits, this sweet
yet welcomingly sharp
fragrance offers the best
balance in filling your
space with elegance. The range includes
the ever-popular reed
diffuser and refill, a
candle in a glass and
colourful tin. Along with
the rest of Heyland &
Whittle candles, this collection has been
created with a blend of sustainable soy wax.
RJB Stone
Stand G39
www.rjbstone.com
Inspiring retailers with a
staggering collection of over
1,000 beautifully crafted and
on-trend gifts and home
accessories, RJB Stone, the
home of Sass & Belle, will
be showcasing its latest
collection of feminine,
bright and charismatic
products, including the new
Tribal Adventure and Best Friends ranges at Top Drawer. Designed
in-house, RJB Stone’s Sass & Belle collections demonstrate the
company’s passion for blending the latest trends with its original
and quirky style, creating individual and fun products that raise
smiles and bring a touch of sunshine to the winter months. New
to RJB Stone? Discover a company dedicated to creative designs,
personalised service and excellent value. Already a customer? The
team can’t wait to catch up with you and show you around the
latest collection of gorgeous and irresistible new products, while
you enjoy one of the company’s famous cocktails.
46 giftfocus
Heyland & Whittle
Stand G49
British bath, body and home fragrance brand Heyland & Whittle
is delighted to announce its collaboration with Seasalt Cornwall.
Already providers for Liberty and Fortnum & Mason, the three
new beautiful Seasalt collections are inspired by famous Cornish
locations: Sennen, Lamorna and Roseland.
With an original print design for each collection, Heyland &
Whittle has included the traditional reed diffuser, reed diffuser
refill, soy wax candle and soy wax candle in a tin as part of the
stunning collections.
Promising a staggering range of products to suit all styles,
tastes, ages and occasions on a newly rebranded stand, RJB Stone
has retailers’ needs all wrapped up this season and with a newly
designed website on the horizon, the winter sky is the limit.
double the fun
From You To Me
Stand J46
www.fromyoutome.com
From You To Me is launching the Messages for You collection at the
show, a wonderful new way of collecting heartfelt messages for a
loved one in pocket envelopes bound together in a beautiful journal.
The gift publisher will also be showcasing an exciting addition to the
award-winning Rant & Rave children’s range, My Wild Life, encouraging
children to write about nature and what it means to them. Visit the
stand to see the entire award-winning range that inspires families to
preserve priceless memories, for all occasions – sharing the things that
really matter.
Temple Island Collection
Stand J31
www.templeisland.com
Temple Island Collection is launching the cool, cute new kids’ line
– the Little Red Bus range. The collection includes a funky pencil
case, mini tote and midi tote, cool shaped rubbers and loads of
other must-have kid-inspired goodies.
The company will also be showing the illustrations of Alice Tait
in London and bath gifts collections, the Original Red Bus and
Money lines.
48 giftfocus
Jewellery Storage solutions
Designed to hold up to 48 pairs of earrings. Earrings are kept
UCHGUGEWTGCPFCOCVEJKPIRCKTKUCNYC[UGCU[VQ¾PF
The Little Book of Necklaces
Designed to hold necklaces
safely and securely at home
or when traveling.
Alljoy Design
Stand M24
Alljoy Design has a range of new Christmas cards, with over 65
designs to choose from. The new Christmas cards have a very
intricate laser cut design and are finished with sparkly gems
and glitter. The card size is 128mm x 178mm, and comes with a
red envelope.
The Little, Little Book of Earrings
Designed like the Little Book of Earrings but
smaller. Able to hold up to 12 pairs of earrings.
If you would like any
further information please
phone: (0044)0 2033711522
email: info@littleshopof.co.uk
Visit us: www.littleshopof.co.uk
Little Shop Of
Stand L46
www.littleshopof.co.uk
The Little Shop Of opened in April 2009 to sell The Little Book
of Earrings. The book came about after Jackie McLaren had
searched for years for a neat way to store and organise her
earrings. The company was after something that would hold
the earrings securely but could also be kept in a drawer for
safekeeping or, when travelling, could be carried in a suitcase.
The company now offers the Little, Little Book of Earrings.
These little books hold up to 12 pairs of earrings and are ideal
for travel. Also new is The Little Book of Necklaces. Working on
the same book-like idea, it offers a solution to the problem of
tangled, damaged necklaces.
giftfocus 49
double the fun
Publishers Group UK
Judy Lumley Print
Stand N45
www.judylumley.com
Judy Lumley Print has a new winter range of three-dimensional lino
printed greetings cards. The successful autumnal woodland animals
have been joined by some seasonal favourites. These include a robin,
a partridge, a turkey, and some guinea fowl, plus, of course, this
wonderful Santa with some trusty reindeer. These beautiful paper
sculptures can be both a greetings card and a decoration and would be
a welcome addition to any mantelpiece at Christmas.
Lanka Kade
Stand T31
www.lankakade.co.uk
Jump aboard and take a trip to Lanka Kade’s stand to view its
new London Bus. Bigger, better and busier than before, the
bus is packed full of great London characters from city gents
to bibi grannies reflecting London’s multi-ethnic community.
Beautifully packaged in a striking red London bus styled box, the
bus is made of natural wood throughout and looks set to be in
huge demand this Christmas. As always with Lanka Kade, every
product is hand-crafted, fairly traded and exclusively designed
in-house. The company is proud to be a member of BAFTS.
50 giftfocus
Stand P24
www.pguk.co.uk
PGUK is thrilled to introduce an
exciting array of new gift items
this autumn, all available in time
for the holidays. Stand-outs
include two handsome box sets
from Quirk Books including the
popular William Shakespeare’s
Star Wars trilogy and Miss
Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar
Children box set; both are being
made into blockbuster films this
winter. Cicada books features the
beautiful fold-out Doll’s House and
New Baby. Both are interactive
and the doll’s house features a
sturdy, one-piece illustrated frame
for children to use in play with
their own figures and New Baby
allows children to fill in fun facts
about their newly arrived sibling.
Potters Style has added to the best-selling Q&A journal range
with Q&A for Mothers and the quirky and fun Hipster Animals, a
collection of contemporary tongue-in-cheek personality types
reflected in animal illustrations and witty bullet points and
Every Little Thing, a sophisticated design-led twist on the adult
colouring book using a wall paper pattern of tiny images. And
for book lovers, Bibliophilia is a collection of modern, graphic
postcards featuring famous literary quotes set against eyecatching and thought provoking illustrations.
Gibbs Smith adds to its ever-popular tote bag range with
several new styles and to the board book classics series, Emma.
Publikumart continues to grow the range and adds aprons to its
literary themed mug, journal, candles and t-shirts. These boldly
illustrated gift lines are perfect for book lovers and lovers of
graphic design and appeal to men and women alike.
double the fun
Xystos
Stand U50
Xystos, the home of
flame and fragrance,
has raised the bar for
candle products in the
UK, propelling them into
the ‘must have’ lifestyle
category with a range of
beautiful products fit to
grace any home.
The gorgeously crafted
HearthWick vessels and
scents are so sought after by retailers that Virginia Gift Brands is
pulling out all the stops to fulfil repeat orders. There are 42 products
and fragrances.
Kringle Candle is the latest addition to the Xystos portfolio and
11 new scents have been added.
The WoodWick brand, comprising hundreds of products
across a series of collections, has introduced a further 12 core
fragrances. The range includes Inspirational, which features
uplifting messages on its vessels.
There are more than 150 WoodWick jar products, while the Gallerie
collection has 18 pieces. The Reserve Collection for men has fragrance
notes from a male perspective and there are 40 products in the everpopular Trilogy range, which offers three scents in one candle,
Subtle scents and distinctive presentation distinguish highend Aquiesse from other brands, while Luminara gives ‘the
realistic illusion of a dancing flame’ without the worry or risks
associated with real candles.
This summer has seen strong demand for pampering products
and The Naked Bee Travel Kit and Mini Bee Kit.
52 giftfocus
Carrie Elspeth
Stand Y31
Autumn comes to life at Carrie Elspeth jewellery with an exclusive
2015 collection that explores delicate miniature beads that pop with
personality, as well as sultry designs and hot new colour combinations
that will tone perfectly with the new season’s wardrobe.
New fully-beaded opulent styles are available as the limited edition
merges with the core collection to give you fantastic new ranges and
price points. At the show the company will be launching its Christmas
collection, which is not to be missed. This is beautiful jewellery that has
been hand-made in Wales for 16 years and continues to grow
in popularity.
Life Charms
Stand Z14
www.lifecharms.co.uk
Life Charms was only formed early this year, but has already
attracted over 150 stockists. The company will be at Top Drawer
Autumn where it’ll be showing its Christmas collection along with
the original favourite designs. All stockists receive a free point of
purchase display stand with 18 designs or more.
top drawer
new exhibitor showcase
We reveal some of this year's hottest new suppliers
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giftfocus 55
autumn fair
Here’s a round-up of what to expect at The NEC this September
In brief
Show
Organiser
Where
When
Website
Open
Twitter
Autumn Fair
i2i Events
The NEC, Birmingham
www.autumnfair.com
Saturday (volume halls only)
10am - 5pm; Sunday Tuesday 9am - 6pm;
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
@SpringAutFair
Autumn Fair will showcase the best new
products from 1,400 exhibitors across
13 different market categories, with tens
of thousands of new launches that offer
superb cross-over buying opportunities
and countless sector-specialist products.
Show categories are: Gift, Contemporary Gift
& Home, Children’s Gifts, Toys & Gadgets,
Volume Gift & Home, Brands of China,
Greetings, Gift & Craft, Fashion Jewellery &
Accessories, Home, Table & Kitchen, Body &
Bath, Retail Shop, The Summerhouse and –
an exciting new introduction for 2015 – The
Light Show.
The new Portfolio Director for Autumn Fair,
Naomi Barton, commented, “I’m incredibly
excited to be working on Autumn Fair, which
has massively grown in stature over the years
and is one of the fastest-growing seasonal
trade exhibitions in Europe, showcasing more
new and innovative products than any other
event of its kind taking place in the autumn/
winter season.
“The addition of The Light Show is a very
important development and perfectly aligned
alongside Autumn Fair, given that September
is the ideal time of year for lighting buyers.
I’m also delighted to be welcoming so many
brand new companies to the show, along with
our loyal existing clients.”
New at Autumn Fair
The Light Show at Autumn Fair will be
the only Lighting Industry Associationendorsed decorative lighting event taking
place in the UK this year, incorporating such
market-leading luminaries as Dar Lighting,
Searchlight, Interiors 1900, Impex Russell,
TP24, Endon Lighting and Illuminati.
Alongside some of the most well-known
and successful bellwether brands in the
business, the show will host hundreds of new
companies and first time exhibitors in what
promises to be an essential destination for
retailers in search of the hottest new products
and trends ahead of Christmas.
Caribbean Export Development Agency
Joining the show for the first time in 2015 is
the Caribbean Export Development Agency, a
group pavilion of 12 companies from across
the Atlantic displaying an eclectic mix of
home accessories, hand-made cosmetics,
jewellery, indigenous pottery and ceramics,
leather crafts and natural body and bath
products in its first European showcase.
Taste Taiwan Design
Also new for 2015 is Taste Taiwan Design,
a group pavilion devoted to original and
emerging Taiwanese design talent that’s
exclusive to Autumn Fair this season, while
Danish home interiors and outdoor living
brand IB Laursen APS also joins the show for
the first time this year.
Gifts galore
Expect a huge selection of contemporary
gift and home products available to the UK
and wider European retail trade ahead of
Christmas. Major industry suppliers including
Enesco, Junction 18, Wild & Wolf, Heaven
Sends, Disaster Designs, Rex International,
RJB Stone and Temerity Jones London will all
present their new lines.
giftfocus 57
Located within Contemporary Gift & Home
in Hall 3 will be the must-see Designlab
feature area, a showcase of cutting-edge
design-led product from companies such as
Queen Tea, Cherith Harrison, Colourful Dove,
Itzbugginiz and Fab Funky.
Also exclusive to Autumn Fair in the second
half of 2015 is The Summerhouse collective
of luxurious, design-led gift and homeware
from 16 hand-picked companies from around
the world.
A host of major suppliers that include some
of the best-known names in the business will
once again participate in the show this year,
such as Ashleigh & Burwood, C B Imports,
Out of the Blue KG, Hill Interiors, Joe Davies,
Lesser & Pavey, Puckator, The Straits Trading
Co and Widdop Bingham & Co.
New exhibitors include Something Different
Wholesale and PR Roast, as specialist supplier
to Garden Centre retailers. Autumn Fair’s
enticing Body & Bath specialist exhibitors
will also be located amongst the general Gift
and Contemporary Gift suppliers in Halls 3, 4
and 5.
Trends
For those on the lookout for future trends,
the WGSN-supported Trends Theatre, located
in Hall 3 adjacent to Designlab, will provide
a wealth of ideas and inspiration. WGSN will
provide forward-thinking design direction for
the retail community via three macro-trend
concepts to be presented via daily webinars,
while retailers and business leaders will share
58 giftfocus
the secrets of their success.
The content programme at Autumn
Fair is designed to guide visitors through
some of the challenges facing bricks and
mortar retailers, from how to identify the
next big thing to visual merchandising and
photography, and provide inspiration for the
season ahead.
Speakers
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has once again
partnered with Autumn Fair for 2015 and will
be on stand 4N31-N32. UKTI contributes to
the content programme at Autumn Fair and
this year presents iconic British designer
Emma Bridgewater as the keynote speaker.
Emma will discuss her brand’s export journey
from the e-commerce theatre on Tuesday
8th September.
Another important centrepiece for the
show is the E-commerce Theatre, situated
within the buzzing Retail Shop area in Hall
4. E-commerce seminar content will address
some of the most challenging issues faced
by retailers, with session topics ranging from
social media to search engine optimisation
and website design.
Retail Shop is a key growth area for
Autumn Fair, reflecting the swiftly evolving
retail environment where over 10 per cent of
purchases are made online and 62 per cent
of British consumers use their mobile phones
and tablets to shop with. Exhibitors within
Retail Shop can help businesses navigate
the huge online space, build a multi-channel
offering and enhance their bricks and mortar
offering through in-store solutions. This area
of the show will include logistics companies,
digital marketing and social media specialists,
web designers, payment providers, product
photography, warehousing and returns
companies, mailing houses, POS suppliers
and packaging solutions. g
Exhibitor profiles
HALL 1
Trolley Bags
Hall 1 Stand G48
www.trolleybags.com
Trolley Bags halve the time it takes at the checkout. The system
of four different sized reusable bags, connected together with
Velcro along integrated rails can be placed open and upright in
the trolley, allowing customers to pack and sort groceries with two
hands as they’re scanned through the checkout.
With increasing popularity of ‘scan as you shop,’ Trolley Bags
can easily be racked in the trolley as a customer enters the store,
allowing them to place their shopping into the appropriate bags as
they scan items throughout the store. You can see a demonstration
at the stand.
HALL 2
Mandarin Arts
Hall 2 Stand F43-E42
www.mandarinarts.co.uk
The vibrant colours
of contemporary
China and classic
styles from its rich
history sit side by
side in Mandarin
Arts’ collection of
home and giftware.
The company is
making a welcome
return to Autumn
Fair this year with a
display drawn from
its table lamp and
furniture ranges.
The porcelain
table lamps
offer tasteful
additions to home
design and add a
complementary
touch to the
exquisite collection
of tableware,
giftware and
accessories as
featured in the
main catalogue.
60 giftfocus
Jarapa
Hall 2 Stand J25-H24
www.jarapa.co.uk
New for autumn 2015, Jarapa is introducing an exciting range
of lighting made from cork and glass. With a range of sizes and
designs to choose from the range offers a wide selection for small
independents as well as larger department stores.
Competitive pricing, as expected from Jarapa. For further
information, please contact Stewart at stewart@jarapa.co.uk
Exhibitor profiles
HALL 3
Heyland & Whittle
Hall 3 Stand H44
British bath, body
and home fragrance
brand Heyland &
Whittle is delighted
to announce its
collaboration with
Seasalt Cornwall.
Already providers
for Liberty and
Fortnum & Mason,
the three new
beautiful Seasalt collections are inspired by famous Cornish locations:
Sennen, Lamorna and Roseland.
With an original print design for each collection, Heyland & Whittle
has included the traditional reed diffuser, reed diffuser refill, soy wax
candle and soy wax candle in a tin as part of the collections.
Heyland & Whittle
Hall 3 Stand H44
Heyland & Whittle
is delighted to
announce the
launch of its
latest fragrance,
Clementine &
Prosecco. With
top notes
of clementine,
sparkling wine,
yellow apple and
pear, incorporated
with middle notes
of apricot, peach,
plum and a base
note of sugar and
dry fruits, this sweet
yet welcomingly
sharp fragrance fills
your space with elegance. The range includes the ever popular reed diffuser and refill, a
candle in a glass and colourful tin. Along with the rest of Heyland
& Whittle candles, this collection has been created with a blend of
sustainable soy wax.
Best Kept Secrets
Creative Tops
Hall 3 Stand G23
www.creative-tops.com
Creative Tops, one of the UK’s leading tableware, kitchenware and
home décor organisations, is pleased to present a new retro inspired
kitchenware and tableware range, Pretty Retro by Katie Alice.
Taking a slight change from her usual style, this collection is
centred on a contemporary, hand-painted floral design that Katie
has re-worked with a pastel palette.
Hand-drawn geos, square handles and blocky shapes truly
capture that ’50s feel. This range has been influenced by a wide
range of retro items Katie found at vintage fairs, along with a
touch of Scandinavian style brought from her trips to Stockholm.
64 giftfocus
Hall 3 Stand G40
www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
Best Kept Secrets has recently launched its own scented Melt Fusions
range, with a dozen of its best-selling scents now available in heart
shaped wax melts with an emphasis on fragrance quality and vibrant
colours and glitter finishes to the melts.
Denise Edwards from Best Kept Secrets said, “Our Melt Fusion
range has been a real labour of love, and with distinctive point of sale
materials and a great selection of melts we’re very proud of our latest
range. A starter pack has been produced for new retailers, which offers
everything you need to introduce the range to any store environment.”
Exhibitor profiles
Heaven Sends
Hall 3 Stand H20-J21
www.heavensends.com
Heaven Sends has fast become one the UK’s leading wholesalers of gifts,
stylish home accessories and seasonal decorations – not just for the
Christmas season.
Established over a decade ago, Heaven Sends and its angels are proud
of its reputation for quality design and quirky products all at extraordinary
value for money prices.
Renowned for signs, accessories as well as fabulous festive decorations,
Heaven Sends is a one-stop-shop, no matter what your budget.
Visit the stand at the show for a chance to win your order and get a
sneak peak of the new spring collection.
The Fragrance Lounge
Hall 3 Stand J41
www.thefragrancelounge.com
Following the success of Apothecary, Paddywax is excited to
announce the launch of Blue Apothecary: a range of old world
bottles in striking cobalt blue glass and silver pillbox travel tins.
Each candle is hand-poured with a choice of six fragrances
to evoke a sense of balance and relaxation. The company
encourages everyone to try the distinctive scents – including
Applewood & Amber, Mint Leaf & Cardamom and Vanilla Bean
& Myrrh.
66 giftfocus
RJB Stone
Hall 3 Stands J50-L51
www.rjbstone.com
RJB Stone, the home of
Sass & Belle, promise
to delight and excite
retailers once again
this Autumn Fair with
its extensive range of
lovingly crafted and
on-trend gifts and
home accessories.
Designed in-house and
embracing the latest
styles, RJB Stone’s Sass
& Belle ranges introduce
retailers to original
and inspiring products
that make houses
into homes and turn
moments into memories. In a wide range of concepts and themes,
the company is showcasing its collection of over 2,000 autumn/
winter 2015 products and proudly premiering the cute and
charismatic Tribal Adventure range, which brings trend and charm
together in a bright and beautiful collection of home and personal
accessories, as well as the new Best Friends range, which taps into
sentimentality and positivity to create gifts for loved ones.
With a stand that’s built to make you feel like you’ve wandered
into Wonderland, the company’s contemporary new branding,
striking visual merchandising and famous free cocktails guarantee
that trend-savvy retailers looking for a comprehensive buying
experience will be paying a visit. RJB Stone is dedicated to
providing retailers with excellent choice, personalised service and
fair prices.
Exhibitor profiles
Temerity Jones
Hall 3 Stand P22/Q23
www.temerityjones.com
This Autumn Fair marks Temerity
Jones’ first birthday, and will be the
launch pad for its new designs of the
amazingly popular carnival lights,
as well as lots of new really cool gift
ideas for the upcoming gift season.
The company’s Christmas range is
nostalgia all the way, and there will
be a preview of its exciting new story
for delivery in January 2016.
Pictured is the new range of
Temerity’s box lights; Stage Door,
On Air and Cinema – with others
available online and on the
he stand.
Dora Designs
Hall 3 Stand T22-U23
www.doradesigns.co.uk
Dora Designs has been
extremely busy designing some
beautiful new doorstops and
draught excluders to grace your
homes. A particular favourite is
the new, extremely cute Piggles
Piglets draught excluder who
will do a superb job of shielding
the cold draughts that sneak
into your home as we approach
winter. There are also new
additions to the Patchwork
range, Country Folk
collection and the Canine and
Feline collections.
Dora Designs look forward to welcoming new and existing customers
onto the stand and introducing you to all its charming new characters.
68 giftfocus
Wild & Wolf
www.wildandwolf.com
Wild & Wolf is launching a brand
new Gentlemen’s Hardware
men’s accessories and
cosmetics collection at Autumn
Fair. The home-grown brand
has been crafted for true gents,
established with the best-selling
hardware and stationery. The range has now extended to include
travel, outdoor and cosmetic companions.
The company will also be showing new exciting Makery
lines only this time for younger crafters. The Makery Kids range
features a range of cute
kits such as a crown,
friendship bracelets and
a bunny purse. There
are also extensions to
the haberdashery range
with new tape measures,
scissors and ribbon.
This collection is ideal
for stocking fillers and a
rainy crafter-noon.
The Walking Stick Specialists
Fine quality walking sticks,
seat sticks and umbrellas for
ladies and gentlemen.
The Autumn Fair: Hall 4, Stand N03
Please contact us for a trade catalogue:
Warren House, Hinton St George, Somerset TA17 8TQ
Tel +44 (0)1460 75686 www.classiccanes.co.uk
Also on Facebook and Instagram
Exhibitor profiles
Pintail Candles
Hall 3 Stand K40
www.pintailcandles.com
The Large Filled Tin range
by Pintail has proven to be
a seasonal best seller with
record sales over 2014. Due
to the increasing demand
for these triple-wick candle
tins, the company has
expanded the range to
include even more of your
favourite Pintail fragrances
as well as a selection of
brand new and exclusive
fragrances for the autumn/
winter season. The classic
design gives these candles
a sophisticated elegance
that’ll complement any
interior, and the triple-wick
feature creates a warm and
inviting glow.
Lagoon
Half Moon Bay
Hall 3 Stand 3S22-T23
Half Moon Bay is exhibiting
a number of line extensions
to its Star Wars range this
year and will be launching
these at Autumn Fair.
The company will also be
launching Opal London
for 2015 following its
acquisition of the brand
last year. Opal London will
be situated in Hall 3 Stand
W40. Half Moon Bay is
introducing a vibrant new
logo alongside a revitalised
product range, and is also
delighted to be introducing
its new brand Time for
Adventure at the show.
72 giftfocus
www.thelagoongroup.com
Jurassic giants are the order of the day at Lagoon, the games and
puzzle specialists, who are launching a fabulous new Natural
History Museum collection of dinosaur games and puzzles at
Autumn Fair.
This 21-title range includes Dinosaur Snap, Dinosaur
Dominoes, Dinosaur Jigsaws and Dinosaur Sliding Tile Puzzles.
All the imagery has been taken from the Museum’s collection and
many of the products also feature fun dinosaur facts compiled by
the resident palaeontologist.
Managing Director Heather Watherston said, “The range comes
fast on the back of the fabulous new Jurassic World film and
retailers should take advantage of the dinosaur fever that’s hit
the country and stock this great range of gifts and stocking fillers
for kids. The products are aimed at children aged four plus and
although most have an educational bent, they’re all great fun to
do and play.”
autumn fair
Solo
Hall 3 Stand V09
www.sololtd.com
New for autumn 2015, Philippi’s new bowl, BOL, is a perfect
composition of taupe-colored naturally formed ceramic and soft-finish
wood. The BOL is ideal as an occasional bowl for nuts, fruits or other
treats. Whether you keep the bowl for yourself or pass it around, the
BOL is a pleasure to use.
Philippi’s new brochure is hot-off-the-press and is available in
August. The full range is available exclusively from Solo.
Neviti
Hall 3 Stand U41
www.neviti.com
Neviti has new
ranges on display
at this year’s show
with the launch of
its new Christmas
Craft and Festive
Noel collections.
The Christmas
Craft range is
perfect for bringing
a fun element
to your festive preparations. Create some colourful stocking
bunting or add an original touch to the traditional paperchains
with the colour-in items. Build excitement for the big day with
the Christmas Eve Kit and Santa’s Boot Prints, and make your
seasonal table sparkle with some personalised table decorations.
Christmas Craft has some fantastic pieces to unleash creativity
this winter.
Festive Noel is Neviti’s range of tableware and decorations
to add some Scandi-inspired style to your festive celebrations.
Featuring distinctive, folksy motifs and a stylish colour palette,
Festive Noel includes everything you need to dress your home at
Christmas, from beautiful paper tableware to pretty decorative
accessories. Other yuletide collections on display will be Neviti’s
best-selling Winter Wonderland and Shimmering Snowflake
offerings. Both ranges offer a stylish selection of table accessories
in classic gold and silver shades.
giftfocus 73
Exhibitor profiles
Angelic Hen
Hall 3 Stand V51
www.angelichen.com
“Just the right gift! That’s how customers feel when they buy
Angelic hen products, witty signs, jolly useful key rings and key
racks,” says Angelic Hens’ Mari Hutchings. The company has
clever pegs and strings of useful things. Designed and made
deep in the Wye Valley, if you want something ‘brilliantly British’
and ‘wonderfully Welsh’ drop by the stand. There’s also Welsh
language and bespoke designs available.
United Oddsocks
Hall 3 Stand V43
www.unitedoddsocks.com
United Oddsocks
has lots of brand
new products for the
second half of the
year plus for the first
time, it’s designed
some cute and quirky
seasonal Christmas
themed oddsocks.
The company has
some lovely thickknit oddsocks,
wonderfully soft
terry oddsocks with
turn-over tops and
a brand new stripy
armwarmer design, all
of which are sure to
add a splash of colour
to those dark winter days.
As summer turns to autumn our minds turn to the colourful
tones of nature, which the company has captured in its new sets
of threes – rusty oranges, petrol blues and warm yellows.
74 giftfocus
Green Glass and
Vineyard Candles
Hall 3 Stand W29
www.greenglass.co.uk
Vineyard Candles are
Cornish artisans of funky
glassware and candles
from repurposed wine
and beer bottles. The
company is famous for
its Prosecco, Pinot-Grigio
and of course Gin & Tonic
Candles. Inspired by the
bottles from local Cornish
vineyards, the company
has been creating new
and original gifts for over
15 years with each bottle
cut by hand and the rims
polished by flame to
give a perfect finish. The luxury hand-poured natural wax candles are
spiced with trendy drink-inspired fragrances and come packaged in a
beautifully designed tube. Retailers are supplied with wine crates and
hand-made signs to complete the display.
Autumn Fair Hall 4L02
www.malaleather.com
Tel: 01827 67401 Fax: 01827 67046
2 Bridgeside Trading Estate, Kettlebrook Road, Tamworth, B77 1AG
autumn fair
Enesco
Hall 3 Stand W04-X03
www.enesco.co.uk
The whimsical Mama Gourds collection is designed by Californian
artist, Lisa Meehan. For the Mama Gourds range, Lisa enhances each
generously rounded shape with boldly coloured decorations such as
stripes, dots and frills and with witty sayings to create each expressive
figurine. Pieces such as I’m the Queen and the Sitting Cat tell an
amusing story, conjure up a memory or send out an invitation to smile.
The latest launch from BFA Character is Stags with Style. This
collection of six well-dressed debonair stags reveals males out to
impress as they pursue traditional countryside pursuits. Each character
is modelled with a stag’s head boasting a full set of antlers decorated in
gold, and a body dressed with impeccable taste.
Choose from Henry, who’s smartly dressed for a day’s shooting on
the moors; George, elegantly attired as befits the master of the local
hunt; or Lawrence in his tweeds, as he sets out to stride across the
hills. Each figurine is presented in a branded gift box and is ideal as an
amusing gift or self-purchase.
giftfocus 77
Exhibitor profiles
Stubbs Mugs
Hall3 Stand X06
www.stubbsmugs.co.uk
Stubbs Mugs is constantly expanding its range of titles. Products
include fine bone china mugs, coasters, linens and its new line of
fridge magnets.
The Rather range has many titles, plus all your old favourites,
including many popular pastimes and pursuits such as I’d rather
be drinking Pimm’s.
Other collections include, Clive’s cats mugs, Time for tea, the
cup and saucer range, and of course its range of signs – something
to make everyone smile.
Duckydora
Hall 3 Stand X09
www.duckydora.com
Duckydora is exhibiting for the first time at Autumn Fair. The company’s
range of British designed textiles, ceramics and giftware bring a touch
of elegance and style to your home.
Duckydora’s range of hand-painted ceramics includes plates, bowls,
canisters, jugs and storage jars. New at the show is the Verona range
– subtle hand-painted pink on an ivory background. Duckydora’s
collection of kitchen and dining linens are designed and made in
Great Britain.
The home accessories range includes cushions, draft excluders,
doorstops, notice boards and pet bowls and beds. New to the giftware
range is the wipe clean toiletry bags, available in three sizes.
The Music Gifts Company and Element
Hall 3 Stand X37
www.musicgifts.co.uk
www.elementgifts.com
At this year’s Autumn Fair, The Music Gifts Company is celebrating
its 20th birthday with the launch of an entirely new range of men’s
gifts, Element. “We’re delighted to announce a new range of gifts
aimed to cater for a wide variety of hobbies and interests. Products
at launch include mugs, coasters, cufflinks, socks, hankies, keyrings
and pin badges,” comments David Gee, Managing Director and
founder. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a tremendous growth
in the popularity and demand for men’s gifts,” continues David.
78 giftfocus
“During the past
12 months alone,
sales of socks, for
example, have
increased by more
than 25 per cent
and this is the
trend across the
board. With 20
years experience
in designing and
supplying gifts to
the trade, we’ve
taken great care to
ensure that the brand
has the right key
elements, even down to the name ‘Element’ in which the word men
is highlighted.” For its collection of cufflinks, Element has created an
original bespoke gift box. For the mugs and coasters, local illustrator
Vikki Gibson has been commissioned to create a stunning range
of images. “We’re really excited about the new brand. We’ve spent
many months putting the collection together and feel that what
we’ve created appeals perfectly to an important market sector.”
Exhibitor profiles
Gaeltag Keltika
Hall 3 Stand YO4
www.gaeltagkeltika.com
Gaeltag is delighted to present a brand new licensing link-up with
UK artist Emily Stracey.
Emily specialises in characterful animal imagery, producing
original one-off pieces in between juggling children, not sleeping,
teaching and building sandcastles in sunny Bournemouth.
The initial range is entitled The Royal Furmily Pawtraits and is
based around four aristocratic ceramic cat figurines – Baroness
Anchovy-de-Breath, Lord Downtown Tabbey, Lady Tiny Tinsy
Teena Tuna and Purrince Eaton de Mousen. The cat imagery also
features on mugs, a tea-for-one teapot, tea towels, aprons, and
fridge magnets. Products will be available to order for the first
time at Autumn Fair.
Also new for Autumn Fair is Build-a-Bauble, a range of
personalisable flashing LED Christmas baubles that consumers
can customise from scratch. Simply pick a colour from the seven
options available, choose your stickers from five different themed
designs and letters – and decorate your own tailor-made bauble.
It’s a fun, creative concept, which parents will love children to
get involved with. It also offers retailers maximum flexibility,
particularly as the choice of sticker themes means the selling
period can extend beyond just the Christmas season.
Fully merchandised Build-a-Bauble stands of 324 baubles are
available for £799.
Seascape Island Apothecary
Hall 3 Stand Y23
www.seascapeuk.com
Seascape Island Apothecary has introduced its new Travel
Essentials Trio gift set. Containing a 75ml Refresh hand and nail
cream, a 10ml peppermint oil lip balm and the company’s awardwinning 8ml Soothe sleep oil, the Travel Essentials Trio is a perfect
little gift for someone on the move.
Skins Matter Free From has awarded Seascape’s 175ml Uplift
Sea Salt Scrub its prestigious gold award for 2015 as the best Body
Care ‘take off’ product on the market. The product retails for £16.
You can see Seascape’s award-winning British bath and body
collection at the stand.
80 giftfocus
Stand out from the crowd
Jarapa recycled and natural
NEW LIGHTING RANGE being
launched at the autumn fair the new
range is combining cork and glass
to make a stunning new collection.
stewart@jarapa.co.uk
0845 5191982
www.jarapa.co.uk
Come and see the UK’s favourite supplier of quality
handmade Tree of Life Balls, Friendship collections
and popular Fused Glass designs
Autumn Fair - Hall 5 Stand F16
Tel: 01953 450280
Exhibitor profiles
HALL 4
Really Good
Hall 4 Stand A01
www.reallygoodtrade.com
Really Good has designated an interesting and varied range of perfect
stocking fillers to suit all demographics for the festive season.
The company has concentrated on its new chocolate inspired range
of Bright Side products recently launched at Harrogate. This includes
money tins large and small, Bright Side chocolate bars, the tea bag tin,
the drugs tin for the headache/hay-fever sufferers and also the mini
hero plasters tin. The best-selling Poo Room sign has been updated;
the pink lettering has been replaced with a mint green hue.
JellynBean
Hall 4 Stand A05
www.jellynbean.com
JellynBean will be exhibiting a range of Christmas cards at the
show, along with its everyday card and gift lines. The Christmas
card range consists of 24 open humour designs which RRP at £1.99.
Laura Darrington
Hall 4 Stand C15
www.lauradarrington.co.uk
Laura Darrington
is launching its
beautiful spring
2016 line titled
The Pigment
collection at
the show. This
range features
a stylish colour
palette and paint
textures, plus
luxurious foil and
emboss finishes.
New Father’s
Day and
masculine
Valentine designs will also be launched in the style of its popular
Colourblock collection.
82 giftfocus
Lanka Kade
Hall 4 Stand A30
www.lankakade.co.uk
Lanka Kade’s natural wood Noah’s Ark is the company’s flagship; a
heritage toy no-one can resist. This head turner is a conversation
piece, attracting customers into shops in every port. In response to
customer demand, Lanka Kade proudly presents its new small (but
not so small) natural wood Noah’s Ark complete with Mr and Mrs
Noah and 16 animals. This equally stunning, but more affordable
ship will be launched for sail at the show. See for yourself the flotilla
of Noah’s arks, plus the full product range, including the new London
Bus and new jigsaws.
Stand out from the crowd
SEE US AT
AUTUMN FAIR
4H48
Come and see the exciting
New Fused Glass collections!
£50 min order with no MOQ - £250 carriage paid order
Autumn Fair - Hall 5, Stand F16
Tel: 01953 450280
Exhibitor profiles
Blue Eyed Sun
Alljoy Design
Hall 4 Stand D28
Alljoy Design has a range of new Christmas cards, with over 65 designs
to choose from. The new Christmas cards have a very intricate laser cut
design and are finished with sparkly gems and glitter. The card size is
128mm x 178mm, and comes with a red envelope.
Holy Mackerel
Hall 4 Stand F20
www.holy-mackerel.co.uk
Holy Mackerel is
over the moon
to be launching
Small Fry, a brand
new range of
cards featuring
a wonderfully
eclectic mix of
artists and styles.
The collection
includes brand
new animal
designs by bestselling artist Erica
Sturla – from ring-tailed lemurs to flying pigs.
Sized at 10cm square, these bright and contemporary designs
make a superb splash of colour in any display, and are a great
add-on to gift purchases. There are 36 designs in the range so far,
with more on the way. Holy Mackerel also has display units to
show them off in all their glory.
84 giftfocus
Hall 4 Stand D03
www.blueeyedsun.co.uk
Blue Eyed Sun is launching
four new ranges of Valentine
cards at the show: Knit Wit,
Cutie Pie, Pincushion
and Impressed.
Knit Wit is based on
original hand-knitted
artworks by textile artist, Jo
Corner. This colourful, eye catching new range includes
eight Valentine designs that come wrapped with a red envelope
sized 130mm x 179mm. Knit Wit cards are £0.83p each, RRP £1.99.
Cutie Pie feature adorable, cute, hand-crocheted characters
by Jo Corner. This fun new range is printed on thick board, and
includes nine Valentine’s designs, which all come cello-wrapped
with a red envelope. Cutie Pie cards are £1.04 each and RRP £2.25.
Pincushion is based on original hand-stitched artworks and
are all lovingly hand-finished with jewels. The range includes 18
stunning deigns printed on high quality board and wrapped with
a red 165mm square envelope. Pincushion cards are £1.25 trade,
£2.99 RRP.
Impressed is a delicate new range of cards that are hand-made
with love and clay in the UK. There are 11 delightful Valentine
designs that all come wrapped with an envelope that is 102mm
x147mm. Impressed cards are £1.25 trade each, and £2.99 RRP.
All of Blue Eyed Sun’s cards are printed on high end boards
from sustainable managed forests and are blank inside, cellowrapped with an envelope and sold in sixes.
Blue Eyed Sun’s cards are available to order through its easy-touse, trade only website, the 2016 spring brochure and there’s also
a team of sales agents across the country that can come in to see
you with samples and help you choose just the right look for
your shop.
Exhibitor profiles
Talbot Fashions
Carrie Elspeth
Hall 4 Stand G10
www.talbotfashions.com
Established in 1980, Talbot
Fashions is one of the
largest UK-based fashion
jewellery and accessories
wholesalers, based down
in Brighton.
New lines this autumn
include memory lockets,
geometric necklaces,
dinosaur pendants on black thong, silver plated open hearts on
leather thong, and semi-precious triple layered necklaces. There’s
also delicate origami, Fatima hand and compass design pendants
on fine chains, semi-precious dipped pendants and new additions
to the range of sentiment jewellery.
Other styles include the Paua shell jewellery range of Scottie
dogs, cats, tree of life, owls, butterflies and Maori styles; not
forgetting the boys/men’s rubber and stainless steel bracelets,
warrior and legends, Vikings, Celtic and dragon pewter pendants.
Hall 4 Stand G36
Autumn comes to life at
Carrie Elspeth jewellery
with an exclusive 2015
collection that explores
delicate miniature beads
that pop with personality,
as well as sultry designs
and hot new colour
combinations that will
tone perfectly with the new season’s wardrobe.
New fully-beaded opulent styles are available as the limited
edition merges with the core collection to give you fantastic
new ranges and price points. At the show, it’ll be launching its
Christmas Collection, which is not to be missed. This is beautiful
jewellery that has been hand-made in Wales for 16 years and
continues to grow in popularity.
Sea Gems
Ronin Jewellery
Hall 4 Stand G58
www.ronindesigns.co.uk
Ronin will have new ranges on show and there will also be great
value show offers to tempt you. The company’s semi-precious
beaded gemstone jewellery, hand-made in Wales, comes in
an array of colours and is beautifully gift-boxed. With a loyal
following, Ronin has experienced very good growth in the last few
years, so visit the stand to see the jewellery for yourself – you’re
sure to find something that’s just right for you. New customers will
find the starter pack a great option: £300 worth of new and bestselling pieces for £250.
86 giftfocus
Hall 4 Stand H04-J05
www.seagems.co.uk
Silver jewellery brand Pure Origins is fresh and contemporary. The
everyday designs are fun and personal with whimsical, romantic and
nature-inspired themes. Items are hand-crafted from boutique style
silver, subtly and delicately textured with gold vermeil, semi-precious
stones and pearls.
New charm style silver bangles and bracelets embellished with
motifs and semi-precious stones are a strong story in this summer’s
collection. Additions to the Celtic Lands silver range sees intricate,
ancient motifs set with rainbow moonstone and rose quartz.
Vibrant fine enamel jewellery with Mackintosh, Celtic and wildlife
designs complete this diverse heritage collection. Inspired gift ranges
include contemporary crystal pens, Touch Stylus for all touch screen
devices, compact mirrors, pillboxes, bookmarks and scarf-rings.
MAKE IT A MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH
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Exhibitor profiles
Shrieking Violet
Hall 4 Stand H30
www.flowerjewellery.com
Shrieking Violet design an original range of silver jewellery handmade with real flowers. Some of the company’s most popular
collections include roses, poppies, forget-me-nots, purple haze
and mixed flowers.
Tiny flowers have been expertly cultivated by master gardeners,
briefly dried and then set in resin and sterling silver.
Shrieking Violet jewellery is both a thoughtful gift and
affordable impulse purchase.
Free display, point of sale signage and stylish gift packaging
make Shrieking Violet jewellery a must-have product for jewellery
shops, gift shops, department stores, museums, garden centres
and florists.
Mala Leather
Hall 4 Stand L02
www.malaleather.com
There are some fantastic new ranges in the ever-expanding collection
from Mala Leather. Launched recently at Harrogate, the Burchell range
has been extremely popular with stripes to match to any outfit. There
are two colour combinations available in bags and handbags.
There’s some new additions to the Men’s Django range with two
new man bags and wallets, the style has a modern raw edge and is
complemented with a striped lining material.
The Origin range with added RFID protection has new colours and
styles; this collection will protect a person’s details while in the wallet, a
great selling feature in a premium leather product.
88 giftfocus
NOA
Hall 4 Stand K55
www.noajewellery.com
NOA is a one-of-a-kind jewellery brand. Stainless steel, aluminium,
brass and sterling silver combined with colourful intricate designs on
ceramics and walnut inlays create a beautiful and truly different yet
affordable collection. NOA has recently launched a new catalogue with
exciting new designs, which will be on display in the company’s stand
at the show. NOA’s jewellery is hand-crafted in the UK.
The company’s catalogue is available to download on request from
the website.
Miss Milly
Hall 4 Stand H48
www.missmilly.co.uk
Alongside the brand’s
flagship Floria
collection of resin
and enamel jewellery
and the more delicate
Amora collection,
featuring silver, gold
and rose gold plated
pieces, the company
has added to its
Carmen collection. This
gorgeous, sparkling
jewellery uses a
sumptuous mix of
materials, combining
metal, crystal and
leather, with on-trend
colour schemes of
copper, rose, gold and hematite, many with a contemporary
matt finish. Eye-catching and beautifully made, trade prices for
this collection range from £2 to £7.25 excluding VAT, making it
affordable for all stores and boutiques.
Exhibitor profiles
The Carat Shop
Hall 4 Stand N02
www.thecaratshop.co.uk
Lots of new designs will be displayed exclusively at Autumn Fair
including the official Harry Potter jewellery collection of charms,
necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and cufflinks. These items appeal
to adults, teenagers and children worldwide.
With three new Harry Potter films in the making, and marketing to
commence soon by Warner Bros. for the first film due for release in
2016, now is a great time to stock these collections, which RRP from
£3.99 - £120.
All items are in stock for next-day delivery to make sure you make the
most of your Christmas trade.
Classic Canes
Hall 4 Stand N03
www.classiccanes.co.uk
Walking stick specialists Classic Canes will launch a new
collection of folding and height-adjustable walking sticks at
Autumn Fair. The new models feature abstract, kaleidoscope
and natural patterns in autumnal and wintery tones, perfect for
autumn/winter 2015 accessories and gifts. Adjustable walking
sticks make excellent presents, as they can be so easily altered
to fit the recipient. The Classic Canes range comprises over 650
traditional and contemporary walking sticks to suit all budgets.
HALL 5
Little Bird Told Me
Hall 5 Stand A30
www.littlebirdtoldme.co.uk
Little Bird Told Me is excited to be exhibiting for
the first time in four years and is showcasing its
stunning collection of rocking horses, push alongs
and infant toys.
Launching at the show is the huggable Dexter
Dog Push Along. Dexter is a golden Labrador with a
super soft furry coat and button nose, guaranteed
to melt the hearts of little ones and become a firm
favourite. Children will delight in taking Dexter for
a walk, but when their legs tire, there’s room on his
back to hop on and enjoy the ride.
Other key products to look out for include the
best-selling Chester & Fred Rocking Horse, part
of the premium Heritage Stable collection. Chester stands proudly on a walnut stained bow
rocking base and is dressed in a classic coffee and gold woven houndstooth fabric. He comes
complete with a leatherette saddle and bridle and a faux suede mane and tail. And let’s not
forget Fred, the little bear that lives in his pocket.
90 giftfocus
GILT:
Refine your space with our innovative spin on
gilded glass. A combination of eye-catching
hues and intense fragrances come together
to create a sophisticated and opulent candle
statement. When the last flicker of light has
gone out upcycle your gorgeous vessel into a
luxe flower vase or tealight holder.
THE FRAGRANCE LOUNGE | AUTUMN FAIR STAND 3J41
t: +44 (0)1829 730028 e: sales@thefragrancelounge.com w: thefragrancelounge.com
Exhibitor profiles
Boxer Gifts
Hall 5 Stand A10
www.boxergifts.com
Boxer Gifts is preparing another fantastic looking stand and hopes
you’ll come along, so the company can show you around. Sitting
alongside its most popular and best-selling lines will be some new
ideas that you may not have seen before. To its range of mugs, the
company’s adding four special mugs, with hashtag-shaped handles
and fun slogans such as #needcoffee and #justsayin.
Boxer also has Christmas products, its celebration glassware, fun and
cheeky homeware and a wide range of books for adults and children of
all ages.
Lesser & Pavey
Hall 5 Stand E02-F03
www.leonardo.co.uk
Blue and white willow patterns enter the ranges of fine chinaware
at Lesser & Pavey.
Fresh, almost crisp, the new pattern way and style is nostalgic in
that it sits so well with today’s fashions.
The range consists of sets of four fine china mugs with lap trays,
canisters, cake tins, cutting boards, cup and saucers, jugs, teapots,
tea for one, cake stands, trays, coasters and matching placemats,
knives, spoons, forks, and cake slices.
92 giftfocus
autumn fair
JJ Vaillant
Hall 5 Stand 5E10-F11
www.jjvaillant.com
J J Vaillant Ltd stock one of the largest ranges of Tiffany style
lamps in the UK.
They have a high-perceived value, always popular and draw
customers into shops.
Each one is made from hand-cut Favrile Glass and is
individually hand-soldered. Even the items pictured can have
upwards of 80 individual pieces of glass with some of the large
ones having 500 plus.
Most bases are die cast alloy with an aged antique bronze
finish but the company does stock a few bronze base models.
J J Vaillant’s top seller is still the dragonfly design closely
followed by the peal, which fits nicely into both traditional and
contemporary décor.
In all, the company has 120 different items with seven different
ranges including matching jewel boxes plus lots of individual
style lamps. There’s also a range of Galle style and Art Deco bronze or
antique silver figurine lamps. The models featured have trade
prices from £11.69 to £16.98.
giftfocus 93
Exhibitor profiles
Joe Davies
Hall 5 Stand C10
www.joedavies.co.uk
Autumn Fair marks the beginning of the Christmas selling season
and this year Joe Davies has more new products than ever.
The Autumn Fair is the last chance retailers have to see their
favourite suppliers and ensure that they have the correct mix stock is in
their shops before Christmas. Exhibitors are able to inform customers
the best sellers from Harrogate and enable retailers to hone their
selections to maximise sales in the key final quarter.
Joe Davies will have its full autumn/winter collections on show.
Visitors to the stand will see a huge selection of over 2,000 brand
new gifts, fashion accessories, home décor and Equilibrium jewellery
products. In total, over 6,000 fantastic products will be showcased.
A big trend right now is wooden gifts and home products and Joe
Davies offer a huge selection. Ranging from frames and trinket boxes
to lovely wooden signs and sentiment gifts at affordable prices the
company has something for all retailers. Shabby chic is still number
one but there’s also a move towards more rustic-style woodware. Joe
Davies has some lovely wooden baby and occasion products too.
Sheaffer
This year will see the Autumn
Fair debut of the Sheaffer
Pen Collection. Joe Davies
is delighted to have been
appointed Sheaffer’s official
distributor to the independent
gift market. The partnership
gives independent retailers
unprecedented access to
the international brand.
Three carefully selected, very
commercial ranges are easy
to buy in Joe Davies’s modest
quantities. Pen sales traditionally
soar during the run up to Christmas, so the timing of the launch is
just perfect.
94 giftfocus
Leonardo Collection
The Leonardo Collection from
Lesser & Pavey has been one of
the leading brands available to
the independent retailer for nearly
50 years. Joe Davies has been the
largest distributor of this popular
brand since the very beginning. All
that’s new and good from Leonardo will be at The NEC and is available
to buy in small quantities for easy, affordable ordering.
Snoozies
Snoozies, the cozy little foot
coverings from the USA, have
been a huge seller for Joe Davies’
customers with phenomenal
demand in the months before
Christmas. This year sales look
set to be even stronger. Prices of
traditional Snoozies have been
significantly reduced due to large
reductions in material costs, which
Joe Davies is delighted to pass on. Original Snoozies will now retail
at a market beating £6.99 (down from £9.99) and best-selling Bling
Snoozies will now retail for just £8.99.
There are six exciting new ranges of Snoozies on show. New designs,
fabrics and construction have made them completely different and
perfect for gift shops.
Equilibrium Collection
Joe Davies Equilibrium collection
of jewellery and fashion accessories
has fast become a staple line for
retailers. At Autumn Fair there will
be over 500 new jewellery pieces,
all in the signature Equilibrium
packaging. Highlights include
a range of floating pendants, a
modern three-tone collection, rose gold combination jewellery and
exquisite pavé pieces too. Equilibrium fashion accessories continue to
go from strength to strength with new boxed scarves, gloves and hats,
which are sure to be a winner for Christmas. There’s also a fantastic
Equilibrium For Men collection too.
Christmas
Christmas is fast approaching
and now is the time to start
buying Christmas-related
gifts. This year, don’t miss
the huge collection of LED,
illuminated gifts and of course
Joe Davies’ best-selling glass
Christmas trees.
Exhibitor profiles
Heart of the Country
Hall 5 Stand F10
www.heartofthecountryltd.co.uk
Heart of the Country’s scented sachets are available in over
100 fragrances in three brands: Greenleaf, Bridgewater Candle
Company and Willowbrook Fresh Scents. Each beautifully
designed envelope contains vermiculite (a natural mineral)
blended with essential oils. Just unwrap the shelf-life-extending
cellophane and the sachet will fragrance a room for four months
The scented sachets are an addictive consumable that keep
your customers coming back for more. Priced at a very pickup-able £3.50 for large and £2.50 for slim, the sachets are an
affordable and effective home fragrance product. Unbreakable,
un-spill-able and with no naked flame the scented sachet can
fragrance your home without the hazards associated with candles
and reed diffusers.
Heart of the Country offers various different displays to
showcase the scented sachets. With A-frames and spinners that
hold hundreds of sachets on very little floor space and tabletop
displays for smaller quantities, all your needs can be catered for.
Puckator
Hall 5 Stand K02-L03
www.puckator.co.uk
Visit Puckator at the show
to see thousands of brand
new product launches. Its
UK-based design team
have been hard at work
and the latest designs
include the new Tartan
Stag, Pugs & Kisses, Tropical
Flamingo, London Map and also some great new
dinosaur, sloth and Scotty dog items.
The company has added to its ever-popular Christmas
collections with a gingerbread man design, Christmas
Pugs & Kisses range and also new licensed artwork from
UK artist Jan Pashley. These designs can be found on a
variety of products including bone china mugs, gift bags,
gift wrap, air fresheners and many more. They also have a
great selection of impulse buys and stocking fillers such as
compact mirrors, pill boxes and novelty keyrings.
Puckator offers a number of licensed giftware ranges
including The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine and Mr Bean.
New in are its range of Frozen hand warmers and hot water
bottles – still hugely popular and ideal for gift retailers.
Join Puckator in celebrating its 25th birthday this year;
collect a limited edition Puckator bag and free gift when
you visit the stand.
96 giftfocus
autumn fair
Xystos
Hall 5 Stand H01
Autumn Fair will be the first opportunity
for many retailers to see new additions to
the Kringle Candle range from Xystos, the
home of flame and fragrance. The 11 new
scents added to the current 34 include Hot
Chocolate (pictured).
The famous WoodWick brand continues
to delight a loyal and fast-growing
customer base and Xystos has introduced
a further 12 core fragrances. The range
comprises hundreds of products across a
series of collections, including Inspirational
which features uplifting messages on
its vessels.
There are more than 150 WoodWick jar
products, available in 10oz, 22oz and 3.4oz
sizes, while the gorgeous Gallerie collection
has 18 pieces with intriguing names such as
Bourbon Crème Brulee and Lemon Verbena.
The Reserve Collection, designed with men
in mind, has fragrance notes from a male
perspective and names such as Driftwood,
Leather and Canyon. Each of the 24 is
presented in a substantial piece of glass with
stylish architectural detailing and a front label
made of stamped leather.
There are 40 products in the ever-popular
Trilogy range, which offers three scents in one
candle, and 42 pieces in the Mini Reed Diffuser
range. There’s also comprehensive collection
of wax melts.
But it’s WoodWick’s HearthWick which has
been the star of 2015. The gorgeously crafted
vessels and sensational scents have kept the
range flying off shelves. Retailers can choose
from 42 products and fragrances such as Dew
Drops, Jasmine and Marionberry.
Also from the USA is Aquiesse, whose subtle
scents and beautiful product presentation
distinguish this high-end range. Aquiesse’s
Portfolio Collection comprises 40 products
– 11oz and 5oz candles in gift boxes and 2oz
travel tin candles. There are also reed diffuser
gift sets. The same sizes are available in the
Black Currant and White Currant collections.
Luminara from Xystos gives ‘the realistic
illusion of a dancing flame’ without the worry
or risks associated with real candles. New
indoor colours are gold and silver, which join
ivory, the only outdoor version available.
Sienna Gold home lighters not only add a
touch of class to any room setting but do
away with the need for messy matches.
There are 15 lighters in a variety of colours
and styles.
Available from October will be additions
to the range of Cello Drinking Jars: the Skull
and Owl jars are in three colours, while Milk
Bottles are offered in nine colours.
giftfocus 99
Exhibitor profiles
Be wise when
you advertise
Test a publisher’s statement
of circulation. In today’s
business climate you can’t
afford not to.
Our ABC Certificate provides
accurate, independently
verified circulation figures,
giving you confidence in your
advertising investment.
If you want to reach 7,217*
total average net circulation,
then call Sharon Connelly on
01376 535 607 or email
sharonc@giftfocus.com
For more information
visit www.abc.org.uk
or email info@abc.org.uk
100 giftfocus
Signature Gifts
Hall 5 Stand F51
www.signature-gifts.co.uk
Signature Gifts
is premiering its
extensive range of
giftware, including
its exclusive range
of personalised
books. The
company’s newest
release in the
personalised
children’s book
range takes
your child on an
amazing round-the-world trip. They are chosen by the eccentric
Phileas Fox to join him on his adventure, making stop-offs in
Europe, Egypt, India, China, Japan, Australia and the USA. Starting
off in a balloon, travel modes include ship, boat, plane, a magic
carpet and a dragon. The child’s name appears throughout the
rhyming text as he or she samples the delights and landmarks
of the countries visited. Beautifully illustrated with colourful
characters, your child’s name is included within the pictures on
every page. This fun packed adventure is a great introduction
to the world for every youngster. Including any name and your
message, this book, which RRPs from £9.99, is printed in full colour
and available in either a hard or soft cover.
autumn fair
Tilnar Art
Hall 5 Stand G16/H17
www.tilnarart.co.uk
The Fair Trade supplier Tilnar Art is very proud to be launching a
link up with the RSPB on its metal bird collection at Autumn Fair
alongside its existing collections.
Tilnar Art will have its ever-popular collection of recycled metal
sculptures, which will make a striking addition to any home and
garden, these will include the bright red robin, kingfisher, wagtail
and flowers on plant stakes and many more.
Tilnar Art is very excited to have launched over 250 new products
for 2015. The company is very pleased to say that the 250 new
products and hundreds of new lower price points were loved by
clients at Spring Fair. These included a new leather collection, a
big expansion to the very popular WWF and Soapstone ranges, a
new range of wooden drums and many new products in the metal
sculpture range. As well as the new ranges, the products on display will include
Tilnar Art’s very popular wooden giraffes, zebras, raku pottery and
recycled products, and stone sculptures from Kenya.
giftfocus 101
Exhibitor profiles
D & J Glassware
The Country Candle Company
Hall 5 Stand H39
www.thecountrycandlecompany.com
The Country Candle Company is delighted and unashamedly
proud to announce the launch of its Wonderwick™ Noir Collection.
Wonderwick Blanc is a favourite with retailers and the Noir
Collection gives the range even more style and glamour, targeting
a wider consumer audience.
The black glass features gold lettering, giving the collection an
air of sophistication that’ll stylishly and effortlessly accessorise
consumers’ homes.
Available in the classic glass jar complete with a gift box
featuring an image of the scent it represents, the fragrances
available are: Black Pomegranate, Coconut & Mango,
Honeysuckle & Jasmine, Lotus Flower, Spiced Lime, Sea Salted
Fig, Tonka Bean & Vanilla and Wild Fig & Cassis. The candles offer
the same Wonderwick technology with a comforting crackle
sound effect.
The reed diffuser has a smoked blackened glass holder with
dark wood effect reeds to emit the fragrance into the air. Due to
the success of the Town & Country Collection, six new fragrances
launch at the show.
“Consumers’ fragrance choices change during the colder months
as they look for comforting and food based fragrances; the six new
fragrances offer just that and we’re excited to see the consumer
response to the launch,” says Hamish Smith, Creative Director.
Town & Country launched at Spring Fair with the choice of
the large and medium London Jar, a tall slim pillar candle with
contemporary wooden lid, the Original Tin and Metro Votive, plus,
the wax melt bar for use in the wax melt warmers.
Now the collection is available in 31 fragrances, including six new
options: Baked Apple, Balsam & Berry, Cocktail Party, Hedgerow
Harvest, Saffron Sandalwood and Vanilla Spiced Orange.
102 giftfocus
Hall 5 Stand F16
Visitors will flock to see D & J Glassware’s beautiful hand-crafted
glassware in hall five. David and Jocelyne are pleased to be launching
exciting new additions to their fused and mouth-blown glass
collections. You can be always assured of fabulous design, friendly
service and sensible prices from this UK glassware supplier. Visit the
stand to see the full range of products, including the finest quality Tree
of Life balls, Friendship Balls, hearts, tea light holders and stunning
fused glass pieces.
Intelligent Retail
Hall 5 Stand G38
www.intelligentretail.co.uk
Intelligent Retail specialises in Intelligent EPoS, Intelligent
e-commerce and website design, together with central stock
control. If you want an e-commerce website, Intelligent Retail’s
experts can design and implement your website and link it to
a Connect till in your shop – making it easy to sell in-store and
online. Intelligent Retail already has hundreds of retailers selling
across store and web successfully.
Intelligent Retail says, “With us, you only do things once. It’s
beautifully simple. You work efficiently to increase profits with
central stock control and reports.”
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Exhibitor profiles
Design Caribbean
Wild Things
Hall 5 Stand J20
www.wildthingsgifts.com
Wild Things has been really busy working on a whole range of new
products. All are designed and most are made in Devon. Customers
range from independent gift shops to garden centres, with 70 per cent of
its sales going abroad. Point of sale displays extend from counter-tops to
floor standing trees and the new redesigned self-lit hanging display.
Wild Things prides itself on its versatility, with products ranging
from hand-made glass to crystal earrings. Most products incorporate
Swarovski crystal.
New designs in suncatchers include glass Guardian Angels and
Pegasus (illustrated). Others include puppies, cats, songbirds, teddy
bears, owls and tree of life (shown). Also pictured are part of the garden
fantasies jewellery range. New guardian angel pins, necklaces and
earrings are on offer too.
104 giftfocus
Hall 5 Stand J50-K51
www.designcaribbean.com
Design Caribbean brings a selection of
the Caribbean’s most creative artisans
to the Autumn Fair, 2015. Representing
eight different Caribbean islands,
each of the designers will bring their
one-of-a-kind creative concepts to the
Design Caribbean stand while showcasing
hand-made jewellery and home accessories
highlighting the diversity and depth of
Caribbean design.
Reecii from St. Kitts and Nevis proudly displays beautifully
constructed bags and purses hand woven using an array of
natural materials and upcycling candy wrappers and magazines
supporting tough social issues such as gang violence, HIV
prevention, gender inequality, bullying and substance abuse and
providing jobs for many single women and marginalised males,
who wouldn’t otherwise be able to earn a living.
Haitian artist Josnel Bruno’s home accessories are
meticulously crafted from recycled oil drums while Bijou
Lakay will present hand-made jewellery that reflect Haiti’s rich
cultural heritage through the use of bullhorns. Other jewellery
designers include Designs by Nadia of Saint Lucia and Reve from
Jamaica, both utilising natural materials found within the natural
landscape of their respective islands.
Also from Jamaica, Hands in Clay and BAUGHaus Design
Studio produce a range of home décor accents. Designer Marlon
Darbeau, from Trinidad and Tobago, will also showcase his new
lines of innovative new objects.
Earthworks from Barbados will be displaying its whimsical lines
of red clay ceramics alongside Guyanese producer Rainforest
Pottery’s stylish vases and vessels hand-painted with traditional
Amerindian motifs. Also from Guyana, Amazon Authentics creates
original pieces from differing types
ype of tropical woods.
Exhibitor profiles
Goodlookers
Hall 5 Stand K11
www.goodlookers.co.uk
Goodlookers’ increasingly popular ready readers range is now
synonymous with up-to-the-minute trends at great prices. The
brand has launched over 35 gorgeous new reading glasses
models, which it’ll be showing at the show. Fun new designs
include Layla which fuses a vintage-styled frame with stunning
two-tone colour options, and Lizzy which incorporates an original
fabric arm pattern.
Perfect for Christmas parties is Quartet with 42 diamantés,
and a must for the men is Dean, which combines a bold retro
frame shape with fun colourful accents. All Goodlookers readers
include a coordinating pouch for the finishing touch.
Goodlookers has experienced phenomenal success with its
collection of deluxe glasses cases, and the brand’s new tiered
acrylic retail display will increase sales of this popular range
even more this autumn/winter. New glasses cases include the
trendy new leatherette tassle case (which incorporates a glasses
screwdriver and cleaning cloth) and a charming new variation of
the brand’s best-selling silver heart case.
Personalised Memento Company
Hall 5 Stand K03
www.personalisedmemento.co.uk
Personalised Memento Company (PMC) is a large supplier
of personalised gifts and has a huge offering of gifts in
every category. The ranges are designed in-house including
personalised alcohol and glassware, silverware to ceramics
and greetings cards and stationery. Each gift is individually
personalised and the majority of gifts are available to be
dispatched for next day delivery.
PMC has thousands of products on offer for every occasion
ranging from traditional to contemporary styles. The company
also offers a free personalised gift website solution, email
sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk for more information.
106 giftfocus
Exhibitor profiles
Kenro
Hall 5 Stand K05
www.kenro.co.uk
Kenro will be displaying its extensive
range of photo albums and frames
at the show. Many new products will
be displayed; the Cottage Flower and
Candy Series of book-bound slip-in
albums will feature alongside the
new Patchwork baby albums.
Lifestyle albums including
Summer Breeze and Tundra
will also be shown.
Kenro has also extended the
ever-popular Holiday Series of
albums adding new sizes. New
frames, including Chester,
Toulon and Kington Series,
will be on view with the new
Lytton and Milton ranges.
Visit the Kenro stand to see
the new designs along with
the popular existing ranges,
and collect a copy of the
summer brochure.
Intelex Group
Hall 5 Stand J16-K17
www.intelex.co.uk
Heatable plush toy inventors
Intelex Group, will showcase
its latest line-up of Warmies® at the show.
Intelex Group, through its innovation agenda, has been creating
demand for warming gift products ever since the creation of the
original and hugely popular therapeutic Hot Pak in 1995.
Keen to capitalise on new up and coming trends, the Intelex Group
continue to add to the popular Warmies range. This year has seen the
launch of Cozy Pets and British wildlife themed heatable toys including
a badger, fox and hedgehog, along with more exotic characters
including a dinosaur, panda and unicorn. The range can be gently
warmed in the microwave to release the soothing scent of lavender.
Heaven Scent
Hall 5 Stand L20
www.heavenscent.co.uk
Heaven Scent is launching a new Christmas scent, Nutmeg and
Cinnamon, which will sit alongside the Christmas Scents range. Holiday
favourite spices Nutmeg and Cinnamon evoke the fresh smell of festive
baking throughout your home.
Also being launched is Heaven Scents’ new room spray range. “We’ve
created a natural room spray that’s non-flammable and vegetable
based, combined with our best-selling candle aromas they truly are
beautiful and provide an instant hit of fragrance to any room”, says
Daniel Pettitt, Owner and founder of Heaven Scent.
108 giftfocus
Busy Bee Candles
Hall 5 Stand K72
www.busybeecandles.co.uk
Busy Bee Candles is
showcasing its new
range of electric tart
warmers. Featuring
hand-made mosaic
style shades, variable
heat switches and long
leads for convenience,
these are sure to be a
big hit. With an RRP
starting at £23.95 and
over 20 styles available,
the company believes
these will be on a lot of wax addicts’ Christmas lists.
Busy Bee will also be showcasing its new Christmas advent calendar,
priced at RRP £19.95. Each of the 24 cells within the calendar contains a
different highly scented wax tart melt that’s perfect for a whole evening
of home fragrance. All melts within the calendar are selected from the
company’s huge range of over 30 speciality Christmas scents to create
the ultimate cosy home this Christmas.
toys & games
Puzzles and plush to keep little ones
(and bigger ones!) entertained this winter
Take a trip down memory
lane with a fabulous new
Ladybird Books Vintage
collection being launched
by Lagoon. The 17-title
range of vintage games and
puzzles includes a trivia
quiz, a memory game, party
games, a cookie kit, mini
jigsaws using artwork from
the Ladybird Fairytales
collection and a 500-piece jigsaw featuring the iconic Ladybird
alphabet print.
Managing Director Heather Watherston said, “Think back to
the days before television and computer games, when childhood
was a time of innocence and outdoor play – our Ladybird Books
Vintage Collection range brings to life illustrations from the muchloved classics that captured this golden moment in British culture.”
T: +44 (0)800 252 723
www.thelagoongroup.com
Intelex Group has made the search for that ever-elusive Christmas gift
for loved ones a thing of the past. The company’s Warmies® products,
including Hooty Owls and Socky Dolls, are popular all year round, but
especially during the cold winter months.
The multi-purpose nature of Intelex’s fully microwavable plush toys
brings soothing comfort and blissful warmth to both children and
adults. They make a terrific play toy by day and after only two minutes
in the microwave, the plush toy is ready to become a bed-warming
companion. A fun, safe and convenient alternative to the traditional
hot water bottle.
T: +44 (0)1933 679 777
www.intelex.co.uk
Young ones love the world of pure
imagination and dressing up, and TellTails
allows them just that, with something for
all personalities, occasions, parties or just
messing around in the garden with creative
play. These wearable tails are a must-have
toy for 2015 so let your little ones (or bigger
ones) join the revolution that is tail wagging.
An in house team of ‘Tailers’ hand-make
the animal tails in Hackney, London to the
highest specification using only top
quality materials.
T: +44 (0)7780 901 630
www.telltails.co.uk
The Happy
Headbangers Club
has an eye-catching
range of helmet
covers that instantly
transform a child’s
helmet into an
adventure buddy.
Made in Cornwall,
using high quality
soft and colourful
fabrics, they’re
instantly appealing
and tactile with
animal themes that
resemble cuddly
toys. One size fits
all and can be
personalised with
an embroidered name – a stylish, yet ultimately practical safety
promoting gift, suitable for bike, ski, skate and riding helmets.
T: +353 878 749 581
www.happyheadbangersclub.com
giftfocus 111
Gibsons has added
the much-anticipated
2015 Christmas puzzle
to its collection. The
13th in this series, each
Christmas limited
edition puzzle has
been Gibsons’ bestselling puzzle every
year since launch. It’s
Christmas! is finished
in a gold-foiled box and each puzzle contains a serial numbered
certificate, making it an ideal collector’s item.
T: +44 (0)20 8661 8866
www.gibsonsgames.co.uk
Not Before Tea has
launched a baby gift box;
perfect as a new baby
or christening gift. The
traditional hardback
story book, entitled Pip
Gets a Job, sits with Pip
the Mouse himself; a
velvety soft plush toy
with a little hand-made
jumper and shorts.
They’re wrapped in tissue and presented in a signature Not Before Tea
keepsake gift box, tied with cream ribbon.
T: +44 (0)1442 248 103
www.notbeforetea.co.uk
With Doctor Who due
back on our screens
this autumn, there’s
no better time to take
advantage of Half Moon
Bay’s Doctor Who
products including the
500-piece Tardis puzzle,
which comes beautifully
gift boxed in your own
mini Tardis. The puzzle
itself is the interior of
the Tardis, with one of
the most iconic Doctors
of recent times – David Tennant. This puzzle is the perfect gift
to provide hours of entertainment for both children and adults
during the holidays and beyond.
T: +44 (0)1225 473 873
112 giftfocus
Lanka Kade’s
jigsaw range
just keeps on
getting bigger
and better. The
already chunky rubber wood puzzles are going seriously big and bright
for autumn with the launch of its new Jumbo Jigsaw collection. This
autumn, Lanka Kade will also be launching fantastic new heritage toys
that are already in high demand.
Trading since 1994, Lanka Kade has earned a reputation for fair trade
values, excellent customer service and active support for independent
retailers – and is a proud member of BAFTS. All the toys are designed
exclusively by Anne – the company’s full time designer.
T: +44 (0)1858 463 850
www.lankakade.co.uk
These amazing records, combined with photographic evidence
of over 52 astounding feats of human endeavour, will make
you cringe with disbelief and wonder. These large format, matt
laminated cards from IF can also be used as playing cards and are
a perfect stocking filler for anyone fascinated by anything with a
warning to ‘not attempt this trick at home’!
T: +44 (0)1751 475 757
www.thatcompanycalledif.com
it’s all in the name
Brand Licensing Europe, the only pan-European event dedicated to licensing and brand
extension, celebrates its 17th birthday this year. Here’s what to expect
In brief
Show
Organiser
Where
When
Website
Open
Twitter
Brand Licensing Europe (BLE)
Advanstar Licensing
Olympia, London
www.brandlicensing.eu
Tuesday 8.45am - 5pm;
@bleurope
Last year’s show was the biggest yet in the
event’s history, with more square footage
occupied and more retailers in attendance
than ever before – and the team are looking
to break more records this year.
What to expect from BLE 2015?
This year’s show will feature around 2,500
brands, characters and images on display
from more than 300 exhibitors, of which over
44 are new. To help visitors navigate easily,
the show floor is divided into three zones:
• Art, Design & Image
• Brands & Lifestyle
• Character & Entertainment
New exhibitors in the Art, Design & Image
zone include: Alex Underdown Art, Dupenny
and Hello Munki. Elsewhere, in the Brands
& Lifestyle zone, the show welcomes Pepsi,
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, PGA Tour,
Lee Stafford and Vimto International. In the
Character & Entertainment zone expect to
see NOW That’s What I Call Music, Leoni S.P.A,
Topps Europe and RaNT!, among others.
Free educational sessions
Visitors can choose from two educational
programmes, split between the Licensing
Academy and the Brands & Lifestyle Theatre,
which was launched last year.
The Licensing Academy will feature a
packed programme of sessions offering
industry insights. Sessions include an
introduction to the show, facts and figures
from knowledge partners and keynotes from
industry trail blazers, with past speakers from
114 giftfocus
Mojang, Rovio, FIFA and Lucas Licensing.
The Brands & Lifestyle Theatre will offer free
sessions tailored specifically to the business
of licensing brands. Visitors will hear expert
guidance on licensing within the world of
sport, lifestyle, fashion and heritage brands.
Run in partnership with Brand Jam, the
sessions will present powerful case studies
alongside Brand Jam’s interpretation of how
and why it's so successful.
New – SPLiCE educational afternoons
A new feature for this year, visitors can attend
educational expert panel sessions from
SPLiCE in the Licensing Academy on Direct
to Retail, Social Accountability and AntiCounterfeiting. Brands taking part include
Chupa Chups, Sainsbury’s, Insight Licensing
Services, United Nations Office of Drugs and
Crime, World Customs Organization, World
Trademark Review and 24IP.
License This!
Now in its sixth year, the License This!
competition offers those with brand new
creative concepts the opportunity to break
into the global licensing industry. The final
will take place on Thursday 15th October in
front of a packed audience, with finalists
vying for the chance to win a prize worth over
£6,000, including a stand at Brand Licensing
Europe 2016, and the opportunity to bring the
product to market.
The property owners of last year’s winner
RaNT!, a fun and irreverent character who has
something to say about the bits of modern life
that really get on our nerves, have been busy
developing the characters in the portfolio to
bring back to this year’s show. g
To register for free entry or to find
further information please visit www.
brandlicensing.eu or follow them on
Twitter for the latest news and updates.
Read The BLE Blog for insights into the
show at www.thebleblog.com
ready to shine
The Diamond Jubilee Edition of IJL 2015 at Olympia, London, is on course for a stunning
show this year
found anywhere in the UK.”
In brief
Show
Organiser
Where
When
Website
Twitter
IJL
Reed Exhibitions
Olympia, London
www.jewellerylondon.com
@jewellerylondon
Some of the cutting edge brands at IJL this
year include over 100 new companies from
around the world, such as the designer
Ivanka Trump and Beverley K from the US,
Bykovs Jewelry House from Russia and
Dezire’D Jewels from India. They’re joined by
established brands such as Links of London,
IBB London, Endless, Domino and Unique.
Sam Willoughby, Event Director,
commented, “The Olympia venue is the
perfect venue to host our Diamond Jubilee
edition with a portfolio of over 550 companies
from 37 countries and a number of exciting
sponsors. IJL will provide an inspirational
global showcase for innovative brands and
designers across every category, including
the most impressive line-up of fine jewellery
116 giftfocus
Returning exhibitors make their mark at
IJL 2015
IBB London will be showing its new range of
fashion basics at the show. Nathaniel Kovacs,
Director of IBB London commented, “IBB
London has been exhibiting at International
Jewellery London since its inception and
believe it to be UK’s most important show,
both for the independent jeweller and the
larger retail groups”.
Unique Jewelry is a UK leading brand
specialising in affordable and stylish ladies
jewellery, along with being the key leaders
in men’s accessories. For women, its range
includes colourful and soft leather bracelets
with charms, beautiful sterling silver
necklaces and elegant earrings. The company
is proud to be releasing its new leather charm
bracelets at IJL, a range using new materials,
which have never been shown before.
For men, the collections include urban and
contemporary jewellery ranging from braided
leather bracelets, rings, pendants and an
extensive selection of design-led cufflinks.
Unique Men prides itself on high quality
materials, using silver, steel, titanium and
tungsten to name a few.
“Unique has exhibited at IJL since 1999,
and for us it’s important to showcase our
latest products and collections here and to
meet up with current and new clients. The
timing is also perfect for us as it’s right before
Christmas,” said Daniel Ozel, Director,
Unique Jewelry.
Exhibitors adding to the IJL Experience
An exclusive group of exhibitors will also be
adding to their IJL visibility by investing in
high profile sponsorship opportunities.
Bykovs Jewelry House is sponsoring the
acclaimed IJL Diamond Club Lounge. Bykovs
Jewelry House is the family project of the
famous Russian jewellery designers, Gennady
and Natalie Bykovs. To date, the company’s
creations have been found in world-famous
museums such as the Hermitage in St.
Petersburg, the Moscow Kremlin and La
Coruna in Spain.
Champagne Thiénot, an independent
contemporary boutique Champagne
House, has chosen to add IJL to its glittering
sponsorship portfolio of the CNB Yacht
Club, Maison and Objet, and previously the
Oscars, as the Official Champagne Partner for
the show.
Download the app Finally, Links of London and Folli Follie are
sponsoring the innovative new IJL app. An
essential tool for all visitors, the app will
enable show visitors to keep up to date on
new show features and event highlights,
browse seminars and add favourites to
their diaries, view the exhibitor list and
profiles, search the product directory and pick
up special exhibitor offers.
The IJL app is downloadable now for free at www.jewellerylondon.com/app through the
App Store and the Google Play Store. g
Hazel Atkinson Jeweller y
Adelaide Silver Frame
Next showing at
IJL stand Q40.
Handmade In The UK
tel 0115 9411110
www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.co.uk
Fabulous wide silver decorative metal picture frame. A beautiful
addition to any room, and the perfect gift for someone special.
This high polished silver metal frame has a lot of dimension sloping
inwards, with a mount around the photo, adding the finishing touch.
High quality black velvet backing with easel for vertical or horizontal
table top display, and comes with hangers for vertical or horizontal
wall mounting. Heavy weight metal picture frame is made with
exceptional workmanship and comes individually boxed. In this style
we offer both 4x6 and 5x7 inch.
Tel: +44 (0) 1908976443
Fax: +44 (0) 1908373463
Email: sales@homsquare.co.uk
www.homsquare.co.uk
flying high
Gift Focus chats to John Allan, owner of Stone the Crows, about juggling
wholesale and retail
Tell us a bit about Stone the Crows.
Stone the Crows commenced trading as ATN
Marketing Ltd in August 1978 and began with
a wholesale collection of Italian ceramics,
terracotta and contemporary products.
Everything was from Italy – at a time when
‘Made in Italy’ was at its zenith. We worked
mainly in Italy until the mid ’90s, when
the wholesale collection gradually began
to evolve into the eclectic mix of home
decoration products that it is today.
When and why did you decide to open your
first retail shop?
We’ve just opened our fifth shop in High
Garrett near Braintree. The others are
currently in Dronfield, Leamington Spa,
Nottingham and Sheffield. We opened our
first shop in Solihull in 1987, and due to the
regeneration of the Solihull Shopping Centre,
we re-located to Leamington Spa in 2003. We
had a wonderful shop in Bath which became
part of a developer’s plan to revitalise the
area. Sadly, we took the money rather than
face Bath City Council’s dilapidations bill.
Thus, the retail side of the business has been
part of our lives for 28 years and plays a major
part in assessing and developing product for
our wholesale ranges. Anyway, I’ve always
been a frustrated retailer
“We try hard to make our
shops special with the
wow factor and stock a wide
range of price points from
pocket-money pickups to
stunning furniture.”
What was the most important factor when
opening a new shop?
It must be a good secondary site with good
parking, but, most importantly, somewhere
that doesn’t compete with our wholesale
customers. We try hard to make our shops
special with the wow factor and stock a wide
range of price points from pocket money
pickups to stunning furniture.
How do you juggle wholesale and retail?
Have there been any difficulties?
We’re very mindful of our existing wholesale
customers and are therefore very conscious
of not competing with them. Our wholesale
policy is not to saturate towns with our
products and we apply the same ethos to our
retail shops. We’ve occasionally had problems
with UK suppliers, who don’t like to deliver to
wholesalers who have shops, in case we copy
their products.
What items do you sell? Do you use any
other suppliers?
We have a very big greetings cards area and
try very hard to be different, in order not
to look like a card chain or a supermarket
selection. We stock products from our own
wholesale range and also from more than
118 giftfocus
100 other suppliers from many parts of
the industry.
Although the shops have basically the same
product and there is a loose ‘control’ over
what goes into each shop, the managers have
a great say in when and what they stock and
how it’s displayed.
The managers all work on the Stone the
Crows exhibition stands as well as visiting
other suppliers at Spring Fair and Autumn
Fair. We also benefit from my overseas visits
to source unusual and interesting things that
help to keep the shops fresh and different.
How do you keep ‘ahead of the game’ with
regards to trends?
I just do my own thing!
What’s your current best seller?
Sacre Bleu – pairs of cast iron mice
from China.
Do you have an online shop? Is this
something that will come in the future?
No we don’t have an online shop for the retail
side of Stone the Crows. Online websites for
retailer interview
make up the majority of our sales. Not to
mention silly, fun and sometimes slightly
risqué purchases.
How often do you change your window
dressings and shop displays?
This is a continual process – but at least every
month for the window displays and daily for
our shop displays.
retail outlets that have such a well-known
wholesale business have to be very carefully
thought through. I passionately believe
that a wholesaler should not sell directly
to the public through an online offering, as
it’s setting up in competition with its own
wholesale customers.
Which trade shows do you attend and why?
We visit the two most important UK Shows:
Spring Fair and Autumn Fair. We also visit Top
Drawer, Home & Gift Harrogate and the Craft
Fair in Harrogate. We also visit the Manchester
Furniture Shows and The Furniture Show at
the NEC in January as well as various supplier
showroom days. I also visit overseas shows
in India, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, The
Philippines, France and Germany.
Describe your customer?
Our customer base is very diverse and ranges
across the age spectrum. Obviously, our
furniture customers need time and discussion
(as well as tape measures!)
However, presents and indulgent purchases
Do you do much on social network sites, and
if so how do you use them?
Admittedly, we’re very weak in this area.
However, our Nottingham shop has a young
manageress who’s brought us into the 21st
century through Facebook.
the local branch of St. John’s Ambulance.
What advice would you give to a wholesaler
thinking about opening their first gift shop?
Try to find premises where the landlord is
prepared to accept turnover linked rent.
Do you have any exciting plans for Stone the
Crow’s future?
Having five retail shops, 1,500 wholesale
customers and The Summerhouse is quite
enough excitement for the moment! g
“I passionately believe that
a wholesaler should not sell
directly to the public through
an online offering, as it’s
setting up in competition with
its own wholesale customers.”
Do you ever hold events or promotional
evenings in your store? If so, please tell us
about previous ones you’ve done. How have
they been successful?
We have charity days in our Dronfield shop
and the one towards Christmas involves the
local church choir singing carols and Father
Christmas visits. The shop stays open until
9pm and 10 per cent of the day’s takings go to
The Summerhouse
Who can remember the Giftware Industry
in 1987 – the year the Summerhouse
started? It was a very different place to the
huge arena that’s now the marketplace.
Some 27 years ago Stone The Crows and
Sia/Parlane were trying to get more ‘peg
board’ space at the Harrogate Gift Fair for
1987. Stephen Halstead, the then organiser,
offered them half a marquee on The
Majestic Hotel’s lawns to be shared with
Leather Goods.
Stone The Crows asked him to hold fire
for 24 hours and they took up the gauntlet
and committed to the whole marquee.
Stone the Crows
T: +44 (0)1246 299 800
www.stonethecrows.co.uk
Thus the Summerhouse was born with
eight companies filling the marquee.
From the start, the concept of The
Summerhouse was to create an ambience
conducive to buying with a collection of
companies that complimented each other
in terms of market level, quality and
design content.
Whilst Summerhouse has grown from
eight companies in 1987 to 35 companies
at Spring Fair 2014, the aim is not to keep
expanding but to maintain the desire to
bring the buyer the very best selection of
companies across the board, but within the
confines of Hall 8.
giftfocus 119
GA news
We bring you the very latest news from The Giftware Association
Gift of the Year opens doors
Gift of the Year 2015 winners who exhibited at
Home & Gift spoke enthusiastically about the
competition and how their businesses
are developing.
My Gifts Trade not only won the Made in UK
category for Hinchcliffe & Barber’s Songbird
Grey Ceramics, but also scooped The Judges’
Choice award with the same range.
My Gifts Trade
Director Paul
Connett said
that winning had
“opened doors”.
Anna Rigby of John
Lewis had voted
for the range, but
the company was
advised by the
retailer at a GA Meet the Buyer event that it
should consider widening it, as JLP would
need more product before merchandising it
in its stores.
“We listened to what they said and their
feedback has helped. We’ve expanded the
range with the same designs and now have
gardening products and more homeware.
Nearly everything we have produced they like
and they’ve signed off most of it.”
Stone Glow Candles
won the Home
Fragrance category
with its Modern
Apothecary Candles
and the range was
due to go into John
Lewis stores at the
end of July.
Stone Glow
Chairman Perry Simmons said, “Gift of the
Year has a lot of credibility and holding it
at Spring Fair certainly drives people to the
120 giftfocus
stand. We’ve given out the winners’ cards to
our stockists so that they can display them
next to the products. We’re now working on
a range to enter into the 2016 competition. It
would be nice to win two years in a row!”
Demand for The
Art File range
FORM continues to
increase, according
to Sales Co-ordinator
James Mace. It
won the Card and
Wrap category as
a first-time entrant
and the three skyline
cards – of New York, Paris and London – “sell
tremendously well”. Two more will be added
towards the end of the year.
“Getting an accolade from Gift of the Year is
a great achievement as there are some pretty
handy people looking at your products and
passing their judgement – and we’re very
thankful for that. We got a lot more interest
after winning, and having the presentations
at Spring Fair helps quite a lot. The award
stands tall in the entrance hall of our offices in
Nottingham,” said James.
Beefayre won Body, Bath and Spa with the
Waggledance Collection, whose products
are free from parabens and sulphates, vegan
friendly and PETA certified. Its founder,
Sharon Jervis, commented, “Winning raises
your profile. People came onto our stand
and bought after seeing the product in the
showcase at Spring Fair. We’ll be entering this
year and have a few little surprises that we’re
working on and nominating those.”
Adam Langley, Professor Puzzle’s head of
sales, said that the Fascination Star Wars 3D
Metal Construction Kits “really kicked us into
licensing and is one of our best-selling lines”.
It took the Branded/Character prize and the
company was “really excited to have the
range and to have won the award”, which
drove traffic to its stand at Spring Fair.
Laura’s brush with success
Internationally-known designer Nick Munro
presented The GA’s prize for students at
this year’s Pewter Live event, the annual
competition staged by The Worshipful
Company of Pewterers to promote the
versatility of pewter and its use in the
manufacture of contemporary
household objects.
Laura Colebrooke of Truro College won the
award for her Camelia make-up brush set,
which was adjudged to be on-trend and have
real commercial viability. Highly commended
for The GA prize was Stacey West from
Plymouth College of Art and Design whose
Found Treasures hand-made necklace mixed
pewter with silver and precious gemstones.
As winner, Laura will benefit from free
membership of The GA – should she decide
to go into business when she leaves college
– and free entry for her designs in Gift of the
Year 2016 or a future competition, as well as
free publicity in the gift trade media.
Seminars
GA vice-chairman Henri Davis will hold
seminars at Autumn Fair on Setting Up in
Independent Retail, on the High Street or
Online. Please check the website
www.autumnfair.com nearer the date of the
show for venues, dates and timings.
Joining The GA
The GA signed up 45 retailer subscribers and
12 new members at Home & Gift Harrogate. g
Further information
For The GA, log on to www.ga-uk.org
hot property
Catch up with all the latest from the world of licensing
hot property
Widdop and Star Wars join forces
The British Postal
Museum and Archive
opens up the treasures
from its collections
for licensing
The British Postal Museum & Archive
(BPMA) is pleased to announce the
appointment of Heritage Licensing as
its licensing agency, making many of
the treasures from its vast collections
available for licensing, some for the first
time, as it moves towards opening The
Postal Museum and Mail Rail in 2016.
The BPMA collections include a
treasure trove of stunning images from
the now iconic General Post Office (GPO)
logo to the revolutionary poster designs
of the pioneering GPO public relations department. The collections
also include over 100,000 striking photographs detailing British life
from the ’30s to the present.
Licences will be available for purposes such as book illustrations,
clothing design, toys and stationery, plus many other applications.
To find out more, please direct all licensing enquiries to Martin
Pittaway at info@heritagelicensing.com or call +44 (0)7947 423 005.
Widdop Bingham has
linked up with Lucas
Film and Disney to
launch an out-of-thisworld new collection
of Star Wars licensed
gifts for the busy
Christmas season.
The range launched
at Harrogate Home &
Gift and will feature
on its Autumn Fair
stand in September
(Hall 5 Stand L2/M3),
complete with a real-life storm trooper.
The seventh Star Wars film is already generating high levels of
interest from both new fans and old and with several more movies
planned between now and 2020, its appeal now spans several
generations. Widdop Bingham will be running approximately 15
lines across paper wrap and tin storage, covering both new material
and retro imagery.
To find out more about this collection, please contact Widdop
Bingham’s sales office on +44 (0)161 688 1226.
Little guys with a big success story
Responding to overwhelming success in the USA and Australia,
alongside customer demand this side of the Atlantic, Hallmark is to
launch Itty Bittys into the plush market in the UK.
Itty Bittys is a range of iconic plush characters from film, comics
and television that have fantastic collectability for kids of all ages as
well as film and character fans. Their small, four inch stature makes
them perfect for collecting and just right for pairing with a greeting
card as a small gift, or a cheeky little gift to spoil yourself with.
Launched in the USA in 2012 to capitalise on an opportunity in
the plush market, Itty Bittys has enjoyed huge success (an 800 per
cent growth in sales in the first year), with an ever-increasing range
growing from eight to more than 80 in just three years.
Itty Bittys will launch in the UK in September with Batman,
Superman, Wonder Woman, Snoopy and Charlie Brown, Scooby Doo
and The Wizard of Oz characters.
For more information, visit www.hub.hallmark.co.uk
giftfocus 123
hot property
Green People support
The Woodland Trust
Green People has over 100 multi
award-winning high performance
skin and hair care formulations,
with 90 per cent natural and organic
ingredients; it’s also 100 per cent
vegetarian and 100 per cent crueltyfree. By choosing this organic gift,
you’re helping to support British
woodland and the animals
which call it their home. There
are four gift sets available: 50p
will be paid to support the
Woodland Trust for every hand
care set and body care set, each
priced at £19.95; and 30p will
be donated to the trust for each
facial care and men’s collection
set, each priced at £13.95. The
Woodland Trust creates and
restores new and ancient woodland, protects them from destructive
development and breathes new life into these precious habitats.
For more information, please visit www.greenpeople.co.uk or
call +44 (0)1403 740 350.
Latest addition to Gibsons’ line brings together
classic and contemporary The Beano artwork
DC Thomson unveils its latest addition to its partnership with Gibsons.
Made in the UK on 100 per cent recycled board, the new The Beano Past and
Present 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle is now available.
In a first for the brand, Gibsons’ new Past and Present jigsaw brings
together two distinct creative directions for the property. Resulting in
a fun and quirky puzzle that will appeal to fans of all ages, the classic
The Beano comic artwork is blended with the contemporary Dennis the
Menace and Gnasher design.
For more information, please contact Gibsons Games on
+44 (0)20 8661 8866, www.gibsonsgames.co.uk
124 giftfocus
creating a bespoke offering that
suits your shop
Ian Downes, Director at Start
Licensing, reveals the latest in the
world of licensing
Over the summer months it would have been
easy to think that there was only one licensed
character in town – the Minions. Licensing and promotional activity
was very broad and comprehensive with some clever product
partnerships such as special edition Tic Tac mints through to a wall
of yellow plush backpacks, duvet covers and greeting cards.
This omnipresence may be a cause for some retailers, especially
independents, to turn away from licensing. Traditionally, it’s hard
for independent retailers to succeed with licensing when product
is widely available in mass retail. Price and product availability is a
challenge. Often, retailers elect not to get involved.
This is understandable to a degree, but there may be an
argument to get involved in a programme with so much
momentum but in a more selected way – in the case of the Minions,
a potential buying strategy for some retailers may have been to
focus on a particular category of product, based on a specific
consumer age profile of local customers or focusing on the specific
time of the year linked to ‘end use’ of the product – for example,
products that might suit school holidays and summer holidays. This
would be a case of knowing your customers, your location and their
interests, then using a hot licence to your benefit. You don’t need to
buy everything that’s available.
The marketing push behind licensing events like the Minions
movie cannot be underestimated. With so many products available,
it should be possible to create a bespoke offering that suits your shop.
Conversely, when something is so dominant in the market, there
could be a window of opportunity for retailers to offer something
different. Consumers may well respond well to a different retail
proposition. This is where I think independent retailers can
score well. They have the opportunity to build a rapport with
their customers and build up a little more direct knowledge at
a genuinely personal level about what the customers may be
interested in. This can work on a hyper-local level – for example, I
noticed Ely’s department store in Wimbledon had fully embraced
the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and had bought into
licensed ranges. They’d built on this with clever in-store displays.
Try to use licensing to suit you rather than ignoring it – a clever and
innovative buying strategy for licensed products can bring welcome
new business and help create interest in store.
You might find it useful to visit Brand License Europe, the trade
show for licensing which is also retailer friendly. For registration
details, visit www.brandlicensing.eu/brand-licensing-europe
Ian Downes
Ian Downes
www.startlicensing.co.uk
Mezu is passionate about
providing customers with the
very best realistic beautiful silk
flowers that can be found in the
marketplace. We’re sure you’ll
love our range of outstanding
English and Hybrid tea roses
which are part of our stunning
collection that also includes
gorgeous peonies, dazzling
dahlias, elegant hydrangeas and
colourful gerberas to name a few
- and each variety is available in
a wide assortment of colours.
scotland’s trade fair
autumn almost sold out
Mark Saunders, Director of Scotland’s Trade Fairs, reveals what to expect at this year’s show
For many retailers Christmas is the make or
break season so it’s crucial to stock the right
goods, hold enough stock – but not too much
– and offer gifts at various price points. With
the season of autumn gift fairs nearly upon us,
the big question is which ones to attend and
what to buy.
One of the last autumn gift fairs in the gift
calendar is Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn,
which is a small but highly successful show
for both exhibitors and buyers. The friendly
atmosphere plus the chance to see some
exhibitors from the north who only exhibit
here, makes it a must attend show for Scottish
and northern English buyers.
With retailers holding far less stock now
than in the past and re-ordering made easier
with modern technology, many buyers will
wait until as late as possible to order, making
the timing of this show ideal. Held at the SECC,
Glasgow, from 20th - 21st September, 2015 this
show has an excellent line-up of new and
existing companies this year, with almost
every stand now sold.
126 giftfocus
Amongst the 160 exhibitors is a raft of
new companies. New for 2015 is creative gift
wholesaler RJB Stone with its inspiring huge
range of perfect Christmas gifts; The Blossom
Collection’s unusual flower lights; Apples to
Pears gifts and toys; and Samantha Holmes’
stunning Alpaca clothes and accessories.
Launch Gallery
The Launch Gallery for young, original
companies has a line-up of about 15 exhibitors
showcasing some truly inspirational gifts.
From Stone’s of Scotland’s striking scarves
and accessories which reflect the country’s
rich natural geology to Emma Dune Designs’
home interiors and Stripykat’s stylish fashion
accessories to Pop up Designs’ quirky gifts.
The Launch Gallery is sponsored by the
show and successful companies enjoy
subsidised stand rates to provide very cost
effective exhibiting packages for newcomers.
It’s become an important launch pad for many
innovative start-ups who have grown into
successful companies.
Other new exciting exhibitors include a
company that launched in the Launch Gallery
at Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring a couple of
years ago and has since seen sales and its
profile rocket – The Big Cheese Making Kit is
a great Christmas gift and is sure to attract
many retailers from both the gift and farm
shop market. New are also Jill Kirkham’s home
accessories, gifts from Emmeline Simpson
Designs and Emseeitch, and Wilderness at
Heart’s candles, which all add new excitement
to the event.
Established exhibitors will be showcasing
their latest 2015 Christmas ranges, and
include some of which will only be available
at this show. Tartan Twist and Sheila Fleet
both supply some of Scotland’s most iconic
jewellery and will have a good Christmas
range. Complementing these on gifts and
jewellery are Belltrees Forge, Chloe Gardner
homewares, Dekassa Candles, Hunters Quay
Handbags, Mclaggan Smith Mugs, Rosa Red
fashion jewellery and many more.
A look at 2015
So far, 2015 hasn’t been the best year for retail
with a slow start to the spring/summer retail
season. However, some areas of Scotland
are faring better, with Edinburgh and the Isle
of Skye two particular favourites for visitors
and shoppers, come rain or shine. The late
summer season will mean that many buyers
will be looking for impulse purchase, well
designed and commercial gift ideas which are
perfect for small presents and stocking fillers,
as well as larger Christmas presents.
Fiona Fabian from Papyrus Gifts in Glasgow
says, “We’ve found quite a few of our suppliers
at Scotland’s Trade Fair and are always on the
lookout for niche companies that perhaps
don’t exhibit at bigger shows down south.
We find customers are increasingly asking
for Scottish or UK made products and it’s at
this show (and the spring one) where we can
source these products.” g
Contact
Scotland Trade Fair Autumn takes place
from 20th-21st September, 2015, at the
SECC, Glasgow. For more information, visit
www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk
all the answers
Our experts tackle your retail-related queries
Q
A
After finishing her Fine Art degree, Victoria Eggs spent a
few years travelling around the world and found out it’s
true what they say: there’s no place like home.
Victoria’s work is a celebration of all things British,
from initial inspiration to final manufacture. You’ll find
Made in Britain on every one of the company’s products
– her proud salute to all that makes Britain British.
Contact Victoria on T: +44 (0)20 7704 2840 or
E: info@victoriaeggs.co.uk
Simon Howship is Managing Director of mobile app
development specialist Common Agency.
An experienced shopkeeper by trade, he once
managed Dixons PC World stores throughout the
country. However, a self-confessed technology
aficionado Simon has also worked as Head of
E-Commerce at Freeserve, and ran a venture capital
technology business in Canary Wharf.
Amalgamating his experience from the last 20 years,
he now spearheads native mobile app projects for
retailers throughout the UK and internationally.
Contact Simon on T: +44 (0)1484 437 454 or E: hello@commonagency.com
Vicky Leyshon is Head of Design at D for diamond
available from Gecko.
She discovered her interest and fascination for
accessorising and jewellery while studying Fashion
Design in Derby. After graduating from Birmingham
School of Jewellery, she worked as a freelance
jewellery designer with Coates Viyella and Sally
Smith OBE.
Her ambition for a career in accessories then brought
her to London after she accepted a job with Accurist
Watches and later with Mark’s & Spencer’s jewellery suppliers. Gecko, a young
fresh company keen to develop new ideas, was then the perfect choice for her.
Some 13 years on, she’s made quite the impact.
Contact Vicky on T: +44 (0)1376 532 000 or E: sales@geckojewellery.com
128 giftfocus
Well-designed website
Q
A
I want to revamp my website on a budget. What top
tips would you advise in order to make the consumer
visit as seamless as possible?
Victoria says: Add a ‘Data capture’ box to the home
page of your website. This is an effective way to capture
contact information that you can use to move forward, and
provide a great customer experience to your subscribers
by giving them the content they’re searching for.
Simple colour palette. I’d recommend keeping to one
to three colours. Let the product images add the colour to
your site. Keep the site clean and simple. It’s best to use one font
for all the content (you can bold, capitalise and italicise
this for variation). I’d then advise selecting a couple of
different fonts to use on the site for promotional banners. I
use one script font and one that’s simple and easy to read
for all the banner images and then carry this theme across
to the newsletters, blog posts and social media to create a
recognisable and the simple layout.
There’s no single right way to lay out a website. There
are endless combinations that could work and it very
much depends on the purpose of the website. Have a look
at other companies that do something similar to you, and
see what works well and what doesn’t and start to adapt
yours accordingly. Keep in mind that the top of the website
Victoria Eggs
q&a
Q
A
is the most important part and make sure all
the details you want customers to know are
in that section. If it’s immediately obvious
what the website is about, what you want
the customers to do and how to get in touch,
you’re on the right track.
Great photography. If the central focus
of your website is to sell a product, then you
need to make sure the photos are beautiful.
If you compare a purchasing experience to
when you’re in a shop, you can pick up the
physical product, feel and assess the quality.
The images need to be vivid and compelling
enough that they can sell your product all on
their own.
Call to action. What do you want people
to do when they come to your site? Make sure
this is clear and there are links for these near
the top of the page. You want to make it as
easy as possible for people to click through.
Easy one page checkout. It’s a really
good idea to have a variety of payment card
options along with a one-page checkout. This
allows you to accurately track analytics and
makes for a great customer experience. The
less they have to do the better.
Content on your home page. Make sure
this is near the top (Google reads from the
top down). It lets people know what you do,
gives them a feel for your brand and those all
important key words are vital for being ranked
by Google. And think carefully what your key
words are.
of hand-made gifts to gather in a high-traffic
marketplace to sell their goods.
But that’s not all. A growing number of
people are capturing, editing and sharing
photos on the super-computers they carry
in their pockets. Producing an original,
personalised product such as a calendar,
canvas, magnet or mug – and incorporating
these treasured photos with the addition of
customised text – is the next logical step.
There’s no easier way for time-savvy
consumers to progress this bespoke and
often spontaneous purchase than ‘on the fly’,
using the very same mobile device. Intuitive,
easy-to-use native apps with powerful editing
tools therefore provide a quick, engaging
and hassle-free browsing and shopping
experience. Users love the ease of mobile
payments and this affection is only likely to
increase since Apple Pay came to the UK in
July 2015.
The benefits of a gifting app are magnified
during seasonal periods such as Christmas,
Easter or Father’s Day, when brands can
proactively market to consumers via push
notifications. Calendar functions can even
remind customers about important upcoming
events and dates for which a sentimental gift
may be suitable.
Without an app, market share could be
lost to brands with a more consumer-centric,
technologically savvy product offering, rich
with personalisation options.
Utilising m-commerce
Gift presentation
How are mobile apps influencing the
gifting market?
Simon says: In the UK, 24.7m smartphone
users are shopping on their mobile, spending
almost £10bn per annum in the process. This
figure is expected to rise to more than £53bn
a year, by 2025. M-commerce is therefore a
valuable retail channel.
However, mobile apps are particularly
important for the gifting market. We only
need to look at the success of brands like
Etsy, which has allowed artisan producers
How important is good packaging and
presentation in the gift market?
Vicky says: Packaging is the single most
important brand component – brands have
such a short timeframe to get the consumer
to notice their product on the shelf. A brand
is a name, logo, design, or combination of all
of these, that forever identifies the product.
Branding adds to the product’s personality
and recognised value. Creative packaging,
particularly packaging that serves consumers
in an innovative way, gives the buyer good reason
Q
A
Q
A
D for diamond
to select your brand’s products over others.
We re-branded D for diamond in 2012,
which included a re-design of the packaging.
One of our thoughts behind the packaging
changes was that when they were positioned
in windows as part of the D for diamond
displays, they made the range more eyecatching, fun and totally girly. We didn’t want
the new packaging to be hidden, as it’s so
adorable. It was important for it to have a
real designer feel, owing to its quality and
coordinating colours.
Customers seeing how the jewellery is
presented can often sway the sale. We also
wanted to create gorgeous gift packaging with
wow factor, and for it to act as the first step in
generating excitement for what was to come
– from when the child receives the gift bag, to
then peeking inside
to see the bright box with a perfectly pink
bow, and then sliding it open to reveal the
treasure inside.
With regards to POS displays, this also plays
a big part. We wanted to give a traditionally
festive feel with a touch of magic to the D
for diamond winter displays for 2015, and
introduced a four part interchangeable
display, which complements the exclusive
Christmas capsule collection. Inspired by the
enchantment of all things frozen, the eyecatching display fits perfectly into windows
or positioned upon counter tops, and is
dusted with powder blues and sprinkled with
soft sparkle. g
giftfocus 129
flying the flag
Gift Focus gets the low-down on proudly British
company Heyland & Whittle
Husband and wife team Paddy Heyland and
Ursula Whittle created the award-winning
luxury soap and fragrance company Heyland
& Whittle in 2003. Inspired by their original
location on a farm in rural Surrey, Heyland &
Whittle produces the finest hand-made soaps,
home fragrance and bath and body products.
The couple pride themselves on using
the traditional cold-processed method,
incorporating only the purest, sulphate and
paraben-free ingredients of essential oils,
herbs and spices.
The family-run business has become
one of the largest manufacturers of coldprocessed soap in England and is also one of
the few fragrance brands that can claim all its
beautiful products are lovingly manufactured
in Britain, in its West Sussex based factory.
The company employs 26 dedicated
members of staff to meet the demands of
130 giftfocus
450 shops in the UK and the 21 international
distribution points.
Heyland & Whittle collections of
quintessentially British scented candles,
diffusers and bath and body products are
available at retailers such as John Lewis and
Fortnum & Mason and can also be seen in
hundreds of independent boutiques around
the world.
Before the birth of Heyland & Whittle
as we know it, Paddy and Ursula owned a
garden furniture business importing premium
wooden furniture from Australia, then began
making the now renowned natural soaps
in 1998. Outside of the business, the pair
are avid gardeners, theatre-goers and enjoy
collecting antiques. With large families on
both sides, they get together a lot and take
pleasure in long country walks and escaping
to the seaside.
Paddy and Ursula’s home is an unusual first
floor apartment in a large Victorian country
house with large sash windows at the front
and back allowing lots of natural sunlight
into their traditional themed kitchen. There
are extensive grounds that stretch across the
back of the property, of which they own a
section to do their gardening.
The Heyland & Whittle brand represents
everything special about Britain, from the
seasons and ever changing temperatures to
the wonderful daffodils in spring. The couple’s
favourite fragrances include Green Tea &
Grapefruit closely followed by Sandalwood &
Oud and Earl Grey. Paddy’s most memorable
childhood scent consist of pineapple chunks,
pear drops and his mother’s Chanel perfume
whilst Ursula’s fondest scent as a child is the
gentle fragrance of the blanket of bluebells
in the woods where her and her four siblings
once played.
In 2010, Heyland & Whittle was appointed
the official toiletry providers at RHS Chelsea
Flower Show and has continued to win an
award for the stand every year since. In 2011,
the company was approached by Fortnum
& Mason to launch its products in store and
received Gift of the Year in 2012 for a special
edition of Union Jack boxed products for the
Olympics. Heyland & Whittle also won Gift
of the Year again in 2013 for a bespoke gift
box and then went on to manufacture ‘own
brand’ for many companies including Liberty,
Fortnum & Mason and Rigby & Peller in 2014.
The brand’s celebrating 12 successful
years in the industry and has launched a
commemorative soap book to mark the 200th
Anniversary of The Battle of Waterloo. The
Heyland & Whittle logo is the Heyland family
crest as Paddy’s great-great-grandfather was
killed in the last half hour of the battle, aged
34 with six children and another one on the
way. This Soap Book has an excerpt of a love
letter he wrote to his wife Mary on the eve
of the battle, which she kept until her death
some 43 years later and was buried with her.
This love note is the inspiration behind the
launch and 10 per cent of the price of the
book is being donated to the charity Coming
Home, a housing trust for injured soldiers.
Other new products include a Clementine
& Prosecco fragrance which launched in July
2015 and hand cream tubes for ladies to carry
in their handbags. Furthermore, Heyland &
Whittle is currently working in collaboration
with a large, fast expanding clothing company
to launch a range under license in September
2015. It’s all go! g
Heyland & Whittle
T: +44 (0)1293 525 825
Kathryn Sygrove, BAFTS’ Marketing
and Membership Coordinator
BAFTS news
BAFTS, the British Association of Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers, brings you
the latest news in fair trade retailing
Summer events in July
After the excitement of our Annual Conference
in Leicester mid-May and International Fair
Trade Week in Milan organised by the World Fair
Trade Organisation at the end of May, BAFTS’
consolidated its networking with a Southern
Summer Social Evening on 3rd July at Reading
International Solidarity centre (RISC).
RISC comprises a prize-winning rooftop
garden, a global cafe, rooms to hire, and
an extensive world shop – a founder BAFTS
member, selling a delightful array of fair trade
goods from many BAFTS’ supplier members
and more. A group of our supplier and shop
members gathered to relax on this evening
over Fairtrade wine and juice, an Ethiopian
buffet, and visited the shop which opened
late for our benefit.
We also learned about Fair Trade week in
Milan, where some of our members exhibited
alongside fair trade producers from around
the world. BAFTS is a member of WFTO
and we and all of our members commit to
the 10 principles of Fair Trade as set out by
this organisation. You can find them on our
website www.bafts.org.uk/10-fair-tradeprinciples/
Kathryn and Rudi Dalvai, President of
WFTO, in RISC World Shop last year
132 giftfocus
The 9th International Fair Trade
Towns’ Conference
The same weekend, the Chair of the BAFTS’
Board, Joanna Pollard, attended the 9th
International Fair Trade Towns’ Conference
in Bristol. This two-day event welcomed
over 200 attendees from some of the 1,700
fair trade towns in 26 countries. As Bristol
is celebrating its 10-year anniversary as a
Fairtrade City and is also European Green
Capital this year, the conference focused
on ‘being green and fair’. Fatima Ismael of
“As Bristol is celebrating its 10-year
anniversary as a Fairtrade City and
is also European Green Capital this
year, the conference focussed on
‘being green and fair’”
Soppexcca Co-operative Nicaragua told us
about the impact of unpredictable weather
and rising global temperatures on producers
in Latin America and Harriet Lamb of Fairtrade
International and MEP Linda McAvan stressed
the importance of Fairtrade’s links to the
sustainable development goals.
Greg Valerio, jeweller and pioneer of
Fairtrade gold, explained how fair trade gold
mining eliminates the use of mercury, which
improves workers’ health. He highlighted the
need to “drive the aspirational flow of values”,
in order to make fair trade the norm. Fair trade
crafts and gifts from BAFTS members are often
also recycled and use sustainable materials
and working practices as a matter of course.
The International Fair Trade Towns
movement is growing in status, particularly
within the developing world, where fair
trade is marketed as a way to support local
businesses. There are, for example, 10 fair
trade towns in Lebanon where food and
crafts produced locally are sold as a route to
sustainable development.
With campaigners from 21 countries
including Japan, Canada, Ghana and
Colombia joining the conference at the
Science Centre in Bristol, the event was a
great opportunity to share ideas and get
fresh inspiration.
Home & Gift Harrogate
To round July off, several BAFTS’ board
members visited some of our supplier
members who were exhibiting at Harrogate
Home & Gift. Some 17 of our suppliers were
there, many showcasing new product lines
and designs.
It’s always really interesting to see what
new products have been created. Some
of the focus this time was on seeing how
our members who import from Nepal, and
their artisan groups, are managing after the
earthquake and many aftershocks. They’re
back working but in need of greater support
and more orders, due to work, buildings,
materials and, tragically, lives lost at the times
of the earthquakes. Nevertheless, it’s amazing
how the resilience of the Nepalese producers
shines through. g
BAFTS is the British Association of Fair
Trade Shops and Suppliers, a national
member organisation offering advice
to, and providing a community for fair
trade shops and wholesale suppliers who
trade fairly with the developing world.
The company currently has just over 140
members and this figure is increasing all
the time. For further information, please
visit www.bafts.org.uk
why you should
check your links
David Fairhurst, Head of Creative Online Marketing at Intelligent Retail on what’s
considered good linking practise
The work that I do on many levels involves
a series of quite easy to understand tasks all
based on sound principles plus a modicum,
well, let’s make that a large chunk, of
common sense. Yet when it comes to search
engine optimisation (SEO) and dealing
with Google, my job also includes being on
constant 24/7 alert for change.
SEO at the basic level involves finding
out what search engines are looking for and
making a website as close a fit for those
requirements as possible, which is great if
you have a fixed set of ‘rules’ to work with,
however, Google (quite rightly) loves to
improve, and this means that the rules
change constantly.
I mention this because, even though you
may think your website is already optimised
and performing at its peak efficiency, the
things which were done to your website to
make it perform so well in the past may mean
you’ll fall foul of Google’s ever-changing rules,
if you don’t adapt to those developments.
Add to this the fact that there’s now a
very real possibility of what’s termed in the
industry ‘negative SEO’, that is, a competitor
building links to a website in order to get that
website penalised – a possibility which has
become far more real with the latest updates
to Google Penguin.
I’d have to state, negative SEO is rare, but
I’ve personally seen examples of this, and
without constant monitoring, irreparable
damage would have been done.
Google and linking
Google used to love links. Links were an
easy way for Google to establish if a certain
page out there on the World Wide Web was
important, appreciated and liked.
134 giftfocus
Unfortunately, because Google has come to
rely on links a little too much, giving external
links the biggest importance in rankings, a
whole industry of link spammers was created,
who’d create irrelevant, poorly written
content from which to link from, polluting the
entire web with rubbish and spoiling Google’s
search results.
Google was upset. Google users were upset.
Nobody wins, except of course the spammers,
who overnight had a multi-billion dollar
industry and millions of willing customers,
all of whom wanted to be at the number one
spot in Google.
“Even though you may
think your website is already
optimised and performing at
its peak efficiency, the things
which were done to your
website to make it perform so
well in the past may
mean you will fall foul of
Google’s ever-changing rules,
if you don’t adapt to
those changes.”
retail technology
possible. If not, and as a last resort, disavow
the links via the Google Webmaster Disavow
page – this will tell Google directly that you
don’t trust these links coming into the website
and that Google should ignore them.
Thankfully, Google’s grown up a bit and
for nearly a year now has been severely
tightening up on linking rules, expanding
and clarifying their own Google Webmaster
Guidelines so that it’s now clearer what’s
considered to be bad linking practise.
This means trouble for website owners and
spammers alike – practises which were fully
acceptable and legitimate ways to gain links
in past years are now seen by Google as link
spam, so these links need to be cleaned up,
the upside being that the web spam industry
has also been severely curtailed.
What you need to do
Firstly, check those site-wide links. This is
where a link is put (usually by inclusion in a
footer file or section in a website template)
onto every page in a website. These used to
be the mainstay of rankings for web design
companies, SEO companies and any online
resource, which offered a free service or
page out there on the World Wide Web,
including popular free blogging platforms
such as Wordpress.
With site-wide footer links, a company
offering web design could get millions of links
quite easily to that companies’ homepage,
without doing any additional work. Every site
that was launched by that company would
potentially have thousands of links pointing
back to the web designers’ homepage.
Google now recognises that site-wide links
are perhaps a bad thing, so have downgraded
results for these types of links, in fact,
discounting the effectiveness of these links.
This isn’t a penalty, it just means that after the
first link from a website, all others become
less effective.
Remove site-wide links where you can, as
this type of mass linking from one domain to
another is very easy to spot for Google; but
don’t stress too much if you can’t remove
them completely, Google is aware that
site-wide links are prevalent online and has
compensated for this accordingly.
Next on the list needs to be weeding out
links from irrelevant websites and web pages.
It used to be common practise to get links
from online bookmarking websites, forums
and blogs and if these are on-topic, these
links will still give your website a small boost
in rankings, but links from irrelevant content
will definitely ensure that Google will be
‘smelling a rat’.
Audit the relevance of the links you have
coming into your website, if these are from
pages with little relevance to what you offer,
have little real useful content and are stuffed
with advertising, then remove the links if
Don’t rely on chance
The one thing business owners need to do is
to make sure that their website is constantly
monitored and checked for compliance with
Google’s ever changing rules.
Google’s own Webmaster Tools – www.
google.com/webmasters is both free and
fully featured. However, this won’t warn you if
your links are falling foul of changing Google
algorithms, only give you infuriatingly cryptic
messages if the worst should happen and
Google decides to penalise your website.
What you really need is to analyse your links
and weed out the bad ones before Google
takes action.
There are many different ways to weed
out bad links; nowadays it’s no longer a case
of having to do this manually. Many online
services are now available to offer very fast
and efficient analysis, meaning less time
spent managing external linking. Choose
a service which can be updated and which
offers monitoring – a one-off consultation and
analysis really doesn’t cut it nowadays.
Ask your online marketing/SEO company
what they use to identify bad links; this
should definitely be part of the ongoing
process of optimisation of your website! g
David Fairhurst is Head of Creative Online
Marketing at Intelligent Retail.
David has been involved with search
engine optimisation (SEO) and web
development since 1999 and has spoken at
many different retail and SEO conferences
including Spring Fair and SES London.
Contact David on T: +44 (0)845 680 0126.
giftfocus 135
Neil McFarlane, Managing
Director of TH March & Co
Limited
insurance solutions
Gift Focus readers put their insurance queries, concerns and questions to
leading brokers TH March
I’m bringing in extra stock and some new
lines in anticipation of a Christmas rush. Will
this affect my insurance?
Some policies incorporate an automatic
clause, which in effect, extends your
insurance cover to take account of times –
such as in the run-up to Christmas – when
you’re carrying extra stock. But you must
check with your insurer, as this may not be
the case with your particular policy.
In addition, any change in the kind of
products you normally stock should be
notified to your insurer immediately to ensure
that they’re still prepared to offer cover.
They’ll take into consideration whether your
new products pose an increased fire risk or
perhaps an increased risk of theft. You may
be required to step up security measures. If
you’re in any doubt, as always, contact your
broker or insurer for clarification.
Q
A
Storage space in my premises is limited
so I plan to store extra Christmas stock off
the shop premises (at my home.) Will my
business insurance cover this?
No, and I suspect neither will your household
insurance. Any changes you make to your
usual arrangements should be discussed with
your broker or insurer.
Security of the proposed storage will
obviously be an important consideration
as will the transportation of goods to and
from your business premises. You should
also make certain that you don’t leave goods
unattended in your vehicle unless you’ve
arranged cover specifically for that purpose.
Q
A
My town council has approached me and
other traders in my street for permission to
erect small Christmas trees and lights above
our shop windows as part of the high street
festive decorations. Who’s responsible for
the insurance?
Generally, confirmation should be obtained
from the council that they are responsible
for the decorations, their erection and any
Q
A
136 giftfocus
damage caused to or by them. It’s also
sensible to inform your broker or insurer,
to ensure they’re happy with how the
decorations are erected and secured.
My partner and I jointly own and manage
a gift shop between us. However, after
being run off our feet last Christmas, we’ve
decided to ease the load slightly this year
and take on some temporary seasonal help.
Do we need extra insurance?
In a word, yes. If you take on an employee,
even temporarily, you’ll need to have
Employers’ Liability Insurance. This is a legal
requirement under Employers’ Liability
(Compulsory Insurance) Regulations.
If your temporary member of staff hasn’t been
given a contract, or if they’re part-time, this law
still applies and you must arrange cover.
It’s important that you always keep your
Employers’ Liability certificates of cover on file
– even when they’re no longer in date. This is
because a claim could be made against you
long after the temporary staff member has left
your employ. The full impact of many kinds
of injuries and illnesses can take a very long
time to materialise so it could be months,
even years later that a claim is made. That
being the case it’s vitally important that you
have proof of cover.
Going forward the Employers Liability
Tracing Office – ELTO – has been established,
which records centrally details of all
Employers Liability cover in force. It records
information by logging an employer’s
Employers Reference Number or ERN, which
is allocated and used by HMRC.
Q
A
I’ve been approached by a local charity who
would like to hold a seasonal fundraising
event at my premises. How would this affect
my insurance?
The words ‘public liability’ and ‘risk
assessment’ spring to mind here. It’s likely
that the charity will take care of this but you
need to fully protect yourself from losses,
Q
A
breakages, accidents on your premises and
so on. Be involved in the process and ask for
copies of the charity’s paperwork relating to
the event at your premises.
Also let your insurers or brokers know, to
establish that they’re happy with the event
and how it’s being run. This will ensure that
all information is known and your cover is not
prejudiced in any way.
Having said that, there are many positives
to running a charity event, including bringing
in new customers to your business. g
Further information:
TH March is a chartered firm of insurance
brokers. Established in 1887, the company
has offices in London, Birmingham,
Manchester, Glasgow and Sevenoaks, as
well as its National Administration Centre
in Yelverton near Plymouth.
To find out more T: +44 (0)1822 855 555,
E: giftware@thmarch.co.uk, or visit the
website www.thmarch.co.uk
discovering knock offs online
Dids Macdonald, CEO of Anti Copying in Design, looks at what can you do if
you find your designs copied on the web
Online retailers and marketplaces generally
exclude liability for the intellectual property
infringements of their suppliers and/or listed
sellers. However, they’ll potentially be liable for
these infringements if they fail to take action
once they’re put on notice that they sell or list
infringing products and have had time to assess
the claim. Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, et cetera, all
have procedures in place for notifying them of
the presence of such items on their sites but
these procedures are often complicated and not
very user-friendly. However, they’re starting to
get a little more compliant.
One word of warning, if you don’t own
the rights that you claim to own, you could
be liable for making a “groundless threat”
of design right or trade mark infringement
proceedings which would entitle the seller of
the allegedly infringing goods to sue you for
damages caused by your threats (lost sales
through having removed the items from sale).
Gavin Llewellyn, an ACID Affiliate lawyer
and an IP specialist at Stone King said, “To
circumvent the online merchant’s claims
process, you can write directly to the company
to notify it of your rights. If the letter is
appropriately drafted it will not constitute a
groundless threat and the company’s likely
to take the letter seriously as its liability (and
reputation) will be engaged if it fails to act. If
the online merchant refuses to remove the
items, you’ll need to bring a claim to enforce
your rights, but the threat of legal proceedings
is likely to result in the prompt removal of
the items.”
You can also complain to the internet service
providers (ISPs), which are hosting websites
that contain substantial numbers of infringing
goods, although they’ll generally require you
to obtain a court order before shutting down
such websites. Over the last few years, several
website-blocking orders have been obtained
by music and film copyright owners under
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
However, there’s no equivalent legislative
provision for trade mark infringement and,
138 giftfocus
until recently, website-blocking orders haven’t
been used in respect of counterfeit goods or
other trade mark infringement.
What if the copies and counterfeits sold
online are available for purchase in the UK,
but the website isn’t based in the UK or
subject to UK law?
If copies and counterfeits of your designs
are marketed to a UK audience, your rights
are being infringed. If contacting the seller or
intermediary website (either directly or via the
site’s notification procedure) doesn’t result
in the infringing items being removed, you’ll
need to consider whether the extent of the
infringement is sufficient to take legal action.
Consider contacting HM Customs & Excise
with a view to preventing the importation
of the infringing products purchased on the
website; Customs can take random samples
among items that fit the description provided.
This is by no means foolproof and is usually
easier to implement in respect of registered
rights, particularly trade marks, but it can
provide an additional level of protection. In
order to maximise your chances of success,
you should try to obtain as much information
as possible about the goods, from where
they’re being shipped to what their packaging
looks like.
Increasingly, the UK courts are willing to
consider granting orders against UK-based
ISPs preventing access to foreign-domiciled
websites where they contain substantial
infringements of IP rights.
How can you find the infringing items?
The simplest way of monitoring the web
for potential copies is to conduct searches
yourself – either directly on websites that are
likely to offer products similar to yours or even
using mainstream internet search providers.
Searches using your product’s name or key
descriptive terms are likely to flag up copies or
counterfeits sold online. Unfortunately, it isn’t
easy to search for images or designs.
If you find that your searches aren’t yielding
results, or conversely if this is too labourintensive, a number of brand protection
companies offer monitoring services and may
also offer to take steps on your behalf to have
such items removed, for a fee. ACID members
have utilised companies such as Yellow Brand
Protection (which has recently expanded its
activities to include Russia and Poland) and
MarkMonitor, with varying degrees of success.
What to do if a competitor is using your
brand name to direct traffic to its products?
Counterfeiting and piracy is becoming ever
more sophisticated, replicating original rights
holders’ websites and making it harder for
consumers to distinguish between genuine
and counterfeit offerings. If your brand name
is protected by registration (for example you
have registered a trade mark or the design of
your logo), any unauthorised use is likely to be
an infringement of your trademark or passing
off rights.
If you haven’t registered your brand, you
may still have a passing off claim against
another person using the brand name, if
you can prove that you have goodwill and a
Case study
Marks & Spencer plc was found liable
for trade mark infringement by using
the Google AdWord ‘Interflora’, the result
of which was that M&S’ flower and gift
offerings featured on search results as
sponsored links above licensed Interflora
florists and created a serious risk that
consumers would have difficulty in
ascertaining whether M&S’ flowers came
from M&S or from Interflora. The Court
found that this interfered with the very
function of the ‘Interflora’ trademark. A
similar case saw Lush taking action against
Amazon for infringing use of the ‘Lush’
trademark on the Amazon website to
promote the sale of competitors’ products.
Amazon didn’t sell Lush products.
reputation in the name and that the other party’s use of the name
amounted to a misrepresentation of a connection with your business
which caused people to be confused and therefore caused damage
to your brand or business.
What other resources are available to protect your IP rights?
The City of London Police and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
have teamed up to establish the Police Intellectual Property Crime
Unit (PIPCU), which focuses on intellectual property crime committed
on online platforms. Victims of IP crime can make referrals to PIPCU
(including by filling in an online form), although it should be noted
that the evidential burden associated with bringing a criminal claim
is higher than for a civil claim and that the unit currently concentrates
its efforts on copyright and trade mark infringements. ACID works
closely with PIPCU as an associate partner.
Online sales platforms take down access
Online sales platforms have had to respond to the significant rise
in IP claims and this has led to a clear recognition of IP rights and
better means of enforcement. There had been various claims against
eBay by big brands for infringing and grey market goods being sold
on the site, one example is L’Oréal. This served as a warning to other
sites, the majority of which have good IP takedown policies. eBay
has its VeRO reporting policy which enables rights holders to have
infringements removed and also to obtain the name of the account
holder in question if it’s a private seller. Sites such as Etsy and Amazon
offer similar procedures.
Case Study
In recent correspondence to Alibaba on behalf of an ACID
member in relation to numerous infringing products being listed
for sale on the site, many of which were being marketed with
use of their photographs (protected by copyright), they had
experienced difficulty seeking any redress because Alibaba’s
online reporting facility is far from user friendly. As a result of
legal intervention a response was received within two hours from
Alibaba confirming the goods would be removed next time the
site refreshed, which happens every 24 hours. A cost- and timeeffective result.
Kelly Hudson, a design law solicitor with McDaniel & Co, ACID
Legal Affiliates said, “Even sites such as Alibaba and Taobao, the
large Far East online sale rooms, are now improving their IP reporting
procedures. Alibaba, has long had a chequered history in protection
IP rights and dealing with allegations of infringing sales on its website,
and it’s largely because of this that it was recently sued in the USA by
Kering, owner of brands such as Gucci and Yves St Laurent.”
In September 2014 at the UK/China IP Symposium an MOU was
signed between the China British Business Council and, as a result,
there have been improvements but there’s still some way to go. g
Further information
To find out more, visit www.acid.uk.com
competition
WIN!
A selection of Puckator products worth £750 RRP
Puckator Ltd is a leading importer and wholesaler of giftware and home
accessories, distributing to a broad range of customers worldwide. To
celebrate the company’s 25th birthday this year, it's offering readers the chance
to win a selection of products worth £750 RRP. Here’s the best bit – you can
choose whatever you like from the huge product range, and this way, it’s sure
to suit your shop and will be perfect for your customers.
Puckator’s growing UK-based design team ensure on-trend collections and
designs to suit all tastes. Whether you’re looking for design-led giftware, trendy
home accessories, fantasy ranges, novelties, toys, souvenirs, craft items or
stationery, Puckator has it all.
Find all products online at www.puckator.co.uk or call the sales team for
more information on +44 (0)800 011 6969. g
HOW TO ENTER
To be in with a chance of winning
this fantastic prize, simply answer the
following question:
How old is Puckator this year?
The winner will receive a selection of Puckator products
worth £750 RRP.
Enter online at www.giftfocus.com before the closing date
of 16th November, 2015.
Terms & conditions apply.
giftfocus 141
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Gift Focus magazine, the leading trade title for the giftware industry,
is available free of charge to qualified registered readers. Published six
times a year, Gift Focus contains news on industry trends, new products
and all gift trade events. Simply fill in the form below and post to Gift
Focus magazine, c/o KD Media Publishing, Pantile House, Newlands
Drive, Witham, Essex CM8 2AP. Alternatively, photocopy the form and
send a fax to 01376 514 555 or register online at www.giftfocus.com
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Issue 91 September/October 2015
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Issue 89 May/June 2015
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’tis the season
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MAN ABOUT TOWN
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Autumn Fair
Top Drawer
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Men’s accessories
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HERE COMES THE SUN
PLUS
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Hand-made gifts
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142 giftfocus
Issue 92
November/December, 2015
Available from: 16th November, 2015
Advertising deadline: 30th October, 2015
Plus
January gift fairs
Valentine’s Day
product showcase
We reveal some of this season’s hottest gifts
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the adventures of henry
At the age of nine, Henry Patterson started his brand Not Before Tea and it’s
evident that the past few years have been quite a rollercoaster
In between his favourite lessons – geography,
history and music – young entrepreneur
Henry Patterson has been for interviews
on BBC’s The One Show, met and signed
his autograph for Richard Branson and has
travelled the country attending book-signings.
This is all because of his budding business
Not Before Tea. “Grown-ups spend their life
saying ‘not before tea’, whenever sweets are
mentioned. I thought this was a perfect name
for the business.”
It all began when young Henry invented
an edible jar of mud and worms – the perfect
invention for a nine-year-old – that he was
selling on his website. He decided he wanted
to tell more people about his jarred treats.
With a little help from his mother, Rebecca,
he was shown how to write a press release
and swiftly sent one off explaining his exciting
product to the Bedford Times and Citizen who
printed the story. Before he knew it, the Daily
Mail had caught wind and soon TV, radio and
national press were interviewing Henry. “Our
website had 62,000 hits in one day and I’d
only made 10 jars of mud and worms.” Henry
explained. “I learnt a really big lesson about
stock that day! Because the media loved
the story and the public seemed to find it
interesting, I decided to bring the story I had
146 giftfocus
in my head to life. I imagined that my sweet
shop was run by a mouse (Pip) and an owl
(Sherb) and they had lots of adventures.”
In the following Christmas holidays Henry
wrote the first book The Adventures of Sherb
and Pip. “I found our amazing illustrator by
luck on Etsy – Becky Down. She’d done some
cards of a fox that I loved. It would never have
been such a wonderful brand if it wasn’t
for her.”
Some 12 months later and Henry’s
branched into the gift market with the book
and more than 50 other products which are
already selling on the company’s website,
the Not Before Tea shop which is already up
and running in Buckingham, not to mention
in a host of gift shops. It was important for
Henry to stock his products in brick and
mortar stores and not just in cyberspace.
He explains, “We’re a traditional brand and
it’s good to sell in proper shops. We choose
shops that will display the products well –
it’s so important for the customer journey. I
went on a course to learn how to display. Not
Before Tea is all about having an adventure
and I want customers to enjoy buying our
products.” The Not Before Tea shop opened
in September 2014. Henry chose to open the
shop to develop the products and learn all
about retail first hand. Henry adds, “It was
very important for me and my mother to
experience it from the retailer’s point of view.”
“We found a great fabric manufacturer in
Birmingham and decided to do wash bags
as our first product, followed by cards, fabric
art pots, pictures and aprons. Recently we’ve
made some oil cloth bags and Pip the Mouse
is now a cuddly toy.”
Henry’s products are different because he
invented each and every one. He explains,
“Not many products are designed by a child
for children. We have eight brilliant characters
who people love (except Billy the Cat who’s
the grumpy one).”
When asked what his biggest success to
date is, Henry excitedly answers, “Our Magic
Doors! They’re little doors that sit on your
skirting board for fairies and magical friends
to live. We hand paint them all and they take
hours to make. Last Christmas, our whole
house was full of them.”
Of course, school is paramount to Henry
and his family, with much work on the
business taking place during the school
holidays and one weekend day per week.
Henry adds, “We have a very good team
behind us called Finest for Baby. They
manage the selling for Not Before Tea and do
all the orders. We could never sell to shops
without them.”
This is only the beginning for Henry and
his team. “Next I’m launching an online TV
channel where me and Bubbles the Goldfish
make things, cook, read stories and do other
fun things. Then, the second book is coming
out, and we’ve also just moved in to a really
cool studio which means that our house
will not be covered in magic doors again
this year!”
Maybe we should all have a few fairy doors
in our houses – that fairy dust sure seems
to be working its magic. Keep up the great
work, Henry! g
For more information, visit
www.notbeforetea.co.uk

High-resolution - Gift Focus magazine

Transcription

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