Roll up, roll up - Gift Focus magazine

www.giftfocus.com
Issue 81 January/February 2014
www.giftfocus.com
Roll up, roll up
Spring Fair is back in town
Mum in
a million
HUSH A
BYE BABY
Stock up for
Mother’s Day
Inspirational ideas
for little ones
Big appetite
The Very Hungry
Caterpillar celebrates
45 years
PLUS
• Seaside special
• Novelty items
• Trends for 2014
Tempting treats
Get creative this Easter
WIN!
£900 RRP worth of
stock from Joe Davies
January/February Issue 81
Managing Editor
Georgina Cassels
georginac@kdmediapublishing.com
Deputy Managing Editor
Lauren Dowey
Chief Sub Editor
Louise Prance
Editor
Lyndsey Dennis
+44 (0)1376 535 614
lyndseyd@giftfocus.com
contents
news&events
industry news
6
All the latest from the world of gifts
on with the show
features
trend talk
10
34
20
Predictions for 2014
Sales & Marketing Manager
Robert Clark
+44 (0)1376 535 606
robertc@giftfocus.com
Trade fair dates and news
Sales Executive
Sharon Connelly
+44 (0)1376 535 607
sharonc@giftfocus.com
Latest launches and hot new products
the future’s bright
hot property
We chat to Michael Papé, the future Chairman
of The GA
brand spanking new
tempting treats
14
74
Catch up on what’s new in the world of licensing
Production +44 (0)1376 535 616
artwork@kdmediapublishing.com
Production Manager
Scott Brothwell
Deputy Production Manager
Sarah Barnes
Senior Graphic Designer
Vicky O’Connor
Graphic Designers
Samantha Lock, Rebecca Clarke
Web Development Manager
Stuart Weatherley
Production Assistant
Aimee Smith
competition
Win £900 RRP worth of stock from Joe Davies
the ga
David Mackley brings you a guide to
Google updates and the risks
KD Media Publishing Ltd
Pantile House, Newlands Drive
Witham, Essex CM8 2AP UK
www.giftfocus.com
company profile
Cover image courtesy of:
insurance
Wild & Wolf
Brokers TH March answer your
insurance-related questions
Gift Focus magazine is proud to be associated
with and supporters of:
40
43
Gifts for little ones
54
Summertime sizzlers
38
fun and laughter
All the latest industry news from
The Giftware Association
retail technology
hush a bye baby
Beside the seaside
focus on...
Subscriptions
Kay Tilbury, Tammy Watt
+44 (0)1376 514 000
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.
199
34
Easter inspiration
59
Gloom-busting products to draw in the crowds
51
43
56
Giftware giant Puckator tells all
q&a
66
184
Our industry experts tackle your
retail-related queries
anti copying in design
shows
bangkok show review
68
Mark White reports from Bangkok
192
get ready
71
Low down on Ambiente
How to protect your designs
roll up, roll up
special feature
mum in a million
77
Spring Fair is back in town
25
Treats for Mother’s Day
Average Net
Circulation: 7,292
(01/07/12 to 30/06/13)
MEDIA SUPPORTER
ANTI COPYING IN DESIGN
25
68
giftfocus 3
Daisy Roots
Happy New Year
Firstly, a very happy New Year to all our readers!
I hope you had a relaxing break and you’re
feeling ready for 2014. We bring you the biggest
ever issue of Gift Focus this month, including our
largest ever preview of Spring Fair, with more
than 50 pages of editorial dedicated to this key
buying event. Turn to P77 for a comprehensive
round-up of the show’s features and highlights, as
well as extensive visitor profiles.
We also provide you with all the details of Ambiente in Frankfurt this
February, on P71.
With Mother’s Day on the horizon in March, it’s time to stock up for
this key event in the gift calendar. Turn to P25 for some inspiration. We
also provide you with some Easter delights on P34.
Novelty gifts are a great constant all year round, and on P59 we bring
you a selection of items that are sure to bring a smile to your customers’
faces. Another constant all year round are gifts for babies. On P43 we
look at a mix of delightful treats for little ones, from keepsake boxes to
cute leather shoe sets.
A number of suppliers in the sector give us their trend predictions for
2014. Flick to P20 to find out what they have to say.
We also introduce to you Michael Papé, a Director at Ravensden and
future Chairman of The Giftware Association from June. Michael shares
his hopes and aspirations for his two-year chairmanship.
I’ll be on the judging panel for the Best Product Awards at Scotland’s
Trade Fair Spring later this month. Look out for a review of the awards
in the next issue of Gift Focus.
Lyndsey
Lyndsey Dennis
Editor
Editor loves…
Holy Mackerel’s One Lump or Two range of greetings cards has all of
life’s events covered: different ages, weddings, anniversaries, get well soon,
congratulations, moving home, thank you, retirement… the list goes on.
The images always bring a smile to my face, and the attention to detail by
designer Erica Sturla should be commended.
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
Congratulations!
The winner of the competition in our September/October 2013 issue is
Andrew Page of The Gift Shop in Lowestoft. Andrew wins an assortment
of fashion accessories from Poltsa worth more than £750 RRP. Turn to
P199 for this month’s competition, where you can win £900 worth of
Yo! Sox stock from Joe Davies.
45 years and still hungry
K Two Products rebrands as Busy B
Exciting times are ahead for K Two Products, launched 15
years ago by Kerrie Binnie. Exciting new changes for the
company will take place, including lots of new products,
designs and a fresh brand name – Busy B.
When Kerrie became a mum, her previously busy life
suddenly became very busy indeed, leading the product
designer to create solutions to take the mayhem out of
modern life.
Every Busy B product is packed with ingenious features
and stylish details to free your world from clutter and
confusion, making life simpler and better organised. Products
include a recipe file, weekly planner, magnetic to dos and
a birthday card organiser. A new range of baby keepsake
and organising products have also been developed, and the
company’s best-selling wedding range will now be branded
as Bride to B, with new additions for spring 2014.
Visit www.busyb.co.uk after 23rd January, 2014 to find
out more about the range.
6 giftfocus
Designed,
illustrated and
written by Eric
Carle, The Very
Hungry Caterpillar is
celebrating its 45th
birthday this year.
The book has been
voted top of the
under-five list and
fourth overall in
a Booktrust poll
for the top books
for children under
14-years-old. The
UK licensing campaign for The Very Hungry Caterpillar is managed in the UK by
Rocket Licensing through the worldwide agent The Joester Loria Group.
The brand has expanded considerably since the first book was published
in 1969. The lovable caterpillar, which eats its way through all sorts of food
before transforming into a beautiful butterfly, has been given the Wild and Wolf
treatment with a selection of new merchandise. These include creative play kits
for children aged two to six-years-old, comprising bunting making, card making,
finger printing, 3D animal making, chalks and crayons, as well as some melamine
homeware products.
Visit www.wildandwolf.com to view these products.
news&events
Joe Davies appointed official Spring Fair Giftware
Partner for 2014
Joe Davies is delighted to have been appointed as the Official Spring Fair Giftware
partner for 2014.
Steve Davies, Managing Director, commented: “The Spring Fair is such an important
event for independent retailers all over the country. Our relationship and attendance
at the show goes back more than 20 years, and becoming the giftware sponsor
seemed a very natural thing to do.”
Aside from the huge numbers of visitors that attend the fair, many retailers refer
to the Spring Fair website as a source of information and to search for potential
suppliers. With a £100 minimum order, more than 8,000 products, its Little & Often
order system and award-winning service, Joe Davies is an ideal match for independent
retailers nationwide.
For more information, call Joe Davies on +44 (0)161 975 6300 or visit
www.joedavies.co.uk
The Specials bassist, Horace Panter,
helps Sheaffer celebrate 100 years
Horace Panter, the bassist in The Specials and also a
professional artist, was contacted by Sheaffer to help the
iconic pen brand celebrate its 100th anniversary. A special
exhibition took place in November at London’s Strand
Gallery, with approximately 400 people in attendance.
The exhibition included a piece commissioned by
Sheaffer, which Horace describes as “a painting about
writing about painting.”
Pictured is Horace with Tim Williams, CEO of Sheaffer,
and Jasmine Jones, Sheaffer’s International Business
Development Manager, with the commemorative artwork.
To find out more about Sheaffer, visit www.sheaffer.com
Yankee Candle® Advent Calendar is one of the
company’s fastest selling products of all time
For Christmas 2013,
Yankee Candle®
created something
a little bit different:
the world’s first ever
Yankee Candle®
home fragrance
advent calendar.
The limited edition
advent calendar
completely sold
through, which makes
it one of the fastest
Yankee Candle®
products of all time,
giving retailers a
new and innovative
product to tempt shoppers in store.
The item contains a range of classic and new festive fragranced tea lights, from
family favourites such as Balsam & Cedar, Snow in Love and Sparkling Cinnamon
to new scents Merry Marshmallow and the top-selling Snowflake Cookie.
The company already started working on the 2014 advent calendar last
November. We look forward to finding out what scents are in this year’s one!
Visit www.yankeecandle.co.uk to find out more about the brand and its full
range of products.
giftfocus 7
industry news
Kirstie Allsopp will join Sapona at
Spring Fair
With the first range on sale since October, Kirstie
Allsopp Home & Body is a proven hit with the
signature fragrance of Lansdowne Rose – a fresh blend
of Moroccan Rose, Geranium, Lily and a hint of Iris –
being particularly well received.
At Spring Fair, Sapona will be showcasing a
range of new products to complement the existing
product line, including mugs printed with some of her
best-selling patterns and additional scents from the
home fragrances collection.
Kirstie will join Sapona at Spring Fair to showcase
the collection on Monday 3rd February in Hall 20
Stand A20.
To find out more about the collection, visit the
website www.sapona.co.uk
Presenting True Utility® and its useful gifts and gadgetry
True Utility® offers more than 60 products, many of them patented and selling in over 50 countries around
the world. Specialising in stainless steel gifts, gadgets and keyring accessories that fit in your pocket, the brand
also designs its own packaging and POS displays, presenting a complete package.
Most items retail at around £6.50, making them ideal gift purchases. Amongst the many innovations is a
portable phone charger; a stylus pen that transforms into a tiny keyring size – perfect to keep on your keys;
the world’s smallest flashlight and an emergency hipflask. The front of the box can be opened and closed with
a magnetic clasp to display the products, alongside a lifestyle shot showing off its functionality.
The new gift boxes are available in a range of striking colours attracting both female and male buyers.
To find out more, visit www.trueutility.com
8 giftfocus
Rosemoore now
distributes direct
to retailers
Rosemoore Home
Fragrance has announced
that from January it will
be distributing its home
fragrance collection directly
to retailers, and not via its
current distributor, Enesco.
Marketing Director,
Hilary Tongue, comments:
“We’re delighted to be
selling our diverse range
of quality home fragrance
products directly to retail
customers. We’re working
closely with Enesco to
ensure that everything
is in place for a seamless
transition between the
two companies. We’re
looking forward to officially
launching the new set-up
at Spring Fair this February,
where we will be showing
new products and new
fragrances, as well as
offering a number of
special show promotions.”
To find out more, visit
www.rosemoore.co.uk
on with the show
Trade show updates from home and abroad
diary dates
Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring
when
19th - 21st January, 2014
where SECC, Glasgow
website www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk
Homi (previously Macef)
when
19th - 22nd January, 2014
where Milan, Italy
website www.homimilano.com
Wales Spring Fair
when
19th - 22nd January, 2014
where Venue Cymru, Llandudno
website www.walesspringfair.com
Showcase Ireland
when
19th - 22nd January, 2014
where RDS, Dublin
website www.showcaseireland.com
Toy Fair
when
21st - 23rd January, 2014
where Olympia, London
website www.btha.co.uk/toy-fair
Maison & Objet
when
24th - 28th January, 2014
where Paris, France
website www.maison-objet.com
Christmasworld
when
24th - 28th January, 2014
where Frankfurt am Main, Germany
website www.christmasworld.
messefrankfurt.com
NY NOW – New York International
Gift Fair
when
1st - 6th February, 2014
where New York
website www.nynow.com
10 giftfocus
Brand Licensing Europe
continues to grow
Following the phenomenal growth
experienced by Brand Licensing Europe
(BLE) in 2012, Advanstar announced a
further five per cent growth in visitor
attendance in 2013.
A total of 7,244 retailers, licensees and
sales promotion professionals from 69
countries attended the show, making it the
biggest and most successful in its 15-year
history. Total attendance reached 9,537.
Retail attendance increased again in 2013 by five per cent, and overseas attendance also
went up. One in three visitors came from outside the UK, confirming anecdotal evidence
that this was the most international BLE to date, while confirming the show’s position as the
definitive event for the European licensing industry.
Darren Brechin, Event Director, said: “To think that there were 29 per cent more visitors
to BLE in 2012 than 2011 is startling. It’s indicative of two great strengths of the licensing
industry: firstly, that there are always people coming to the industry afresh, with new ideas,
brands, products and retail space. Second, that licensing across Europe is holding up in a
very challenging economic climate. We worked very hard this year to make the new layout
a success, and will continue to dig deep into the three vertical categories to bring new
companies and people to BLE, and to ensure we give our visitors and exhibitors what they
need and want from the show.”
The organisers have brought the 2014 show dates forward by one week. The next
show will now take place on 7th - 9th October, 2014 at London Olympia. Visit the website
www.brandlicensing.eu or follow BLE on Twitter @bleurope for show updates.
Jewellery & Watch
Birmingham reveals
impressive list
of exhibitors
Jewellery & Watch
Birmingham, organised by
i2i Events, has revealed an
impressive list of brands
that have signed up for the
forthcoming February show.
Taking place at Birmingham
NEC from 2nd - 6th February,
2014, as part of Spring
Fair, Jewellery & Watch
Birmingham has confirmed
that almost 700 top jewellery
and watch brands will be exhibiting their latest collections.
The event will also see some exciting debuts, with new Danish brand Lars Larsen
Watches using the show as the platform to launch its first collection, while jewellery brand
Esoteric Luxury will be debuting its new Lucky Talisman collection. The show will also play
host to an exclusive jewellery design competition in conjunction with renowned jewellery
buying group, The Houlden Group.
For more details, visit www.jewelleryandwatchbirmingham.com
news&events
Packaging Innovations has it covered
Get ready for CH+S
This year’s Craft, Hobby + Stitch is set to be its
biggest event in five years. Taking place between
16th - 18th February, 2014 at the Birmingham NEC,
the show is Europe’s largest trade show for the
creative craft industries.
The event will be celebrating its 39th year of
providing exhibitors and buyers with a worldclass forum to promote, sell, buy and network
with industry colleagues from around the globe.
New for 2014 is a dedicated cake decorating and
sugarcraft suppliers section.
“It’s great to see such a fantastic range of new
products from exhibitors, reminding us what a
creative and exciting industry we’re all part of.
Retailers will be spoilt for choice at Craft Hobby
+ Stitch International 2014 with a host of new
ranges, techniques and trends to discover,” said
Andrew Morton, Show Manager.
Visit www.chsi.co.uk to find out more.
British Craft Trade Fair is on
the horizon
The British Craft Trade Fair returns to
Harrogate on 6th - 8th April, 2014 for another
inspiring exhibition of hand-crafted delights.
BCTF has been promoting British hand-made
giftware for more than 35 years, and now has
an online trade catalogue – BCTF Online –
which brings these products to you throughout
the year. No mass-manufactured products or
overseas goods are allowed to exhibit. If you
want to buy one-of-a-kind, hand-made work
from the British Isles, then the BCTF and BCTF
Online will offer you all the choice you need.
For more information and to register for a
visitor badge, visit www.bctf.co.uk
Packaging Innovations
2014 returns to the
NEC between 26th - 27th
February, 2014, offering
an array of product
launches and packaging
solutions. A mass of firsttime and international
exhibitors will increase
the range of ideas on
offer this year.
The 2014 event
will feature seven
co-located shows:
Packaging Innovations, Ecopack, Contact Pack, Packtech, Print Innovations, Labelling
Innovations and, new for this year, Converting Innovations.
The BIG Packaging Debate will be returning to the NEC, where a panel of packaging
experts will form a lively Question Time style session. There will be 50 content-rich
learnShops seminars, addressing hot industry trends and issues, plus six brave contestants
who will enter the Lion’s Lair, pitching their latest products to a panel of brand, retail and
packaging experts. Furthermore, on the second day of the show, the BIG Print Debate will
bring industry experts together to discuss the crucial issues of print.
Visit www.easyfairs.com/PIUK to find out more.
National Stationery Week
to get Britain writing
Taking place between 31st March - 6th
April, 2014, National Stationery Week is
a celebration of the written word and all
things stationery. Its aim is to get more
people putting pen to paper and writing
by hand more often, especially children.
Today, stationery and pens are also a
must-have fashion accessory and where
fashion meets function.
The Greeting Card Association,
National Handwriting Association and
Writing Instruments Association (part of the BOSS Federation) are all partnering with the
event, which is sponsored by Faber-Castell, Letts Filofax, Post-it, Sheaffer and Zebra Pen.
“The Greeting Card Association is delighted to support this important campaign,” says Sharon
Little, Chief Executive of the GCA. “It’s been proven that handwriting is important in child
development and helps with thoughts and ideas, thinking, language and working memory. There’s
also no better form of emotional communication; in adult life, sending a handwritten card is one
of the most important tools for showing we care about the people we love.”
Dr Angela Webb, Chair of the National Handwriting Association, comments: “Handwriting
is still a valuable skill to be promoted alongside digital technology, and using the right tools can
enhance the experience of writing for a young person. The National Handwriting Association is
pleased to be supporting National Stationery Week and the Get Britain Writing campaign.”
Retailers can get on board with special in-store and online promotions, as well as talking
about it on Twitter, Facebook and in company newsletters.
Contact the organisers of National Stationery Week to see how you can get involved.
Call T: +44 (0)208 462 0721, E: nationalstationeryweek@firstevents.com or visit
www.nationalstationeryweek.com
giftfocus 11
on with the show
Head to the London Stationery Show in April
on with the show
It’s not long until the London Stationery Show takes over the Business Design Centre in Islington
in April.
Visitors can look forward to even more stationery delights at a bigger show, as well as a dedicated
New Product Showcase. A Stationery Spectacular theme has been chosen for this year’s event, to reflect
Trade
show
abroad
the
growing
numberupdates
and diverse from
range ofhome
products and
that can
be seen at the UK’s leading stationery
event, which is part of National Stationery Week.
The show organisers always have a few surprises up their sleeves, so we look forward to finding out
what this year’s delights will be. We’ll be bringing you a preview of the show in the March/April issue of
Gift Focus magazine.
To register to attend, visit www.stationeryshow.co.uk
Eastern inspiration at Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will once again be home for The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair this April for its 29th show. The
2013 event attracted more than 50,000 international buyers.
Organised by the HKTDC, the fair offers various gifts and premiums such as innovative design products, figurines and decorations, outdoor and
travel goods, photo frames, stationery and paper, tech gifts and party and festive items. More than 4,120 exhibitors will present a diverse range of
giftware and premium.
For more details of the show, visit www.hktdc.com
PG Live takes shape
Progressive Greetings Live, the only trade exhibition
dedicated to greetings cards, is shaping up for its sixth
exhibition later this year.
Taking place at the Business Design Centre in
Islington on 13th - 14th May, 2014, the show underwent
a revamp in 2013 with a new show logo, colour
scheme and website, as well as the dates being
brought forward by two weeks.
The show includes major and medium-sized
publishers, as well as a special area called
Springboard@PG Live, a potent hub of small and
emerging card publishers.
Selected artists and designers will have a booth in the special Artists’ Quarter,
which was introduced in 2012. In addition, the DIAL@PG Live area is dedicated to
design, image and art licensing companies. Don’t forget the opening night party – a
great chance to mingle and network.
Log on to www.progressivegreetingslive.com to find out more.
New curator is confirmed for 2014 New Designers’ One Year
On exhibition
New Designers returns to Islington in the summer and welcomes back One Year On, a
curated exhibition presenting a celebration of young, entrepreneurial designers in their
first year of business.
The past few years have seen One Year On go from strength to strength thanks to
curator Jethro Macey. A brand new curator, Gemma Fabbri, will take over in 2014.
Gemma is founder of London design studio Scene and co-founder of curated
e-commerce store FAO-shop.com. Her diverse experience encompasses furniture,
interiors, graphic design and event curation. Gemma designs furniture for international
brands as well as producing her own range of products. She has worked with a host
of young designers over the years, featuring their work in curated exhibitions, pop-up
shops and interior design projects.
Gemma will play a key role in the development of One Year On and nurturing the
50 talented young designers selected to exhibit.
Part 1 of New Designers takes between 25th - 28th June, 2014, with Part 2 following
on 2nd - 5th July, 2014, both at the Business Design Centre in Islington.
For more information, visit www.newdesigners.com
12 giftfocus
Looking ahead
Spring Fair International
when
2nd - 6th February, 2014
where Birmingham
website www.springfair.com
Ambiente
when
7th - 11th February, 2014
where Frankfurt
website www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com
Craft Hobby + Stitch
when
16th - 18th February, 2014
where Birmingham
website www.chsi.co.uk
British Craft Trade Fair
when
6th - 8th April, 2014
where Harrogate
website www.bctf.co.uk
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair
when
27th - 30th April, 2014
where Hong Kong
website www.hktdc.com
(All dates are subject to change. Contact organisers for
more information before making travel arrangements).
For further in-depth show previews
and reports turn to:
P68 BIG and BIH review
P71 Ambiente preview
P77 Spring Fair preview
brand spanking new
Check out some new and exciting products in the current market
CarrieMe
Lesser & Pavey
RRP: £55
The Blue Heart Bag Hook and Finder gift set in the limited edition
CarrieMe Fusion Collection fuses art with fashion to deliver
beautiful, hand-painted masterpieces, each an original. Presented in
gift boxes signed by the artist, together with a short bio, this is the
ideal gift for art and design lovers who can keep their handbags safe
and keys and mobile handy with these stylish accessories.
T: +44 (0)20 7912 0108
E: carrie.gh@carrieme.co.uk
W: www.carrieme.co.uk
RRP £29.99
Lesser & Pavey gets stylish with retro satchels in blue, pink, red,
black, tan and purple. Each features a front window pouch with a
name and address card within, quality popper front fasteners and
a detachable shoulder strap to provide diversity of usage. The bags
are made from faux leather that is supple, encasing hard-wearing
but soft-to-touch lining.
T: +44 (0)1322 279 225
E: sales@leonardo.co.uk
W: www.leonardo.co.uk
Enesco
The Green Board Game Co.
RRP: £39.95
We are Three is one of
several new figurines
added to the Willow Tree
collection for 2014. Handcarved by artist Susan
Lordi – as is every original
piece in the collection –
the figurine expresses the
overwhelming sentiment of
joy and love in becoming
a parent for the first time.
The sculpture features a
young couple cherishing
their new-born child,
and celebrates their
transformation from a
pair of lovers to a family
of three.
T: +44 (0)1228 404 022
E: uksales
@enesco.co.uk
W: www.enesco.co.uk
RRP: £11.99
The Green Board Game Co. has collaborated with Mister Maker
to launch a range of crafty products. As with all BrainBoxes, Colour
and Create offers the award-winning BrainBox mix of fun and
learning. In this edition, players have the opportunity to colour in
cards to their own designs as well as writing their own questions.
T: +44 (0)1494 538 999
E: games@greenboardgames.com
W: www.greenboardgames.com
14 giftfocus
brand spanking new
Multiply Design
Navigate
RRP: £19.99
Navigate, an expert in insulated design, has created these Beau &
Elliot insulated baby bottle bags specifically to accommodate those
bare essentials for trips out and about. The compact size makes
them easy to carry but they’re roomy enough to accommodate
two bottles, a nappy, small soft toy, soother and personal
belongings like keys and phone etc. The bags are available in three
contemporary colours.
T: +44 (0)1279 653 249
E: sales@navigate.ltd.uk
W: www.navigate.ltd.uk
RRP From £3
New for 2014 from Multiply Design is the Circle of Love collection
of pendants and keyrings in solid English pewter and Greek leather.
Stamped with special messages of love and friendship, these
hand-made keepsakes are both tactile and light so easy to wear or
carry with you. They make ideal gifts to give to friends, family and
loved ones. The company is also launching a new range of cerise
pillow boxes with its signature logo – multiply design give a little love
– on them. These will be available as packaging to complement all of
the designs.
T: +44 (0)1629 815 413
E: sales@multiplydesign.com
W: www.multiplygifts.com
Yankee Candle®
Metal Planet
RRP: £6.95
As well as jewellery, Metal Planet also has a line of quirky gifts,
including pewter tokens, message pebbles, wedding horseshoes and
novelty cufflinks. The Perfect Match token (pictured) has been added
to the offering.
T: +44 (0)20 8440 2468
E: sales@metalplanet.net
W: www.metalplanet.net
RRP: £19.99
The new Yankee Candle®
Décor reed diffuser
collection is a natural
extension to the brand’s
collection of stylish Décor
candles. Featuring a sleek,
contemporary bottle,
the reed diffusers are
sophisticated and on-trend
in both style and scent.
Alongside the new design,
each diffuser now comes
in a larger 130ml size
to last even longer, and
provides up to 10 weeks of
authentic and continuous
home fragrance.
T: 0117 316 1200
E: info@yankee
candle.co.uk
W: www.yankee
candle.co.uk
giftfocus 15
brand spanking new
JellynBean
Two Little Boys
RRP: £7.49
JellynBean is launching a range of great big mugs perfect for him and
her. These huge 15oz mugs are ideal for those who love a bucketful
of tea or coffee. You can even fit all your fingers in the handle! This
collection of more than 20 mugs shows pertinent captions for
today’s modern world. The mugs come with their own chunky box
and are available to trade at £3.13.
T: +44 (0)1423 879 182
E: office@jellynbean.com
W: www.jellynbean.com
RRP: £6.99
Two Little Boys’ new range of notebooks features 10 titles, including
things to worry about when I have nothing better to do, things I
should do just in case I don’t win the lottery and things I plan to do
but probably won’t get around to. There’s a title for each of us and
everyone we know. The jotters are available as perfect bound A6
with lined inner pages and elastic closures.
T: +44 (0)20 8400 3606
E: info@2littleboys.co.uk
W: www.2littleboys.co.uk
Namaste
RRP: From £1.75 to £13.99
Brand new for spring is
Namaste’s new collection
of vintage floral print tins
and hanging decorations.
There are three distinctive
ranges – pictured here is
the Vintage Rose collection.
Made from iron, with
delicate transfers applied
by hand, these are set to
be best-sellers. Namaste
supports traditional
craftwork and artisans
who specialise in skillbased products. The company is recognised by BAFTS, the British
Association for Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers, as a fair trade
importer. With excellent stock availability, low minimum order of
only £150, efficient service and a friendly approach to business,
Namaste is well worth a look.
T: +44 (0)1756 700 790
E: sales@namaste-uk.com
W: www.namaste-uk.com
16 giftfocus
Mulhouse Design Co.
RRP: 100ml: £16.90 RRP; 18ml: £4.95 RRP; car freshener:
£4.95 RRP
Animikados diffusers are a
completely new concept
in the expanding diffuser
market. They combine
premium mood-enhancing
aromas with an optimistic
greeting that friends
will love to give one
another. Made in Spain by
Ambientair, the attractively
packaged collection offers
the traditional 100ml size,
and two one-of-a-kind
ideas – an 18ml greeting
bottle and an Animikauto
car freshener.
T: +44 (0)1949 850 115
E: animikados@
mulhouse.co.uk
W: www.animikados.co.uk
trend talk
We hear from a selection of leading experts about their thoughts on trends for 2014
From vintage and home baking to owls and moustaches, many current trends remain strong for 2014. We look forward to seeing what’s hot at
Spring Fair in February; in the meantime, a selection of giftware specialists share their thoughts.
The marketplace will continue to reflect the economy
in 2014. Feedback suggests that products under £10
will remain a key part of the retail offering. That said,
there will always be people with money who are
prepared to buy high-end gifts: here, sales have held
up well in the past 12 months and I see that trend
continuing this year.
Also, while parents and grandparents may no longer
spend as much money on themselves as they once did,
they’re still buying gifts for children.
I expect things that have a function and offer value
for money to continue to sell well. As people spend
One of the major jewellery trends for 2014 will
be personalisation, either by taking a mainstream
product and adapting it to suit your style, or wearing
hand-crafted bespoke commissioned pieces. Anything
with an initial on it, stamped, etched or cut out will
be considered charming and retro. Written messages
added to pendants and cuffs as well as hidden
engraving should often feature. Pandora and other
beads that encourage you to create your personal
charm bracelet will continue to be strong.
Interchangeable pendants will prove popular,
enabling the wearer to match their fashion colours and
giving friends the opportunity to add to that selection
through gifting additional discs or add-on options to
Wealthier consumers are increasingly eco-conscious,
making natural elements, sustainable materials and
British-made products increasingly desirable. Recycling
is moving higher-end, bringing an individually stylish,
nostalgic twist and feel-good factor to home and
gift. Hand-crafted, personalised products are key as
consumers back away from the throw-away culture of
former years.
Home interiors take inspiration from the fashion
world where big statements are made using colour. For
spring I think we’ll see soft pastels combined with vivid
brights, as well as lots of blues and luxurious textures.
In terms of pattern, strong geometric designs have
dominated for the past few years so there could be an
overall softening, perhaps with more classic, botanical
20 giftfocus
more time at home, fragrance products have become
more important and are now a staple for many
retailers. This is why we’ve introduced Home Fragrance
as a Gift of the Year category for 2014, along with Gift
Food, which is another growing sector.
Suppliers who sell products that demonstrate
traceable ethical values have gained support and it will
be interesting to see whether this trend continues or if
pressure on prices prevails.
Isabel Martinson, Chief Executive of The GA
www.ga-uk.org
the many collectable ranges now available.
Enamelling looks as if it will have resurgence,
from the expensive vitreous method with its time
consuming application and tricky firing, to the
inexpensive mass-produced paint-by-numbers
methodology used in costume jewellery.
Cocktail rings with lots of mixing of metals, stones
and alternative materials; the larger and bolder the
better! Check out the BJA award winners on the
jewellery catwalk, Hall 18 at The Jewellery & Watch
Show Birmingham in February.
Lindsey Straughton, Marketing & Export Manager, at
British Jewellery Association (BJA)
www.bja.org.uk
and floral designs.
In gifting the market is very diverse and harder to
predict, but licensing is still very big and continuing to
grow. As a hot tip I expect to see Moshi Monsters get
even bigger in 2014 with a major new gift licensee on
board. Intricate paper cutting is also a nice theme that
seems to keep building, and I’m pleased to see the
greetings card market generally doing well after a few
shaky years. As more and more people move further
online, high-tech gadgets and accessories will inevitably
be strong sellers.
Sarah Mclaughlin, Spring Fair Portfolio Director – this will
be her first Spring Fair as Portfolio Director
www.springfair.com
trends
Miss Milly
www.missmilly.co.uk
At Miss Milly, we’ve worked towards two distinct
trends for spring and summer 2014. The first is the
romantic nomad in our new Amora Collection. It’s
styled with geometric shapes and lightweight, matt
silver-coloured metal delicately embellished with
stones in the pretty pastels of salmon rose, dusky sand,
duck egg blue and pale pistachio. Perfect for everyday
and occasion wear, you can mix and match across the
range of necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Our second trend is lush tropics in our awardwinning Floria collection, with bright lime green,
raspberry pink and cobalt blue. A real injection
of colour in statement resin jewellery, which will
co-ordinate well with the palm fronds, butterfly wings
and parrot feathers we’ll be seeing in fashion. Add
either a spot of colour or go the whole hog with
the wide collection of necklaces, bracelets, rings and
earrings available.
Colour really does return this season with orange,
red and pink hues all key tones.
Sarah Watmore, Owner of fashion jewellery brand
Miss Milly
www.missmilly.co.uk
Nostalgia seems unstoppable and on
trend for every budget – it really is the
blue jeans of the gift world, be it retro
prints or old-fashioned candles and
diffusers. Another area that’s strong and
continuing to evolve is woodland as an
extension of the animal trend we’ve
seen of late, with alpine colour themes
depicting deers, owls, foxes, birds and
trees gaining in popularity. Greetings and
stationery are a key part of the show’s
offering and we’re seeing a huge range of
illustrative styles, from child-like simplicity
to more evolved adult sketches. Colour
Hannah Turner’s Owl collection www.hannahturner.co.uk
wise, there’s a noticeable trend towards
yellows and oranges, and this appears
toy box into challenging uses, such as jewellery. Happily,
to be extending into cushions and other home
2014 looks to be a year of optimism and change, so
accessories. Across all product sectors, floral prints
keep an eye out for sleeper trends in the second part
are strong with more traditional, antique designs being
of the year.
updated with modern colours and twists. Wood is also
Cleere Scamell, Show Director of Home & Gift
eternal – stepping in from the garden and out of the
www.homeandgift.co.uk
We’re coming out of a recession (albeit slowly)
so there’s optimism for the future. With buds of
spring around the corner I will be designing the
new collection of ribbons with an understated yet
luxury finish, in colours that will suit year-round
occasions. I’ll be focusing on the less-is-more approach
with warming colours to welcome the spring, and
extending our range of skinny ribbons, which are
extremely popular for weddings and parties.
The craft market is still as strong as ever with a high
demand for one-of-a-kind trimmings and materials,
so we’ll be adding more seasonal ranges to our
hand-picked collection including Lace and Ric Rac.
We’ve also included our ribbon dispensers into our
wholesale range, which are perfect for shops with
limited space and come with five 10m rolls of ribbon.
Jane Means, gift-wrapping expert
www.janemeans.com
giftfocus 21
trend talk
Denby
www.denby.co.uk
The vintage look has become a staple of the high
street and beyond. Many companies are now looking
to their history and heritage to re-invent classic
patterns. A consequence of this is that we’ve become
a nation of bakers and makers, with the kitchen being
very much a central part of the home. The economic
situation has also encouraged people to consider what
they can achieve themselves with guidance from TV
personalities like Mary Berry and Kirstie Allsopp.
Natural as a trend is one that continually develops
and re-invents itself over time. It’s all pervading and
ingrained in our lives. However, we’re looking deeper
into the natural world for inspiration and we should
expect to see some new natural colour palettes with
a twist, moving away from earth tones.
Richard Eaton, Design Director for Denby Brands
www.denby.co.uk
22 giftfocus
Denby
www.denby.co.uk
Although there’s talk of the economy strengthening, it
will be some time before the average person feels any
benefit. And when they do, I suspect there won’t be a
great loosening of the purse strings.
My guess is that what little disposable income there
is will be spent on holidays – and when it comes
to gifting or self-purchase, functional products will
continue to do well.
I can’t see that there will be a sudden surge in
people going out to restaurants, so I expect candle
sales to be buoyant as people opt to dine and
entertain at home.
As ever, customers will want new products, new
fragrances and variety. This is what will drive our sales
in 2014.
Tom Sykes, General Manager at Xystos
www.xystos.co.uk
The make do and mend trend is going to be strong
next year and hand-made products using traditional
crafts like stitching, knitting and sewing will do well.
The same will be true for DIY kits and craft materials
while scrap booking and stamping continue to grow
in popularity. British-made cards and gifts will continue
with their ongoing success, particularly those featuring
British woodland wildlife. Multi-use gift items like
candles with reusable tins, for example, will also do
well. Value for money is going to remain important as
the economy strengthens so pricing will be important
for both suppliers and retailers. This doesn’t necessarily
mean price items cheaply; pricing has to make sense
and offer good value for money with appropriate
brands. Gifts with a clear purpose (especially those
with targeted sentiments to family, friends and loved
ones) will remain strong sellers in 2014.
Jeremy Corner, Owner of Blue Eyed Sun
Jeremy will be speaking on Trends in the Greeting Card,
Stationery and Gift Markets at Spring Fair on Monday
3rd February, 2014 at 12.15pm in the Trend Theatre.
www.blueeyedsun.co.uk
trends
Equilibrium jewellery
from Joe Davies
www.joedavies.co.uk
We expect the trend for fashion gifts to continue
in 2014. Our Equilibrium range of jewellery and
accessories will follow the latest fashion trends and
also keep its feet firmly in the gifting camp. This will
see more delicate pieces, gold and silver combinations
and crystals being very much in focus. Following an
emerging trend started in 2012, sentimental jewellery
is also developing strongly.
It will be a more gentle evolution across homewares
and general giftware with subtle washed out colours
like blue and grey hues really seeming to be in favour.
We’re very excited about some new finishes we’ve
seen in decorative glass too.
In the baby and nursery sector there are bright and
bold colours following gender specific themes like
rockets, super heroes, princesses and fairies.
For retailers prepared to try something different
we will push the boundaries again with the launch
of a range of funky socks called Yo Sox! Our
hugely successful snoozies!® have really established
themselves as a hot gift line; themes will be repeating
patterns, animal finishes, coloured fleece insides and
new bling colours. With so much development going
on we’re all very excited about 2014.
Paul Hooker, Commercial Director of Joe Davies
www.joedavies.co.uk
With the economy still recovering from a bitter
recession, consumers are still craving products with
a nostalgic authentic feel. The vintage trend that has
been strong for the past few seasons is still very
much in evidence, but it has moved on. This can
be seen clearly through the use of retro labels and
brands, vintage typography as well as nostalgic themes
and characters featuring across kitchenware and
homeware accessories.
With demand for the past an overriding factor for
2014, there will be a move back to organic shapes and
rustic forms reminiscent of individual craftsmanship
with a distinct hand-made feel.
The baking trend that has grown from strength
to strength over the past few years shows no signs
of abating but will develop slightly, with the focus
moving away from traditional baking utensils to baking
accessories, such as storage jars and utensils. With a
notable change throughout this trend, there will be a
clear move towards softer, pastel colour palettes that
will evoke feelings of the ’50s.
Caitlin Laws, Marketing Assistant at Creative Tops
www.creative-tops.com
Spring, as always, gives us the chance to bring in
some fresh new colours, and this season will be full
of striking yellow and electric blue hues. A lot of
the current shades seen on the high street will be
toned back to more earthy hues and tones. Gold has
featured prominently on the catwalks, and handbags
and purses will feature more hardware in this shade
than previously seen.
There’s been a shift away from the leopard
and snakeskin prints that had become a staple in
our wardrobes. The new look is a softer tone of
tortoiseshell which many of the top designers have
put onto handbags and statement jewellery pieces.
We’ll continue to see accessories with slogans
emblazed across the front, more fringing and tassels to
complement plainer designs.
Janette Faulkner, Founder of Mala Leather
www.malaleather.com
giftfocus 23
mother’s day
mum in a million
Gifts for a special lady
Searching for something
fresh and new for
Mother’s Day? The Holy
Mackerel One Lump or
Two spring collection
features Erica Sturla’s
warm and witty artwork.
This best-selling range
includes 10 Mother’s
Day cards that offer
those difficult-to-find
Mother’s Day designs
for first-time mums,
grandmas and step
mums. You can browse Holy Mackerel’s full collection of more than
600 cards online, or call the company for an up-to-date brochure.
T: +44 (0)1297 33 899
www.holy-mackerel.co.uk
The Naturally Natural
range of candle tins from
Best Kept Secrets makes
a great selection for
Mother’s Day. The range,
which is now available
in 12 one-of-a-kind
fragrance blends, uses
soy wax from renewable
sources and only the
finest essential oils. The
natural wicks mean that the entire candle is sourced and produced in
the UK and uses completely natural products.
T: +44 (0)1670 512 222
www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
Rose & Co. was created by the inspiring mother and daughter team
of Patricia and Caroline Rose. Their passion for beautiful vintage design,
delicious fragrances and British heritage has led to an iconic Victorianinspired apothecary in the heart of Yorkshire and a well-loved brand of
gorgeous gifts for any occasion. Apart from finding pretty little treasures
for each other, Patricia & Caroline love to create beautiful products
for the Rose & Co. collection. Among their favourites for this gift-giving
season are Sugar Rose Bath Fancies, available in a prettily packaged box
of three.
T: +44 (0)1827 280 080
www.graftons.co.uk
Lesser & Pavey offers a new range of products under licence from
Jennifer Rose Naylor, called Vintage Lane, with other exciting new
designs to follow. In addition to the wording shown on the products,
there are items dedicated to Nan and Grandma, as well as products
with Valentine’s Day in mind that say With Love. Products include
gift bags, scented candle tin and candle jar, decorative hanging heart
plaque – also available as a free standing plaque – reed diffusers,
fine wine glass and china mug, fine china cup and saucer, pretty satin
cushions to decorate a bedroom and fridge magnets.
T: +44 (0)1322 279 225
www.leonardo.co.uk
Alljoy Design’s new range of laser-cut cards combines striking foils and is
hand-embellished with diamantés. Measuring 128mm x 178mm, all of the
cards are blank inside and come with a coloured envelope.
T: +353 (0)1 445 3537
www.alljoydesign.com
giftfocus 25
mum in a million
MotherDaughter is one
of several new figurines
added to the Willow Tree
collection for 2014, available
from Enesco. Hand-carved
by artist Susan Lordi – as is
every piece in the collection
– the figurine celebrates
the strength of the bond
between a mother and her
daughter, and its foundation
in love and laughter.
Inspired by Susan’s personal
memories of her time
with her own daughter, the
sculpture features a mother
hugging her child as they
laugh and play together.
T: +44 (0)1228 404 022
www.enesco.co.uk
Joe Davies always has a
vast selection of Mother’s
Day gifts to please
its independent retail
customers. This year, the
company has high hopes
for its new Mum’s Style
collection. The series
features soft pinks and
lilacs with butterflies and
heart-warming messages
guaranteed to charm every
Mum. Retail prices for Mum’s Style start from just £1.99, and as always
everything is available with the company’s little and often quantities.
T: +44 (0)161 975 6300
www.joedavies.co.uk
All Personal Gifts provides
a comprehensive range of
fine silver-plated gifts that can
be engraved for a personal
touch, presented in top
quality boxes. The whole
range comprises 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. Pictured
is a butterfly key ring, ideal for
mums this Mother’s Day.
T: +44 (0)800 030 2345
www.allpersonalgifts.co.uk
26 giftfocus
Yankee Candle® has introduced
a new generation of gift sets.
Launching for spring and summer
2014, the new sets have been
developed specifically for the
international market. The floral
theme for the spring collection
is designed to meet consumer
demand identified from the brand’s
extensive research. This collection
features refreshing and wild floral
fragrances, as well as a new packaging design in spring’s hottest colours
to really attract consumer attention. The number of products has also
increased. Joining its popular classic candle gift sets, which now includes a
new medium jar candle, Yankee Candle® has launched a new set of nine
Wax Tarts, a 5 Votives set and a 4 Votives & 4 Bucket Votive Holders set.
T: +44 (0)117 316 1200
www.yankeecandle.co.uk
Gibsons has many products suitable for mums on this special day.
Last year, Gibsons introduced two new Downton Abbey jigsaws,
a 1,000-piece and a 4 x 500 piece to add to the ever-growing
collection. In addition to the Downton Abbey range, Gibsons also
produces beautiful Call the Midwife jigsaws that capture the
heart-warming atmosphere of the hugely popular BBC drama that
takes us back into London’s East End in the ’50s. There are two
jigsaws available; a 1,000-piece and a 500-piece that both feature
the nuns and children that appear in the drama alongside midwives
Jenny, Trixie, Cynthia and Chummy.
T: +44 (0)20 8661 8866
www.gibsonsgames.co.uk
mum in a million
Miss Milly has a large
selection of jewellery
suitable for gifting this
Mother’s Day. Help
your customers show
their love for Mum
with a pretty pastel
heart necklace, which
uses a touch of crystal
for sparkle. Now available in purple, pink and aqua, this has been one
of Miss Milly’s best-selling designs since it launched in 2012. The brand
also has a line of contemporary classics, including great value freshwater
pearl jewellery, with necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings available.
Add to your display with multi-coloured jewellery to make it easier for
customers who are unsure of which colour to pick.
T: +44 (0)1905 622 509
www.missmilly.co.uk
The Special Mum candle from Pintail Candles is available in the
best-selling fragrance of Patchouli & Tibetan Musk, with an attractive
pink floral design. Also available is the Special Grandma candle
featuring a delightful Geranium & Rose Petal fragrance. With an RRP
of under £5, these candle tins are a wonderful and affordable way
for people to show their appreciation this Mother’s Day.
T: +44 (0)1539 559 007
www.pintailcandles.com
This sterling silver Mum
pendant is made with real
forget-me-not flowers by
Shrieking Violet. Complete
with an 18in sterling silver
chain and stylish gift box, this
necklace is a thoughtful and
appropriate gift for mums.
T: +44 (0)20 8521 9151
www.flowerjewellery.co.uk
28 giftfocus
Absolutely Divine is the UK distributor for the whimsical and fun
collection of double-sided art charms from Pick Up Sticks Jewellery of
New Mexico in the USA. The charms feature miniature vintage images
alongside added messages. There’s an eclectic mix of alphabet charms
and a host of collectable trinkets, allowing customers to create their
own jewellery designs with messages for family and friends. There are
hundreds of designs to choose from.
T: +44 (0)1285 862 470
www.absolutelydivine.uk.com
The intricate Harmony series
from Kenro is an elegant
selection of silver finished photo
frames that would make a
luxurious addition to any room.
The Harmony Classic version
has a 20mm-wide profile, is
delicately decorated with fine
crystals, has an ivory coloured
enamel border and is available
in two sizes. The Harmony
Elegant Crystals series is equally
stunning with a lattice design of
clear crystals and a black velour
lined back. There’s a choice of six
designs in the series.
T: +44 (0)1793 615 836
www.kenro.co.uk
Winter in Venice is an
award-winning brand of British
toiletries and gifts. Its moisture
locked natural formula is
paraben-free and enriched
with shea butter, cocoa butter,
mango butter, almond oil, plant
and fruit extracts. The brand
has added vitamin A, vitamin
E, pro vitamin B5 and evening
primrose oil to leave skin
feeling totally pampered and
nourished. Winter in Venice
is against all animal testing and cruelty. Each Bath Gift set consists of an
array of high quality toiletries placed inside reusable containers such as
hat, sewing and jewellery boxes to complement your house and garden.
T: +44 (0)845 652 1223
www.winterinvenice.co.uk
4V[OLY­Z+H`
mum in a million
Busy Bee Candles is offering a huge selection of wonderfully scented candles,
wax tarts and tea lights this Mother’s Day. Customers can choose from a variety
of heavily scented, beautifully presented soy wax products and Paraben-free bath
and body lines. There are more than 200 fragrances available.
T: +44 (0)7511 642 733
www.busybeecandles.co.uk
Hazel Atkinson is set to make
Mother’s Day special this year
by giving the gift of hand-made
original jewellery. Hazel makes
every piece in her Nottingham
studio, creating floral designs in
stunning colours with butterfly,
heart and flower adornments
that will make a long lasting
and treasured gift. Crafted from
anodized aluminium the beautiful
and robust colours won’t fade, and
despite the metal being durable,
it’s also incredibly light and very
wearable.
T: +44 (0)115 941 1110
www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.co.uk
Amongst Gaeltag Keltika’s
spring offering from the
Lolita range is a selection of
glasses that are tailor-made
for Mother’s Day, ranging
from Chocoholic, Queen of
Hearts and Heart of Gold, to
the mum-specific Mum You’re
Amazing and Mummy’s Time
Out. All of these designs are
the perfect partners for a
bottle of something special or
a box of chocolates.
T: +44 (0)20 8998 1781
www.lolitadesigns.co.uk
Talbot Fashion’s new spring/summer 2014 collection
features many designs ideal for mums on their special
day. Items include a crystal embellished seahorse, gecko
and snakes, which are a Victorian symbol of eternal love.
All great sellers, the range also includes lockets, crosses,
and sentiment jewellery that are perfect for that special
Mother’s Day gift.
T: +44 (0)1273 776 415
www.talbotfashions.co.uk
The Little Book of Earrings solves the problem of how to store and
carry your earrings safely and securely at home or when traveling
and ensures that you can always find a matching pair. The Little Book
of Earrings is designed like a book with each of its four pages able
to hold up to 12 pairs, including clip-ons and creoles. The pages
are padded and the fixing holes are off set to ensure the earrings
are held securely when the book is closed, preventing them from
becoming tangled and possibly damaged. There are a number of
colour options available.
T: +44 (0)20 3371 1522
www.littleshopof.co.uk
30 giftfocus
-+'HVLJQSRLQW
NEW
“circle of love”
keyrings and
pendants.
-DQH$XVWHQ
Right: Bicentenary of
Mansfield Park 2014.
Left: ever popular Pride
and Prejudice.
%DGJHUV
From a New Series of
designs of UK Wildlife
+/- literary quotes.
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JHDesignpoint
enquiries@jhdesignpoint.net
tel/fax: 0141 339 4927
Hand made pewter gifts designed and made
in England by Chris and Nicky Algar
Create an account on our website to buy online.
New for 2014 our own brand cerise pillow boxes.
Tel 01629815413 | Email sales@multiplydesign.com
Website: www.multiplygifts.com
Multiply Design, Unit 12b Deepdale Business Park, Ashford road, Bakewell, DE45 1GT
info@wood-knit-bee.com
mum in a million
Rosanna Rossi has launched six additions to its Lovey Dovey spring
range of greetings cards for 2014, featuring a mix of open Mother’s
Day titles with decorative hearts and birds, pretty geisha dolls and fancy
teacups. These are all enhanced with beautiful embossed and colourful
foil detailing. The collection is complemented with fuchsia coloured
envelopes, and the cards measure 150mm x 150mm.
T: +44 (0)7900 698 522
www.rosanna-rossi.co.uk
The individual designs of NOA’s jewellery suit women of different
styles and ages, and make the ideal British-made gift. The company’s
ceramics can be framed with cool aluminium, warm brass or
sterling silver. The large range of designs on offer makes it possible
for buyers to tailor collections to suit their customers. Trade prices
range between £5 - £27, and a trade catalogue is available from the
company’s website.
T: +44 (0)29 2075 8409
www.noajewellery.com
The Floating Mug is off to a great start. Launched officially to retailers
in October, it sold out a full month before the busiest shopping period.
The popular mug and coaster design is also proving very functional. The
company will be building on its inventory in anticipation of its first full
year of sales.
T: +44 (0)7730 521 430
www.floatingmug.com
32 giftfocus
Ronin Designs, a specialist in semi-precious gemstone jewellery,
is launching three new ranges for the spring season. Hand-made
in Wales, all of the company’s pieces are supplied in beautiful gift
boxes, making them an ideal gift for Mother’s Day.
T: +44 (0)1269 826 000
www.ronindesigns.co.uk
This Celebration Bubble
from D & J Glassware is
ideal for mums this Mother’s
Day. Mouth-blown in high
quality glass, the ball contains
strands of glass inside to
symbolise the many ways
that a mother loves, nurtures
and guides her child. Each
Celebration Bubble is a oneof-a-kind piece, which makes
it even more personal. Each
item is individually boxed, gift
tagged and supplied with a
white satin ribbon.
T: +44 (0)1953 450 280
www.dandjglassware.co.uk
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tempting
treats
Create some fun displays in-store this Easter
with our inspiration pages
Dora Designs has an attractive range of cute farmyard animal doorstops,
paperweights and draught excluders. Take your pick from the motherly Mrs
Cockolarum Hen, Liddy Lou Lambkin, Flock of Sheep or Maisy Mallard and her
family of ducklings.
T: +44 (0)1733 305 452
www.doradesigns.co.uk
For 2014, Yankee Candle®
has launched its White
Chocolate Bunnies
design, its first ever white
chocolate scent which
joins the best-selling Bunny
Cake. White Chocolate
Bunnies is a delicious
twist on a classic Easter
treat – creamy, sweet
white chocolate with a
touch of vanilla. Back by
popular demand, Bunny
Cake brings a sweet
treat of sugary coconut,
creamy vanilla and bright
citrus into the home. Both
of these fragrances are
limited edition for the
Easter period.
T: +44 (0)117 316 1200
www.yankeecandle.co.uk
Tilnar Art’s range of hand-made recycled metal chickens
make a great gift and display for Easter. These sculptures are
hand-made by artists in Zimbabwe and are created from
recycled oil drums. Each is a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork
and sculpture produced under fair trade guidelines.
T: +44 (0)1277 362 815
www.tilnarart.co.uk
Easter cards from Alljoy Design are created with the beautiful
technique of laser-cutting. Cut from high quality textural card,
the shapes are hung on metallic paper and hand-finished with
sparkling diamantés. The laser-cut piece can also be used as
decoration and as a bookmark.
T: +353 (0)1 445 3537
www.alljoydesign.com
Last year, Puckator’s solar dancing animals were its
best-selling products. For 2014 it has increased the
range, including more of the brand’s own individual
designs. This dancing chick is sure to prove a success
for any retailer selling Easter gifts. Available from
January, just pop it in your shop window and watch
it dance!
T: +44 (0)800 011 6969
www.puckator.co.uk
34 giftfocus
easter
Jim Shore celebrates the Easter season in true form with the latest additions
to the ever-popular Heartwood Creek collection for January 2014. Available
from Enesco, these chicks are decorated in spring colours, patterns and
motifs with Jim’s style touch. They’re part of an introduction of five brand
new Easter figurines.
T: +44 (0)1228 404 022
www.enesco.co.uk
The Happy Easter party range from Neviti features an
adorable bunny motif, Easter eggs and a palette of pink,
yellow, blue and purple hues. The collection includes bunting
that’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and spells
out Happy Easter.
Colourful eggs are ideal for decorating a room or garden,
while baking is a joy with the cupcake cases covered in a
chevron and Easter egg design, with a cute bunny cake pick
adding the finishing touch. Paper plates and bunny napkins
are also included. Younger guests can enjoy the Happy
Easter bubbles – a perfect addition to table settings.
T: +44 (0)1494 473 211
www.cscimports.com
This Easter, Daisy Roots UK has a gorgeous collection of bunny shoes for you to
add to your gift range. Available in pale blue, navy and baby pink, the design features a
cute bunny with a fluffy tail. To help turn these shoes into the perfect Easter gift, Daisy
Roots UK can provide them in display bags or in an elegant gift box. The shoes are
available in four sizes: nought to six, six to 12, 12 to 18 and 18 to 24 months.
T: +44 (0)1604 880 066
www.daisy-roots.com
Aroma Home has just the thing for keeping feet warm
this Easter. A popular favourite year-on-year, Fuzzy Friends
slippers are designed to gently stimulate your feet as you
move around in them, as well as keeping them warm and
cosy. There are 13 characters to choose from, including
Duck and Sheep.
T: +44 (0)1793 487 684
www.aromahome.com
Traditional Kashmiri crafts have long
been prized for their colourful and
distinctive decoration but relentless
political turmoil in Kashmir, India brings
economic hardship and a near collapse
of the tourism industry. Namaste strives
to develop trade with disadvantaged
producers in the hope that trading with
such a troubled area will brighten their
future and help preserve traditional
crafts. These beautifully hand-painted
eggs make great ornaments or gifts
– why not try heaping in a glass bowl
or on a decorative plate? Colours and
designs are entirely assorted.
T: +44 (0)1756 700 790
www.namaste-uk.com
giftfocus 35
tempting treats
New Overseas Traders offers a range of animal strings,
hand-made in West Bengal by a women’s self-help
co-operative. They’re made from 100 per cent recycled
materials, which means they’re completely green as well
as being colourful and endearing. The medium size string
measures 90cm long and the large string is 155cm long.
T: +44 (0)1672 851 166
www.newoverseastraders.co.uk
With spring around the
corner, these faux speckled
eggs from Jane Means will
brighten up any interior.
The lightweight eggs can
be scattered in a bowl or
hung on an Easter tree.
Jane says: “In the past
retailers have bought our
lightweight eggs to use in
a shop feature or window
display, only to find that
they’ve had to order more
as customers love them so
much.” The cartons of six
eggs are available in several
colours, including popular
pastel pink and are priced
at £2.40.
T: +44 (0)1522 522 544
www.janemeans.com
The Squegg is a new talking point of
Thorntons’ Easter range. This quirky
squashed egg is the brand’s new
must-have gift for teens this Easter.
The creamy cookies & cream and
cinnamon & waffle flavour Squeggs
were voted its best flavours.
T: +44 (0)845 121 1911
www.thorntons.co.uk
Bobby Bunny is part of Original
Candy’s range of natural candy.
Free from artificial flavours and
colours, the confectionery is a
great alternative to chocolate for
the spring season. It offers great
counter-top sales and product life,
and is a great pick-up line with a
cost of just 60p and RRP of £1.25.
T: +44 (0)1628 535 991
www.originalcandyco.com
Cozy Plush is a range of different fully microwavable soft toys
from Intelex. Simply warm them in the microwave for two
minutes to release the soothing lavender aroma. Pictured are
the duck and sheep characters.
T: +44 (0)1933 679 777
www.intelex.co.uk
Busy Bee Candles offers a huge range of heavily scented, soy wax home
fragrance products and a Paraben-free bath and body range, all of which are
hand-made in Wales. With fragrances such as Spring Daffodils, Chocolate
Fudge Brownie and Spring Bouquet, the scents fit perfectly with Easter. There
are more than 200 fragrances available.
T: +44 (0)7511 642 733
www.busybeecandles.co.uk
36 giftfocus
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Isabel Martinson, CEO of The
Giftware Association
GA news
All the latest news from The Giftware Association
Survey reveals business optimism and
satisfaction with The GA
More than 73 per cent of suppliers and 60
per cent of retailers who took part in The
GA’s pan-industry survey in 2013 have said
they expect business to improve. The survey
was carried out by The GA to enable it to
better represent the views of those within the
gift and home industry and provide the most
appropriate assistance.
Almost 74 per cent of those questioned said
they would recommend The GA to a colleague,
while more than 76 per cent were totally
satisfied with the association’s services.
Supplier members rated trade fair discounts
and warnings about fraudulent companies or
scams among The GA’s key services, while
retailer members valued special offers on
products from supplier members; savings
on reduced credit card processing rates and
free trade magazines. Legislation updates and
industry information were important to both.
An increased perception of the new GA
website illustrated that it was having a positive
effect on users.
Respondents variously described The GA as
“a comfort blanket” and “a great organisation
to be a part of ”, while others said “it has
improved over the last five years”, was “very
supportive of my business” and a “very wellrun and professional body that works hard
to stay relevant and current to the industry
it represents”.
More than twice as many entries for
Gift of the Year 2014
The association reported that entries to The
GA’s Gift of the Year 2014 were more than
double the previous year. Popular categories
include Kids, Under £10, Kitchen & Dining,
Home Accessories, Made in the UK and
Home Fragrance.
GA Chief Executive, Isabel Martinson,
says that their strength may be a trends’
indicator, citing fashion jewellery and
fashion accessories as examples where
this has happened in previous years.
38 giftfocus
“There’s definitely been a resurgence of interest
in products made in the UK,” comments Isabel.
“British retailers will always search out quality.
But they also want products to be accessible,
which is why home-based manufacturers – with
shorter lead times than those from the Far East
– are winning customers. Also, rising costs in
China, coupled with higher freight charges, can
also give them an edge.”
She believes that the growing popularity
of the competition is due to a realisation by
suppliers that winning Gift of the Year – or
being highly commended – can boost sales and
enhance their credibility.
The awards will be presented at the NEC,
Birmingham at the close of Spring Fair on
Sunday 2nd February. The headline sponsor is
show organiser i2i Events.
Ping Ping Jewellery, Sebnini, Tilnar Art and Really
Good with ‘Soul’.
GA signs 83 new members: quest to
bring buyers and sellers closer
The GA signed 83 new members in 2013 as it
began what Isabel Martinson describes as “a big
push to bring suppliers and retailers closer to
each other.”
This mission statement is close to the heart
of GA chairman-elect Michael Papé, who
is keen for the association to be seen as a
facilitator of trade between the two after it
successfully introduced virtual showrooms on
its website.
Isabel says: “It was no accident that Michael
asked experienced independent retail
consultant Henri Davis to be his Vice Chairman.
It was a conscious decision as Michael, who is
a supplier, wanted The GA to have a wellSpring Fair voucher scheme set to be
rounded offering that was representative of all
biggest to date
its members.”
The GA’s member-to-member voucher
Isabel says that in 2014 the association will
initiative – where suppliers offer their retailer
launch a campaign that will see The GA reach
counterparts special deals at trade shows – is
out to “the people who do such a great job in
set to be the biggest ever at Spring Fair.
our shops and stores” as it strives to create an
A number of companies – including Tilnar
exhaustive database that will be “irresistible” to
Art and Blue Eyed Sun – have already taken
advantage of the association’s new package. This its supplier members. g
rewards them with discounts if they participate
in two shows or all three events – Spring Fair,
Home & Gift and Autumn Fair – where the
scheme is operating.
A new feature for those taking part is an
online showroom on The GA website, similar
to its Inspire section. Here, suppliers will be able
to upload a product image or range, together
with descriptive editorial.
The scheme is supported by GA-tailored
emails to retailers – who receive their voucher
sheets by post – as well as advertising, a social
media campaign and news coverage in relevant
trade magazines.
Suppliers taking part include Ancestors, Blue
Eyed Sun, British Fossils, Cavendish French, CSC
Imports, Half Moon Bay, HHJ Trading, Lifemax,
Further information
Maingate, Mandarin Arts, Nick Smyth Trading,
For The GA, log on to www.ga-uk.org
Opal Trading, Peartree Heybridge, Perfect Pillow,
The CarrieMe Collection of gifts and useful
accessories includes Bag Hooks, Finders
and limited editions handmade in the UK.
Get your complimentary product when
you order quoting GFCMS14 - offer ends
10/2/2014.
For sales please contact:
Carrie Gregory-Hood
carrie.gh@carrieme.co.uk
T: 020 7912 0108
M: 07801 715707
Your Everyday Indulgence
Come visit us
at Hall 1.2,
Stand C81
at Ambiente
sales@lacafetiere.com / +44 (0)1352 717 555
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaCafetiereUK
looking ahead
We speak to Michael Papé, The Giftware Association’s Chairman-elect, about his
hopes and aspirations in preparation for his appointment in June
As young boys, Michael Papé and his brother
Richard would rummage through the suitcases
their mother and father brought back from
sourcing trips to the Far East.
Packed with samples such as toys, rubber
snakes and plush, this was Michael’s introduction
to the industry whose trade body, The GA, will
install him as its Chairman in June.
He recalls the excitement at the return of
parents Barry and Susan, laden with the goods
from which they would select their new ranges:
“That was the first product screening. If we
broke anything it just wasn’t considered!”
During school holidays he helped out in their
warehouse and also earned pocket money for
attaching swing tickets to toys. Hardly surprising
then that Michael is now a Director of
Ravensden, the family firm. But his career path
was by no means clear.
Although he spent his gap year working
for the business before going to university,
Michael originally wanted to join the Army. He
eventually settled on the TA, in which he served
throughout the ’90s. Michael then completed
an intensive business course and returned
to Ravensden.
That was 18 years ago. Today, he enjoys a
variety of roles within the company including
key account management, purchasing and
supplier management, compliance and
corporate social responsibility, along with
general business management.
Ravensden has been a member of The GA
since 1983, and although Michael is happy to
adopt the benefits that the company enjoys
through membership, including an advantageous
rate for health insurance and trade show
discounts, it’s the bigger picture that is equally, if
not more, important to him.
“Being a member of The GA gives our
company a level of credibility and that’s
particularly evident when someone is looking
at our business for the first time. That’s why we
use the association’s logo on the Ravensden
website and in all our catalogues.”
So what are his hopes and aspirations for
his two-year chairmanship? Michael prefaces
40 giftfocus
his reply by saying that it’s the association’s
communal strength that benefits members. “My
mantra is that we should work together even
more closely and pool our knowledge. As an
industry we have many problems in common.
Five people affected by the same issue can
achieve much more through The GA than by
working alone.
“I would hate, for instance, to see someone
come a cropper because another member
hasn’t shared their experience with others.
A classic example is where a supplier loses
money because a customer fails to pay –
and then, because information hasn’t been
passed on, that same company takes down
somebody else.”
There are many people in the gift and home
industry – many of them members – with
whom he is able to have “honest discussions
and bounce ideas off.”
He hopes to help forge a closer relationship
between members and associations within
the British Allied Trades Federation for the
benefit of all concerned, and says: “We don’t
all compete against each other all of the time
– we have our own little niches. So it’s about
sharing ideas and experiences.”
Michael cites recent examples of The GA’s
effectiveness – including its warnings about
proposed anti-dumping duties, which saved
members significant sums of money. “What
good trade associations such as The GA do
is present that information to members in a
relevant and digestible form.”
He’s keen to recruit more businesses into
The GA and broaden the membership and
feels that recent moves will help achieve this.
“We have a community where companies
can offer incentives to retailers, who in turn
know that they can come to The GA and
find suppliers that can sell them credible
products. The new virtual showrooms on the
association’s website give me, as a supplier, a
great shop window and are a calling point and
a resource for the retailer.
“I want The GA to continue to facilitate trade
between our supplier and retailer members for
their benefit and that of the association.”
He describes his invitation to independent
retail consultant Henri Davis to be his Vice
Chairman as “a conscious decision” and adds:
“I’m supplier focused and Henri is retailer
focused, which gives us a rounded offering that
is representative of our members.
“It’s vital for suppliers and retailers to work
hand in hand. I’ve known Henri for a number
of years through The GA and worked with her
briefly through the National Trust. She’s a very
capable person with a good reputation who
has been in the industry for a number of years.
“Going forward I hope we can ensure
that we have a good spread of retailers and
suppliers on The GA national committee. I also
think it’s important for the association to have
a mix of male and female officers – which is
nothing to do with quotas but everything to do
with the skills people bring to the table.”
Michael is determined to maintain a balanced
lifestyle. There will still be time to enjoy walks
with his barrister wife Lorna, “boisterous”
sons Felix (five), Hugo (seven) and the lively
chocolate-brown Labrador Lotte in the
Northamptonshire countryside. If he still has
the energy at the end of a busy day, you might
find Michael in the kitchen indulging his passion
for cooking… and enjoying a well deserved
glass of wine.
The GA and Ravensden appear to be in
safe hands. g
To find out more about The GA, visit
www.ga-uk.org
babies
HUSH A BYE BABY
Giftware for babies is a steady money-spinner worth stocking
The essence of the Busy Peas brand revolves around an adorable
range of clothing, toys and books for babies and toddlers. The roots
of the business lie in the garden, with the aim of combining fashion
and education by introducing children to fruit and vegetables at an
early age, encouraging them to read and learn to grow their special
favourites. The Busy Peas product range comprises a vibrant range
of clothing for babies from newborn to 18 months, and five fruit
and vegetable characters feature in a range of entertaining and
educational books and toys.
T: +44 (0)1772 331 883
www.busypeas.co.uk
Totseat has launched
its new Alphabet Soup
design. The multi-award
winning washable
highchair makes meal
times on the move quick
and easy by creating a
safe haven for babies
from any adult chair. The
new design features the
Roman alphabet in a
muted range of highly
fashionable colours,
adding to an already
stylish collection of
fabrics. This portable
highchair is incredibly
versatile and can be
shortened or extended
to fit all manner of
high-back, low-backed,
traditional, weird and
wonderful chairs – even
a deck-chair for the
summer months.
T: +44 (0)131 226 6064
www.totseat.com
Imajo has a wonderful range of cute and cuddly knitted toys, suitable
from birth and in a soft palette of colours. Made in Sri Lanka, Imajo
promises there will be new designs in the collection to look out for in
early 2014. The brand is known for its extensive range of rag dolls, but
we think these knitted toys with their adorable faces are hard to resist.
T: +44 (0)1425 600 600
www.imajo.co.uk
Rosanna Rossi has launched a new line of baby girl and boy
greetings cards, which will be launched in readiness for Spring Fair.
Part of the popular Spotlight birthday and occasion range, the
cards are finished with colourful foils and emboss details. Each card
is presented with a complementing metallic silver envelope and
measures 150mm x 150mm.
T: +44 (0)7900 698 522
www.rosanna-rossi.co.uk
giftfocus 43
HUSH A BYE BABY
Every product at Butterfly Trading Co is hand-made and hand-painted,
making each item one-of-a-kind and an extra special gift for a baby or
child. Because of the popularity of the children’s gifts, the company has
launched beautiful presentation boxes to suit its personalised door
hangers and birth and christening hearts. The rigid boxes have a ribbon
covering the top lid and are finished off with a bow, as well as an
individually personalised wooden heart name tag.
T: +44 (0)1383 623 482
www.butterflytradingco.com
These lovable soft leather baby shoes are available from Pre Shoes,
which has a comprehensive range of shoes and gifts for boys and
girls from birth to two years. Beautifully presented, they make an
ideal impulse purchase. With no minimum order, Pre Shoes offers a
flexible approach.
T: +44 (0)845 257 0244
www.preshoes.co.uk
Baby snoozies!® are
the offspring of grown
up snoozies!®, Joe
Davies’ exclusive hot
line from the USA.
They’re made from
super soft, cosy Sherpa
fleece, and the baby
version is available in
six designs for boys and
girls and in three sizes.
The baby snoozies!®
sit attractively in their
quality display unit and
can be reordered by
mixed pack or size.
T: +44 (0)161 975 6300
www.joedavies.co.uk
The Tractor Ted wooden toy is a little wooden replica of Tractor Ted
along with his smiley face. Solid and sturdy and ready for play, there’s
also a red baler complete with three bales that can be hitched onto
the back.
T: +44 (0)1373 834 500
www.tractorted.co.uk
Babyface has a beautiful selection of cot bed quilts for little ones and
prides itself on the quality of the cotton and workmanship in the
appliqué detail. The designs feature cut motifs in a range of themes, from
pirates to fairies, or for a timeless patchwork classic the Matilda quilt fits
the bill. The cot bed quilts can also be used on a toddler or single bed
once the child grows out of the cot. These make great heirloom gifts to
welcome a new arrival.
T: +44 (0)1483 481 550
www.babyfacedesigns.co.uk
44 giftfocus
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All our products are Handcrafted and Hand Painted making
each one not only a little bit quirky and rustic,
but best of all unique.
We have aimed for a Country Style feel with wonderful
Shaker Style Lines and Colouring, which suits and delights
both children and the home.
5CJCNFMLC 01383 623482 CK?GJ info@butterflytradingco.com
UC@ www.butterflytradingco.com
Bringing fashion and education together, Busy Peas introduces
children to fruit and vegetables at an early age, encouraging them
to read and learn to grow their special favourites!
BabyPod features a vibrant range of clothing for babies from
newborn to 18 months and PlayPod introduces the fruit and
vegetable characters as a range of entertaining and educational
books and toys.
For more information please contact Jayne Liston
T 0208 748 7671
E jayne.liston@busypeas.co.uk
www.busypeas.co.uk
HUSH A BYE BABY
The Baby Keepsake Box from Signature Gifts contains an original
newspaper, teddy, engraved birth certificate and photo frame presented
in a premium foil embossed keepsake box. Launching in January is My
First Year Book, a commemorative gift to record a baby’s first year, but
unlike others of this type, it contains a full newspaper from the birthdate
reproduced in colour and bound inside a premium foil embossed
personalised cover.
T: +44 (0)844 669 9300
www.signature-gifts.co.uk
A welcome addition to the From You to Me multi award-winning
Parent & Child range, Dear Baby Guest Book makes a wonderful
gift for baby showers, new baby celebrations, christenings or naming
ceremonies. Available in three colourways with beautifully illustrated
pages, space for messages, photos and gift details, Dear Baby Guest
Book is a wonderful way to create a one-of-a-kind baby keepsake.
T: +44 (0)1225 866 225
www.fromyoutome.com
Two new collections have been added to the GUND Baby range
for 2014, available from Enesco. Stripes & Dots™ features four
animals – Grigsby™ Giraffe, Evert™ Elephant, Teller™ Turtle and
Brynlee™ Bunny – in pretty pastel shades of spots. Each character
is available in two formats: plush and matching size rattles. The Mini
Meadow range features four characters, also available as rattles and
plush: Briar™ Bear, Clove™ Cat, Begonia™ Bunny and Mossly™ Mouse.
The animals are wearing cute gingham outfits in pastel shades and
are all suitable from birth.
T: +44 (0)1228 404 022
www.enesco.co.uk
Under license from Cavania, Lesser & Pavey has taken illustrations from
the Little Bird & Ellie range and transformed them into items of quality
giftware for the baby market. The company has extensive ranges of gifts
for babies in both fine ceramics and silverware. Lines include money
boxes, first curls and tooth boxes, keep sake boxes, certificate holders,
cups and bowls, clock, gift bags, baby gift set and photo frames.
T: +44 (0)1322 279 225
www.leonardo.co.uk
46 giftfocus
HUSH A BYE BABY
A Baby Clothes Bouquet from The Flower Stork combines the beauty of flowers
with essential items of baby clothes to bring you a new baby gift range that’s as
beautiful as it is practical. The bouquets contain high quality 100 per cent cotton
UK-made baby clothes, aged three - six months. Recipients can enjoy the bouquet
for a period, as you would a bouquet of fresh flowers. The flower buds can be
unfurled to find a selection of essential baby clothes hidden inside.
T: +44 (0)1495 303 030
www.theflowerstork.com
Blue Eyed Sun’s Gorgeous range is based on original
hand-stitched embroideries by Jo Corner. Printed with
beautiful embossed motifs, the cards are then hand-finished
with jewels and come with an RRP of £2.99 (trade price £1.25
each). The Vintage range is based on original stitched artworks
and four-colour printed with embossing. This charming
collection is also finished with jewels. All the cards come
cello-wrapped with a coloured envelope.
T: +44 (0)1273 823 003
www.blueeyedsun.co.uk
Daisy Roots UK believes that
every new baby deserves
the best possible start.
Its giftware collection is
hand-made with loving pride
in Great Britain and the items
make gorgeous new baby
gifts and keepsakes. This cute
Camper Van continues to be
one of the brand’s best-selling
designs. This spring, Daisy
Roots is introducing a pale
pink camper to the range. This
will be available as a pair of
soft leather shoes, a gift boxed
organic cotton top or a gift set
comprising an organic cotton
top with a pair of shoes.
T: +44 (0)1604 880 066
www.daisy-roots.com
After its highly successful launch in autumn, Mousehouse is going from strength
to strength in both its gift and soft toy collections, and has big plans for expansion
early this year, including moving to new offices and larger warehouse facilities.
Mousehouse is expanding its range of baby products to include hand-crafted
gift sets, record books and baby imprint sets alongside key boxed collections of
matching comforters, rattles and music boxes. They’re all available in traditional soft
blues and pinks but their usual trademark quirky, tasteful designs.
T: +44 (0)1606 868 000
www.mousehousegifts.co.uk
48 giftfocus
retail technology
on the search
David Mackley brings you a guide to Google updates and his views on how to
reduce the risk of being damaged by them
If you have a website and rely on Google
listings to bring in customers, you may be
aware of Google updates and how they can
change the position of your website in Google
search listings. You will have probably heard
of Panda, Penguin and other friendly names,
however, a Google update can seriously
damage your business. Here’s a potted history
of Google updates, and my own view on how
to reduce the risks of being damaged by them.
What is a Google update?
Bing has just launched a new logo for its search
engine, as it strives to make a bigger dent into
Google’s dominance, but it’s still miles behind.
Google has its faults, but it really is good at
delivering relevant search results, which is why
they’re so utterly dominant in this market.
Google search is powered by its secret
algorithm and every now and again the
Google team find new ways to improve
it. These improvements are sometimes
announced and, more recently, kept quiet. In
either case they do tend to have an impact on
the search results.
So, if you sell teddy bears online and are
lucky enough to be in Google’s first page
results for these items, you’ll probably be
getting a nice revenue stream from new
customers. How would you feel though if
Google publishes an update that pushes you
down, and effectively out of the search results?
You would lose most, if not all, of your teddy
bear business overnight.
This does actually happen. Some businesses
have literally gone bust; as a result they’ve
launched petitions with thousands of signatures
asking Google to remove updates, but chances
are nothing will happen. It’s pretty scary but
“Google search is powered by its
secret algorithm and every now
and again the Google team find
new ways to improve it. These
improvements are sometimes
announced and, more recently,
kept quiet. In either case they do
tend to have an impact on the
search results.”
very real. There are lots of cases where small
businesses have lost more than 40 per cent
of their turnover overnight after the Google
Panda update. Who knows when the next one
will strike?
For those wanting to track such things,
there are SEO companies that have tools to
track changes in Google rankings on a massive
scale and give temperature readings to reflect
change in rankings. When the temperature gets
above 100 degrees, it means there are lots of
changes to Google rankings. Webmasters then
get very twitchy.
Google has more recently become wary
about officially confirming when updates are
released. Partly because so much rides on
Google listings for so many businesses, and also
after the uproar that happened with Panda and
Penguin updates. As this is an area of concern
for people, there are rumours that fly thick and
fast. Here’s a summary of some of the main
Google updates in recent years.
giftfocus 51
on the search
Google updates – A potted history
• Domain Crowding – May 2013. Google
released an update to reduce the problem
where a website comes up multiple times for
the same search term.
• Exact-Match Domain Update –
September 2012. Google announced a
change in the way it handled exact-match
domains (where the search term is the same
as the URL of the website, e.g. teddy bears =
www.teddybears.com). This led to devalued
listings for about one per cent of sites.
• 7-Result SERPs – August 2012. Google
made a change to limit its first page to only
show seven, and not 10 results for many
queries. This change impacted about 18 per
cent of keywords.
• DMCA Penalty – August 2012. DMCA
stands for Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
You can post a DMCA Takedown to request
an Internet Service Provider (ISP) takes down
material that infringes another’s copyright.
Google announced that it would start
penalising sites with repeat copyright violations,
probably via DMCA takedown requests.
• Knowledge Graph – May 2012. In a
step towards semantic search, Google started
rolling out Knowledge Graph, a new page
layout providing extra information about
certain people, places, and things. Type Star
Wars into Google and see the Knowledge
Panel appear.
• Penguin – April 2012. Google rolled out
this major anti-spam update, which became
known as Penguin. Penguin impacted an
estimated three per cent of English queries.
A number of changes were made to clean
up search listings. Sites were penalised for
keyword stuffing, participating in link schemes,
deliberate creation of duplicate content and
other underhand techniques.
• Venice – February 2012. This
update appeared to give more strength to
geographically based results, e.g. if Google
knows you are in Leeds and you type in toy
shop, you’re more likely to get local shops
appear than shops down in Devon.
• Ads Above The Fold – January 2012.
Google devalued sites with too many adverts
in the top part of the page.
52 giftfocus
• Freshness Update – November 2011.
Google announced it would reward freshness,
e.g. fresh content on sites. This impacted up to
35 per cent of queries. This update primarily
affected search terms that were time-sensitive
like news, but signalled a much stronger focus
on fresh content generally.
• Panda (Europe) – April 2011. A major
update hit sites hard, affecting up to 12 per
cent of search results. Panda seemed to crack
down on websites with thin content, sites with
a high ratio of adverts to content, as well as
other quality issues. Google has since rolled
out about 30 more revisions to Panda.
How to avoid being impacted by
an update
Here is my view on how to avoid being
penalised by a Google update. Take the view
that Google wishes to present the best
possible site for any particular search term.
They want to get rid of poor quality and
copied websites. Put yourself in the shoes of
someone typing a search term into Google;
what would you want Google to provide for
that term? This mind-set will start you on the
right track. Here are a few pointers:
1. Aim for your website to be a positive
contribution to the World Wide Web.
2. Provide genuinely useful information in the
form of text, images and video content for
people to use.
3. Don’t copy or spam, i.e. don’t write junk for
the sake of Google listings.
4. Endeavour to get other good quality
websites to link to yours where it’s relevant
and useful.
Google’s informal corporate slogan is Don’t
be evil. If your general frame of mind is to
cheat Google, you’re at risk. If your frame of
mind is to genuinely provide useful information
for people using the web, you’re less likely to
be affected; in fact, you’ll probably gain good
listings over time. g
David Mackley MBA BSc is Managing
Director of Intelligent Retail –
www.intelligentretail.co.uk – providers of
multichannel EPoS and eCommerce websites
for independent retailers. If you have any
questions you can contact David on
T: +44 (0)845 680 0126 or
E: dmackley@intelligentretail.co.uk
beside the seaside
Create a simmering in-store display this spring and summer with these seaside treats
These beach huts and lighthouses by D & J
Glassware are individually made in coloured
fused glass. The lighthouses have been cleverly
designed so that when they catch the light
the beacon appears to light up. The beach
hut collection is truly evocative of the British
seaside, with names such as Dunroamin,
Harbour View and Sea Breeze. Each piece is
individually tagged to confirm its hand-made
authenticity and is gift boxed.
T: +44 (0)1953 450 280
www.dandjglassware.co.uk
54 giftfocus
seaside
These ceramic Beach Huts from Puckator are handpainted in pastel colours. Finished with a high-gloss glaze,
they come presented in a decorative card gift box. Each
Beach Hut is an original Ted Smith Design.
T: +44 (0)800 011 6969
www.puckator.co.uk
The Beachtime range from
Lesser & Pavey makes an ideal
gift and these fine china mugs
will sit as well in a beach-side
hut as a kitchen table. Each
one comes in a beautifully
illustrated gift box to mirror
the mugs’ designs. Illustrations
bring bright colours to the
shelves of any store, and will
capture the eyes of shoppers.
T: +44 (0)1322 279 225
www.leonardo.co.uk
The Seaside collection from
The Country Candle Company
includes four fragrances: Beach
Sunset, Driftwood, Ocean Mist and
Seagrass Linen. These are available
as a candle tin with a 30-hour burn
time, vogue jar with 60-hour burn
time and reed diffusers with a
100ml bottle that lasts for around
eight weeks.
T: +44 (0)844 915 0005
www.thecountry
candlecompany.com
Belly Boy Prints is the brainchild of Derek
Cadogan, a graphic designer with a passion
for letterpress typography and vintage
illustrations. Pictured is the ‘Oh I do like to
be beside the seaside’ print, which is A3
size. From his studio in Kinghorn, Fife, Derek
creates original hand-pulled screen prints
and greetings cards.
T: +44 (0)1592 892 421
www.bellyboyprints.co.uk
Well known for
its humorous
mugs, Stubbs
Mugs also has
an attractive
seaside collection.
Designs include
sandcastles, sailing
boats, beach huts
(solid colours
and striped), gulls,
boats, lighthouse
and fish.
T: +44 (0)1263
823 333
www.stubbs
mugs.co.uk
giftfocus 55
fun-filled
Mark Howard, Managing Director of Puckator, shares how the company has
grown since its inception in 1991
How did Puckator begin and when?
Puckator was started by myself, Mark Howard,
in 1991, after a holiday in Bali inspired a career
in importing. From fairly humble beginnings
based in a small industrial unit on Bodmin
Moor, the company has stayed loyal to its
Cornish roots, now operating from a bespoke
built 50,000sq ft warehouse and office close to
Liskeard. The site was acquired in 2001 and has
been developed as the company has grown,
with the latest extension to the warehouse
completed at the end of 2013. Despite the fact
that the company now has offices in Spain, Italy,
China and a design office in Sheffield, Cornwall
is still home and always will be.
Were there any teething problems when
setting up the company?
As with most new start-ups, cash flow was a
cause for concern in the early days, as were
the pitfalls of importing hand-made goods
from distant lands. However, with hard work,
perseverance, the birth of online sales and a
little bit of luck, the company has gone from
strength to strength.
What’s the inspiration behind the company
and its products?
This has changed substantially over the last
five years with Puckator, slowly at first but
now with greater speed, changing from a
company that was buying off-the-shelf to
designing the majority of products in-house.
Finding recruitment of designers a challenge
at our base in Cornwall, we opened an office
in Sheffield in 2010; this enabled us to tap into
the talent from the university and has been
pivotal in the company’s continued growth
With Puckator’s expansion into Europe
over the last few years, we also involve staff
from the entire company when it comes to
product development.
What types of products do you offer?
Puckator has come a long way from the
beginning when best-sellers included banana
trees from Bali and wind chimes from South
America. We now stock more than 5,000
products, from headphones to homeware
and mugs to moustaches. Product ranges like
beauty accessories, which we hadn’t dreamt of
selling five years ago, are now becoming a huge
part of the range. Having in-house designers
has opened up a world of possibilities, with
overseas buying trips now focusing on
products to add designs to, rather than looking
for products to buy off the shelf.
How would you describe your most recent
product collections?
Working with a team of in-house designers, as
well as freelance artists, means Puckator has
a very diverse range of own design products.
From Fantasy artist Lisa Parker, with whom
56 giftfocus
Puckator has worked with on a licence basis
for some time, to in-house designers Laura
Bell and Teddy Smith, there really is something
for every retailer and this is reflected in our
customer base. We like to provide current
designs, but still keep prices realistic for
our traditional and growing customer base.
New designs for 2014 include the Laura Bell
Chouko butterfly collection, with products
including pocket mirrors, cushions, beauty
accessories and more. Designed by Teddy is
the contemporary Robotnies range, giving
retro robots a modern twist.
When was the website launched and how
does it support the business?
Puckator launched its first e-commerce
website in 2001, long before many of our
competitors. Many people thought that
although business to consumer websites had
started to take off, persuading traditional
retailers in a B2B environment to order online
just wouldn’t work. We proved that wrong, and
most other importers are now selling directly
to retailers online. After launching the website
puckator.co.uk, we noticed we suddenly got
orders from all over Europe, something that
had not happened before. This gave us the
confidence to first take on a French speaker
to launch puckator.fr, and then onto all the
other major European countries. We now have
websites with full native speaking customer
company profile
service in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Holland,
Sweden, Poland and Portugal, as well as
physical office presences in Spain and Italy, with
France coming soon.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
I think our diverse European staff base sets
us apart from some of our competitors. This
enables us to get a wider perspective on the
European market. Also, the fact that we own
our own warehouse enables us to be very
flexible on minimum orders, and linked to
the above, also allowed us to be the first gift
importer to launch a dropshipping website
back in 2003; this has gown annually since then,
and now allows us to dropship for some major
retailers like JD Williams and Amazon.
How do you see your business developing?
Puckator will continue to increase the
percentage of own design products over the
coming years; this is a major factor in our
growth plans.
With the launch of websites in France,
Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland and Sweden
over the last 10 years, all offering local free
phone and native speaking customer service,
Europe is another target area for growth. We
will continue to add to our trade fair calendar,
beginning with Formex Stockholm in August
2014 and will also look at fairs further afield.
We’ll also be expanding our sales force on
the ground right across Europe, beginning
with Spain and Italy where we have a physical
presence on the ground, to France and
Germany, where plans to open further offices
are in the pipeline.
As always, at Puckator we’re on the lookout
for opportunities to expand the business, while
sticking to the fundamentals that have made
the business a success up to now.
What emerging trends do you expect for the
coming year?
For spring/summer 2014, Puckator expects
butterflies, all kinds of nautical and seaside
products to move well for many of it’s
customers, and with London expecting a
bumper season for tourism, we’ve worked
very hard on contemporary London and UK
icon ranges.
We’ll also be focusing on craft, baking, and
haberdashery with our Stich in Time range
by Jan Pashley and Make Do and Mend
Button products.
In addition, there will be new twists to some
of our current best-sellers, including Dotty
Kittens and the best-selling Bike range.
What are your plans for the Puckator brand
in the future?
Just continue what we’re doing, making the
most of our excellent team of staff, create
products that customers love and can sell, and
try to have fun along the way. g
Breaking News
During 2013, one of Puckator’s best-sellers
was the solar dancing pals. Designs included
monkey, flying pig and elephant, with
hundreds of thousands of pieces sold. New
for 2014 is the Dancing Queen, designed
in-house and attributed to Puckator under
a European Community design registration
application. The company has already had
fantastic pre-orders for this fun collectable.
It’s sure to be a winner in not only the
souvenir market, but also any gift retailers
that like a fun novelty line. Come and see
her dancing at Spring Fair.
To find out more about Puckator, visit
www.puckator.co.uk
giftfocus 57
novelty
fun and laughter
Put a smile on your customers’ faces with these gloom-busting gifts
New to Aroma Home’s slipper range, the Owl Fuzzy Friends slippers are a fun treat
for feet, with adorable faces and cute characters. The fuzzy frond material is designed
to gently stimulate your feet as you move around in them, as well as keeping feet
cosy and warm. The sole is a special non-slip sole with multi-grip for slip resistance.
T: +44 (0)1793 487 684
www.aromahome.com
Wild & Wolf offers a wide range of
gifts in the Ridley’s collection. The
Ridley’s 4 Classic Joke set comprises
four classic practical jokes in one
retro-style package. The set includes
snappy chewing gum, nail-throughfinger trick, whoopee cushion and the
classic insect in ice.
T: +44 (0)1225 789 909
www.wildandwolf.com
The Floating Mug is a one-of-a-kind concept that elegantly
combines a mug and coaster in a no-drip design. The drip-catch™
design works exceptionally well to control the flow of moisture by
raising the mug off the furniture; letting the drip slide under the mug.
A great gift for tea and coffee drinkers.
T: +44 (0)7730 521 430
www.floatingmug.com
We all know a super
fan, whether it be of
the iconic Star Wars,
Dr Who or Walking
Dead, Marilyn Monroe
or Elvis. Star Cutouts
caters for the full
range of tastes and
experiences. With
life sized cut-outs
and masks of all your
favourite characters,
the brand’s novelty gifts
category has never
been stronger.
T: +44 (0)161
344 5839
www.starcutouts.com
The humorous Stubbs Mugs
collection continues to grow,
with new fine bona china
mug designs, tea towels and
aprons. The I’d Rather range
has many quirky new designs,
as well as the Clive Cat’s
collection (pictured right).
T: +44 (0)1263 823 333
www.stubbsmugs.co.uk
giftfocus 59
fun and laughter
Apple Pie Jewelry, a leading
American range of acrylic jewellery,
launched at last year’s Home & Gift
Harrogate. More than 27 exclusive
designs are hand-made in high quality
laser-cut acrylic and made with
SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. Pieces
are available as necklaces, hair bands,
cuffs in adult and kids’ sizes, ponytail
holders, key chains and rings.
T: +44 (0)1738 842 772
www.applepiejewelry.com
Little Robot Shop has a passion for robots, rockets and ray
guns from the Space Race era of the early ’50s to the late ’70s. The
company loves photographing and presenting anew from its own
huge collection of space toys that reflect the endless inventiveness,
colour and imagination of this period. Products available include
greetings cards, giftwrap and posters.
T: +44 (0)20 8964 9018
www.littlerobotshop.com
Boxer Gifts’ range of glassware is well
developed and proving a success. The new
range of Pilsner glasses fulfils the need for
that difficult-to-satisfy male gift category.
Each of the glasses comes in an attractive
presentation box.
T: +44 (0)113 395 5595
www.boxergifts.com
Rugy Bugy shades aren’t only great value sunglasses, they’re also a
funky fashion accessory. Colourful, soft and warm, they fit perfectly
as a headband with one side of the label able to be printed with
individual graphics such as an event name or logo. These sunglasses
are suitable not only for fashion retail but also as souvenir and
promotional items.
T: +420 257 317 795
www.rugybugy.com
Busy Bee Candles’ huge range of more than 200 fragrances includes
scented candles, wax tarts, tea lights and more, with some rather novel
scents. Sizzling Bacon, Fresh Bread, Fresh Coffee, Buttered Popcorn, Fresh
Cut Grass and many more will make the perfect novelty gift for your
customers. Displayed alongside more traditional scents, the choice is vast
and colourful. Each Busy Bee candle is very heavily scented and handmade in Wales with natural soy wax.
T: +44 (0)7511 642 733
www.busybeecandles.co.uk
60 giftfocus
fun and laughter
Artscape has a wide range of novelty aprons,
from Christmas slogans to barbeque quotes.
Each apron is generously sized and comes with
a substantial front pocket, ideal for storing the
designated cook’s emergency hip flask, bottle
opener or fire extinguisher!
T: +44 (0)20 8681 8368
www.artscapeonline.com
Half Moon Bay has expanded its superhero ranges in 2014 to include
these cape towels, so people can live out their childhood fantasy
of being a costumed hero. Featuring the two iconic superheroes
Superman and Batman, these make the perfect gift for grown up kids
and avid comic book fans alike.
T: +44 (0)1225 473 873
www.halfmoonbay.co.uk
Puckator has expanded its own design of solar pals for 2014. These
solar powered novelties are great for sunny window displays and are
sure to bring in the customers as they dance and wave in the sunlight!
New designs for this year include Loch Ness Monster, Clown Fish and its
famous Dancing Queen.
T: +44 (0)800 011 6969
www.puckator.co.uk
Gift buyers can make a cheeky saving with the B.Duck character
Savings Banks, which is a perfect gift for children, teens and adults
alike. The novelty fun from B.Duck continues with the Animal Series
and Ocean Series keyrings. Ideal for adding novelty touches to the
home and office are the Sweetie Mug, Paperclip Magnetic Holder
(pictured) and Perpetual Calendar. Looking cool on the move is
now easier than ever thanks to the B.Duck Ear Buds, the iPhone
sticker skin featuring a Yellow Sweetie design and the yellow iPhone
case with jewels.
T: +44 (0)1329 227 300
www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk
Joe Davies is the UK distributor for Nuzzles!© They’re a colourful
combination of Beanie hats and mittens with cute character designs
that will have instant appeal for children. The range includes 12 bright
designs and are available in two sizes for ages three to five and five to
nine. The entire collection can be purchased on a spinner that holds
comfortably 144 sets; repeats are in small quantities by size and design.
From experience, Joe Davies reports high repeat rates when sold on
the spinner.
T: +44 (0)161 975 6300
www.joedavies.co.uk
62 giftfocus
enhance relationships
with email
Email marketing has been utilised for a long time due to its success as a marketing medium.
Martin Barnes from Create Click explains how to get started on your own email campaigns
Benefits of email marketing
Sharing
The ability to share emails can increase your
email marketing reach. Even if the direct
recipient of your email isn’t interested in what
you have to offer, they can forward it on with
ease to a friend or colleague who they think
might be.
There are more than 3.2 billion email accounts
in the world and it’s predicted that this will
increase to 6.4 billion by 2016. With this in
mind, the potential for email marketing as a
way to communicate with your customers
and convince them to buy and remain loyal to
your brand is as important as ever. In 2012, 44
per cent of email recipients made at least one
purchase based on a promotional email, and
56 per cent of businesses said the company
would increase their use of email marketing
in 2013.
"It's predicted that email accounts will
double by 2016 and with this in mind,
the potential for email marketing is
as important as ever," explains Martin
Barnes from Create Click
64 giftfocus
What is email marketing?
Email marketing remains one of the most
effective ways to keep in touch with your
customers while promoting your business.
Other promotional methods can be costly,
but email marketing is both cost effective and
environmentally friendly, while enabling you to
target specific markets and customers. There
are many ways to use an email marketing
campaign, from a welcome email that thanks a
new contact for opting in to your subscription,
to announcing products, services and
discounting future purchases.
Choose software that is capable of
functioning as your lists grow, that can also
scan outgoing messages for viruses, and can
measure the effectiveness of your campaign.
Mail Chimp is probably one of the most
well-known email marketing solutions and has
3.5 million users that collectively send more
than 4 billion emails a month.
Feedback
Email marketing allows your customers to give
you feedback in the form of a direct reply to
the email you sent them. This information can
then be used to see what works and what
doesn’t, so that your next email campaign can
be more successful.
You can track your campaign’s progress
through the use of some useful statistics
such as:
• How many emails have been delivered
(delivery rate)
• How many emails have been opened
(open rate)
• The number of click-through generated
(click-through rate)
• How many people that go to your website
and leave (bounce rate)
• How often a specific person opened
your email.
List building
Building your own list internally can take time,
however, the quality of your recipient list will
remain relevant to your business. Make sure
your homepage includes an email sign-up form
that allows people to sign up to your mailing
list themselves.
Keep an accurate audit of how your business
receives permission to contact the
subscribers of the lists, as people can forget
how they signed up. Make sure you delete
business advice
those who know longer wish to receive your
email campaigns.
Appearance and contents
Your email should be built with HTML and
CSS, which will allow you to style your email
to suit your business with images and logos.
Plain text email campaigns can look bland and
uninteresting, which could turn customers off
from wanting to buy.
TIP: Take a look at some of the promotional
emails that you’ve received yourself recently
to identify what you liked about them – and
what you didn’t!
Timing
Its important to decide how often you intend
to send out this type of communication –
there’s a fine line between too many and
not enough! Combining a mix of content at
different times is usually acceptable to most
customers who have opted in to your
email list.
Make sure you have a variety of compelling
promotional editorial communication. Put
yourself in your customers’ shoes and ask
yourself questions like:
• What is there to read about and respond to?
• Would I like to receive updates of when
products are back in stock?
• When to send the email out is equally
as important.
Most emails have a life of only three days.
Thus, if you’re marketing to business people at
their offices, sending early in the week is usually
better than sending on a Friday. However, if
you’re marketing to individuals at home, it’s
best to send on a Saturday to be read leisurely
over the weekend.
Campaign title
The title of your email campaign is very
significant. Subject lines of less than 10
"Make your email communications
stand out by telling a story that will
engage your customers and call them
to action."
characters have an open rate of 58 per cent
and those that have personalised subject lines
(for example those that were name specific
“Hello [name]”) had an additional 22 per cent
chance of being opened.
Try to keep your subject line short, sweet,
and straight to the point while also being
relevant to the market you’re trying to target.
Try not to use words like free in the title as
this can trigger spam filters.
Content
Make the content easy to scan quickly so the
recipient can get the gist of the email without
having to read it in full. Most recipients won’t
read every word until they’ve decided whether
or not they’re interested.
Don’t rely on your email’s spell checker, and
ask someone else to proof read it for accuracy
before sending. Keep scrolling to a minimum
and make your call-to-action prominent and
clear so that your audience knows what to do.
Make images and text clickable and direct
customers through to a relevant landing page
on your website. You’ve successfully got them
to open and read it so don’t allow them to
lose interest by clicking through to a page that
isn’t relevant.
The bottom line
Every email that you send out should have
your company’s information on the bottom,
giving potential customers a chance to learn
more about your business as well as an ‘opt-in’
to get future emails. Provide recipients with a
clear way to contact you for more information,
including a staffed telephone number or
email address.
Test before you send
First impressions really do count and you don’t
want anything to go wrong so test your email
on yourself and a colleague to see how it looks
on the receiving end. You won’t get everything
right first time, but it’s important to use your
campaign results to adapt and re-test in
the future. g
Create Click
Ltd is a leading
marketing agency based on the South
Coast. Founded in 2012, Create Click
offers a wide range of marketing services
including brand, illustration, graphic and
print design, web, social, email and SEO.
Further information
T: +44 (0)2392 876 030
E: hello@createclick.co.uk
W: www.createclick.co.uk
Resources
For more statistic information on email
marketing, visit the Salesforce Blog
http://blogs.salesforce.com/
company/2013/07/email-marketing
-stats.html
giftfocus 65
insurance solutions
Neil McFarlane, Managing
Director of T.H. March &
Co Limited
Gift Focus readers put their insurance queries, concerns and questions to
leading brokers T.H. March
I plan to exhibit at Spring Fair this year. Do I
need to inform my insurance company?
Q
A
Yes, it’s always a good idea to inform your
insurance company, as there can be insurance
implications and various problems that might
occur from misunderstandings over the
level of cover provided under standard
insurance policies.
For exhibitors there’s the risk associated
with attendance at the trade fair itself and you
need to make sure you have the following
pointers covered:
• Stock and trade stands, fixtures and fittings –
Does your policy extend to cover attendance
at trade exhibitions? If so, is the extension
sufficient to cover the values at risk?
• Commercial policies are traditionally subject
to an under-insurance condition, which means
that if you insure for 50 per cent of the value
taken to the exhibition, any claim you make will
be reduced by 50 per cent.
• Public liability – Notify your insurers that you
plan to attend trade exhibitions, as there may
be exclusions within your policy.
• Exhibition event organisers can demand a
minimum £5 million worth of cover. While this
can be purchased separately, it’s often cheaper
to increase the limit under the annual cover
rather than take out small extensions to cover
the individual exhibitions attended.
• Loss of profits – Does your policy provide
cover for loss of profits arising from problems
at the event? Most policies won’t and require
a specific extension. This cover is not widely
available but some insurers will offer it. For
example, a fire on your stand causing damage
to property that leads to a loss of profit arising
“The extent of your insurance
can include all shipments of
goods within the UK, whether
by your own or hired vehicles,
haulage contractors, post and
delivery services.”
66 giftfocus
from the event can be insured. Again, you will
of course need to have told your insurers that
you’re attending events.
When dispatching goods sold at my show
stand or from my premises, what should I be
aware of and what needs to be included in
my insurance policy?
Q
A
The extent of your insurance can include all
shipments of goods within the UK, whether
by your own or hired vehicles, haulage
contractors, post and delivery services. It’s
important to be aware that many carriers
restrict their liability for loss or damage to
the goods they carry. This could potentially
leave you seriously out of pocket in the event
of a claim. However, arranging your own
insurance protection can solve this problem.
Overseas shipments (imports and exports)
can also be insured from place of origin to
destination. Insurance is usually offered by
freight forwarders and monetary limits may
apply in all or part depending on methods of
transport – often there are more than one, i.e.
road, air and sea.
What is Business Interruption Cover and
should I have it?
Q
A
Imagine you’ve been flooded! Clearly your
business insurance policy will cover flood
damage to premises and stock. If you also
have business interruption cover, which I
believe to be vital, additional costs such as
hiring temporary premises will be met. This
means you’ll be able to continue trading during
the subsequent repair and clean-up period,
enabling you to maintain both cash flow and
customer levels.
Business Interruption Insurance will also
replace the gross profit for your business for
the period that the business is interrupted by
an insured risk (such as a flood). This covers
the recovery of customers phase.
Business Interruption cover will cushion you
from the blow and may even be the vital factor
that saves your business. Many who don’t have
such cover will go out of business within 12
months of a major incident.
Many people who have been flooded want
to know if their premiums will automatically go
up. The answer to this isn’t simple. However,
if your business is located in an area that
isn’t normally at risk and you have simply
fallen foul of unusual weather conditions, you
may experience only a temporary increase
in premiums. Of course, each case is highly
individual and this is where a good broker will
be your most valuable asset because we will
be acting on your behalf, fighting your corner
to achieve the best possible outcome for you
and your business. g
Visit T. H. March at Spring Fair in February
in Hall 17 Stand S58.
Further information:
T.H. 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
leader of the pack
Mark White reports on the Bangkok International Gift Fair (BIG) and Bangkok
International Houseware Fair (BIH)
Last Autumn’s Bangkok International Gift Fair
(BIG) and Bangkok International Houseware
Fair (BIH) provided another great opportunity
for designers from Thailand and other
ASEAN (Association of South East Asian
Nations) nations to show their creativity and
individuality to a worldwide audience.
Organised by the Department of
International Trade Promotion and Ministry of
Commerce in co-operation with Thai Lifestyle
Products Association, the Bangkok International
Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) was the
venue for this key buying event, which took
place in October 2013. With more than
600 exhibitors spread over 40,000sq m, this
exhibition is a fantastic showcase for products
from across South East Asia.
Thailand’s cost of production compares
favourably with most developed western
economies, but can’t hope to match the
economies of scale and low prices available
from larger countries like China and India. For
this reason, BIG is committed to promoting
excellence in design, specifically ethnic
products not available in other markets.
This year’s show included a number of
specialist sections:
68 giftfocus
Talent Thai
An area devoted to developing Thai designers
and encouraging them to create one-of-a-kind,
high quality lifestyle products for export to a
global market. The area is divided into NOW
and NEXT sections representing established
and up and coming designers. This project has
been in existence since 2004 and has a long
track record of developing and promoting
Thai designers.
DEmark 2013 Exhibition
In this sector, 53 companies that have won
Design Excellence Awards throughout 2013
exhibited their international quality products.
The area was linked to Japan’s Good Design
Awards 2013, further highlighting the growing
international recognition of the quality of
Thai design.
big + bih
Top of OTOP
OTOP (One Tambon One Product) is a local
entrepreneurship stimulus program, which aims
to support the locally-made and marketed
products of each Thai tambon (sub-district).
The Top of OTOP exhibition featured carefully
chosen lifestyle products from all over Thailand.
The emphasis is very much on the use of
locally-sourced natural materials and traditional
local craft skills.
Thailand has long been associated with
spa products and cosmetics, and the latest
show featured a wide range of individual Thai
products where exotic ingredients such as
Pueraria Mirifica (known as the queen of Thai
herbs), Ylang Ylang, Wild Lime and Sandalwood
are expertly blended into a range of soaps,
creams and lotions for all parts of the body.
BIG offers the chance to source new and
innovative products, but the opportunity to
visit this city of more than 10 million people is
also a good reason to make the trip. While in
Bangkok, the opportunity to enjoy the bustling
street life, sample the many shopping malls
and see some of the remarkable sights the city
has to offer should not be missed. The Royal
Palace and Temple of the Golden Buddha in
the centre of Bangkok are easy to visit, and if
you have more time then a trip to the ancient
capital of Siam, Ayutthaya is simply a must
The next BIG & BIH will be held on 19th
- 21st April, 2014.To see this exceptional
selection of high quality gift and housewares
for yourself, the Thai Trade Centre is keen
to welcome international buyers and offers
overseas buyers official hotels at special rates
with free shuttle buses running to the fair. It
also offers a business matching service, allowing
visitors to make appointments with exhibitors
in advance through the DITP website –
www.thaitradefair.com. g
For more information, T: +44 (0)207 493
5749 and visit www.bigandbih.com
giftfocus 69
ambiente
get ready
Head to Frankfurt this February for a wealth of inspiration at Ambiente
Messe Frankfurt will bring together gifts
for every type of person and every price
bracket at this year’s Ambiente. From 7th - 11th
February, 2014, more than 4,700 exhibitors
from all over the world will be displaying
products around the themes of table, kitchen
and household, living and giving. These include
around 1,400 manufacturers of gift items,
jewellery, stationery, personal accessories and
handicrafts, together with their new collections.
The Giving section offers a wealth of
ideas and products that can be used for
supplementing existing special assortments,
which is particularly relevant for the furniture
and furnishings sector as well as the glass,
porcelain and ceramic trade.
This section is joined by Dining and Living
to form the other two pillars of Ambiente.
In the Dining segment, buyers will find every
kind of product concerned with tableware,
kitchenware and household. The Living
segment, on the other hand, is all about
lifestyles, furnishing and decorating.
The Giving area presents an entire range
of products, from fast-selling high-turnover
products, one-of-a-kind fine-quality items and
gift articles, to trendy and classical. Jewellery
and watches are just as much a part of the
portfolio as wellness and beauty products,
candles, writing sets, gourmet items, toys and
lifestyle products such as leather goods and
fashion accessories.
The offerings provided at Gifts Unlimited
in Halls 9.1 and 9.2 seem just as unlimited.
IN BRIEF
Show
Organiser
Where
When
Website
Open
Twitter
Ambiente
Messe Frankfurt
Frankfurt, Germany
7th - 11th February, 2014
www.ambiente.
messefrankfurt.com
9am - 6pm (9am - 5pm
on the last day)
@ambiente
Here, suppliers of classical gifts such as Boltze,
Gilde Handwerk, Hoff Interieur or Nici will
display their latest collections for the coming
season. These include decorative goods such
as candlesticks, figurines and candles as well as
writing sets, souvenirs, hand-crafted items and
culinary delights such as choice tea and coffee
specialties, chocolate or fine selections of oils.
Joint presentations from Great Britain, Italy,
Austria and Russia emphasise the international
variety of goods on offer in Hall 9.2.
As was the case at last year’s show, Smoking
Accessories – pipes and accessories such as
humidors, cigarette cases or lighters – can
once again be found in Hall 5.1B. This is where
exhibitors such as Akra Kotschenreuther, BIC
Deutschland, Hermann Hauser or Zippo
will be showing their latest products. To
complement the existing offer, there will also
be a new and exclusive smokers’ lounge in the
hall foyer.
Purchasers on the lookout for especially
trendy and original gifts are in good hands with
Young & Trendy in Hall 11.1. Here, suppliers
such as DFP Design, Donkey Products, Gift
giftfocus 71
get ready
Company, KARE Design or Troika will be
showing what we can look forward to in the
field of trendy presents.
At Carat in Hall 9.3, everything revolves
around the dazzling world of real and fashion
jewellery. The focus here is on fashionable
pieces as well as pearls, genuine and designer
jewellery. Among other exhibitors, there will be
displays of fashion jewellery by Dazzle Design,
Heide Heinzendorf or Langani. Companies
such as Alfred Schmiesing, CC Pearls, Juchem,
Stephan Hermann or Ruppenthal will be
showing pearls along with genuine and
designer jewellery. Once again in a prominent
position in the foyer there will be the Times
Square watch area, for which an entire array
of renowned design-oriented watch brands
and suppliers have already registered. These
include Christoffel with the Obaku Denmark
brand, Filius Zeitdesign with brands like
Rosendahl Copenhagen and Jacob Jensen and
the suppliers Unique Time, Katharina Cremer
or Aristo Vollmer.
In matters of fashion, buyers can discover
those who have their fingers on the pulse
of the times on a tour of the Personal
Accessories section in Hall 9.3. Here,
renowned exhibitors such as Herold, Knirps,
Verde, Voi Leather or Vom Hof will present
bags, accessories in leather and felt, chic
knitwear, trendy scarves, caps and umbrellas.
Beauty & Bath in Hall 9.2 is where exhibitors
like Accentra Kosmetik, Get Fresh Cosmetics,
Top Team or Becker Manicure will be
showcasing their wellness and high-quality care
products and beauty accessories along with
wellness candles and fragrances.
72 giftfocus
Purchasers in search of large volume orders
will find the right address in Hall 12.0, which
has been specially installed for that purpose,
as well as in Hall 10.0 at Passage Gifts. Here,
overseas exhibitors will be presenting all their
novel items around the theme of giving on the
largest sourcing platform outside China.
Ambiente: trend platform and
innovation barometer
The key trends for the Table, Kitchen, Living
and Giving segments will be on show for
the seventh time at Ambiente, located in
Galleria 1. To conduct their research, experts
from Stilbüro bora.herke.palmisano tracked
down trend developments from around the
world. The style experts have developed four
worlds from the various trends they identified:
stunning temper, subtle spirit, serene nature
and striking mind. These will be staged in a
lavish presentation at Ambiente where there
will also be daily guided tours and lectures.
This year, it will be Japan’s turn to be the
partner country of Ambiente, the world’s
leading consumer goods fair in Frankfurt. The
Partner Country Globe was handed over
by France to Japan at a ceremony during
Ambiente 2013. After Denmark and France,
Japan is Ambiente’s third partner country and
the first from Asia. An extensive program is
planned, with theme days, activities and events.
The project’s ambassador is architect and
designer Yukio Hashimoto.
One of Ambiente’s firm fixtures is Next, the
promotional area in which Messe Frankfurt
helps to foster the talents of young, creative
companies. Participants receive support in their
endeavours to develop their position in the
consumer goods segment. The designers will
present themselves at the Giving section in the
Young & Trendy and Carat product groups.
In the Promotional Areas of the Federal
Ministry of Economics and Technology in
Halls 9.2 and 9.3, young, innovative companies
from Germany will present their products
to an international public and establish
their first contacts with trade and industry.
This opportunity is offered by Ambiente in
cooperation with the Federal Ministry of
Economics and Technology (Bundesministerium
für Wirtschaft und Technologie – BMWi) in
the Personal Accessories, Gifts Unlimited and
Carat segments. The initiative by the BMWi
makes it possible to take part in leading
international fairs in Germany on favourable
terms. The aim is to provide the best possible
support for marketing innovative German
products internationally and to use Ambiente
as a career springboard.
There's such a wide selection of product
offerings at Ambiente; visitors won’t be short
of inspiration. g
For more information, visit the website
www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com
Catch up with all the latest from the world of licensing
hot property
Widdop Bingham signs up the Bebunni licence
Widdop Bingham is the latest company to sign up to the Bebunni licence, the new, cute brand
that has taken the greeting card industry by storm. First launched in October 2012, the Great
British Card Company was its first licensee and now boasts a range of more than 185 cards,
resulting in a meteoric rise of Bebunni to its star cute brand.
“The charm and appeal of Bebunni was immediately apparent, and after learning of its success
within the highly competitive greeting card market it was an easy decision to sign the licence
and bring Bebunni gifts to market. We’re delighted with our product offer and have already
received a massive thumbs up from many of our customers,” says Stephen Illingworth, Business
Development Manager at Enesco.
The range, which officially launches at Spring Fair in February, features Bebunni across a variety
of different product categories including frames, mugs and keyrings, and across all the major
sentiment titles (Mother’s Day, Birthday, male and female relations).
Visit www.widdop.co.uk to find out more.
New licensing deals announced for GUND’s
Classic Peter Rabbit
Silvergate Media has announced two significant additions to its Classic Peter
Rabbit licensee roster.
Toy manufacturer Gund will be producing Classic Peter Rabbit plush, plush
keyrings and mohair plush for the UK, Eire/Channel Islands and mainland
Europe. Products will be distributed through high-end retail outlets and are
expected to launch in Spring 2014.
Emma Bridgewater has developed a range of ceramic tableware. The
initial ceramic collection includes a bowl, plate and child’s mug, available in a
boxed set or individually, as well as a full-sized mug. A melamine range and
additional ceramic designs are due to follow in 2014.
Visit www.silvergatemedia.com to find out more.
Beatrix Potter plush collection unveiled
by GUND
A new collection of plush soft toys inspired by the characters
from the iconic tales written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter
is to be unveiled by GUND, in January 2014. The launch will
feature five of Miss Potter’s most appealing characters in a range
of sizes.
Beautifully hand-made in GUND’s trademark style using soft
tactile plush and with careful attention to detail, the charismatic
Peter Rabbit leads the collection. He’s portrayed in his famous
blue jacket with pockets and buttons as drawn by Beatrix Potter
in her tales, which were first published in 1902. Made in three
sizes and as a keyring, Peter Rabbit is joined by the adorable
Flopsy, the capable Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and the gullible Jemima
Puddle-Duck in the same selection of sizes, and by a handsome
Benjamin Bunny as a large and medium toy only.
Visit www.enesco.co.uk to find out more.
74 giftfocus
hot property
The Beano
continues to grow
The Beano has strong licensing
focus on toys, publishing,
apparel, gifts and stationery
built around instantly
recognisable comic characters
Dennis the Menace and
Gnasher, Bananaman and
Desperate Dan.
The Dennis the Menace
& Gnasher animation
series continues to gather
momentum on CBBC.
The show is ranked fifth
of all animation on BBC,
reaching more than three
million viewers and is also an
extremely popular download
on BBC iPlayer.
For publishing, the duo star in the Dennis the Menace and Gnasher monthly
Megazine, the weekly Beano magazine and The Beano Annual which is
consistently one of the best-selling annuals in the market.
Golden Bear has a great range of Dennis the Menace & Gnasher toys
including a Bashing Buddy and a Prank Kit. It’s undertaken a whole raft of
new product development with input from children – one product emerging
from this process is the Farting Football.
Penguin Group UK has plans to publish an array of childrens fiction,
kicking off with The Diary of Dennis the Menace penned by acclaimed author
Steven Butler.
Other licensing activity include Smiffy’s for dress up, confectionery from
Rose Marketing, Abbey Home Media for DVDs, posters from GB Eye,
bedding from Ashley Wilde and The Lagoon Group for family games.
To find out more, visit www.dcthomson.co.uk
The Village People are in town
ITV Studios Global
Entertainment (ITVS GE)
has announced a major new
addition to its highly successful portfolio of third party M&L representations
in the UK: the Village People.
ITVS GE has been appointed by PGS Entertainment to represent Village
People in the UK, and with first retail launches planned for Q4 2014, ITVS
GE has already received strong interest from licensees. Key category targets
include apparel, gifting, homewares, stationery, back to school, video games,
figurines, accessories, electronics and apps.
The positioning is off-beat, fun and free, using ’70s humour and ’80s
colours. It identifies three creative and market segments: vintage, vibe and
fun. Vintage is aimed at teenagers and young adults, capturing the essence of
the disco era through a creative combination of famous photos and graphic
design touches. The fresh, youthful image of Vibe has a strong appeal to
teenage girls, young women and music fans. Fun captures pop culture history
with a modern touch through the use of contemporary colours, icons and
humour, reflecting the fun of the disco era.
Visit www.itvstudios.com to find out more.
Anderson Press celebrates 25 years
of Elmer
This year marks 25 years since Anderson Press published
Elmer, the first in a series of picture books about a patchwork
elephant, written and illustrated by David McKee. This milestone
anniversary will be celebrated with a year-long marketing
campaign entitled Elmer’s Parade, inviting people to join in and
show their colours, and will be supported by a nationwide
programme of events throughout 2014.
Licences have been sold worldwide, and the brand’s profile
is continually growing, especially in the UK, France and Japan.
The main UK licensors are Rainbow Design and Shreds who
produce a range of plush, wooden toys, aprons and bags. Hype
and Pyramid design greeting cards and wall art, and also on
board are Greenboard Games, Stamp Creative, Art You Grew
Up With and Lindy Lou Umbrellas.
For more information, visit www.andersonpress.co.uk
Widdop Bingham links up with The
Walt Disney Company
Widdop Bingham has partnered with The Walt Disney
Company to produce a range of high quality themed licenced
giftware. This is a significant and exciting addition to Widdop
Bingham’s portfolio of brands, with the company investing
heavily in developing a one-of-a-kind range of collectable gifts
for both children and adults alike, aimed at introducing the
heritage and magic of Disney to the giftware arena. The range
will encompass die-cast crystal embellished treasure trinkets
as well as frames, albums and ceramic gift sets across three
themes: Disney Princess, Winnie the Pooh and Disney Classics.
The collection will be officially launched at Spring Fair in Hall 5,
Stand J4/K3.
For more information, log onto www.widdop.co.uk
giftfocus 75
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spring fair
roll up, roll up
Spring Fair International is back in town. We bring you our
biggest ever preview of the show
In brief
Show
Organiser
Where
When
Website
Open
Twitter
Spring Fair International
i2i Events Group
NEC Birmingham
2nd - 6th February, 2014
www.springfair.com
Saturday (Volume hall
only): 10am - 5pm; Sunday
- Wednesday: 9am - 6pm;
Thursday: 9am - 4pm
@SAF_Int
giftfocus 77
78 giftfocus
spring fair
Kick-start the 2014 buying season at Spring
Fair International by browsing more than
300,000 new products from 3,000 exhibitors.
Along with Europe’s largest presentation of
trend-driven gift and homeware, Spring Fair
offers fantastic cross-over buying opportunities,
with 13 different product sectors for buyers
to source from: Contemporary Gift &
Home; Gifts; Children’s Gifts, Toys & Gadgets;
Christmas Gifts, Floral & Seasonal Decorations;
Gift, Home & Volume; Greetings & Stationery;
Body & Bath; Fashion Jewellery, Accessories &
Luggage; Home Interiors & Furniture; Kitchen,
Dining & Housewares; Art & Framing; The
Summerhouse and The Party Show.
The major growth areas for 2014 (at
the time of going to press) are Greetings
& Stationery, Contemporary, Gift & Home,
Fashion & Accessories and Bath & Body. There
has also been an influx of new exhibitors in
Gifts at Spring Fair, with 70 giftware companies
making their debut in this sector. Impressive
international brands joining the show for the
first time include Artesania Esteban Ferrer
S.L, Bergoff, Addis Homewears, S Green &
Sons, DIJK Natural Collection, Tel International,
Emerald Eternal Greens and Jodeco Glass. A
total of 340 international companies will use
Spring Fair as their UK launch pad in 2014.
Boosting British retail
i2i Events Group has forged a strengthened
partnership agreement with UK Trade &
Investment (UKTI), designed to inspire and
support UK-based SMEs in their efforts to
succeed in overseas markets.
The partnership will boost international
representation at Spring Fair and other i2i
Events Group exhibitions in the year ahead,
providing British suppliers with an entry point
to international markets and offering a broad
variety of pre-event and on-site benefits.
These will include prominent Best of British
showcases and Exporter trails throughout the
exhibition halls.
Five UKTI Villages will be located around
The NEC with a total of 50 carefully selected
exhibitors, which are all entrepreneurial
British companies with a particular strength in
export business and new to the show. UKTI
will subsidise the exhibition space for these
companies, most of which will be launching to
the trade for the first time at Spring Fair.
The UKTI Villages will be located within
Greetings & Stationery (Hall 4), Gift (Hall 5),
Contemporary Gift & Home (Halls 6 and 7)
and Kitchen, Dining & Housewares (Hall 1),
which will be put together with additional
support from the British Home Enhancement
Trade Association (BHETA).
An Export Theatre, designed with invaluable
networking opportunities in mind, will be
located within the International Buyers Lounge
in Hall 4, also featuring a beautiful showcase
of British-made products to entice overseas
retailers. UKTI will assist Spring Fair exhibitors
with a one-of-a-kind hosted buyer programme
that will see 50 of the world’s leading
department store buyers brought directly to
the NEC.
The Prince’s Trust partnership
Another high-profile partnership has been
forged with The Prince’s Trust for the first
time at Spring Fair. This will see a collection
of young designers supported by The Prince’s
Trust exhibiting individual collections of
jewellery and accessories within the Fashion
Jewellery, Accessories & Luggage sector of the
show in Hall 20 and Greetings & Stationery
in Hall 4.
Identify new trends and track down the
most exciting new suppliers and ranges with
six key buying trails – New Product, Exporter,
Ethical Product, Creative Britain, Licensed
Product and Retail Services. Look out for the
logos on exhibitor web profiles, in The Little
Black Book and on stands at the show.
What’s on – hall by hall
Spring Fair offers a varied selection of new
and returning feature ideas, designed to help
guide your buying decisions. Feature areas
are interactive zones located around the
show, which give you access to exclusively
edited product selections, live demonstrations,
catwalks and displays.
HALL 1
Cook Live!
An interactive
kitchen featuring
professional and
celebrity chefs
demonstrating the
latest kitchen and dining products. Previous
participants have included Delia Smith, Fiona
Cairns and Ed Kimber.
Sprout
New for 2014 is
Sprout, a one-of-akind platform to help
smaller fledgling companies in the kitchen,
dining and housewares sector develop and
grow their brands.
giftfocus 79
Ecommerce Zone
This
highly
popular
theatre
answers all of your e-retail questions,
from building online start-ups through to
multichannel retailing and developing an
e-commerce strategy. Key industry figures will
offer you expert technical guidance on how to
harness the web to grow your business.
HALL2
Gift of the Year
Awards 2014
Winners of Gift of the
Year will be announced
at Spring Fair. Be the first
to see winning and highly
commended products at the Gift of the Year
Showhouse, Garden and Retail Lounge.
Gift Box
demo area
Learn how to
make a real
impact in store
with expert visual
merchandising,
flower arrangement
and gift-wrapping. By finding out how
to create head-turning window displays,
beautifully effective gift-wrapping techniques
and craft tips, you’ll set your store apart on
the high street with these seminars.
HALL 3
Licensing Lounge
The Licensing Lounge is a place for one-toone meetings, sourcing information around
licensing, viewing entire property ranges,
networking and socialising.
The Stage
An exciting feature in The Party Show, The
Stage features a seminar area and catwalk
presenting the very latest fancy dress and
party accessories.
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HALL 4
Art & Framing
Seminar Theatre
Showcasing inspiring
educational sessions
and hands-on
demonstrations
covering framing
and merchandising.
The Studio
Visit The Studio to witness a collection of
innovative and contemporary designers that
can be found in the Contemporary Gift halls.
HALL 9
HALL 6
Trend Briefing
Seminar Theatre
As well as
guiding you
through the
hottest new
design trends
for AW14,
these experts
will provide practical advice on key areas of
retail: Getting the right buying edit, enhancing
customer service and creating an in-store
environment tailored to modern day shoppers’
psychology. One of the most popular speakers
at last year’s show, Kirstie Allsopp will return
in 2014 to hold two interactive Arts & Crafts
Q&A sessions with visitors on Monday 3rd
February at 11.30am and 2pm.
New Product Showcase and Contemporary
Product Showcase
The best source of
inspiration comes from
those perfect displays
where you can see the
latest products really
come to life. At Spring Fair you have access to
over 17 product displays featured in every hall
entrance, the New Product Showcase and the
Contemporary Product Showcase in Hall 9.
The Trend Bar
Gain a one-of-a-kind insight into future retail
trends and themes to inspire and guide your
future buying. WGSN is the leading online
trend analysis and research service, providing
creative and business intelligence for the
apparel, style, design and retail industries.
Natural &
Organic Village
If your
customers love
eco-friendly
beauty and
fragrance
products then pick up some delights from the
new Natural & Organic Village in hall 20.
HALL 6 & 20
Design Lab
An exciting new showcase for individual
and original design available in two separate
sectors: Contemporary Gift & Home and
Fashion Jewellery & Accessories.
HALL 20
Fashion
Accessories
Catwalk
The Fashion
Accessories
Catwalk and seminar theatre brings fashion
and the latest design trends to the fore at
Spring Fair. The very latest fashion accessories
collections are live on the catwalk on each
show day, interspersed with inspirational
seminar content.
Prince’s Trust
Discover a
collection of
young designers
supported by
the Prince’s
Trust, who
will exhibit
one-of-a-kind collections of jewellery and
accessories at the top of Hall 20. This is a
must-visit destination for buyers on the hunt
for something totally fresh and original.
Recycled Metal
Sculptures
Bamboo
Homeware
New WWF Collection
Hand carved
Wooden
Sculptures
Hand carved
Soapstone Sculptures
www.tilnarart.co.uk
Harrogate Christmas & Gift
12–15 January 2014 Hall A Stand A37
Spring Fair NEC
Spring Fair to 2 - 6 February
Email: sales@tilnarart.co.uk
Tel: 01277 362 815 or 07740 946 518
Tilnar Ltd, Days Farm House, Days Lane,
Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9SL
KITCHEN, DINING
& HOUSEWARES
HALL 1
Find an unbeatable range of stylish and innovative housewares
ideas. Take your pick from thousands of inspiring, on-trend and
traditional favourites including a huge variety of tableware,
glassware and kitchen gadgets from leading brands.
• Kitchen gadgets
• Small domestic appliances
• Cleaning and storage
• Housewares
• Cookware
Half Moon Bay
www.halfmoonbay.co.uk
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• Bakeware
• Barware
• Tableware
• Glassware
• Cutlery
Exhibitor profiles
HALL 1
Half Moon Bay
Hall 1 Stand B27
www.halfmoonbay.co.uk
Half Moon Bay is significantly adding to its brand licenses, with new
names such as Disney, Colman’s Mustard and Jelly Babies to add to its
list of family favourites. Popular existing ranges such as McDougall’s Flour,
Marmite and Typhoo are also being expanded to include bread bins,
recipe tins, wooden signs and much more.
86 giftfocus
Denby
Hall 1 Stand E30 - D31
www.denby.co.uk
Poole Pottery has been one of Denby’s heritage brands for the
past year, and the firm’s design team has assisted Poole’s artisans in
creating a whole new collection in aqua tones and colbalt blue. Still
hand-made and decorated in England, the two new collections are
called Alexis and Tallulah. Alexis was inspired by the splendor of the
peacock feather whilst Tallulah takes its name from the jewel-like
aqua tones of the ocean with bold green brushstrokes. Both are
available in eight statement vases and as a decorative oval dish.
giftfocus 87
CHILDREN’S GIFTS,TOYS &
GADGETS – HALL 3
THE PARTY SHOW – HALL 3
The UK’s biggest gathering of children’s gifts, toys and gadgets.
Here you can source toys, games and puzzles, hobby and
craft, plush, gadgets and novelties from suppliers of traditional,
educational, funky, general toys and gifts. Visit this sector for:
• Toys
• Games and puzzles
• Character products and
licensing opportunities
• Boys’ toys and gadgets
• Activities and crafts
• Puppets
• Plush toys
• Traditional, wooden and
educational toys
• Children’s gifts
The Party Show presents the largest selection of fun products for all
seasonal occasions. Here you’ll find balloons, novelty items, partyware
products, fireworks and a wide range of fancy dress. Items include:
•
•
•
•
Gibsons Games www.gibsonsgames.co.uk
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Partyware and accessories
Fancy dress clothing
Jokes and novelties
Balloons, streamers and
party favours
•
•
•
•
Fireworks
Party decorations
Halloween
Hen and stag accessories
Exhibitor profiles
The Green Board Game Co.
Hall 3 Stand H05
www.greenboardgames.com
The Green Board Game Co. has lots
of new and exciting products to kick
off 2014. Two recent launches are
BrainBox Colour and Create with
Mister Maker, and a UK edition of the
best-selling US game, Name 5.
As with all BrainBoxes, Colour
and Create offers the awardwinning BrainBox mix of fun and
learning. In this one, players have the
opportunity to colour in cards to
their own design as well as writing
their own questions.
Name 5 is the quick-thinking trivia
game. Five answers must be recalled fast, before the timer runs out.
Visit the stand to view the new products and enjoy a refreshing milkshake!
Gibsons
Hall 3 Stand K04 – L05
www.gibsons.co.uk
Gibsons will showcase its new range for 2014, which includes its
three innovative concepts. The first of the collections is the Keeping
Up With The Joneses range created by Keith Drury, the artist of
Santa’s Midnight Magic. Keeping Up With The Joneses is a series of
puzzles that follow the Jones family after it wins £10.5m on
the National Lottery, and each puzzle depicts the next episode
of the Joneses story as it travel around the world and spends
the winnings.
The Discoveries range is another addition to the 2014 collection.
The two jigsaws are painted by artist Steve Read and, on the
surface, are beautiful wildlife paintings. Yet once you look closer, you
begin to spot secret additions that turn the puzzle from a pretty
painting to a jigsaw of discovery.
Puzzlers who love a challenge are in for a treat this year. Mystery
Mayhem is the third new range to the collection and is the trickiest
puzzle yet. Inside the innovative box design are two jigsaw puzzles;
the first is a hectic 1,000-piece jigsaw that matches the image on
the box. After completing this, the next challenge is to find out what
triggered the mayhem, by piecing together the second 200-piece
puzzle, but this time there’s no guide to help find out what caused
the chaos. Another jigsaw is the much awaited, I Love Winter. Mike
Jupp is back once again with the 13th jigsaw in the I Love range,
which captures the comical and ridiculous side of everyday life.
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Exhibitor profiles
HALL 3
Tractor Ted™
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Hall 3 Stand H41
www.tractorted.co.uk
Tractorland, brand owners of Tractor Ted™, will
be exhibiting new launches at the show. The new Tractor Ted™ Digger
Design® will appeal to young children who love diggers and big
machines. It’s been created in the style of the highly successful Tractor
Ted Farm Design® and includes a rucksack, thermal lunch bag and pencil
case. Tractor Ted™ is an established brand that has been entertaining and
educating young children from two to six-years-old for more than 10
years through farm-based books, DVDs, merchandise and live events.
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Imajo
Hall 3 Stand N13
www.imajo.co.uk
The new Bonikka
range of rag dolls
has proved to be
an outstanding
success with stock
selling out before
Christmas. Created
in Sri Lanka, these
dolls are a great
addition to the
Imajo collection and
there are plans to
extend the range
and bring in some new designs during 2014. With two different
designs, in a variety of attractive colours and pretty fabrics, these
dolls are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Bonikka is
a family of rag dolls, designed to stand the test of time and bring
enjoyment in giving and receiving.
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Lanka Kade
Hall 3 Stand P41
www.lankakade.co.uk
Exotic wild animals
and stylish new
packaging across
the Lanka Kade
range are certain to
cause a stampede
of interest on its
stand. Safari play
sets, zoo building
blocks, gorilla
jigsaws, and additional natural wood animals are just some of the
new arrivals to entice young animal lovers. If you’re looking for
exclusively designed, high quality, wooden toys not listed on
third- party websites from a supplier intent on great customer
service with good all-year-round stock levels, plus the integrity of
a fair trade company using wood from sustainable sources, then
contact Lanka Kade.
Star Cutouts
Hall 3 Stand Q14 - R15
www.starcutouts.com
Star Cutouts has so much to share with visitors on its stand, and so
many new licenced products being added to its range. Come and spend
some time with the brand at the show and you will see these new
additions first-hand. They include Looney Tunes, The Hobbit, all-new Dr
Who, and of course all of the company’s iconic characters and standees
that we all know and love.
Star Cutouts is delighted to tell you that Spring Fair will see the
launch of its Football Party range, with products ranging from face
masks to full-size adult stand-ins.
giftfocus 93
GREETINGS & STATIONERY
– HALL 4
ART & FRAMING – HALL 4
Presenting major publishers and original artists, Art & Framing offers
an essential mix of limited editions, finished art pieces, framing
products and equipment. Here you will find:
• Original art
• Limited edition prints
• Framed prints
www.holy-mackerel.co.uk
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• Frames and framing equipment
• Mouldings and machinery
• Artists’ materials
The world’s largest showcase of cards, gift-wrap and stationery. Britain
is the creative hub of the global greetings card industry and Spring
Fair is home to the biggest publishers, brands and new designers. Visit
the sector for:
•
•
•
•
Greetings cards
Gift wrap
Calendars
Gift and social stationery
• Cards for gift shops
• Packaging
• Art licensing
• Partyware
Exhibitor profiles
Thorntons
Hall 4 Stand F02
www.thorntons.co.uk
10 reasons why you should have Thorntons in your store:
1. Thorntons is British! We’re proud to be British and today we still use some of the
famous recipes that were created in the ’20s.
2. Thorntons' name over your door will increase customer numbers! With our logo
over your door you will attract customers who never visited your shop before.
3. Thorntons in your store will increase sales! Carrying our range will increase your
sales dramatically and in the process you will enjoy lots of cross-over sales.
4. We offer incentives during set up. Incentives relevant to you and the size of your
business that helps you in the process.
5. Thorntons in your store will fit your store environment! Contemporary but
traditional fixtures and fittings will make Thorntons in your store a welcome addition.
6. Everybody loves chocolate! Do we need to say anymore?
7. Thorntons in your store gives you the best return per sq ft! We're happy to explain
how Thorntons in your store can transform your business.
8. Thorntons in your store is a business format which will suit you. Together we work
out a way that will make you successful – that’s our ultimate goal.
9. Thorntons in your store will be successful. Ask your peers. We will put you in touch
with retailers who've already taken the step and added Thorntons in their store.
10. Everybody knows Thorntons. There are many more chocolate companies out there,
but not one with the brand recognition that Thorntons has. The Great British public
love us!
Kenro
Neviti
Hall 4 Stand B03
www.kenro.co.uk
The Kenro team
is eagerly making
preparations
to show off an
exciting new range
of products. One
series of note is
the Indian made
Jadu collection.
Available in seven
different designs,
these colourful
6in x 4in frames
would make an
ideal personal
gift and an eyecatching feature
in homes. In keeping with the major trend of distressed-style
accessories, colours available include gold, blue and teal, or for
those who like a more neutral effect, there are cream and plain
wood designs. The frames are supplied with an easel back only and
look great when displayed all together.
Hall 4 Stand B12
www.cscimports.com
Spring Fair will see Neviti
launch four new ranges
designed and developed by
its creative team. There will
be two children’s collections
called Dino Island and Fairy
Princess, along with a new
wedding line and Happy
Easter range.
Inspired by pirate adventures at sea, Dino Island features
enduringly popular themes of pirates and dinosaurs across
everything from plates to bunting. The magical Fairy Princess
range features toadstools, flowers and butterflies, providing a fairy
tale touch to party tables. The Happy Easter range features cute
bunny illustrations and colourful bunting suitable for outside use
to decorate the garden for Easter egg hunts, and tubs to serve ice
cream, sweets and other treats. Home-made cakes stand out with
Easter egg cupcake cases and adorable bunny cake picks. Following
the continued success of Neviti’s wedding ranges, the company
will be launching the New Frills and Spills collection. The shabby
chic-style range in pink, turquoise and white adds an elegant touch
to that special day.
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Exhibitor profiles
The London Studio
Hall 4 Stand H74
www.thelondonstudio.com
Multi award-winning design
house, The London Studio,
will be unveiling exciting
new ranges for occasions,
ages and everyday. Designer,
Soula Zavacopoulos,
explains: “We have gifts
and new social stationery,
including a family planner
based on the funny things
kids say – it’s hilarious! I’m
also excited about our new
Scratch and Reveal range
of cards. They have a special
silver panel that you scratch off to reveal a hidden message. It’s a very clever idea,
great design, and the hidden messages will make people smile. We’re launching card
and gift combinations as well, such as our Coaster Cards, which include a detachable
coaster. As they are a gift and card in one, the customer feels they’re getting good
value as well as great design. Our doorhanger cards are another gift and card
concept. Shaped like a Do Not Disturb sign, they feature gold and silver foiling,
embossing and die cutting on an extra thick, luxury board.”
Jo Stockdale
Alljoy Design
Hall 4 Stand J29
www.alljoydesign.com
Alljoy Design will be launching new laser-cut greeting card ranges
at Spring Fair, with 24 new cards in each collection. Each card is cut
from high quality shimmering paper with intricate laser-cut designs.
Each card is hand-embellished with diamantes. All cards have extra
sheet inside to allow you to write your own message. The cards
measure 128mm x 178mm and come with a colourful envelope.
Hall 4 Stand H76
www.jostockdale.com
This Spring Fair
is to prove an
exciting show for
Jo Stockdale; 2014
will see the launch
of Jo’s third design
concept to her
broadening range
of greetings cards
and double-sided
gift-wrap and tags.
Alongside which will
be her new card
size, designed to fit
a 125mm x 175mm
envelope. Jo will also
be launching her
new gift range of
Open Edition Prints,
available in two formats, mounted or flat and presented backed and
bar coded in cello bags. The wide range of designs are to retail at
under £25, creating a perfect gift option for any animal loving client,
and designed to fit any standard frame.
giftfocus 99
Exhibitor profiles
Holy Mackerel UK
Hall 4 Stand K54
www.holy-mackerel.co.uk
It wouldn’t be a new year without a whole host of fresh card designs from Holy Mackerel. Drop by at Spring Fair for some 2014 inspiration, to
catch up on the welcome relaunch of Rupert Faxcett’s best-selling Fred cards, or to discover a feast of new designs in Erica Sturla’s One Lump or
Two range. If it’s occasions you’re after, Holy Mackerel has got it covered, from baby showers to 7th anniversaries, christenings to 100th birthdays.
Molly Mae
Hall 4 Stand J60
www.mollymae.co.uk
With almost
100 new card
designs being
launched at
the beginning
of the year,
accompanied
by an
attractive
new giftware
range,
Molly Mae
is looking
forward to
an exciting
Spring Fair
2014. One
range being launched is The Tea Lady collection that consists of 12
designs. These glittery teapots are inspired by their own love of
tea and a good natter with a friend. Titles include My Fashionable
Friend, My Dearest Friend and My Potty Friend, all available as a
box set of 12.
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Rosanna Rossi
Hall 4 Stand J90
www.rosanni-rossi.co.uk
Rosanna Rossi has announced the launch of an additional 24
occasional titles to complement the success of its Spotlight birthday
card collection. A sophisticated range depicting quirky birds,
shimmering jewellery, cute love cats and baby bunnies. Each design
incorporates pretty illustration with colourful foils and emboss.
The cards are individually cello-wrapped and presented with a
complementing metallic silver envelope.
Exhibitor profiles
Dodo Pad
Hall 4 Stand L30
www.dodopad.com
Quirky diary, organiser and planner creator Dodo Pad has been titillating the world for almost 50 years
with its witty wordplay and humorous illustrations. Now the company is set to amuse in a brand new way,
with the launch of its new greetings card collection. This range of 16 cards is as bright and eye-catching
as the Dodo Pad itself, and each card displays a comical sketch from the brand’s almost-50 year history.
Spanning the subtly humorous to the completely ludicrous, the cards are a perfect everyday range for
celebrations all year round. The cards, which are being co-published and printed by Catch Publishing, will
retail at £2.50 each with special online discounts to be announced during the launch. The range will be
officially unveiled at Spring Fair.
Mulhouse
Laura Darrington Design
Hall 4 Stand K30
www.animikados.co.uk
The world of
Animikados
is beautifully
brought to life by
Spanish illustrator
Monica Carretero.
Combining
mood enhancing
aromas, colour
and a warm story,
each character
presents a funny,
soulful way of
seeing life. An
attitude we can
extend into our
homes through
this delightful
collection of
reed diffusers.
The beautifully
packaged
collection offers
the traditional
100ml size, and two one-of-a-kind ideas; an 18ml greetings bottle
and an uplifting Animikauto car freshener.
Hall 4 Stand K61
www.lauradarrington.co.uk
Laura Darrington Design is celebrating its 10th anniversary at Spring
Fair, and as a thank you to its loyal customers over the past decade
is offering all UK customers 10 per cent off all orders placed at
the show. Laura has also been busy working on new additions to
the Decoupage collection (pictured), plus an additional 48 exciting
designs covering masculine, kids and everyday ranges all to be
launched at Spring Fair.
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Exhibitor profiles
Blue Eyed Sun
Hall 4 Stand L66
www.blueeyedsun.co.uk
Blue Eyed Sun is
launching a beautiful
new Everyday range at
Spring Fair. Allotment
is based on original,
free-hand, machinestitched embroideries
by artist Jo Corner.
Printed with beautiful
embossed motifs that
give the designs a
realistic feel, the cards
are hand-finished with
jewels. Retailing at
£4.99 (trade £2.10
each), there are 30
Everyday designs. The cards measure 214mm sq, are sold in threes
and come cello-wrapped with a white pearlescent envelope.
Blue Eyed Sun’s cards are available to order through its trade-only
website and new 2014 brochure. It also has 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.
Mousehouse Gifts
Hall 4 Stand M90
www.mousehousegifts.co.uk
After its incredibly successful launch last Autumn, Mousehouse
is going from strength to strength in both its gift and soft toy
collections and has big plans for expansion in early 2014, including
moving to new offices and larger warehouse facilities.
Baby products are proving a real growth sector, and through its
innovation of exciting and individual new products the brand is
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expanding these ranges to include hand-crafted gift sets, record
books and baby imprint sets alongside key boxed collections of
matching comforters, rattles and music boxes. All in traditional soft
blues and pinks but its usual trademark quirky, tasteful designs.
Spring also sees the launch of new soft toy collections, including
a range of quirky, fun and colourful designs alongside the more
traditional firm favorites, all in the best, softest, snuggliest materials
and all suitable from birth. With new moneyboxes, stationery and
home deco items, 2014 looks very exciting for Mousehouse.
Rosemoore
www.rosemoore.co.uk
GIFTS
HALLS 5, 9 & 10
Source from a diverse range of gifts,
collectables, home accessories and
interiors across three of the show’s
halls. Here you’ll find:
•
•
•
•
•
Gifts
Home interiors
Collectables
Heritage and souvenirs
Specialty food and confectionery
108 giftfocus
Exhibitor profiles
HALLS 5, 9 & 10
Boxer Gifts
Hall 5 Stand A04 - B03
www.boxergifts.com
Boxer Gifts’ range
of glass products is
well developed and
successful. The new
range of fun Pilsner
Glasses fills that
difficult-to-satisfy male
gift category. Each
Pilsner glass comes in a
great presentation box.
Add sparkle to your
store with Bejewelled
Pretty Purses. These purses are in funky-coloured silicon, available in
purple, pink, and blue and are an excellent pick-up line. Each purse has
a large jewel with either a name or an initial in bright, friendly lettering.
There are more than 100 names and 15 generic words, with early
indications showing that the purses are very popular.
Boxer Gifts’ new range of quality flasks and shooters feature attractive
retro-style pictures to add spice to the drinking occasion. The flasks are
made from high-quality stainless steel, and each one comes with four
shooters and a funnel in a delightful presentation box. There are two
generic flasks, as well as individual designs for Happy Birthday, 18th and
21st celebrations.
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Books By Boxer
Hall 5 Stand A04 - B03
www.boxergifts.com
Books by Boxer’s extensively revised range of fun gift books have
again excelled as Christmas gifts. Hilarious titles like How To Poo At
Work and Hangover Survival Guide have been pick-up lines all year.
The company also has strong titles for the young-at-heart such as
the hysterically illustrated Love & Passion for the Elderly and 101
Things To Do With A Retired Man. These books will bring a smile to
even the grumpiest person!
Books by Boxer’s pick-up range of Little Books – with an RRP
between £2.99 and £3.99 – work fantastically well as a pick-up line.
This range now includes the interesting Tips books. These books
give great fun tips on cooking and drinking, sports, and many other
leisure activities.
The company also has a wide range of children’s titles that sell
consistently well. Among the many great titles for all ages, Star Wars
Origami has sold especially well.
giftfocus 111
Exhibitor profiles
Yankee Candle®
Hall 5 Stand A10 - B11
www.yankeecandle.co.uk
Opening up a world of opportunity at Spring Fair International
and fresh for 2014, Yankee Candle® brings you four seasons of new
products in just one show.
Blossoming into life is the interior and gift trend for florals; from the
bold and the bright to the delicate and dainty, the company brings you
three new floral fragrances to meet consumer demands for the season.
Pink Hibiscus is an uplifting and vibrant candle; the hot pink wax
releases an effervescent, slightly citrus bouquet of delicate tropical
hibiscus petals. Lovely Kiku, the flower of happiness, offers a feminine
and enchanting scent that blends chrysanthemum with hints of sweet
cherry blossom and warm vanilla. The third new fragrance, Champaca
Blossom, is delightfully neutral, with champaca blossoms brought to life
in this captivating fruity flower nectar.
The new Beautiful Bloom fragrances will be available in all classic
product forms as well as a new generation of Yankee Candle® gift sets.
With continual innovation top of the agenda, the brand’s new
generation of gift sets has been developed specifically for the
international market. Striking new gift packaging in the season’s
must-have colours houses a collection of best-selling and new sets, such
as a 4 Votives and 4 Bucket Votives Holder and a 9 Wax Tarts gift set.
Similarly to the spring collection, the new fragrances for the summer
season have been developed following extensive research to identify
each season’s key trends. For summer, consumers will look to fill
their homes with refreshing and inspirational fruit aromas to instil
energy and vivacity. Together, the three scent launches form Yankee’s
Fruit-a-licious theme, which is filled with thirst-quenching juices,
colourful combinations and tropical treats.
112 giftfocus
New for summer 2014 is Black Plum Blossom, an enticing nectar of
black plum blossoms with hints of white musk and vanilla. The succulent
new juicy Orange Splash fragrance will fill a room with the aroma of
juicy, just-picked oranges. The third new fragrance to form the
Fruit-a-licious trend is Sweet Apple, a sugary sweet crispness of
perfectly ripe apples fresh from the orchard.
Without spoiling the surprise, Yankee would like to invite you to visit
its new-look stand at Spring Fair to discover not only the new products
and home fragrances for the autumn and winter seasons, but also the
trends from around the world which have inspired them. The brand can
reveal, however, that Spring Fair is set to see a rather special accessory
launch: one which it expects to prove as much as a consumer hit as its
advent calendars, if not more…
Exhibitor profiles
Instant Gifts International
Hall 5 Stand A09
www.instant-gifts.co.uk
Instant Gifts has launched a new range of 12in
x 10in neoprene insulated fashion lunch or
cosmetic bags featuring the teen idol licensed
images of One Direction. The company will be
showing these and other designs featuring Betty
Boop and the lyrics of John Lennon and Paul
McCartney. A great new gift line for 2014 with an
RRP of £9.95.
The company will also be showing new 5.5in
x 4.75in verse plaques, which are new additions
to the Splosh best-selling Seaside range, featuring
photo frames, blockwords, clocks, door signs and
keyholders plus lots more.
Signature Gifts
Hall 5 Stand A30 - B31
www.signature-gifts.co.uk
Signature Gifts continues to develop its range of innovative and
one-of-a-kind personalised books, with the launch of two Keepsake
books in January. The first is focused on the birth of a baby and/or
first birthday, called My First Year. The second is a gift for weddings or
first anniversaries, called Our First Year. Each contains a full newspaper
reproduced in colour from the date, plus special memories pages
114 giftfocus
to add photos, messages and record events and special moments
in the year. Both books are beautifully presented in foil embossed
personalised hardback covers.
Signature Gifts also recently launched Princess Opposite, a fun
educational children’s book teaching opposites. Also launching are
January - April, Months-of-The-Year, Tooth-Fairy, My Big Brother/Sister
is Great, Is-It-My-Birthday Yet, ABC Letterland and more. With more
than 7,000 lines, Signature Gifts is one of the UK’s leading premier
personalised gift companies.
Exhibitor profiles
Kringle Candle Company (Europe)
Hall 5 Stand A31
www.kringlecandle.co.uk
Kringle Candle is very excited about the new year and, like any three
going on four year old, it's growing, experiencing and learning all at the
same time. While Kringle Candle was born out of the heritage of Mike
Kittredge’s well-known candle business, the brand is busy blazing its
own one-of-a-kind trail.
New for 2014 are Medium and Large Two-Wick Classic Jars, bigger
at 16oz and 22oz respectively. They have two wicks in a larger diameter
jar, providing a cleaner burn. They’re also faster, as two flames create a
fragrant wax pool more quickly, and have a stronger scent as the larger
diameter wax pool provides stronger fragrancing. There'll be six new
fragrances to try out at the show.
Lesser & Pavey
Hall 5 Stand B04 - C03
www.leonardo.co.uk
A comprehensive range of photo frames awaits buyers
on the Lesser & Pavey stand. Quality, gift-boxed frames
to match all tastes, from traditional to modern and
stylish. The resin Cherub frames come in an antique-style
pale gold finish with detailed sculpting or white with an
antique ivory finish.
Crisp, clean and with a white finish, the butterfly
frames feature touches of cream enamel trim. Diamanté
and beading decoration give each frame an individual
look and appearance.
giftfocus 117
Exhibitor profiles
Joe Davies
Hall 5 Stand C30 - D31
www.joedavies.co.uk
Joe Davies will launch the largest collection of new products at Spring
Fair. More than 2,000 brand new gifts, fashion accessories, home décor
and jewellery products will be on display on the brand’s stand. The
company’s trademark little and often ordering policy allows retailers to
select in small quantities across the whole range of over 8,000 products.
A minimum order value of just £100 is yet another draw.
Among this spring’s new offerings are these quirky Comic Spec
Holders, which are guaranteed to raise a chuckle and make for a great
impulse gift. There are 20 new models in the range including these
bashful bathroom characters.
The Equilibrium collection of fashion and jewellery accessories will
also be a major draw. Hundreds of new models will be introduced
including the new Daisy series (pictured). All Equilibrium jewellery is
beautifully packaged for easy and attractive merchandising, and prices
continue to be extremely competitive.
Satchels are one of the hottest items in the bag category at the
moment, and Joe Davies’ collection is bolstered by 30 new models
including smart two-tone designs and trendy glitter and metallic satchels
in various sizes, starting from the mini. The satchels join more than 40
new bags specially designed for the spring/summer season.
Gift retailers will be no strangers to the snoozies!® phenomena –
cosy little foot coverings from the USA that have proved to be the
hottest thing in gifts for a long time, with exceptional Christmas sales.
Spring Fair sees four brand new ranges of spring bling: Animal, Spotty
snoozies!®, Skinnies and a new polka dot and heart series exclusive for
the UK.
118 giftfocus
Burleigh launches Regal Peacock
1,911 hours in the making
Spring Fair International
Stand 1E30-D31
Tel. 01773 740740
Exhibitor profiles
HALLS 5, 9 & 10
Temple Island
Hall 5 Stand A74
www.templeisland.com
The Alice Tait brand
continues to grow as
Temple Island looks
forward to launching
the designer’s third
range of gifts, this time
a celebration of Great
British Dogs.
This neat homewares
collection includes a
fun treat tin, tray, mug,
notebook and apron.
About Eyes
Hall 5 Stand B63
www.abouteyes.co.uk
Spring Fair sees the launch of the latest collection of the About
Eyes range of eyewear. The collection features not only the latest
trends but also a wealth of classic styles, great design, good quality
and ample choice, all at low prices. About Eyes eyewear truly
makes necessity into an attractive accessory and are not just for
women – its range of men’s styles is second to none. The brand
offers a wide choice of display options to suit every need, low
value repeats and excellent customer service.
Come and see the New Spring lines at the
January Home show Stand M61 or Spring
Fair NEC Summerhouse Stand E13
Tel: 01622 812897
www.raggedrose.com
sales@raggedrose.com
120 giftfocus
www.everestartsandcrafts.com
IMPORTERS WHOLESALERS
EXPORTERS
J J Vaillant
Hall 5 Stand C18
www.jjvaillant.co.uk
J J Vaillant will be adding to its highly collectable range of Betty
Boop figurines with new colourways and models, including Betty
Boop Christmas, Betty Boop Buying Shoes and Betty Boop Nurse.
New occasional furniture and decorative boxes will also be on
display for the first time.
J J Vaillant’s Once A Tree wood carvings range now features
these incredibly detailed, fairly traded, hand-carved and polished
owls. There are three sizes available: 20cm, 30cm and 40cm, and
prices start at just £12.98.
A fantastic range of gifts, home décor, interiors,
reproductions, candle holders & candelabras
for all occasions.
Ask us about our discounts for volume orders.
Great range of large Church candle lanterns
plus the usual unbeatable lantern ranges.
Show Details:
Giving & Living (Westpoint Exeter)
Hall B - Stand 503/602
Spring Fair (NEC Birmingham)
Hall 5 - Stand H30
Great show offers please enquire on the stand.
15 Dulverton Road • Witton • Birmingham B6 7EQ • England (UK)
T: +44 (0) 121 326 9966 F: +44 (0) 121 326 9933
E: enquiries@EverestArtsandCrafts.com
giftfocus 121
Exhibitor profiles
Enesco
Hall 5 Stand E04 - F03 and F04 - G03
www.enesco.co.uk
In the Disney Traditions range, award-winning artist Jim Shore combines
much-loved characters from Disney films with American folk artinspired patterns and bold colours, in a style that is individual and
instantly recognisable. The latest additions to this range draw inspiration
from across a wide selection of magical Disney classics.
There’s a piece celebrating Mickey & Minnie Mouse’s 85th
Anniversary; an exciting new range of 12 Mickey Mouse figurines – one
for each month of the year – and each includes the birthstone for
each month too, as well as plenty of new Disney Princesses, including
the two pictured. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Disney’s The Little
Mermaid, Jim Shore has created a sculpture featuring Ariel, Flounder
and Sabastian, entitled Dreaming Under the Sea. Meanwhile, A Brave
Princess (Merida) exemplifies what it means to be a Disney Princess
through being brave, passionate and confident.
Hairy Coos, a humorous giftware collection from Border Fine Arts,
will be launched in January 2014. Portraying Highland cows and calves
dressed with Scottish flair in winter woolies and chic accessories, the
range will bring a smile to people’s faces.
The fashion-conscious cattle are the work of sculptor Janet Miller
122 giftfocus
and stem from her unusual sense of humour. Wearing tam o’shanters,
plaid scarves and horn warmers, and modelling a stylish ranges of Arran
jumpers, these are the smartest Highland cattle ever to be found.
Each Hairy Coo is made and painted by hand, giving it an individual
quirky character.
The Trail of Painted Ponies grows in popularity year-on-year, with two
launches being added for January 2014. The two new stable mates
have a distinct Native American flavour, but in two very different styles,
conveying the message of harmony and loyalty. Painted Harmony
features a mare and her foal running alongside. Known for its distinct
markings, the American Paint Horse is a colourful, naturally intelligent
and versatile Western breed. Characterised by a broad chest,
well-muscled hindquarters and refined head, Paint Horses come in a
variety of coat patterns. Standing vibrant, The Guardian represents the
special bond between horse and rider in Native American culture. If an
Indian wishes to gain something, he promises his horse that if it helps
him he will paint it with native dyes, so that all may see that help and
protection have come to him through the aid of his horse.
Enesco’s fun money
bank collection, Where
the Smart Money Is,
creates quirky saving
banks from everyday
items and has been
treated to a smart new
look for the new year in
the form of three new
money banks aimed
directly at male giving.
Inspired by a robot,
camera and car, each
one has been finished
in sleek metallic tones,
giving a timeless and
sophisticated feel. They’re also reminiscent of vintage toys, and as the
colours are neutral they’ll sit comfortably in any setting, be it the office,
study or a boy’s bedroom.
Exhibitor profiles
Puckator
Hall 5 Stand D60 - E53
www.puckator.co.uk
Puckator will be
launching more than
600 new products
at Spring Fair 2014.
Fresh products and
ranges will include
haberdashery
themed gifts,
making the most
of the UK’s sewing
and knitting craze.
In-house designer
Laura Bell’s Chouko
Butterfly range and
the Robotnies fun
Retro Robot range
by Teddy will be
a highlight on the
Puckator stand.
Gaeltag Keltika
Hall 5 Stand E20 - F21
www.lolitadesigns.co.uk
“A good Spring Fair is really important to kicking off the year positively for our products,” says
Gaeltag’s Managing Director, Frank Emmel. “The timing is perfect for key sales opportunities
such as Mother’s Day, and the start of the new wedding season, and, after Christmas, this
period is so important for our more female-oriented products. We feel that 2014 will mark a
real upturn from which all of us in the gift business can benefit.”
Amongst the company’s brands, Lolita® will be refreshing its product range and showing its
widest-ever selection of glasses tailored to both celebrations, whilst TindraTM candle bags, which
enjoyed great success in the run up to Christmas, will be adding more Scandinavian chic to
its range with new designs of innovative paper–based products targeted specifically at the UK
wedding market.
124 giftfocus
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Ribbon
Dispensers
NEW!
British Designed Ribbons and Gift Tags
Free Samples and Next Day Delivery • Minimum Order £75
Ribbons including 3m, 10m and 100m rolls.
Grosgrain stitched, stripes, dotty and gingham designs
Gift Wrapping Courses and DVD available
New Trade Website – visit www.janemeans.co.uk for details
Tel 01522 522 544 (M-F 10am-3pm) • Email info@janemeans.co.uk
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Exhibitor profiles
HALLS 5, 9 & 10
D & J Glassware
Hall 5 Stand F35
www.dandjglassware.co.uk
A visit to D & J Glassware’s stand is always good for discerning retailers
wanting to offer their customers something different. Always at the
forefront of innovation, D & J Glassware has built up an enviable
reputation as the UK’s favourite supplier of quality Friendship Balls,
Hearts and Tree of Life Balls. The fused glass collections have become a
firm favourite with customers and new designs are added regularly.
Amelia Art Glass
Hall 5 Stand F80 - G81
www.ameliaartglass.co.uk
Amelia Art Glass will be launching many new collections of glass
this spring fair. New products added to its glass portfolio will
include stemware, all of which come gift boxed. Also on show will
be a one-of-a-kind collection of friendship hearts, also gift boxed.
A new selection of vases will also be unveiled, and the company is
constantly introducing new collections.
126 giftfocus
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Intelex Group
Hall 5 Stand G10 - H11
www.intelex.co.uk
Last year was another
exciting year for
Intelex. With the
launch of the fully
warmable ranges of
YooHoo™, Boofle,
Knitted Warmers™
and new Hooty™ and
Socky Dolls™ variants,
visitors to Spring Fair
2014 can always rely
on seeing exciting
new products from
the heatable toy
innovators. With
Socky Dolls™ mania
reaching fever pitch last Christmas, this versatile range of warmable
characters are popular with both kids, teenagers and adults alike,
who love the quirky little bed warming companions. Visitors to
the Intelex stand can expect to see a new range of SockyDoll™
characters and much more.
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Rosemoore
Hall 5 Stand G46
www.rosemoore.co.uk
Designed to offer
affordable luxury
to customers,
Rosemoore
scented candles
are highly
scented, 100 per
cent vegetable
wax and handpoured into
attractive glass.
They have the
added luxury of
a highly polished
metal lid,
embossed with
the Rosemoore
logo. The candles
are available in
two sizes and
a wide choice
of fragrances, including Eucalyptus & Kaffir Line, Amber & White Musk,
White Tea, Egyptian Cotton and Lavender Blue.
giftfocus 127
Exhibitor profiles
Shared Earth
Hall 5 Stand F50
www.sharedearth.co.uk
Shared Earth has been one of
the UK’s leading fair trade gift
suppliers for the last 25 years.
Working with producers in
more than 16 countries across
Asia, Africa and South America,
it specialises in producing
well-designed gifts, home
accessories, fashion accessories,
jewellery and toys for retailers
of all types.
While committed to a constantly evolving range of products to stay
up to date with current trends, Shared Earth’s core home and gift range
includes many vintage lines that have been best-sellers for years.
Its generous discount structure allows retailers to maximise margins
and make the most of their buying power. For orders over £400,
customers receive a five per cent discount, while orders over £750
receive 10 per cent, orders over £1,500 receive 15 per cent off, and
orders over £2,500 receive a whopping 20 per cent discount. This is on
top of free carriage for all orders over £200.
Coupled with Shared Earth’s sale or exchange policy, which ensures
that customers are never left with stock that won’t sell, its discount
scheme allows customers to be safe in the knowledge that they’re
getting the best possible deal.
Also of note is Shared Earth’s bespoke design service, offering
companies the opportunity to produce lines of fair trade products
128 giftfocus
in their own brand or design. Many retailers large and small use
Shared Earth to create their own branded lines of ethically produced,
sustainable jute bags.
While these are one of Shared Earth’s more popular bespoke lines,
its incredibly enthusiastic design team is able to work on bringing any
sort of fair trade line you can imagine to the UK market.
Shared Earth began trading long before fair trade became trendy, having
been set up specifically to benefit producers in the poorest parts of the
world. It’s also particularly concerned about the environment and offers
a great selection of recycled fair trade products, made not just from
paper and glass but from old saris, crayon stubs, bicycle chains and tyres,
door locks, keys and bottle tops… you name it!
Shared Earth was one of the founders of fair trade in the UK. A
wealth of experience through its own shops has given the company
real knowledge of retailers’ needs.
Exhibitor profiles
Namaste
Hall 5 Stand H10 - J11
www.namaste-uk.com
Namaste has got lots of exciting
product launches planned for
Spring Fair. Design-led and
fairly traded, its vast collection
encompasses gifts, homewares,
soft furnishings, furniture, incense,
clothing, accessories and jewellery,
with a generous discount structure
to suit all retailers.
New additions include
Bolsius (UK)
quirky animal themed gifts and
Hall 5 Stand G80 - H81
decorations from the Philippines.
www.bolsius.com
This vibrant and fun new range will
The new spring 2014 range
enliven any shop as readily as any home. The collection includes clocks,
from Bolsius is entitled Sweet
hooks, garden stakes and ornaments.
Celebration. Living up to its
Adding to the animal theme are new hand-made metal gifts from
name, it includes filled glass
India. Fairly traded yet very commercial, sensibly priced and with very
candles, ceramic display plates,
wide appeal, the line features beautifully painted elephants, chickens, cats,
tea light holders and rustic
pigs and birds.
candles in candy colours.
Namaste’s recycled aluminium is an established best-seller in gift
Spring Party comprises a vibrant theme with fragrance-filled glasses,
shops and home stores throughout Britain and beyond. Aluminium is
rustic metallic pillar candles and pillar candles all in yellows and lilac.
a beautiful material for ornamental use with its muted metallic texture
Summer Lounge combines the colours of the sun, sea and air to bring
you rustic candles, glass three-wick candles, glass filled single candles and and the enamelled colours, at once vibrant and subtle, bring these
lovely pieces alive. The range includes new variations of the popular
flame bowls, all beautifully coordinated.
coasters dips and nibbles trays, salad bowls and servers, keyrings and a
The new Citronella Garden range arrives in 2014 with an unusual
herbal fragrant twist. It’s available in tea lights, filled glasses, classic lowboy, line of paperweights.
party lights and flame bowls. The new 2014 autumn/winter range will be
unveiled at the show.
Everest Arts & Crafts
Hall 5 Stand H30
www.everestartsandcrafts.com
Everest Arts & Crafts
is a family-run business
established in 1969. At
present, the company
is the largest importer
of brass products in
the UK, complemented
with copper, wood, iron,
resin and related or
combined products. It
has a range of nautical,
candle stands and
candelabras, a huge
collection of lanterns
for home and garden, wooden boxes, wooden games, reproductions
of cycles, magnifiers, measures, tankards, goblets, wine coolers, ice
buckets and a diverse range of sports cups and trophies.
130 giftfocus
Wedding
Best Sellers
Christening
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A beautiful range of designer silver
jewellery for every occasion.
Tel: 01489 795555
Email: sam@joforgirls.co.uk
Reading Glasses, Sunglasses,
Sun Readers & Accessories
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Exhibitor profiles
Dartington Crystal
Hall 5 Stand J08 - K07
www.dartington.co.uk
Dartington Crystal has got plenty to offer its
customers in 2014, and will showcase many
new collections. Crystal and glass under the
Dartington, Caithness and Royal Brierley brands
will feature alongside ceramics from Beswick and
Top Choice.
With more than a nod to the past, Dartington
has recreated its stylish and functional kitchen
glassware. These combinations of hand-made glass
with cork and wood include storage jars, an oil/
vinegar bottle and dome-covered boards. As well
as a great way to present and serve food, the
glass dome cover doubles up as a bowl – which
is why it was originally called Cheese & Greens.
A strong gift focus runs through the new
coloured glass vase collection of Little Gems.
These petite vases come in a variety of shapes
each in a distinctive gem like colour. Offered in
giftable presentation sleeves, they’d make ideal
presents in time for Valentine’s Day.
Clere Vision
Hall 5 Stand J51
www.clerevision.co.uk
Clere Vision’s glasses for the spring/summer 2014 season reflect the quality and trend-setting designs synonymous with the brand. The new
collection contains a mixture of classic and new shapes, bold designs and bright colours, as well as some more conservative styles equally
suitable for gents. Spots, stripes and swirls make for an eye-catching display that will complement spring and summer fashions. There's also a
new tartan design available in vibrant pink and a more traditional green. The final range to be launched in the New Year is a cat’s eye-shaped
design available in two pastel colours, featuring delicate crystals on the frame.
giftfocus 133
Exhibitor profiles
Xystos
Hall 5 Stand K04 - L05
www.xystostrade.co.uk
A WoodWick Smoothie
The Art of Ribbonwick
The gorgeous glow from a Ribbonwick candle is always enhanced
by the stylish vessel which cossets it. These are available from
Xystos in a variety of shapes and sizes. Pictured is Peach Poppies,
an attractive example of Ribbonwick’s USP to transform a candle
into a lifestyle product. Ribbonwick not only looks good but its
revolutionary technology is said to give a mellower burn than that
of a wooden wick or cotton wick. Line extensions to Décor Glass
and Décor White see Moroccan Spice and Snow Flower now
available in large and medium sizes in both ranges. Other recently
launched pieces include Toasted Tonka, Ocean Lagoon, Black Forest,
Parisian Vanilla and Sugared Praline.
Trapp’s top with buyers
Trapp Candles uses a full
bottle of perfume in every 7oz
candle, which is guaranteed to
fragrance a home from top to
bottom. Trapp has been voted
the best-scented cotton wick
candle by customers in the US.
The range comprises vessels
and votives with a 20-hour
burn time and 10 of the
best-selling reed diffusers in
stunning packaging. There are
also 13 room fragrance sprays
in attractive French-inspired
perfume bottles.
134 giftfocus
It’s been another sensational year for WoodWick, the candle with the
crackling wick distributed by Xystos. Sales have boomed as the brand
continues to attract new customers, thanks to the creativity of The
Virginia Candle Company, which produces imaginative candles and
great fragrances for every season. The Trilogy Wild Berry Smoothie,
pictured here, features Dreamsicle Daydream, Strawberry Parfait and
Marionberry. This is just one of the new WoodWick products that will
be seen on the Xystos stand at Spring Fair.
Appealing Aquiesse
The classic Aquiesse Collection of Aesthetic Scents from Xystos has
attracted interest not only from independent retailers but well-known
department stores too. Designed to convey a timeless sense of luxury,
three lines are being offered. Black Currents and White Currents feature
travel tin candles, gift boxed candles and reed diffuser gift sets. The
popular Portfolio collection features eight scents – Pink Peony, Shoreline,
Boardwalk, French Oak Currant, Cherimoya, Sandalwood Vanille,
Passionfruit & Citrus and best-seller Luxe Linen. The elegant packaging is
designed to minimise cost and maximise reusability.
Exhibitor profiles
Tilnar Art
Hall 5 Stand K38
www.tilnarart.co.uk
Fair trade supplier, Tilnar Art, will be launching a number of new ranges
and products at Spring Fair, and is very proud to be linking up with the
WWF to create a new range, set to include a whole new collection of
WWF branded soapstone hearts and keyrings.
Tilnar Art will also be exhibiting new bespoke recycled car part
sculptures for the first time, which have to be seen to be believed! As
well as these and many other new products, Tilnar Art will be showing its
popular recycled sculptures, metal and wooden giraffes, zebras, coloured
soapstone, Raku pottery and MO-HOme’s bamboo homeware collection.
Cybertill
Hall 5 Stand K53
www.cybertill.co.uk
Cybertill will be offering free advice to retailers on how they can
improve the ranking of their website on Google. The company will
also be showcasing its new mobile point of sale (Mobile PoS) system
136 giftfocus
that can run on an iPad. Cybertill’s Mobile PoS enables retailers to
carry their EPoS system with them wherever they are. Ideal at trade
shows, allowing retailers to check previous orders, live stock levels
as well as placing new orders, it will help retailers towards under
or over ordering. In addition, the company will be demonstrating its
award-winning EPoS and e-commerce systems.
Whether it is our striking packaging, our natural
fragrancing or our overall product performance,
Seascape Island Apothecary is one of the most
exciting premium bath & body collections to
come out of Britain in a long time.
Seascape highlights include:
•100% natural essential oil – based
formulations for the whole family
• maternity – safe collections and formulations
for children
• no parabens, silicones, petroleums, SLS,
artificial colors or fragrances
• Seascape is against animal testing and
is suitable for vegetarians
Come and experience Seascape Island Apothecary at stand 20A17,
where you will find our entire range to sample, including our very
popular new SOOTHE 8ml SLEEP OIL.
web: www.seascapeuk.com
e-mail: contact@seascapeuk.com tel: 0845 003 5255
Exhibitor profiles
Maingate
Hall 5 Stand K85
www.maingate.co.uk
Spring Fair veteran Maingate is approaching the 2014 show in buoyant
mood, having booked its largest ever stand to accommodate a raft
of new launches. Among the most exciting news is a range of striking
plant and candle holders moulded in a mineral composite incorporating
Pumice volcanic rock. The range is painstakingly fashioned to resemble
a collection of wooden logs and stems that you just carted home from
today’s walk in the woods – the difference being that these logs will
never crumble or deteriorate. They’re neat enough for any interior
setting, and tough enough for outside use.
Maingate’s well-established Stylys range is being extended too with
dozens of new products in glass and porcelain, such as the delicate art
deco votives pictured below.
Personalised Memento Company
Hall 5 Stand L20 - M21
www.personalisedmemento.co.uk
Available from Personalised Memento Company is this new
collection of baby clothing including baby vests, bibs and super
soft sleep suits. The full baby gifting range features blankets and
keepsakes to treasure forever. The Twinkle range is set to be a
best-seller with its sweet nursery rhyme, including any baby name.
The new super sleek black glass range is the ideal gift for her,
including trinket boxes to store charms and jewellery. The frames in
the ranges are available in an array of designs for all occasions on
the calendar, making an ideal gift for every family member.
The company has also launched a new collection of personalised
gifts to celebrate famous pairings. The We Go Together Like... range
is made all the more personal with any couple’s name. With gifts
that are suitable all year round, they are the ideal present for any
special occasion.
138 giftfocus
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Exhibitor profiles
Wild Things
Hall 5 Stand L32
www.wildthingsgifts.com
Spring Fair sees the
launch of a brand new
catalogue and website
from Wild Things Gifts.
It’s the brand’s first
brochure in more than
two years and it’s made
a major upgrade to
the website. In addition
to its new Crystal
Daydreams© suncatchers,
Wild Things will be
showing its updated
Flower Power range
of jewellery, which
features SWAROVSKI®
ELEMENTS and takes its
inspiration from popular blooms such as roses, forget-me-nots, dahlias
and wisteria (illustrated). Virtually all Wild Things products are handmade in the UK.
Mandarin Arts
Hall 5 Stand K79
www.mandarinarts.co.uk
This attractive hand-made lacquered box is from a small town in Shanxi
province in northern China where, over a period of 2,000 years, the
community has built a reputation as one of the country’s most famous
lacquerware producers. A layer of natural lacquer is brushed on by
hand, allowed to dry, and then gently rubbed down before several more
layers are added in the same way. The design is painstakingly applied
by hand to create a quintessential Chinese jewellery box steeped in
tradition. Mandarin Arts sells many other oriental treasures, lamps and
decorative items.
Best Kept Secrets
Hall 5 Stand L31
www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
The Occasion range from Best Kept Secrets will feature at this year’s Spring Fair.
Covering all occasions, these gift candles have been updated and feature a 50-hour
burn time, outstanding scents and a range of attractive toppings.
The line complements other product offers and gift packs in the Best Kept Secrets
range, including the top-selling Super Seven’s and Three Lites boxed series of candle
gifts. The range of occasion candles has been reviewed following enquiries from major
retailers including Harrods, and now features designs for New Baby, Congratulations,
Anniversary and Thank You, which sit alongside existing Just Married, New Home and
Happy Birthday.
Sister company Thistle Soaps, the Northumberland-based specialist in luxury
scented hand-made soaps, will be working more closely with Best Kept Secrets
in 2014, with a combined presence at trade shows and more direct support to
customers throughout the year. At Spring Fair, Best Kept Secrets’ stand will also feature
a complete range of Thistle Soaps, so customers can buy all their seriously scented products in one place.
140 giftfocus
Exhibitor profiles
Sifcon International
Hall 10 Stand A05 - B04
www.silplc.com
SIL brings woodland wonders to Spring Fair. SIL will be delighting
us with a new range based around traditional woodland creatures.
Fantastic foxes, sensational squirrels and awesome owls are all over
textiles, ceramics and wall art. Our particular favourite is the handsome
herringbone squirrel doorstop.
Following the success of its Christmas Collection at the last Spring
Fair, SIL is also launching three new ranges. There’s pure and sparkling
Ice White, crisp and clean New Scandinavian, and earthy and organic
Natural Wood.
142 giftfocus
Jarapa
Hall 9 Stand A06
www.jarapa.co.uk
Jarapa will be exhibiting an array of colour and many plain and simple
100 per cent recycled glass items. Focusing on building the range of
clear glass products this spring, Jarapa will be introducing more than 50
new products, many of which are ready for immediate dispatch.
Babyface
Hall 9 Stand H46
www.babyface.uk.com
Babyface will be presenting a beautiful range of children’s bedding
and accessories. This year, the brand introduces a new child’s
playhouse into its collection. This fabric house features flower
and butterfly appliqué detail and a cute red gingham roof. Two
more rugs make great additions to the brand’s rug collection. A
girl’s star rug features pastels colours, while a boy’s striped rug
comes in classic red, white and blue. Both rugs will be stocked in
the standard 90cm x 120cm size and the popular large 120cm x
180cm size.
CONTEMPORARY GIFT & HOME –
HALLS 6 & 7
Find the UK’s biggest selection
of modern, directional and
quirky medium to high-end gifts,
home and lifestyle products.
Visit the sector for:
• Design-led gift and gadgets
• Luxury lifestyle ranges
• Home accessories
• Contemporary children’s gifts
Wild & Wolf www.wildandwolf.com
144 giftfocus
Exhibitor profiles
Navigate
Hall 6 Stand G22 - H23
www.navigate.ltd.uk
These satchels are the latest additions to the boutique brand Beau
& Elliot, from Navigate. Taking the current trend for all things preppy
to another level, these bold and colourful designs are fused with a
traditional look. The pretty satchels come in three colours: aqua, lime
or pink. The Beau & Elliot range now also includes baby-changing bags
and baby bottle bags, with the same colourful confetti design, as well as
a new and very giftable range of storage jars. These are in stock from
January onwards.
Black Ginger
Hall 6 Stand G58
www.blackginger.co.uk
This year, Black Ginger’s spring/summer collection has something
for everyone, but is particularly focused on Mother’s Day, Father’s
Day and Easter. There are more than 40 different designs of photo
frame coasters ranging from single colours to pretty floral patterns
to heartfelt words. On top of that, the company offers a collection
of scarves, jewellery, Easter decorations and lots more gift ideas.
146 giftfocus
Think Pink
Hall 6 Stand H04 - J05
www.thinkpinkblue2.com
Exciting times
at Think Pink,
as it prepares
to launch
an exclusive
collection of
Hello Kitty
products.
Designed
specifically with
independents,
garden centres
and high-end department stores in mind, the line will include
a musical jewellery box, rag dolls, chef ’s apron and hat set,
photo frames and a tea set. Off the back of its very successful
autumn 2013 launch of the Sleepover Fairies, a Birthday doll
and a Ballerina doll will join the family this spring. Finally, a range
of jigsaws and jewellery boxes exclusively designed by Amanda
Loverseed for Think Pink will also form part of this exciting Spring
2014 product launch programme.
Half Moon Bay
Hall 6 Stand H22 - J23
www.halfmoonbay.co.uk
Half Moon Bay is excited to showcase its new licence with the Walt
Disney Company, with both Disney and The Muppets characters. Exciting
product formats including mini retro bags, shaped money tins and tablet
sleeves are being introduced to the comprehensive collections. The
giftware company will also be previewing its new Christmas ranges,
and additions to existing licences including Doctor Who, Superman and
Batman. Half Moon Bay has a new licence with the Justice League of
America in anticipation of the upcoming film, and a World War I range
to mark the 100-year anniversary.
giftfocus 147
Exhibitor profiles
New Overseas Traders
Wild & Wolf
Hall 6 Stand J04 - K05
www.newoverseastraders.co.uk
New Overseas Traders will be showing an exciting new collection
this Spring Fair. This includes the Nelly the Elephant range, which
is hand-made, hand-painted and fairly traded. The range features
a cute elephant and includes cups, jugs, tiffin tins, trays and pin
tins, starting from £1.41. Other new products include a range
of basketware, floral fabric storage boxes, bamboo salad bowls,
block-printed bedspreads and cushions, scarves and bags. The
company offers no minimum order and a low carriage paid rate.
New Overseas Traders is a member of the World Fair Trade
Organisation and the British Association for Fair Trade Shops
and Suppliers.
Hall 6 Stand H42 - J43
www.wildandwolf.com
Wild & Wolf will be launching The Very Hungry Caterpillar creative play
range. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which celebrates its 45th anniversary
this year, has won the hearts of millions of children all over the world,
created by Eric Carle whose illustrations are instantly recognisable. Wild
& Wolf has an extensive offering ready for Spring Fair, featuring creative
play kits for children aged two to six years old, including bunting making,
card making, finger printing, 3D animal making, chalks and crayons as
well as some melamine products. The company will be launching a range
of other products at the show, so be sure to visit the stand to find out
more about the range.
Artscape Publishing
Baggee
Hall 6 Stand K26
www.baggee.com
The Baggee is a flexible hollow ball on a keychain designed to hold
plastic bags. It has a spring-lever keyring and attaches to your keys or
handbag so the forgetful shopper always has a bag to hand. Also great
for carrying bags for camping, dog walking, nappy sacks or any for any
time when plastic bags are needed. Simply stuff your bags into the unit
and they’ll stay in without the need of a cap or lid and can be pulled
out one at a time when needed. All Baggee products are made in
the UK.
148 giftfocus
Hall 6 Stand P04
www.artscapeonline.com
Artscape
Publishing
will be
showing its
extended
range of
everyday
aprons.
With a
roomy
front pocket for storing those essentials,
these one-size aprons are adorned with
hilarious slogans such as King of the
Barbeque, Queen of the Kitchen, Prick with
a Fork and many more. Proudly made in
the UK, they’re packaged in a euro-hooked
acrylic box.
Artscape will also be exhibiting its
collection of Santa Balls, as well as oven
gloves, tea towels, boxer shorts, socks and
Christmas cards.
Exhibitor profiles
Dora Designs
Hall 6 Stand P22 - Q23
www.doradesigns.co.uk
Dora Designs has introduced 26 new designs for its spring
2014 collection. Following on from the popularity of the
British Birds and Owls range, Angela has designed a new
Birds of Prey collection featuring a Red Kite, Golden
Eagle and Sparrow Hawk. Further new collections include
Canine, Patchwork, Nautical and Pantry.
thumbsUp!
Hall 6 Stand P37
www.thumbsupuk.com
The latest additions to thumbsUp!’s innovative giftware and home accessory
products will be revealed at this year’s Spring Fair. Coming to you from the gift
and gadget gurus that conceived the Camera Lens Cup and following on from
its hugely successful gift, gadget and homeware lines in 2013, highlights of the
new collection include Robocup, Leaning Tower Cups, the latest Touch Speakers,
LochNess Table Set, Mr White Fox, Shoelace Earphones, Ninja Mug and more! Visit
thumbsUp! to meet the team and preview its exciting new range.
150 giftfocus
Repeat Repeat
Hall 6 Stand P40
www.repeatrepeat.co.uk
Repeat Repeat will be launching its new Silhouette
Portrait range of bone china mugs at Spring Fair.
Expanding on the ever popular Silhouette dog and cat
themes, the designs are bigger and bolder than ever – but
the joke and punch lines remain subtle, well, maybe not
so subtle!
Exhibitor profiles
Mad Beauty
Hall 6 Stand Q01
www.madbeauty.com
Mad Beauty’s iconic cardboard exhibition stand
will be bursting with cosmetic gift goodies at
this year’s Spring Fair, including its Pop Heart
soaps, lip gloss, hand warmers and wash bags.
Mad’s incredibly successful Make Do & Mend
range of cosmetic gifts has been extended with
a full range based around Balls of Wall with
tweezers, wash bags, tissues, lip balms and nail
files added to the Buttons and Cotton reel
themes. Ideal for spring are the Ice Cream
body butters and lip balms as well as other
new body creams, lip gloss concepts and fresh
impulse purchase lines.
Nail Art also features heavily with suedes,
sprinkles, holographic glitter dust, rhinestones
and Mad polish on show. New lip gloss
products include Happy Campers and
Elephants, and these sit alongside other animal
themed glosses. New Tidy Me Up make up
organisers, Brush Me Up gift sets and many
other great cosmetic gifts and bath products
complete the line up.
The Country Candle Company
Hall 6 Stand Q05
www.thecountrycandlecompany.com
The Country Candle Company is a
fast-growing, independent company based
in Wiltshire. The company regularly creates
new collections and variations that respond
to domestic design trends and tastes. All
collections are made in the UK and the
company uses high-quality raw materials and
artisan methods to create gifts with great trade
margins and RRPs.
One particular addition to this year’s spring
and summer catalogue, which will be available
to sample at Spring Fair, is The Country Candle
Company’s vacation-inspired fragrances. This
is an extension to the company’s best-selling
Polka Dot collection – designed to spread the
feel-good factor with scented reminders of
exotic places and classic holiday destinations.
Candles are presented in the choice of a
tin or vogue jar. There's also a matching reed
diffuser. The packaging adds even more to the
overall value of these attractive gift products,
even after each candle has used up its typical
40 hours of burn-time.
152 giftfocus
Exhibitor profiles
Metal Planet
Hall 6 Stand R34
www.metalplanet.net
Metal Planet will be exhibiting its beautiful pewter inspired range of
contemporary jewellery and quirky gifts, all designed and hand-made
at its Hertfordshire studios. The brand will introduce its spring/summer
Luna London range of jewellery, which combines chunky, solid pewter
alongside delicate, zesty strands of sparkly crystals. Metal Planet has
mixed up bracelet and necklace designs too in smart gold and pewter
mix, hematite and rose gold.
Cute new stretch rings from just £2.25 will be on show, which match
the company’s range of bracelets.
Daisy Roots
Hall 6 Stand R01
www.daisy-roots.com
Daisy Roots will be unveiling its 2014 catalogue at this year’s Spring
Fair. It will also be launching a host of new gift ideas, including a gift
set featuring an organic cotton hat and coordinating fleecy slippers.
Available in pink or blue, the hat and slippers are embroidered with
stars and make the perfect new baby gift. Presented in Daisy Roots
hanging gift boxes, these new hat and slipper sets are available in two
sizes: nought to six and six to 12 months.
Kate Hamilton-Hunter Studio
Hall 6 Stand S17
www.katehh.co.uk
Kate Hamilton-Hunter Studio produces beautiful, delicate handmade jewellery, fashioned from all kinds of modern and vintage tins
including biscuit, toffee, cake and tea tins. Designed by Kate and
created on the stunning coast of North Wales, the jewellery is sold
throughout the UK, a few select shops abroad and online.
Kate’s Valentine’s collection for 2014 is deliciously romantic. Florals
abound with dainty daisies, soft pinks and vibrant reds on her
most popular delicate heart shapes, all embellished with sparkling
Swarovski crystals.
Deck the Halls
Hall 6 Stand Q08
www.deck-the-halls.co.uk
Wit With Wisdom by Deck the Halls presents a new collection
of witty wooden signs, coasters, and mugs at Spring Fair. All
hand-made in the UK using Farrow and Ball paints, the range was
a huge success in the run up to Christmas and the company’s the
ability to provide speedy turnaround really helped to maximise
customers sales. The signs are funny rather than sentimental and
meet the demand for a more quality contemporary country style.
Over half of the brand’s sales are now bespoke signs, making each
store’s offering truly original. With a minimum of only six pieces
for bespoke signs this is a great sales opportunity with some
customers making personalised signs for local schools using local
sayings (and languages) and even wedding and birth keepsakes. The
signs retail at £5.95.
154 giftfocus
Exhibitor profiles
spring 2014 range in stock now!
see us at top drawer stand ze2 and
spring fair hall 19 stand b04
call - 01620 824 392
email - sales@earthsquared.com
order online - www.fairtradewholesale.co.uk
HAZEL ATKINSON JEWELLERY
www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.co.uk
tel 0115 9411110
Handmade in the UK.
Exhibiting at,
Scotland’s Trade fair
at Stand I44
Spring Fair Stand 18DQ46.
156 giftfocus
Pintail Candles
Hall 6 Stand T31
www.pintailcandles.com
Following a hugely successful Christmas and 20th birthday celebrations,
tt’s proving to be a great New Year for Pintail Candles. Now in its 21st
year of business, Pintail is showcasing its full product range at Spring Fair
2014, and will be introducing brand new colours and fragrances, such
as Milk & Honey and White Bamboo. As well as all the Pintail favourites
in fragranced tin candles, also on show is the No 20 range of glass
candles and diffusers, which are tipped to be this season’s hot products
following record sales over the festive period. With a fabulous new
stand, exciting new fragrances and a fresh new look for this season’s
brochure, 2014 looks promising for Pintail.
Stubbs Mugs
Hall 6 Stand S41
www.stubbsmugs.co.uk
The Stubbs Mugs range continues to grow, with more fine bone china
mugs, coasters and linens. New titles in the Rather range include I’d
Rather It Was Wine O’Clock and I’d Rather Be Cycling, as well as all
the favourites such as I’d Rather Be Better At Driving and I’d Rather
Be Better At Dancing. New designs added to the company’s offering
include the Simon Hart range, new mug designs from Clive’s Cats and
an extension to the Time For Tea and Cup & Saucer collections.
Shruti Designs
Hall 7 Stand D04 - E03
www.shrutidesigns.co.uk
Shruti Designs will be presenting lots of new products and designs
in its Casey Rogers collection. Launched with only four products
back in June 2013, there are now more than 30 lines in stock for
the spring/summer season. In addition, the company plans to use
Spring Fair to present some new designs to sit alongside existing
favourites, and launch a new collection of ceramic mugs, aprons,
coasters and fun kitchen clocks, as well as a few surprises for men!
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giftfocus 157
Ragged Rose www.raggedrose.com
THE SUMMERHOUSE – HALL 8
You will find a collection of stylish, design-led
home and gift products from leading UK and
international suppliers including:
• Interior accessories
• Furniture
• Quality kitchen accessories
• Leather handbags
• Wool throws
• Garden accessories
Ragged Rose
Hall 8 Stand E13
www.raggedrose.com
Ragged Rose will be launching its new range of summer cushions
and bedding, along with kitchen aprons and textiles. The latest
launches combine plains, prints and stripes in luscious shades of
fuchsia pink, lime and duck egg blue. From the success of its
best-selling PVC garden kneelers featured in The Daily Mail, the
brand has expanded the garden gift range into new colourways
and products, including pottering aprons, trugs, garden hats and
gloves. Aimed at garden centres, gift shops and department stores,
Ragged Rose offers a colour-coordinated lifestyle and gift collection.
158 giftfocus
Patisserie de Bain www.graftons.co.uk
BODY & BATH – HALLS 6 AND 20
You'll find skincare ranges, perfumes, bath
scents, home fragrances, diffusers, reeds and
candles here. Visit this sector for:
• Body, bath and spa
• Home fragrance, candles and incense
• Beauty and hair products
• Luxury gifts
• Health and wellbeing
160 giftfocus
spring fair
Exhibitor profiles
The Fragrance Lounge
Hall 6 Stand T26
www.thefragrancelounge.com
ABODE AROMA® fragrances have been revamped with the launch of Hue and
Scented Sentiments.
Hue makes a statement with its line-up of bold, bright colours in newly designed
gift boxes. The revered high quality fragrances have been poured into distinctive
elliptical bottles with an elegant brushed aluminium collar to complement and
enhance any interior.
Scented Sentiments puts a whole new spin on the giving of greetings cards by
combining heartfelt sentiments with the gift of a mini fragrance diffuser.
Both collections feature brand new high-performance dispersion wicks boasting
controlled porosity which help to better diffuse Abode Aroma’s 90 per cent
fragrance oil formulations.
Seascape Island Apothecary
Hall 20 Stand A17
www.seascapeuk.com
Inspired by
and including
ingredients
from the
beautiful island
of Jersey,
Seascape
features three
luxurious bath
and body
ranges, hand
care, hair care,
and collections
for men and
children, as
well as those
with sensitive skin. A UK brand, Seascape is 100 per cent
essential oil-based, and uses only the finest ingredients. Its
formulations contain no parabens, SLS, petroleum, silicones,
artificial colours or artificial fragrances. Seascape is suitable
for vegetarians, and includes two ranges that are maternity
safe. For personal use or as a gift, Seascape impresses with
its delightful packaging, delicate fragrancing and overall high
quality performance.
giftfocus 163
Exhibitor profiles
Heyland & Whittle
Hall 6 Stand Q29
www.heylandandwhittle.co.uk
Heyland & Whittle has extended its range to include many more
exciting new products including the much sought after Room Mists.
These are now available in six fragrances, including Olive & Fig, Wild
Lemongrass and the increasingly popular Jasmine & Lilac launched in
2013. Also new in the fragrance range are oil burners and fragrance oils.
Becoming fashionable again, the oil burner has a classic elegance that
would look just the part in any home. With six fragrances to choose
from, customers can create a range of ambiences to suit any mood.
Aroma Home
Hall 20 Stand A21
www.aromahome.com
Aroma Home is launching some new knitted gift ranges this year
following the success of its Snuggle Me Hotties and Cozy Ears
which sold out in many stores last year. The company will also be
launching a new range of novelty blankets and neck pillows that are
available immediately. In addition to innovative new gift products
for all ages, for 2014 there are also extensions to the popular Fuzzy
Feet and Fun for Feet novelty slipper and slipper sock ranges.
164 giftfocus
Grafton International
Hall 20 Stand A41
www.graftons.co.uk
Patisserie de Bain by Rose & Co. contains an array of pretty
colours and fragrances, inspired by the pastel hues of Parisian
patisseries and British sweets from childhood memories. Packaged
in traditional, richly decorated tins, bottles and boxes, no-one is able
to resist these delicious treats. Alongside its classics, Rose & Co. will
be launching some exciting new products into the Patisserie de
Bain collection. Be the first to see them at Spring Fair 2014.
+DOO6WDQG-2.2
Exhibitor profiles
Heaven Scent
Hall 20 Stand C18
www.heavenscent.co.uk
Heaven Scent has introduced a new three-wick candle to suit any side
table or fireside in the home. This beautiful glass candle measures 12cm
x 8cm and burns for approximately 60 to 70 hours. Made with the
company’s natural plant waxes combined with essential and fragranced
oils, this candle boasts quality with a conscience. The glass is recycled
and the materials used in the wax are natural and ethically sourced.
Winter in Venice
Hall 20 Stand E09
www.winterinvenice.co.uk
WIV Global is a British award-winning designer and manufacturer
of luxury bath and bodycare products. Each bath gift set comprises
an array of high quality toiletries placed inside reusable containers
such as hat boxes, sewing boxes, jewellery boxes and others;
nothing gets thrown away. Pictured is the gardening trug, an ideal
gift for Mother’s Day. The brand’s moisture-locked natural formula
is paraben-free and enriched with shea butter, cocoa butter, mango
butter, almond oil, plant and fruit extracts. Vitamins A and E, pro
vitamin B5 and evening primrose oil help leave skin feeling totally
pampered and nourished. The company is against all animal testing
and cruelty.
166 giftfocus
JEWELLERY & WATCH
BIRMINGHAM – HALLS 17 & 18
The Jewellery Show at Spring Fair
has re-branded to become Jewellery
& Watch Birmingham, reinforcing its
position as the leading event in the
jewellery and watch buying calendar.
Watches will have more prominence
among the jewellery collections, with
more watch brands exhibiting and
increased exposure on the catwalk.
Sea Gems www.seagems.co.uk
168 giftfocus
Exhibitor profiles
Linda Macdonald Jewellery
Hall 18 Stand DQ15
www.lindamacdonaldjewellery.com
Linda Macdonald Jewellery will be launching new collections, Starry
Night and Forget Me Not at the show. This delicate and distinctive
jewellery is designed and made in Scotland. Over the years Linda
Macdonald Jewellery has achieved continuous success as an
award-winning jewellery brand in the UK, culminating most recently in
her being named the British Jewellery Association’s Designer of the Year
2012. All items are supplied with branded packaging and RRPs range
from £35 to £350.
giftfocus 169
Exhibitor profiles
Jo for Girls®
Hall 18 Stand E03
www.joforgirls.co.uk
Children’s jewellery specialist, Jo for Girls® has introduced a butterfly
necklace and earrings for spring. These butterflies are new for 2014 and
made from 925 sterling silver and cubic zirconia gemstones.
For eight years, Jo for Girls® has been delighting young girls aged
three to 13-years-old with popular and attractive pieces that are sparkly,
colourful, cute and fun – all designed, of course, for the smaller wrist,
neck, ear and finger.
Looking forward to this year’s Spring Fair, Keith Richards commented:
“We love the opportunity to showcase our designer silver jewellery for
girls at the Jewellery & Watch Show. It’s extremely satisfying to see the
delight on the faces of our existing customers and potential customers
when they can see the entire Jo for Girls® range fully displayed.”
Hazel Atkinson
Rosa Red
Hall 18 Stand C66
www.rosared.co.uk
Following the success of Rosa Red’s Adam and Eve collection,
designed by young Scottish designers, the brand will be exhibiting
its new core range of affordable, distinctive designs as well as
launching new pieces for the Adam and Eve range. Rosa Red
has built up a reputation for quality, style and affordability. This,
combined with next-day delivery and a no-quibble guarantee,
means that customers can be assured of the best the fashion
jewellery industry has to offer. Designs such as Ness (pictured)
have been so well received that they'll be translated in to spring
colours such as pink and turquoise. Necklaces start at £9.45 and
with co-ordinating bracelets, rings and earrings in most ranges, this
collection will stand out in any environment.
170 giftfocus
Hall 18 Stand DQ46
www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.co.uk
To celebrate spring’s
awakening, Hazel is
introducing exciting
new lines to her
highly successful
Natural Selection
range. Holiday blends
azure blue, fuchsia
and tangerine in
an expressionistic
anticipation of
summer vacations,
while the cool silvers
and crisp greens of
Fresh Air evoke the
optimism and promise
of a clear spring
morning. Saturated
with colour and
ever-changing
intricate design, each
hand-made piece is produced in Hazel’s Nottingham studios. Bright
and breezy, light-hearted and fun.
Exhibitor profiles
Sea Gems
Hall 18 Stand K04 - L05
www.seagems.co.uk
Sea Gems offers original, British jewellery and gift design with hundreds of new, exclusive
launches for spring 2014. Contemporary silver jewellery brand Pure Origins features naturally
inspired hand-crafted pieces with floral, wildlife, romantic and whimsical themes, enhanced with
delicate textures, gold accents, pearls and gemstones. The charming designs come with luxury
boxes, packaging and displays.
New Celtic Lands and Mackintosh sterling silver jewellery will be on show, as well as fine
enamel jewellery and scarf rings. On the gifts side, the company’s signature Celtic and Mackintosh
motifs have been transposed onto pens, bookmarks, pillboxes and compacts.
New Touch Stylus pens for phone/tablet devices, crystal pens and men’s pens are also
available. These are the perfect contemporary gift, and truly look great in store too thanks to the
attractive box and POS.
Vizati
Hall 18 Stand H05
www.vizati.com
Brought back by popular demand, Vizati is launching a fresh and
very substantial range of dazzling dichroic glass jewellery to
complement its ever-expanding collection of 5XTRA silver-plated
jewellery. Textured glass in a variety of popular shapes and shades
will catch the eye and brighten any display. The 5XTRA collection of
silver-plated jewellery has many new additions, from contemporary
organic designs to animals, fish and dinosaurs!
Midhaven
Hall 18 Stand F02
www.midhaven.co.uk
Burst into spring colours with the new Tribal Steel range by
Midhaven. Many new styles of leather and stainless steel bracelets and
necklets for men and women will be shown including the new Raindrop
collection. RRPs range from £8 to £35. Point of sale is free with orders
over £200, and each bracelet comes with a branded hessian pouch.
Also on show will be the Lavish Silver ranges of plain and stone-set
silver jewellery.
172 giftfocus
Exhibitor profiles
Gecko
Hall 18 Stand K30 - L31
www.geckojewellery.com
Gecko will be showcasing seven collections at Spring Fair. The company’s
jewellery and accessory ranges for the new season (catering across
the board for men, women and children) arrive from the best-selling
brands Fiorelli, Fred Bennett and D for diamond. These will be exhibited
alongside collections from Elements and Basics.
Must-see highlights include two new smart watches from Fred
Bennett – a first for the popular men’s jewellery label – as well as
tropical showstoppers from the costume collection at Fiorelli Jewellery,
and the teddy bears’ picnic-inspired range from children’s jewellery
brand, D for diamond.
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FASHION JEWELLERY &
ACCESSORIES – HALLS 19 & 20
Discover thousands of
beautiful and stylish handbags,
fashion jewellery, leather
accessories and luggage.
Visit the sector for:
• Fashion and gift jewellery
• Handbags
• Purses
• Belts
• Gloves
• Scarves
• Luggage and travel goods
• Volume jewellery
Earth Squared
www.fairtradewholesale.co.uk
176 giftfocus
Exhibitor profiles
Miss Milly
Hall 19 Stand C18
www.missmilly.co.uk
Miss Milly will be showcasing new
jewellery in the Floria and Elodie
collections, as well as launching
Little Miss Milly, a children’s
jewellery and accessories brand.
Little Miss Milly is aimed at girls
of all ages. It offers pretty jewellery
free from nickel and lead, including
bright beads for the youngest, sparkly and neon pendants for girls of primary-school age, and guitar,
angel and crystal designs for the teens. Cute acrylic hairbands with flower and bow details are also
available in this range.
For adults, the brand is launching a variety of earthy pastel pieces in the Elodie collection, fitting
with the natural nomad trend. Using silver-coloured metal and hues of rose, sky blue and taupe, this
jewellery is light and easy to wear.
The Floria collection features the lush, tropical colours of lime, raspberry and blue crush in
statement pieces, following the carnival jungle trend. Old favourites will make a comeback in brand
new colours with popular heart designs re-introduced in time for Valentine’s Day.
Miss Milly will also be launching new packaging to help retailers create more of a branded display
and continue to grow the brand. Exclusive to Spring Fair, all customers placing orders of £200 or
more will receive a selection of the new packaging free of charge.
Earth Squared
Hall 19 Stand B04 - C03
www.fairtradewholesale.co.uk
Earth Squared is delighted to be back at Spring Fair with its new
season designs. Building on the success of a record-breaking
autumn 2013, the new ranges feature linens, florals and cottons,
and fresh handbag and scarf designs. Great quality, inspiring designs
and affordable prices make for the fair trade brand's winning
combination, which is all in stock from January.
178 giftfocus
Little Shop Of
Hall 19 Stand A31
www.littleshopof.co.uk
Little Shop Of developed the Little Book of Earrings to solve
the problem of how to store and carry your earrings safely and
securely at home or when travelling; helping globetrotters keep
their earrings in matching pairs. The Little Book of Earrings is
designed like a book with each of its four pages able to hold up
to 12 pairs of earrings, including clip ons and creoles. The pages
are padded and the fixing holes are off set to ensure the earrings
are held securely when the book is closed, preventing them from
becoming tangled and possibly damaged.
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Ambiente is a manufacturer
of printed paper napkins
and table top accessories
We have our own in house design team
and all paper products are manufactured
in our factory from FSC certified tissue on
flexographic presses .We are able to produce
designs from 1 to 9 colours in 25/33/40 cm
and offer a very speedy Private Label service.
Each year we produce 2 collections featuring
a variety of flower / plain embossed/lifestyle
designs with co-ordinating accessories such
as napkin holders ,tissues,candles, and fine
china gifts. At Ambiente quality and customer
care are the top priority and we offer a 4 day
delivery service.
Contact : Richard Weitzkorn 07956 -424482 richard@ambproducts.co.uk
Scottish Fair Hall 4H13 Spring Fair Hall 4 D42-E43
Exhibitor profiles
Talbot Fashions
Hall 19 Stand F21
www.talbotfashions.co.uk
Talbot Fashions will be showing off its spring/summer 2014
collection. Full of colour and vibrancy, the new collection comprises
beaded and enamel jewellery. Popular motifs include a crystalembellished seahorse, gecko and snakes, which are a Victorian
symbol of eternal love. Along with lockets, crosses, and sentiment
jewellery, the new launches are ideal for that special Mother’s
Day gift. Abalone jewellery, which Talbot has successfully sold for
more than 30 years, is still in great demand and the company is
always looking for and has found many new designs to add to its
collections of butterflies, dragonflies, hummingbirds, owls as well
as a Celtic collection of bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and
brooches. Children’s themes include pirates, skulls, fairies, princess
accessories, icon bracelets and polka dots in bright neon colours.
NOA Handcrafted Jewellery
Hall 19 Stand D29
www.noajewellery.com
NOA’s jewellery is one-of-a-kind, made in the UK and well priced. The
ceramics can be framed with cool aluminium, warm brass or sterling
silver. The large range of ceramic designs on offer makes it possible for
buyers to tailor collections to suite their own customers. Every pendant
can come with a matching pair of earrings and bracelet. Trade prices are
between £5 to £27. A trade catalogue with fabulous designs is available
on request from the company’s website.
Ronin Designs
Hall 19 Stand E05
www.ronindesigns.co.uk
At Spring Fair, Ronin
Designs will be
showing its full range of
British-made gemstone
jewellery, including three
new ranges for spring.
The company will be
offering a great value
starter pack for new
customers, so visit the
company’s stand to find
out more. All jewellery
is supplied gift boxed,
making it perfect for
Mother’s Day.
180 giftfocus
Apple Pie Jewelry
Hall 19 Stand G45
www.applepiejewelry.com
Apple Pie Jewelry is one
of America's leading
acrylic jewellery brands
and launched in the UK at
Harrogate Home & Gift
show last year. The brand’s
27 exclusive designs
are hand-made in laser cut acrylic and made with SWAROVSKI
ELEMENTS. Pieces are available as necklaces, hair bands, cuffs in
adult and kids sizes, ponytail holders, key chains, rings, etc. Low
opening orders, great margins and fast sell through create a
winning combination. The funky and fun jewellery appeals to all
ages and retails between £4.99 to £11.99.
Classic Canes
Hall 20 Stand J21
www.classiccanes.co.uk
Walking stick specialist
Classic Canes will launch a
spring 2014 collection of
new sticks and folding canes
at Spring Fair. Ladies’ beech
wood Derbys in delicate
shades of lavender, aqua and
peach will bring a modern
twist to a traditional style. A
very contemporary new
range includes acrylichandled canes in glamorous colours such as emerald and garnet. For
gentlemen, there are new collectors’ canes including a striking design
topped with a No. 8 pool ball, as well as macabre ivory and gold
resin skull designs. This is Classic Canes’ 25th consecutive Spring Fair, a
milestone that Managing Partner Diana Porter will be celebrating as she
will have been to all 25.
Mala Leather
Hall 20 Stand K20
www.malaleather.com
Building on the success of the Abertweed range, there will be
some new colour combinations and styles on show. This range is
made from 100 per cent British wool and soft, silky Nappa leather.
Each item can be made in any choice of tweed or tartan. Mala
Leather will also be exhibiting new additions to the Poppy Cat
range and has added more handbags added to the popular Lucy
range, featuring a fresh new, vibrant colour palette.
giftfocus 181
stop press
Last but not least some latest news from
exhibitors hot off the press
The Healthy Back
Bag Company
Hall 20 Stand J19
www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk
Spring/summer sees more
than 25 new bags added to
the Healthy Back Bag line-up,
featuring a mix of pastel hues,
vibrant carnival colours and
street-cool urban tones along
with new outdoor shoulder
bags and hi-tech sport bags.
Probably the world’s most
comfortable bag, the Healthy
Back Bag’s one-of-a-kind
patented shape contours to
your spine, rather than pulling
away from your body, making
a bag that looks great, is
comfortable for everyone to
wear and enables you to carry
weight safely.
Glebe Cottage
Hall 4 Stand K27
www.glebe-cottage.co.uk
Eco-friendly card company Glebe Cottage is launching a new collection
of black and white photographic cards featuring graphics inspired by
the British seaside. With images taken by Co-Director, Scott Morrish,
the new designs
look at people’s
love of the sea and
interaction with it.
The cards are blank
inside and printed
on 50 per cent
recycled paper. A
new 2015 calendar
is also planned to
complement the
range and will be
available to order
at Spring Fair.
182 giftfocus
The Balagan Group
Hall 18 Stand K28 - L29
www.balagan.co.uk
The Balagan Group will be showcasing new designs across its varied
portfolio of collections at Spring Fair. Expect fresh styles from Studio,
Vintage, The Early Bird, 345Wrap, AnyWhichWay, Kaolin, No Beads No
Glory, Narrate and the award-winning range, One Wish. With products
predominantly made from sterling silver, the label offers delicate,
feminine pieces with a real fashion edge. New packaging and displays
will be unveiled on the stand, alongside hundreds of fresh of-themoment designs.
Ambiente Europe
Hall 4 Stand D42 - E43
www.ambiente.eu
Ambiente is a manufacturer of printed paper napkins and table
top accessories.
The company has its own in-house design team and all paper
products are manufactured in its factory from FSC-certified tissue
on flexographic presses. Ambiente is able to produce designs from
one to nine colours in 25cm, 33cm and 40cm and offers a very
speedy private label service. Each year it produces two collections
featuring a variety of flower, plain embossed and lifestyle designs
with co-ordinating accessories such as napkin holders, tissues,
candles, and fine china gifts. At Ambiente, quality and customer care
are the top priority, and it offers a four-day delivery service.
all the answers
Our experts tackle your retail-related queries
Q
Vhari Russell is Founder of The Food Marketing Expert,
a group of experts passionate about developing,
creating and growing businesses. The company can help
you grow and develop your business, increase your
sales, and drive your brand forward with minimal cost.
T: +44 (0)7769 683 020 or send an email to:
ask@thefoodmarketingexpert.co.uk
Yolanda Artal is the Founder and Managing Director of
Poltsa, a supplier of fashion accessories. Born in Spain,
who's lived in the UK for more than 20 years. Her love
for eclectic designs led her to establish her own fashion
label, working with selected Spanish designer/makers. In
2010 she opened her own boutique in Surrey. Contact
Yolanda on T: +44 (0)20 8393 6010 or
E: yolanda@poltsa.co.uk
Tom Syes has been with Xystos since the company’s
launch, starting as Operations Director, responsible for
product development, sourcing, supply chain and logistics including management of the warehouse. Five years
ago after restructuring, Tom was appointed General
Manager, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the
business.
T: +44 (0)191 4991 570 or E: tomsykes@xystos.co.uk
Stephanie Jerome is the Founder of the Intelligent
Retail Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) programme
and has optimised many retail websites over the years.
She is closely tapped into the UK and worldwide
SEO community and conducts her own research into
techniques as a specialist in SEO for e-commerce and
retail. T: +44 (0)1635 517 923 or
E: sjerome@intelligentretail.co.uk for more information.
If you have any questions about any aspect of the gift retail industry, simply write to:
Q&A special, Gift Focus magazine, Pantile House, Newlands Drive, Witham, Essex,
CM8 2AP. Alternatively, send your queries to: editor@giftfocus.com
Introducing food in-store
I’d like to introduce a small display of food into my
gift shop. How can I best display it to help drive new
customers into my shop?
Vhari says: Don’t be afraid of stocking food – it can open
up so many new opportunities. I’d suggest you add some
empty packs to your window display; most suppliers would
be happy to help. Here are some pointers to help you out:
• Create an eye-catching display in context with the season
or occasion.
• Provide your customers with a complete gift solution at
a glance.
• Offer samples. Giving away a few tasting samples can
create a real buzz.
• Use your newsletter and social media to mention your
new products and that you will be sampling.
• Producers/suppliers love to see displays including their
products so don’t forget to take a photo and tweet them.
Communicate in store that it’s new.
• Add POS with suggestions, such as ‘A perfect thank you
gift’ or ‘Do you know someone with a sweet tooth in need
of a treat?’
• Social media is a great way to get new customers into
your shop.
• Contact your local press, especially if the range of
food you’re stocking is local or seasonal and ties in with
Christmas or Valentine’s Day as they may want to feature it
in their gift guide.
• Keep the range tight to begin with and don’t try too many
different product groups.
• If, for example, you have a Christmas tree in your window
why not add candy canes and some chocolates under the
tree? Add parcel tags to them with messages like ‘I’m new,
why not give me for Christmas?’
Q
A
q&a
Sourcing hand-made products
Q
A
What are the benefits of sourcing hand-made
products from overseas rather than made in
the UK?
Yolanda says: In the last few years we’ve seen a
revival of the arts and crafts movement in the
UK. Hand-made is no longer just found at craft
fairs and local markets, but a very powerful
tag that your customers expect to find in their
local gift shops and boutiques as well as in
high-street stores.
If you’re already sourcing UK hand-made
products, you already know how well these
wares perform in your shop. These can range
from small things such as hand-made cards,
jewellery, chocolates and fudge to larger items
such as paintings and furniture, not forgetting
handbags and clothing in between. Get the
quality-design-price balance right and your
customers will come back for more.
But why stop here? Many other countries
also have excellent artisans with magnificent
skills and traditions dating back hundreds of
years. Bulgaria offers fantastic ceramics, and
Spain and Italy are famous for their leather
work. When sourcing overseas:
• Be different – you’re setting yourself apart
from the rest as you’re offering something
that your customers might not be able to find
anywhere else.
• Price – as you might be offering something
different in your area, you might be able to
apply a higher mark up that will reflect your
extra efforts sourcing these products. Price
doesn’t need to be an issue, as your customers
recognise the value of hand-made products
and they won’t want to compromise quality
and design over price.
• EU – source within the EU and you won’t
have to worry about import duties or any
extra paperwork. If you’re VAT registered,
you won’t even have to pay the VAT in that
country (more information is available on the
HMRC website). You can also buy from small
UK-based suppliers like Poltsa that specialise in
hand-made leather products from Spain. This
benefits the local economy as your money
doesn’t leave the UK and ensures the overseas
makers receive a fair price for their work and
can continue using old local traditions.
• Tell your customers about these overseas
products; perhaps you can even create an
event around their country of origin? Lastly,
don’t forget to tell the local press.
Source overseas hand-made products as
well as UK hand-made pieces to reap all the
benefits of the current trend. These benefits
might include exclusivity, higher margins,
press exposure and most importantly,
customer satisfaction.
a problem.
While many customers purchase candles
regularly, they’re also a pick-up buy, so if it’s
possible to position one of these near the till,
that will undoubtedly drive sales.
Another way to boost business is to feature
a particular candle brand in your window:
in the case of WoodWick you may wish to
highlight the seasonal products you have inside
the shop or focus on the candle of the month.
Google+ accounts
Is there any point to having a Google+
account for my business?
Stephanie says: Google continues to be a
lifeline for many small businesses, providing
most of the traffic that drives its sales. Google
has certainly been making the most of this
power and recently made changes which
require us to use the Google Adwords system
to pay for traffic that was previously free
(Google Shopping) and even simply to use its
Keyword tool.
While these sorts of things can rub us up
the wrong way, it still makes sense to use the
tools and applications it has made available
to help your website succeed. One of those
things is Google+, its own social network.
The general consensus of SEO experts is
that social signals are only going to increase
in their influence to rank your website, and
it just isn’t viable anymore to ignore Twitter,
Facebook or Google+. Getting involved in
those networks will have a rapid positive effect
on customer acquisition and retention, and
long term it’s going to have an impact on your
stead in Google.
You will have a personal Google+ profile
automatically applied to your account, but
while signed in to that you can create a
separate business account by going to:
www.google.com/+/business/. It would be
better to use a business account for integration
with your website, unless you’re happy with a
personal profile being associated with it.
Additionally, you can use Google Authorship
with a Google+ account to claim blog posts
and other articles you’ve written, which further
increase your importance to Google and in
turn helps your website. An excellent article
which details this further can be found here:
www.socialmediaexaminer.com/google-plusfor-business g
Q
A
A
Candle displays
I’m considering introducing a line of candles
and home fragrance products into my store
but have fairly limited space. What would be
the best way of displaying these effectively?
Tom says: Because there’s a plethora of such
products in the marketplace – not all of them
of great quality – we would recommend that
you use the point of sale material offered
by well known brands such as WoodWick,
Ribbonwick, Trapp and Aquiesse to not only
maximise the space that you have but also to
boost sales.
This includes a range of display units – some
of which are illuminated – to suit the size of
the store, so having a small retail outlet is not
Q
A
retailer interview
perfect pair
Vicki Purnell, owner of Purnell Jewellery, teamed up with Terry and Irene Chandler, owners of
Powell Home Fashion, to open Purnell & Powell in July 2013 in the heart of Coulsdon, Surrey
What’s your career background?
Vicki: I’ve been in the jewellery trade for 15
years, starting out at DeBeers as a diamond
sorter and, after gaining a degree in Jewellery,
Silversmithing and Allied Crafts at Sir John Cass,
London I worked at a number of companies
in various areas of the London jewellery trade,
from supply and manufacturing to design and
commission work. My work has been featured
in a number of high profile exhibitions in the
UK and Japan. I’m very passionate about the
jewellery trade and making sure my clients
are involved in each stage of a project. Purnell
Jewellery was established in 2009 with its
permanent home, Purnell & Powell opening
in 2013.
Terry and Irene: Our background is in
engineering, manufacturing, senior transport
management and general business owners.
What made you decide to go into business
together with your shop?
We decided to go into business together for
a couple of reasons. In the financial climate
of the time it was more viable for both
companies to go in together. This has proved a
great success as our customers love the variety
we’re able to provide as a joint venture.
Also, home fashions, gifts and jewellery tie in
very nicely together, giving the shop a great
USP and the customer a varied choice.
When did you open your shop and what was
your inspiration for doing it?
Purnell & Powell was opened in July 2013 and
is the combination of two companies, Purnell
Jewellery and Powell Home Fashion. Our
inspiration came from trying to bring new
ideas and high quality products to the local
area. We wanted to encourage the community
to shop locally and support local business.
What items do you sell and from which
companies?
Vicki: Purnell Jewellery sells work by UKbased jewellery designers, Odette, Rebecca
Steiner, Ellen Monaghan and Julia Burness and
Purnell. We also offer a commission service
for wedding and engagement rings and onsite
repairs and one-off pieces.
Terry and Irene: Our products are sourced
from all over the world. We stock items from
Sia, Pairfum, Azeti and Ruby Ruth among
others. We also source stunning one-off pieces
ourselves for unusual additions to the home.
What’s your best-selling product?
Vicki: My best-selling products are hand-crafted,
one-off commissions such as wedding and
engagement rings.
giftfocus 187
perfect pair
Terry and Irene: Our best-selling products
are our candle, doorstop and Azeti ranges.
Please describe the interior and layout of
your shop.
Vicki: Our shop is divided into two
environments. We have Powell home
accessories in the front of the shop. The decor
is very contemporary and open with plinths
and niche alcoves to contain our products. Our
aim is to heighten the senses with room scents,
effective lighting and selective music to create
an ambient shopping experience. At the rear
of the shop we have Purnell Jewellery with
a contemporary and welcoming commission
area and jewellery workshop, giving the
customer the feeling of being involved in the
project to create their dream item to wear.
How often do you change your window
displays and why?
We change our window displays once a week.
The reason for this being that the window is
the main focal point for customers looking
in from the outside. We merchandise our
products into theme and colour.
Do you have any plans to expand or buy
other shops?
Our shop would work very well in other high
streets around the UK. Due to our pricing we
are able to offer one-of-a-kind items at very
competitive rates.
What’s next for Purnell & Powell?
This year will be a year which sees us building
on the great start that we’ve made in 2013.
We feel we have every chance of expansion
due to the appealing products that we stock. g
188 giftfocus
For further information, visit
www.purnelljewellery.co.uk and
www.powellhomefashion.co.uk
New Spring 2014 collection now in stock
Designed in Scotland
Next day delivery
Phone 0141 572 7297
sales@rosared.co.uk
www.rosaredtrade.co.uk
See us at
Spring Fair
Stand
18C66
If you’ve enjoyed reading Gift Focus
magazine, why not log onto our website
at www.giftfocus.com? Containing
up-to-the-minute news, events and
special offers, the site is updated
regularly with information to help you
advance your business.
Find a supplier
The latest feature on www.giftfocus.com,
the supplier directory allows you to
contact advertisers in the magazine for
more information about their products
or services. Simple to use and available
world-wide 24 hours a day, the supplier
directory is a reader reply service for the
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Special features
• Featured articles
Read our regularly updated spotlighted
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190 giftfocus
190 giftfocus
Since 1922 Nutscene have been producing fine quality twines in
Scotland. Renowned to both gardeners and crafters, Nutscene offers a
large and colourful range of bio-degradable jute twine, raffia and garden
giftware. Our design-led range is developed in-house and utilises natural
materials such as jute, FSC wood, British slate and English Terracotta.
Nutscene is also the home of the iconic Sheila Maid® ceiling clothes airer.
Contact us for a trade catalogue today - sales@nutscene.com
www.nutscene.com
Nutscene (1922) Ltd
+44(0)1307 468589
design protection
Dids MacDonald, CEO of Anti-Copying in Design (ACID), advises how
to protect your designs
New design or product launch?
In a tough competitive market, launching
new, innovative designs is a key differentiator
and an integral part of brand development
to stay ahead of the game. I hope I can help
answer for you. But how do you protect
your designs from the ‘me-too’ or deliberate
copying challenge and how do you ensure that
bringing your tradable intellectual property
UK Registered
Designs
How do I obtain
registration?
Register at
Intellectual Property
Office –
www.ipo.gov.uk
to market will earn you the rewards as the
originator? How can you maximise the return
on investment made in bringing a new product
or design to market and is it protectable? How
do you go about it, what are the criteria for
protection and what’s the cost of registration?
How can you protect your next must-have
design? What is ACID Marketplace?
Firstly, have you got your IP house
in order?
One of the first things to do it to create
a simple proactive IP strategy positively
communicated internally and externally and
throughout the whole supply chain. Basically, if
you don’t want to be copied, say so!
There’s no better place than on a website,
within terms and conditions, marketing
UK Unregistered
Design (UDR
Registered
Community
Design
Unregistered
Community
Design
Automatic, no need
to register. Consider
ACID Marketplace,
Design Databank
Register through
OHIM at
www.oami.europa.eu
Automatic, no need
to register. Consider
ACID Marketplace,
Design Databank
Automatic, no need
to register. Consider
ACID Marketplace,
Design Databank
UK Copyright
How long does
protection last?
25 years
15 years from date
design first published
25 years
3 years
70 years after
death of originator
or 25 years if
designs made by an
industrial process
Type of
protection
Monopoly
Exclusive right
against copying.
Licence available for
last five years
Monopoly
Exclusive right
against copying
Exclusive right
against copying
Can I renew?
Yes, every five
years
No
Yes, every five
years
No
No
What does it
protect?
Overall appearance
of the design
excluding technical
features.
The shape or
configuration of
the whole or part
of the article.
Surface design not
protected.
Overall appearance
of the design
excluding technical
features.
Overall appearance
of the design
excluding technical
features.
An artwork,
craftwork, a work
of architecture or a
model for a building.
Copyright protects
design drawings,
but doesn’t prevent
anyone making
articles based on the
design drawings.
What are the
criteria for
protection?
A design must
be new and not
identical to an
existing design and
have individual
character.
A design must be
original, not copied
from an existing
design and not
commonplace.
A design must
be new and not
identical to an
existing design and
have individual
character.
A design must
be new and not
identical to an
existing design and
have individual
character.
192 giftfocus
A design must be
original and not
copied from an
existing work.
material and product labelling.
Identify where you’re trading and what are the risk factors. If your
designs are infringed in another country, where is your IP support? Have
you registered your designs in that country? For example, to take legal
action in China you need to have registered your designs. Create an IP
portfolio of your design and trademark registrations, and if you employ
anyone ensure there are restrictions in their contract of employment.
There’s nothing worse than finding out that an ex-employee has run
off with all your valuable trade secrets to arm a competitor with a fast
track to your know-how. Guard your trade secrets carefully. Ensure that
there’s a confidentiality protocol in place to ensure that your business
isn’t compromised. Create confidentiality agreements for sensitive
information between you and any employees privy to this information.
If you have a good idea for a new product, keep it safe. Never
underestimate the risks of sharing a good idea unless you know there
are safeguards. If the safeguards are in place then the idea can turn into
positive design collaboration that can be mutual advantageous and
successful for both parties.
Register for protection
There are different kinds of protection that may apply to designs.
Register new designs wherever possible and budget for enforcement.
ACID’s Design Databank for unregistered designs continues as part of
ACID Marketplace for ACID members. This doesn’t add to IPRs, but
nevertheless serves as compelling evidence as independent third party
proof of the existence of a design when it is received by ACID.
• UK Registered Designs (you pay to register, £60)
• UK Unregistered Design right (free and they arise automatically)
• Registered Community Designs (you pay to register – visit
www.oami.europe.eu for costs)
• Unregistered Community Designs (free and they arise automatically)
• Copyright (free and arises automatically)
What is ACID Marketplace and how can I launch new
products more safely?
It’s a UK first! Consider launching your new designs on ACID
Marketplace and inviting your independent retailers and retail buyers
to view them in a safer trading environment. Recently launched, this is
an exciting new online trading portal and conduit between designers
and design buyers. The majority of members send their designs into the
ACID Design Databank, which is confidential and unseen by anyone.
With ACID Marketplace, members now have the option of expanding
their markets with a 24-hour online exhibition zone, either by showing
their designs by invitation or opening them for all design buyers to view.
Alternatively, if members wish to keep their new designs confidential
like the original Design Databank, that option is also still open – the best
of all worlds. Members will have the safety of knowing that all design
buyers who want to see their new product ranges will first have to
register and sign in support of the ACID Design Buyers’ Charter, an open
demonstration of best practice in design buying. All design viewings are
tracked and recorded on the member’s personal profile. g
Further information
For more information, visit www.acid.uk.com
once you pop
Are pop-ups what we need to revive our high street? Vhari Russell, Founder of The Food
Marketing Expert, poses the question and visits Whisk Hamper’s pop-up shop at Somerset
House in London
One of our clients, Whisk Hamper, recently
opened the doors to its first pop-up shop. As
you would expect, this was done with both
excitement and trepidation. The brand opened
its pop-up at Somerset House as part of the
festive Skate event, which is on for 10 weeks
from November to January. This made us
question, should the high street support more
pop-up shops?
Pop-ups are becoming more popular
and offer brands and retailers the perfect
opportunity to move from online to
physical retail space. Are they the answer to
rejuvenating our high street? Yes, they’re quite
possibly a key factor in helping get traffic back
to our high streets. Offering retail space at an
affordable rate for an agreed duration and
enabling a new retailer to launch can only be a
good thing.
We also discussed pop-ups with Emma
Jones, Co-Founder of StartUp Britain, who says:
“We’re witnessing record numbers of start-ups
in the UK. Many of these are people running
online retail operations from home. The
interesting thing we’ve noticed is that despite
being online, they need to have a physical
presence in the real world in order to drive
social media content and learn traditional retail
lessons, like is their brand any good?
“Our own report into pop-up retailing
revealed 82 per cent of new retail businesses
consider the pop-up experience to be essential
in building a new brand.”
Whisk Hamper’s journey to the point of
opening has been an accelerating adventure
and the key points they’d recommend to any
one embarking on a pop-up are as follows:
• Hire the right staff – invest in people with
retail experience
194 giftfocus
“Your pop-up is your
opportunity to be heard
and gain new customers;
make the most of it. We’re
really enjoying the reactions
our shop is getting and it’s
wonderful to meet customers
face to face again.”
Paul Medhurst, Founder of
Whisk Hampers.
• Fully understand who your demographic is
and what their buying triggers are
• Don’t just use your shop to sell; run a
competition to win a monthly prize to increase
the size of your database
• Speak to other retailers around you to
understand the busy points in the day
• Allow your staff the freedom to develop your
displays and shop
• Work with someone like Eve Reid at
Metamorphosis to highlight how you can
attract customers to your store and how the
space can work for you.
• Buy the shop fittings so it doesn’t look
temporary and offers the wow factor.
• Plan how your customer will recognise you –
think about your branding.
• Vinyl graphics are a must and really get the
message across. g
Helpful links for anyone opening a
pop-up shop:
www.wbc.co.uk/products/retail-display
www.metamorphosisgroup.co.uk
www.popupbritain.com
www.wearepopup.com
For more information about The Food
Marketing Expert, visit
www.thefoodmarketingexpert.co.uk
bookshelf
We turn the page on some of the latest gift
books to hit the shelves
Big Appetites
by Christopher
Boffoli
RRP: £8.99
Format: Paperback
ISBN:
9780761176411
Christopher Boffoli
indulges childhood
imagination in Big
Appetites by placing hand-painted figurines
in scenarios involving real food. Each scenario is accompanied by
humorous and starkly truthful captions about these tiny people in
everyday situations. A fun book for all food lovers.
Visit www.workman.com
The Bluffer’s Guide to Cars by Martin Gurdon
RRP: £6.99
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1909365803
Written by automotive
guru, Martin Gurdon,
Bluffer’s readers can
instantly acquire all the
knowledge needed to
pass as an expert in
the world of cars. The
Bluffer’s Guide to Cars
is the latest edition in
the iconic five-millionbest-selling series, which
boasts 22 titles. A must
read for anyone who
claims to be a car expert,
and is guaranteed to
make you smile.
Visit www.bluffers.com
196 giftfocus
Caketails – Intoxicating Cupcakes for Grown-Ups
by Jill Collins and Natalie Saville
RRP: £12.99
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1908202161
Written by Jill Collins and Natalie Saville, owners of The Great Little
Cake Company, this book is full of fun cupcake recipes based on
cocktails. The cupcakes are packed with alcohol, and are a deliciously
decadent adult-only treat. Each cupcake has been specially created to
offer an explosion of flavours that capture some of the most popular
party cocktails around, including Strawberry Daiquiri, Bellini, Sex on
the Beach, Cosmopolitan, Martini, Mojito, Bloody Mary and Mulled
Wine. Each caketail comes with three novel decorating ideas, from
Valentine’s Day romance and summer sun to Christmas festivities,
exploring quick and easy designs to more intricate ones.
Visit www.chefmagazine.co.uk/bookshop
All The Songs – The Story Behind Every Beatles
Release by Philippe Margotin and
Jean-Michel Guesdon
RRP: £35
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781579129521
All The Songs is sure to keep any Beatles fan
happy for hours. This mammoth publication
is a record of every song ever released by
The Beatles, from Please Please Me (1962) to
The Long Winding Road (1970). Weighing more
than 2.5kg, its packed with 600 photographs
ranging from rare black and white publicity
stills to intimate colour shots of the fab four
in the studios. The authors delve deeply into the history and musical
origins of all 215 Beatles songs, recounting the circumstances that led to
the composition of each one, the recording process and the instruments
used. It’s packed with trivia, tales and even discrepancies and mistakes in
song recordings to listen out for.
Visit www.blackdogandleventhal.com
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
7,292* total average
net circulation, then call
Sharon Connelly on
01376 535 607or email
sharonc@giftfocus.com
For more information visit
www.abc.org.uk or email
info@abc.org.uk
Subscribe to Gift Focus
Fill in the form below to receive a regular copy
of your favourite magazine.
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
show previews
British Craft Trade Fair &
London Stationery Show
home grown
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who's the daddy?
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Please tick one or more of the boxes below which
best describe your business
Independent Gift Shop
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£250,001 - £1,000,000
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at www.giftfocus.com.
198 giftfocus
Issue 82
March/April 2014
Available from: 10th March 2014
Advertising
deadline:
21st February, 2014
• Gift of the
Year winners
• Women’s
fashion gems
• Plush toys
competition
WIN!
A Yo Sox! display stand from Joe Davies
worth more than £900 RRP
In focus – Joe Davies
With more than 8,000 sensibly priced lines in its collection, Joe
Davies has the UK’s largest selection of giftware for the independent
retailer. Brands include its own exclusive Shudehill Giftware
Collection, snoozies!®, Equilibrium and the famous Leonardo
Collection, of which Joe Davies is the UK’s number one distributor.
Everything is available in modest quantities and sensible
assortments, with all orders over £100 delivered carriage free,
anywhere in mainland Great Britain. Re-ordering is quick and easy
with the company’s trademark little and often ordering system.
As you would expect from a company that values service highly,
one of its proudest achievements was being voted winner of the
Great Best Service to the Independent Retailer Award 11 times by its
customers – that’s every year since its inception!
What’s available for 2014
Joe Davies will launch more than 2,000 brand new lines for spring/
summer in fashion gifts, jewellery, home décor, general giftware and
occasion gifts. One of the most exciting launches at Spring Fair this
February will be a completely new brand of funky socks called Yo Sox!
With socks being bang on trend, the brand follows closely on from
the company’s huge success with snoozies!®, cosy little foot coverings.
The full range will be on display at Spring Fair in Hall 5 Stand C30.
With a huge range of products and fresh innovative brands all backed
up with great prices and service, Joe Davies is a must-see supplier.
For more information on Joe Davies products, call T +44 (0)161
975 6300 or visit www.joedavies.co.uk g
HOW TO ENTER
To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic
prize, simply answer the following question:
What is the name of Joe Davies’ brand new
funky sock collection?
The winner will receive a Yo Sox! display stand
from Joe Davies worth more than £900 RRP.
Enter online at www.giftfocus.com before the closing date of 10th
March, 2014.
Terms and conditions apply.
Joe Davies operates a stockist policy – the winner will be the first eligible entry drawn
giftfocus 199
product showcase
We reveal some of this season’s hottest gifts
Novelty Flamingo Pens
Great British Dogs
Building on last year’s success, our flamingo pens have …
graduated! There are also two more new designs and
the two best sellers from
last year returning. Fluffy
and outrageously colourful,
the Flamingo Pens come in
display packs of 24. See them
along with many more new
products at Spring Fair Hall 5,
Stand J51.
Great British Dogs is the new gift
range from the fabulous illustrations
of Alice Tait. Extending the Alice
Tait brand even further to new
products as well as new design. See
all of Alice’s great ranges as well as
Red Bus, Money and more in Hall 5
Stand 74A at Spring Fair.
For more information
T: +44 (0)1635 297 911
W: www.clereconcepts.co.uk E: info@clereconcepts.co.uk
New Happy Jackson for SS14
We have teamed up with Giles Andreae
again to produce a bright collection for
spring/summer. There are new versions
of old favourites like the mugs and
notebooks plus brand new concepts
such as travel mugs, lip balms, magnets,
manicure set, kitchenware and lots
more…in total over 50 new skus!
T: +44(0)1225 789 909 or
E: sales@wildandwolf.com
W: www.wildandwolf.com
For more information
T: +44 (0)1494 474 037
W: www.templeisland.com
E: sales@templeisland.com
Wooden Pens and Desktop Accessories
Among our most popular lines are wooden pens and desk top
accessories. This year we are
adding several new boxed pens
and pen sets. The single boxed
pen/stand (pictured) is available
with three pen designs. This
is just one of the new ranges
being introduced or updated
for the new year. All will be on
display at Spring Fair Hall 5,
Stand J51.
For more information
T: +44 (0)1635 297 911
W: www.clereconcepts.co.uk E: info@clereconcepts.co.uk
Bank Note Wallet
Gruffalo
Our fun £50 note wallet will
make an ideal gift for any big
spender. Give as a gift or an I.O.U!
You also don’t have to put any
money inside as there is a £50
bank note already printed on the
cover! It comes in a presentation
box ready to give. Also see our
Penny Purse Clasp Purse and £1
Zip Purse too.
We have a charming new
collection of children’s art and
craft activities such as chalks,
height chart and crayons with
more to come later on this
year! With beautiful detail and
carefully designed packaging
these are brilliant for creative
little hands.
For more information
T: +44 (0)1494 474 037 W: www.templeisland.com
E: sales@templeisland.com
T: +44(0)1225 789 909 or
E: sales@wildandwolf.com
W: www.wildandwolf.com
Go by Bus!
Stress Less and go by bus is our advice. Our squeezy stressless
Bus is the latest fun product in the Original London Red Bus
range. Other new items
this year are water bottle,
magnetic notepad and laptop
case. Red Bus continues to
grow in popularity across the
world. See the full range at
Spring Fair in hall 5 stand A74.
For more information
T: +44 (0)1494 474 037
W: www.templeisland.com
E: sales@templeisland.com
The new Big Ages birthday range
The Big Ages birthday range from The Personalised Memento
Company complements it’s ever-growing range of exciting
gifts for every occasion of the year. Personalised with an age
and a name, they’re the perfect
way to toast the occasion. The
range includes personalised mugs,
chocolate bars, pint and wine
glasses. Many of the gift ranges
supplied by PMC are personalised
and despatched in 24 hours
making them the ideal gift even
for the last minute shopper!
Spring Fair Hall 5 L20 M21
For more information, visit
W: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk
Borough sign cushions
Exclusive to Heaven Sends, these quirky designer cushions are
inspired by iconic London Borough signs. Designer, Samantha Morris
has put a twist on words
and you can’t help but
smile when you discover an
‘Utterly brilliant fabulously
attractive couple live here’ in
the borough of togetherness.
Your customers are bound
to relate to one of them and
they’re the perfect addition
to any living room.
For more information
T: +44 (0)121 351 7457 W: www.heavensends.com
International Greetings brings crackers to
the everyday market
Who says crackers are just for Christmas? The fun and
excitement that a cracker brings to a child is now available
all year round! Our new Disney Party
Crackers are the perfect addition to
the party table, designed to match the
Disney party ware ranges. Available in
boxes of eight, each cracker contains
a snap, party hat, stickers and joke.
Available now in Toys R Us selected
stores.
RSP £2.99.
For more information
W: www.internationalgreetings.co.uk
E: mbutchart@ig-uk.com
Angelic Hens
Angelic Hen’s ‘awfully posh’ new products are ideal for the
aspiring lord and lady of the manor. So too are the Witty signs,
big pegs, jewellery holders, jolly
useful key rings and clever chalk
boards. Experts in Pegnology
(the science of pegs) and rather
good at designing for men and
teenagers. Beautifully British
designs that have been inspired by
life and designed from experience.
Welsh language and bespoke
products available.
For more information
T: +44 (0)1600 891 572 W: www.angelic-hen.co.uk
E: customerservices@angelichen.com
To advertise here telephone
Sharon Connelly
on +44 (0)1376 535 607
www.giftfocus.com
The UK’s leading magazine
for the giftware industry
and relax...
SOAK Yourself and the concept of the Bath
Ritual Recipe Kit was brought to life in 2012
by busy city professional Jackie Hope, who
dreamed of escaping the rat race
In March 2012, after many years of dreaming
about and developing the concept of SOAK
Yourself, Jackie Hope finally launched her
ideal business.
“The product was ready to go to market
in October 2012, but we’ve been tweaking
bits here and there since then. I launched the
business after years of ideas and dreams, and
felt that if I didn’t just go for it I’d never do it,”
explains Jackie.
At the time, Jackie was working in the
city as a Commercial Building Surveyor and
wasn’t happy. “It wasn’t what I wanted from
life. The idea of the Bath Ritual Recipe Kit
grew stronger as I witnessed the long hours
everyone around me were working. I was also
commuting four hours a day and had no life
whatsoever. I had no energy to even connect
with my husband when I got home, and on
top of this I was expected to study for an
impending exam. I just decided it was now
or never, and went ahead creating a product
which I hoped would bring some joy to
people’s lives.”
Jackie’s background in marketing helped
202 giftfocus
her achieve her dream. The design, packaging,
copy writing, and branding is all a product of
her marketing days. “I left marketing in 2004 to
study for a degree, something I always felt I was
lacking. I decided on construction as I’ve always
been interested in buildings and architecture. I
didn’t finish school and proceeded to have my
son very early, so I knew I had missed out on
an education. I was a bit of a rebel, and always
will be to some degree!”
The brand’s USP is that it uses all natural
ingredients in its products. Jackie also tries to
source as much from the UK as she can. “Our
Bath Ritual Recipe Kits come with permission
to take time out for yourself. They aren’t just
smellies in a box. Each kit is designed to be
an experience and a ritual, and comes with
instructions which not only guide the user on
how to draw the bath, but gently entice them
into a more happy and relaxed state of mind.
We include everything one needs for a guiltfree soak, including tea bags to make a relaxing
cup of tea. Our products are completely
hand-made. We cut every ribbon, tie every
bow and hand-pack each item. You can see,
smell and feel the luxury of the product. Even
our lovely boxes are hand-made in England.”
There are currently seven different Bath
Ritual Recipe Kits in two sizes: Feeling Groovy
SOAK, Love SOAK, Remedy SOAK, Muscle
SOAK, Blanche the Blues SOAK, Full Moon
SOAK and the Broken Heart SOAK. “Creating
the seven different recipes was a lot of fun but
also challenging. There are so many elements
to each recipe, and I wanted to get the mix
of benefits, colours and aromas just right. We
also have a range of 100 per cent natural,
hand-made artisan soaps and there are 17 in
total. We have a new range of soaps coming
out in the first quarter of next year. I’m very
excited about that.”
Jackie takes inspiration from day-to-day life.
She enjoys nature and would prefer to be
outdoors most of the time. “I also just love
aesthetics and colour and a lot of my decisions
are based on how something looks to me, and
in turn how that feels to me. So much of what
I’ve developed with this product came about
by just playing with different ideas and colours.”
The Feeling Groovy SOAK is the brand’s
best-seller. This is a generic relaxation kit
available in two sizes, original and small. In
January to February the Love SOAK is the
best-seller in time for Valentine’s Day.
Other products are already in the pipeline.
“Our logo lends itself to many possibilities.
I have a lot of ideas in the offing, the first of
which will be face and body cream, as well as
massage oils.”
SOAK Yourself is stocked in big names such
as Fortnum & Mason, Blue Diamond Group
and the Four Seasons Hotel Group. “These are
amazing opportunities for us, but we consider
the independents to be hugely important to
us as our goal as a company is to ultimately
be helping people to make a living from
doing something they love. People who are
passionate about their little retail unit are the
ones we target.”
Jackie is currently developing a range of new
products, but for now the details are being
kept firmly under wraps. g
For more information, visit
www.soakyourself.co.uk