Christmas in February 2021 by Lema Publishing

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Christmas in February The UK’s only Christmas decoration trade magazine

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Regulars Leader page

HTA Update

News

What can we learn from last Year? Freelance consultant to the garden Industry Andy Campbell answers that question and also highlights the various area winners of the Christmas ‘Greats’ annual competition

Step Back in Time

Five

GIVE ME FIVE An opportunity to view and order from a selection of Christmas and Seasonal companies

Features Seven years with National Tree Norfolk Leisure approach their seventh Year with this American Christmas Tree specialist

What a year it’s been Premier’s John Athwal OBE brings readers up-to-date on the company’s plans and products

Dutch company Dijk give us a flavour Of their 2021 offering

Bigger, Better and Brighter than ever Festive Light’s Matt Higginson tells all About their Italian lighting range ‘Twinkly’

Publisher: Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk Features Editor:

Give Me

Sarah Welsh

Production Director: Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk Layout: Rick Vickers rick@lemapublishing.co.uk Circulation: Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

Artcuts Crafted with Christmas Love

Shatchi They have it all wrapped up

Gisela Graham Ideas for a charming Christmas

Weiste/Morris May Four decades of Festive trading

Noma Ideas for a charming Christmas

Premier Decorations With many thousands of products that cover all categories in the Seasonal and Christmas product categories

Floralsilk The magic of a Natural Christmas

Konstsmide Five great product categories from this lighting expert

Lesser & Pavey Seasonal giftware

Heyland & Whittle An Eco collection of Reed Diffusers and Candles

Premier Halloween Turning market changes and challenges into opportunities

Jingles An innovative Christmas

32nd year of publication Published by: Lema Publishing Ltd 1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930 Email: info@lemapublishing.co.uk

www.christmasinjanuary.co.uk

The views of the contributors expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher. Comments, letters and criticism are welcome.

Contents

February 2021

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Leader 2021

s I write this Leader page in mid-February, I am encouraged by the daily reports of Covid cases falling along with those who have died from this horrible virus. The fact that the immunization effort has been so brilliantly organized by our government and health officials leads me to believe that better times are definitely around the corner. Just after we went to press with our January edition, I learnt that christmasworld had decided not to go ahead with their April dates. Hardly surprising bearing in mind that this is an international show with buyers and exhibitors from around the world exhibiting and attending the show. Very sad, but inevitable. I’m sure they will come back even stronger for 2022. Harrogate Christmas & Gift show is due to run from the 11th May and as we go to press the organisers have had some very good bookings for stand space. Of course much depends on how soon Boris and his chums remove the shackles that are hindering the exhibition business and much like the airline industry has led to all exhibition and conferences have to cancel their dates. I am always pleased to learn of a

British Christmas and Seasonal company who have not only survived the last 12 months of lockdown, but have found new customers to temporarily replace the business that they enjoyed from Scottish and American tourist centres along with various British heritage sites that had been forced to close during 2020. The company Artcuts not only make their products in the U.K. using quality materials from the likes of Liberty of London, but via Zoom and virtual displays

Harrogate Christmas & Gift show is due to run from the 11th May and as we go to press the organisers have had some very good bookings for stand space

have attracted plenty of new customers. Said founder and M.D. Derek Cox “We have been heartened by the amount of confirmed orders already for Christmas, proving that opportunities still exist to attract retailers looking to buy Britishmade products.” With no exhibitions in the early part of the year, our February edition has created a 24 page section – GIVE ME

FIVE – allowing seasonal companies the opportunity to highlight five themes, ranges or individual products that readers can order. Plenty of new ideas and designs have been put into these product ranges so please turn to page 23. Andy Campbell is a freelance independent business development consultant in the gardening industry at both the retail and production end of the supply chain. His article appears on page eight and includes the winners of the ‘Greatest Christmas’ awards for 2021. Elke Huttenhuis is known to our readers through her previous work with Kaemingk, Elke is now working with another Dutch company Dijk and on page 18 we highlight that company’s 2021 Seasonal ranges. I have had a number of calls asking whether we shall be organizing our annual golf day this year. The simple answer at the moment is that I am not too sure. Normally run in late June/early July, the jury’s still out on this one, but rest assured once we get the green light from the government I shall be in touch with everyone. Meanwhile, keep safe and let us all look forward to the lifting of these necessary lockdowns and a return to normal life both workwise and personally.

christmasinjanuary.co.uk Photo by Candis Hidalgo from Pexels

NEWS HTA

Growing Through the Pandemic With more than 1,400 members the Horticultural Trades Association is a key player in the garden retail industry, and has been supporting green-fingered businesses of all sizes during the Covid-19 crisis – as Sarah Welsh reports…

n one of the toughest years on record for retail, garden centres and retailers have held their own. In fact, one of the few things to flourish during the coronavirus pandemic has been a huge national interest in gardening. Consumers in their millions have embraced the myriad of benefits offered by getting outside, planting and potting, from the boost the pastime can give to mental health and general wellbeing, to the fact that its physically good for you. Which of course is good news for the garden retailers, manufacturers and suppliers who rely on the HTA for business support, training, market research, consumer promotions like the long-running National Garden Gift Voucher scheme and backing to develop their brands. Throughout the challenging months that followed the announcement of the first national lockdown in March, the horticulture trade sector has been doing anything but rest on its laurels. And in late November this included the HTA launching its pioneering ‘Sustainability Roadmap,’ leading the way in promoting sustainable business practices and efforts to reduce climate change.

6 christmas in february

The ground-breaking programme identified five key areas to place horticulture and landscaping at the forefront of environmental business practices, also setting ambitious targets to be met by 2025. These included plans for HTA members to reduce their carbon footprints and the stress their businesses place on the UK water supply, as well as developing industry-led solutions for the re-use and recycling of horticultural industry plastics. HTA Chairman, James Barnes, said: “Horticulture has an intrinsic connection to the environment – we are a community who cares about the natural world, and it’s in our interests to safeguard its future. “As a sector which contributes around £24bn to the UK’s GDP and supports over half a million jobs, we must demonstrate how we offer real opportunities for green employment and a more sustainable economy as the UK recovers from the impact of Covid.” Back at the start of the Covid crisis last spring, the HTA hit the ground running with its ‘Keep Britain Blooming’ media campaign, generating national press and broadcast coverage to highlight the crisis facing the garden industry and lobbying the Government to commit to reopening garden centres

in the first phase of easing of lockdown restrictions. The HTA worked with PR consultants the BIG Partnership on the campaign, using compelling statistics, experts and case studies to drive readers, viewers and traffic to the topic, resulting in wide-ranging media coverage from items on Sky News and the BBC to broadsheet articles. The campaign was also backed by more than 70 MPs, AMs and MSPs. In October this tenacity was rewarded when the HTA picked up the ‘best coronavirus crisis management’ award at the highly regarded PR Week Awards, for the Keep Britain Blooming campaign. “This award is great recognition of the huge work and effort put in by the whole industry to make this campaign so successful, and realise £250m back in to the industry at such a crucial time,” said James Clark, HTA Director of Policy and Communications. Following the success of Keep Britain Blooming, in July the HTA followed up with its ‘Keep Britain Growing’ campaign, designed to capitalise on the new wave of garden enthusiasts triggered by the Covid-19 outbreak. Content covering five main subject areas – including Grow Your Own, Beds and Borders

and Patios and Pots – was uploaded regularly to the website: keepbritaingrowing.co.uk, for use by both journalists and bloggers, as well as to help people learn more about gardening. And continuing to harness this growing leisure and retail trend is only set to continue in 2021. Looking back on the incredible year the horticulture industry has just lived, and worked, through, Chairman James Barnes, added: “The industry has arguably had both the best and worst of times in one short period. A disastrous start to the spring season, followed by the relief of seeing garden centres classified as essential retail and the huge growth in new gardeners, has been followed by uncertainty and concern as we face the postChristmas lockdown. Throughout it all it’s been heartening to see people pulling together. “The resilience and agility of the industry to cope with crisis and change has been immense. Notwithstanding the light at the end of the tunnel that the roll out of vaccinations has provided, the post-Covid, post-Brexit world will have brought some fundamental change to the way we all live, work and do business.” Visit: www.hta.org.uk, email: services@hta.org.uk or call: 0333 003 3550

christmasinjanuary.co.uk

NEWS

Alison Lloyd appointed Senior Buyer Home Décor

James Parr Joins Smart Board

With 30 years seasonal sourcing experience, Alison Lloyd brings a wealth of knowledge to the new position, Senior Buyer Home Décor at Premier. Alison will be known to many. Having started life as a retail buyer with Selfridges, and then moving to Christmas Crafts, building knowledge on the wholesale side of the business , and growing a strong affiliation to the Christmas industry . As one of the co -founders of The Paragon Collection, Alison was responsible for design at Paragon, as the lead in both product development, and product ranging across all seasonal categories. For some years, she has also worked alongside a number of major retailers developing bespoke product and own brands. Her commercial insight has been invaluable in working with customers across a number of market sectors. Following a spell with CCG , she joined Premier some 16 years ago , managing the Solo division, primarily handling own brand Product development and special sourcing for larger retailers. Alison has been part of the Premier team for some time , and now takes on the role as Senior buyer for Premier decorative product. Her experience, creativity, and vision will be a great asset, as Premier now look to significantly grow the decorative side of the business with an exciting 3 year plan to put the home décor business on a whole new level.

Smart Garden are delighted to announce the promotion of James Parr to their Board as National Accounts Director. James, 41, came to Smart in November 2013, soon after Paris Natar acquired the business. “I knew where this was going” said James, “so was over the moon when invited to join the team. As a former garden centre retailer myself, I relished the challenge of helping to build a vibrant garden centre business for Smart. The rest is history”. Jonathan Stobart, MD, commented: “James is universally liked and respected by customers and colleagues alike. He has consistently shown commercial insight, strategic thinking, energy, perseverance and, above all else, a fantastic sense of humour! This promotion forms part of our Company’s strategy to develop the next generation of Smart’s leaders.”.

While Britain locked down Gisela Graham carried on designing for 2021 AŜƂ΄ ĮƂĳƊƖőåƊ΄̇̅̇̆΄BĳƊĎŉå΄BƂåĮåő΄ĮåƊ΄ƶĮåƖ΄ĎƵĎƂƼŜœĎ ƶĳŉŉ΄ĀĎ΄ƊĎĎņĳœħ͙΄œŜƵĎŉƖƼ͜΄¢ĮĎ΄ŜǖĎƂƊ΄̆̊΄ƖĮĎőĎĈ΄āŜŉŉĎāƖĳŜœƊ΄ åœĈ΄őŜƂĎ΄ƖĮåœ΄̆̅̅̅΄œĎƶ΄ſƂŜĈƞāƖƊ͟ ÎŜƂņĳœħ΄ŉåƂħĎŉƼ΄ĦƂŜő΄ĮŜőĎ͚΄ƖĮĎ΄ĈĎƊĳħœ΄ƖĎåő΄ĮåƊ΄ĀĎĎœ΄ åĀŉĎ΄ƖŜ΄ĈĎĦƼ΄ŉŜāņĈŜƶœ͚΄ƖĮåœņƊ΄ƖŜ΄iåā͚΄Þtti͚΄AåāĎ¯ĳőĎ΄ åœĈ΄ĎőåĳŉƊ͟΄iĎåœƶĮĳŉĎ͚΄ƖĮĎ΄ ŜőſåœƼͽƊ΄̇̅̅Τ΄ƊƞſſŉĳĎƂƊ΄ƶĎƂĎ΄ Ďőåĳŉĳœħ΄ƖĮĎĳƂ΄Ŝƶœ΄ĈĎƊĳħœƊ͚΄ĦƂŜő΄ƶĮĳāĮ΄ƶĎ΄āŜƞŉĈ΄ĀƞĳŉĈ΄ āŜͲŜƂĈĳœåƖĎĈ΄āŜŉŉĎāƖĳŜœƊ͟΄ ¯ĮĎ΄ƖĎåő΄åŉƊŜ΄ĦŜƞœĈ΄ƖĳőĎ΄ƖŜ΄ſƞƖ΄ƖŜħĎƖĮĎƂ΄å΄œĎƶ΄̇̅̇̆΄¢ſƂĳœħ΄ ƂåœħĎ͟΄ ŉƞƊ΄œĎƶ΄ƂåœħĎƊ΄ĦŜƂ΄ƖĮĎ΄BĳƊĎŉå΄BƂåĮåő΄ĦåƊƖͲħƂŜƶĳœħ͚΄ ĦåƊƖͲƊĎŉŉĳœħ͚΄ĎƵĎƂƼĈåƼ΄ĮŜőĎͥĳœƖĎƂĳŜƂ΄ħĳĦƖ΄ƊĎāƖĳŜœ͟ BĳƊĎŉå΄BƂåĮåőͽƊ΄͚̉̊̅̅ͲſƂŜĈƞāƖ΄āŜŉŉĎāƖĳŜœ΄ƶĳŉŉ΄ĀĎ΄Ŝœ ƊĮŜƶ΄ĳœ΄åœ΄ĳœƊſĳƂĳœħ΄ĈĳƊſŉåƼ΄åƖ΄IåƂƂŜħåƖĎ΄ ĮƂĳƊƖőåƊ΄π΄BĳĦƖ AåĳƂ͚΄̇̌΄AĎĀ΄Ͳ΄̈΄iåƂ΄͚̇̅̇̆΄Iåŉŉ΄͚̆΄¢ƖåœĈ΄̆Ͳ͚̇̅΄ÔŜƂņƊĮĳƂĎ ¢ĮŜƶħƂŜƞœĈ͟΄tƖĮĎƂƶĳƊĎ΄ƼŜƞ΄āåœ΄ƵĳƊĳƖ΄ĮĎƂ΄aŜœĈŜœ ƊĮŜƶƂŜŜő͟΄tƂ΄åƂƂåœħĎ΄å΄āåŉŉ΄ĦƂŜő΄ƼŜƞƂ΄åƂĎå΄ƊåŉĎƊ΄ſĎƂƊŜœ͟

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christmas in february 7

AWARDS The Greatest Christmas Awards

Pengelly

Squires Badshot Lea

What can we learn from last year?

usiness (and personal) life in 2020 good Christmas trading period, according was like no other and trading the to the GCA’s Barometer of Trade showing the Christmas category in garden specific Christmas category to be up 8.8% to centres was like no other too. I have the end of December on the previous year. The often written an article in this magazine at this pattern of trade though was very different with the time of year sharing some of the business coming a lot earlier key developments witnessed In the final analysis, [October + 28%, November during my tour of the UK + 33%] but December -10% it turned out to be a undertaking the Christmas as concerns in society grew, Competition on behalf of the good Christmas trading stock availability became Garden Centre Association limited and some centres period, according to (GCA). Well that clearly wasn’t reduced opening times the GCA’s Barometer to be last November but I post-Christmas. The other was very fortunate to be major difference being that of Trade showing the part of the judging panel for clearance sale activity in GTN’s The Greatest Christmas specific Christmas January was less successful Awards competition which category to be up 8.8% in moving through residual this year for the first time stock due to severe lockdown to the end of December pressures and poor weather, was assessed virtually from all the photographic, video invariably being packed away on the previous year and supporting material earlier than in previous years. submitted from across the garden centre This said, the overall profitability of Christmas industry. ranges was stronger with a significantly higher In the final analysis, it turned out to be a proportion of total sold at full retail prices.

Andy Campbell is an independent business development consultant, specialising in the gardening industry at both the retail and production ends of the supply chain. Andy Campbell Consulting 01225 864331 | 07788 567011 | andy@andycampbellconsulting.co.uk www.andycampbellconsulting.co.uk

8 christmas in february

The current challenge faced by garden centre buyers is how to wrap up the Christmas buying in the light of a very different retail landscape and necessary approach to their buying, not always being able to see up close and hold the product in their hands. Admittedly, the level of new product development brought forward for 2021 is noticeably less than in previous years but all credit to the supply base who have creatively come up with new and different ways of putting their ranges in front of customers, such as additional showrooms, ‘by appointment’ viewings, touring display vehicles and virtual showroom tours. The changes within retail that were born out of necessity in 2020, that will probably remain with us for the foreseeable future, include increased space allocation, alternative use of certain areas, simplified merchandising and display approaches and enhanced point of sale. Some centres moved Christmas display areas to different locations that provided better access in and out to improve customer flow and social distancing. Many increased aisle widths to reduce congestion in addition to controlling numbers entering the centre or the main Christmas zone. Others spread their total Christmas offering more evenly across the centre such that Christmas categories were integrated much more throughout the

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Barton Grange

The overall winners were: The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team Squires Badshot Lea The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team Pengelly The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team Busy Bee The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team Barton Grange

Busy Bee customer journey, which will have helped sales of the other categories as well. Unused catering space was utilised in a few situations where it could be converted quickly and easily. There seemed to be a definite movement towards simplification of displays and ease of relating display items to the actual stock for sale, to reduce browsing time and help customers find what they are looking for quickly before moving on to allow others to follow on behind. In addition to point of sale to remind customers about social distancing, encouragement to only pick up product one intended to buy was a lot more prevalent. Sustainability in all its guises across the Christmas category, such as the use of glitter, single use items, made from recycled materials, post-use recyclability and home-

made trends was gaining momentum prior to the Covid 19 pandemic and looks to continue at pace as we emerge the other side. After reviewing all the entries in The Greatest Christmas Awards organised by GTN it was immediately evident that the level of visual merchandising, marketing creativity and commitment to Christmas retailing in garden centres is undiminished. The use of bespoke videos, whether professionally produced or created in-house simply using a smart phone is definitely on the increase. This coupled with highly innovative approaches to virtual Santa experiences where in-person grottoes were not possible, all demonstrate that ‘necessity is the mother of invention!

Photographs: Courtesy of GTN’s The Greatest Christmas Awards

christmas in february 9

Step back in time Malcolm Naish looks back to 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016

February 2001 ●

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Interestingly, Ray Jones then M.D. of Festive Productions was not happy with a growing number of his customers not wanting deliveries supplied in September and October. I suggested that perhaps an additional cash incentive might make them change their minds. Although just 20 years ago, we ran an interview with Wyevale’s head buyer, whose company had just acquired the Country Gardens group, making them the largest garden centre group in the U.K. How things changed over the years!

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There was much heated discussion over the merits of ‘straightline’ or ‘loop’ in the manufacture of lighting sets.

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On-line was still in its infancy, but Spring Fair were leading the way with the introduction of their gift-track.com on-line service. Chris Parker – Spring Fair’s marketing director stated “We see the whole concept being based very much around co-operation and partnerships.”

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The Harrogate show had just finished and were mightily pleased with the opening of the Millenium Hall (Hall M), that had given exhibitors the opportunity to consider two-tier stands for the first time.

February 2006 ●

Premier Decs., were publicizing a new range of the author Raymond Brigg’s Father Christmas character.

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Wyevale were restructuring following a number of changes at the top of their management structure. They were looking to save £1.5 million on their overhead at head office and opening a commercial centre in West London. If you happened to live in beautiful Hereford, I don’t believe that many of the staff would have fancied moving to London!

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CCG had called in the Receivers, which also dragged down Paragon and Best Blooms, despite both companies having a healthy order book for 2006. Never one to miss an opportunity, Mike Withers of Snowtime purchases their order books from the Receiver. There is also much discussion on whether Harrogate should reduce from a five day to a four day show. I make the point that with so many Major buyers at Harrogate, could they manage their ordering

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in four days and that also this reduction would give Spring Fair added impetus.

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As I have said many times Christmas and Seasonal buyers do need both fairs in order to complete their buying.

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Jonathan Hughes joins the Festive Production’s sales and marketing teams.

10 christmas in february

February 2011 ●

Snowtime were gracing our front cover publicizing their LED Cherry Blossom trees.

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I welcome the news that the Harrogate Council have given the green light to create two further exhibition halls that will be located between the Majestic and Holiday Inn hotels.

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As they say ‘It came to pass’ and Premier very smartly took the whole of the new Hall ‘H’ from 2013.

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I was sorry to note that Harrogate stalwart Bert Wood would be missing the show for the first time in 52 years. Bert had suffered a mild stroke that had put paid to his being at the show. Bert was the first person to introduce America’s Puleo trees to the U.K.

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Our Editor visits Bent’s Garden Centre and mentioned that I had first conducted an interview with Ron back in 1995. Moving on 16 years and son Mathew was M.D. and the family business was doing fantastically well.

February 2016 ●

Harrogate was reporting an 8% increase in attendance. From our mega stand in the entrance to Hall ‘A’ I noted that footfall was well up judged by the increased number of sign-ups we had enjoyed for Christmas in January and February.

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I was sad to record the passing of Peter Dimond. Peter had been in the Christmas business since the mid-eighties, first visiting Hong Kong in 1979.

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We give plenty of coverage to the ‘Greatest Christmas’ awards, that in 2016 see Premier Decorations take the Gold award. Such a shame that these awards are no longer celebrated at Harrogate.

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Spring Fair decide to go back to Hall 2 for the bulk of the Christmas and Seasonal exhibitors. A move that I applaud as I believe this is the best hall for them.

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The GCA organized ‘Christmas display’ competition is always keenly competed for and the overall winning garden centre for 2016 was Castle Gardens, based in Sherborne, Dorset. It was the sixth time they had won the overall category.

christmasinjanuary.co.uk

CHRISTMAS

2021

Scan the QR code & let the magic begin Step into the magical world of NOMA at our Christmas showrooms in Hertfordshire. NOMA has been shaping the Christmas lighting market for over 80 years, designing elegant and magical lighting concepts that illuminate countless homes and gardens across the UK. Your showroom experience includes a Grillstream BBQ lunch by our dedicated chef on the LeisureGrow estate. We can also bring the magic to you remotely, with an interactive virtual guided showroom tour. For Showroom bookings contact your local sales representative or call 01462 744500

NOMA ... THE SPECIALISTS, NOT GENERALISTS SINCE 1939 www.noma.co.uk

Twinkly is an all-in-one solution, packed with technological innovation that redefines traditional lighting projects.

For project and commercial display

Many free effects, or design your own

Retail merchandising unit available

For pricing, brochures, and to book a showroom appointment:

PROFILE

National Tree Co

Seven years with

National Tree

Norfolk Leisure Lifestyle stepped into Christmas when they joined forces with National Tree Company seven years ago. Switch to present day and they are now the exclusive UK distributor. Being a US company National Tree are professionals when it comes to Christmas, knowing exactly what it takes to produce the perfect Christmas Tree.

he trees in the National Tree range are premium quality with special features you would not find on any other Christmas trees. They have the largest collection of trees available in the UK ranging from 2 ft to 12ft with selected trees featuring their innovative ‘Real Feel’ PE Tip Technology which has been moulded from real trees creating an amazing lifelike appearance. The Dual Light feature on selected trees is an LED light system that changes the lights from warm white to multicolour and allows you to choose from ten different light functions including; steady warm white, fading warm white to multicolour, multicolour twinkle plus more. To add an extra glow to your tree Infinity Lights are woven amongst the tree branches. The mini bulb string LED’s are small enough to create space for three times more lights than a non-Infinity Light product. The Music Match system which can be used on a selection of National Tree products is a modern feature allowing you to play your own music from any Bluetooth compatible device.

60 christmas in february

The lights on the tree will ‘dance’ in sync with the music playing, creating your very own light show to impress family and friends. A selection of National Tree Christmas wreaths and garlands also have these special features such as Dual Colour lights and Feel Real Tip Technology. Frosted Berry is one of the most popular wreaths along with Glittery Bristle Pine. There are a large variety of wreath styles to choose from so finding that perfect wreath to match your Christmas theme is simple. Wreaths and garlands can also be purchased to match the exact style of your tree. National Tree Company Christmas trees come with up to 5 years limited manufacturer’s warranty and are very easy to assemble. They come with a 3 section hinged design granting a fuss free assembly so effort can be made on dressing the tree and spending time with your loved ones rather than messing about with all those loose branches. View the Norfolk Leisure Lifestyle range of National Tree Christmas items on www. norfolkleisurelifestyle.co.uk.

christmasinjanuary.co.uk

IN-FOCUS Premier Decorations

Malcolm Naish and John Athwal

What a year it has been

John Athwal OBE – Chairman of Premier Decorations summarises the year to date

t has been an interesting past few months and with the opening of the Premier Showrooms in early December we certainly have a lot to be talking about. Customers were delighted to be able to visit earlier than they have ever been able to and still in season to boot. Whilst allowing them to see what exciting ventures Premier had planned for 2021 we were still taking orders for Christmas 2020 as we had the stock to fulfil the massive growth in demand. Empty shelves became all too visible and Premier was able to help curb the tide somewhat. Following the success of last year, there have been some great additions to our ranges which have all been extremely well received by those customers who have visited our showrooms thus far. Norbert for example… having been the best selling Christmas animated item for 2020 with many retailers selling out early, has some new friends! Helping Norbert to create a magical atmosphere in 2021 are our new characters Sherbert the Snowman and Tedward the Story Telling Bear. Children are sure to be entertained by our large 70cm Tedward telling his Christmas story whilst Mum and Dad do their shopping (which will include picking up the small Tedward as a treat for the little ones). One thing you can guarantee Christmas needs is the fun factor and Premier’s animation leads the way with its innovation and exclusive designs. What has become apparent to even the smallest of retailer is again the ongoing growth of demand for online fulfilment. Now

is the time to be an online seller if you are not already, but it has always come at a risk with certain items. Often Christmas retailers have shied away from the potential that this can achieve, worrying about the dangers of delivery networks and damages which leads to returns on certain products. Very often e-tailers have played it safe with offering just trees and lights with items like large outdoor sculptures always being looked at as a no-no due to their fragility. This is no longer a problem with Premiers innovative “soft acrylic” range of products. Introduced two years ago, the category has grown consecutively year on year and is ideal for despatching safely. Customers could not buy enough of these items in 2020 and many moved away from the traditional hard acrylic or gem style products due to damages instore, or through transportation and instead embraced the quality and durability of what our soft acrylic items offer. To further support this growing area, Premiers’ range has trebled in size with exclusive designs and innovative lighting options to enable our customers to fully enhance their retail offer. The potential of no returns, no damages and the safe knowledge of products being delivered without issue. What more could you ask for from a Christmas supplier?! Having introduced our brand new exciting themes for 2021 we have had a great amount of positive feedback with regard to the direction we have taken. With a new buyer that is already working towards creating further developments in home décor we are

sure to build upon the range’s success and reputation. A few highlights to note - our Rainbow theme, comprising of a range of joyous products around this popular celebratory icon with many items suitable for all year sales. Then following the current vibrant tropical trend is our new Dark Tropic Collection - offering golden safari animals alongside our exclusively designed Panther and Lemur collections which feature across tree decorations and soft furnishings. In warm gold with sparkling navy and tropical green accents, not to mention the exciting glass Orangutan and Chameleon characters too - this theme has a truly exotic feel. A brand new innovation for 2021 are Premier’s Fibre Optic trees which are now put into a single box in 2 sections for trees 1.5m and above. These new products have a secondary light source built in to the stem and are built like a regular artificial Christmas tree. This means that the long boxes that were difficult and costly to store are now replaced with cartons that are less than 1.2m long. With the retail landscape ever evolving and online sales hitting record highs, retailers are now able to ship larger sizes fibre optics through courier services at the same cost as a normal boxed item. With all of these exciting developments and much more that we simply couldn’t fit into this article, a visit to the Premier showrooms is a must if you haven’t been already for 2021. Please contact your sales account manager to book an appointment.

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Konstsmide ’Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten’

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See our Exhibition Stand in our Chesterfield Showroom for 2021

KONSTSMIDE (UK) Ltd Hardwick View Road, Holmewood Industrial Estate Holmewood, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S42 5SA, United Kingdom

Tel. +44 (0)1246-852140 Fax +44 (0)1246-854297 E-mail: sales@konstsmide.co.uk www.konstsmide.co.uk

IN-FOCUS Dijk

Christmas Decorations inspired by Nature. Dijk Natural Collections is a market leader throughout Europe in supplying natural decorative materials and home products.

heir Autumn and Winter Collection reflect the upcoming trend in Natural products with an ever-increasing demand from the consumer to move away from plastic and micro plastic items. The company’s six Christmas themes feature an extensive range of colourful Christmas Tree decorations and a wide range of festive ornaments. They create beautiful products and ranges with a point of difference. Besides tree decorations they are also known for their giftware offering commercial ranges and great value for money with a different twist. Sometimes eclectic natural or even vintage. They believe that sustainability is the way forward and will be in increasing demand by the end consumer. Dried flowers are back with a vengeance Historically Dried Flowers in the UK particularly in Garden Centres and Florists was big business and is definitely returning. Dijk was built on the previous popularity of Dried Flowers and the

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company remain a specialist in buying these around the world and off the clock in the Netherlands as well as cultivating and growing their own crops drying and dying them. This varied approach doesn’t just ensure top quality and great stock levels it also creates greater diversity with 500+ lines they have offer everything from readymade bunches to all sorts of pampas grasses, plumes, structured and exotic flowers as well as colourful Dutch flowers and wreaths. Dijk provide all year round dried flower displays and a regular replenishment system in line with seasonal trends and are proud to have set up 1000’s of dried flower displays across Europe and beyond.

Store concepts

Floristry & DIY items

The Showroom

Along with a vast range of interior and exterior accessories their range also covers the floristry and DIY essentials that any garden centre needs. From stunning ready-made decorative pieces to all the component parts that any consumer would require. For Christmas this includes for instance Pine Cones, Dried Branches, Exotics, Wreaths and Moses in consumer packaging or volume displays. These ranges are extensive and a core part of their busines for which Djik create shopfloor suggestions used in many garden centres across Europe.

The company are very proud of their in-Store Merchandising concepts. This is NOT a one size fits all shop within a shop, but a specific design to fit in with the individual retailer. Dijk loves to work with customers to produce and project manage their products in your store. Whether it’s a presentation of a range of Dried Flowers or a much broader concept pulling the whole Natural Collection together, or a Taylor-made individual look for a customer that enhances a retailer’s sales, based on your selection, requirements and space Dijk can assist in the provision of and support with the appropriate fixtures. Bi-annually, Dijk launches a major showroom presentation for its worldwide customer base in The Netherlands covering an area of 3,000M2. However, since this year was far from normal, they have done all they can to help their customers. Elke is arranging Virtual Tours of the Dijk showroom and has toured the UK & Europe with two forty-foot artic trailers with the technology to see the whole range. Once the restrictions are relaxed, Dijk will begin their showroom visits. The company are happy to help in any way by offering the complete package. At all times whilst working remotely Dijk are producing a bespoke classic natural look for their clients. For further information on Dijk email or phone Elke at Ebeuvink@dknc.nl Mobile UK: 07927 341741 Mobile NL: +31 619923691

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FOCUS FEATURE Festive Lights

Dumbrava Vlasiei, Romania

Media City, Manchester

Bigger, Better and Brighter than Ever!

Festive Lights is unquestionably one of the leading British names in the lighting field, and sparking the company’s continued success is premier Italian brand Twinkly. Sarah Welsh spoke to Sales Director Matt Higginson to find out more…

icture the scene. A modern park located in the centre of Middlesbrough, bathed in beautiful, inspiring light. An illuminated installation that took two years to plan, and a month for technicians to bring to life. A total of 69 trees wrapped in lights, a 12m digital tree and a curtain of lights standing 39m wide, all adding up to an astonishing 235,000 LED lights simply controlled by the push of a button. This is just one recent major Christmas lighting display dreamed up, created and rolled out to gleaming perfection by both trade and consumer retail experts Festive Lights. And it’s precisely this level of industry knowledge and design wizardry that ensures that Festive Lights’ broad range of customers include one-off shops, both independent and garden centre chains, hotels, designers and event planners, to name just a few. Over the last three years Festive Lights has also built a highly successful and exclusive partnership with innovative Italian lighting brand Twinkly, and in late January the team also opened the perfect showcase for it; An interactive, ultra-modern showroom, that offers clients a dedicated all year-round facility. Despite the last 12 months being highly challenging for the retail lighting sector as a whole, the continued success of Festive Lights is less of a flicker and more a bright flame. In fact, Sales Director Matt Higginson – who runs Festive Lights alongside his parents Mark and

20 christmas in february

Margaret, brothers Martin and Mark Jr, and sister Michelle – predicts that 2021 will be the biggest one yet for the family business.

Festive Lights is now the sole UK supplier for Italian lighting brand Twinkly and Twinkly Pro. What’s the story behind this successful partnership?

We first came across the brand at Christmas 2017, after our marketing team saw Twinkly on social media and pointed it out to the directors. To date there have been app controlled light systems that have failed, but immediately this brand looked like more of a complete package. We saw it exhibited at the Christmasworld 2018 show and made a beeline for it. Twinkly already had a decent following in the UK and it grew substantially that year. We then secured a semi-exclusive deal and at Harrogate Christmas & Gift 2019 sold it into several shops including many of the garden centres and Selfridges. We’ve now been working as the sole UK supplier for the Twinkly brand for more than a year. The brand’s strength is growing and the word has got out. We have people coming to us now, asking about it.

What about the commercial potential for Twinkly Pro – how big do you think it will get?

We first had a glimpse of the potential success for Twinkly Pro in the run-up to Christmas 2019, when the brand was used for its inaugural big UK installation on Oxford Street, with 79 trees wrapped in lights and controlled remotely via the touch of a computer mouse. You can set the schedule to change the colour and effects of the lights at any time, and it was amazing. That was the first time Twinkly Pro had been used over here on that basis, over a city scape. In 2019, the biggest installation that we did was in Middlesbrough town centre, in a modern park. We had 69 wrapped trees, a 12m digital tree and a 39m wide curtain of lights. That was 235,000 LED lights controlled at the push of a button, ‘turned on’ by the town’s mayor. That particular display was two years in the making, with the installation itself taking a month.

“The strength of the Twinkly brand is growing and word has got out. We have people coming to us now asking about it.”

What about other big scale displays you worked on for Christmas 2020 – which ones really stood out?

We did the central tree display at Bradford High street, featuring the city’s Broadway Shopping Centre. We had a huge hollow cone Christmas tree and pre-lit the entire thing

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FOCUS FEATURE Festive Lights

“The showcase has given us the opportunity to showcase smaller scale lighting installations to customers. There is more than 40,000 LEDs to play with!”

Bradford City Centre

Media City, Manchester

Showroom

Showroom with LED lights. It could also then be turned into a digital platform, featuring animals. The beauty is that with Twinkly Pro you can completely customise lighting to client needs. The days of celebrities using an actual switch to turn on major lighting displays have changed – now it’s all computer activated. We also did two digital trees at garden centres, and one at Media City in Salford. In addition, we did the lighting display at a major visitor attraction and one at a uranium enriched power station in Chester. Our client base is very broad!

Do clients come to you with very specific ideas for displays they want, or is it a case of you putting it all together for them from scratch? A bit of both really. Some clients come to us with very formed ideas, but others have often been inspired by other displays and need some direction. Twinkly Pro is a great brand for big-scale displays, because you can build in difference, so visitors will continue to be engaged over several years. Traditionally a lighting scheme is designed

22 christmas in february

and manufactured by us for several years in the same space. You can then alter the design each year without having to renew the whole structure. Without getting too technical, we ‘map’ where each bulb is on a structure and build up a 3D image from this. It sounds complex, but it’s actually really simple once set up – anyone can use it. This might seem more expensive initially, but you save money long term. And it also makes sense from the environmental perspective because you are reusing and adapting the same lights wrapped around a Christmas tree or on a big scale TV screen.

A major event for Festive Lights in 2020 was planning the opening of a new showroom, as the perfect space to showcase the Twinkly brand. Can you tell us more about how it’s been received since the official opening on 25 January? Our showroom was something we were looking at from the early days of lockdown. We gained some space in what was originally our old shop at head office – 5,000 square feet over two floors, including a training area where we now work

with clients. We’ve opened for socially distanced visits, currently by appointment only, and walk throughs via Zoom call. From the first week of opening in late January, we’ve been really pleased with the number of customers enjoying the interactive engagement that the showroom offers. The appointment book has been filling up with clients ranging from garden centres to design installers, so it’s been a really positive start. It’s given us the opportunity to showcase smaller scale lighting installations to customers – including lamp post motifs, street banners, canopies, trees, a video wall and five metre squared curtain wall. There is more than 40,000 LEDs to play with!

What about lighting trends for Christmas 2021 – what can you tell us?

For us it’s about the overall trend to go bigger with lighting. Lights have become a pivotal part of festive retail, and we’re witnessing people putting more lights up on their home and wanting to stand out from their neighbours. Twinkly is going to change how things work though, as soon everyone will be operating their Christmas lights from a laptop. If your daughter favours a pink tree, for example, and you like a more traditional white one, you can easily switch between the two and keep everyone happy! What is certain is that, despite the challenges that Covid-19 has thrown at everyone in retail, 2021 is set to be our biggest year yet. Please visit: business.festive-lights.com/ and register to use the full benefits of the website. For more information on Twinkly call the Festive Lights team on: 01257 792111.

christmasinjanuary.co.uk christmas in january 47

e M e v i G ive F I asked a number of Christmas and Seasonal companies to choose ﬁve themes, products or ranges from their 2021 selections. Without any Christmas and Seasonal shows in January and February, I hope that our readers will enjoy reading and acting upon this wealth of innovative product that appears in the following pages. The hard work by the industry to create these current ranges has meant many Zoom meetings to ﬁnalise product and ensure that once again Buyers have plenty of product to select from.

Five

Give Me

Artcuts

Crafted with Christmas Love

Gloriously British craft, Christmas and unique design gift company Artcuts has come through the past challenging year for retail with confidence. And now excitement is building about the family brand’s 2021 festive collection, as Sarah Welsh discovers… The family-run team at Surrey-based Artcuts are a crafty bunch in the very best sense of the word – from owner Derek Cox, who founded the company back in 2012, to his daughter Caroline who heads up the design team. Artcuts specialise in beautifully designed, laser cut wooden craft products and kits, gift items and, of course, festive decorations. Selling to everyone from boutique and independent shops to big players including Harrods, the company uses the highest quality materials, including Liberty London fabrics and beautiful hand silk-screened Chiyogami papers imported from Japan. Other customers including the English and Scottish National Trust and London’s Natural History Museum. Now, following the successful launch of the company’s new trade website in August, Artcuts is looking ahead to Christmas 2021 with its festive collections.

Personalisation Artcuts has specialised in individual, personalised designs for years. “We engrave and etch, we don’t print designs,” Derek explains. “Our personalised pieces are done in a non-massmanufactured style. We can even produce shapes to represent a local landmark and last year did an Angel of the North design for a client who went on to sell hundreds of them.”

Craft kits Artcuts has always done these via their consumer retail website, but are now producing the kits for trade for the first time. Great for gifting or self gifting, they will be launched later this spring, with a real focus on Advent and Christmas decorations.

Chiyogami These beautiful decorations use a particular type of Japanese paper, and with their unusual and complicated designs are incredibly popular. “Our core range of Christmas-themed designs has around 30 2D designs, as well as 3D designs,” Derek says. “These designs really are different and full of goodness.”

Liberty London Artcuts produce a range of festive decorations based on Liberty London prints, including beautiful William Morris classics. “We’re a gloriously British brand, with everything we make designed and created in the UK, and our Liberty collection epitomises this,” Derek says. “Our pieces have become increasingly popular with heritage retailers. In fact, at last year’s Spring Fair, we made many business contacts with Abbeys and ministers wanting to buy our designs.”

Scottish and Proud Derek is originally from Dunfermline, Fife, and this Scottish heritage certainly factors into Artcuts’ designs, including the company’s distinctive Tartan decorations. “Our number one products are our Highland cow decorations – little Hamish and Hettie designs,” Derek reveals. “They have a real sense of character and are hugely popular with customers.” For more information visit Artcuts dedicated trade website: www.artcutstrade.com

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christmasinjanuary.co.uk

Give Me

Five

Shatchi have it wrapped up Shatchi have all major Christmas and Seasonal categories covered. Now in their 12th year, this Hitchin-based supplier has recently opened a new all singing and dancing showroom that has already enjoyed visits from a number of customers. Below are five major categories

Wreaths and Garlands ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Both Plain and Decorated Both non-lit and pre-lit Matching Wreaths and Garlands Luxury ranges Wide variety of styles, frosted , floral etc Two pics – one a wreath and one a garland

Trees ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Wide range Both non-lit and pre-lit Up to 12ft as standard Larger sizes available Vinyl, PE and Tinsel styles Range to suit all budgets

Room Décor and Novelty ■ LED Decorations and Novelties ■ Tree decorations ■ Table centrepieces ■ Ceramics ■ Tree Skirts & Stockings ■ Santa Hats and Suits

Outdoor Decorations ■ Large range of outdoor décor ■ LED Reindeer, Snowmen, Stars, Snowflakes and many more

■ Inflatables ■ Silhouettes ■ Outdoor LED Twig Trees

Lights ■ Extensive range including String lights, Compact lights, Icicle lights, battery lights etc. ■ Competitive pricing ■ Indoor and Outdoor use ■ Super and bright LEDs ■ Wide range of colours and sizes 26 christmas in february

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ChristInJan21_ShatchiA4advert_Layout 1 07/01/2021 20:18 Page 1

Visit our new Showrooms in Hitchin, Herts. Please call 01462 432600 for an appointment.

Artificial Trees Tree Decorations Wreaths and Garlands Indoor Lights Outdoor Lights Room Decor and much more... For catalogues and a link to our Virtual Showroom Tour please call 01462 432600 to register

Five

Give Me Gisela Graham

Ideas for a

Charming Christmas Gisela Graham is one of the biggest festive brands in Europe, known for its original designs and breadth of ranges. Here’s a glimpse at just a few of Gisela’s exciting 2021 collections

Nordic Noel This sure-fire winner collection, is faithful to the traditional simplicity of the Scandinavian genre. Key colours are red and white with a touch of blue, teamed with natural materials like felt, wood and cotton. Gisela Graham always teams up the Scandinavian look with gingerbread, and each year the design takes a new twist on this classic idea. This year the brand’s special look is inspired by lace. The gingerbread people are decorated with lacy ‘icing’, and complemented by some charming lacy Nordic fairies.

Sleeping Beauty The inspiration for this beautiful collection is Tchaikovsky’s immortal ballet. It’s romantic, feminine and pretty, with pastel colourways of pink, mauve and green, teamed with gold. The ‘stars’ of the collection are ballerina fairies of the brand’s own design, accessorised with lots of roses - a noted feature in the original fairy story, to complete the look. This collection offers great potential for display.

Winter Dreams A snowy–white, frosty theme is always popular for Christmas – but Gisela Graham thinks it needs dramatising with a story, and the addition of a contrasting colour, to offset the frosty decorations. For 2021 the brand has created ‘Winter Dreams’ – picture a frosty Christmas garden with hares, bears and squirrels, and a touch of colour brought by the Crocus fairies whose dresses stand out against the snow in a classic mauve crocus shade. A promise of Spring to come!

Flower Fairies The woodland look - berries, cones and twigs - is an ever-popular Christmas concept. For 2021, Gisela Graham is ‘populating its woodland’ with a host of charming ‘Flower Fairies.’ Dressed in typically autumn colours, and surrounded by the flowers they love, the fairy characters live in the Wild Woods, where you can spy other woodland creatures, such as badgers, squirrels, hedgehogs and rabbits. The festive fairies are accessorised with natural products of the woods.

Starlight This collect offers an ultra-Christmassy fantasy. Gisela Graham has imagined angels and fairies flitting through the firmament, resting on a handy moon or star along their way. The essential colour combination is a Christmas classic – silver, gold and cream – but enlivened with a new accent shade that’s starting to be popular at Christmas; Azure blue. The tree decorations are complemented with larger pieces to decorate the home – or give as presents.

Visit: www.giselagraham.co.uk 28 christmas in february

Give Me

Four Decades of Festive Trading

Five

Weiste

Family Christmas

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Christmas market leaders Weiste trading with the UK. But this fairytale brand’s story actually began many years earlier in Helsinki… Weiste has been an international trailblazer in design and manufacture since the Christmas company was founded by Kalle Weiste back in 1924. Britain numbers just one of more than 30 countries that the reputable Finnish brand now supplies, and its reputation for excellent customer service and reliability has never wavered. Kalle had originally run a paper shop, but a best-selling lot of Christmas tree star stops gave him the idea to start making his own decorations in Finland. and the rest is history. This year, Weiste presents three new themes in its seasonal collection – Family Christmas, Floral Elegance and Enchanted Forest, as well as building on its ground-breaking Eco brand, and essential Nordic Winter range.

Floral Elegance

Family Christmas With traditional red and green, enduring favourite seasonal shades, these new designs for 2021 capture the spirit of family fun with a warm and cosy feel. Make this festive season a truly homely affair, with natural winter comfort from the homeland of Father Christmas. This year, more than ever, our sense of family and being together means so much to us all.

Floral Elegance This theme brings together dried flowers, floral prints and sophisticated shades of pink combined with champagne gold and a hint of silver. These decorations add a touch of class and distinction to the Christmas experience, as well as adding layers of soft elegance.

Enchanted Forest

Eco Christmas Nordic Winter

Nordic Winter

Picture pine cones, forest animals, branches, mushrooms - capturing the magical delights of Christmas in the forest. This theme takes us on a journey through the inspiring folklore of Scandinavian pine forests and their array of indigenous wildlife - where we can feel, hear and breathe the possibility of fairy tales coming alive. Nature lies at the heart of the Finnish way of life, and these beautiful designs are born from that special connection.

Eco Christmas Weiste’s famous eco-friendly product line is made from biodegradable wooden fibre - a revolution in the Christmas decorations industry for the future of our planet. 2021 sees the launch of Weiste’s first eco-friendly Christmas bauble, the result of expert design and engineering at its factory in Finland. The brand is fully committed to reducing its carbon footprint and leading the way in cutting the Christmas industry’s dependency on plastic products.

Nordic Winter This theme, at the core of Weiste’s range each year, takes us on a journey into the wild depths of Lapland, through the winter wonderland of forested Finnish landscapes and frozen lakes twinkling in the snow. Imagine herds of reindeer padding gently across open plains, and the dream of a real White Christmas. This year Weiste has added a dash of fashionable petrol blue to this traditional Nordic theme. Weiste’s exciting 2021 Collection is now available to order online via their web shop, or via a video call with one of their UK Sales Team. Visit: www.weisteshop.fi, call UK agent Morris May Ltd, on: 0131 208 0247, or email: info@morrismay.com

christmas in february 29

Five

Give Me

Noma

‘Starry Nights’ LED trees

It is all about innovation With over 80 years experience in the Christmas lighting and decoration field, Noma have always been one of the leaders in innovation. Never more so than in 2021.

The company continues to add new categories, enabling them to keep at the very forefront of the industry.

‘Starry Nights’ LED trees First introduced in 2020, these have been particularly well received by garden centres and retailers wanting to make a real statement in store. The 12 metre, 4,000 LED tree certainly does that!

Hanging Satellite Stars

Colour change Festive characters Connect multiple characters up to one remote, allowing for 16 colour variations and multi-function settings

Original Magic Candles These have been infused with more wizardry and witchcraft. Now available with remote controlled image wand. The candles can be hung from the ceiling or window giving the impression they are floating in mid-air. (pic p.151)

Spectrum App Lights Hanging Satellite Stars Tel: 01462 744500 | www.noma.co.uk Email: frank.kaminski@leisuregrow.com

Spectrum App Lights

30 christmas in february

Colour change Festive characters

Original Magic Candles

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CHRISTMAS

2021

SCAN THE QR CODE TO LET THE MAGIC BEGIN

Specialists, not Generalists Visit us at our inspiring showroom in Hertfordshire where you can explore the NOMA forest, walk around our lighting wonderland, and enjoy a Grillstream BBQ lunch in the LeisureGrow Bokkie. Alternatively visit our showroom remotely with our immersive, highly detailed virtual guided showroom tour. For Showroom bookings contact your local sales representative or call 01462 744500

www.noma.co.uk

Give Me

Five

Premier Decorations 1: Indoor Lighting Premier’s innovations in lighting are well talked about in the industry and here is a product that marries two of them. This pin wire curtain was a best seller in 2020 and whilst only warm white LED versions were available last year, this year you can buy it in Premiers own rainbow colourway which incorporates purple, pink, turquoise and orange LEDs. A truly stunning effect that should be gracing windows well in 2021.

2: Outdoor Lighting

First introduced to the market by Premier in 2018, sales on these amazing twinkling silhouettes have gone from strength to strength. The incredible number of LEDs in each shape available is what gives the item its allure. Sure to light up any property in a way that is only possible with such a high specification, this family of products will do well in any retail setting.

3: Animation (Sherbert) It just isn’t Christmas without the fun factor and Premier has this in abundance. Last year, the world was introduced to Norbert the Singing and Dancing Christmas Tree and he turned out to be the best selling animation character of 2020 with many retailers selling out early. Joining Norbert for 2021 is his best friend Sherbert the Snowman and together they will allow our customers to not just create a wonderful fun atmosphere within their stores, or online with video, but also give them the opportunity of generating exponential sales in an often forgotten category.

4: Themes Our focus this year has been to develop a range strong in core seasonal colours. We recognise our customers want to create their own theme identities, so our ranges now offer depth in core shades of red, gold, white and silver all in various finishes to allow you to pick and mix . We have certainly achieved this with Precious Elegance. A sophisticated fresh look- Glamour and sparkle in abundance. With oh so much choice - our Snow Leopard has proven particularly popular!!

5: Trees

The Silver Tipped Fir Christmas tree continues to be one of Premiers best sellers again for 2021. It’s unique grey PVC and bristle tips are on trend at the minute whilst the glitter tips add a bit of sparkle to your Christmas. The tree is complimented with a wreath and garland set as well as a classy fibre optic tree. The Deluxe Silver Tipped Fir is new for 2021 with gorgeous glittered PE tips running through the tree. Another new item in the Silver Tipped range is a tree arch which looks spectacular in any entrance. The tree arch product category continues to grow with consumers decorating these in the home like they would a regular tree.

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Give Me

Floralsilk

Five

The Magic of a Natural Christmas Floralsilk’s 2021 Christmas collection encompasses seven themes, and more than 1,200 new products. In fact, the festive range speaks of hope, growth and renewal – things we all hope this year will bring!

Earth

Nature Nature Natural, sustainable and conscious, the colour palette of the ‘Nature’ range includes beach blues, and shades of coral, beige and taupe. The collection uses natural materials and textures, including; glass, paper, wood and grasses. The overall theme is fresh, clean and pretty.

Earth Think everything that’s classically Christmas, and you have Floralsilk’s ‘Earth’ Collection. As its name suggests, this theme has deep earthy tones of greens, oranges, browns and reds to give a real feel of Christmas in the country. Key products include pinecones, berries, classic greenery and even a few friendly gonks.

Ice With a frosty monochrome palette of crisp white, cool greys, sparkly silver and a dark anthracite accent, the ‘Ice’ theme evokes a real sense of Winter. Full of sumptuous faux fur, metal and etched glass with lots of snow-covered foliage, it gives all of those White Christmas feels. There are also some display items in this theme including oversized baubles to cater for the door decoration craze made popular by countless celebrities this year.

Ice

Fire As well as the traditional, there is certainly some flamboyance in the trends for Christmas 2021 and the Floralsilk ‘Fire’ theme is a great demonstration of this. Pink and red pampas grass with the inclusion of floral accents and contemporary tree trim add a modern twist to a warm and opulent red, gold and pink colour palette.

Light

Fire Light 34 christmas in february

We all need a little light in our life right now and Floralsilk’s ‘Light’ theme is, as the name suggests, light, bright and full of fun. Think Santa’s workshop at its best, with novelty decorations in exciting finishes such as neon, high shine, felt and glass. This novelty theme also encompasses a quirky take on three time, with fun-coloured animals, rainbow lips, shiny tractors and the ultimate in festive food – the cheeseboard – all featuring. The Floralsilk showroom is open and bookings are currently being taken. Obviously, there is no substitute for viewing products and displays in person, but if for any reason, you are unable to visit, don’t worry - there are several ways to order with Floralsilk. Visit www. floralsilk.co.uk for more information.

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Life may have looked a little different this year, but we’re all set for Christmas 2021.

SHOP IN OUR SHOWROOM!

Book your visit now:

Come and view our beautiful Christmas 2021 collections in our centrally located 6,500 sq ft showroom. Be inspired, see our quality first hand and get your Christmas buying done.

sales@floralsilk.co.uk 01778 425 205 Showroom: Bourne, Lincs, PE10 0BQ

There can be no substitute for seeing our collections in person but if this is not possible, we also offer virtual appointments.

Give Me

Five Outdoor lighting

Konstsmide With all the problems that Covid has brought to the world, Konstsmide took the decision not to show at any exhibitions in 2021, instead customers have been invited to their showroom and the company have also invested in a clever virtual camera that gives those customers preferring not to visit the opportunity of a virtual showroom tour. They have also invested in a new state of the art air conditioning system that keeps the air in the showroom perfectly fresh and this along with all Covid requirements in place, ensures a safe visit to the showroom. The company are also able to maintain their current prices for 2021 orders.

New products for 2021 Outdoor lighting – With the success of small family groups such as their birds, foxes, squirrels, pigs and bears, two new items of a cat and a dog complement the existing collection. (pic of Foxes) Two new lanterns one large and one small that give the effect of a natural log fire have been added along with a large lantern depicting a Christmas scene. Very robust and definitely eye-catching.

Christmas water lanterns

Dream Catcher

Welcome Lights

Their laser-cut wooden models

Konstsmide’s Christmas water lanterns have long been a staple product of the range and this year sees a number of new additions including Big Ben, London bus, large helicopter and impressive big TV. Whilst most of these lanterns are bronze in colour, Konstsmide have added a few curved lanterns in a white finish that complement the normal bronze finish Two new smaller ‘Dream Catcher’ additions have been added following the successful launch last year of the first ‘Dream Catcher’. Hanging Stars have featured for a while now in a variety of colourways and designs. Added this year are two very modern designs that feature a circular LED lighting around the inner circle with eye-catching hangings finished in white and totally different to past Hanging Stars. Konstsmide were the first company to introduce Welcome Lights to the U.K. many years ago. Over the years there have been many changes of design and 2021 is no exception. Their laser-cut wooden models are yet another longestablished collection available in a number of sizes. 2021 includes an Advent calendar for the first time plus several models in a white/grey finish that look quite stunning. A number of these models have dual functions. Email: sales@konstsmide.co.uk Tel: 01246 852140

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Give Me

Five

Lesser & Pavey

Lesser & Pavey have a comprehensive range of Christmas-related products and they have chosen five items to appear within our ‘Give me Five’ feature

Jolly Santa Exclusive This jolly Santa images features on part of the Lesser and Pavey 2021 Christmas range licenced from the Macneil Studio. The Santa and Robins illustrations are vibrant, eye catching, and project the jolly traditional scene of Christmas time, from the fireside to the outdoors of winter. The Macneil studio never fails to present such wonderful exclusive imagery for Lesser and Pavey to create into glorious household products. The ranges include fine china; Melamine tabletop items, lap trays; kitchenware such as glass surface protectors, salt and pepper. Fine china mugs come in gift sets with coasters and all chinaware if beautifully gift boxed. The range extends to paper gift bags, both large and small, sets of two and candle plates.

Jolly Santa Exclusive

Home Décor for Christmas

A practical Christmas home decoration in the form of Christmas doorstops. Lesser and Pavey introduce Santa, Robin, Snowman, Reindeer festive door stops to the ever-growing ranges of items to help Christmas Winter celebrate Christmas 2021. The 2020 range was Wonderland so well received that Lesser and Pavey decided to expand for this year. Each doorstop features all the festive trimmings and attention to detail you would expect of a The new range is available in Silver and Gold finishes, with every detail captured range from Lesser and Pavey, with weighted bottoms and quality fabrics. of a forest by the Lesser and Pavey in house creative team. This range includes 3D tea light holders and wax melt / oil warmers. It also includes mirrored coasters, placemats, and candle plates all featuring glitter. The Lesser and Pavey range of Aroma Lamps’ popularity continues to Wine glasses, gin glasses and stemless wine glasses compliment the range for grow as does these items designed by the in-house creative team. They Christmas celebrations. come in the form of white ceramic Aroma Lamps that have an etched effect on the sides which projects a 3D effect when lit. The designs to date include Angel Wings, Tree of Life, Woodland, Butterflies, Bees on Honeycomb, Buddha, Elephant & Skull. In the same material Lesser and Aroma Pavey also have tea light holders and wax melt and oil warmers. The Lamps range is set to launch shortly complimentary humidifiers. More than a lamp, these aroma lamps from Lesser and Pavey bring fragrance and light into any living space in the home. The Desire range is all about wellbeing with these multi-coloured lamps that are touch sensitive, projecting light that can be used with wax melts and aroma oils.They Home Décor create an atmosphere in a decorative addition which forms a range of for Christmas over 100 items. Each one comes individually gift boxed. Some are have a remote control and can play music by Bluetooth. The fragrance oil and wax melts to use in conjunction with the lamps are also available. Three ceramic humidifiers are included in this range that change colours and are presented in individual colourful gift box. A multitude of fragranced candles and diffusers are offered, with quality fragrances, decorative glass containers and gift boxed accordingly to reflect fragrance and style.

Christmas Winter Wonderland

Aroma Lamps

Christmas plush for 2021. Shown in this image is just a small selection of items from the range as it is much larger with premium plush, featuring all the trimmings of festive items as well as ensuring no attention to detail is missed, from traditional reindeers and snowmen to Father Christmas. The range is also quiet unique with light up angles, fairies, Gonks (Gnomes), reindeer and snowmen additions. Tel 01322 279225 | sales@leonardo.co.uk www.leonardo.co.uk

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Christmas plush

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Give Me

Five

Heyland & Whittle

Eco Collection Reed diffusers & candles An eco-collection of fragrant, hand-poured and blended soy candles and reed diffusers, housed in 100% recycled glass and packaged in 100% recycled card. This eco-collection helps customers to make more ecofriendly lifestyle choices in the home. This new eco collection takes their commitment as a business to care for the planet one big step further. For the first time, they have created a collection of hand-poured candles and reed diffusers that are contained in 100% recycled glass and packaged in 100% recycled card. The diffuser and candle vessels can be re-purposed again and again – as drinks glasses, hot beverage glasses, flower vases, biscuit and snack bowls, water and juice jugs and flower vases. The fragrant hand-poured candles are made with a sustainable soy wax and essential oil blend for a clean, slow, even burn. There are three new fragrances in this collection, available as both diffuser and candle options. Geranium & Oud Fresh and rich Green, peppery Geranium blended with sweet, smoky Oud and fragrant hints of Rose, Jasmine and Praline – an opulent aroma reminiscent of the East Mint & Bergamot Uplifting and refreshing Fresh, cool Mint blended with zesty, citrussy Bergamot –the ‘just picked’ aroma of Summer. Hibiscus & White Tea Calming and relaxing Woody citrus notes of White Tea blended with gentle florals Hibiscus, Freesia and Jasmine - a gentle aroma with feelgood benefits.

100 % Eco-Friendly Soap Collection These six fragrant, 100% natural, handmade soaps boxed in recycled card make it easier for customers to make more eco-friendly lifestyle choices to care for both planet and family. This new collection of Palm Oil-free soaps promises a better tomorrow for the planet. Heyland & Whittle are well practised in the artisan production of handmade, 100% natural soaps. They follow the cold processed method using only 100% natural, pure ingredients, including essential oils, herbs, spices and natural colourings such as Madder Root and Turmeric. For this collection, Heyland & Whittle have chosen not to use Palm Oil in the production and have boxed the soaps in 100% recycled card- which is itself recyclable. These eco-conscious production choices make it easier for the customers to make positive eco-friendly lifestyle choices. All the soaps are paraben and sulphate free and not tested on animals. The six glorious fragrances choices are: Tea Tree Naturally cleansing and invigorating – Nature’s antiseptic is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial to help clear troubled skin Vintage Rose Gloriously fragrant – enriched with Cocoa Butter to gently soothe and moisturise. A real treat for all skin types Citrus & Turmeric Refreshingly zingy – Olive, Coconut and Citrus Oils promise an energetic wake-up call. Beneficial for normal to oily skins Hemp & Walnut Moisturising and healing - with Hemp Oil and Walnut Leaves for the finest bathing and shaving experience Patchouli & Goats Milk Seriously indulgent - a luxuriously citrus blend of Goats Milk, Cocoa Butter and essential oils to help soothe and moisturise dry skin types English Lavender Relaxing and calming – with feel-good Lavender Oil for a soothing end of the day soak, perfect for sleepy heads.’ Contact: 01293 525825, Email: sales@heylandandwhittle.co.uk, visit: www. heylandandwhittle.co.uk

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Give Me

Five

Turning market changes and challenges into opportunities… Premier Decorations sees opportunities in the necessity of change and the current difficulties that the market and businesses are facing.

remier always sees the full half of the glass and takes the positive side of every situation and challenge. We have all faced a number of obstacles these past 12 months and without a doubt all businesses, small and large, have been affected. They have had to adjust and find new, safe and effective ways to reach demands of the market and everyday consumers. Online selling has seen incredible growth and has become an integral part of consumer shopping habits and choice. Premier has worked to improve its online services making it easier than ever to shop. Premier provides detailed information regarding the specification of every product alongside a whole library of images and video that is available to support customers’ own needs for online. The search facilities have also

been improved to make sure customers don’t miss out on any of the products available due to inefficient search criteria. Halloween has seen significant growth this year and people are spending more and more for this holiday, looking for new, different and spectacular items. Premier’s soft acrylic range of shapes and characters, having been highly successful for Christmas is now launched for the first time at Halloween. There’s a number of new and exciting SKUs available, all of which customers are able to peruse via the printed Premier Halloween catalogue as well as via its online portal. Exciting large and very large inflatables with playful disco lights or colour-changing LEDs have also been added into the range due to the uplift in sales for this type of product, which seem to have become a must-have for Halloween décor. These are an ideal product for the online market and Premier has a number of tools available to help support sales. Family and indoor activities have started becoming traditional for Halloween and in anticipation there are new ranges of gadgetry toys, plush animated toys and activities such as spinning and dancing witch hats or spiders, sensor-controlled aircrafts, 3D puzzles or mini blocks completing the Halloween 2021 range. The gory animated characters are still a lead seller and Premier has expanded its

offering with some exciting new animations from small to very large, all with lights and sound and sensor activated. Get ready to scream as they will creep you out! Halloween lighting also has quite a few surprises packed in for you. Premier’s outdoor lit garden stakes play spooky sounds and are sensor activated. These, alongside the new amazing lit Halloween motifs, give a great visual and audio impact to your celebrations. The Premier showrooms have measures in place to make them Covid-safe and the sales account managers would be glad to make an appointment for you to visit. Alternatively you can always place your order online by registering for an account.

Tel: 020 8624 5555 | Web: www.premierdec.com/Halloween-Collection Email: sales@premierdec.com 42 christmas in february

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Give Me

Five

Jingles: An Innovative Christmas

Mercer Agencies have been supplying quality Christmas product to the festive trade for more than 30 years, and 2021 marks the 15th anniversary of the launch of own brand Jingles – with this year’s collection promising to be the best yet…

Lighting, Brilliantly Packaged Jingles has rebranded its entire range of lighting to reflect the modern demands of customers – with a thousand compact lights in brand new packaging coming in at under £10. On-trend packaging includes all the information the end user is looking for. Along with the extensive range of POS offered, this packaging is a silent salesman.

Jingles Mobile Showroom Don’t miss the amazing Jingles double decker bus filled with a dazzling selection of festive lights, trees and decorations. Call 028 9261 9881 to make an appointment when it comes to a town near you!

Visit merceragencies.com, email: sales@merceragencies.com or call: 028 9261 9881

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Give Me

Jingles

Five

Festive Snowman Family Last year saw perhaps the biggest growth ever in outdoor lighting. For 2021, Jingles’ set of three outdoor snowmen – operated from one plug – will being festive cheer to any household at Christmas. And with the largest snowman standing tall at 130cm, it is truly a fantastic buy for less than £100.

Jingles: An Innovative Christmas

Icicle Excitement A Trio of Christmas Deer Jingles’ classic family set of three deers standing proud – and again powered from one plug – will offer a fantastic festive scene for any customer. The tallest deer is 150cm tall, and the cost of the full outdoor set is less than £100.

Jingles has also rebranded its Connectable Snowfall Icicle Lights. This digital connectable icicle light set is completely unique to the market, and with eight speed settings it offers a proper ‘snowing’ effect. Each set is 4.5m long with 250 bulbs, and up to eight sets can be connected together from one plug. That’s up to 1,920 bulbs strung on 36 metres, all controlled from just one transformer.

Visit merceragencies.com, email: sales@merceragencies.com or call: 028 9261 9881 46 christmas in february

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e t a r b e c el years

COLLECTION 2021 w w w. r i f f e l m ac h e r . d e

To organise a personal visit with a local representative and to order our latest catalogues or trendbook Contact: John King Tel: 0049 1520 9527 957 Email: John.king@riffelmacher.de www.riffelmacher.de