Publisher: Malcolm Naish
malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk
Advertisement Manager Marian McNamara marian@lemapublishing.co.uk
Features Editor: Sarah Welsh
Production Director: Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk
Published by: Lema Publishing Ltd
1 Churchgates, ,The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2UB www.christmasinjanuary.co.uk
A Spooktacular range from the Halloween experts
So how was the Harrogate & Christmas Gift show for you? Attendance figures weren’t available as we go to press, but my estimation is that numbers would have been similar to last year. Thankfully, the snow and ice had already disappeared when the show opened, although Harrogate Town Council should have done a far better job of getting rid of the snow and ice that stayed on the pavements throughout the show.
When you consider how much cash exhibitors and buyers bring to the town, then this was the least they could have done!
The new hall ‘G’ seems to have worked really well with Kaemingk’s stand particularly busy.
To celebrate the show’s 75th
anniversary, the Sunday evening’s drinks and canapes function held in the Royal Hall attended by almost 400 guests was a resounding success, as our pictures on pages 14/15 will show.
Whilst talking of 75 years, our picture shows Warren Cornelius along with sons Guy and James whose company Playwrite have exhibited at every show. Originally as W.H. Cornelius and now with a 5th generation to plan the future. The cake was suitably iced and enjoyed by everyone who attended the presentation ceremony.
A popular figure at Spring Fair is Richard Keel. As we go to press we have just learnt that Richard managed to break his leg whilst skiing and could be doubtful for the show. Keel Toys have a great sales team, but he will be greatly missed.
Spring Fair also celebrate their 75th year in 2025 and opens on the 2nd February, where Event Director Soraya Gadelrab promises a celebration of their last 75 years.
Just too late to appear in January was the news that Woodlodge/ Snowlodge
have taken over the U.K. and Ireland distribution of Jingles. Iain’s daughter Elise will work with Woodlodge to continue the sales effort with full backing from the company. Iain and Pearl intend to enjoy a well deserved retirement, although knowing Iain, I wouldn’t bet on it. Iain’s final comment to me was “Never say never.”
Our retail interview is with The Old Railway Line – a family run business set in the Wye Valley. This is what makes so many garden Centres successful. The whole family live and breath the business, so please turn to pages 22/23 to find out.
Lesser & Pavey are a long-established importer of all categories of giftware and Christmas products, exhibiting at both Harrogate and Spring Fair. We continue their story on pages 12/13 with an interview with director Jonny Greves.
As we go to press it looks like Festive Productions will be distributing the ‘Twinklies’ lighting range in the U.K.
Harrogate Christmas & Gift show dates for 2026 are from the 11th to the 14th January 2026, so start booking your stand space now!
● I was Chairman of the Board of Directors running the Harrogate show and it was my pleasure to present the Widmann company with a Tantalus to celebrate their 100th year, 56 of which had been spent at the Harrogate show. Andrew Widman and Vernon Butler were two of the nicest people to deal with in the industry.
● Toy company Playmobil exhibited at the show, having great success with their Advent Calendars.
● There is much bad feeling from suppliers who see an increasing number of their larger customers visiting the Far East and organizing their own ranges. One supplier pointed out “We have someone in the Far East virtually every other week. It is impossible for buyers to believe that they can do it themselves in just one or two weeks. Buyers don’t seem to care about relationships any more.”
Harsh words, but perhaps even more true today than it was back in 2002.
● Spring Fair add an extra hour to the show, somet hing much appreciated by buyers, but less so by some exhibitors I spoke to.
● Talking of business relationships, I received a letter from Michael Morris of Pennystretcher, based in Newcastle in which they praise Premier Decorations. Part of which I show below.
‘We are a family-run business that has traded since May 1985 and have had an account with Premier for the last 6 years. During our 16 years in business we have had accounts with many companies –some good, some bad, but none have been as good as Premier.’
Their final paragraph ‘This is why during our 6 years with your company our Christmas order has increased each year as has the standard of the Premier product. We wish your company even more success for the future.’
● I criticize the BBC and other broadcasters who whenever snow has visited us, mollycoddle the Great British public by telling them to stay indoors, only go out when necessary etc. So often the snow is only in Scotland and rural areas. The fact that two major exhibitions occur in January, relying on their customers to visit the shows, these weather comments can and do affect attendance. We are after all, grown ups and can decide for ourselves what the roads are like etc.
● The Harrogate show open up Halls ‘D’ and Hall ‘H’ for the first time, therefore increasing still further the number of exhibitors.
● Big sellers in 2013 are the battery-operated timer lights and somewhat surprisingly, tapestry fibre-optic pictures. Snowtime in particular sell big numbers of their Thomas Kinkade and also
newly signed Raymond Briggs ‘Snowman’ and ‘Snowdog’.
● Kaemingk run one of the most stunning adverts for their ‘Sparkling Christmas’.
● Our front cover is taken by German company Riffelmacher who were making great in-roads into the U.K. market.
● We are delighted to report that John Athwal is named in the New Years’s Honours List with an O.B.E. Richly deserved for a thoroughly nice gentleman.
● We are saddened at the announcement by Trevor Pheiffer that his ‘Christmas Greats’ event is leaving Harrogate for a much softer event during Spring Fair. With so many Christmas Decoration companies not exhibiting at Spring Fair, this seems a backward step to us.
● The Chinese government has been upping its requirement for improving environmental and pollution and health safety checks on all manufacturing plants which sadly has led to closure by some of the smaller manufacturers leading therefore to a serious lack of supplies.
● We also note that more and more garden centres are insisting on own brand only Christmas products. We believe that this is unhealthy, offering the consumer far less choice.
I loved the quote from Konstsmide “Quality is remembered, long after price is forgotten’ Very true!
● We interview Derek Bunker, owner of Essex’s largest garden centre – Altons. It is always interesting to find out how the penny drops on encouraging Christmas sales. For Derek it was a trip to Canada with his wife Helen in 1981. It was really cold in Canada in early November, but Derek noticed that the big garden centres there were heating their garden centres and selling Christmas big time.
Derek thought “I’ll have some of that” and the rest is history!
Every year garden centre industry expert Phil McCann embarks on a late autumn road trip of festive discovery, and the results just keep getting better. Sarah Welsh shines a spotlight on the GCA Christmas display competition…
As an independent garden centre inspector with years of experience and impeccable knowledge of this much-loved sector, Phil McCann knows what he’s about when he sets off for his annual Christmas ‘retail road trip.’ To judge the Garden Centre Association’s festive display competition.
It’s a tall order in terms of miles covered, categories to
Peter Burks explains, broadly the turnover brackets for each category range from 0-3 million (LGC), 3-8 million (GC) and more than 8 million (DGC).
“The majority of days I judged two centres, but on a couple of days I made it to three. It was certainly full on!
“I presented my findings to the GCA membership in early December. We brought it forward from previous years so that the winners could take full advantage of their achievements and for everyone to see what was going on across the country, while it was still happening.
“Every category in the judging –lighting, wreaths, artificial trees, garlands, gifts and more – was sensational,” he adds.
“Without doubt Christmas is the time of year where colleagues come together as teams and produce breathtaking results.”
consider for all entrants and the microscopic attention to detail he needs to select winners in this hard-fought yearly festive contest. But the sheer ingenuity, teamwork, design skills and incredible vision Phil encounters from centres of all sizes, located right across the UK, blows him away every time.
Last year a new category –Local Garden Centre (LGC) – was added to the mix, meaning there are now three entrance classes in total, LGC, Destination Garden Centre (DGC) and Garden Centre (GC.) As GCA chief executive
A three-year high of 48 garden centres in total entered the 2024 Christmas competition, with 12 in the LGC category, 25 competing for the GC crown and 11 contenders in the DGC group. Phil travelled from Jersey to Belfast, and Wales to Teesside to take in all the entrants, with inspections beginning on November 1 and lasting a month.
‘Exquisite attention to detail’ “In order to get to everyone there were Saturday calls, early morning visits at 8am and a couple of late-night openings until 9pm that came in handy,” Phil reveals. “And what a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas competition it was.
“Overall, the Christmas commerciality of all the garden centres who entered was dialled up, whilst at the same time none of the charm, personality and sheer exuberance customers love so much at centres during the festive build up was lost.”
Phil reports finding ‘exquisite attention to detail that transfixed everyone’ in the Christmas themes and displays he experienced, along with superb visual merchandising and excellent retail practice.
“Without doubt this is the time of year where colleagues come together as teams and produce breathtaking results. And it’s also a chance for previously unseen skills to come to the fore. Delivery drivers become joiners, till operators become tree dressers and plant area staff become designers.
“Brilliant customer service is also another facet of the overall GCA garden centre Christmas experience. No other retailer comes even close to achieving what GCA members produce and customers love it.”
Better standards, better profits
Peter Burks says the Christmas competition is a real highlight – and better standards often mean better profits for member centres as well.
“There is certainly a sense of friendly competition within the sector and it’s about teams striving to succeed,” Peter explains.
“The contest has been running for many years and is a celebration of what has become one of the busiest profit periods in the calendar for the garden centre sector. For some centres December has become the busiest month for sales in the whole year.
“When the centres are set up for the season everything changes and they get turned into a winter wonderland. Christmas brings in a completely different customer but also maintains existing customers who might, for example, bring their grandchildren.
“There’s a huge amount of creativity at Christmas within our sector. On a personal level I love nothing more than going to a garden centre at the weekend. I visit centres with my GCA hat on at Christmas time, but it’s also about seeing what teams have come up with – and of course buying a tree and a poinsettia or two!”
Third time’s a charm
the storytelling theme.
Natalie Graham, marketing manager at Garsons, Esher, which scooped the DGC top award for the third year running, says the store’s win is as much a testament to the garden centre’s customers as the staff team behind it.
“It’s an incredible honour to have won again, and we couldn’t be prouder of the team – led by the incredibly talented Nikki Macey – for bringing the vision to life,” Natalie says. “This win is just as much about our loyal
“We’re already working on 2025’s themes and can’t wait to surprise and delight everyone again next Christmas.”
Winning team work
The Gardens Group shone again in the 2024 contest, with one of it’s three centres – Castle Gardens in Sherborne – taking the GC category, and the other two – Brimsmore Gardens and Poundbury Gardens – placing second and third in the new
“The contest is a celebration of what has become one of the busiest profit periods in the calendar for the garden centre sector.”
customer base as it is about us though. They’re at the heart of everything we do.
“For Christmas season 2024, we drew on the magic and detailed world of Narnia, thoroughly researching all seven of C.S. Lewis’ enchanting novels to create an immersive experience like no other. From the website to exploring the store, we wanted every touchpoint to tell a story.
“Our six main themes allowed us to create a spectacular festive wonderland, and each included a theatrical display, including a six-foot gold lion ‘Aslan’, constructed of cardboard, and Jadis the White Witch driving polar bears. Each theme also showcased shoppable Christmas products and decorations that complemented
LGC category.
Louise Burks, director of The Gardens Group, comments: “This is another fantastic achievement for the whole team who have pulled together to create something truly magical, all the while striving to be bigger, better and more eco-friendly than the year before.
“To win the top prize again is so rewarding for us all, but to take second and third place in the local garden centre categories shows the hard work, dedication, consistency and vision at each of our garden centres. We’re always doing our utmost to enhance the experience, while helping our customers to reduce the environmental impact of their celebrations, so to have this recognised by our industry means a great deal to us.”
Looking ahead to next Christmas
Phil says he enjoys the judging process so much that ‘it’s almost a shame’ that there must be runnersup and winners in the categories.
“We had it all in 2024 –singing penguins, grizzly bears and snoozing polar bears, along with dazzling displays and that all-important customer service,” he concludes.
“Each garden centre last year was truly staggering in terms of creativity and flair. I’m already looking forward to the 2025 competition!”
When it comes to serving up festive flair with ease, Christmas and gifting company Lesser & Pavey have led the pack for decades. Sarah Welsh spoke to Director Jonny Greves ahead of Spring Fair…
Being successful in festive retail and the gift industry relies on companies that have an instinctive knowledge for what their customers want, an eye for new design and an ability to adapt quickly. Lesser & Pavey excel at all three, which is why Spring Fair is such huge business for the team.
February at Birmingham’s NEC is undoubtedly the biggest show of the year for Lesser & Pavey, and a whopping 5,000 pieces are transported to Hall 5 of the exhibition centre, with many new product ranges showcased to customers for the first time.
From novelty gnomes sure to raise a smile to beautifully packaged home fragrance and coveted, highly collectable table and homeware ranges, the sheer breadth of Lesser & Pavey’s product portfolio is inspiring in itself. And of course, the company is also home to the much-loved brand, the Leonardo Collection.
Jonny, 2025 marks your 10-year anniversary of working at Lesser & Pavey. How did that journey start for you?
I’ve always had a love for working in the retail sector and that was instilled in me by my parents, Theresa Jane (TJ) and Kevin.
They own an online trade gift wholesaler company and I worked for them for about eight years when a position became vacant here. Interestingly they themselves had had a change in career, because they used to own residential care homes. It was after selling that business that they moved into retail. Things could have ended up differently because I’d started working for them after leaving school and was saving up to go travelling. But then the recession hit in 2008
We’re successful as a company because we pivot. We cater to the way different customers want to do things. “ ”
and everything changed pretty dramatically. I wanted to stay and help them.
When the position arose at Lesser & Pavey it was my mum who suggested it could be a good opportunity for me. When I reached out I was lucky enough to be offered the job straight away and I’ve not looked back since. The nice thing is that I still work with my parents in some capacity. Mum works in buying so we’re always giving each other insights!
You’ve now been a director at Lesser & Pavey for six years. What’s so special about the company?
I was predominantly on the buying side at first here, but now my responsibilities are multiple. From the very first day I felt really welcome and knew this was the right place for me to be.
We’re successful as a company because we pivot when needed. We cater to the way different customers want to do things. Covid was a massive event for us, as it was for everyone in the sector, and it did change the business quite a lot. We have so many more virtual meetings now and sales are done in a different way, depending on what suits different buyers. So much can be done from behind a screen but we also still feel it’s so important to have the Lesser & Pavey sales team on the road, and we’re growing it, because for many that’s still the best way to do business. And our Kent showroom is still open five days a week and weekends by appointment.
At Lesser & Pavey we have very established relationships with certain suppliers and our main ethos on that side is to build and look after those long-standing partnerships. I tend to travel to the Far East around six times a year.
What are your plans for Spring Fair?
We’ll take around 5,000 items in total to the NEC – Christmas, gifting and everyday ranges. It’s the biggest show of the year for us and the right time for many people to buy. We launch brand new ranges there and find that the customer-base the show attracts is really varied.
In terms of our show stand, the design team display product in a way that’s designed to maximise sales and to make it an easy buying experience for customers.
Lesser & Pavey is also well known for licensed products, particularly working with artists…
Spring Fair is without doubt the biggest show of the year for us. It’s the right time for people to buy “ ”
We have buyers from all retail backgrounds but they all want it kept simple, rather than being drawn into ‘an experience.’ We keep things uniform, less eclectic and tie items that will sell well together. So, we’ll have our Christmas ranges together, our fragrances together and our kitchenware and home categories together on the stand.
We just can’t wait to see our customers, old and new, at the show and welcome everyone to the stand.
You’re renowned for your festive homewares. What can customers look forward to seeing at the show? We have traditional designs that customers come back for year on year, such as traditional Santa and snowmen ranges. But buyers can also expect more contemporary takes on robins and hugely popular highland cows. We have beautiful, watercolour painted designs across homeware pieces, including mugs, coasters, trays, lap trays, jugs, cushions and place mats. One range might have up to 30 pieces, from table top to gift to classic Christmas.
We have a long-held relationship with Macneil Studios and our traditional ranges featuring Santa, robin and snowman family ranges were very popular at Harrogate Christmas & Gift this year. And then there’s beautiful contemporary watercolour collections from the Jennifer Rose Gallery featuring winter robins and highland cows. Bug Art is another popular collection for us.
A new artist we’ve worked with for 2025 is Finola Stack and she produces brilliant work featuring fun characters. This includes our ‘Animals Behaving Madly’ range.
A couple more licenses we’ve been working on for this year include Paper Shed Design and Robert James Hull.
What else do you think will be selling well for Christmas this year?
In terms of festive trends highland cows continue to be very popular and novelty garden gnomes are also coming back in. We have a fun range of tongue-in-cheek designs that are selling well.
Our heritage style William Morris ranges, showcasing the iconic Fruits and Lodden artwork, also continue to have a real following. Our William Morris Fruits
collection has been expanded for 2025. Fragrance is another area that continues to be popular for us and is also always evolving in terms of product design. We offer mainly diffusers with some candles and we have a lovely range of colours that are all beautifully boxed, meaning they’re incredibly popular for gifting.
For more information visit: www.leonardo.co.uk
Spring Fair: Stand 5D10-E11, 5D20-E21
When it comes to celebrating special occasions the organisers of the Harrogate Christmas & Gift show have always been most generous and their 75th was no exception.
I should know, as I’ve helped them celebrate their 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th and now 75th!
Held in the beautiful Victorian Royal Hall almost 400 exhibitors and customers spent three hours chatting, drinking and enjoying the delicious Canapes offered to the guests via an army of waiters and waitresses.
A local Blues band kept our feet tapping, so all in all a great way to finish the first day of the show.
Our pictures give a flavour of the event.
Whilst at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair, I caught up with Noma’s sales director Frank Kaminski to learn of their plans for 2025. I asked him how 2024 had panned out “It was a challenging year with a number of situations outside our control. This has made us determined to ensure plans are well in place to cope with any similar situations that may arise again in 2025.”
I asked Frank what had been their stand out product for 2024? His immediate response “Without doubt our 2024 show stopper ‘Winter Wonderland’ – a large sleigh pulled by 8 elegant reindeers. We knew it would be a big seller. We were quite careful with our pricing and customers were extremely surprised just how reasonably priced ‘Winter Wonderland’ was. As a consequence, they loved it and so did their consumer customers.”
Noma’s plan this year is to help their retail customers as much as possible to compete with the sheds and large grocers. One area this can be achieved is by pricing their string lights at very competitive prices.
Frank explains “We intend to reduce our margins and in so doing allow our customers to compete on price. We will definitely not reduce our quality to achieve this.”
Noma is encouraging buyers to place their orders as early as possible. To support this, they
placed forward orders with all their Far Eastern partners several months ago.
This will ensure that they are well prepared if the situations that occurred last year are repeated in 2025.
With so many new additions to the ranges for 2025, I asked Frank what his favourites were for the coming Season.
SPECTRUM – Remote-controlled lights that combine innovation and style that Frank states “Offer the ultimate lighting experience, amazing colours with versatile memory functions plus stunning functionality capabilities in a full range of strings & net lights, icicles, trees and festive favourite deers.”
HOLOSPIN – Visual merchandising at it’s best. HoloSpin is an advanced state-of-the-art transmission holographic system that projects breathtaking 3D visuals, seemingly suspended in mid-air.
Ideal for advertising, events, retail, and entertainment, HoloSpin engages audiences by providing an immersive experience that tricks the human eye.
HoloSpin was one of the hottest topics on their stand at Harrogate with huge interest from buyers.
CORALITE – A collection of festive shapes offered in three different sizes. Developed over three years, this impressive range has been well worth the wait. Fully patented, it features 35 unique designs for both Christmas and Halloween.
ARBORETUM TREES – Now in their second year. Designs have been based on trees found in
Norway, The Rockies and Highlands of Scotland. Frank tells me that they have been most successful in arranging with customers to have their own brand and tree names printed on the packaging, giving each tree it’s own personality that is different to other retailers.
DICKENSVILLE - Step into the heartwarming charm of Dickensville, an enchanting inflatable pop-up Christmas village. Dickensville brings the spirit of a classic Victorian Christmas right to any retail space or holiday event, inspired by the timeless tales of Charles Dickens. The Santa’s Grotto is not to be missed, every Santa should have one in their retail outlet, the children and grown ups love it.
No complicated assembly required! Simply inflate and watch your village come to life in minutes. Dickensville creates a cozy holiday Christmas display effortlessly (see more at www. dickensville.co.uk).
HALLOWEEN – Making its debut at Harrogate 2025, NOMA has launched a spooktacular range of Halloween products! Stock up now and take advantage of our frightfully fun collection.
Noma – part of the Leisuregrow Group. sales@leisuregrow.com | Tel: 01462 744500
This year Spring Fair turns 75. Leading the celebrations is event director Soraya Gadelrab, and with 12 magnetic buying destinations, special anniversary events, big names and of course the Christmas, Festive & Floral Hall, visitors are in for a treat. Sarah Welsh found out what’s in store…
An immersive experience packed with incredible exhibitors, exciting events and features, more than a million new products – and even a Christmas café. It’s no wonder so many from the retail sector will be flocking to Birmingham’s NEC for the 2025 anniversary edition of Spring Fair.
This can’t-miss staple in the trade show calendar celebrates its 75th birthday this year, and with over 1,200 exhibitors confirmed, 400 new brands, five special product pavilions and an anniversary awards event to take in, the schedule looks set to dazzle as much as the festive brands showcasing their collections.
There are a dozen product destinations laid out across four categories – Home, Gift, Moda Fashion and Everyday - and Christmas, Festive & Floral sits under Home. Big seasonal and gift names to look out for include, Kaemingk, Florelle, Davies Products, Lesser & Pavey, Home County Candle Co, Heaven Sends and Coach House Christmas.
Jeff Banks, much-loved, flamboyant designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and TV dragon Theo Paphitis will all be making an appearance at the show, and if that’s not enough excitement for you, there’s also the new Christmas café perfectly situated in the seasonal hall where you can sip on a holiday-inspired drink from the Starbucks pop-up.
Show director Soraya Gadelrab spoke to Christmas in February about why Spring Fair means so much to her, and what else is in store.
Soraya, 2025 is your second year looking after Spring Fair. Why is the show so iconic? It’s the community the show attracts, and its vast size. It’s a barometer for the industry and a reflection of the market and there’s no better place to spot retail trends. It’s the combination of well-known heritage brands and the innovation of first-time exhibitors.
I came from a food and drink background, but have always been close to the retail sector. For me it’s also really exciting to expand that vision from one particular segment of retail to such a wide remit. I mean, who doesn’t buy fashion, gift and home products.
How did you come to work within retail?
I’ve had a connected to retail since I was a teenager. My dad owned a luxury continental chocolate shop in Grosvenor Precinct, Chester. In that period of the late 1980s, early 1990s, high-end chocolate retailing was quite new. I loved the shop and seeing the customers delight in the experience Dad created. He was definitely an entrepreneur and I really felt that influence growing up. I feel like it’s gone full circle with me coming back into this world.
What special events have you got planned to mark the show’s 75th anniversary?
It’s going to be a big party for sure. A celebration of all who have been a part of the show for so many years. There will be happy hours, ‘Spring Fair at Night’, giant birthday cards, a beautiful anniversary fragrance and we’re also hosting our own awards.
How and why does Spring Fair continue to be of such importance to seasonal buyers?
The show remains the ultimate destination for seasonal buyers because of its unparalleled scale, diversity and sheer breadth of product ranges on display. Spring Fair is not just about Christmas. It’s about offering buyers a 360-degree view of retail trends and opportunities for the entire year. For festive buyers, this means they can source Christmas collections alongside complementary
ranges in gifts, home, greetings and more – all under one roof. Plus, the size of the show ensures buyers have access to leading names, emerging brands and international exhibitors they won’t find anywhere else.
What retail events and speakers do you think will be of particular interest to seasonal and garden centre buyers?
Our New Business Pavilions, GCA Debut Pavilion, and #SBS Village are your first port of call for discovering brand new businesses – the future generation of high street bestsellers. The Inspiring Retail Stage, Masterclass Studio and Licensing Lab will welcome some of retail’s most inspiring people sharing their knowledge and insights.
What does Christmas mean to you personally?
I’m one of those people that the second it hits the 1st of December, I’m in Christmas mode. I love to see high streets and shop windows come to life with gorgeous festive displays. It brings back happy childhood memories of when my uncle used to take us to Regent Street every year to see the lights.
I come from a big family and we all get together, eat lots, play games and exchange gifts. I’m lucky enough to get two Christmas celebrations actually. As an orthodox Christian I also celebrate it all again on the 7th January. That occasion is centred around food though. We’re not greedy enough to do presents twice!
What: Spring Fair 75th edition | When: 2-5 February
Where: NEC Birmingham | Web: www.springfair.com
Harrogate Christmas & Gift Years
The Harrogate Christmas and Gift Show is a highly anticipated event in the trade calendar, and the 2025 edition lived up to its reputation.
By all accounts- from both customers and exhibitors- it was a resounding success! The doors have now closed, and the halls are empty. Gone are the glistening lights and festive decorations, packed away as we move full steam ahead into the new year.
Every exhibitor was on top form and every stand was a sight to behold. Some exhibitors take a full week to setup their stall and amazingly can bring the whole thing down, fully packed away in hours. The Premier stand… taking up the entirety of Hall H is an example of this. I must say, Premier’s showcase this year
was nothing short of outstanding, blending innovative design with thoughtful presentation. The displays were extremely well thought out to the point that every product seemed highly appealing to customers.
Plenty of new products were on offer from Premier in their typical market-leading style.
One standout was Premier’s new “Enchanted” colourway, featuring a captivating mix of blue, purple, and ice white. This colour combination, available across bestselling light strings (including the Treebright range) and sculptures, has been an instant hit, evoking a magical winter wonderland charm. Let’s not forget that Premier’s Treebrights are still very much a market leader and this edition to the fold should further enhance sales, which are buoyant, due to innovative marketing and packaging design that details which bulb counts are best fitted to which size of tree.
Another highlight was the new aluminium range of Christmas sculptures. Again, many customers have bought into this new offer from Premier as the ranging of items covers many different price points and shapes
range of Christmas sculptures. Again, many customers have bought into this new offer from Premier as the ranging of items covers many different price points and shapes. The sculptures look impressive even when unlit, enhancing their decorative value. The 1.4m aluminium stag must be the star of the collection which I am sure customers have purchased to centre their retail displays around.
Premier’s new and exclusive stained-glass designs are also shaping up to be a best-seller for 2025. Available in A4 and A5 sizes, this intricate range features 12 designs, with the Robin and Triple Candle proving particularly popular and attracting many orders. This exclusive product line has been one of Premier’s most successful at the show and is sure to gain popularity in many a home.
Another highlight was the new aluminium
Other items include the trendy new range of plush Highland cows, the stunning new collection of welcome lights available in three colourways and five shapes (star, tree, wreath,
Premier’s catalogues are available upon request, and all SKUs can be viewed online via their ordering portal at www.premierdec.com. The portal includes up-to-date stock availability, detailed product imagery, and videos where applicable. Additionally, Premier offers an extensive library of point-of-sale materials and digital assets to support customer marketing efforts.
snowflake, and crescent moon), and the extensive selection of large plush inflatables that performed exceptionally well in 2024 and continue to do so for 2025. Additionally, the brand-new water spinners featuring snowflake glitter—offering a fresh twist on the traditional glitter—are a highlight, as is the impressive 2.6m cherry blossom LED tree, now revitalised with modern digital effects to breathe new life into this classic category. These are all must-see products, and I’m sure I haven’t managed to mention everything— there was just so much to take in!
That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the new offerings from Premier. There is so much to discuss that this publication simply cannot cover everything in detail. I strongly recommend any retailer specialising in Christmas to book an appointment at one of Premier’s showrooms (Ruislip HA4 0EJ or Wrexham LL19 9PQ) to fully explore
are sure to mention the rotating Christmas tree stand that is brand new to Premier as it made it into the top ten sellers at Harrogate. Not just for retail displays, the rotating stand carries such a good trade price it should do very well selling from retail shelves.
I will conclude by highlighting that the partnership between The National Tree Company and Premier has once again gone from strength to strength. As the sole distributor for National Tree products and Scentsicles in the UK, placing an order with Premier for Christmas is an absolute must, as these major selling brands are exclusively
available through them. The quality of the products speaks for itself, and the brand ethos aligns perfectly with Premier’s own business approach, creating a formidable partnership and a strong market presence.
To experience Premier’s 2025 range firsthand, book your showroom appointment with your Premier sales account manager today. For those unable to visit the Ruislip or Wrexham showrooms the Premier website displaying the full ranges for each division can cater for your ordering requirements.
Registered customers are able to view all SKUs online via the ecommerce portal at www.premierdec.com.
The portal includes upto-date stock availability, detailed product imagery, and videos where applicable. Additionally, Premier offers an extensive library of point-of-sale materials and digital assets to support customer marketing efforts. If you have any questions; please call 0208 624 5555.
For more information visit:
Katie
Eckley
The Old Railway Line has long been on the right track for leading Christmas retail. Sarah Welsh spoke to operations director, Katie Eckley , to learn more…
The Old Railway Line is an independent, family-run garden centre with a fascinating history – and a rural setting to die for. It sits nestled in the heart of the Wye Valley at the foot of the Black Mountains, looking out to the stunning landscape of the Brecon Beacons.
The garden centre was founded by couple Mark and Christina Cleary back in 1990, on the site of the old Brecon to Hereford branch of the Midland Railway. The line had been officially closed to passengers in 1962, eventually being scrapped for good two years later as part of the infamous Beeching Cuts. Christina’s father had purchased the land back in the same decade, and initially ran a piggery there.
“The idea for creating our own Christmas films originally came from the annual excitement about the John Lewis ad.”
Today the award-winning centre – a consistent top finisher in the annual GCA Christmas Competition, placing third in 2024’s Destination Garden Centre category – is still family run with several generations involved in driving the business. And that includes Mark and Christina’s daughter Katie, now operations director, who has been working there since just before she turned 11.
The garden centre story was born when the Clearys began selling bedding plants from a small greenhouse at the entrance, and as customer demand grew, so did the business. The first permanent retail building was completed in 2009, with expansion continuing to include a dedicated gift space, farm shop and 150 cover restaurant.
Katie, who says you never stop learning in this industry, is part of a team who revel in creating magic for their loyal customer base at Christmas time and the whole festive retail period. But they’re also really ahead of the pack when it comes to innovative ideas and social media engagement.
On the day Christmas in February spoke to Katie, the Old Railway Line had been contending with snow, ice, the kind of freezing temperatures that particularly hit rural garden centres, and two days of bad sales – but this isn’t a team you can keep down!
Katie, you’ve literally grown up in this business. Can you tell us more about why family is at the heart of the Old Railway Line? I turned 38 on Christmas Eve, and I’ve spent 28 of those years being involved in the business. Sweeping up, pricing, I started doing all that before turning 11 and my love for it is still so strong, so I’m definitely in the right job! I went on to study horticulture and I’m also a fully qualified florist. My brother Liam is the garden retail director, my sister Shaunagh is the catering director and my husband Mike, who’s a retired police officer, now also works here as well. Not only that but our sons Tommy, who’s seven, and Teddy, five, have made regular appearances in our Christmas videos on YouTube!
Our family is a very close one and we all live within about 10 miles of each other. We’re always learning from each other, sharing stories, it’s a big part of what makes the garden centre so special.
Tell us about the Christmas films the Old Railway Line has become well known for… The idea originally came from the annual excitement about the John Lewis Christmas advert. We realised we could roll out our own short film via YouTube and social media
to our local audience. The film we made for 2024 is our sixth bigger video, and they’re all designed to give a warm feeling for family viewers. We’ve even won an industry award for best festive video.
Last year the film was called ‘The Magic of a Christmas Gift’ and it featured our boys and Millie, the daughter of our marketing director Joe. The script and story were all written by my cousin Matt who also works in the business. He also films and edits it. The feedback on last year’s film was lovely and all the customers were asking about it. All of our Christmas themes in store were based on ballets, so it’s great for marketing. We even turned the plot into a story book and raised money for a few local charities.
Nutcracker – traditional Christmas colours, and Swan Lake – pinks, pastels and white. What’s the process from start to finish for bringing them to life?
“Our Christmas area is actually a separate building. It works quite well with doing a ‘big reveal’.”
What does your job entail as operations director?
I do a lot of buying and future planning. We’re building a new entrance lobby and plant canopy in the early part of this year and are hoping to finish that by Easter. I do the giftware buying and stock management throughout the year, keeping everything on track.
In terms of festive buying I tend to do it with Matt and my mum, and Dad gets involved as well. We’re all part of putting the themes together the December before the relevant festive season, so that happened December 2023 for last Christmas, and the story comes full circle.
Tell us more about your themes from Christmas just gone.
We had ballet themes, including: Cinderella – with shades of blue, silver and pearl, The Snowman – white and greens, Hansel and Gretal – red, white and green hues, Wind in the Willows – earthy greens, browns and copper,
We start with an inspiration board, a bit like Blue Peter! We look at new ideas from suppliers and how we’ll put our own spin on things. And we do visit other garden centres as well during the season, look at what they’re doing. Then, during the build which kicks off after August Bank Holiday weekend, we do our layout sets, with shelving and display features. Our Christmas area is actually a separate building within the centre, so it works quite well with doing a ‘big reveal.’ We aim for the last Friday in September and we’ve never had any comments about it being too early!
Our festive experience takes customers on a journey. There’s a set path to follow and one cosy theme blends into the next. It’s a sizable space but we make it feel very intimate, and go heavy on the decoration.
What was your favourite part of Christmas at Old Railway Line last year?
It was probably the first theme where people came in. We managed to source a really old Victorian horse cart for £150. It was in terrible condition but we painted it and it created a beautiful carriage for Cinderella. We had reindeer pulling it, a mannequin for the character of Cinderella, mice dressed up and pumpkins sprayed silver. Visitors want to be wowed and we like the challenge.
What festive suppliers do you love to work with?
Kaemingk and Gisela Graham are two of our main Christmas suppliers. We don’t do a lot of
showroom visits, because of the travelling time involved, but we have recently visited Edelman and Kaemingk. We do a lot of sourcing from catalogues and web shops. We also go to Spring Fair but I tend to focus more on gift buying there. I haven’t been to Christmas & Gift yet but I’m keen to go to Harrogate.
One brand, Shoeless Joe, that specialises in sustainably sourced decorations, we really like because it suits our customer base. We also have some local companies, like china and candle company Welsh Connection, and we like Richard Lang. We stock a lot of local suppliers in the food hall.
Finally, what does Christmas mean to your own family?
We’ve always loved Christmas and we’re close with our extended family so there’s always a big celebration. We’ll do something for my birthday on Christmas Eve. We also enjoy spending time together at the garden centre, creating a lovely experience for customers. The day job certainly hasn’t killed the Christmas spirit for me yet!
www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk
The Davies Products team is building on show success and looking ahead to Spring Fair…
Supplying the retail trade for over 78 years, at Davies Products we focus on creating enticing decorative products and giftware that help you stand out from the crowd!
Our 2025 collections showcase our largest ever range. We are delighted to introduce hundreds of exciting and innovative new lines covering home décor and florals in every season starting with a spectacular Spring, Easter and Summer collection through to cosy Autumn, spooky Halloween and of course our enchanting Christmas range.
This year Christmas highlights rich colours,
wonderful textures and essential seasonal sparkle with wonderful themes including Luxurious Velvets, Magical Midnight, Sugar Plum Candy, family fun with Santa’s Coming to Town, Golden Moments and a sparkling collection of floral stems, picks and garlands. A perfect blend of contemporary and classic, we have something for everyone.
Following tremendous success at Harrogate Home and Gift, come and see what our ranges have to offer!
See us at Spring Fair Hall 5, Stand C60-D61, or
For more information visit: www.daviesproducts.com Spring Fair: Hall 5, Stand C60-D61
you are welcome to book a visit to our extensive showrooms.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
The Harrogate Christmas and Gift show has now concluded, so it is time to reflect on Premier’s Halloween Collection.
Premier’s Halloween trade offers for 2025 are very exciting with a variety of deals catering to different interests within the Halloween community.
Whether you are looking for decorations, animation, hats, masks, lit motifs or unique collectibles, there is something for everyone.
Halloween decor has a significant impact on retail, transforming stores into spooky wonderlands that attract shoppers and boost sales. Retailers can capitalise on the festive season by offering a wide range of themed products, from party supplies and novelty fun to eerie animation and ghostly lit spiderwebs. This seasonal surge in demand creates opportunities for impulse buys and crosspromotions, driving foot traffic and increasing sales. Overall, Halloween decor not only enhances the shopping experience but also provides a lucrative opportunity for retailers to engage with customers and maximise profits. Seemingly Halloween is no longer just a kids’ holiday, it is an economic powerhouse and a marketing opportunity. Businesses that fully embrace the season see tangible benefits, from heightened customer engagement to social media buzz and revenue growth.
Premier Decorations offers a wide range of Halloween items that are perfect for creating enticing immersive atmospheres. Their collection includes everything and haunting lights to creepy animatronics
high-quality seasonal products, ensuring that customers can find unique and budget friendly decorations to transform their homes and events into frightful masterpieces.
One of the standout items that was on display in Premier’s Halloween stand was a Fog Bubble machine. Once started, the device produces a steady stream of bubbles that are filled with fog. I have never seen anything like it and there were lots of orders taken and much interest in the product from customers. A perfect addition to any Halloween display as when the bubbles hit the floor, the fog dissipates creating a spooky mist-filled space.
Other products to watch from Premier’s Halloween offer in 2025 are the amazing infinity mirrors which have been selling well. Premier carries new designs and their prices seem to be particularly competitive for this range of items in both their Halloween and Christmas divisions.
Premier has extended their range of Flexibright Motifs, which alongside infinity mirrors, was a best-selling category in 2024. Covering different price points and sizes, these wall-hanging items can also be used via a supplied stand and this category, new last year, is continuing to grow in popularity. Flexibright light strings have been utilised to create this outdoor twinkling silhouettes range that offers a mysterious and bright, exciting visual addition to any house or Halloween display with minimum effort in a variety of shapes such as frowny eyes, incredibly effective spiders, scary pumpkins, floating ghosts and decorative looking skulls. When it comes to creating detailed and intricate designs, Carving Tools are always a popular choice. Pumpkins, the most iconic symbol of Halloween, serve as canvases for
creating creative designs. These can then be easily illuminated with one of Premier’s many LED Candles, which provide a safe and effective way to light up the carved pumpkins.
For larger statement products, Premier offers Animations and Inflatables, which bring even more excitement to the Halloween season. Smaller details such as Tinsel Characters add another layer of charm to Halloween displays, while webs, candy baskets, jars, lights, and stakes provide additional decoration options to enhance the atmosphere.
Finally, for families looking to engage in creative activities, Premier’s range for 2025 also includes Arts and Craft Kits. These kits enable families to come together and create their own DIY Halloween decorations, adding a personal touch to the festivities.
We are all looking forward to 2025 and are full of expectation and excitement. Ultimately, Halloween decorations are a testament to the creativity and communal spirit that define this beloved holiday. Whether modest or extravagant, traditional or contemporary they contribute to the tapestry of memories that make Halloween a cherished tradition for families and communities. So, as the witching hour approaches, let us embrace the spooky charm of Halloween decorations, revelling in the magic they bring to our lives.
A definitive must-see, so please do contact Premier today to book for a showroom visit. www. premierdec.com
We are looking for an Operations Manager
Based in our Cambridge Warehouse
Also we require two agents to cover the South East and South West of England If you plan to visit the Harrogate Christmas & Gift show, please call on our stand in Hall C Stand C2
To apply email: john@shatchi.co.uk
Require an AGENT to represent them in IRELAND
Apply to Mr. Oscar Johannson, Konstsmide (UK) Ltd., Hardwick View Road, Holmwood Industrial Estate, Holmewood, Chesterfield, Derbys. S42 5SA.
Tel:01246 852140 or email: sales@konstsmide.co.uk or call on our stand at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair Hall M
Are looking for an Account/sales manager to handle U.K. sales.
Please contact Mr. Frits van Dearmen
Tel: 0031 88 888 1 888 Or email: frits@fdl.eu
