6 minute read
Leader
Ji Leader
2022
It is hard to believe that the first edition of ‘Christmas in January appeared 33 years ago and it is a great compliment to the Christmas and floral sector that it is even stronger today with much more creativity than that first edition all those years ago. Of course, modern technology has been responsible for many of these great steps forward!
The Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair opens its doors on Sunday the 16th January and as we go to press is virtually full.
All the major names are exhibiting and I for one expect the show to be a roaring success. The few shows that I have attended over the last few months that were organised for other industries where we publish b2b titles were all very successful. Both buyers and exhibitors welcomed the opportunity to once again meet face-toface, discuss product and place orders
I am sad to report the passing this year of three industry icons. Bert Wood was one of the very first distributors to concentrate on Christmas product, representing amongst other companies Krebs and Puleo. Bert was a keen Burnley supporter and at least lived long enough to see his beloved team back in Premiership and was a thoroughly nice man.
John Hughes spent many years with Christmascraft and in his latter years helped to create a new company that they named the ‘Paragon Collection’.. John also began the first Christmas Decoration industry golf day, which he ran right up to his retirement and which I took over and eventually merged with one of our other golf days.
Martin Hawken worked for Premier Decorations, retiring last year after 28 years. Martin was a real character, he worked hard and played even harder. He was an expert on fine wines, many of which we all shared over so many fantastic Premier events.
All three are remembered within our News pages.
There is no doubt whatsoever that 2021 has been the most demanding year for Suppliers ever, having to grapple constantly with shipping problems and obtaining containers to ensure their product arrives in the U.K.
The increased costs that suppliers are having to bare has in part had to be passed on to their customers and I have heard that some prices for containers compared to a
year ago have been up to 8 times higher are almost beyond comprehension.
This is a global problem. Have the shipping owners created this situation on purpose and could it have been avoided? There are many theories circulating within the industry, but the bottom line is that deliveries were badly affected with suppliers delivering to customers right up to midDecember.
We have seen pictures of empty containers stacked in a farmer’s field that would normally have been returned to China. Some shipping lines have delayed sailing times by slow sailing on the High Seas.
Felixstowe has been unable to cope with this log jam and have sent vessels on to other European ports such as Zeebrugge and Rotterdam, leaving the Supplier to cope with off loading and onward delivery to the U.K.
If any of the foregoing is untrue, I stand to be corrected, but despite all of this Suppliers managed to deliver the bulk of their ranges.
As we move into 2022 quite a number of companies have already placed their year’s production to ensure early deliveries for 2022.
It is our fervent hope that the shipping situation improves for 2022 as no one wants another year like 2021.
To illustrate the lengths that Christmas suppliers have gone to ensure that their staff remain focused and working for the cause, I visited the Noma showroom just before Christmas to interview Frank Kaminski who told me that at their Wisbech warehouse, they had added a fish and chip stall to keep their staff happy and well fed. What a great idea – “Pass the salt someone please!”
Our Editor Sarah Welsh interviews Mathew Bent. I first interviewed Mathew’s father Ron Bent back in the early nineties. What a great history with a family that continue to create a magical Christmas experience for their customers. Long may it continue!
Everyone desperately wants the various January and February shows to take place. Personally, despite the daily changing scene, I am ever the optimist and feel confident that we shall see you all on the 16th January.
Don’t forget to stop at our stand just inside the entrance to Hall ‘A’ for a chat.
Shipping woes
A major talking polnt this year is the huge increase in the cost of shipping containers from China, not helped by shipping companies not returning empty containers back to the Far East.
Felixstowe has been suffering from major congestion over the last few months and as our picture shows, one shipping company Maersk had to make use of a local farmer’s field to store the empty containers.
The situation is exacerbated by a lack of drivers and general labour shortages. One thing is for sure shipping companies have made huge profits from the problems faced by importers, where the price of containers compared to a year ago have been reported at up to five or even more times expensive than this time last year.
I’m definitely in the wrong business! Reports filtering through are indicating that whilst prices might reduce slightly, you can kiss good bye to the prices enjoyed by everyone 15 or so months ago!
Ring Out the Old, Ring In the New.
I am pleased to announce that Trans-Continental Group has a new managing director.
Sara Murray has been with the company for 22 years, first as buying manager and latterly as buying director. There are few people in the Christmas industry more experienced than Sara, who has been in the business for 32 years, having joined Mr. Christmas straight from school. She will bring her vast knowledge of all aspects of the trade to her new role and I have no doubt that her undoubted drive and ambition will ensure the continued success of the company in the years ahead. Lee Kennerley is appointed sales director and is well known in the industry. Lee was with the company for 4 years earlier in the decade and rejoins in his new role in time for Harrogate.
I warmly welcome both appointments and look forward to the new team taking the company forward for many years to come.
Hair raising times
To illustrate the many challenges that suppliers have faced during 2021 with shipping and container problems, our two pictures of Mr. John Athwal show him pictured in 2020 with a fine head of hair and a year later in 2021 completely bald. John quoted “Some of my hair has been pulled out in total frustration and the rest has fallen out with the worry of it all.” From the two pictures taken a year apart, John has also aged slightly due to all the worries!
Martin Hawken
It is with great sadness I share the news that Martin Hawken passed away on Friday 5th November, after a short illness.
Quite a few of us have known Martin for a long time as he was with Premier for nearly 28 years until his retirement in July 2020. Indeed Martin had been instrumental in the build up of Premier’s reputation of working hard, but playing even harder. A larger than life character who will be fondly remembered for his love of good food and wines. He was loved by his customers as he made buying and selling fun, which often involved eating and drinking together.
