Focused on the future

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Focused on the Future

Last year Lesser & Pavey celebrated its landmark 50th anniversary, not quite in the way the company would have wished for. However, the home of the legendary Leonardo Collection is firmly fixed on another successful year ahead, as Sarah Welsh discovers…

Since its establishment in 1971, Lesser & Pavey has built a worldwide reputation on supplying Gift and Homeware pieces that combine design flair alongside a love of nostalgia – and all at very affordable prices.

With an in-house art department and 15,000 sq ft offices and showroom in Dartford, Lesser & Pavey is also famed for its main focus brand: The Leonardo Collection – and as Director Jonny Greves told Christmas in January, the company can’t wait to showcase its exciting new festive collections and launch a new Christmas collaboration for 2022.

2021 was a strange year for the festive and gift trade, but an important one for Lesser & Pavey…

Yes, we’d been due to celebrate our anniversary at Spring Fair in February, but ended up having to celebrate with people when we saw them in exceptional circumstances! It was nice to have that anniversary, but to be honest as a company we’re always really focused on the future anyway.

Why does The Leonardo Collection have such broad appeal?

The Leonardo Collection dates back to the 70’s not long after Lesser & Pavey launched. People buy into certain styles and it’s certainly developed into some core Gift and Tableware product ranges. The Tableware side of the collection has become much broader: Mugs, Jugs, Trays, Coasters & Placemats – even venturing into more Gift like items such as Candles and Diffusers. The Leonardo Collection has a big audience that’s for sure.

“Harrogate is where we officially launch our new Christmas products each year, although we do have many visitors to our showroom throughout December as well. Lesser & Pavey bring out an entirely fresh range of designs for Christmas each year.”

You’re also well known for collaboration with artists and greeting card designers…

Yes, it’s core to our business really and always a big part of Christmas for us. I’m currently sitting in our showroom looking at our festive designs for 2022, and I have to say what we do really well is combine traditional designs with ranges that feature more contemporary artwork, so there’s something for everyone. I think that’s a key to our success – we like to offer something traditional alongside ranges that are more ‘on trend’ and contemporary as well.

How important is Harrogate Christmas & Gift Show for you?

Harrogate is where we officially launch our new Christmas products each year, although we do have many visitors to our showroom throughout December as well. Lesser & Pavey bring out an entirely fresh range of designs for Christmas each year.

We only show our Christmas range at the Christmas & Gift show, around 500 pieces, but we spend a lot of time developing our festive range, because we aim to improve it year on year. At Spring Fair we launch our full range for 2022, so our stand there is one of the biggest at the show.

What is it about Christmas & Gift that you love?

The Harrogate show is so focused on Christmas, and that means when we’re exhibiting there that we can give this season its proper attention. It’s not the biggest show, but it attracts excellent numbers of serious festive buyers from all sectors of the market including garden centres.

Christmas is a huge event in the retail calendar and it’s getting bigger all the time. Tableware and matching Giftware has become a massive part of Christmas and that’s great for The Leonardo Collection. We tend to pick up lots of new customers at Christmas & Gift, as well as Spring Fair, but Harrogate in particular always has a lovely atmosphere and it’s a great opportunity for customers to see and touch the products.

Can you tell us more about the artwork for this Christmas?

We have three collections from the MacNeil Studio, which has a traditional feel, delicately painted designs with attention to detail that our customers love. This artwork features Snowmen, Animals, Robins and an idyllic Christmas scene. These designs are quintessentially British.

We also use artwork from the Jennifer Rose Gallery which are featured on two ranges – Winter Robins and Forest Family. These are more contemporary watercolour designs, very subtle and simplistic, using softer colours.

And finally, what about your new design collaboration for Christmas 2022?

We have a brand new range called ‘The Berry Thief’, by artist Karen Tye Bentley which is really exciting. It is inspired by the famous William Morris Strawberry Thief print, which is very well known. Our range features Robins, Berries, Pine Cones and Mistletoe in a delicate repeat pattern. It’s very festive and we think it will be hugely popular with our customers. We can’t wait to see their reaction to it.

What products will you be showcasing at Harrogate this year?

We’ll be taking a huge array of Gift and Tableware from The Leonardo Collection – Mugs, Coasters, Placemats, Lap Trays, Jugs, Butter Dishes, Salt & Pepper Sets – as well as Fragranced Candles and Diffusers, Cushions, Doorstops and Gift Bags.

In terms of festive imagery, we use popular subjects, but always different artwork each year. Robins are very popular, as is Santa and the Magic of Christmas. We’ll also be taking Plush Santas and Reindeers to Christmas & Gift, and some stand out statement pieces.