4 minute read
Constantly re-inventing Christmas
Ji
Constantly re-inventing christmas
It is always a pleasure to visit Noma’s Hertfordshire H.Q. in Hinxworth, where Leisuregrow have steadily built up this long-established brand under Frank Kaminski’s watchful eye.
A quick blast up the A1M and I was soon being shown around the Noma showroom to see for myself a virtual cornucopia of lighting taking many different forms, much of it new awaiting launching at Harrogate in January.
Like all companies during 2021, the company knew they would be facing issues with shipping. Frank told me “We were prepared for the issues with shipping, but we have a great relationship with our shipping agents as LeisureGrow is a business that ship 12 months a year. Our customers were well informed of the status of their stock on a daily basis and as a result were sympathetic and supportive’’.
Some shipments were delayed further than we would have liked, but again our customers accepted this as they appreciated this was beyond everyones control.
Our partners in China, many of whom Frank has dealt with for 20/30 years for saw the I.C/Chip problems and were able to secure enough I.C. chips for the season and beyond, despite there being a world wide shortage.”
Frank was full of praise for James Quigley and his Noma operations team and the way in which they dealt with customers shipping and deliveries.
Moving into 2022 Noma have already placed orders for the entire year with their Chinese partners, giving them more than enough stock to supply customers to the end of 2022, that should see early deliveries into their warehouse in Wisbech, where Noma have taken additional warehouse space. Frank added “Times have changed and we have to make sure that we can fulfil our customers’ orders.”
New for 2022
A collection of outdoor festive figures including a magnificent Highland stag. These festive outdoor characters have a clever ‘duo bulb’ that can change from white to warm white or even a mixture of the two. Many new designs have been added and as Frank says “We feel these new design give the Wow factor.
Noma have a merchandising team that are able to help customers to create appealing Christmas scenes within their garden centres/stores – just another service than enhances Noma’s customer care.
A very clever range launched last year are their ‘Magic Candles’. These have a wand that control the lighting and as Frank states ”These now have a definite magical feel to them.”
Connectables – An ever growing range that more and more can be added for all year round and not just for the Christmas period. These lines are also ideal for summer lighting too ! `A growing trend are Noma’s colour changeable ranges. Also finding favour more and more are Noma’s fine wire lights,
I particularly liked a new range from Noma of Bristle lit trees. These make an ideal indoor centre piece for any table, door or shelf.
Being also a leisure outdoor furniture supplier we have used our expertise and designed a new range of outdoor festive rattan characters in a stunning flat grey weave material combined with the duo bulb.
With a history going back over 80 years, Noma’s ‘Heritage’ range comprising a selection of nostalgic Christmas light chains and seasonal table top that include a Ferris wheel, Carousel, ice skating ring and a most impressive rocking horse, that I can foresee being an item that can be handed down the generations.
New for Noma are a collection of paper stars plus a selection of lit baubles, all in white – certainly different to the traditional Christmas bauble.
Quite a number of Noma’s products could be described as stunning the Outdoor lit wreaths certainly fall into this category.
Starry Nights – An ever more popular part of Noma’s outdoor lighting are their magnificent starry nights range It consists of a range of trees that have both hard and soft fixings with heights up to 12 metres. The larger trees need a flag pole to guarantee a firm fixing. Part of this range are their door trees that can be easily fixed to any door both inside and out.
Having been shown around the showroom, it was time to enter a new area known as ‘Secret Garden’. This room comprised a collection of impressive garden lighting that comes under the Solar 365 and ‘Fit & Forget’ battery category Many different shapes and sizes that give the consumer 72 days of constant high lumen lighting.
Packaging and re-branding – Frank was very pleased with the company’s new re-branding, Which has resulted in increased orders, the new style enables the customer to instantly understand the product they are purchasing.
With an increased amount of stand space at Harrogate, Noma look forward to showing their many new and existing ranges to both new and existing customers.
