Coffee Break with Ben Jeffery

CIJ catches up with Giftware Trading’s Ben Jeffery, the company have been selling Christmas product since the late nineties and are regular exhibitors at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift show

I know you enjoyed an excellent 2022 show. What products really wowed the customers.

It was fantastic to have the Christmas & Gift Fair back and it appeared to be a very busy show for all. We launched 100’s of new products and I would say the most popular Items were all our ceramic tree decorations, particularly our Christmas dinner decorations Including a pig In blanket!

Have all the problems of 2022 with huge increases in container costs and shipping affecting deliveries now ceased?

Things have certainly improved but shipping still has its challenges. Thankfully the shipping prices reduced significantly as the year progressed and thankfully rates are now back to levels which we are all accustomed to. However delays are still quite common due to Covid restrictions in other parts of the world which obviously have an impact on freight leaving on time.

With Covid restrictions still in full force in Hong Kong and China, have Zoom calls managed to replace your visits to the Far East?

Its almost impossible to replace visiting a trade show with other methods such as looking at thousands of photographs or virtual tours of showrooms. However, modern technology certainly helps with viewing new collections and keeping in touch with suppliers which I think would have been much harder and almost impossible years ago. At this moment a viable buying trip to the Far East seems a long way off, hopefully restrictions will ease and we can once again return to physical showrooms and trade fairs which I do really miss as there is no substitute for actually seeing products and meeting new and existing suppliers.

I am certain your customers welcomed the return of exhibitions. As the phrase goes “Did you feel the Love”?

I’m not sure we felt love but we definitely felt supported as there was a real appetite for buyers to return to trade shows once again. As previously mentioned there really is no substitute for a physical exhibition and I’m sure buyers benefit hugely from being able to see lots of companies within a few days which was not really possible when shows weren’t happening.

With the larger companies dominating many of the garden centres and gift stores, do you believe there is room for the small to medium companies to still thrive.

Absolutely! The larger companies always do a fantastic job with what they offer and I am sure many garden centres and gifts stores will visit these companies first to establish the main foundations of particular ranges. However we try to offer some slightly different products which our customers seem to do very well with. I think the beauty of this industry is the spectrum of different companies of all shapes and sizes having their own niche, I think this is what keeps things so interesting. I guess the high street might be a little boring if we only had a couple of multiples to shop in!

And finally, If there was one thing you could change in the world today, what would it be?

I guess at this time the obvious thing would be no conflict and an acceptance of us all to live in harmony despite creed, colour and beliefs. In the words of Jesse Jackson, “It’s time for us to turn to each other, not on each other.”

Davies Products brings Easter and Halloween to Harrogate!

For the first time, in addition to their full Christmas range, Davies Products is bringing its Easter and Halloween ranges to Harrogate! Browse a fabulous selection of traditional and contemporary Easter and Spring products. With a focus on natural materials and a soft pastel colour scheme, our beautifully characterised Easter bunnies, floral wreaths and home decor are truly inspirational and co-ordinate with our Spring floral ranges.

Welcome Autumn with our wonderful selections of Fall wreaths, stems, picks and garlands.

This year sees the long-awaited return of Davies Products’ Scream Machine Halloween range to Harrogate! Our 2023 collection of accessories and decorations featuring lots of new items that are suitable for all styles, ages and occasions. Terrifyingly good products at fabulous prices!

Visit Davies Products at

Harrogate Stand B5 www.daviesproducts.com