8 minute read
Let’s Talk About… Autumn Buying by Yarnton Home and Garden home/gift buyer Bryony Taylor-Edwards
Let’s talk about… autumn buying
Bryony Taylor-Edwards, head of brand and home, gift, food and toy buyer at Yarnton Home and Garden in Oxfordshire, explains how the garden centre is welcoming in the new season
August is a transitional month, when we start the shift from summer to autumn. During this transition, we are soaking up the last of the summer mood, yet anticipating autumn with a mix of nostalgia for the season just gone - and excitement for what a new season may bring. Each new season comes loaded with expectations and hope. And gift buying is no different.
In our busy, overstimulated, technology-centric lives, we are increasingly foregoing the marking of the closure of one season and welcoming in the next. For me, rituals are an important part of the human condition. Rituals can help to bring an element of certainty to an uncertain world. Through rituals, we can process what has passed and make space for the new.
In the retail world, August marks a big shift. The summer sale has now ended and we are gearing up for a busy Christmas season. In fact, as buyers, we are now deeply immersed in S/S 2023.
However, last year here at Yarnton Home and Garden (which is based just north of Oxford, close to Woodstock and the surrounding Cotswolds), we made the decision to celebrate harvest in a big way. We felt that we wanted to mark the season’s end and give our customers a moment to pause, and I’m so pleased that we did. Especially with the current climate, this feels like absolutely the right thing to do.
We will be commemorating the occasion with jaw-dropping autumnal displays inspired by Floral Silk, which supplies a beautiful range of artificial flowers and faux stems. There will, of course, be gifts galore for customers to buy, including pumpkins to suit all tastes supplied by We Are Seasons, and even a cuddly one from Jellycat. But more than that, we will be hosting creative workshops and just encouraging people to be.
During this time, we will also be encouraging a little gift to self - be that simply the gift of time (an hour spent immersed in something you enjoy) or a treat to take home. The simple ritual of lighting candles can be important to some. Others like to take a moment to pot up a plant. Buying that inspirational book you had your eye on can be enough to get the creative juices flowing. Or treating yourself or a friend to a jigsaw or an Artcuts creative pack may be all the rest you need. I suppose what I’m getting at is encouraging you to take a moment to pause and restore - however that looks for you. And let’s approach the new season fortified and ready for the one to come.
“We will be marking the occasion with jaw-dropping autumnal displays” Do all good gifts start with a card?
I was chatting to our head of visual merchandising and card buyer Celia LeesonCox, and she said to me: “But all good gift choices start with a card.” After further conversation, she explained that if you find a Bryony with Celia really meaningful card, you can build your gift Leeson-Cox Photo: Clive Rose choice around that.
She gave me an example of a card from Lagom Design that states: ‘So Happy You’re My Friend’. She said that for her, she would choose the card and let it inspire the gift.
So, in this instance, the joy of celebrating a friendship would inspire a fun or nurturing gift, such as the fabulous ‘Love’ LED neon text light bulb and marble stone desk lamp from Steepletone UK’s Bright Ideas collection (which was Highly Commended in the contemporary gift category of the Gift of the Year Awards 2022). I love this idea of letting the card lead and, in the future, I will be employing this gift-buying strategy.
At Home
Bringing plants indoors
Puckator
Home is where the heart is, so why not make it as good as can be? After all, it’s the one place in the world which we are free to personalise and make our own. Luckily, Puckator is introducing a selection of brand new plant pots perfect for your customers.
We’ve all heard about the benefits of having plants in the house; from reducing stress levels to increasing productivity. So why not introduce Puckator’s new planters? The fun and colourful designs are sure to brighten any room. If you’re into flowers, then the Florens range will be right up your street with its floral illustrations. Or if you’re a cat person, then the adorable Cat’s Life designs and its soft colours will be perfect.
So if you’re looking to spruce up your home with some greenery, pop over to Puckator’s website to explore their ranges of planters. Call: 0800 011 6969 Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk. Visit: www.puckator.co.uk
Gorgeous fragrances
Manor House
Manor House’s 2022 collection encompasses 28 gorgeous fragrances to choose from, which is the company’s largest offering to date – and it has already begun creating new fragrances for 2023.
The supplier says that the fact that its products are handmade in England is what many stockists want. Its pot pourris are all designed in-house using the finest botanicals, fragranced using high-end oils, and then finished with individual flowers, petals and seed pods, before every box and bag is tied by hand ready to display. Its fragrance oils are great for refreshing pot pourri or for traditional and even electric oil burners, and these remain one of the firm’s top selling products.
All Manor House’s Botanical Candles are produced using the highest quality waxes and fragrances to match with the pot pourris - and have hand-placed flowers and seed pods added before hand-wrapping and tying. Plus, its glass candles are simple and stylish and offered in matching gift boxes - again, ready to display.
Reed Diffusers, Diffuser Refills and Room Sprays are hand-poured with a high percentage of fragrance before being boxed and, again, tied by hand to complete the collection.Many also include Manor House’s newly relaunched luxury hand wash and moisturisers, which offer a practical and useful addition. All the lotions are created bespoke for the company.,They are not tested on animals and are safe to the environment and not harmful in any way.
In addition, Drawer Liners are hand-printed and infused with fragrances, along with triple fabric bags and cushion stacks - all for use in clothes’ drawers and wardrobes to gently fragrance.
While Manor House is not attending Autumn Fair, it would be delighted to send a catalogue to any new and interested stockists, and will be back at Spring Fair 2023. Call: 01359 250720 Visit: www.manorhousehomefragrance.co.uk
Storage with style
Rex London
Rex London’s ever-expanding collection of homeware gifts and accessories offers a variety of decorative storage ideas that allows your customers to declutter and organise their homes in style.
The company’s best-selling storage tins are inspired by vintage food packaging, and are perfect for organising kitchen utensils, stationery, and crafts, with five new designs just released. Each set includes two nesting tins and comes in an eco-friendly home compostable bag - ideal for customers who are looking to be kinder to the planet. The vintage-inspired homeware collection will continue to grow, with matching mugs, salt & pepper shakers, and food containers all launching soon. The distinct retro flair of Rex London’s design makes all these storage options a perfect treat for someone who wants to keep their space tidy yet stylish.
For customers who prefer more flexibility with their storage options, Rex London recommends its foldable jumbo bags, which are made from recycled plastic. They come in more than 30 colourful and quirky designs and can be used to organise toys, bedding, clothes, or laundry. The same designs can be found on other products such as recycling bags, lunch bags, and shopping bags - also made from recycled plastic.
For customers shopping for their kids, Rex London offers a variety of children’s storage options with colourful and quirky designs, designed to encourage little ones to keep their bedrooms tidy. Funky storage bags and stacking suitcases are ideal for keeping soft toys and other kids’ treasures clean and safe, while also adding value to the décor. The cardboard storage cases come in a set of three, featuring patterns from Rex London’s top-selling collections such as Wild Wonders, Sharks, Top Banana, and the newly launched Mimi and Milo and Tilde collections. Call: 020 8746 1700 Email: info@rexlondon.com Visit: www.rexlondontrade.com
