6 minute read
In Style
Christmas delights!
Alexander Thurlow
Dare we remind you that Christmas is around the corner? Fear not! Alexander Thurlow has plenty of goodies to help you stock up your shop ahead of the festive season. Its website is brimming with seasonal favourites such as the humble robin, flowering holly, and mischievous mistletoe pieces that are much loved in the winter months.
What’s more, the company’s year-round best sellers will ensure you have a fruitful Christmas and plenty of happy customers. Its popular iris brooch and bluebell range are the gifts that keep on giving. As Alexander Thurlow says: ‘Provide a selection that will have your customers spoilt for choice and visit our website today - we’ve got you covered!’
Call: 020 8766 6466 | Email: sales@alexanderthurlow.com Visit: www.alexanderthurlow.com
Cornish inspiration
Sea Gems
Sea Gems will launch several new collections at Autumn Fair (Stand 7 E50 – F51), described as consisting of ‘beautifully presented, high-quality original products for boutiques, gift shops and jewellers who are looking for something different at affordable prices’.
The Penzance-based company’s Silver Origins boutique jewellery brand features contemporary handcrafted 925 sterling silver, combining highly polished and textured surfaces, together with gold vermeil or semi-precious stones.
Inspired by Sea Gems’ Cornish roots, on show will be striking organic designs, the beachcomber range, delicate botanical and wildlife designs, and fun motifs that celebrate moments of love and life.
The Celtic Lands silver collection evokes and celebrates Sea Bems’ rich heritage with timeless motifs and elaborate knotwork. New designs give a fresh look and feel to the already successful brand.
The art of fine enamelling is used to create unique, vibrant jewellery and gifts in Sea Gems’ Mackintosh, Celtic and nature ranges. Each piece is individually handcrafted and fired. Gift ranges include pens, bookmarks, compact mirrors, pillboxes and scarf-rings.
Strawberries and Cream adjustable cane Classic Canes turns 40
Walking stick specialist Classic Canes proves money does grow on trees, as this niche family business celebrates four decades of trading
Classic Canes MD Charlotte Gillan
When Ben and Diana Porter bought a small woodland in Somerset in the late 1970s, they didn’t realise that they had stumbled upon the beginnings of a family business that would grow to supply walking sticks, seat sticks, and umbrellas to retailers around the world over the next 40 years.
While the couple were rebuilding a ruined house in the woods to make a family home, they discovered that the surrounding woodland was naturally producing suitable raw material for walking sticks. The pair cut some, sold it to a factory, and in 1982 they bought back some of the finished products. Diana (who had excellent sales skills from working at Lyons and Avis), offered a small range to local retailers from the back of her car in between school runs. The earliest customers
were gift shops, saddlers, tobacconists and gentlemen’s outfitters. Starting a venture in the depths of the early 1980s’ recession brought challenges - but also advantages, because other suppliers had gone out of business and shops were wondering where to source walking sticks from. The customer base soon grew to cover the West Country, and Ben became involved in the company as travelling to more customers was required. The early walking sticks were all wooden, and there were very few ladies’ walking sticks available. Women mostly had to make do with a man’s stick cut down to size (which for most ladies was neither comfortable nor elegant). Classic Canes began to introduce new models, including the first fashionable, patterned walking sticks to the UK. An increasing range of everyday, ladies’, folding, orthopaedic, country, and formal Classic Canes’ founders Ben and Diana walking sticks established the Porter in 1989 firm as a leading supplier in this specialist field. Today, Diana and Ben’s daughter Charlotte is the managing director and designs many of the patterns used on the company’s adjustable and folding walking sticks. She says: “Almost all our products, except the entry level ones, are exclusive to Classic Canes. Our focus is always on quality and style because this is what makes for loyal stockists who will sell our brand for many years at a time. In fact, some have been with us for almost the full 40 years. We take great trouble over details such as the exact handle shape for comfort, and colours that will appeal - and we ensure that we have a good balance of traditional and contemporary models. We do a high proportion of export business and Hedgehogs folding cane the reason is because buyers around the world appreciate the particularly British sense of style that is characteristic of Classic Canes.”
Classic Canes’ Autumn trade catalogue (the cover of which is pictured below) is available from September 1.
Celebrate the new season
Katie Loxton and Joma Jewellery’s A/W collection offers style and sparkle
A new season brings with it a brand-new vibe, with elevated textures and silhouettes, paired with reimagined classics that Katie Loxton’s customers already know and love.
Boasting a timeless colour palette, the new Autumn/ Winter collection welcomes two fresh hues: an olive green and a rich, sumptuous plum - perfect for the colder months ahead.
Katie Loxton’s most-loved Weekend Bag selection has been extended to include the Oxford Weekend Holdall: a super-premium style that features chic rolled handles, an attached luggage tag, and raised piping - sure to be a favourite with adventurous customers. And its new Quinn Saddle Bag is available in classic and mini profiles, with a selection of styles designed in faux croc material that has fast become a bestseller.
The brand’s offering of everyday essential crossbody bags has also been extended with new profiles including the Amy Bag, Bea Cell Bag and must-have Millie Mini Crossbody Bag, which comes complete with a statement chain strap to take your look from day to night.
Finally, the 35-piece Isla Collection caters to every type of customer. With a broad range of silhouettes from coin purse to crossbody, there is truly something for every outfit and occasion!
Time to shine
Filled with more meaning than ever before, the new season collection from Joma Jewellery welcomes its ever-popular sweet sentiments, combined with elevated designs made to mark every one of life’s milestone moments.
The uplifting range features real semi-precious gemstones, from 12-piece Affirmation A Little bracelets and necklaces embellished with sparkling crystals, to the Spirit Stones collection with chunky silver-plated beads. From Amethyst to Howlite and Aventurine to Blue Agate, each gemstone is said to hold its own unique benefits to uplift and inspire the wearer.
More newness can also be found in the luxurious Celebration Sets, which see three twinkling A Little Bracelets nestled side by side inside a pretty blush pink presentation box: perfect for displaying in-store on their turntable POS.
Joma Jewellery’s A Little Collection also welcomes updated styles, with even more sentiments to choose from. From the newly released A Little Necklaces which create the most giftable (and sweetest) of mix-andmatch moments, to the latest Spinning Boxed A Littles, with a rotating charm which spins to reveal an engraved message and decorative design. One A Little Bracelet is sold every 30 seconds, so don’t miss out on this sparkling bestseller!
