Gifts Today

Independently audited

Supporting your industry for 27 years

Month: January 2016 Issue: 2

ABC circulation of 7,098 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

Volume: 27

Riviera Escape New for spring 2016

Spring Fair 7-11th February Come see us on Stand 4A10-D11

12 – 16. 2. 2016 Spot on: With its Giving area, Ambiente opens up the extensive world of gift ideas.

Experience cross-sectoral offerings and benefit from countless synergies at the world’s most important consumer goods trade fair. Discover the future and be inspired by a fascinating product diversity.

Information and tickets at ambiente.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83 info@uk.messefrankfurt.com

Italy

Partner coun

try

Ambiente 20

16

Contents January 2016

Regulars 6

News

12

Licensing News

14

Exhibition News

18

GA News

80 Trade Talk 81

New Products

Retail P24 Candles 16

Brian Wiseman Brian takes a look back at 2015

20 Retailer ProďŹ le

Gifts Today team

Time to go Bonkers!

Editor

22

Grass Roots

77

Ross Hewitt, Secret Pie

Penny Franks penny@lemapublishing.co.uk

There are two sides to Social Media

Assistant Editor Paul Donnelley pauld@lemapublishing.co.uk

Features

Advertisement Manager Mark Horsnell mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

P50 Top Drawer

Group Editor

24 Candles

Mirella Cestaro mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk

Why are candles still lighting the way?

Group Advertisement Manager

68 Toys for Gift Shops

Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk

72

Publisher

Pet Themed Gifts

Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

We take a look at what’s currently hot

Production Director

in the world of pet themed gifts

Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

Show Previews

Media Solutions Manager Bradley Mason bradleymason@hotmail.co.uk

Lema Publishing Ltd

PUBLISHING

1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930 A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Independently audited

P72 Pet Themed

50 Top Drawer January 2016 64 Toy Fair 2016 78 Christmas & Gift 2016

Cover Story

ABC circulation of 7,098 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

48 Yankee Candle

THE UK’S NO.1 SHOWCASE OF NEW. Discover the latest innovations, coolest brands and most original products in gift and home.

www.springfair.com Espresso Cup, Bialetti, Hot Plate Products · Tree, CB Imports · Pineapple, Two’s Company by Mulhouse · Stool, Baa Stool · Foo Dogs, India Jane · Cockatoo Cushion, Bombay Duck · Patterned Cushion, CB Imports.

7-11 FEBRUARY 2016 NEC BIRMINGHAM UK VOLUME OPENS 6 FEB

Message from the Editor www.gifts-today.co.uk Twitter: @giftstodaymag This issue we take a look at candles. This is another superb retail category that never appears to loose growth share. As a consumable product, not only do these make a superb gifting option, but are also a self-purchase item. Some may feel that the candle category is an oversaturated sector, however, from what I can gather all candle manufacturers and suppliers are currently performing well – so I’m not convinced that it has too many ‘players’. Each manufacturer or supplier offer something different, whether it be fragrance, jar style, lid options and overall packaging – there is most definitely something to suit all.

We bring you perhaps one of our largest candle features to date, which you will find starting on page 24 of this issue. We spoke to some of the key leading brands and also bring you a superb roundup of candles that are now available for you to order.

Taking a look at this year, perhaps one of the first shows to kickstart us into 2016 will be Top Drawer. This year the show has evolved delivering four new sectors: Home, Gift, Fashion and Craft.

This should deliver a distinctive, design led show into a single, unifying event – Top Drawer. We bring you a full preview starting on page 50.

To register your attendance simply visit www. topdrawer.co.uk Another feature this issue is Gifts for Toy Shops, which you will find on page 68. Talking of toys – Toy Fair is on the horizon and perhaps you should consider this as a show to attend. Toy Fair is a great way of spotting upcoming trends, new licensed product ranges and the next ‘must have’ toys for Christmas 2016. Toys saw a growth in their market share in 2015 and this doesn’t look set to alter during 2016. The additional footfall this category could give you instore is well worth consideration. Toys are bought by not only the child for example, but by parents, family members

Picture courtesy of Price’s Candles

The views of the contributors expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Comments, letters and criticism are welcome.

“

I do love the January sales. For me this is a tradition here in the UK and although I always get a little sad seeing products that I bought as Christmas gifts discounted, I do feel that this drives good footfall to many high streets

“

F

irstly, may I wish you all a very Happy New Year – it will be interesting to see what 2016 brings, which trends will emerge and more importantly how the gifting sector performs.

Brian Wiseman again brings us a superb roundup of 2015 events in his satirical viewpoint – I have to say I was a little disappointed by the lack of ‘bath bombs’ news (which really did make me chuckle last year). However, that said, there are plenty of witty anecdotes that I am sure many of you will relate to (loving the December statement!) – take time to read this by turning to page 16.

I have to confess, I’m not a big lover of Black Friday or Cyber Monday (but clearly by the results that were published I may well be alone!).

However, I do love the January sales. For me this is a tradition here in the UK and although I always get a little sad seeing products that I bought as Christmas gifts discounted, I do feel that this drives good footfall to many high streets. I would love to hear from you letting me know how this goes for you this year.

and. You can find information on Toy Fair in this issue by turning to page 64 – hope to see many of you there.

What else do we bring you this issue? Well as a pet-loving nation, it is also only fitting that we bring you a pet themed feature. There has always been the long standing ‘cats or dogs’ question, but other pets can include a plethora of animals (or perhaps animals that aren’t associated as being pets, but are adored by many, for example, foxes, owls, frogs). The good news about this category is that it isn’t just buying the pet or owner a gift, it can also provide products that are animal themed and therefore is a trend following sector. Turn to page 72 to read more.

On a final note, can I take this opportunity to wish everyone a prosperous 2016. Happy New Year to you all.

NEWS

regular

New Website Ready For PG Live 2016

Climbing high with Boing In 2015 Boing had an amazing turn around in the gift market with their vibrant tactile climbing rope bracelet range. In November with the launch of their new website and new designs they have projected themselves into a whole new arena of gifts and jewellery with its contemporary high end look and feel.

Boing’s new range in leather with clasps made using solid silver, rose gold plate and ruthenium now offers an image that customers aspire to.

“Boing’s focus has always been top British quality and in 2016, starting at Spring Fair, we are looking forward to working with our stockists and looking for agents and distributors to grow even more,” Says BOING’s Co-Founder.

Spring Fair Hall 19 D24 Tel: 01628 78 9999 Web: www.boing-inc.com

The organiser of PG Live 2016, Max Exhibitions, has launched a fresh new website for the dedicated greeting card trade show, taking place from 10 – 11 May at London’s Business Design Centre.

The online portal, www. progressivegreetingslive.com, has been transformed to reflect the exhibition’s fresh, modern approach to trade shows.

A newly-designed exhibitor zone will allow over 250 publishers, artists and designers to showcase their latest collections in advance of the show. Meanwhile, the simple navigation and streamlined content makes it simple for visitors to plan everything from which exhibitors they want to see to where they can stay overnight.

Reading like a who’s who in card publishing, the impressive PG Live line-up is also testament to the quality of buyers, with a number of leading publishers – such as such as Hallmark, U.K. Greetings, Gemma, CardMix, Paperlink and Icon – choosing to make PG Live their only trade show appearance of the year.

“Our new website makes planning for and attending PG Live even easier,” said Jacqui Parr, the marketing manager. “We wanted to make the website faster, easier to navigate and more user-friendly, while still keeping the friendly feel PG Live is famous for.”

She continued; “The fresh, clean design allows buyers to browse all the exhibitors’ exciting new ranges and designs in advance, making their time at the show as productive as possible, while the newly positioned exhibitor zone allows publishers to make the most of their preview page on the website.”

Eight new judges for The Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year Awards 2016 Twenty-two retail buyers and experts from the gift and home industry will select the winning and highly commended products in The Giftware Association’s prestigious 2016 Gift of the Year competition.

The awards will be presented to successful suppliers on the Sunday evening of Spring Fair (7 February) on the Trends Catwalk in Hall 20.

Joining returning judges – from The National Gallery, Ocado and a variety of other retail outlets – are eight new ones: Sara Allbright (John Lewis); Joyti Gohil (Wyevale Garden Centres); Mark JansonSmith (Postmark); Claire Stammers (Manns of Cranleigh); Suzie Abel (Jarrold); Meike Cassens (Burford); Chris Slack (Van Hage Garden Centres), and Amanda Fergusson (formerly of Hallmark and Caroline Gardner).

Those returning are: Ronnie Barnard (Gifts for Gentlemen); Tina Botterill (Cool! Cards and Gifts); Simon Woolgrove (Achica); Natalie Yates (Gifts From Handpicked); Nathaniel Mobbs (The National Gallery); Zoe York (Squashed Tomato); Judith Harris (Dobbies Garden Centres); Mark Jones (Occasions Direct); Jane Hudson (Qwerkity); Jenny Spivey (Vision Consultants); Alison Cant (V&A Enterprises); Martin de la Fuente (Ocado); Yvonne Carr (New Lanark Gift Centre), and Henri Davis (Scribbler).

Every judge has expertise in one or more areas within the gift and home industry.

Following the judging, the winning and highly commended products will be showcased on The Giftware Association’s Spring Fair stand in Hall 5 (F84-G89) throughout the show.

6 gifts today

St Eval wins in Cornwall Sustainability Awards St Eval Candle Company won a prestigious award in the annual Cornwall Sustainability Awards, Best Medium Sized Business category. The award was presented by Jonathon Porritt and was held at the Headland Hotel in Newquay.

“I am delighted that everyone’s efforts here at St Eval Candle Company have been recognised with this award. We share a lot of what we do with regard to sustainability and enhancing our environment with our customers via social media and get great feedback from them, but once in while it is fantastic for the team to get a great big pat on the back like this!” said Ian Greaves, Managing Director of St Eval.

The Cornwall Sustainability Awards (CSA) aim to encourage, reward and gain recognition for the excellent work businesses are doing to improve their own sustainability and that of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as a whole.

Businesses and individuals from across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were whittled down to create a shortlist of forty-seven different finalists for the awards in twelve categories. The judging team was a panel of industry experts from across the region including the Environment Agency, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and the Eden Project.

Web: www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk

NEWS

regular

New pieces announced from Allen Designs January 2016 sees the launch of some wonderful new pieces to the popular Cat & Owl and Smiling Frog homewares collections from Allen Designs for Border Fine Arts Contemporary Gifts.

Famous for her hilarious clocks, Michelle Allen founded Allen Designs to share her love of the colourful, the witty and the eccentric in life by creating art that is both fun and functional. This collection showcases her unique style of artwork in vibrant colours and zany designs, ensuring that each Allen Designs piece makes a quirky and eye-catching home accent as well as a perfect gift.

Choose from a new Smiling Frog Mug and Cat & Owl Stackable Mugs — or why not shake things up with our new Cat & Owl Salt and Pepper Shakers!

Telephone: 01228 404022, Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk Websites: www.borderfinearts.com www.enesco.co.uk

Thorntons’ sweet treat at Spring Fair Thorntons know that if you run a card and gift shop, delicious chocolate adds an extra special touch to all gifts, at every season.

The firm wants to make sure that they give you the best possible options to enhance your in-store present giving opportunities – which is where “Thorntons …in your store” comes in.

“Thorntons…in your store” gives retailers and shoppers the full range of passionately crafted Thorntons chocolates in beautiful packaging, that will compliment all the other product ranges in store.

For three years they’ve been proud to roll out their successful new concept store-format that features new furnishings and elaborate finishes, all lit up with state-ofthe-art lighting that truly showcases the fantastic range they offer. These finishing touches could make all the difference in a store(s).

To find out all the details, go and see them for a chat and a chocolate (or two) at Spring Fair next to the entrance, Hall 3 stand M01.

Steepletone rock out with new range Jive Rock 60 the ultimate tabletop jukebox now in stock.

The jukeboxes come with radio, Bluetooth, CD player and a blue lit back-lit display. The handmade wooden cabinets come with a remote control.

Steepletone, one of the largest manufacturers of turntables, are also launching the Rico and Bromley models, items that they believe will be game changers.

Rico and Bromley are vinyl turntables with an integral CD player, a design that is patented.

More details at steepletone.com

8 gifts today

Fresh watercolour style of Sarah Stokes extends BFA Contemporary Gift collection.

Artist Sarah Stokes’ preferred medium is watercolour because of the luminosity and spontaneity that the style brings to her art. Her fresh and vibrant paintings of a Highland Cow, Fox and Pheasant have inspired the Sarah Stokes Collection of home and gift wares, all of which are exclusively available from BFA Contemporary Gift.

Sarah is a self-trained artist and has been painting since 2013. She is inspired by animals in their natural habitats – whether the forest, garden or countryside – and she uses the watercolour medium to add detail and colour to her work.

All products, from mugs and place mats to textiles such as scarves and cushions, will feature one of the three animals. By taking the subject’s eyes as the focus of her art, Sarah adds an element of storytelling to each design, so the fox’s proud, wily nature is expressed along with the wistful humour of the Highland cow and the exuberant character of the pheasant.

Tel: 01228 404022, Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk

Bee Creative with Beefayre Nature lovers of all ages can unleash their inner artist with Bee Creative – a stunning trio of framed illustrations by Sharon Jervis, acclaimed artist and founder of gift company Beefayre.

Each of the three drawings depicts a scene featuring British flora and fauna from Sharon’s favourite seasons…

Spring: shows the first buff tailed queen bumble bee, brimstone butterfly, aconite, snowdrops, violets, bluebell, common vetch and fritillary. This piece depicts how nature bounces back with vigor from the grip of a cold winter and bursts into fresh verdant new life.

Autumn: after a long hot summer – the fruits and seeds of harvest are bountiful and the feasting begins in preparation for the onset of another winter. This print is adorned with harvest and wood mice, nestled amongst fly agaric mushrooms, blackberries, hawthorn and rose hip.

Winter: the season where much of our wildlife rests, repairs and grows strong beneath a frosty blanket and the passing of crisp short days. This print features a pair of Great Britain’s national bird – the rosy red-breasted robin. This cheerful duo perch in Christmas holly surrounded by ivy and mistletoe with the vibrant hips of wild winter rose.

Sharon Jervis commented on the collection: “Winter is simply my favourite season and I thought it would be fantastic to center these prints around it. It also gave me a creative avenue to explore how spring and autumn relate to winter in terms of our countryside and the abundance of British wildlife in a common hedgerow. I’m really pleased with the collection and it’s been an absolute pleasure to create it. I feel more products along this line coming out in the not-too-distant future!”

The three prints in the set are each 18cm x 13cm sized and come with black edged clip frames. Meaning once coloured or painted they can be hung as unique pieces of timeless art. The Bee Creative trio costs £9.95 including postage and packaging.

Web: www.beefayre.com

VILLAGE CANDLE

www.villagecandle.co.uk Tel: 01254 300268 Email: sales@villagecandle.co.uk Spring Fair NEC - 7th-11th February Hall 4, Stand D50/E51

R

NEWS

regular

Hema takes off at Stansted Airport Dutch retailer opens its fifth store in the UK, based at Stansted Airport, Essex.

Hema’s presence airside at Stansted allows passengers to purchase lastminute essentials and treats for their journeys and beyond. This first venture into the airside retail sector sees a specially curated range offering an inspiring selection of baby, homeware, beauty and travel accessories – all designed exclusively in-house. This wide product range ensures the travelling consumer has access to everything they require.

This store launch marks the next stage in Hema’s expansion plan. It is the latest addition to their portfolio of almost 700 stores across seven countries, serving more than six million visitors every week.

With more than 22 million passengers travelling through Stansted each year, the location is ideal for Hema to expand its UK customer following.

Tjeerd Jegen, CEO of Hema: “Stansted’s departure lounge is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation and Hema is excited to be one of the leading brands set to make this airport a real shopping destination. Our store has been curated with the traveller in mind, offering tailored collections aimed at this particular market. Our philosophy is to make life easier and more fun, and where better to do this than a busy international travel hub.�

Hema is a store which loves making daily life easier and more fun for its customers.

Operational since 1926, Hema believes that great quality and design should be available to everyone at a great price. This is why all stores offer only 100% Hema-designed products to guarantee customers will only get the best products and services for daily use.

POSITION: Buyer, gifts, packaging and party Scribbler is a vibrant, humorous card, gift & stationery retailer with over 30 shops in the UK We are looking for an experienced Buyer to join our hardworking and dynamic %X\LQJ DQG 0HUFKDQGLVLQJ WHDP LQ RXU +HDG 2IÀFH LQ .HQQLQJWRQ /RQGRQ 7KLV UROH UHTXLUHV VRPHRQH ZKR LV SDVVLRQDWH DERXW SURGXFW DQG ÀQGLQJ WKH QH[W JUHDW SURGXFW WKDW ZLOO H[FLWH RXU FXVWRPHUV DQG GULYH VDOHV As part of the team you will be responsible for: ‡ 6RXUFLQJ QHZ SURGXFWV IRU \RXU FDWHJRULHV WKDW IXOÀO WKH UDQJH VWUDWHJ\ ‡ 'ULYLQJ VDOHV DQG SURÀW RI \RXU SURGXFW FDWHJRULHV ‡ Analysing sales of current products to identify strengths and weaknesses of current range ‡ Develop a calendar of promotional opportunities ‡ Working with the merchandisers to deliver the stock strategy for the category ‡ Negotiating terms with suppliers ‡ Developing visual merchandising guidelines for implementation To do this effectively you will need the following skills and experience: ‡ Previous retail buying experience as a buyer or junior buyer ‡ Experience of working in a design led retail business ‡ Negotiation experience ‡ Strong analytical skills, numerate ‡ 3URÀFLHQW ZLWK ([FHO ‡ Good planning and organisational skills ‡ Enjoy being part of an energetic team and a good team player The position is full time (35 hours per week), Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm and ZH RIIHU D FRPSHWLWLYH VDODU\ Interested applicants should send their CV together with a brief covering email WR ZRUN#VFULEEOHU FR XN E\ )ULGD\ WK )HEUXDU\ ZH ZLOO FRQWDFW VXLWDEOH DSSOLFDQWV IRU LQWHUYLHZ VKRUWO\ DIWHU WKDW 10 gifts today

Fabulous finds, top travel and accessories trends - only at Ambiente 2016!

For the business trip, external meeting, city break or a spontaneous visit to friends, can be stressful taking everything you need for that occasion. But fear not, Ambiente, the leading international trade fair for consumer goods has announced the latest product innovations for travelling, keeping connected and recharged. The clever product ideas are to be found in the Giving section of Ambiente in Frankfurt am Main from 12th to 16th February 2016. Depending on style and taste, retailers will discover everything that men and women need when travelling at Traveller’s Point, the new ‘Accessories & Jewellery’ product group in Hall 9.2 and ‘Young & Trendy’ in Hall 11.1.

For more innovative travel accessories, trade visitors will see the extensive product ranges in Frankfurt next February.

ScentCrush by ScentChips ScentChips began as a small family endeavour in San Antonio, Texas in 1979 and has now blossomed into a product that is in demand Worldwide.

ScentChips revolutionised the Home Fragrance industry by introducing the Create Your Own Fragrance wax melt concept.

Using only the finest ingredients - high quality paraffin wax, their own highly fragrant oils and non toxic vegetable dyes, ScentChips are the strongest Fragrant Wax Melts on the market.

Using the same ingredients they are now introducing a new concept into the Fragrant Candle Market ScentCrush Create Your Own Fragrance Candle.

Available in 12 different fragrances you can use a single fragrance or mix to create your own.

Simply place a ScentCrush Cedarwood Wick in a ScentCrush candle holder, pour in the ScentCrush and light the wick for a beautiful fragrant experience.

A starter pack is available to retail under ÂŁ10 A short simple how to video is available.

Experience the full ScentChips Range at Spring Fair 2016 Hall 4 Stand 4H64 For more information or to place an order contact David or Lucinda on 01259 751009 or e-mail service.uk@worldofscentchips.com

Debenhams expands globally Debenhams, the multichannel department retailer, is to drive its international presence further by launching in the Australian and Vietnamese markets in 2016.

The move comes on the back of agreements with local market partners, Pepkor in Australia (part of the global retail giant, Steinhoff Group) and VinDS, part of Vingroup, one of Vietnam’s largest private companies.

A phased approach to expansion into Australia will see Debenhams enter the Southern hemisphere for the first time. A dedicated Debenhams-led Australian ecommerce site will launch prior to Christmas 2015. The site will offer product tailored to the market, local currency payment and will be the retailer’s first regionspecific site.

Debenhams’ own brand womenswear, womens’ accessories and menswear product will be distributed and retailed within selected, Pepkor-owned, Harris Scarfe stores from October 2016. Future plans include the launch of Debenhams branded franchise stores offering the full product range including fashion, cosmetics and home.

In Vietnam, Vingroup will distribute products in their Fashion Megastore department store chain from early 2016 with selected womenswear and menswear brands sold in 15 stores across the country by the end of the year.

See us in our usual position

Hall 5, Stand C30/D31 Over 2000 brand new gifts 7500+ lines to choose from Only £100 minimum order ‘Little & Often’ ordering system FREE next day delivery Award winning customer service

Equilibrium Fine Crystal

Flicker Candles

Engraveable Frames & Albums

Butterfly Wedding

Provence Baby

Equilibrium Mens Leather Bracelet

Lavender Butterfly Progressive Gifts Greats Awards 2015

13 times winners

Best Service to the Independent Retailer

Zany Zoo

Happy House Tea-lights

Joe Davies (Manchester) Limited 149 Broadstone Road, Reddish Stockport SK5 7GA Tel: 0161 975 6300 Fax: 0161 975 6301 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk

Great Service • Great Products • Great Prices

licensing news

PMC says Hello Kitty With 2016 just around the corner, the Personalised Memento Company are gearing up for the launch of the newest expansion to their Hello Kitty SS16 range.

PMC’s team of new product designers have seamlessly integrated Hello Kitty with their best-selling range of products. From mugs and breakfast sets to lunch bags and drinks bottles, PMC have tailored Sanrio’s instantly recognisable Hello Kitty brand to work perfectly with personalisation.

Fresh and vibrant designs for St Valentine’s Day and Mothering Sunday are due to be launched in the coming weeks. These designs fuse iconic Hello Kitty imagery with a fresh twist to create stylish gifts that are perfect for any occasion.

The Mothers Day range features beautiful keepsakes like personalised crystal tokens Personalised Hello Kitty gifts are already proving to be a popular addition to PMC’s line up of licensed personalised gifts. Following on from the huge success of their existing license collaborations Me to You, Purple Ronnie and Bang on the Door their Hello Kitty range is set to become one of 2016’s best-selling designs.

Visit PMC’s website to view the current range of personalised Hello Kitty gifts and to keep up-to-date with their exclusive new spring/summer 2016 designs.

Web: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Flair adds to Shopkins offering Bulldog Licensing has announced that Flair, distributor of the UK’s most popular new brand, Shopkins, has signed a new agreement to extend their product offering.

Shopkins are cute little characters that live in Shopville.

There are over 140 to collect in each series, including a few ultra-rare characters, and they are sold inside adorable little shopping bags. A third, hotlyanticipated series launched in the UK market in July this year, building even further on the brand’s huge market share of the dolls and accessories market.

The figures surrounding the property are staggering – around the world, more than 100 million characters have been sold to date, whilst over 36 million views have been recorded on the brand’s YouTube channel and there have been more than 420 million views of fan videos and webisodes featuring Shopkins.

Flair is developing a wide range of new products to complement the existing toy ranges. The new offering covers the company’s ever-popular Cool Cardz and Shaker Maker ranges whilst a new plush line will hit shelves across the UK and Eire by early spring 2016, rolling out across Europe thereafter.

Flair’s new product line adds to an ever-expanding licensing programme.

Other categories represented include apparel, publishing, bedding, arts and crafts, annuals, games, posters and amusement plush, through top

12 gifts today

Widdop links up with Pigment Design Studio Widdop Bingham is delighted to announce its link up with Pigment Design Studio to produce a selective collection of high quality, themed, licensed giftware. One of the collections forming the back bone of the launch is the award winning “By Appointment”.

This is an exciting addition to Widdop Bingham’s portfolio of brands particularly within the sentiment category and the company is investing heavily in this unique gift collection which includes social stationery, ladies gifts and home accessories all carrying the highly distinctive By Appointment design.

The collection will see its official launch at the Spring Fair on Widdop’s stand in its new location – Hall 4 stand G10-J11.Stephen Illingworth, Head of Product Development and National Account Sales at Widdop Bingham comments, “This is an exciting partnership with an industry-leading design studio that is recognised for its cutting edge designs. By Appointment is just one of four giftware collections licensed from Pigment Design Studio to be launched as part of our Spring 2016 collections. The ranges will add yet another dimension to our product portfolio and continue our drive to offer the widest choice of product to all our customers”.

Steve Baker, Sales Director at Pigment Design Studio adds, “We are all really pleased here at Pigment about our new collaboration with the guys at Widdop Bingham. It’s an exciting development for our design studio to be working with industry-leading companies in other categories and we look forward to watching some of our best selling concepts develop into great emotional gifting”.

Tel: 0161 688 1226 Email: sales@widdop.co.uk Web: www.widdop.co.uk

Diageo extends the Guinness Brand into giftware, jewellery and decorative items Guinness, one of the most iconic and recognisable stout brands in the world, has partnered with leading Irish home and giftware company, Newbridge Silverware, for the development of an exclusive collection of giftware, jewellery and decorative items.

A unique and luxurious range, the Guinness by Newbridge Silverware Collection signifies over two years of collaborative research and design work, resulting in high quality products that reflect the rich history of crafting expertise and excellence which is synonymous with both brands. The collection, including cookware, kitchen textiles, knives, stoneware, jewellery and decorative items, has been carefully designed and crafted to reflect the premium quality and attention to detail Guinness and Newbridge Silverware are both globally renowned for.

The Guinness by Newbridge Collection is available through premium travel retailers and jewellers across Ireland as well as in selected Newbridge concession stores and the Newbridge visitor centre in Kildare. The range will be exhibited at Spring Fair in Birmingham in February 2016 (Jewellery & Watch Hall, stand #18G38) and is set to hit retail shelves in the UK and US later in the year.

Official Licensed Product

we’ve got giftware all wrapped up

Come and view the whole collection at‌

7th–11th February International Spring Fair, NEC, Birmingham, Hall 4

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SUMMER HOUSE

exhibition news

Boost your profits at Giving & Living

Kick Start Spring with Wales Spring Fair!

17th – 20th January 2016 It’s that time of year again when Venue Cymru is busy preparing for its annual trade show, Wales Spring Fair 2016. There is no better place to start planning for next season’s giftware as Wales Spring Fair offers a fabulous opportunity to exhibitors to showcase their latest best-selling products.

Now in its 36th year the show is growing from strength to strength attracting new exhibitors as well as the usual favourites.

Situated in the heart of North Wales, Llandudno is a beautiful Victorian town that comes alive every January during the 4 days of Wales Spring Fair.

Buyers visiting the show will have the opportunity to discover all the fabulous new products, it also gives them a chance to see all the latest product from their favourite suppliers. Many of last years’ key exhibitors are set to return in 2016, including RBW group, Pendragon Wales, Richard Lang and Manav, plus many, many more.

In response to increasing demand from buyers searching for high quality products, The Wales Spring Fair team have taken the opportunity to carefully source new exhibitors. Theses Exhibitors which offer the more design-led, one of a kind type of products are hand-selected for their commercial appeal, quality and price. Whatever your retail focus may be, you can guarantee to find a whole host of new and innovative products to please your customers.

Wales Spring Fair is such a great opportunity for designermakers who are interested in developing commercial trade opportunities. “I have had lots of re orders from this years’ Wales Spring fair. It is a lovely show, well executed and very supportive and friendly. Thank you, keep up the good work” – Becky Underwood Proprietor of Flourish.

Agencies including the Federation for Small Businesses and Grwp Llandrillo Menai will be offering FREE help and advice to retailers during the 4 days.

VENUE: Venue Cymru, Llandudno TEL: 01492 879771, E-MAIL: walesspringfair@venuecymru.co.uk, WEB: www.walesspringfair.co.uk

Christmasworld spotlights the importance of targeted lighting Christmasworld 2016 discusses the importance of lighting through PoS influencing buying decisions, creating atmosphere, beating competition, creating the WOW effect all through lights. LEDs lead the way for many retailers in towns and cities - Short films, changing colours, movement – lighting is no longer just a question of illuminating town squares, products or areas to make them look nice – lighting today can do a lot more. See all details here Tickets for trade visitors are still available to book either online or through our UK office.

Web: www.christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com 14 gifts today

Everyone likes to get a good deal and this January the Giving & Living trade show in Exeter is the place to be, with exclusive show offers, from bulk purchase discounts, new customer discounts, discounts on orders placed at the show to free carriage and free display stands. The show offers will be listed on the website.

Silver Arcade are even giving a free return flight ticket to India to customers who purchase £10,000 of jewellery!

Not only will visitors benefit from these special offers, but by visiting the Enhance area, they could boost profits yet further.

Enhance is designed to inspire retailers to add new items to their offering, with products that fall into three categories. ‘Attention Grabbers’ are gifts that are eye catching and will make potential customers stop in their tracks or that can be used to drive traffic to specific locations in an outlet. ‘Point of Sale’ are the gifts on or near the till that help retailers upsell. ‘Holiday Souvenirs’ are both seasonal gifts and those that can be personalised for a destination or attraction. Discover new and innovative products to complement your existing ranges, widen your appeal, and increase your sales!

Giving & Living takes place at the Westpoint Exhibition Centre, Exeter, and runs from Sunday 17th January to Wednesday 20th January. For more information about the show, to book a stand, or register to attend, please call 01934 733433, follow @giving_living, or visit www.givingliving.co.uk.

Record numbers for Brand Licensing Europe 2015 More retailers attended this year’s Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) than ever before, with a 19% rise on last year. A total of 7,203 visitors (BPA Audited) attended across the three days, with one third from overseas.

Officially the biggest yet in its 17 year history, BLE took place from 13 – 15th October at London’s Olympia. It boasted over 300 exhibitors, of which 90 were new, and floor space totalling 7,364 square meters. Categories including automotive, sport, food & beverage, beauty, music, publishing and heritage experienced growth with the likes of Volkswagen, PGA Tour, PEPSI, Vimto International, Lee Stafford, NOW! That’s What I Call Music, Stanfords and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust exhibiting for the first time.

This year’s Retail Mentoring Programme was the biggest yet since its launch six years ago. It included over 35 individual buyers from 12 major UK retailers. In addition, the largest ever character parade took place on the first day, with an eye-catching 80 characters making their way down the central aisle, generating press coverage in The Times and The Independent newspapers and showcasing the industry to the wider world. Channel 4 used the event to showcase the licensing industry for its forthcoming Super Shoppers series (to be aired in spring 2016).

There were more educational sessions on offer, with 25 to choose from split between the Licensing Academy and the Brands & Lifestyle Theatres. YouTube celebrity and Blogilates founder, Cassey Ho, held the first keynote discussing the impact of YouTube celebrities in licensing. In the second keynote, Moomin Characters’ Sophia Jansson took visitors on the brand’s 70 year journey from inception to its current footing in the market where it now has more than 600 licensees. The story was picked up by the BBC who interviewed Jansson about the licensing success of the much-loved property.

Darren Brechin, BLE Event Director, said: “This year’s show was the best yet, with more visitors, exhibitors and education than ever before. Increasing retail attendance is always a key priority for us, and we are therefore delighted with the end results. The Retail Buyers’ Lounge was packed during the show, demonstrating that BLE is now firmly established as a key date in the retail diary. We are now looking forward to developing next year’s show and will make some exciting announcements soon.”

Brand Licensing Europe 2016 takes place from 11 – 13th October 2016 at Olympia, London.

For more information please visit www.brandlicensing.eu

s e m o c l e w n a m s e n s i o i t W i n n o a i m r e B r p s i h r h a t i e y w g 6 n 1 i 0 m 2 o c h t r o f e h t r o f R

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Special - Brian Wiseman of Present Company

Brian Wiseman

January. Bank of England boss Mark Carney warns that Britain, “should prepare itself for imminent, lengthy and violent interest rate rises.”

February. Spring Fair brings record temperatures of 21.3 C in a balmy spring breeze. Roses bloom early and their sweet scent vies with the smouldering Benson & Hedges in the NEC quadrangles. Inside this most beautifully presented show the agendas widen between the small and mammoth buyers.

March. It was only a matter of time.

With a new report (Minty, Professor Drei Wreed at £15,045 per copy) showing that there is one garden centre for each five miles of A and B roads across the nation, the first Tesco supermarket opens within a garden centre on the A129 near Billericay.

Meanwhile, Bank of England boss Mark Carney reassures Britain that, “a long period of low interest rate stability will prevail.”

April. Lidl and Aldi see their combined market share exceed Tesco for the first time. And the big gift trade suppliers are on hand to pile in discounted product, leading to complaints of the “Coca 16 gifts today

November.

Black Friday’s backlash begins as M&S boss Sir Ian Lavender declares that discounting, “Is for losers.”

Meanwhile, millions of market place traders advertise their wares at a loss in the deluded belief that they will gain market share

Cola-risation” of the industry with brand names which are stocked everywhere from independent gift shops to filling stations to garden centres to supermarkets.

May. Action at last! Outrage at the appalling waste of food in Europe’s supermarkets leads to sweeping legislation. Events follow the familiar pattern: pressure groups highlight an issue of legitimate and popular concern, the media spots a good story, multinational corporations under fire do little except initiate public relations offensives, the pressure groups tighten the screws, the EU acts and the UK gold plates the resulting new laws. Jose Rottero-Tomatero, the EU Food Waste Minister heads the new legislation.

In the UK, Baroness Perfidia Turnipp presides over the onerous new requirements, proudly promising that, “Every food product in the distribution chain will now be marked with a serial number right down to the last grape” It adds a new dimension to the term “bean counting.” For Kyle of Lochalsh’s Sporran Gift Shop, the new laws are a harsh blow as their “Blue Tartan” range of preserves and chutneys become the target of the new laws that require daily returns to be filed online.

Needless to say, the new £133bn (original quote £130,000) computer system crashes.

Meanwhile, Bank of England boss Mark Carney warns of “a long dark road of rapid rate rises.”

June. There’s outrage in the business community as West Crookshire Police issue a reminder to every retailer on their patch that the Police will no longer respond to retail crime. There is, however, an attractive tariff enclosed for their new campaign proving that crime does indeed pay. Attending a shoplifting incident is competitively priced at £99 call out fee + £115 per officer per hour. You want to press charges? Certainly sir or madam!

That will be £999 per entry on the charge sheet. Plus the VAT. July. Harrogate Home and Gift Fair offers the customary summer delight with balmy sunshine. UK boss PM David Cameron

promises a new, “inferno of red tape.”

Mark Carney promises “a sunshine lined path of low interest rates.”

August. Rupert Murdoch buys the BBC for £1.

September. The splendidly useful Autumn Fair draws record numbers of buyers. Savvy exhibitors offer their best prices there and then rather than wait for November.

Bank of England boss Mark Carney warns of “an age of soaring rate rises.”

October. A hard-hitting report shows the full extent of public dissatisfaction with the internet. Slow broadband speeds, rubbish bug-ridden websites and, perhaps, worst of all, the growing compulsion exerted on citizens and customers to conduct their lives online amid seemingly endless security scandals.

November. Black Friday’s backlash begins as M&S boss Sir Ian Lavender declares that discounting, “Is for losers.” Meanwhile, millions of market place traders advertise their wares at a loss in the deluded belief that they will gain market share. But Black Friday does show signs that the madness is moderating despite the saturation of Britain’s retail markets.

Mark Carney promises “a lifetime of low interest rates.”

December. A new guide is published showing consumers how to translate the language of retail promotions. Highlights include: “SALE extended!” = we haven’t sold it all yet.

“Half price SALE!” = we doubled it and now we’re halving it.

“Buy one, get one half price!” = we reckon you’re going to read that without your specs as “Buy one, get one free.”

A Happy New Year to you all!

Brian Wiseman has owned home and gift shop Present Company in Burgess Hill, West Sussex for 28 years. Brian’s wife Louise is the buyer. “Who gives a monkey’s what Mark Carney thinks?” she wonders. brian_presentco@yahoo.co.uk

Heritage Play Range EVA Foam

NEC, Birmingham Spring Fair 7-11th Feb 2016 Hall 5 Stand C50-D51

Est. 1992

Tel: 01303 857200 www.ancestors.co.uk sales@ancestors.co.uk

GA news

The Giftware Association’s members asked to help shape events’ programme: more Meet the Buyer events GA members are being given the chance to help shape the association’s future events’ programme.

Chief executive Sarah Ward comments: “We intend to offer many more opportunities for training; further chances to Meet the Buyer and a new ‘Business Boost Day’ with pertinent information across a range of topics. Feedback from our members is going to be absolutely essential in ensuring that what we are organising is truly relevant to their needs and will support them in growing their businesses.”

A list of potential seminars can be viewed on the GA website.

Members are being asked which of these would be most useful to their businesses by rating the topics from one to 10. Those that do

Voucher scheme goes digital to make members ‘appy’ The GA’s member-to-member voucher scheme will receive a new look in 2016 with the launch of the association’s own Lifestyle App. This will eliminate paper vouchers and make it more attractive to supplier members and the GA retailer members and subscribers who benefit from the exclusive discounts and other deals that they offer at major trade shows.

The app. will also enable those in The GA community to take advantage of special deals from local hotels, restaurants, clothes’ shops, beauty salons and entertainment venues.

Although still in early development, a number of big-name businesses in Birmingham are already signed up to participate. These include Marco Pierre White’s restaurant, the acclaimed vegetarian restaurant The Warehouse Café, and The Jam House, a well-known music venue in the city’s Jewellery Quarter.

The app. will be downloadable for free from the iTunes store by next week. It will be widely publicised

by The GA in the run-up to Spring Fair and will also be featured on the Spring Fair website.

The app’s graphics designer is Susan Taylor, who is putting together an array of designs for everyone to enjoy as they peruse it. You can view her website here.

The GA’s Simone Rose and Dave Kukadia are implementing the scheme. If you would like to take part, please contact them on 0121 237 1149; email simone.rose@ga-uk.org or david.kukadia@ga-uk.org 18 gifts today

so will be entered into a prize draw to win a free ticket to attend the seminar of their choice when the programme launches in 2016.

It is also hoped to expand the hugely popular Meet the Buyer programme next year to include new retailers, particularly independent department stores. Please contact Chris Munns if you are a supplier who wishes to put forward the names of retailers you would like The GA to contact with a view to staging such events.

Alternatively, if you are a retailer who is looking for particular types of product, The GA is offering to assemble a group of carefully selected potential suppliers to enable you to view it.

Those interested should phone Chris Munns on 0121 237 1105; email christopher.munns@ga-uk.org

It’s show time! Busy January for Sarah and The GA team New chief executive Sarah Ward will be out and about with The GA team at turn of the year trade shows and is looking forward to meeting up with as many members as possible.

They will make their first visit of 2016 to Giving & Living at the Westpoint Exhibition Centre in Exeter (17-21 January) before moving on to Top Drawer at London’s Olympia (17-19 January). Then it’s off to Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring in Glasgow (24-26 January).

“We do not have a stand at all of these events, but we will be walking the halls to meet up with the very many GA members who exhibit at them,” says Sarah. “We also hope to catch up with some of our retailer members. If anyone has any particular queries or would like to make a firm appointment with me or one of the team during any of these shows, then do please get in touch and we can make plans to meet.”

Bike challenge takes Tilnar’s Tom to Nairobi GA member Tom Hawes of Tilnar Art has recently returned from a visit to the Ngando slums in Nairobi to see how local schools are using the £1,500 that his company raised through The Tilnar Cycle Challenge, which took place in June.

It inspires cyclists to see how far they can cycle in one day and Tilnar donates £9 of every £12.95 entry fee to either Porridge and Rice – the charity which supports the Nairobi schools – or to Cancer Research UK. This year, in addition to Tilnar’s charitable donations from the entry fees, cyclists taking part in the event raised a total of over £10,000 for the charities of their choice.

Tom was amazed by the very warm welcome he received from the children and staff in Ngando and said that he looks forward to being able to make a further donation to Porridge & Rice after next year’s Tilnar Challenge, which will take place on June 26.

www.ga-uk.org

Giving & Living. Ideas that sell.

A vibrant trade show – packed with a year’s worth of ideas.

Entry is free for trade buyers. Call 01934 733456 or register online.

Stands are selling fast – to enquire 01934 733433.

Exeter 17-20 January 2016 www.givingliving.co.uk

Gift | Coast | Home

This trade only event is organised by Hale Events Limited, Premier House, Old Church Road, Axbridge, Somerset BS26 2BQ Telephone: 01934 733433

Retail Interview

Going This issue Penny Franks had the pleasure to question founder Lindsey Adam of Bonkers, a well-known independent gift store in St Andrews and Edinburgh. Having now been in business for more than 30 years, it’s no wonder that Bonkers has fast become one of Scotland’s favourite gift stores.

You first opened the Bonkers doors in 1983 – what was the inspiration behind this?

In 1983 I was living in the Highlands of Scotland at a time when the Highlands had many small businesses making high quality craft items.

Wanting to move south, my mother and I saw an opportunity to take the craft work of Scotland to a retail outlet in central Scotland and we identified St Andrews as the place to be. Originally we sold mostly craftmade items like hand-made knitwear, pottery, jewellery and glassware then we started to sell cards and smaller items as well and realised that there was huge demand for them. We always wanted to sell beautiful and fun things and we still do.

How did you find the High Street back then in comparison to today?

In the early days things were relatively easy as I think customer expectations were not high. We bought stuff we liked and things that you wouldn’t find in multiple or department stores and mostly people liked what we were selling. There was not much local competition although there were some more traditional gift 20 gifts today

shops nearby. There was less pressure on parking spaces and local people mostly shopped locally.

Having been established over 30 years, you must have seen some fun consumer trends over that time – what is your most memorable?

Sand pictures! It was a double-sided photo frame where the two pieces of glass sandwiched a mix of sand, glitter and liquid. You tilted the pictures and watched as a landscape of sandy desert-like hills emerged. Would love to know if anyone still has one in their home!

What was the rationale behind opening the second store in Edinburgh?

The St Andrews shop was fairly static and we wanted a new challenge. There was an opportunity to take over a city centre shop and we saw this could work for us.

Does this perform as well as your St Andrews store?

Yes, and it’s improving all the time.

The footfall in Edinburgh city centre is good and we are in a very busy location. The Edinburgh shop is slanted towards being more of a card shop but we are selling a lot of gift and souvenir items now.

How important is your website to your business?

Not as important as it once was.

When we started our website there was not the same pressure on price comparison of brands. It is now really an add-on to the shops business but this might change in the future.

Do you offer the same products online that you offer in-store?

No, we only have a small offering online. This might change this year.

Do you have a particular product category that performs well all year round?

Cards, cards and Jellycat toys Do you have any advice you can give your fellow independent retailers that may assist them with regard to trade?

Get as much specialist training and knowledge as you can afford. Make

“Get as much specialist training and knowledge as you can afford. Make sure you and all your staff are properly trained to do their jobs and look after your customers – consistently good customer service is vital”

sure you and all your staff are properly trained to do their jobs and look after your customers – consistently good customer service is vital.

Look after your suppliers too, without them you don’t have a business.

You offer a free in-store gift wrap service on your website, what benefits does this bring and is this service also available in-store?

There is not a huge take-up of free gift-wrapping online.

In the shops we always offer free basic wrapping in our blue tissue paper. We are doing a lot of this since the carrier bag tax was introduced in Scotland (October 2014) as customers don’t want to pay 5p for a bag but would like their purchases wrapped in some way to take home. It’s very popular and we make sure we put our Bonkers sticker on the wrapping too.

How do you select the products that you offer?

I go to quite a few trade fairs to look for new products and suppliers, and see what our existing suppliers have developed. The beginning of the year is very busy with Scotland’s Trade Fair, Top Drawer and Spring Fair. We have some very good agents and reps who visit us throughout the year and they are often a source of new product.

We use our EPOS system to keep on top of our stock holding so that we (hopefully) have the right quantity of product in the shops at the right time.

Buying I think is now a mix of science and art.

How do you keep abreast of consumer trends?

I subscribe to MIX magazine for trends and Retail Week for updates on what is happening in retail. There is no substitute for reading consumer

magazines, social media and just talking to your customers.

How often do you rotate your stock?

All the time. Other than for the fixed seasons in the gift business we buy ranges appropriate for the time of year but will repeat them if they turn out to be good sellers.

What do you think people are searching for when looking at gifts, for example, how important is the packaging/presentation of an item?

Presentation is very important but so is the shop display and staff product knowledge. Customers need more from you; otherwise they will shop online or elsewhere.

Is there anything in particular you feel is driving the gifting sector?

Seasonal occasions are mostly getting stronger (with the exception of Valentines Day). Easter and Halloween are now occasions that more people buy into.

Is social media important to you?

We use Facebook and Twitter to show our customers what we are doing. It’s a constantly changing medium so you never know how many people are going to see your posts, like, retweet, etc. but we are posting and tweeting every week and constantly gaining followers. I think this is something that we will have to put more resource into in the future.

What about trade shows, how many do you attend in a year?

I attend Scotland’s Trade Fair, Top Drawer, Spring Fair, Harrogate Home & Gift, Pulse and Autumn Fair.

And finally, to the future – can we expect to see any further expansion plans on the horizon?

No plans at the moment, but we will be looking at refreshing our website in 2016.

Greetings Cards & Gift Stationery

NEW – Available exclusively from

Spring Fair Stand P17, Hall 3 www.museumsgalleries.co.uk gifts today 21

Grass Roots

This issue we spoke to retailers to gauge their views on what they are expecting in 2016.

Samantha Reed,

George Slinger,

Prince Zebra, Llantrisant, South Wales

Birch Grove Garden Centre, Spalding, Lincs

What expectations do you have for 2016?

I am expecting it to be as busy if not busier than 2015. Things seem to be picking up.

A lot of people seem to be spending more on gifts, bits and pieces. It is looking good.

Are we seeing a higher consumer confidence at present?

Oh yes, definitely. I think so.

What products do you feel will trend in 2016?

Yankee Candles are still very popular at the moment. I still sell an awful lot of them. I seem to have a very large customer base and people come all to me for their candles.

They are going to be one of my biggest sellers. There is also Equilibrium Jewellery but it is mostly candles. I have a candle overload at the moment.

Any particular licensed products that you think should do exceptionally well?

At the moment I don’t carry them. I look at them when I go to the trade fairs – brands like Betty Boop – but for the moment I don’t carry them.

What expectations do you have for 2016?

In our world it depends an awful lot on the weather and the way that the seasons start. We do an awful lot of gifts in the garden centre but we are not just a gift centre or a garden centre, we have so many strings to our bow. Santa Claus is in place; the gifts are moving out. We have garden gifts, collectible gifts, gifts for everybody – it’s the season. That’s this year. Next year we are looking forward to having some success. I am not completely convinced that everybody wants to go on the internet. It is taking its toll but I don’t think it is harming us too much. I don’t see a problem because of the variations we have here – we have the restaurant, the pet shop, the garden shop, the chocolate shop, every kind of shop you could imagine. We are on a seven-acre site with free parking which is a bonus.

As a result, we are quite successful in what we do. If we get a nice early spring, bit of warm weather, bit of sunshine, then we can work the gardens and it will take off. We rely very much on that. In the middle of the town these days it is cheaper not to go – that’s if you can find somewhere to park your car.

Are we seeing a higher consumer confidence at present?

Oh yes, definitely. People are much more relaxed about spending a few quid. We are not scared by the press every day saying this going to happen, that’s going to happen. Interest rates are zilch so anyone of a certain age is thinking that there is no point trying to make a living on that, we might as well spend it.

Someone else can worry about my old age pension.

What products do you feel will trend in 2016?

I’m no great expert at that kind of thing. I tend to read your magazine and work out what I am going to get from there. We do an awful lot of cards and all sorts of other gifty type things. They are impulse purchases. We do Me to You, Liliput Lane, Lost Dog and we do Portmeirion. We do plants, door mats, baubles, trees, arches, all sorts of things. But what is going to be the big trend next year? I’ll wait to read in Gifts Today and you will tell me.

Any particular licensed products that you think should do exceptionally well?

Disney and Me to You do well. We have the Lilliput Lane girl who comes once a year in June. This year on that Saturday we did more business with Lilliput Lane than we have ever done before. The collectors come along. We have more and more younger people coming in.

Philip Downer, Calliope, Dorking What expectations do you have for 2016?

I would say that we are pragmatically positive at the moment. We are not expecting anything spectacular. I would say that we hope to grow at a steady pace.

Are we seeing a higher consumer confidence at present?

We do business in the prosperous south of England but I don’t think at any point in the past few years that I have seen raging consumer confidence. I think customers probably share my worldview. Things are reasonably stable. That enables them to spend. The jobs market is robust. Inflation is negligible so consumer confidence is stable.

What products do you feel will trend in 2016?

In the broadest gifting sense it is hard to call because it is a combination of the staples of the business be they picture frames or candles or whatever. Items like carnival lights go well and they continue to sell successfully for us. I am not sure I could put my finger on anything as I am not that good at predicting product trends.

Any particular licensed products that you think should do exceptionally well?

Star Wars will continue to do well because that will ride on from the movie into the DVD release and so forth. In terms of broader characters, we have certainly seen a resurgence in Peanuts. That has been very quiet but has come back now because of the film and it’s the 65th anniversary of the cartoon strip so there is a lot of coverage for Charlie Brown.

22 gifts today

Derrick Armitage, Present Perfect, Melrose Scotland What expectations do you have for 2016?

My expectations are conservative with a little c. I always think it is sensible not to get carried away with one’s self. There has not been a great deal this year that leads me to believe that next year is going to be dramatically better. I am hoping that it might but in the short-term, I really don’t think it will be.

Are we seeing a higher consumer confidence at present?

When it gets closer to Christmas people decide that even if they were promising themselves not to spend as much, eventually they probably do. They will just go out and buys things because they think “Well, it’s Christmas.” I don’t know that confidence overall has improved. The announcements from the big steel factories that have closed down still sew seeds of doubt in people’s minds even if it is not directly related to them. There is a suggestion from the Bank of England that interest rates might go up next year so I think that might also make people a little bit hesitant because they will suddenly have a greater outlay on their mortgage. I think consumer confidence is not much better.

What products do you feel will trend in 2016?

I don’t honestly have anything in my mind. I really don’t know what will be a hot ticket for next year. I don’t think that way in many respects. If I go to a trade fair and see something, then I might be taken by it. But at this stage I have no idea what will be the hot new thing for next year.

Any particular licensed products that you think should do exceptionally well?

We have Doctor Who but I don’t really go into that kind of thing – you know the celebrity party masks and all that. None of that appeals to me; it’s not appropriate for us. We don’t do children’s toys so anything about Peppa Pig or Hello Kitty are not relevant to me. So it is literally only things about the Royal Horticultural Society or a gallery or a museum might have licensed so for us that means candles, greetings cards, journals, that kind of things. Those are relevant for us.

Simon Pykett Director M +44 (0) 7967 209156

Paul Francis Southeast M +44 (0) 7795 536574 Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Central and Greater London, Channel Islands, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey & Sussex.

Nicola Atkinson

SIA back at Spring Fair Hall 7 Stand A30-B31

Southwest England and Wales M +44 (0) 7802 313128 Wales, Staffordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Avon, Berkshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall.

John Murphy Ireland M + (0) 353 87 2640065 Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

John Gibbons Scotland M +44 (0)7956 934059 Scotland

Chris McVey Northern England M +44 (0) 7795 484412 Northumberland, Cumbria, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Lancashire & Yorkshire

Harriet Ayers

SIA

Unit 7, The Votec Centre, Hambridge Lane, Newbury RG14 5TN

Website: www.sia-homefashion.co.uk Email: salesuk@sia-homefashion.com

Central areas M: 07714 656106 Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk & Suffolk

Price’s Candle

Candles

Lighting the way Candles are a category that many consumers just can’t get enough of. Not only are these a superb gifting option, but they are also a self-purchase item – making it a ‘win, win’ product category.

M

any will buy into the presentation of the candle, fragrance and, of course, the burn time. Candles have been used for centuries and even with the invention of electricity, they have never lost their appeal.

Manufacturers and suppliers within this category have naturally noticed the trend of moving away from plug-in air fresheners and the appeal a quality

finishing touch to a room, but also as an alternative to scent a room and add freshness.

The appeal of a candle and their fragrance can also quite ‘seasonal’, however everyone has their own personal ‘favourite’ aroma and the allure of a particular fragrance, therefore suppliers and manufacturers know and understand the need to keep up with demand and current consumer trends. We asked Marvin

“A good quality candle when used in the correct manner and environment should not soot, should not tunnel (if in a container), and should deliver a consistent, high level of fragrance where applicable” Marvin Lomax, Village Candle scented candle now brings to the overall ambience of a room and more importantly the appeal of candles within the gifting sector, which when talking to manufacturers, suppliers and retailers we are seeing a definite growth in their purchase.

We have to accept that candles are no longer necessarily viewed as a luxury purchase, but also as a lifestyle choice and are bought not only as a gifting option, but are also actively sought as a self purchase. These are often bought to not only add that 24 gifts today

Lomax of Village Candle his thoughts on trends in this sector. “Consumers are always looking for new fragrance and colour combinations to try.

Many candle enthusiasts will make several purchases per retail visit and as a supplier you cannot rest on your laurels. You must be continually introducing something that will whet their appetite. Basic fragrances are often the best sellers but more creative combinations are also very much sought after.”

Independent Retailer, Derek Armitage

Laurence Whiting National Sales Manager, Price’s Candles

What consumer trends do you feel we have seen in this category?

Trends in fragrancing are becoming more delicate and refined with an emphasis on quality and a brighter, cleaner burn. Fragrances are becoming more complex and are now often tailored to certain parts of the home, rather than the home being one.

For instance in the kitchen, herbacious fragrances such as Price’s Chefs candle will help with cooking odours whilst the living room would benefit from soothing woods fragrances such as those within our Price’s Signature range.

For the bedrooms, heady florals like our Signature Damson Rose, and so on.

This approach offers scents to suit every mood and environment.

Why are these great products for retailers?

Candles are great for retailers because of the great variety of customers they attract into store and the reasons for buying are strong, either being bought as a gift or for self purchase. Candles are also great repeat purchases. Once they’re burnt, the customers will be coming back for more.

Do you feel that this is a saturated category?

No, you can never have too many candles on the market, each company offers unique qualities and fragrances to suit every individual which keeps the candle industry moving and keeping up with fine fragrance trending.

How important are fragrances?

Fragrance is essential to candles. At Price’s we liase with our fragrance houses regularly to ensure that our fragrances are both on trend and performing to the best they can. We take time to test our candles for fragrance discolouring, durability and performance. All of this must be taken into consideration on selection.

What about burn times, is this something that consumers look for in a quality candle?

Consumers have become savvy in recent years and have been educated to look for such things as burn times for added value. Burn times really matter when a candle underperforms its stated time. The times stated should always be clear and on the side of caution.

Spring Fair 7-11th February Come see us on Stand 4A10-D11

A new range for summer 2016 Warm Summer Nights Advance orders being taken now +44 (0)117 316 6 1200

www www.yankeecandle.co.uk

Candles

of Present Perfect knows the allure in-store of good fragranced candles.

“Fragrance is very personal which is why the makers have everything from sweet, floral, spicy and fresh and clean.

Fruity is definitely predominant in this year’s winter ranges. However we also find that people are often drawn by colour in the first instance, wanting something to fit their décor. We remind them that the fragrance is what they need to like. Kringle scores because its white wax will fit in anywhere.”

Victoria Newman of Yankee Candle agrees and feels that those who purchase candles also focus on how they feature within their home décor.

“Home fragrance has played a big part in home décor since the 1990s and trends in home fragrance in particular have evolved significantly over the past few years.

Wax Lyrical “Consumers are much more conscious of current fashions now, and they adapt their wardrobes or home furnishings accordingly. This includes their home fragrancing, which needs to be aesthetically appealing as well as functional, and keeps up to date with the latest trends.”

Candles never lose their level of desirability. Often bought by women as gifts, they offer huge appeal instore, and also superb merchandising opportunities, to increase footfall.

Dan Illingworth

Sales Development Manager, Widdop Bingham What consumer trends do you feel we have seen in this category?

New blends of fragrances, new packaging solutions, new jar shapes, new candle accessories keep this product category bang up to date with the latest consumer trends.

Trends in new candle fragrances and blends include exciting combinations such as Sweet Pea & Green Tea and Seasalt & Lime from our Colonial candle collection. New fragrances often follow the seasons – there’s nothing we love more than reflecting the season with our choice of home fragrance.

Why are these great products for retailers?

Candles keep the consumer coming back. They are one of a very few consumable gift categories. In addition to the candle purchase, holders and accessories are important in increasing the average basket spend. They appeal to both the candle expert who is self-purchasing as well as a gift. Our retailers will often suggest a fragranced candle as gift for those undecided or unsure – it’s a safe option that is universally appreciated.

Do you feel that this is a saturated category?

Not at all. It’s certainly a busy old category with lots of innovation coming from existing brands and new ones. There appears to be an insatiable appetite for candles. Consumers will experiment with other brands of candles other than their favourites particularly if recommended.

How important are fragrances?

Fragrance is incredibly important. It’s a scientifically proven fact that distinctive fragrances are a powerful way of recalling memories. We all have our favourite fragrance and conversely those that turn our stomach. Although colour plays an important role in the selection process, the fragrance will be the deciding factor.

What about burn times, is this something that consumers look for in a quality candle?

Perhaps not initially at the point of purchase. However once the candle is burnt, the consumer will quickly appreciate just how much burn time they are going to get out of the candle. And this is likely to result in a repeat purchase of that brand of candle.

26 gifts today

Nikki Garnett

Head of Marketing & Creative, Wax Lyrical Ltd. What consumer trends do you feel we have seen in this category?

The growth of home fragrance has been exponential and our research shows that over 25% of British households now regularly buy candles. As a result consumers are now becoming more demanding in terms of both quality and innovation. We find that they split into two groups: more traditional customers who prefer a classic fragrance such as vanilla or linen, often with a coloured wax and the more fashion-led customer who is looking for interesting fragrance combinations which are often driven by the previous season’s trend in fine fragrance.

Why are these great products for retailers?

They take up limited shelf space compared to many other gift items, they are visually appealing and have the extra dimension of fragrance so they engage the customer on more than one level.

Do you feel that this is a saturated category?

No – the candle industry is becoming more regulated as a result of increasing European legislation and it is much harder for new companies to enter the market. We employ 2 full time PhD scientists to ensure that our candles are compliant with the new laws which fortunately, being the largest home fragrance company in the UK, we are able to do but it is a big investment.

How important are fragrances?

Fragrances are vitally important. Consumers are becoming much more knowledgeable about fragrance and they are demanding unusual fragrance mixes that challenge their senses and provoke a reaction.

What about burn times, is this something that consumers look for in a quality candle?

Yes, our market research shows that burn time is an important factor in the decision making process, especially when consumers are making a larger outlay for higher priced luxury candles.

Many looking for that special gift are also considering the financial restraints they may be under. However, quality candles have always been viewed as a luxury item, but the good news is that now manufactures and suppliers offer candles that are also affordable – by providing a complete range spanning across all the key price points, and the level of choice available is quite outstanding. Remember also, due to their popularity and the need to replace once used, these offer a great ‘repeat purchase’ item.

Derek appreciates the appeal of quality candles in store and stated “Personally, we love candles and at home we have some burning every day of the year even if it is just a few tealights. Some people seem to associate them only with high days and holidays and wintertime but we’re out

to persuade them otherwise because the manufacturers produce fragrances for every season.

“For us, WoodWick, from the US is a continually popular brand; the gently crackling wick is unusual and the fragrances and burn times are excellent. We also stock Kringle candles (another US brand) and, to fly the flag, we have Wax Lyrical, especially those licensed by the RHS. Also for the run up to Christmas we always have Torc’s giant cinnamon candle and giftbox set of four which offer great value.

“A new local brand made here in the Scottish Borders is Esscentual Candles, established by young entrepreneur Aidan Paterson. We’re looking forward to having his new collection in the Spring.

“Candles make an ideal gift for any

Candles

occasion from Mother’s Day to house warming, a small thank you for dinner party hosts or a well-deserved treat for yourself!”

So what should your customers be informed about when looking at candles? What makes a candle stand out when we consider quality?

Marvin told us: “A good quality candle when used in the correct manner and environment should not soot, should not tunnel (if in a container), and should deliver a consistent, high level of fragrance where applicable. If a candle begins to burn poorly it is generally as a result of being manufactured using cheaper components.”

And what about fragrance? How important is this element and why?

Victoria believes in bringing memories to the end user: “Our customers don’t just like our fragrances, they love them.

It’s something that we hear time and time again. They often remind people

Xystos of a special memory, and help to create that special feeling of home. We are renowned for producing true to life fragrances; they smell exactly how people expect them to, particularly when they are looking for something new.”

Marvin feels that ensuring you have a varying choice of candles in-store is vital to success in this category as scent is quite a personal thing.

“Fragrances are very important but are also very personable. Whilst you will always have consistent “best sellers” not everyone will share your view on particular favourite fragrances.”

And burn times? Why is this

Tom Sykes Director, Xystos

What consumer trends do you feel we have seen in this category?

End-users are looking for high quality candles that display well in the home. There is now a greater emphasis on the vessels which hold them. This has greatly contributed to the success of our HearthWick range, which gave repeat business to our stockists throughout 2015. The containers are absolutely gorgeous, with fragrances to match.

Stylish accessories such as tea-light holders and candle shades have also given our consumers the opportunity to present their flame and products in an entirely different way so that they can express their individuality.

Why are these great products for retailers?

They know that they are great for gifting and self-purchase and, if they buy the right ranges, they always sell through. Candles also display well and give a great return on the store space that they occupy. It’s always a good idea to have some near the till as well as on a dedicated stand.

Do you feel that this is a saturated category?

If it is, that certainly hasn’t proved detrimental to Xystos. You certainly see a lot of candles around, but it’s worth remembering that not all of them are of high quality – which is a nice way of saying that there are some pretty poor ones out there.

How important are fragrances?

Vitally important. After a candle catches the eye of a potential buyer, the next thing he or she usually does is to smell the fragrance, so it’s absolutely crucial that it does what it says on the jar.

It’s also essential to offer a wide variety of fragrances and that’s just what Virginia Gift Brands, creators of WoodWick, do – from the homely to the natural scents of fruits and flowers and everyday ones such as leather, linen and wood.

Moving forward, that isn’t going to change.

What about burn times – is this something that consumers look for in a quality candle?

I don’t think it could be described as a quality candle if it didn’t have good burn times. When consumers buy WoodWick, Kringle and Aquiesse candles that is what they expect and that is what they get.

28 gifts today

“Consumers are much more conscious of current fashions now, and they adapt their wardrobes or home furnishings accordingly.

This includes their home fragrancing, which needs to be aesthetically appealing as well as functional, and keeps up to date with the latest trends” Victoria Newman Yankee Candle important and what does it say about the candle being bought? Marvin told Gifts Today: “Burn times are important and once again these vary depending on the components used through manufacture. Quality candles generally have a longer burning time than most less expensive alternatives.”

Burn times are now associated to the overall quality of a candle and are also considered a key aspect of ‘value for money’. Victoria agrees. “Consumers do expect to receive value for money, and to be able to enjoy the experience of burning their candle for as long as possible. We provide consumers with an indication of how long they can expect to use their candle for, and they definitely appreciate this. If they are treating themselves, or a loved one, to a special treat like one of our Large Jar Candles then they want to be sure that their investment is worthwhile.”

Candles are a great product offering in-store and the overall appeal to your customers can generate a fantastic rate of return. Marvin recognises this and as such they ensure that all price points and variations are catered for. “A candle is the perfect impulse buy and are often bought for personal use or as a special occasion gift. Given that a candle is a consumable product they have a limited lifespan before a replacement has to be purchased. They are often sold at affordable, key retail price points that won’t break the bank.”

Remember also to look at the overall packaging, jar types, lid options – all have consumer appeal and offer aesthetically pleasing gifting options via their variety. Marvin feels this is

a key element to any gifting product bought, this can make or break a product range. “Packaging on any candle will always have a positive or negative effect at retail dependant on the standard of quality used.

This applies more so if bought as a gift. However, the consumer or end user is not easily fooled. If a candle looks attractive then doesn’t perform there will be little chance of a repeat sale. The key is to offer a high level of consistency through candle performance and packaging.”

Yankee Candle have recognised this and have developed their ranges in keeping with trends, Victoria told us: “The instantly recognisable and iconic appearance of our original apothecary jar is often what attracts consumers to our candles, and is still our best seller, so we don’t disguise it with packaging.

However, we do acknowledge that the popularity of home fragrance gifts continues to grow, which is why we have developed more creative and appealing packaging ideas to offer consumers a perfect gifting solution.”

For the consumer, candles create a warm and cosy ambience to instil a rare sense of secure wellbeing in a hectic world; they can be an escape or a destination through the power of fragrance. Authentic home fragrances have the power to rekindle past moments in time and happy memories, so consumers will return time and again to purchase their favourite either for themselves or to gift to a loved one.

Take time to browse the following pages to see products that are available to order now.

Candles

Escapology candles receive blogger’s endorsements Ashleigh & Burwood

Ashleigh & Burwood have been delighted with the exceptionally positive reviews their Escapology candles have received from some top UK bloggers. Rave reviews have come from Elise Dopson, Zoe Newlove and British Beauty Blogger, with all positively commenting on the appealing nature of the fragrances and the overall product quality.

Top beauty blogger, Jane Cunningham of British Beauty Blogger is known throughout the makeup, skincare and fragrance industries for her hard-hitting and honest reviews. She said of Escapology “… as soon as I opened the boxes I was smiling”.

Tel: 01932 267060 Email: info@ashley-burwood.co.uk Web: ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk

Repeat orders for HearthWick Xystos

Down the years Virginia Gift Brands has been responsible for a number of significant breakthroughs in the candle sector which have given retailers what they most want – repeat orders.

Xystos says that the range now delivering these is HearthWick, featuring gorgeous WoodWick fragances in beautiful oval vessels.

These give the cosy comfort of a glowing fireplace and the sound of a crackling fire anywhere in the home.

Tel: 0191 499 1570 Email: sales@xystos.co.uk Web: www.xystostrade.co.uk 30 gifts today

Luxurious collection from Caroline Gardner

Caroline Gardner has created a modern and luxurious collection of home fragrance with eight unique scents. Each fragrance has been created with expert perfumers from some of the world’s most established fragrance houses. The art of these fragrances is based on Caroline’s reputation for contemporary designs, and her passion for the simple pleasures derived from using the finest, most beautifully designed products. Each candle is hand poured, produced in the UK and made from mineral wax, natural plant extracts and a unique blend of fragrance oils. The boxes have luxurious on brand versions of the iconic geometric print in colours relevant to the scent. Each glass encompasses the geometric print and Caroline Gardner logo in a soft colour. Fragrances include, pomegranate, rose, fig and mandarin & lime, all gorgeous fragrances have the ability to lift spirits, change moods and evoke memories. Retailing for £24 these candles are set to take the market by storm. (Diffusers also available)

Tel: 020 8288 9696 Email: luca@carolinegardner.com Web: www.carolinegardner.com

New from WoodWick Xystos

New collections are in the pipeline from America’s Virginia Gift Brands, the creative force behind WoodWick and the staple offering from Xystos, the home of flame and fragrance. The candle with the crackling wick already has six core fragrances confirmed for 2016 – Coconut, Honeysuckle, Lemon, Lilac, Pineapple and Rose.

Tel: 0191 499 1570 Email: sales@xystos.co.uk Web: www.xystostrade.co.uk

Price's Fresh Air limited edition candles contain Odourfoyl ™ technology to neutralise unwanted odours leaving your home smelling clean and fresh

Visit us at

Spring Fair Birmingham NEC, 7th - 11th February 2016 Hall 4, Stand E80-F81 3ULFH¡V 3DWHQW &DQGOHV /WG

VDOHV#SULFHV FDQGOHV FR XN ZZZ SULFHV FDQGOHV FR XN

Candles

Be mine with Beefayre

2016 is about all things bright and beautiful.

Beefayre want to move the brand forward and come up with interesting twists on their designs, whilst retaining a distinctive identity through the bee inspired packaging.

Their new collection for St Valentine’s Day is a classic example of this. The Bee Mine Moroccan Rose candle comes boxed in vibrant red rose packaging, with a limited edition red rose glass print to match.

Retailers benefit from the unique designs, as customers will repeat purchase to collect the different glass designs and reuse them as tea light holders or water glasses. Whether as a self- purchase or as a gift, it makes the candle extra special and with a genuine use after the wax has been burnt.

The silver and gold prints for their Winter Garden Collection proved hugely popular and linked into the metallic trend which is set to continue in 2016. Beefayre’s original Waggledance candles, made with pure essential oils, have been re-designed with a contemporary white print fresh for SS2016.

Their mission is to produce great quality, affordable natural plant wax candles, with beautifully designed packaging that connects people of all ages to nature and the plight of the honeybee.

Tel: 01858 43 44 92 Email: sales@beefayre.com Web: www.beefayre.com

Tantalising Kringle Flame free with Joe Davies One of the biggest developments in candles in recent years is the use of LED technology to produce flameless candles that look just like the real thing.

To many people a beautiful candle is just too precious to burn and the new technology enables them to enjoy the ambience of a softly flickering candle without any mess and fire risk!

Joe Davies have had great success with the sentiment flicker candle which features hollowed out wax candles decorated with sentiment messages that glow appealingly when the candle is turned on. There are presently eight commercial messages in the series and six more will be introduced at Spring Fair.

Candle accessories are also proving big business and Joe Davies are reporting booming sales of candle lanterns and tea-light holders too.

Xystos, the home of flame and fragrance, is introducing eight tantalising scents for 2016 from new American partner Kringle Candle, which is bidding to increase its market share in the UK. The new fragrance, which have wide customer appeal, are Egyptian Cotton, Fresh Air, Fresh Mint, Picket Fence, Spa Day, Sweet Pea, Mystic Sands and Dewdrops.

RRPs are from £22.99 for the large candle to £2.49 for the wax melt and Daylight candle.

Tel: 0191 499 1570 Email: sales@xystos.co.uk Web: www.xystostrade.co.uk

Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk Web: www.joedavies.co.uk

Art Collection - Crystal Amber & Iris Stoneglow

This stylish grey vignette effect glassware will bring a touch of class to any room, each item is packaged in a stunning box which features real watercolour artwork, this design features beautiful on trend tones of grey, amber and taupe, which perfectly compliment the gorgeous scent of Crystal amber, sultry musks, powdery iris and pepper.

The collection features 3 different products, a 140ml Reed Diffuser, a 40 hour tumbler and an 18 hour bubble ball.

Tel: 020 8595 8878 Web: stoneglowcandles.co.uk 32 gifts today

Candles

Personalised perfection with PMC Bathed in History

Arora Design Beautifully traditional “On A Wicks” Victorian Bath candles exclusively distributed

by Arora Design, have performed outstandingly at both retail and mail order. Two gorgeous new fragrances will be added to this collection for Spring, Gooseberry & Cranberry and Rose Myrtle & Lily of the Valley. Also being added is a fabulous new bath which will exude the sentiments of bathing in this wonderfully regal bath design. Each candle has a double wick, is made from natural mineral wax, is hand poured in the UK and comes complete with a protective dust cover showing the fragrance details. In 2016 the ceramic baths will be available in six designs, each with five fragrances. The colourful glazes are individually fired, creating unique variations in the finished patterns, a truly individual gift or self-purchase.

New designs and fragrances as well as the existing Victorian baths will be on show at East Anglian Gift & Toy Fair Stand SA17, Giving & Living Stand A255 and Spring Fair Hall 5 Stand A03.

Tel: 01386 861666 Web: www.arora-designs.co.uk

PMC’s range of personalised candles make great gifts for every occasion.

Their bright and floral Garden Bloom range is a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, on her Birthday or as a thank you gift. The range includes fragrant scented jar candles, realistic waxcoated LED candle and even classic pillar candles. PMC have the perfect candle for every recipient, all personalised and dropshipped to order using the latest technology to create a superb finish without compromise.

PMC’s enormous range of giftware doesn’t simply end with candles though.

More than 7,000 products currently available through their trade website, they are one of the UK’s leading supplier of expertly personalised gifts. Whether you’re looking for homeware, kitchenware, ceramics, engraved or textiles, PMC have assembled an unbeatable personalised product range and have created a wonderfully simple ordering system that is suited to virtually any business model. Simply visit their trade website to discover more about PMC’s complete range of giftware.

Tel: 01782 744 900 Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk Web: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Fine fragrances with Melt

Quality Fine Fragrance candle and Reed Diffuser makers Melt have been creating wonderful scents for the home for over 16 years.

Cheryl Hook, Managing Director says’ “At Melt we specialise in creating fine fragrances – the exquisite perfumes that you would choose to wear yourself and that we love to blend for you to use in your home.”

Some thought as to which fragrance goes where is a useful exercise , also of course, it depends on the ambience you are trying to create – relaxing, soothing, energising- as well as where in the home your fragrance is to be placed. A space as personal and feminine as a dressing room should have feminine luxurious fragrances. Gingerbread cookies just would not work for most in that environment...

Melts choice is always elegant, sophisticated, a tad refined, confident and slightly sexy. Or as one splendid newspaper wrote ‘Recherche’ (thank you Weekend FT magazine) As Candle and Reed Diffuser makers, Melt know it’s their job to ensure their exquisite fragrances add something extra to any home and beautifully scent your surroundings.

All Melt products are elegantly gift boxed and have strong pos for presentation.

Tel: 01200 443377 Email: info@themeltco.com Web www.themeltco.com 34 gifts today

Indulgent times Heyland and Whittle

Indulge, relax and unwind with this luxury Clementine & Prosecco scented candle made from sustainable soy wax to burn cleanly, slowly and evenly. With top notes of clementine, sparkling wine, yellow apple and pear incorporated with middle notes of apricot, peach plum and a base note of sugar and dry fruits, this sweet yet welcoming sharp fragrances offers the best balance of filling your space with elegance.

Tel: 01293 525 825 Web: www.heylandandwhittle.co.uk

We are launching a new home fragrance range in collaboration with Heyland & Whittle View the full range at the following trade shows Top Drawer L31 17th - 19th January Spring Fair 4B43 7th - 11th February

WHITTLE

Put some Sparkle in your Spring!

sales@heylandandwhittle.co.uk 01293 525825

WHITTLE NEW CLEMENTINE & PROSECCO RANGE

Visit us at Top Drawer Stand L31 Spring Fair Stand 4B43

Candles

Evoke fragrant memories with Himalayan Candles Enesco

BFA Contemporary Gift’s new collection, Himalayan Candles, combines beautiful, eternal fragrances with vintage art and traditional artisan hand-making skills.

Each candle is poured by hand using a natural soy wax blended with high quality essential and fragrance oils, whilst cotton wicks ensure a clean and even burn.

All containers are unique and handmade, and can be reused once the candle has burned away.

Amongst the delightful fragrances prepared for the Himalayan Candle launch collection are Peony, Anise & Black Pepper, Ancient Philosophy, Grapefruit Pine, Tobacco Bark and Sugared Lemon - and each is a complex mix of layers designed to evoke memories of a particular time and place.

Containers vary from a Vintage Glass Collection including holders inspired by oldfashioned sweet jars, Victorian powder boxes, bubbled glass tumblers and etched and diamond cut glass, to hand painted tins decorated with intricate, henna-style designs. Containers are also made by skilled artisans from tree bark, mango wood and terracotta and a variety of wooden, tin or glass lids complete each unique design.

Traditional hurricane lamp shapes, filled half way and containing double wicks and a burn time of 140 hours are also available.

Two new ranges from St Eval

2016 is set to be a fantastic year for St Eval Candle Company. After a record breaking Christmas season they are ready to launch two brand new ranges.

The Potting Shed Collection, filled with herbal warming scented including Tomato & Basil and their new Roseland Collection. This new collection is perfectly pretty including their brand new scent Tuberose.

Along with over 25 fragrances to sample on their stand they are also featuring their entire collection of which is perfectly St Eval and quintessentially British.

Tel: 01841 540850 Web: www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk

Tel: 01228 404022 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk Web: www.enesco.co.uk

Beautiful large size gel inclusion candles Stoneglow Candles

These candles are a real show stopper, featuring real botanical items some sourced from exotic locations and others locally grown. Each piece is carefully positioned to create the stunning designs and contains a high fragrance natural wax inner to be burnt. The candles are presented in a simple, stylish white gift box with foiled 36 gifts today

print so offset the dramatic designs.

These candles are available in 9 stunning options, and have been designed to complement our popular Natures Gift Reed Diffusers.

These items will be on display alongside all our other exciting new products on our biggest stand ever!

Tel: 0208 595 8878 Email: sales@stoneblowcandles.co.uk Web: www.stoneglowcandles.co.uk

See our full range of products at Harrogate Christmas & Gift 10th - 13th January 2016

Stand C27

1 7 t h - 1 9 t h Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 6

Stand P65

24th - 26th January 2016

Stand G22

For more information please contact our Customer Service team; Email: sales@xystos.co.uk or Tel: 0191 499 1570 www.xystostrade.co.uk

Candles

The Country Candle Company – naturally

The Country Candle Company is one of the leading British manufacturers of home fragrance products.

This spring, in response to requests from their broad customer base, The Country Candle Company is delighted to introduce its new Simply Natural Collection.

With a candle in tin, candle in vintage tumbler and wax melts in a high quality soy wax, with reed diffusers in matching fragrances, and refills too, The Country Candle Company is confident this new collection will be a great success.

The natural wax gives off fragrance more gently than a mineral wax, but burns longer and with the quality wax sourced by The Country Candle Company, burns cleanly and evenly too.

Unfussy, subtle but stylish design and six stimulating fragrances offer something to appeal to everyone. The Simply Natural Collection adds a new dimension to The Country Candle fragrance family.

Tel: 01225 794920 Web: www.thecountrycandlecompany.com

Fragrances from the heart to make your house feel like a home

It has been an eventful year for Heart & Home since they featured in last year’s fragrance issue... exciting new launches, ever-growing brand building activities and of course their distinctive lids and unique soy-blend wax have all come together in the form of strong sales growth. Alongside their competitive price points, their everyday and seasonal scents have really captured the imagination with consumers seeking out their favourite fragrances. This year’s S/S collection includes the gorgeous fresh aromas of Sweet Pea, with Pearl Bouquet featuring top notes of ylang-ylang and subtle hints of vanilla. Their A/W choice is just as exciting with warmer, woody fragrances on the horizon.

Wax Melts and Warmers are proving one of their top-selling ranges, due in part they are sure to the fact they are still soy-wax based with all the associated benefits – the high fragrance load and long burn time only adds to their popularity.

Complementing their jar candles and wax melts they are introducing striking Fragranced Diffusers for spring – offering customers even more choice as to how they want to experience the gorgeous Heart & Home scents. Flamefree, they are the perfect way to continuously and effortlessly fragrance the home as the aroma is slowly released through the natural reeds. Pretty, coloured apothecarystyle glass bottles sit in packaging that reflects the distinctive imagery of the popular jar candles.

Stylish home décor accessories complement the varied range of fragrances for the complete package.

So why not become part of this blossoming brand?

Tel: 01709 730700 Email: sales@ heartandhome.com 38 gifts today

Candles

Philippi Copic 3-Branch Candleholder Solo Limited

Lustre and Glamour is what these magnificent candle holders from Philippi have to offer. This candle holder from Philippi elegantly rises in height as it illuminates the room. The Philippi 3-piece candle holder stands in a most feminine and glamorous manner, interpreting a women’s silhouette in a tailored corset. It’s a true eye catcher for any home or celebration. Available in two different sizes which are three or five candle holders. This product was designed by Manfred Jostmeier. The Philippi candle holder was shortlisted in Gift of the Year 2014.

The full range of PHILIPPI is available exclusively from Solo.

Tel: 01789 262900 Email: sales@sololtd.com Web: www.sololtd.com

And there’s more from Wax Lyrical

Wax Lyrical is adding a new fragrance to its best-selling Fired Earth collection for Spring 2016. Fired Earth candles were recently nominated in The Independent’s Top Ten, praised for being “both beautiful and great value.” The range is based on trend-led tea fragrances and the new release Assam and White Cedar will be available with both a single and a triple wick. It has been packaged in a deep blue jar as recent research has shown that in addition to the traditional female home fragrance fan, the range appeals strongly to male consumers.

New to Wax Lyrical’s collection is the Kitchen Garden range which has taken its inspiration from the trend for home produce and superfoods. Developed with male consumers as well as females in mind, the fragrances are based on English fruits, berries and herbs, linking strongly to Wax Lyrical’s Made in Britain heritage. The collection includes two trend-led fragrances, Rhubarb and Ginger, and Tomato Leaf and Geranium in addition to Blackberry and Basil along with Fig and Quince.

The wax has been created in vibrant colours which performed well in research groups with consumers saying it accentuated their impression of the fragrance.

Tel: 01229 461100 Web: wax-lyrical.com

Artisan Hurricane Candles Solo Limited

Go Colonial Widdop Bingham

2016 sees some exciting new product developments within the Colonial Candle brand. New blends of fragrances, new packaging solutions, new jar shapes, new candle accessories and the introduction of a range of reed diffusers all add new impetus to this market-leading candle brand.

Six new fragrances will be launched at the show. Look out for exciting and innovative combinations including Sweet Pea & Green Tea and Sea Salt & Lime all designed to bring a scent of spring into the home. Gift packs for special occasions including Mothering Sunday present consumers with a simple and attractive solution.

Tel: 0161 688 1226 Email: sales@widdop.co.uk 40 gifts today

Candles are a fantastic way to create a warm and inviting atmosphere within any interior.

These irresistible elegant Hurricane Candles from Solo are handmade, and with the crackled foil combination, the candle holders look luxurious and are bang on trend this season, evoking its rustic finish. Customers are always looking for a candle holder that can capture warmth and elegance. The rustic glass shade creates a fantastic ambience to enhance any surrounding, complementing the warm glow of the candle flame. These Hurricane Candles will look stylish anywhere, extenuating their indulgent, rich finish and texture. Mix and match the candle holders in size and colour to create a perfect entertaining environment.

The hand-crafted collection is available in three different sizes which are; Knight, Bishop and King in silver, gold or copper. Ideal for creating ambience indoor and outdoor.

Tel: 01789 262900 Email: sales@sololtd.com Web: www.sololtd.com

Home fragrance looking good MADE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Visit us at the Spring Fair NEC Birmingham 2016 Hall 5 Stand 5A31.

Request our NEW brochure: t 01225 794920 e sales@thecountrycandlecompany.com www.thecountrycandlecompany.com Visit our NEW showroom: The Country Candle Company Bristol Road 路 Allington 路 Chippenham 路 Wiltshire SN14 6NA

Candles

Sweet Gratis

Heart of the Country Bridgewater Candle Company’s top selling fragrance Sweet Grace continues to dominate sales within the range. Available in 18oz jar candle, 8oz jar candle, candle tin, votive, reed diffuser, wax bar and sachet it’s a fragrance that proves irresistible to anyone this sparkling tea and patchouli fragrance. Come to the Heart of the Country stand in Hall 4, 4C42-D43 at Spring Fair to see what all the fuss is about for a free Bridgewater Candle Company Sweet Grace Sachet to take home with you.

Tel: 01543 481612 Email: sales@heartofthecountryltd. co.uk Web: www.HeartoftheCountryLtd.co.uk

Limited Editions from Price’s

Price’s Candles are bringing two new seasonal limited edition jar candles to this year’s Spring Fair as part of their best-selling Fresh Air range of odour eliminatores. These candles will be sure to light up any home this spring with bursts of fruit and and summer florals in the form of Brazilian Mango scented with guava and sweet mango. Violet Garden infused with soft rose and violet flowers These candles work in the same way as the rest of the range, employing exclusive-to-Price’s Odourfoyl technology which helps neutralise unwanted odours leaving your home smelling clean and fresh throughout the year.

Tel: 01234 264500 Email: sales@prices-candles.co.uk Web: www.prices-candles.co.uk

Step into spring with Heart & Home’s beautiful candle selection

With Spring Fair 2016 on the horizon we are looking forward to show our latest Heart & Home fragranced candle and home décor collections. Sweet Pea features an exquisite bergamot based scent at its very heart, creating an uplifting bouquet that reflects the graceful beauty of this most irresistible of flowers. Whereas Pearl Bouquet has top notes of ylang-ylang and subtle hints of vanilla for an unmistakably classic fragrance. Imagery featuring shades of ivory, cream and gold offers a colour palette, perfect for that most special of days - the spring wedding! With a whole range of products available, including jar candles, votives, tealights, wax melts and warmers - your customers will be spoilt for choice!

Tel: 01709730700 Email: sales@heartandhome.com

Spring/Summer collections now available Village Candle UK Ltd

Village Candle now have all their Spring & Summer 2016 collections available to order. New fragrances for spring include Lemon Pistachio, Pink Grapefruit and Dahlia. New accessory collections include assorted rotary fan candle jar tops and electric mosaic wax burners in 16 designs. Many more new items are also available for immediate delivery. Take a look on-line, visit our showroom, request the new catalogue or arrange for a sales agent to visit. Initial stocks are limited so order soon to avoid disappointment.

Tel: 01254 300268 Email: sales@villagecandle.co.uk Web: www.villagecandle.co.uk 42 gifts today

Candles

Add a bit of Zest

Classic Candle Company Classic Candle Company launched in the UK in 2015 with 24 everyday fragrances, from Lemon Zest to Chocolate Brownie, adding six more for the autumnal and festive period. But the story didn’t start or end there. 2016 will see the launch of Classic Florals, Kitchen Classics and Classic Pets.

With their exclusive manufacturing partners and own research and development team in the USA working on the latest trends and fragrances with the top fragrance houses, these are exciting launches ahead for niche but expanding markets.

Following extensive market research, Classic Candle have developed stunning scents to capture true to life fragrances that will bring Classic Candle to the forefront of home fragrance. Combined with beautiful and classic packaging and design, it meets the quality and feel that today’s discerning consumers demand.

The reed diffuser market will continue to grow in 2016 and Classic Candle will be increasing its already successful range by introducing refill bottles, reeds in décor matching colours and mini reed gift sets.

Tel: 01473 487748 Email: Sales@ClassicCandle.com Web: www.ClassiCandle.com

Expansion plans for Heaven Scent

Natural candles are what Heaven Scent are known for some of the best quality fragrances blended with quality essential and fragrance oils. “We like to point out to many people that we were the first in the industry to create the plant wax blend. Meaning the formula has been really tried and tested, I sometimes forget how beautiful our candles are, until I burn them at home, the throw of the scent is amazing,” says Daniel Pettitt, the creator of Heaven Scent. Next year Heaven Scent will be expanding into their new buildings which will mean increased production and lower lead times.

Tel: 01225 868788 Web: www.heavenscent.co.uk 44 gifts today

Clean and contemporary Classic Candle Company

The Classic Candle Company has created a product range that fits with any décor and in any home.

The all white wax range of fragranced candles come with some exciting features and selling points; manufactured in the USA to exacting standards, all labelling is produced on silver backing to reflect the candlelight, adding to the warmth and atmosphere only a real flame can create. Food grade wax and reusable glass containers give your customers a second use for their purchase after enjoying their candle.

Clean lines and contemporary artwork fits with any décor, and stunning fragrances with With four sizes of candle from the MiniLight sampler size, enabling the customer to try over 10 hours of fragrance for only £2.50 up to the large jar offering over 100 hours of burn time, the stunning Midi Jar with 30-50 hours of stunning fragrance is priced for the gifting market at £11.50, joined by the staple medium jar at £16.50 there is a price point for every pocket.

The candles are joined by large six block wax melts, gift packaged reed diffusers, room sprays and soon to be launched reed refills and coloured reeds.

Tel: 01473 487748 Email: Sales@ClassicCandle.com Web: www.ClassiCandle.com

Candles

It’s all in the Signature

P

rice’s are proud to present to you their Signature Range of inspirational candles and diffusers across 24 stunning fragrances.

This elegant range is focused on high-quality fragrance, burn quality and value. In collaboration with our fragrance house and after extensive market research, Price’s have developed scents to capture future trends, bringing the brand to the forefront in home design.

These fragrances, combined with beautiful timeless packaging, which includes branded silver lids, gives the range a quality, contemporary feel that consumers demand.

Tel: 01234 264500 Email@ sales@prices-candles.co.uk Web: www.prices-candles.co.uk

Profile: Robert Harrop Designs

Harrop Home ventures into home interiors Robert Harrop Designs are most commonly associated with their brands of handpainted collectable figurines from ranges such as the Doggie People, Camberwick Green, Beano Dandy, Thunderbirds, Wallace and Gromit and Doctor Who.cThis has been a staple for the company since Robert Harrop started the company back in 1986, but more recently their history has been dominated by the success of Edge Sculpture, a contemporary range of sculptures designed and sculpted by Creative Director Matt Buckley. People who are familiar with the range will agree that it is a far cry from the world of collectables and is indeed aimed squarely at the high-end home interiors market.

This successful venture into home interiors has prompted the company to think of how they can use their huge back-catalogue of original work in more diverse ways from they are more commonly associated. Therefore, some of the many characters they have created from their Doggie People collection, have now been seamlessly transformed from figurine sculpts to quality woven tapestry cushions in a new range they are calling Harrop Home. Each cushion is carefully designed by Dan Buckley (shown here) and will be meticulously woven using thread dyed to their own specific requirements. Premiering in early 2016, Harrop Home will also expand to include characters from their Thunderbirds and Camberwick Green collections.

Harrop Home cushions and Edge Sculpture can be seen at the January Furniture Show in Hall 3 Stand M60 and the International Spring Fair Hall 1 Stand H20.

Tel: 01952 884804 Email: danbuckley@robertharrop.com Web: www.robertharrop.com www.edgesculpture.com 46 gifts today

Lovingly Hand Poured in England

Add a little light and discover your home fragrance at Melt www.themeltco.com • 01200 443377 info@themeltco.com

!" # $ % # % & ' %

Position: Area Sales Representative – North of England Salary: £25,000 up to £30,000 (negotiable pending experience) + car + commission + healthcare + pension Job Ref: TBO 2362 (www.tinderboxconsultants.co.uk)

The Company DKL Marketing www.dkl.co.uk is a distributor of Children’s Products and quality brands supplying retailers across toy, nursery, gift and stationery.

The Opportunity An opportunity for an Area Sales Representative in the North is available.

The area covers from Derbyshire up to the Borders and will sell into Toys, Gift, Craft, Garden Centres and Department Stores.

The Candidate You will be responsible for account maintaining and identifying new business opportunities. You will be confident with cold calling and undertaking drop-ins. A bright and enthusiastic personality will be key, with plenty of stamina to increase sales and distribution of product. Experience of selling into the toy, gift, garden centre, nursery or stationery retailers will be beneficial. You must be living in the northern area to be considered for this role.

How to apply for the role Please submit your CV to Rowena Shorey at Tinderbox Consultants Ltd – Rowena@tinderboxconsultants.co.uk | t. 01590 674212 Tinderbox Consultants are the sole appointed recruitment agency handling this role and any CV’s sent directly to DKL Marketing or submitted to DKL Marketing via another agency will be passed to Tinderbox for consideration and selection.

BOINGŽ BRACELETS UK. Inspired by extreme sports and the great outdoors BOINGŽ makes unique and vibrant rope and leather bracelets. BOING’s rope bracelets are made in the UK using genuine climbing & sailing ropes. Each one is presented an embossed tin. RRP start from just £30. Free POS stand.

billy@boing-inc.com www.boing-inc.com +44 (0)1628 789999

Yankee Candle

Gifts for every occasion from Yankee Candle

Yankee Candle is launching an exciting new range of gift sets for spring 2016, giving consumers a choice of beautifully boxed gifts for every occasion.

O

n-trend fragrances of the season come together with inspirational packaging and reusable Yankee Candle keepsakes, which create a collection of gift sets that literally do keep on giving.

Ready to meet consumer needs for spring 2016, Yankee Candle have launched a range of beautifully designed lotus flower inspired gift sets which sit within the new My Serenity fragrance collection, intended to refresh and revive sales after the festive period.

These chic and subtly coloured sets of Three Votives and Votive Holder, Three Small Jar Tin and Melt Warmer with Three Melts are perfect for birthdays, as a Mothering Sunday gift or just a special treat to say thank you to a friend or loved one.

Released just in time for Mothering Sunday, consumers will also have the

48 gifts today

For late spring, and perfect for the start of summer, Yankee Candle will release a selection of stunning gift sets as part of the colourful Riviera Escape range choice of treating their mums to an opulent and indulgent Wax Melt or Five Votive Gift Set from the Pure Essences range when three new fragrances join the popular collection first launched last year.

For late spring, and perfect for the start of summer, Yankee Candle will release a selection of stunning gift sets as part of the colourful Riviera Escape range. This season will see the introduction of a new gift set form; two Medium Jar candles in a trend dip-dye canvas tote bag which is perfect for taking to the beach or just as a summer fashion accessory. The

Six Votive House set will return with a Riviera makeover and new fragrances, whilst the Twelve Wax Melt Tube will include all four new scents from the collection.

Yankee Candle has also introduced stylish gift sets for weddings, St Valentine’s Day and Easter to offer customers gifting options which combine variety and value without compromising on beauty and quality.

Two new heart-felt St Valentine’s Day gift sets have been developed for consumers to fall in love with and give to their partner as a romantic gesture, or another loved one to show them just

Did you know?

• The Yankee Candle Company is the number one brand in the home fragrance market.

• Yankee Candle has more than 40 years’ experience of offering distinctive and high quality yet affordable true to life home fragrance products.

• The Yankee Candle jar candle is the original jar candle and one of the most recognisable brand icons in the world.

• Our classic jar candles are the best-selling range and represent 60% of our sales.

• Our candles are nostalgic – the fragrances bring back memories but also play a role in the creation of new memories.

“This year we are expecting that gift sets will continue to be extremely popular with consumers, not only for St Valentine’s Day but for other occasions as well.”

Hannah Jenkins, Brand and Marketing Director create an eye-catching and enticing St Valentine’s experience for your customers.

Also ideal for St Valentine’s Day, perfect for a newlywed couple, anniversary occasion or just to say ‘I love you’, there is a stylish new gift set which contains two decorative Stemmed Votive Holders complete with Champaca Blossom votives.

And as an alternative to chocolate, and a guaranteed calorie-free treat, consumers can celebrate Easter with the choice of a pretty coloured Votive Holder and three Votive Candles, or a decorative Wax Melt Hanging Egg which can be kept and enjoyed year after year.

Hannah Jenkins, Yankee Candle’s Brand and Marketing Director, said, “This year we are expecting that gift sets will continue to be extremely popular with consumers, not only for St Valentine’s Day but for other occasions as well. Bright, eye catching and colourful packaging helps to enhance the look of the contents and also avoids the need for additional

wrapping. We’ve tried to develop packaging for our gift sets which not only meet the requirements of the consumer but also the needs of the retailer too, because a gift set should ideally be saleable all year round and not just for a short time period.”

For further information on any of the new Gift Sets or fragrance collections, contact Yankee Candle on: Tel: 0117 316 1200 or visit www.yankeecandle.co.uk

how special they are to you.

Featuring enticing fruity and floral fragrances in traditionally romantic red and pink wax, the gift-set packaging is decorated with hearts but not branded as St Valentine specific, so there is the potential for retailers to sell the sets for other purposes too.

Combine coloured accessories and classic Yankee Candle fragrances with the Large Red Raspberry Jar Candle topped with Metal Hearts Illuma-Lid or the Five Votive Set to gifts today 49

Top Drawer

Time for Top Drawer 2016 Experience the new, beautifully curated worlds of Top Drawer - Home, Gift, Fashion and Craft

S

ince 1984, Top Drawer has been synonymous with top quality products and innovative design. The organisers, Clarion Events, introduced Home in 2012 and Craft in 2014 and expanded into fashion accessories and the greetings sector, which cemented the show’s unique position as perhaps the UK’s leading design-led buying event for multiple buying categories.

Spring 2016 sees the event’s latest evolution, as they present four distinctive worlds – Home, Gift, Fashion and Craft – under one, united Top Drawer brand, creating one major destination for design-led products and buyers from all over the world.

“Our dedicated team spends the year cherry picking the best in class across home, gift, fashion and craft. The result is a curated, exciting and inspiring event that presents the up and coming trends, and showcases the very best of each sector. The new look is fresh, premium and contemporary. By simplifying the brand architecture, we are able to focus more on relevant content and engage fundamentally with each of the communities we represent,” stated Alejandra Campos, Event Director Hosting a record number of exhibitors, the next edition of Top Drawer will take place at Olympia London from 17 to 19 January 2016, and will bring together an inspirational showcase of thousands of selected British and international brands and designers.

Gift comes to life with a carefully 50 gifts today

edited, global cross-section products from the finest brands and designers in Gifts, Stationery & Greetings, Wellbeing, and Children’s products for the Spring/ Summer season. Best Years Ltd, Bohemia Design, Cubic, GMC Group, Katie Leamon, Kikkerland Europe BV, Miss Etoile Aps, Nkuku, Ohh Deer, Polite Company, Quintessential, RICE, SENCE Copenhagen, Wild And Wolf Ltd are amongst the over 600 the gift labels already confirmed.

“Over 600 hand-selected leading UK and international Gift brands have chosen to take advantage of the opportunity to be seen at the first show of the European season in front of the most influential retail buyers in the World,” said Taha Meziane Top Drawer Sales Director.

New this year is the Food Emporium introducing the best artisans, producers and brands – big and small – to add foodie faves to any retail space.

Fashion comes to life in the super-chic Catwalk Show with six trend-led scenes featuring some of the most covetable fashion accessories for the Spring/ Summer season.

Top Drawer has a proud history of discovering and nurturing new talent.

For 2016, Spotted will expand to become the all-encompassing hub for new and emerging brands across the shows and will include the popular confessions of a design geek bursary award.

For the fourth consecutive year, Top Drawer have partnered with

Spring 2016 sees the event’s latest evolution, as they present four distinctive worlds – Home, Gift, Fashion and Craft – under one, united Top Drawer brand, creating one major destination for design-led products and buyers from all over the world Katie Treggiden to run the 2016 confessions of a design geek bursary.

This prestigious award worth over £10K for the lucky winner includes a complimentary stand within the Home sector at Top Drawer, product showcase at the Barbican Centre shop, one-week pop-up shop at West Elm, photography shoot, PR, marketing and business mentoring.

The beautifully curated world of CRAFT will also return for its third year with an impressive selection of carefully curated handmade products from over 150 of the finest contemporary makers.

CRAFT at Top Drawer fills a gap in the UK market for a high quality, trade event which enables leading makers and artisans to meet a substantial audience of international retailers, professional

buyers and collectors. The Spring edition will include ceramics, glass, jewellery, fashion, textiles and mixed media.

“The spring edition of CRAFT will be bigger and better than before. With over 150 leading UK and International makers, featuring high quality products, the show has the right identity and atmosphere for high end retailers, professional buyers and collectors.”

Piyush Suri Creative Director Handmade in Britain Buyers are now invited to register online to experience the new, beautifully curated worlds of Top Drawer - Home | Gift | Fashion | Craft 17-19 January 2016 at Olympia London.

For more information please visit www.topdrawer.co.uk

Top Drawer

Heyland & Whittle

Stand: L13

Award-winning British soap and home fragrance brand Heyland & Whittle are delighted to announce the launch of their new luxurious hand creams.

These rich and aromatic fine hand creams are delicately fragranced to nourish, soften and soothe the skin all year round and are the perfect handbag size for women.

There are three scents available; Neroli & Rose, Citrus & Lavender, and Greentea & Grapefruit, all of which are based around your mood or activity. Neroli & Rose is for those intensive moods, Citrus & Lavender is calming and Greentea & Grapefruit is for the avid gardener.

As you would expect with Heyland & Whittle products they are paraben and sulphate free and packed with vitamin E, rich shea butter, sunflower oil and beeswax to help protect and moisturise skin and nails. Packed in a 50ml tube it is a convenient size to take with you on the go and apply throughout the day as and when your hands need it.

Carrie Elspeth Stand: 440

Carrie Elspeth’s gorgeous new collection for Spring 2016 is a celebration of colour and light. These elegant new ranges are a masterclass in beauty and subtlety, blending Carrie’s much-loved style with sophistication and a delicacy of touch that sets them apart from the crowd. This is stunning, accessible jewellery making a bold statement without shouting.

Alongside this exclusive new collection is a vibrant gift range of hairbands which double perfectly as funky bracelets: Carrie’s Colourbands are a hot favourite, so don’t miss an opportunity to stock these fabulous fast-sellers.

All of Carrie’s jewellery continues to be lovingly handmade in Wales.

Tel: 01446 771271 Web: carrieelspeth.com

Tel: 01293 525825 Web: www.heylandandwhittle.co.uk

Temerity Jones Stand: J41

Temerity Jones is a new design led giftware brand, launched in the autumn of 2014.

The Creative Director behind this new concept is Craig Masson, who has put together a unique and inspiring design-led range of gifts and home accessories that’s certain to spark the imagination of retail buyers and their customers. It is fashion forward, with a nod to the familiar and appealing vintage styles which continue to be so popular.

Launching Summer 2016 Top drawer Spring 2016 sees the launch of Temerity Jones’s newest eclectic home and gift range; ‘Hippy Chic’. They have been inspired by the opulence of Biba, and the laid back style of the Hippies to create a thoroughly modern take on a classic pre-disco 70’s vibe. Macramé makes a welcomed return, as do house plants, bottle gardens, and sexy retro glassware.

Add into that some cool Moroccan styling, and you have all you need for a summer of love!

Tel: 01922807477 Email: sales@ temerityjones.com Web; www. temerityjones.com 52 gifts today

RJB Stone Stand: L61

RJB Stone will be showcasing their latest design-led Sass & Belle collections at Top Drawer this January. Find inspiring homeware and gifts in a display of over 2,000 lines. The brand new Tropical Summer collection with fun illustrations and bold pops of colour will make you wish for hot summer days. The range is based around iconic tropical items, including a pineapple, flamingo, watermelon and palm tree. With its bright colour palette, this collection encapsulates the perfect, carefree feeling of a holiday cocktail.

Tel: 020 7346 0122 Web: rjbstone.com

Top Drawer

Miss Milly Stand: 405

Miss Milly is delighted to be making its first appearance at Top Drawer on stand 405. The British brand, now in its fourth year, has an ever-increasing fan base for its collections of colourful, reasonably priced jewellery and scarves. If you’ve not yet discovered Miss Milly, come and see the new spring lines with a seasonal palette combining pastels and tropical brights.

Pretty, iridescent aquas and lilacs sit in soft, matt silver metals. And hot pinks and bright turquoises and limes combine with shiny silvers, creating a festival of colour to brighten up any retail display. Miss Milly’s collection of viscose and cotton scarves comes in colours to coordinate with the jewellery, and offers branded stands that allow you to display both ranges together.

A firm believer in the power of branding, Miss Milly also offers a range of packaging from pillow packs to boxes and bags.

The company has a strong belief in its products and makes it easy for retailers to try them for little investment with a £50 minimum order and the opportunity to buy in singles. You can register online at www. missmilly.co.uk to access trade prices for the complete range or call 01905 622509 for more information. Sales agents are available for some areas.

Tel: 01905 622509 Web: www.missmilly.co.uk

Solo Ltd Stand: L45

Launching at Top Drawer, this stunning addition to Solo’s Artisan Collection is beautifully hand-crafted from recycled aluminium with an all-over gloss ivory enamel and featuring distinctive lettering.

From juice jugs to Cheese plates and cake stands to champagne buckets, the “Village” collection evokes a more rural, simpler time, bringing both style and function to the kitchen. The new “Village” collection is a perfect addition for a country style kitchen or as a style accent to a modern interior. Adding a bright and decorative touch, “Village” can transform a drab dining or kitchen area.

Tel: 01789 262900 Web: www.Sololtd.com 54 gifts today

Eliza Gracious Stand: 260

Eliza Gracious are launching beautiful new jewellery with fine chain detailing and an expanded freshwater pearl selection, including combining pearl with leather. They focus on attractive designs with competitive pricing, allowing for great margins. Try the Eliza Gracious gift packaging and display stands, which they know can help create sales. As experienced retailers, they understand it’s hard to buy exactly what you need when faced with large minimum orders so don’t have a minimum order value at shows. Benefit from free branded packaging for orders over £200 and free delivery over £300. All stock items are delivered within two working days.

Tel: 07767 785822 www.elizagracious.com

u r n e w h e ar ts o f o ch n u la e th r fo s u Jo in d L49 an st at s ie r o ss ce ac d an g if ts

at Top Drawer, London 17th - 19th January 2016 stand L49

gorgeous new embossed hearts

Visit us at stand L49 t 020 8288 9696 e katie@carolinegardner.com www.carolinegardner.com

Top Drawer

Stand: R55

Ranges that arouse the senses Stoneglow Candles are proud of their heritage, where they still apply age old techniques that have been passed down from father to son.

Having produced candles for more than 21 years, Stoneglow are once again proud to be exhibiting at Top Drawer, London. Take a look at what they have in store for you.

Modern Apothecary

A supersize multi-wick candle that will fill any home with fragrance. These stunning candles have a stylish white and frosted glass finish that will compliment any interior, and come packed full of fragrance. As well as this, these candles are made with our unique high performance natural wax blend, so you can be assured that you will be delighted when you burn them.

Each candle is packed in a stylish white gift box with simple colour coded numerical identity and details of top, middle and base fragrance notes, and will burn for up to 50 hours. Pictured is their new fragrance No:7 Bergamot, Patchouli & Oakmoss.

Natures Gift Inclusion Candles

Beautiful large size gel inclusion candles made using their unique natural wax blend.

These candles are a real show stopper, featuring real botanical items some sourced from exotic locations and others locally grown. Each piece is carefully positioned to create the stunning designs and contains a high fragrance natural wax inner to be burnt. The candles are presented in a simple, stylish white gift box with foiled print so offset the dramatic designs.

These candles are available in nine stunning options, and have been designed to complement their popular Natures Gift Reed Diffusers.

Tel: 020 8595 8878 Email: sales@stoneglowcandles.co.uk Web: www.stoneglowcandles.co.uk 56 gifts today

Modern Classics

Modern Classics, Sea Salt & Oakmoss, a new fragrance/colourway to add to this best-selling home fragrance collection. The simple classic styling, high fragrances and unusual bottle shapes make this range a very popular choice. The new blue colour option is bang on trend, as is the wonderful salty, oceanic fragrance.

The range offers a wide selection of products such as 140ml Reed diffuser, 40hour candle and 15-hour candle as well as a room spray and a gift set option.

Spring Fair 2016 Hall 6 Stand T21 QUAIL’S EGG

Spring Fair 19C18

Top Drawer 405

Top Drawer K6

www.quailsegg.co.uk Email: info@quailsegg.co.uk Tel: 01304 379 901

Simply gorgeous jewellery and scarves Telephone: 01905 622509

•

Online: missmilly.co.uk

Top Drawer

Rachel Ellen Stand: V53

This gorgeous floral handbag/shoulder bag is one of three designs and forms part of a co-ordinated range of products from stationery through to tins and wrap.

Made from PVC coated cotton it features a contrasting pink lining with internal mesh pocket and a front zipped pocket.

Measuring approximately 21 x 16cms it has an adjustable shoulder strap. To see the other designs available or the rest of the range visit stand V53 at Top Drawer.

Tel: 0115 9622862 Email: emailsales@rachellen.co.uk

XYSTOS Peony

Stand: 402 No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow and what an exciting collection abounds for Spring 16 from Peony. As a gift or a self-purchase, this season’s beautiful range of scarves, (that little bit of affordable luxury), really is something to shout about. Packed with newness, the themed stories include Pretty in Pink, Down to the Shore, All Creatures Great and Small and Country Garden Party, which are just some of the inspired pre-selected ranges that merchandise so well and make that difficult job of selection a tiny bit easier. Some delightful feathered friends feature in A Little Birdie Told Me So, including the classical swallow and the glorious blue tit scarf, shown here.

Known for their clever use of colour, the spring hues of peppermint, rose, cornflower, dove and aqua do not disappoint. The good quality finishes on various fabrics of cotton, viscose, silk, polyester and linen make the Peony collection a strong commercial opportunity. To experience the range visit Top Drawer on Stand: 402.

Tel: 01442 259046 Email: sales@peononline.co.uk 58 gifts today

Top Drawer Stand P65

Xystos, the home of flame and fragrance, enters the New Year on the back of a recordbreaking 2015.

Visitors to Top Drawer Spring can expect to experience the usual dazzling array of scents that have kept its products flying off the shelves. WoodWick supplier Virginia Gift Brands has been working overtime to meet UK demand for the candle with the crackling wick, with HeathWick giving retailers repeat business throughout the year.

New WoodWick collections are in the pipeline and six core fragrances have been confirmed for 2016 – Coconut, Honeysuckle, Lemon, Lilac, Pineapple and Rose.

Xystos is also introducing eight tantalising scents from new American partner Kringle Candle, which is bidding to increase its market share in the UK. The new fragrances, which have wide customer appeal, are Egyptian Cotton, Fresh Air, Fresh Mint, Picket Fence, Spa Day, Sweet Pea, Mystic Sands and Dewdrops. RRPs are from £22.99 for the large candle to £2.49 for the wax melt and Daylight candle.

These follow its earlier successes with ranges such as Grey, and Watercolours, which combines lavish floral notes and sweet fruit accords with a counterpoint of sandalwood.

Look out too for the subtle scents of high-end range Aquiesse.

Tel: 0191 499 1570 Email: sales@xystos.co.uk Web: www.xystostrade.co.uk

See our exciting new range of fashion jewellery

SALES AGENCY VACANCY Pomegranate is a leading publisher of award winning gift and paper products, books and calendars. With a focus on fine art and illustration, Pomegranate collaborates with individual artists as well as museums, galleries, and libraries across the world.

Since 1968, we have been creating a wealth of unique products which also includes our fantastic jigsaw puzzle range and games for children.

As an independent, family owned company we value quality, excellent customer service and innovative ideas. We continually introduce new formats and designs, with the mission to inspire through art.

Top Dr awer S tand 2 Pure L 60 – S ondon pring F Stand air Sta X16 – nd 19C Moda 15 Stand X19

Pomegranate currently has a vacancy for a highly motivated sales agent in the following area: Cheshire – Cumbria – Greater Manchester – Lancashire – Merseyside – Isle of Man Please contact: sales@pomeurope.co.uk

www.elizagracious.com tel. 07767 785822

Let little minds wander as far as OC@DM A@@O Top Dr awer Stand Q51

Email sales@inch-blue.com Telephone +44 (0) 1495 311123 www.inch-blue.com

Top Drawer

Kitchen Craft Top Drawer, Stand: I69

Hot on the heels of their recent distribution agreement, Kitchen Craft will officially showcase the Fred giftware brand at Top Drawer including a number of fresh, funny and clever design-led gifts.

The collection spans four key categories including Kitchen, Kids, Party and Home, injecting fun into every aspect of everyday life.

Even a normal mundane day in the office can be transformed with these new Fred Take-Out Fake-Out paper lunch bags, which will have colleagues wondering, not only what you’ve brought in for lunch but where on earth you got it!

Eight wonderfully wacky styles will keep them guessing all the way through until lunchtime, and add fun and hilarity to the day, and with 24 bags per pack – three each of eight different styles, you could have a different “take away” bag each day of the week!

Tel: 0121 604 1111 Email: sales@kitchencraft.co.uk Web: www.kitchencraft.co.uk

Caroline Gardner Stand: L49

Caroline Gardner is very excited to return for the third time to Top Drawer. This is a particularly exciting show for us as we will not only have the successful home ranges of wall art and home fragrance, but it will be the first time we will have our spring/ summer 2016 product on display. The gift sees a great update on the existing heart print, with luxury leather look products such as purses, notebooks and pencil cases. The range encompasses key attributes such as bright pinks and oranges matched with gold. The heart print is embossed to give it that extra touch of attention to detail, typical of Caroline Gardner products!

Tel: 020 8288 9696 Email: luca@carolinegardner.com Web: www.carolinegardner.com 60 gifts today

Peace of Mind (PoM) Stand: 480

A new year is the perfect time to try something new. This spring, PoM are launching their new silver plated initial necklace and birthstone charm collection, just in time for St Valentine’s Day. With the personalisation market getting bigger and bigger, if you sell or are thinking of selling silver or silver plated jewellery, this is a trend you should really be buying into.

Adding a heart charm or loved ones’ birthstone to one of PoM’s simple necklaces takes seconds and creates a unique and very thoughtful gift that can be added to again and again. Beautifully packaged and complete with point of sales display, PoM have made it as wonderfully easy for retailers as it can possibly be.

Email: sales@pom925.com Web: www.pom925.com

special offers available

Top Drawer Olympia London, January 17-19 2016 Scottish Fair Trade Glasgow, January 24-26 2016 Spring Fair Birmingham NEC, February 7-11 2016 Contact: Richard Weitzkorn 07956424482, email: richard@ambproducts.co.uk

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Top Drawer N39/41 Telephone: 01304 379901 info@quailceramics.co.uk www.quailceramics.co.uk

Top Drawer

Ambiente Stand: N57

Kitchen Craft Home, Stand: G5

Kitchen Craft’s spring launch will see a host of new products being introduced, which will excite and inspire across kitchenware, tableware, cookware, accessories, giftware and more.

Leading the way in tabletop and gifting trends, the new Master Class Artesà gourmet serving pieces and tabletop accessories continue the Artesà philosophy that this exquisite range is not just for making and serving meals but for creating a special ambience and a gourmet dining experience not be forgotten.

New items include a delightful range of Artesà ceramics - fine white porcelain with deep sea-blue contrasts and ragged print motifs across a varied selection of serving items including bowls and platters.

Adding a new dimension to the range will also be a collection of elegant glass serveware and tabletop accessories featuring emotive etched lettering.

Artesà will be showcased alongside other new launches at Home, stand G5.

Ambiente is a Dutch manufacturer of printed paper napkins and table top accessories. They have their own in-house design team and all paper products are manufactured in their factory from FSC certified tissue on flexographic presses. They are able to produce designs from 1 to 9 colours in 25/33/40 cm and offer a very speedy Private Label service.

This Spring they will launch a brand new exciting range of iconic designs on their napkins from paintings in the National Gallery including images of Monet, Boschaert and Renoir.

At Ambiente quality and customer care are the top priority and they offer a 4 day delivery service.

You will find their new collections also featured at: Scotlands Trade Fair: Jan 24-26, Stand J17 Spring Fair: Feb 7-11, Hall 3 Stand K01 Spring Fair: NEC Birmingham, Febuary 2-6, Stand 4D02 Contact Richard Weitzkorn on 07956 424482 or email: richard@ambproducts.co.uk

Tel: 0121 604 1111 Email: sales@kitchencraft.co.uk Web: www.kitchencraft.co.uk

New Products

A unique collaboration Distinkt Cards

Distinkt Cards are thrilled to announce a unique collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces to create a new stationery collection that exudes opulence, elegance and history. The stationery takes its inspiration from the stories, architecture, interiors and gardens of the palaces; from Cardinal Wolsey’s spectacular suite ceiling, to Hampton Court Palace’s magnificent Rose Garden. The Historic Royal Palace stationery consists of 5 beautiful ranges: The Kensington, Wolsey, Cherry Bird Tree, Tudor Rose and Rose Garden Collection. They include luxury journals, jotters, notebooks, notelets and greeting cards that will be perfect for high end department stores and heritage boutiques.

Tel: 01892 511678 Email: info@distinktretail.co.uk Web: www.distinktretail.co.uk

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Toy Fair

All the fun of the Fair!

Toy Fair returns to West London’s Olympia on 24-26 January 2016 as the only dedicated toy, game and hobby trade exhibition in the UK. Organised by the British Toy and Hobby Association, this three day event is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for visitors to discover hundreds of exciting and original toys and games that make great gifts, from established manufacturers to smaller start-up companies.

N

ow in its 63rd year, Toy Fair will once again occupy the entire upper and lower sections of the Grand and West Halls. The show floor will host more than 240 exhibitors, with the likes of Marvin’s Magic, Sambro, Tomy and Vtech. As well as the many returning exhibitors, Toy Fair 2016 is pleased to welcome new companies to the show, including JNH Europe and Crayon Rocks who will be showcasing brand new gift products set to hit the shelves throughout 2016.

One such product will be the MyStyle

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Keepsake Locket from Interplay UK (G10) that provides a fashionable new way to display miniature keepsakes and cherished items. The MyStyle kit contains two lockets that are both large enough to fill with a variety of charms, gems and memorabilia that are all included.

A bike collection by Eduk8 Worldwide (GH42) will also be making their first appearance at Toy Fair 2016.

The Premium White Trike Range is comprised of four types of high quality trikes that are all sturdy and white.

One of which is the Retro Trike with shaped handle bars and a wide, three position adjustable seat to suit a range of children.

Ty Inc (Gallery 119) is set to unveil their collectable phone holder Peekaboos. A variation of styles will be revealed, but all will have the recognisable Ty big sparkly eyes. These Peekaboo plush gifts can also be used to clean phone screens.

Also being introduced at Toy Fair 16 is the Bunny Racer by Little Concepts (GH51). With a gentle curve design that makes it easy for children to hold and push, this gift product can be used to develop motor skills and imagination.

Intended specifically for babies, the Rainbow Designs (E120) Miffy for Baby

collection is another product to be showcased this year. Suitable for gifts, this new range includes plush toys, ring rattles, comfort blankets and an activity cube.

Launching is the Despicable Me Watch and Case Gift Set by Zeon Ltd (F60). Featuring all over the watch and case are Minions from various print sequences from the film and outtakes.

Appropriate for all ages, Prediction is a card game that relies on memory, skill and chance. This new game by Deejay Wheelie Bag (GH48) is suitable for two to four players and will be making its debut at Toy Fair 2016.

Revealed on the opening morning of the show, Toy Fair’s Best New Toys for 2016 is a great opportunity to get a feel for what toys are trending for the upcoming year. Judged by an independent panel of retailers, these are the toys, that they believe will be the hottest products throughout 2016. They will be displayed on the gallery level, outside the Press Office, over the three days. Winners from 2015 that were ideal gifts include the Vivid Wubble Bubble Ball, the Hornby Hobbies Corgi James Bond Aston Martin, The Twirlywoo’s Talking Plush Toys by Golden Bears and Trends UK Ltd toy Puppy Surprise.

As seen in the past three years, Toy Fair TV will be a key feature at the show. Hosted by Anna Williamson and Gavin Inskip, Toy Fair TV gives visitors the opportunity to see more of the show floor. Broadcast on more than 24 screens around Olympia, visitors can watch the presenters interviewing exhibitors on their stands as they unveil their latest products.

Toy Fair TV will also broadcast the return of the Demo Zone. Hosted in the onsite Toy Fair TV studio, exhibitors are given the chance to demonstrate their products to Anna, Gavin and a group of children. Each Demo Zone session runs for half an hour, on the hour, across the three days and is broken down across a range of toy categories.

The categories from 2015 saw the likes of hobby, tech, playsets, puzzles and games and speciality toys.

In a change of the format, Toy Fair 2016 will take place from 24 – 26 January 2016. The opening hours are Sunday and Monday 8.30-6.30pm and Tuesday 8.30-4pm.

Visitor registration is now open for Toy Fair 2016. For more information and to register for a free visitor pass simply visit www. toyfair.co.uk.

Rainbow Designs Stand: E120

There will be a host of exciting new toys and as well as stunning new collections launched by Rainbow Designs at this year’s Toy Fair.

Rainbow Designs are really excited to be launching a brand new product category at Toy Fair as they will be showcasing their brand new Activity Playmats the first time.

The beautiful Character Playmats are suitable from birth and have been packed with activities to help stimulate babies’ senses as they grow. The Activity Playmats include activities such as a detachable mirror, removable shaped teethers, a cute peek-a-boo flap as well as a multitude of textures and sounds designed specifically to encourage babies’ early development skills. The Activity Playmats will be available in Peter Rabbit, Guess How Much I Love You, Peppa Pig for Baby and The Very Hungry Caterpillar collections.

This spring Rainbow will launch a stunning new plush collection of some of Roald Dahl’s most famous characters including Matilda, The BFG and Willy Wonka as well as

a fun-packed Whizzpopping BFG feature plush. The new collection is being launched as part of the Centenary celebrations of the world-renowned story teller’s birth.

Following on from the hit movie, Paddington and the phenomenal success of their talking Paddington last year they will be launching two new fantastic Paddington feature plush items in 2016. ‘My name is Paddington’ Soft Toy talks and roars when his tummy is squeezed and the new ‘Talk to Me’ Paddington not only says five different phrases but he also has a recording function so youngsters can record a message and hear Paddington repeat it back!

See all of Rainbow Designs’ 2016 collections including Air Puppy, Paddington, Peter Rabbit, Peppa Pig for Baby, Guess How Much I Love You, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Miffy and Shaun the Sheep and The Snowman and The Snowdog on stand E120.

Tel: 01329 227300 Web: www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

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Toy Fair

Cartamundi Stand: H1

On stand H1 at the 2016 Toy Fair, Cartamundi, one of the world leaders in playing cards and card games, is going to be busier than ever. The company is celebrating new additions to the Shuffle family of games — its groundbreaking combination of playing cards and digital technology. In addition, Cartamundi is previewing a number of major new game box releases, including a Finding Dory game box with waterproof cards inspired

by Disney·Pixar’s eagerly awaited follow-up to Finding Nemo. There will also be colourful new card decks for Snap, the UK’s best-known children’s card game, and Carta Magic — the exciting Cartamundi range that highlights the continuing popularity of card tricks.

Toy Fair will showcase some exciting new additions to Shuffle — Cartamundi’s innovative product category that combines playing cards and digital technology for an enhanced way to play card games with support from tablets and smartphones.

Tel: 01268 511522 Email: retail@cartamundi.co.uk Web: www.cartamundi.com

Great Gizmos Gibsons Stand: E40

For Gibsons, the upcoming trade fair season is the most exciting time of the year, as it’s not only the perfect time to showcase their latest releases, but a chance to catch up with customers old and new. This year, the stand will be chockfull of new products, from over 40 new jigsaw puzzles to the Iconic Brands Collection, board games and puzzle accessories.

With a focus on promoting their Iconic Brands Collection, which features four branded puzzles that are presented in quirky tins, Gibsons’ Toy Fair stand will proudly display the new lines that were inspired by the adored brands Marmite, Love Hearts and Mr Men. Toy Fair will also see the launch of the new Emma Ball collection, which includes nine 250 piece puzzles painted by the famous artist, featuring gorgeous artwork from nine different regions of Britain including Cornwall, Yorkshire, London and Highlands and Islands. The puzzles are presented in smart gift tubes, and make perfect souvenirs for tourists to treasure time and time again.

Gibsons, as always, will also be showing off their extensive new traditional jigsaw puzzle range and each new puzzle will be presented on glass shelving for all to see. The collection includes many exciting new additions, from the third instalment of the Our House Memory Lane range, to a glorious jigsaw that celebrates the Queen’s upcoming 90th birthday!

Tel: 020 8661 8866 Web: www.gibsonsgames.co.uk 66 gifts today

Stand: G20

Great Gizmos has lots of new and exciting toys and gifts for toy shops in 2016.

There are additions to popular 4M, Meadow Kids, Kid O, NICI and more! New brands include Fat Brain Toys, Bead Bazaar, Charm It, Magic Sticky, and their own fantastic range of popular Wooden Toys.

They have developed their own range of multi-functional Great Gizmos wooden toys that are designed to promote learning through play. The colourful and cute Pull Along Dinosaur will be a hit with children and encourages social skills, hand eye coordination and physical development.

Fat Brain Toys offers a range of award-winning toys, games and brainteasers for kids of all ages. Shift creativity into high gear with Mod-Mobiles, switch and swap the colourful foam pieces to create all sorts of vehicles and race them for hours on end.

Charm It! is a fabulously fashionable range of collectable bracelets and interchangeable charms for young girls. Crafty minds will love the jewellery-making kits and craft sets from Bead Bazaar.

Draw a picture on the Magic Sticky Art Pad with the super washable pens, stick the picture on to any surface, it adheres to any vertical and horizontal surface and can be moved and reused endlessly. The Magic Art Pad comes with lots of character outlines that can be traced, so kids can draw their favourite characters and colour them in.

Luxury plush and accessories collection NICI, offers everything from plush toys for tots to stationary and bedroom accessories for pre-teens. New to NICI are the brightly coloured NICIdoos, cute Comic Cats, Easter Rabbits, Classic Bear and new characters join the popular Wild Friends. There is something for everyone.

Tel: 01293 543221 Web: greatgizmos.co.uk

Picture courtesy of House of Marbles

Toys for Gift Shops

Toyin’ around It’s the place to pick up souvenirs, sweeties and now toys

O

nce upon a time you popped into a gift shop especially one in a seaside town and all you could find were postcards featuring local views, sticks of rock, and various tins of commemorative sweets.

Museum gift shops were not much better – their pictures tended to be of exhibits rather than vistas. Nowadays, you can visit almost any gift shop and find a wide range of new and exciting products including toys.

The gift shop has not replaced the toy sop, far from it but it has allowed a new front to open up allowing retailers and wholesalers another shot at getting their goods in front of the public.

Retailer The Science Museum has also found that customers have an interest in ancient animals. They sell “everything dinosaur” from realistic replica skulls to squeezable soft touch toys.

Craig Manley, Senior Buyer at the Natural History Museum shop, says, “The majority of our visitors come to see the dinosaur gallery, so dinosaur toys and games remain our biggest category. Our best-seller is currently Dinosaur Guess Who, which is exclusive to the Natural History Museum. It’s a lot of fun to play, whilst teaching children about the different dinosaurs at the same time.”

As we have seen toys do not have to be expensive to be popular. Pocket money toys are popular says Sarah Dayus: “We have really expanded

“Pocket money toys are extremely popular, their fantastic price points mean they are incredibly easy to sell and they are the perfect pick up.”

The shops can offer a wide variety of price points when it comes to gifts from those costing a few pounds to a much more expensive range.

We spoke to a number of those with an involvement in this exciting and expanding category.

For some outlets the trend at the moment seems to be towards scientific toys. Sarah Dayus, the brand manager at Great Gizmos, certainly believes that this is the case as she told us: “Our science and activity kits are flying at the moment. The year has been strong across all ranges with more demand starting to show for bath toys.”

Lauren Woodsford, House of Marbles has a slightly different outlook. She said: “Retro toys are hugely popular; they really appeal to parents and grandparents who wish to reminisce and share the fun toys they enjoyed playing with as a child.

“Many have been given a modern twist giving some of the best loved toys a fashionable look too.”

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our range of pocket money toys this year due to demand and it has been so popular. Especially for party bags, stocking fillers and for kids to spend their pocket money of course.”

Lauren Woodsford agrees: “Pocket money toys are extremely popular, their fantastic price points mean they are incredibly easy to sell and they are the perfect pick up.

“There are so many fantastic toys available in a wide range of price points to suit all retailers. We present many of our pocket money toys in counter displays, which look fantastic on their own or as part of a window display offering gift shops a trouble-free way to maximise their sales.”

The other great thing about toys in gift shops is that the items do not have to be seasonal. They can, of course, be linked to a particular occasion St Valentine’s Day, Mothering Sunday, Christmas or birthday but it is not essential. It is, however, a good excuse.

Sarah Dayus told us: “We find that toys are bought as gifts more so than not, for birthdays and Christmas.

People are always on the hunt for that something a little bit different.”

Alan Bryant runs The Gadget Shop in Norfolk and finds that his customer base is perhaps surprisingly split almost fifty-fifty between men and women.

“You would imagine that most of the people who come into my shop are men but women are really getting into gadgets. Perhaps it is the influence of so much sc-fi on the television and in films.”

Did you know?

Sarah Dayus once more: “We find gadgets and gizmos to be popular with men and women, especially if it is a little bit different and special. Our Tin Can Cable Car has been a winner across all ages and genders and I think it’s because it is so unusual.”

Lauren Woodsford thinks that toys are “very often” given as gifts because “there’s so much choice available and there’s plenty of different price points to choose from – whether you are looking for little stocking fillers or bigger exclusive toys, there’s something special for everyone.”

• Cards Against Humanity was amazon’s best-selling game in the run-up to Christmas.

• Bonanza Gifts in Las Vegas is the world’s biggest gift shop with 40,000 square feet of shopping space.

• Founded by William Hamley as Noah’s Ark in High Holborn, London, in 1760, Hamleys moved to its current site on Regent Street in 1881.

• J. Jaques & Son trademarked the name ping-pong in 1901.

• Disney was the first company to license a toy – Mickey Mouse in 1934.

Toys for Gift Shops

High quality traditional toys

The ultimate magic kit has finally arrived!

CID is proud to present the first magic kit by Bradford magician Dynamo who has taken the world by storm in recent years. He’s currently doing a live tour where he will do 81 dates in total and has currently sold over 300,000 tickets – many of the dates sold out within minutes. The Dynamo Magician Impossible Series has been seen by 400 million viewers worldwide and has been broadcast now in over 180 territories. Dynamo has five million Likes on Facebook and has 2.4m followers on Twitter. Dynamo launched this product in Harrods in November where he demonstrated the kit while doing some filming for it which can be found on Youtube.

For the first time, take a peek behind the curtain and learn the secrets behind some of Dynamo’s incredible close-up magic. The Dynamo Magic Kit contains a curated selection of illusions chosen for their combination of spellbinding effect and ease of performing in everyday locations. Discover how to tie your shoelaces without touching them, cut your friends’ headphones in half and then magically restore them, make a chosen card appear from nowhere and much more The magic kit contains everything you’ll need to enthrall friends and strangers - from devices to supplementary props to Dynamo’s Book of Secrets, which includes words of inspiration from Dynamo, complete step-by-step instructions for each trick, plus tons of other brand new magic.

Kit includes: Dynamo’s Book of Secrets Standard deck of cards Trick cards Earbud headphones Pair of shoelaces Scratch-off lottery cards Three essential secret devices

Tel: 0116 278 7273 Web: www.cidmerch.com 70 gifts today

House of Marbles has been making high quality traditional toys and games since 1973, and for 2016 there is an even bigger and better selection than ever before. From classic pocket-money toys to some of the best games of all time, there is so much choice for the independent gift shop.

You can find the old favourites as well as some exciting new collections including a speedy stunt kite and a fabulous giant play castle - all come in uniquely designed packaging and their price points simply can’t be beaten!

You can see the full range of toys, games, novelties and books at www.houseofmarbles.com/trade.

Tel: 01626 835358 Web: www.houseofmarbles.com/trade

Knights and princesses prepare to defend the kingdom Ancestors Group

Boys prepare to do battle with these wonderful high quality EVA Foam dress up ranges brought to you by Timeline. There are many swords and shields to choose from plus suits of armour and hobby horses.

Girls will aspire to be the next princess with a range that includes tiaras, a hand held mirror, hobby unicorn. Girls love to fight also so they have a pink Sword and Shield. The best news of all is that the foam doesn’t hurt like the traditional wooden swords.

A great addition to any dress up collection or toy box.

Will inspire hours of children’s imaginary role playing.

Fun for all ages including mum’s and dad’s.

Tel: 01303 857200 Web: inspiredtreasures.co.uk

Visit - www.ggtrade.co.uk VISIT OUR SPRING FAIR STAND: 5E10/F11

TOYS, GIFTS, AND GREAT IDEAS

Pet Themed Gifts

Picture courtesy of NPW

Pets win your hearts They are (mostly) cute and cuddly

P

ets can bring comfort and company but they are not always a practical solution for some people because of their domestic circumstances. Some people live in houses or flats where animals are either not welcome or physically not able to live there.

We spoke to a number of people with a vested interest in this category. What no one seems to question is that the United Kingdom may be divided on many subjects but on one topic it is totally as one – we are a nation of pet lovers. “The UK is absolutely a nation of pet lovers; we are seeing a huge increase in the number of customers looking for pet-themed gifts and items to treat their four-legged friends,” said Mary Overmeer of Puckator.

What to do if you cannot have a living and breathing animal living with you?

How to bring a pet theme into your life and home? Pet-themed gifts are

the way to go. Helen Shield of Enesco said: “Gone are the days when you only had a pet if you were home all day or had a garden.”

Helen has also noted the popularity of small doggie presents: “I think this trend started with handbag dogs from that well-known Essex-based TV show and just escalated.

“The popularity of these small dogs has grown, with nearly 10,000 pugs being registered by the Kennel Club in 2014. This has now extended out to pet gifts for all dogs, no matter the size.”

Mary Overmeer of Puckator told us: “People have always loved to treat their pets and take great pride in owning an animal. Whether your mum loves everything about cats, your best friend is obsessed with sloths or your sister has a cute pug she loves to spoil – pet-themed gifts are the perfect choice for anyone you know with a favourite animal or pet.”

Retailer George Pringle of Animal

Farm near Manchester has two dogs and three cats and loves to sell animal-themed items in his small shop. “I think my love of animals shines through when I go to stock my shop. It’s not very big but I keep a good selection of pet-themed stock, which my customers seem to love.”

Gary Savage, the General Manager of Intelex Group, told us: “Pets continue to be a very popular category within our Warmies range of heatable plush toys.”

What about next year?

What can we expect to see trending? Gary Savage said: “2015 has seen growth in our British themed animal characters including our

“Gone are the days when you only had a pet if you were home all day or had a garden.”

Warmies Badger, and Fox characters.

We expect to see continued demand for both dogs and cats in 2016, along with other popular pets in the home including bunnies. We’ve seen a strong increase in demand for dinosaur plush toys, fuelled in part by movie franchises like Jurassic World and other more mythical animal themed characters included dragons and unicorns have proven to be fantastic sellers for Intelex.”

Mary Overmeer said: “We are seeing

a steady popularity for cats and dogs which doesn’t look like it will slow down any time soon. Puckator’s new unicorn and dinosaur designs will be launching in 2016 and are expected to be very popular; they can’t exactly be considered pets, although who wouldn’t want a pet unicorn or velociraptor?”

And finally, Helen Shield gazes into her crystal ball for us: “I predict 2016 will be,” she says, “the year of the pug.”

Did you know?

1. Dogs became domesticated around 40,000 years ago.

2. Cats became domesticated around 9,000 years ago.

3. As of 2010, more than 76 million digital pet Tamagotchis have been sold worldwide.

4. Hello Kitty was born in the suburbs of London on 1 November. Her height is described as five apples and her weight as three apples.

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To stop you from going barking mad trot along to our stand and view all the endearing NEW pet and animal inspired products for 2016.

East Anglian Gift & Toy Fair Stand SA17 Giving & Living Stand A255 Spring Fair Hall 5 Stand A03

T: +44 (0)1386 861666

e: sales@arora-design.co.uk w: www.arora-design.co.uk

Pet Themed Gifts

A striking collection Edge Sculpture

Edge Sculpture is a most striking collection of contemporary statement pieces with an ever evolving portfolio that is designed to cater for those looking for something a little different for their home.

Being established over the last four years the range has been able to develop into many new directions with some very fearsome subjects indeed, alongside the ethereal and the friendly.

Nothing typifies terror and awe more than the infamous Tyrannosaurus Rex, which although initially showcased at the Autumn Fair in a prototype Bust form will still be very much having its launch at the January Furniture Show 2016 and then again at the Spring Fair.

The new Green Man Bust, Pug Bust and Duck figure will also be present, but for those coming to see what we will be showing for the very first time for 2016 will be able to view our new Edge Sculpture Horse Bust, a very bold and exciting Owl piece and a Moon Gazing Hare.

Continuing forward, Matt Buckley (seen here with his original clay sculpt of the Tyrannosaurus Rex Bust) has already began sculpting an Edge Dalek Bust from Doctor Who, which builds on the tremendous success we have found with the Cyberman Bust in 2015. Continuing with the ethereal Green Man piece Matt has also sketched up initial designs for his Female Wood Elf Bust.

All pieces are cast from re-constituted stone then all hand painted which means that no two are exactly the same and so retain that true fine art feel.

Edge Sculpture can be seen at the January Furniture Show in Hall 3 Stand M60 and the International Spring Fair Hall 1 Stand H20.

Email: danbuckley@robertharrop.com Web: www.edgesculpture.com

Join the Pets on the sofa Arora Design

Arora Design’s Pets with Personality brand will take a step into home accessories this Spring, with a gorgeous range of eight faux suede scatter cushions.

Beautifully illustrated by talented artist Dean Kendrick these humorous and loveable characters are set to bring joy and laughter to many homes. Based on the enormously popular personalities already in the range, this collection will start with a Border Collie, a Basset, a German Shepherd, a Labrador, a Springer, a Westie and two adorable felines, one ginger cat and one black and white cat.

Each cushion has been purposefully designed with subtle background colours to easily suit a variety of home interiors, perfect for either a self or gift purchase. Each cushion carries the Pets with Personality branding, and comes with an information card about the range.

This new collection of Pets with Personality cushions will be on show at East Anglian Gift & Toy Fair Stand SA17, Giving & Living Stand A255 and Spring Fair Hall 5 Stand A03

Tel: 01386 861666 Web: arora-design.co.uk

Pet loving at PMC

Purrfectly happy RJB Stone

RJB Stone, the home of Sass & Belle have many purrfect gifts for happy hounds and feline friends. Find plenty of gifts for pets and their owners, from practical products to fun and decorative homeware accessories. Discover the new pet food bowls in simple monochrome prints or snuggle up to their popular ‘Reserved for the dog’ and ‘Reserved for the cat’ linen cushions.

Web: www.rjbstone.com 74 gifts today

As a nation of animal lovers, PMC’s range of personalised pet gifts is proving to be a big hit with consumers and pets alike. Their range of personalised pet bowls is perfectly suited for pets of all sizes, with large brown ceramic bowls that are sturdy enough to withstand the messiest eaters, to smaller engraved stainless steel bowls that are perfect for smaller pets, such as cats and rabbits. All of PMC’s pet bowls are personalised and drop-shipped to order. They make a perfect gift for your pet’s birthday, Christmas or as a special treat.

With more than ten years operating as one of the UK’s leading supplier of personalised gifts, PMC have perfected their no-fuss drop shipping model, removing the need to hold costly stock and despatching thousands of lines the next day. There is no minimum order, giving their customers complete flexibility and allowing them to cherry pick the lines that best suit their businesses. Visit PMC’s trade website to see their full range of personalised pet gifts and to learn more about their industry-leading drop shipping solution.

Tel: 01782 744 900 Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk Web: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Arora Design

Paws for thought Arora Design Limited are well known and respected for the success and longevity of their pet-themed brands, Pets with Personality, Little Paws, Optipaws, My Pedigree Pals and Fragrant Paws.

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015 saw Arora team up with phenomenal award winning photographer Villager Jim, whose images of his wonderful pet labradors form part of Arora Design’s Villager Jim Collection. This inspired range showcases his fabulous photography with images of his dogs used on mug and coaster sets, trays, clocks, mirror compacts, tea towels and fridge magnets. All with adorable titles such as “Dilly Creases” “Two Fat Ladies”, “Young Faithful” and “Best Mates” to name but a few, these irresistible photos of his pets have an endearing quality all of their own. Other fantastic animal photography is included in this fabulous range of gifts, bringing a touch of the countryside into any home.

Pets with Personality continues to provide fun and humour in the form of its humorous figurine collection, this Spring Fair sees the introduction of a gorgeous extension to this range in the form of faux suede, Pets with Personality cushions, all beautifully illustrated by talented artist Dean Kendrick. The first eight designs are six of the most popular dog breeds, and two gorgeous cats in lovely subtle colours which are guaranteed to bring a smile to any home. These include a basset, a border collie, a German Shepherd, a labrador, a springer spaniel, and a westie, along with a

ginger cat and a black and white cat.

Following the success in 2015 of the Little Paws farmyard crew, three new characters will join the throng in the form of a duck, a goose and a Highland cow. As with some of the other popular dog breeds, the time has come to create a new design so Bertie the Basset is getting a makeover giving those consumers who love this breed the perfect excuse to add another Little Paws to their collection. A cute black and white cat will also make its debut this January bringing the new introductions to five in total.

The Little Paws brand will also launch its own ceramics range in 2016 featuring twelve of the UK’s favourite breeds. First up are the border terrier, border collie, boxer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, German Shepherd, golden retriever, Jack Russell, labrador, pug, springer spaniel, Staffy and westie Fun designs, and a practical purpose have made the Optipaws collection a popular choice for gifts of humorous glass holders. This Spring sees a Jack Russell added to the gang, bringing the total number of pieces in this amusing range to sixteen.

Beautiful fragrances created using a superb combination of the finest ingredients and perfumes, ensure the freshness of beach and woodland walks, perfumed gardens and seasoned log fires evoke memories

Pets with Personality continues to provide fun and humour in the form of its humorous figurine collection. This Spring Fair sees the introduction of a gorgeous extension to this range in the form of faux suede Pets with Personality cushions of strolling through nature with your dog, or relaxed home life with your cat.

Available in both candles and diffusers, the Fragrant Paws range is presented in fabulous illustrated glass holders which depict an array of adorable cats and lovable dogs.

Make a date for Spring Fair, Hall 5 Stand A03 to see the unveiling of Arora Design’s “Gallery Collection” a

stunning range of cold cast bronze animals that will make its debut in 2016. This stunning collection of twelve beautiful pieces will include five dogs, three cats, and a horse as well as two non-domestic animals and a bird.

Beautifully presented in a fantastic gift box this fabulous new range will make the perfect gorgeous gift for any animal lover.

All of Arora Design’s pet themed ranges will be on show at the following East Anglian Gift & Toy Fair Stand SA17 Giving & Living Stand A255 Spring Fair Hall 5 Stand A03 Tel: 01386 861666 Email: sales@arora-design.co.uk Web: www.arora-design.co.uk gifts today 75

Pet Themed Gifts

It’s a dog world Joe Davies

There has been huge growth in pet related gifts over the past two years with dog related products leading the way. It’s no coincidence that dog ownership exceeded cats for the first time earlier this year.

Joe Davies pet offerings have grown exponentially to meet customer demand and this year their Visage Dog Cushions have been a best seller.

The cushions feature top quality, high-definition photographs of the nations favourite breeds printed on tactile, soft, suede like material which reproduces the photo beautifully.

Brand new Doggie keyrings, pens, notepads and Christmas baubles have also been incredibly popular as have photo frames and dog message plaques.

With dog ownership continuing to grow it looks like the trend is set to continue.

Tel: 0161 9756300 Web: www.joedavies.co.uk

Pawing at the heart strings Widdop Bingham

Pets leave a paw mark on our hearts – and how. Over a quarter of the UK population now owns a pet and many are treated like an additional member of the family. Best of Breed from Widdop Bingham is one of the go-to brands for pet gifts – from photo frames to wall plaques, the range is designed to delight without breaking the bank. There is something for every pet lover as well as every retailer.

Tel: 0161 688 1226 Web: www.widdop.co.uk

Pet Selfies NPW

Now there’s even more ways to embarrass your pets with our new cat and dog Selfies! Use the props and snap some hilarious pics! Has your dog had a ‘Ruff Day’, or lost their ‘Dognity’? Turn your cat into a fierce lion or maybe even an ‘Octo-Puss’ - and don’t forget the shaming board, complete with a wipe off marker.

Talking Bow Tie Attach the cute polka dot bow tie to your pooch to get them talking. Not only does this bow tie make your dog look super cute, but it adds some cheekiness too. With six different phrases you’ll find your canine companion asking if their breath smells and convincing you to hand over that biscuit – all at the press of your remote control!

Edmond the Pug Perfect for pug lovers, Edmond is the most well behaved dog you’ll ever know! Sit him anywhere and watch him wave for your attention – as long as he’s in daylight! He’s super cute and solar powered.

Tel: 020 8735 2882 Web: www.npw.co.uk 76 gifts today

Social Media - Ross Hewitt

Social Media’s double edged sword Written by: Ross Hewitt, Secret Pie

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very action has an equal and opposite reaction. For every kilobyte of marketing gold that you can enjoy through using social media for your organisation there is always the possibility that something out of your control can rear its ugly head and cause you a very public problem.

It is part of life for just about every business who makes or sells something. At some point in time someone somewhere in the supply chain will make a mistake. If that mistake happens to affect a consumer who is very active on social media then they are likely to make a noise, and this is where you need to react quickly and efficiently to try and turn the negative into a positive (or shift it to neutral at least!).

Listen You need to be in a position to pick up on any mentions that are made about your business quickly after they get posted. That means you need to make sure that your digital ‘ears’ are as effective as possible.

Visit your social media accounts on a daily basis. You don’t have to post something every day but you do need to be actively checking your account so that if someone has sent a message or posted a comment then you will see it and be able to respond in a timely manner.

Each major social network has an app that works on a smartphone.

Download them and set the notifications to appear on your mobile device when your account name is mentioned or when someone posts on your account or sends you a private message. You should also set up Google Alerts for your company name to help pick up on comments in discussion forums or blog mentions.

Respond Read the negative comment or message a few times through, at a sensible pace so that you digest fully what the person is saying. Do not skim read it or you may miss out on some important words or semantics that are crucial to the issue being raised.

If you know that a little bit of investigation needs to be done on your part then the first job is to acknowledge the complaint and promise to come back to them very soon when you have looked into the issue. That is a promise that you MUST keep.

A simple reply such as “Thank you XXXX for raising this matter with us. I am very sorry that you have experienced this problem and I promise that I am looking into to it right now and will come back to you very shortly.”

Responding quickly is key as it instantly nips any further posts about lack of care in the bud. ‘I’ is also a lot more personal than ‘We’. Never ignore a negative comment no matter how unfair it seems or how angry their words have made you. Keep emotions out of it and send them an initial caring response.

Fix It Always look for a way to fix the problem that the customer has experienced. Try not to get into any sort of debate in a public forum that could become argumentative, as you will never ‘win’ in these situations and you may end up making the issue much bigger than it ever needed to be.

Wherever possible, keep the discussion in the public zone. It is not best practice to try and get the issue taken offline as quickly as possible.

The goal should always be to publicly demonstrate that you care about the problem and the person and to resolve it quickly and efficiently.

If the person you are dealing with is being completely unreasonable then be confident that their public responses will be viewed as obtuse by other people who tune into the conversation.

Delete as a last resort Tempting as it may be, never resort to deleting negative comments or posts straight off the bat. You have to try and get to the bottom of the problem and fix it and have a happier customer at the end of the process.

If you delete something negative without any justification then you may add fuel to the flames. Once the person who raised the complaint realises that you have simply deleted it they will push back and be even more vocal and may start to get some vocal sympathy from other customers. That said, don’t stand for posts that include profanity, racism or personal naming or attacks on team members. These do get the delete treatment and it is easy to explain why if you get questioned about it.

Remember, as this gets forgotten sometimes, they are YOUR social media pages so you do get the final say in what stays published and what gets deleted. But if you engage with people in the spirit of great customer service and treat them as a person that you want to make happy then you will have some good content that you may very well want to stay publicly available to future visitors.

The old English adage is true… you can’t be everybody’s darling, but you can get everybody’s respect if you play fair and prove that you care. A dramatic example, but Alton Towers proved that last year after the horrific ‘Smiler’ accident and their conduct on social media was, in my opinion, flawless.

Enjoy the social media rollercoaster; the ‘downs’ are as much a part of it as the ‘ups’ though…

Ross Hewitt, Managing Director of Secret Pie and author of ‘Savvy Social Media’. Ross began his digital marketing career in 1998 when social networking was something you only did in a pub. He set up Secret Pie in 2010 and has been helping clients get found and loved online ever since. www.secretpie.co.uk | Ross@secretpie.co.uk | 01904 410027 | Twitter: @ Ross_Hewitt

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Harrogate Christmas & Gift

Let the Christmas festivities begin - Again!

Now that Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are over, the majority of retailers, garden centre, gift, and visitor attraction buyers are planning their first event of 2016 – Harrogate Christmas & Gift.

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his annual trade show, which continues to go from strength to strength in terms of exhibitor participation and visitor attendance, takes place at the Harrogate International Centre from 10th to 13th January 2016. Whilst the majority of the country will have packed away the tinsel and baubles – the town of Harrogate remains a beacon of lights and decorations as the festivities continue for the duration of the show.

Once again, the event is fully booked with all of the industry’s favourite, wellknown brands attending as well as over 20 brand new exhibitors.

Regular participants include Premier Decorations which will be filling Hall H in its entirety with its extensive range of products from Christmas gifts and decorations, home and garden ware, to its latest 2016 Halloween collection. Ensuring that they have catered to every taste from en-trend contemporary designs in the latest fashionable shades to time-honoured traditional colours, Premier’s highly experienced designers have created 78 gifts today

a unique range of 2016 Christmas Stories with collections of top quality products chosen specifically to complement each other. In fact, many of the company’s beautiful products are actually designed in-house and created specifically to appeal to the UK consumer. With this in mind, retailers can use its exclusive brochure to produce spectacular colour coordinated displays to capture customer’s imaginations and encourage them to purchase more.

Jette Frölich has a tradition of introducing new collections at Christmas & Gift and in the 2016 selection it introduces a new and exclusive product line. The theme for the collection is the Flower girl, available in gold plated 18 Ct. and in Sterling silver and the inspiration comes from Jette Frölich’s childhood memories and symbolises the mother surrounded by her flowers.

Widdop Bingham also returns to the show and will be launching its ‘Coton Colors’ celebration baubles which tell the story of each collector’s life as major events are celebrated with a different keepsake bauble. As well

Regular participants include Premier Decorations which will be filling Hall H in its entirety with its extensive range of products from Christmas gifts and decorations, home and garden ware, to its latest 2016 Halloween collection as the traditional Christmas baubles, ‘Coton Colors mark every occasion from love and marriage to the baby carriage and beyond. The collection is made up of over 70 different bauble designs and there’s an attractive display and merchandising in-store solution with a co-ordinating gift box for every design. An easy-to-use paint pen kit is available for stores to personalise the baubles encouraging collectors to tell their story, one bauble at a time.

Anglo American brings its range of really useful ‘must have’ products to the show each year and 2016 is no

exception. Check out the company’s Haute Decor ‘Original Mantel Clip’ for Christmas stockings available in a plain shiny or brushed finish as well as holly embossed designs in antique brass, oil rubbed bronze, nickel and pewter.

Also, its Adams candle light holders and Adams candle light clamps which enable single candle lights to be safely attached to a window using Adams world’s best suction cups which don’t yellow, deteriorate, or lose adhesion over time.

Gardman returns to Harrogate but with a new enhanced location in the Queen’s Suite which offers a great

Anglo American

Premier Decorations

Jette

platform to present its fabulous new range of products. In addition, Gisela Graham’s stand which is always one of the busiest at the show and we expect the same in 2016 with the unveiling of her new collection comprising hundreds of unique, brand new products. This includes more than 200 different glass balls at prices to compete with the keenest in Europe with 13 co-ordinated themes.

Amongst some exciting new companies exhibiting at Christmas & Gift this year is The Irish Fairy Door Company which guarantees to inject some magic to UK families wishing to welcome a fairy into their homes.

The company’s exquisite fairy doors are handmade in Ireland in a variety of colours and styles with add-ons such as fairy doormats and washing lines with either male or female clothing.

This, that and everything else is an arts and crafts centric brand aiming to preserve, nurture and promote the unique crafts of India and showcase them around the world. The company will introduce its handmade Channapatna wooden Christmas tree ornaments, nativity sets and tea lights; a selection of fabric tree skirts, table mats and cushion covers; plus handmade terracotta Christmas tea lights, garden lamps and coir door mats.

Also new is MIC which has invested heavily in design and product quality offering a wide selection of gift bags and boxes suitable for all occasions at competitive prices. The company has expanded its very successful collection covering Mother’s Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas and provides a bespoke service in gift bags and boxes.

Whilst visitors to the show will be spoilt for choice with hundreds of exciting products from these and many more new and returning companies; they will also have a greater variety of hospitality options this year with the introduction of additional restaurants in Halls B and the Queen’s Suite.

Simon Anslow, show organiser, explains: “The Harrogate International Centre already has a number of catering outlets on offer during the show, but comments from visitors in previous years suggested that they would welcome a greater selection of refreshment options and these new facilities also offer a place to sit and peruse catalogues and reflect on buying options.”

Once again, Garden Trade News will be hosting the Greatest Christmas Awards at the Majestic Hotel on Widdop Bingham

Sunday 10th January and this ticketed event offers a fantastic night of celebration and entertainment. Also, the Monday night’s entertainment takes on a new format for 2016 with an after show drinks reception in the Royal Hall of the Harrogate International Centre from 6pm to 8pm with free drinks and nibbles. All exhibitors and visitors are warmly welcomed to attend.

Entry to Harrogate Christmas & Gift is free and the show offers the perfect platform to view the latest new industry launches for everyone in the Christmas, gift, garden centre, retail and visitor attraction sectors. If you haven’t already, pre-register online at www. harrogatefair.com and you will also find details of MICE Concierge which offers extremely competitive hotel rates in Harrogate.

Web: www.harrogatefair.com gifts today 79

Trade talk

Gifts Today loves to hear your views. This month we speak to key wholesalers and suppliers to learn what’s on their minds.

This issue we speak to some of the industries finest to find out how 2015 performed for them and a quick look at 2016.

Paul Hooker Commercial Director, Joe Davies How did 2015 perform for you as a company?

2015 has been a very good year for Joe Davies. The major trade fairs have performed very well and our B2B website has grown from strength to strength. The run-up to Christmas has proved a particularly buoyant time.

By all accounts it’s been a roller coaster year for the retail trade but Joe Davies’ ‘Little & Often’ ordering system and our small minimum order value has really helped our customers through thick and thin.

What was your largest achievement of 2015 A highlight of the year for us was our new stand at Harrogate Fair. After 25 happy years at the Cairn Hotel we moved to a large stand in Hall Q at the Harrogate International Centre and the reception was fantastic and we opened a huge amount of new accounts. We were also proud to win a Gold Award for Customer Service to the Independent Retailer at the Greats Awards in May. We have been lucky enough to win 13 times now but each time is very special and a great achievement for all our staff.

What support do you give to your customers?

We pride ourselves on our customer service and it’s at the heart of everything we do. We’re always striving to improve the way we support our customers. With this in mind we teamed up with the UK’s no. 1 parcel carrier DPD earlier in the year. Their delivery service is second to none and we have had nothing but positive feedback from customers.

We have been constantly upgrading our website too and are proud of the praise it is receiving from customers. They all say it’s so much easier to manage their accounts online and ordering is a breeze at any time.

What customer trends have you spotted?

We have seen continued huge growth in Jewellery and Fashion accessories from the gift sector. Our Equilibrium Collection has gone from strength to strength and we introduced over 700 new pieces this year alone. In jewellery rose gold is still a growing trend and sentiment is more popular than ever.

In gifts messages and sentimental signs and plaques still dominate with LED technology bringing some innovative light-up signs to the market. Shabby Chic still dominates the home décor market but there’s a move to distressed and reclaimed wood.

Animal related products are also a big trend especially those relating to dogs. Our Visage Dog Cushions and new range of dog keyrings, pens, notepads and Christmas baubles have been very well received.

And what about 2016 Trends?

Advances in LED light technology are bringing lots of new products to the market. Look out for innovative light-up signs and plaques, LED Flicker Candles that look incredibly real and mini torches too. The new year loft look is making a comeback. Think of galvanised finishes and distressed wood. Retro continues in strong form and marble finishes are proving popular.

In jewellery and gifts, mixed metal finishes of copper, silver, gold and bronze predominate.

Tell us a little about the plans for 2016 Joe Davies is defined by its products. We offer customers one of the most comprehensive ranges of gift, home and jewellery in the country, introducing well over 4000 new products every year. For 2016 we have strengthened our buying and design team with some key appointments. We have over 2500 new products in the pipeline for Spring Fair and are already planning for Autumn Fair. Our biggest and most exciting new project of the year is a new computer system for the company. It’s early days yet but the new system will bring untold benefit for all our staff and customers, it’s all about offering an even better customer experience all backed up with an attitude to great service even better customer service in the future.

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Mark Young European Sales & Marketing Director, NPW How did 2015 perform for you as a company?

Innovation and creativity are at the heart of everything we do. We have made huge investments to really channel thinking with our shopper insights and bring more fantastic product than ever to market. Our customers have seen leading growth with our products. It has been our best year ever.

What would you say has been your largest achievement or product launch of 2015?

We got a real buzz out of winning the Pure Beauty 2015 Award for Hello Handsome Muscle Miniatures and great feedback from our customers.

What type of support have you offered your customers during the year?

Every customers business is different. More than ever we think it is so important to tailor our support to each customer own ways of working.

The one thing that is a consistent across all customers is the need to have our best product lines when they need them. This is always a fine balance and we are proud of investing to maintain stocks of all our best sellers right to the end of a season. If our customers maximise their sales, then so do we.

Do you feel there was any notable consumer trends throughout the year?

Our teams love travelling the world’s boutiques, exhibitions and shows to get ahead of the next trend first. The next big thing on our radar is Korean Beauty. This is a massive trend that is set only to grow.

What about 2016, do you think there will be any specific consumer trends that retailers should look out for?

The only trend that is certain is that consumers increasingly demand more from retailers. Good enough, simply isn’t. Be bold and offer exciting new innovation and they will reward you.

Talking of 2016 – do you have any exciting plans you wish to share?

Lots, can’t wait for the Spring Fairs.

Richard Stone Managing Director, RJB Stone How did 2015 perform for you as a company?

2015 was another very positive year for RJB Stone. We launched ‘RJB Stone, the home of Sass & Belle’ branding at the January shows and are putting the Sass & Belle brand in the heart of everything we do. Packaging and collections are now more defined and reflect our brand’s ethos of inspiration, creativity and fun. We’ve also launched strong seasonal ranges with our Easter and Christmas collections. Finally, the launch of our new trade website this autumn means we’ve had a very positive and busy end to the year.

What would you say has been your largest achievement or product launch of 2015?

Till point pick-ups have been a big hit! We’ve always done well with our fabric animal keyrings and this year our new set of nail files in cute hedgehogs, cats, dogs and other shapes have been extremely popular. Also, colourful, bold and contemporary prints such as Chevrons, Moroccan Geometrics and the Kids’ Illustrated Trucks range have been really strong for us.

What type of support have you offered your customers during the year?

This autumn we’ve launched our brand new trade website which is extremely user friendly. We really thought about what our customers would want when visiting the site and there are lots of new features which reflect this; customers can now see stock levels, download high resolution images straight from the site, pay for their order directly, settle invoices online, view their backordered items and much more. We’ve also set up a new carriage scheme for our international customers with discounted shipping rates for orders over £500 and free delivery for orders over £1,000. Finally, all our

regular customers have their own account manager to speak to directly. The staff you meet at the shows are all part of our Sales and Customer Service department as well as any supporting departments from our head office. We all love to get involved!

Do you feel there was any notable consumer trends throughout the year?

Consumers are always looking for products that are good value for money.

They are also on the lookout for functional items such as mugs, frames, notebooks and tote bags which have all been really popular. Gifts for a special friend or family member displaying an uplifting message are also on the rise.

What about 2016, do you think there will be any specific consumer trends that retailers should look out for?

I see the need to travel and escape the daily life as being a big trend for 2016. Either by bringing the outdoors in with cleaner and greener interior styles, or by incorporating some magic and a whimsical dimension to our life with designs based on the moon, fairies and the mythical.

Talking of 2016 – do you have any exciting plans you wish to share?

A new year means new and exciting challenges for RJB Stone in 2016! We’ll be targeting and supplying the US market with a collection of about 400 key Sass & Belle products. There are many other plans but you’ll have to wait and see.

New Products madebyzen Marina Takes Customers into a Dream World One of the leading Home Fragrance brands madebyzen has introduced its latest innovative aroma diffuser, the Marina to its exceptional product range.

The design for the dreamy Marina (RRP £49.99), was inspired by the ocean’s tides, to bring customers closer to nature with its visually stimulating mood lighting. The new transitional colour spectrum creates a delicate rainbow across the sky and gently moves through the colours. The sensual movement simulates the sea as the tide slowly drifts in and out. The Marina can be paused on a specific colour to suit the preference of every individual.

This versatile Aroma Diffuser can also be combined with a madebyzen seductive scents, and a drop of water to disperse a stunning mist into the air. There is also the choice of settings, either constant or intermittent so the amount of fragrance released can be controlled.

Replicating the positive effect the earth’s oceans have on the mind and body, the Marina is designed to take users on a journey of complete relaxation.

Use the light mode and mist at the same time for the full experience or use separately as a humidifier to hydrate tired skin or simply use as a decorative lamp.

The mist the aroma diffuser disperses is heat free and once the water level gets too low the Marina will automatically shut off making it perfectly safe and family friendly so the mind can remain at ease.

Tel: 0161 257 3524 Web: www.madebyzen.com

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New Products Sentiment says it all

Arora Design’s Said with Sentiment brand continues to go from strength to strength with several line extensions and two new ranges being introduced this Spring. The top selling tea light holders will see Grandparent, Good Luck, Happiness and Wife added to the collection, whilst the enormously popular Gift Sets have an additional four sentiments being Daughter, Happy Birthday, Thank You and New Home. In 2016 the brand will have its own new, loose mug range, this will feature all ten sentiments available in the gift sets with each individual mug being tagged with a branded card. Also new for Spring will be collection of eight ceramic tea light holders, beautiful sentiments with a touch of colour, more to be unveiled in the February issue. Jigsaw wall art continues to impress at retail, with many consumers starting to build their family trees. Watch out for more additions to this range during 2016.

This entire Said with Sentiment collection will be on show at East Anglian Gift & Toy Fair Stand SA17, Giving & Living Stand A255 and Spring Fair Hall 5 Stand A03 Tel: 01386 861666 Web: www.arora-design.co.uk

Pomegranate’s fresh new Calendar range for 2017

Pomegranate are a fine art publisher and always have been since the 60’s. Publishing exciting historic and contemporary art has consistently been top priority. They’ve introduced many new artists and artworks through the years, but next year will see a fresh direction and a real revisit to their roots, particularly in the 2017 Calendars.

With a healthy dose of natural spirituality, a dash of fantasy, and some exceptional titles looking at the art and beauty within nature and the animal kingdom, the 2017 Calendar range looks to be classic Pomegranate.

The fresh focus on nature and spirituality is a welcome contrast to the breath taking design and architecture titles from Louis Sullivan, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Louis Comfort Tiffany that Pomegranate customers enjoy year after year. Some stunning new titles on more mathematical artworks such as Fractals and Tessellations have been added, featuring the works of Doug Harrington and Makoto Nakamura respectively.

Brian Sweet is a brand new artist to the Pomegranate stable. This British artist is known for his bright, vibrant, daydream-inducing illustrations and designs. We’ve selected some of his very best British landscapes to adorn a variety of product types.

Along with all the deep, thought provoking art, there’s always some fun in the Pomegranate calendars too, and 2017 sees a new daily planner to compliment the incredibly popular and long standing procrastinator’s diary, “Do it later!” with an even more rebellious disposition. The “Badass Planner” is the perfect gift for any rule bending, free spirited rebel! Manage your productivity with a profanity filled planner helping you to “rock out” through 2017.

2017 looks to be the most diverse year for Pomegranate calendars for a long time. With titles featuring everything from Dragons and Gnomes, to Maps, Mandalas and Monet all perfectly reproduced in Pomegranate’s renowned museum quality Calendars.

For further information Contact Dan Rabot, Marketing Manager (danielr@pomeurope.co.uk)

Vases on trend

These brand new ‘Marble Vases’ from Joe Davies are bang on trend and look just like the real thing.

There are 6 attractively shaped vases in the series and 3 tea-light holders and some very fashionable mushrooms too.

Retail prices start from just £6.99 and all the vases are easy and affordable to buy with Joe Davies’ trademark ‘Little & Often’ ordering system. Minimum orders are just £100.

Tel: 0161 975 6300 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk Web: www.joedavies.co.uk

Making mothers happy

Mothering Sunday falls very early this year (March 6th) so retailers will have to be particularly speedy to get stock bought and delivered in time for the big day.

Joe Davies have plenty of stock to offer and are expecting strong sales of their Mother’s Day Equilibrium Jewellery for Mum’s and Nans to wear proudly all year!

The company have dozens of specific Mother’s Day ranges on offer, all in stock and ready to deliver in good time. There are lovely wooden shabby chic sentiment themes as well as best selling mugs and wine glasses. This Mother’s Day sales of Rose & Co. the gorgeous UK made collection of bath and beauty products will be particularly strong and the company recommends ordering early and to not miss out!

Tel: 01926 430111

Tel: 0161 975 6300

Web: www.pomegranate. com

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

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