Gifts Today March/April 2023

Gifts Today Contents

Regulars

4 Message from the Editor

6 News

30 Trade Talk: Suppliers discuss the role of garden centres on the gift retail scene

50 Retailers’ Panel: Independent retailers share their Spring Fair experiences

Columnists

12 Elaine Hooper, director and co-founder of Retail100 Consulting

14 Cathy Frost, owner of Loveone gift shop in Ipswich

28 Bryony Taylor-Edwards, head of brand and gift, home, food, and toy buyer at Yarnton Home and Garden in Oxfordshire

49 Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira (British Independent Retailers Association)

Gifts Today team

Editor Clare Turner Clare@lemapublishing.co.uk

Layout/Design Rick Vickers rick@lemapublishing.co.uk

Managing

Cover Story

16 Museums & Galleries (M&G) is celebrating the arrival of the latest additions to its home and gift collections, including two new ranges for stylish summer living

Fair Focus

8 Exclusively Show Preview

18 London Stationery Show Preview

Retail Interviews

22 British Garden Centres, nationwide

Chairman Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

Product

Message from the Editor

www.giftstoday.media

LinkedIn: @giftstoday

Twitter: @giftstodaymag

Instagram: @giftstodaymedia

Finally, Spring has sprung! The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and at the time of writing, retailers are gearing up for one of the season’s key gift-giving occasions: Easter.

Garden centres in particular will be preparing for a busy bank holiday weekend, as green-fingered shoppers realise it’s time to plant, prune, grow and sow.

In fact, according to the March Market Update report from the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), garden centre sales actually received an early boost in February, showing the value that consumers place on their gardens, despite challenging financial times.

As HTA CEO Fran Barnes says: “As we enter into Spring, we’re delighted to see a growing interest in garden centre retail, not only in increased spending on gifts and café visits, but also in core gardening supplies.

“It’s heartening to see that people recognise the many benefits of gardening, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, which prompted many to take up this hobby, love their gardens, and appreciate the benefits of environmental horticulture.”

In this month’s issue, we have spoken to buyers at three leading garden centres to find out about their businesses, what’s selling well for them, and what their future plans are. We have also asked several companies that supply this blossoming retail sector for their predictions for product trends in 2023.

In the words of our regular columnist Bryony Taylor-Edwards, head of brand and gift, home, food, and toy buyer at Yarnton Home and Garden in Oxfordshire, “no other nation more than Britain expects as much from the humble garden centre. And post-pandemic, garden centres are having their moment”.

And there is yet more retailer input as we revisit eight indies from across the UK who

took part in last issue’s Retailers’ Panel, which was on the theme of Spring Fair hopes and expectations.

This time round, they have kindly shared their experiences of the February show. They reveal what caught their eye, from spotting new suppliers and stand-out products to some surprise finds (handmade skulls, anyone?).

Bryony’s fellow columnist, Retail100 Consulting director and co-founder Elaine Hooper, also takes a retrospective look at some of the themes she noted during her visits to recent trade fairs. Sustainability was the number one focus, “and rightly so,” she says.

Talking of exhibitions, the next show season is coming up soon, and you will find previews of two - London Stationery Show and The Exclusively Show, which both take place at the Business Design Centre in London on May 16-17 and June 13-14 respectively - within the following pages.

Talking of dates, don’t forget about the next big gifting opportunity: Father’s Day on Sunday June 18. Check out our Product Focus for some inspiration on presents to spoil dads.

And, of course, there’s a new event to add to your calendar: the coronation of HRH King Charles III on Saturday May 6, which will be part of a packed weekend of celebrations.

How will your business be marking this historic royal ceremony? We always love to hear from retailers, so please get in touch if you would like to contribute to our Retailers’ Panel section.

We are also keen to hear from any readers who would like to take part in our features, interviews, and new pages. You can email me at clare@lemapublishing.co.uk or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Clare Turner, Editor clare@lemapublishing.co.uk

Classic Canes launches Crowning coronationGlorycane

Walking stick specialist Classic Canes has launched an exclusive new design to celebrate the coronation of HRH King Charles III on Saturday May 6.

Managing director and designer Charlotte Gillan has created a cheerful and striking pattern featuring the St Edward’s Crown, which will be used to crown the new king, interspersed with red, white and blue hearts and flowers.

The Crowning Glory cane, which is suitable for ladies and gentlemen, will make an ideal accessory for watching the parades and attending street parties. It is height adjustable from 76 to 101cm so is easily altered to fit the user. The cane is available for Classic Canes stockists to pre-order now.

Charlotte said: “This cane is very upbeat and modern and was great fun to design. More and more people are buying canes for special occasions and to accessorise their outfits, so we had to do something special for this momentous occasion. Most of the population have never seen a coronation, so it will be very special for us all.

“This cane will also be perfect for other national occasions such as The Last Night of the Proms, The Eurovision Song Contest and national sporting events. It will look fabulous in window displays and we are expecting it to be very popular.”

New CEO for Paladone

Paladone Group Holdings has announced the appointment of Jim Downey as chief executive officer (CEO).

He joined the company as chief financial officer in April 2022, and was promoted to the chief operating officer role in January 2023, before being appointed as CEO on March 24.

With more than 25 years of experience, Jim has an extensive background in a variety of executive and leadership roles. He has worked internationally throughout his career, including leading expansion projects, and has extensive experience in M&A (mergers and acquisitions) and successfully transitioning companies through growth.

Jim succeeds Graeme Carr, who announced his intention to retire in December 2022 after an 18-year tenure as CEO, during which he transformed the business from a small domestic gift firm into what it is today: a fast-growing consumer products company with sales in over 70 countries. Graeme will remain with Paladone until June 30 in an advisory role to support a smooth transition.

Paladone chairman George Jones said: “I’m delighted that Jim is taking the position as our new CEO. The board believes Jim is a great fit for Paladone, with the combination of skills and experience to lead the business through its next strategic phase. On behalf of the board, I thank Graeme for his many years of service to the company and wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Incoming CEO Jim commented: “I’m delighted to be stepping into the CEO role at Paladone. Since joining as chief financial officer in April 2022, I’ve been extremely impressed with the passion, drive and creativity of our fantastic global team, and I’m thrilled to be leading the business on this next exciting chapter.”

Joe Davies appoints sales director

Manchester-based importer and giftware distributor Joe Davies has announced that David Cree, former national sales manager, has been appointed as sales director of the company.

David has been with Joe Davies since 2004 and will be responsible for all sales operations across the business. Managing director Paul Hooker commented: “David has effectively been carrying out the sales director role for some time, and his appointment is in recognition of all his hard work. David’s customers will be delighted; it’s a very well-deserved promotion and a natural progression for Joe Davies.”

Ivyline relocates to new warehouse

Garden, home and giftware supplier Ivyline has relocated its warehousing, in a move that is designed to support the brand’s ongoing growth plans.

The new premises - part of a 65,000sq ft warehouse development operated by Amethyst Group - is located just 25 minutes from Ivyline’s Warwickshire headquarters at Stoneleigh Park in Kenilworth, and provides the perfect backdrop for the next chapter of Ivyline’s story.

Having witnessed significant growth over the past two years, this much larger warehouse space not only facilitates rapid future expansion, but also ensures peace of mind for retailers, with quicker despatch times and the introduction of improved systems to reduce mis-picks and stock shortages, including access to Amethyst Group’s Wellesbourne site’s robotoperated shuttle racking, which is billed as the largest in Europe.

To celebrate this new phase of growth, the Ivyline team is inviting customers to visit the new facilities in conjunction with a trip to Ivyline’s showroom, where S/S23 and Christmas ranges are available to view and order. To visit, email sales@ivylinegb.co.uk or call 024 7633 9180.

Exclusively to feature

Denby pottery demo

The Exclusively Show’s ever-popular Brand Showcase, where media and influencers gather to see a curated edit of highlights from the main show, will include live potting demonstrations courtesy of Denby.

Denby Thrower Sean Flint will be showing off the traditional craft of creating pottery by ‘throwing’ on a potter’s wheel. He will be using the Derbyshire clay which has been used to make Denby’s stoneware pottery for more than 200 years.

Sean works on production pieces, trains new potters and gives visitors to Denby Pottery Village the opportunity to try their hand on a potter’s wheel. He is currently throwing some large vases such as the new Kiln Green vase (pictured).

Exclusively marketing director Steve Richardson commented: “The Brand Showcase is always hugely popular, and this amazing opportunity to see the skills and craftsmanship which go into Denby products will be an added draw.”

Exclusively takes place on June 13 and June 14 (see page 8).

John Lewis showcases makeover

John Lewis revealed its newly redesigned store layout in Horsham on March 14, moving from an existing ‘at home’ format to a one-stop destination for fashion, beauty, tech and home design. This is part of a trial testing a series of new concepts and services for John Lewis customers.

The 47,000sq ft branch in the West Sussex town is one of five co-located with a Waitrose shop, with around 50% of Waitrose customers already shopping in the John Lewis next door.

The shop has been designed to better reflect the local community it serves and respond to their needs via a new layout. A host of free services such as personal styling and nursery and sleep appointments have been introduced. Also, the Click and Collect service has been relocated and its operating hours extended.

On the ground floor, a new kids’ area has been installed which encompasses an interactive trail, treasure hunt, activity table and a nursery advice service, alongside kids’ fashion brands.

Branch manager Jack Howe said: “We’ve listened to our local customers and we’re thrilled they can now shop and experience a larger John Lewis offering with more departments. Early customer reaction has been incredibly positive and they love our new look. As shoppers return to the high street, our multi-millionpound investment provides a major boost for the town centre and will attract more shoppers into the store.”

Agents required

Chairworks Ltd have been designing and selling baskets, home accessories and garden items for over 20 years. All our products are handmade to our designs by artisans using traditional skills.

Please look at our website www.chairworks.info which will show you our range. We are looking for agents in the following locations:

Southern England: East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Kent and Essex

Home Counties: Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire

North of England

Scotland

We are looking for four enthusiastic agents - one for each of the four areas

above. We will supply you with the details of our existing customers and support you as you create relationships with new ones. Full customer support will be provided by our HQ in Surrey. We will pay 15 %on all orders. Please contact us by email on info@chairworks.info or telephone Nick Smyth on 0208 247 37AO We look forward to hearing from you.www.chairworks.info

Sales agent required

Present Time are on the lookout for a sales agent to cover the East of England! The agent must be located in East of England and will be responsible for growing existing clients, whilst also having a large focus on introducing Present Time to new customers in the designated area. We also have a showroom in The Cotswolds, where we expect the sales agent to attend for client visits. All agents are provided with a login for our order intake system (app4sales), whilst also receiving excellent support from our back office team. Who are we? – Present Time are a Dutch based Home Décor company who is the home of 3 brands – Karlsson clocks, Leitmotiv lighting & furniture and Present Time home accessories. Active in the UK for over 30 years, we are known for our on trend designs and our use of pantone colours. Our mission is to give your interior a personal feel with a touch of trendy Scandinavian design – www.presenttime.com

Interested? Please send your CV/application to Luke Felton – lf@presenttime.com

Denby’s new Kiln Green large barrel vase, bowls and platter

“A real must for gift buyers”

Already sold out in terms of exhibitor space, Exclusively returns to the Business Design Centre in London on June 13 and June 14, hosting brands from the gift, housewares, and small domestic electricals sectors

Billed as the leading showcase for new products and future trends, Exclusively is a great chance for UK and international multiple and independent buyers to see the latest gifts, housewares and small domestic electricals - and the merchandising trends which will shape consumer purchasing decisions over the next one to three years.

Big name brands such as Arthur Price, Denby, Le Creuset, Rayware, Captivate Brands, The DRH Collection, Taylor’s Eye Witness, Viners, Melitta, Dualit, and Swan will be out in force.

But Exclusively is not just about product. It has a reputation for predicting commercial trends and a proven track record of enabling brands to get in front of buyers and the media.

Popular features such as Trend Talks and Tours hosted by trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus, and the Brand Showcase which provides media with a curated insight into the best new products, have been expanded considerably compared with previous years.

New features such as product demos presented by product ambassadors, and unique visual opportunities such as Denby’s pot throwing masterclass, look really set to draw the crowds.

Insightful trend predictions are a particular draw for savvy buyers and this year will be no exception. As exhibitors are starting to submit product for the ‘so on trend’ displays at Exclusively, Scarlet Opus director Phil Pond has given a sneak preview of ‘Freethinkers’: a mood and style informed by a new spirit of adventure. However, this is not about high-octane wild abandon, but something more relaxed, flowing, and flexible.

Design characteristics are ethical, controlled, mature, and down-to-earth. Colours have a softness of tone, as if a little out of focus, yet are gently energising and set a determined, timeless mood. Mineral greens, and shades of muted yellow ochre and linen, are anchored by dark shades of teal and faded maroon. Much-loved peach blush and topaz tones bring the palette to life.

There is no doubt that products which work in this vibe will not only be prevalent in the exhibition, but also in the Trends area, where Phil will be giving talks on the products, display ideas, and trends in general.

One of the many great things about Exclusively is the level playing field it offers to all companies - large, small, and new to the market - ensuring that buyers see the leading brands, major launches, and many items that they will not have spotted anywhere else.

With more than 130 exhibitors and 300 brands on show, Exclusively is the perfect opportunity to find everything they need. Will Jones, Chair of Exclusively, comments: “Visitors can be confident of enjoying a great show and accessing the most relevant products and commercial ideas for the next couple of years. The Exclusively opportunity is second to none. It’s a real must for gift, housewares, and small domestic electricals buyers.”

What: Exclusively Show

Where: Business Design Centre, Islington

When: June 13-14

Visit: www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk

“Visitors can be confident of enjoying a great show and accessing the most relevant products and commercial ideas for the next couple of years”

Exclusively Chair Will Jones

Still scent-sational! Price’s Candles

With a history dating back to 1830 and a Royal Warrant, the people at Price’s know a thing or two about candles. And, like all companies who have stood the test of time, Price’s is always looking to the future with new ranges on offer. And 2023 is no exception, as it launches a new size jar for more than 30 of its existing current popular fragrances.

The small jar with lid offers value for money, with up to 30 hours of burn time of everyone’s favourite fragrances. This new addition was introduced at Spring Fair and had a huge amount of interest. Many said it would be a perfect small extra gift for Mother’s Day, a fantastic Christmas stocking filler, or a suitable gift for a teacher.

When it comes to dealing with Price’s, it’s all about customer care and flexibility. You can expect no minimum order quantities, over 95% of deliveries shipped within 24 hours, great stockholding, and a UK-based customer service and technical team ready to help with any question or query.

Price’s also has a number of merchandising packages to drive customer attention with stands and FSDUs, so you can be sure the ranges will look and sell well in-store.

Of course, the company does not only ‘make scents’. Price’s still manufactures its increasingly popular ‘Fresh Air’ odour-eliminating candles and diffusers - plus a full range of household candles including tealights, nightlights, dinner, pillar and its luxurious and exquisite Sherwood non-drip dinner candle range.

The upcoming summer months will find many of us in our gardens enjoying the sunshine with friends and family. What better product than the range of Citronella garden candles, which offers well-known benefits to make your event more comfortable?

The firm has also launched a new candle jar size for an affordable RRP of £2.99 offering 25 hours of burn time, with a handy lid to keep out the rain and protect the wax and wick (after all, we are in the UK!).

Price’s really is a one-stop-shop for candles and reed diffusers, and has a strong reputation for superb quality at affordable prices.

Hot themes and top trends

Retail100 Consulting director and co-founder Elaine Hooper takes a retrospective look at some of the themes and trends she spotted at recent trade fairs

Sustainability was the number one focus from the trade fairs that the Retail100 Consulting team has visited this year to date - and rightly so.

It was fabulous to see Spring Fair’s emphasis on sustainability with its Power of One campaign and partnership with Products of Change [a global hub driving sustainable change across consumer product markets and beyond]. This provided an educational aspect and an introduction to the topic for companies looking to take their first steps on the road to sustainable development.

It was clear that many companies have prioritised sustainability and are doing what is possible to make a difference, from overhauls of packaging and product, FSCcertification, and the development of home compostable products, to major moves to reduce the volume of plastic.

What was great to note was that while not everyone has accomplished their goals yet, they were communicating their journey with sustainability: discussing what has been achieved, what’s next, and where they would like to be. Some companies really made an impression, several of which are finalists in the Giftware Association’s Gift of The Year 2023 Awards, which we had the privilege of judging.

The complete journey and thoughtfulness of some of the brands really stood out and encompassed many qualities that we believe are important to customers now. Other themes that delighted us include:

Refillable

Products that are refillable, from stationery to candle vessels - meaning that those products have a much longer lifespan. We loved seeing imagery that would help spark a customer’s imagination - using an empty candle vessel to store make-up brushes, for example. It might seem obvious but it isn’t to everyone!

Giving back

Companies that ‘give back’ by donating a percentage of their profits to worthwhile causes - and firms that have been quick to innovate with regards to the government banning single-use plastic, by providing some great alternatives that are not just ‘worthy’ efforts but are gorgeous to look at, as well as supporting sustainability.

Vegan

We loved seeing more use of ‘vegan’ in companies’ product developmentfrom stationery to beauty and beyond.

Circular

as a force for good’. In a crowded marketplace, this really makes a difference - and we hope we will see a lot more of this in the coming years.

Brights & Highly Decorative

Material innovation

Material innovation includes the use of reclaimed coffee beans, kiwi, cherry and lavender mixed with recycled paper. We get super excited when we see this. There is a huge opportunity to do more in this space, and we believe strongly that this is something that manufacturers should be paying close attention to.

‘Circular’ products have every aspect of their use thought through. For example, a candle brand that has seeded dust covers so when you have finished your candle, you can use the vessel to become a beautiful plant pot utilising the dust cover.

B Corp

The continued emergence of B Corp certified brands is wonderful. It’s a lot of hard work and while I’m not sure all customers quite understand what it means yet, there are companies driving the philosophy of ‘business

Elaine Hooper is a director and co-founder of Retail100 Consulting, which is a consultancy firm with 100 years of retail experience that helps retailers and brands grow.

Coming from a retail background, she worked for John Lewis for 32 years. Categories and roles covered included space planning, project proposition lead, and senior buyer in seasonal, beauty and home categories.

Elaine is skilled in end-to-end strategy, licence and private label product development, sourcing, and maximising brand potential, with experience in leading teams, coaching and mentoring

Email: hello@retail100consulting.co.uk

Visit: www.retail100consulting.co.uk; www.linkedin.com/company/retail100-consulting

It was also uplifting to see home accessories in a variety of styles including ‘Brights & Highly Decorative’. We know that 2023 will continue to be challenging for the furniture sector, which has seen quite a significant amount of demand pulled forward from the impacts of the pandemic, so it was inspiring to see how accessories are so impactful in terms of style and colour. We love a bright hue here at R100, so it was wonderful to see the variety of shocking pinks and luminous yellows among the halls.

A lot of companies have really got it right: customers still love to shop in stores and be inspired by newness and new stories. However, they want to do so more locally, more sustainably, and more collaboratively. And with the fabulous stories we saw at the fairs from a lot of brands, they are perfectly placed to support this. We can’t wait for the upcoming fairs to see what’s next.

L-R: Sara Allbright, Anna Berry, Neil Amer and Elaine Hooper

“It was clear that many companies have prioritised sustainability and are doing what is possible to make a difference”

Diary of a gift shop

Cathy Frost, owner of Loveone gift shop in Ipswich, explains why she is embracing 2023 as a year to ‘challenge and champion

Collins Dictionary has chosen ‘permacrisis’ as 2022’s Word of the Year. It means ‘an extended period of instability and insecurity’. While that may well sum up how we (and the economy) are feeling, I for one don’t want to be defined by it. I can also appreciate that being upbeat and positive all the time can be exhausting. So, how should I approach 2023 without feeling overwhelmed?

I take heart from a surprisingly better than expected Christmas trading period, and an upbeat Top Drawer in January. I was unable to visit Top Drawer last year so was very excited to be back, and encouraged to see many friends exhibiting and lots of new talent showcased. I had missed the camaraderie and the swapping of stories about which products sold well, and which went to sale! It was heartening to be amongst my community again.

So, instead of being frozen in permacrisis, I’ve decided that this is the year to ‘challenge and champion’ - not just my business, but my community and all the great individuals that make it a special place.

To ‘champion’ will be the easier of the two, without a doubt. Our first window of the season was an artist takeover. Local creators were given free rein to fill and decorate the space (they even drew on the glass)

and literally attacked February with bold patterns and lots of colour. The end result was not your traditional Valentine’s display but very much a celebration of love and friendship. The masterminds behind this were members of The After Hours Collective: a community of six professional female artists who work collaboratively and through workshops.

We’ve also restarted our ‘Artist of the Month’ initiative, where we showcase a local artist every month. These projects are helping me to be positive about the shop and not talk the market down - and I’m bringing my community along with me.

There is a great opportunity for us small indies to capitalise on the communities on our doorsteps, especially as hybrid working continues to bed in and more people discover their local high streets. But we do need to proactively reach out to them. In the words of Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre in last month’s issue: “Now is not the time to be ‘the best kept secret’!”(Gifts Today, February p16).

As a community group, we are planning more street markets this year, jumping from two to four. This is the ‘challenging’ bit. As a business and community group we are - and have been for several years - challenging our BID [Business improvement District] and local authority to be more supportive: helping us deliver the markets, and looking at parking initiatives and public safety.

This is going to be a tough year for the high

street, and it isn’t all down to us to solve. Challenge where it’s needed: does the parking work in your area? How safe do your customers feel? How accessible are the shops?

As businesses, we know our communities and our customers’ needs better than most. So get to know your local BID if you have one, and find out who your local councillor is. Ask the awkward questions. How do we get as many customers as possible to engage with us? It’s not enough to have an engaging shopfront - although that’s still a vital ingredient.

From arrival to leaving our stores, we need to sell the whole experience to our customers, from start to finish. So, challenge and champion - don’t be frozen in permacrisis!

“There is a great opportunity for us small indies to capitalise on the communities on our doorsteps”

ABOUT OUR BRANDS

Karlsson is known to be the King of Clocks. This world-renowned Dutch clock brand is synonymous with high quality, stunning graphics, aesthetic shapes and innovative design.

Contact: uk@presenttime.com

Phone number: 01451700024

Present Time Home Accessories features colourful, trendy and playful home accessories which will add personality to your interior.

Leitmotiv offers practical and timeless furniture and lighting which will add functional joy to any room.

Showroom address: Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, GL542LZ

New fine art gifts for summer

Museums & Galleries has introduced two new home and giftable ranges for stylish summer living

Museums & Galleries (M&G) is celebrating the arrival of the latest additions to its home and gift collections.

Travel tumblers

The first addition is a range of gorgeous travel tumblers, which the company previewed in February at Spring Fair, held at NEC Birmingham. These sleek and clean straight-sided tumblers have wrap-around designs showcasing glorious archival heritage and contemporary art.

The stainless steel tumblers are insulated with double walls, and have push-top sliding seal lids in matt accent colours - perfect for taking either hot or cold drinks out on-thego. Each tumbler holds 450ml of hot or cold liquid and the insulation is very effective over a couple of hours.

Insulated bottles

The range of 12 new tumblers joins M&G’s successful and growing collection of insulated bottles, launched last year. Some of the new tumblers co-ordinate with the bottles.

Young designer Catherine Rowe’s

stylish Bees pattern - which is a big hit on M&G products - features on both, with her vibrant new Blue Flowers appearing on a stand-alone tumbler.

Design legend Sarah Campbell contributes (appropriately) her bold Coffee Break design, and the mugs also feature two other designs: a wistful springtime hare from Helen Ahpornsiri for Wild Press, and Hares and Berries from knitwear designer Dee Hardwicke.

More classical designs include Vincent Van Gogh’s beautiful Almond Branches in Bloom. The V&A has four designs: two from William Morris & Co, an exquisite scarlet, gold and white Kimono Cranes from Japan, and a Dutch naval scene suitable for more masculine tastes.

Hokusai’s Great Wave, transformed into a repeat design, and Mary Delany’s 18thcentury floral collages, set against a rich background, come from the collections of the British Museum.

New designs in the bottles collection include a second image from the Natural History Museum - an exotic Ulysses Butterfly and Lemon made into a repeat pattern, and also a bottle featuring Dee Hardwicke’s Hares and Berries.

The 500ml insulated bottles have

silicone seal screw-tops and keep liquid warm for 12 hours or cold for 24 hours.

Cotton napkins

M&G’s richly printed organic cotton totes and pouch bags make delightful presents, and this season M&G has extended its commitment to fabric products into quite distinctive organic cotton napkin sets.

Together with an accompanying paper napkin range, this forms the second of the two big new product launches for 2023.

Each banded set of four cotton napkins is machine washable.

Unfolded, the napkins measure 450mm square. The launch range of six packs contains designs from the V&A and British Museum, Vincent Van Gogh, Catherine Rowe, and Josephine Simon.

Paper napkins

Accompanying the cloth napkins are 12 paper napkin packs of 20 (unfolded, they are 330mm square). Six of these packs co-ordinate with the cloth napkins. The other six are four more from the V&A - making

a strong selection of six of the most commercial imagery from the museum’s M&G licences - and Dee Hardwicke’s Hares and Berries and Sarah Campbell’s Coffee Break.

Both the cloth and paper napkins are ideal for special celebrations - the cloth ones in particular offer a unique and distinctive gift choice for weddings or new homes in particular.

Write on!

For buyers looking for new stationery, greeting and gift brands, London Stationery Show is the trade event of the season

London Stationery Show is billed as the UK’s leading trade exhibition dedicated to arts & crafts, greeting cards, paper products and writing instruments. This year’s event takes place on May 16 and May 17 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, and we’ve compiled the top three reasons why you should be there:

1

150+ brands

Visitors will be able to explore the wares of more than 150 well-known names in stationery and the latest start-ups. Exhibiting brands include Edding UK, Exacompta Clairefontaine, Hahnemühle, Jakar International, Leuchtturm1917, Manuscript Brands, Pentel (Stationery), Pukka Pads, Quilling Card, Railex, Royal Talens UK, Semikolon, Stabilo, Staedtler (UK), Stone Marketing, Studio Pens, Tallon International, and Toynamics UK & Ireland, plus many more.

The Boutique Collection will feature new, up-and-coming suppliers, allowing retailers the chance to discover something original for their shops. Brands include ACC Arts Books, Andhand, Cascayde, Coffeenotes, FabRap, Feather.ink, Genealityart, Ocean Hughes, Once Upon A Tuesday, Pop-Up Frames, Storigraphic, and Sun-Star Stationery, to name a few.

2Education

Learn from experienced industry experts at the Retail Matters Live Talks. Covering a variety of topics, to assist stationery business owners, retailers are welcome to attend free talks that will discuss how to enhance sales techniques, and advise on how to set up a PR strategy and spruce up social media. There is also the opportunity to speak to a line-up of experts one-to-one in the Indie Matters Business Advice Clinics, for more tailored help.

3

Creativity

Sponsored by Jakar International, the Creative Matters Workshops allow visitors to flex their artistic ability and test a host of products before committing to buying. With a jam-packed line-up, attendees can expect workshops on subjects from bullet journalling to coaster decoration, hosted by exhibitors such as Edding UK, Perfect Planner Company, and Jakar International.

Event Director Alex Butler says: “Whether you’re an independent shop or a multinational department store, in the luxury sector or mass-market, London Stationery Show has something for everyone. Our spring show is the perfect place to restock and refresh your store, and puts you in prime position to liaise with your current suppliers and forge meaningful relationships with new ones.”

What: London Stationery Show

Where: Business Design Centre, Islington

When: May 16-17

Visit: www.stationeryshowlondon.co.uk

“Our show is the perfect place to restock and refresh your store, and puts you in prime position to liaise with your current suppliers and forge meaningful relationships with new ones”

Event Director Alex Butler

Creative gifts

Exacompta Clairefontaine

Acomprehensive selection of popular brands will be highlighted by the Exacompta Clairefontaine group at the London Stationery Show.

The paper crafting brand Décopatch will be profiling its new My Creative Moment kits, which give users the opportunity to escape the stresses of daily life and take time for themselves to help increase their wellbeing and enjoy some creative crafting. There are six kits in this new range, each supplied in a sturdy papier-mâché box which can be decorated and used for storage. A dedicated in-store FSDU that holds 30 kits (five of each type) is available for retailers to showcase the collection.

A new collection of Pollen Unicorn and Ballerinathemed children’s compendium sets will be on display from Clairefontaine. These feature eight sheets of A5 letter paper, eight 120gsm C6 (11.4 x 16.2cm) sized envelopes in a mix of two colours, plus a sticker sheet and four (11 x 15.5cm) postcards.

From Rhodia, the latest notebooks and Goalbook journals and pencil cases in metallic colour variations will be on display, as well as the most recent Clairefontaine stationery collections. These include the Evanescence licence, which features the designs of Parisian artist Edith Duprez-Chenu, whose work draws inspiration from her experiences working with the likes of John Galliano and Christian Dior. In this collection, Edith has blended colours and mixed geometric and abstract shapes with line art flowers and watercolour landscapes. The Mini Planner is an essential part of the range. This 24 x 12cm sized desk pad contains 50 sheets that feature a handy ‘to do’ tick box list and a grid for bullet journalling, plus a separately shaded area for doodling and sketching.

Similarly, the new Clairefontaine premium stationery Inkebana collection has a variety of fashionable notebooks ranging from pocket size (7.5 x 12cm) to A4, with options including wirebound and stapled, soft or hardback covers. They feature a stunning satin lamination with yellow highlights. All notebooks and pads feature the PEFC certified 90gsm brushed vellum Clairefontaine paper that is loved by pen fans globally.

Lawrence Savage, UK marketing manager for the group, says: “The show gives us the ideal opportunity to profile our latest product releases, alongside the many in-store POS display solutions and other online collateral that’s available to retailers. We will also be running some creative workshops during the event for visitors to get involved with.”

London Stationery Show Stand: M400 Call: 01553 696600

Email: sales@exaclair.co.uk

Visir: www.exaclairlimited.com

Back-to-school fun

Puckator

The London Stationery Show is right around the corner, showcasing the best of arts, crafts, and writing. Puckator will be there with a whole host of fun backto-school items perfect for kids to show off, and some stylish stationery for the grown-ups.

The major theme of the line-up is eco-friendly, with brand new ABS recycled pens, and stone notebooks made of a combination of limestone and HDPE. This material has a carbon footprint of nearly 60% less than traditional paper, as the manufacturing is not as intensive. These come in new designs such as the jungle themed Animal Kingdom, or the floral bee designs of Nectar Meadows.

Another product to look out for are Surprise Pens. These are pens where until you actually open the box, you don’t know what you’re going to get! It could be a lion, or a giraffe - the fun is not knowing what’s inside. The pens come in sets including zoo animals, sea creatures, and brand new Dinosauria ones.

For little dinosaur fans, the Dinosauria and Dinosauria Jr ranges of giftable

stationery feature cartoon designs and bright colours, which appeal to children of all ages. A favourite are the Dinosauria Jr Pencils with cute dinosaur toppers.

Do you want six pens for the price of one? Also in the Dinosauria range is the new Multi Colour Pen, which is packed full of different ink colours, ready for kids to show their creativity. The pens have four different designs featuring all your favourite dinosaurs, but not only that, these pens also come in many different design ranges, from London Themes to the animal-themed Adoramals.

London Stationery Show Stand: M321

Call: 0800 011 6969

Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk

Visit: www.puckator.co.uk

Animal antics

Lesser & Pavey

Bug Art from Lesser and Pavey is a selection of bright, fun, cheerful illustrations that will bring a smile to anyone’s face. The range comes in 10 designs and spans many stationery products, including an A5 notebook and a memo pad with pen, which all offer quality paper and gold foil printing.

The designs - from a quirky cow and naughty monkey to a mad hare and floppy-eared hound - also feature on cushions, fine china mugs, drinking glasses, trays, and ceramic coasters.

Call: 01322 279225

Email: sales@leonardo.co.uk

Visit: www.leonardo.co.uk

A corking gift

Personalised Memento Company

With a simple design and the option to personalise, this cork pen set from PMC is a fantastic practical gift. Presented in a matching black box and available in a range of different designs, it’s suitable for any occasion, whether the recipient is celebrating a new job, graduation or Father’s Day. Head over to PMC’s website to register for free and see its full range of stationery gifts.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

Visit: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

British Garden Centres is the largest family-led garden centre group in the UK - and has ambitious plans in the pipeline, according to group gift & food buyer Emma Davis, group gift buyer Lizzie Harker, and toy & pastimes buyer Kate Hateley

Our first garden centre opened in 1987 in the Lincolnshire village of Woodthorpe and was quickly followed by our flagship at Brigg in Lincolnshire. During 2018, the business began to grow more rapidly and more centres were added to the portfolio. Since then, we haven’t stopped, and now we have 62 centres around the country. Our ambition is to have a ‘British Garden Centre’ near to all in the UK!

Our gift departments vary tremendously in size. However, they are all in key locations within each centre. Gifting has always been part of our core offering - even back in 1987. The category has expanded to allow choice and width of range, to give our customers an even better shopping experience. Our demographic varies hugely and, as we know the appeal of a garden centre covers a wide variety of ages, we have to offer something for all.

Key categories for us are home fragrance and toiletries, homeware, and pastimes… who doesn’t love a good jigsaw! Our key suppliers are Wax Lyrical, Aromatize, Widdop & Co., Wrendale, Gallery, Ravensburger and Fountasia. And since visiting recent trade fairs, we are looking to start introducing newness from brands including Alex Clark Art and The Gifted Stationery Company.

Product selection criteria is governed by an array of factors including: what’s new to the market? What categories are particularly performing well?

What’s trending on social platforms? What are our competitors doing - and what can we do differently? This encourages us to look outside the box. The Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year

Top 5 Best Sellers

1. Freckleface wax melts

2. The Wheat Bag Company wheat bags

3. Fountasia Robotime

Cathy’s Flower House

4. Gallery Sherpa throws

5. Baylis & Harding Duo Hand Care Set

“Key categories for us are home fragrance and toiletries, homeware, and pastimes… who doesn’t love a good jigsaw!”

‘Gifting has always been part of our core offering’

Awards is always a good source to review too.

What’s selling well? Fountasia [a family-run company which specialises in supplying innovative, good value décor products for the home and garden] has been a great success for us. Its pastime product covers great price points and is not agespecific, making it open to all individuals to get involved.

Artificial flowers is a category that is building with momentum, and we see that there is growth to be had in this area. The products on the market keep evolving, so newness is kept fresh.

In terms of trading, where price points have always been important to drive sales, 2022 saw a real focus on value for money, so key prices like £9.99 and £14.99 worked well and were especially relevant coming into Christmas. The challenge is working with our suppliers to help us hit them, as it’s a challenge with price increases on material costs.

Did You Know?

The story of British Garden Centres began in the sleepy Lincolnshire village of Woodthorpe, the home of founders Charles and his brother Robert Stubbs.

Charles started the business while still at school - he sold seedlings and Leylandii to neighbours and passers-by from a stall at the end of their drive.

Home fragrance is still proving to be a popular category, with wax melts leading the way. The trend of wellbeing continues and we see people wanting to ensure they create calm environments at home that feel comfortable and inviting for them and others.

We are always looking out for new categories, but our focus for 2023 is to ensure we are offering the best products and the best visual merchandising in the categories we already offer within our centres.

What are we most enthusiastic about for Spring/ Summer 23? At the start of any season, there’s an excitement with the newness coming in and preparing to see the reaction from our teams in the centres and, importantly, our customers. But spring always brings with it a bright freshness, and people are especially looking forward to being enticed. We think that since Covid, garden centres have become a destination that customers feel safe in and want to spend time browsing in. With the ability to easily access a garden centre nearby and obtain free parking, it sometimes becomes a better experience than going to the high street. And because of this, we would say a huge amount of garden centres already have - and will - diversify into some form of gifting.

Through hard work, determination and drive, the company developed, with Woodthorpe Garden Centre opening in 1987.

The retailer flourished under the ownership of Charles and Robert, becoming famous for, among other things, huge sales of compost to keen gardeners from all over the region.

Over the years, the brothers’ reputation grew far and wide. They were featured on the local news programme Calendar for their entrepreneurial skills. The business at Woodthorpe developed, and with the addition of Brigg Garden Centre, the firm’s reputation for quality and value began to spread.

Other centres were added, and the company became known as the British Garden Centres Group. Since 2018 it has grown even faster than Charles and Robert could ever have imagined, and now has 62 centres around the country. Their ambition to have a ‘British Garden Centre’ within easy reach for everyone in the UK is starting to take shape!

“Our demographic varies hugely and, as we know the appeal of a garden centre covers a wide variety of ages, we have to offer something for all”

L-R: Group gift & food buyer Emma Davis and group gift buyer Lizzie Harker

Toy & pastimes buyer Kate Hateley

Taking a approachgreen

Burston Garden Centre has been family-run since 1978 and has grown considerably during this time. We are located just on the edge of St. Albans and have a large catchment area, with customers visiting from Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and North London. The gift department has been part of the centre for many years, and has grown substantially over the past two decades, as we now offer clothing, homeware, food and alcohol, as well as footwear,

and special offer pricing, especially on cards, toiletries and candles.

When sourcing products, I visit trade shows and like to look through Gifts Today. I’ve also found some suppliers when I’ve been out shopping. My selection criteria has changed in recent years. I’m focusing on products that are made in the UK and are more sustainable - whether that be less plastic in packaging, or items made from recycled materials, or produced in a more sustainable way.

toiletries, toys, cards, stationery and houseplants. It sits in our main shop and greets customers as they enter the store. Four staff work within the department and do a great job of keeping it all looking good.

Trading in 2022 was difficult to predict and will be this year too. Customers’ shopping patterns and behaviour have completely changed. They are making much more considered purchases and really looking at the worth of a product - not just the price but the quality, longevity, and ethos of the brand. We are offering many more multi-buys

Selling well at the moment are Highland Soap Co. products. We brought them in for Christmas and customers love them, especially the shampoo bars. Fox Under The Moon cards and stationery have been popular toothe wording and illustrations are beautiful.  Soapology, which is a range of toiletries and wax melts in lovely packaging, has also performed well, along with Millie Mae fashion from Forever England, which has colour co-ordinating fashion accessories.

And I recently placed an order with Jarapa, which sells colourful and unique sustainable homeware, so I’m looking forward to receiving that. What do I

predict will be big news in 2023? Anything and everything with a mushroom motif!

For the Spring/Summer season, I’m excited about colourful new ranges coming into store. We have some lovely tableware due in from Walton and Co and Talking Tables.

Looking further ahead, I would like to expand our range of homeware and our clothing accessories. As for future plans for the centre, we are hosting some terrarium workshops, and I would love to do more workshops on a range of different topics.

Burston Garden Centre in St. Albans stocks an extensive selection of gifts with a strong focus on sustainability, as indoor living manager and buyer Lucy Parsons explains

“What do I predict will be big news in 2023? Anything and everything with a mushroom motif!”

Cause for celebration

Gift sales are booming at Bents Garden & Home in the Cheshire town of Warrington, reports head of operations Emma

Iwould say our gift department has been here for over 30 years, or maybe longer! It’s located at the front of the store and we have between six to 12 colleagues working in it at one time.

Gifts has started really well for us this year. We did notice an impact from the cost-of-living crisis last year, especially on higher-end products at Christmas. But so far this season we’ve seen an uplift in sales by 20%. We have a good balance of giftware to suit all price points, and we haven’t changed our purchasing habits.

We find products mainly through trade shows, magazines, and social media trends. We also visit a lot of garden centres in the UK and Europe for inspiration.

This year we’re really working on finding local, sustainable, recycled product that add a point of difference. We’re famous for being unique and different with our stock and displays, so we’re always looking for quality brands to work with. Newness is really important, as a lot of our visitors shop regularly with us. But we’re not looking at expanding into new categories - we are concentrating on really backing what we do well, and ensuring that we continue to inspire our customers.

Colour trends that are working for us currently are neutral tones with different colour accents like black.

Kelly

Vases are popular - definitely anything with faces and unusual shapes and textures. Throws and soft furnishings are also doing well, and all our refillable toiletries are popular. We’re still seeing growth in neutral homeware products and bigger statement pieces, plus anything that is sustainable.

What am I most excited about for Spring/ Summer? Seeing all the new season come through. The buying team have done an amazing job of sourcing new products and brands, and we have worked hard to bring a new more modern feel to some of our homeware, which has proved really successful so far.

Bents is best in the UK!

Bents Garden & Home was crowned Destination Garden Centre of the Year 2022 by the Garden Centre Association (GCA) at its awards ceremony, held during its annual conference in Blackburn on January 24 The retailer said: ‘We were presented with the title following an intensive annual audit, which records scores from over 200 garden centres throughout the UK. It’s the seventh time we have held the award, which recognises quality standards throughout the centre, not only of products and departments, but also people and services.

‘We have a great family of colleagues who work extremely hard at all times, and this award is a fantastic way to thank everyone for their input, especially after what has been a challenging few years. Among the categories acknowledged by the audit were the centre’s product range and quality, disabled facilities, sustainability, Garden Care department, Fresh Approach Restaurant, houseplants and seasonal plants.’

L-R Front row: Ron Bent, Wendy Bent, Katherine Bent, Claire Orsmond, Helen Bent. Back row: Jo Derbyshire, Kate Ganley, Lynn Hamment, Emma Kelly, Matthew Bent, GCA chairman Tammy Woodhouse

Commenting on the achievement, GCA CEO Peter Burks said: “While the scoring between the top garden centres was very close, Bents Garden & Home clinched it with superb attention to detail across the entire business - encompassing their website and online presence, catering, and everything customers see, from the roadside to the checkouts.”

“We’re famous for being unique and different”

Let’s talk about… what green-fingered customers want

Garden centres are THE place to do brilliant gifting, believes Bryony Taylor-Edwards, head of brand and gift, home, food, and toy buyer at Yarnton Home and Garden in Oxfordshire

We have some exciting news at Yarnton HQ I want to share. We have a new managing director! Glen Sheldrake joined us on February 1, and we are all hopping around with excitement.

Over the past five years, the business has changed an unrecognisable amount. It was a tired and rather grey-looking garden centre when I started in 2018. Now it’s a colourful and joyful place for customers to visit and explore.

During this time, we have built a Magic Garden soft play area, renovated the café, and added a food hall, home and gift, toy, and clothing departments. We have also won awards.

We are so proud of this, but it’s not been all razzle and dazzle. On the flip side, we have also navigated a global pandemic, a changing retail landscape, and now we are on the precipice of a recession.

As we move into Spring, we certainly find ourselves at a crossroads and are asking ourselves key questions such as: what’s next for the business? How do we do what we do better? And, what does the future look like?

Who better to help us navigate through this than Glen? Before joining us, he worked at Burford Garden Company as operations director and prior to that, he cut his professional teeth at several large multi-site garden

centre businesses.

He brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and informed experience from across the gardening industry. Plus, he is a passionate horticulturist. But most importantly for me as a buyer, he has an eye for - and love of - good product.

As we know, no other nation more than Britain expects as much from the humble garden centre. And post-

Garden centre customers want luxury and delicious food, lovely plants (and expertise to go with them of course), but also a plethora of gifts, clothes and interiors to shop for. They want to immerse themselves in inspirational displays and have somewhere to relax and take time out. Our job is to deliver this with a large dose of personality and pizazz.

For me, the excitement of the arrival of Glen came when he said: “I love what you are all doing, but let’s do more of it. Let’s be bold and brave and grow

garden gift and interiors areas.” The cogs in my brain were whizzing up new ranges before he had even finished his sentence!

Garden centres are THE place to do brilliant gifting and, during my visit to Spring Fair, I walked the aisles with a bounce in my step. My focus was on the big spring gifting momentsMother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter - and the start of the gardening season. And I look forward to telling you all about it when I see you again in the May edition.

Greetings Glen!

pandemic, garden centres are having their moment. With the huge interest in lockdown gardening continuing, garden centres nationwide are reimagining their retail spaces.

The ‘buy-it-in-bulk and stack-it-high’ mentality is a thing of the past. Dark, grey retail spaces? No thank you! The garden centre clientele is expecting more from us and so they should. We can do better, and we must.

Email: Bryony@yarntonhomegarden.co.uk

Visit: www.yarntonhomegarden.co.uk; www.instagram.com/yarntonhomegarden; www.linkedin.com/in/bryonytayloredwards

Glen Sheldrake joined Yarnton Home & Garden as managing director on February 1. When asked what attracted him to the role, Glen commented: “The potential of the business. Yarnton Home & Garden has been undergoing a huge transition over the past four years and has come a long way. I’m delighted to work with the team to help it reach its full potential.

“I believe independent garden centres have an opportunity to retail in a unique and exciting way. Yarnton Home and Garden is exciting because it has set its stall as the garden centre doing things differently, and I’m looking forward to delivering a retail space that has sustainability, creativity, and a desire to create the best possible retail space for customers at its core.”

“No other nation more than Britain expects as much from the humble garden centre. And post-pandemic, garden centres are having their moment”

PHOTO: Jason Fenton

PHOTO: Jason Fenton

Trade talk

Charlotte Gillan Managing Director

Classic Canes

Are your ranges stocked in any garden centres?

Yes, Classic Canes walking sticks are stocked by many independent garden centres across the UK and abroad. Our brand is an excellent fit for garden centres because they have the perfect clientele for the product, and we can offer a wide range of price points and styles to ensure they have the ideal walking stick for everyone.

Some garden centres display the sticks within their gifts, and some in clothing. The larger ones will have displays in both and will often have one display of fashionable canes for ladies, and another with wooden sticks and long, country sticks and trekking poles.

Garden centres are also extremely successful with our folding canes, which are neat and easy to display on slatwall or similar, and make excellent presents. We have many flower and vegetable-patterned canes which are perfect for people with an interest in gardening, as are our new patterns featuring garden birds, insects and wild animals.

Do you think garden centres are a good destination for gift shopping?

Absolutely: I love shopping for gifts in them myself. Garden centres are particularly good at offering practical gifts that people can actually use, and you can often find really imaginative and well-designed presents as you wander around, and usually the accompanying greeting card and wrapping paper too.

For elderly people and disabled people with special mobility needs - who are many of the customers for our walking sticks - garden centres are easilyaccessible places where they can enjoy shopping in safety. Garden centres also have the space to make really eye-catching displays with a lot of products and therefore impact.

What trends do you predict will be big news in garden centre gifts this year?

I think nature in all its forms. Our new canes patterned with pets, wildlife, flowers and fruits chime with the general mood of taking time to appreciate the natural world around us.   Also, ever since the beginning of the

Covid outbreak, we’ve sold more and more wooden hiking staffs and contemporary trekking poles, as many people have rediscovered the simple delights of a walk in the country.

However, while there are trends in walking sticks, it’s important to remember that the old classics endure for a reason: simple wooden derby walking sticks made to a high standard that will last for years deservedly remain one of the most popular types of walking sticks ordered by our garden centre customers.

Sarah Watmore Director

Miss Milly

Are your ranges stocked in any garden centres?

Miss Milly supplies garden centres in many parts of the UK with great success.

Do you think garden centres are a good destination for gift shopping?

Yes, many garden centres have really grown as a destination for lifestyle shopping, often with a wide home and gift offering alongside their traditional garden ranges.  What trends do you predict will be big news in garden centre gifts this year?

We do particularly well with anything animal-related in garden centres, so our keyrings and brooches are a big hit. They are also easily presented in a box or on a spinner, making great pick-up gifts.

We predict that our Magnetic Brooches, shortlisted in the Fashion Accessories & Jewellery category of the Gift of the Year 2023 Awards, will continue to grow in popularity in garden centres and other outlets this year.

The Magnetic Brooches come in gorgeous designs, with no fiddly pins and clasps, and no holes in your clothing. Just pull the two pieces apart, position them, and let the strong magnet reattach. They can be used as a scarf pin or to adorn coats, jackets, bags and hats.

“Garden centres are particularly good at offering practical gifts that people can actually use”

Suppliers discuss the role of garden centres on the gift retailing scene and predict product trends for 2023

“We do particularly well with anything animal-related in garden centres”

Trade talk

Keith Edmondson Joint Managing Director

Langs

Are your ranges stocked in any garden centres?

Yes, we supply many garden centres, from independents right the way through to multiples. Designed in Derbyshire, our ranges cover very customer-focused motivations, meaning we have products that are fresh and on point - all at great prices that offer a great margin. Our customers regularly commend us on how we continually offer products with a different twist that they simply cannot get anywhere else.

Do you think garden centres are a good destination for gift shopping?

Garden centres have always been well regarded as a destination for a trip with friends and family to peruse what’s on offer for the home, garden, clothing and much more - normally with free car parking.

In recent years (and this was certainly helped in lockdown, when garden centres were allowed to stay open), they have propelled themselves further into the mindset of customers that may not have frequented them previously.

This has exposed what is on offer to the end-consumer, with many centres realising the opportunity and taking the bull by the horns by increasing the variety offered in-store - with gifts integral to this. In my opinion, many centres (large and small) are now considered to be destination locations in their own right, with no sign of this abating any time soon.

What trends do you predict will be big news this year?

Fresh, fun and vibrant ranges to take the indoors outside are very strong, as everyone tries to enjoy being outside more (when the weather allows!).

Home décor ranges are continually on the hit list for many buyers. We are aware of this, and so we design ranges accordingly. One area we

Paul Hooker Managing Director

Joe Davies

have had a huge influx of interest in is our Halloween & Fall ranges; products for these ranges are becoming more sought-after. Last but by no means least, Christmas has gone off the scale for garden centres, with us seeing a huge upturn and incredible response to our Exclusive ranges.

Are your ranges stocked in any garden centres?

Garden centre customers make up a significant proportion of the Joe Davies customer base, stocking both seasonal and year-round lines. Do you think garden centres are a good destination for gift shopping?  With the space to let ranges breathe, garden centres make ideal destinations for gift shoppers, being able to display a good width of product across a range.

We also see much higher rates of self-purchase in garden centres, with home-related ranges doing very well. The extra space also means spinners and CDUs feature strongly, particularly on sentiment pick-up ranges.

What trends do you predict will be big news in garden centre gifts this year?

For Spring, outdoor LED, tealights and planters are trending. Our Village Pottery Collection fits the bill perfectly and sells exceptionally well in garden centres.  On every day, suncatchers, and country-themed jewellery featuring native flowers and animals, repeated on ceramics, are key trends for 2023 - our Bree Merryn licenced collection is a perfect example.

As we move into the seasonal period, we already have some huge garden centre pre-orders for snoozies!, Nuzzles Sherpa Socks, and Hoodzies - which all look set to be real hits for Christmas.

“Christmas has gone off the scale for garden centres”

“With the space to let ranges breathe, garden centres make ideal destinations for gift shoppers”

Jo Stubbs & Mark Rees Creative Director & Managing Director Henry & Co

Are your ranges stocked in garden centres?

Yes, garden centres are our primary channel of distribution. We recognise their growing importance as a retail channel and how throughout Covid, garden centres had a further opportunity to consolidate and build their importance to consumers.

Do you think garden centres are a good destination for gift shopping?

They are perfect, due to the space available, which gives them the chance to commit properly across multiple formats from a supplier. Garden centres deliver a relaxed socialised shopping experience for friends and family - often across several generations. There’s space to park for free, a safe environment, and usually a good café or restaurant to meet friends or family for a catch-up.

What trends do you predict will be big news in garden centre gifts this year?

Trends in gifting during challenging economic times means affordable luxuries matter, and small treats such as fragrance products deliver an evocative relaxed experience at affordable prices.

Chris Adams UK Sales Manager Price’s Candles

Are your ranges stocked in any garden centres?

Yes, we have products in many of the leading garden centres in the UK. Our Fragrance Collection candle jars and reed diffusers sit perfectly in gift areas, in fully merchandised LED lit Welsh dressers. Or, if space is tight, then our fully merchandised tailored FSDUs have proved very popular.

Do you think garden centres are a good destination for gift shopping?

Garden centres offer a wide variety within their huge gift departments. You can enjoy a fantastic shopping experience. Ecommerce has its place, although we strongly believe fragranced products need to be smelt - which is why we

Shoppers expect a range of gifts in garden centres, so they need to continue to grow in key areas such as greeting cards, books, fragrance, ceramics, plush, toys and character product - and also hold an extensive range of brands and products within a brand. Stocking a whole range from a brand not only gives great store presence but also gives consumers choice.

Consumers are now looking for wellbeing and mindfulness products to enhance self-care. This, teamed with healthy eating, support, and friendship, are all key trends which are continuing to grow.

Paul Roberts

Commercial Director

Rachel Ellen Designs

Are your ranges stocked in any garden centres?

We have a high number of fantastic garden centre customers who successfully sell our products all year round. We’ve focused on creating co-ordinated themes which allow customers to create a really strong visual impact, and we’re more than happy to supply point-of-sale material to enhance a display within a shop concept.

Do you think garden centres are a good destination for gift shopping?

So many garden centres have become shopping destinations, with fantastic cafes and restaurants, food and drink, apparel, pet supplies - and comprehensive gift departments stocking everything from puzzles, candles, and home décor to general gifting.

Rachel Ellen Designs covers all bases when it comes to children’s gifts. Many of our garden centre customers have created striking displays that include best-selling products across their chosen design themes - selling a look or story rather than just stand-alone products - and luckily, garden centres tend to have a little more space to do this well.

provide all our customers with free reed diffuser testers for this purpose.

What trends do you predict will be big news this year?

Affordable luxury is the main trend for 2023. You can’t get more luxurious than your favourite fragrance to inspire, elevate, seduce and delight the senses at, of course, at a great price. This doesn’t always need to be in the form of fragrance: a beautiful Sherwood dinner candle can sprinkle some luxury on any dinner party.

What trends do you predict will be big news in garden centre gifts this year?

As with all good retailers, garden centres have to offer new products and keep up with current trends, but ultimately their core range has to be made up of proven products that satisfy their customers’ needs. So to some degree, they’re reliant on suppliers like Rachel Ellen to lead the way with initiatives such as our move from PVC coated aprons and tabards to eco-friendly TPU coated versions.

“Garden centres are our primary channel of distribution”

“Affordable luxury is the main trend for 2023”

“We have a high number of fantastic garden centre customers who successfully sell our products all year round”

Enjoy the garden lifestyle

Ivyline

The new lifestyle garden collection from British company Ivyline is in stock and ready to fly out to garden centres, and home and outdoor living stores around the country, as gardeners lie in wait for temperate weather with a packet of hard-won seeds!

The reception to this beautifully styled handmade range has been incredibly positive, as gardening and growing becomes ever more popular. Included in the collection are lovingly designed plant supports, hanging baskets and elegant trellis, which position gardening as an aspirational lifestyle choice that isn’t all about muddy boots and buckets, broadening its appeal among affluent consumers and other houseproud shoppers. The design-led look and feel of the collection also makes it ideal for gifting, offering wonderful solutions for any occasion for both male and female recipients.

Since its official launch to the retail trade in Autumn 2022, both large garden centre groups and independents have fallen in love with this collection, which is supported with bespoke point of sale materials. The stylish in-store units help garden centres to capitalise on the booming consumer interest in grow-your-own, which recently made national press headlines because of a shortage of certain vegetables.

Ivyline managing director of Scott Thomas says: “We introduced our new lifestyle gardening collection last autumn and have been delighted by the way it’s been received by retailers, including some of the leading groups in the country. They love the elegance of the designs and wonderful quality of this handmade collection, whilst the trusted ‘Ivyline benefits’ and aspirational point of sale have greatly helped to support the range in-store. As we head into the main gardening season, our warehouses are well stocked with products ready to go, but we do anticipate high demand with so many consumers keen to grow-their-own.”

This beautifully curated collection of lifestyle garden products features plant protection and supports, hanging baskets, and trellis. Each is lovingly handmade with great attention to detail from either zinc or rusticpatina bronze - which can be styled to equally suit a contemporary garden space or a place with rural ‘cottage core’ charm. All items in the collection are frost-resistant and come with a two-year guarantee.

‘A one-stop-shop’

about the company’s ’incredibly comprehensive’ collection of seasonal, home and gift products

Tell us about your company.

BOLTZE is a second-generation family-run company, formed in 1964 from a small homebased business which has grown into the global giant it is today.

We are one of the largest home décor gift and seasonal companies in the industry, headed by our managing director Adrian Boltze, who proudly provides the company with caring strong family values. Our customers really appreciate our founder Mrs Boltze (senior), who still comes into the showroom daily to meet and greet them.

We have more than 8,000 customers worldwide, serviced by our team of 260 employees, producing over €150 million per annum. Our head office and flagship showroom is based in Hamburg, plus we have a second showroom in the German city of Essen, close to the Dutch border, which most of our UK customers can easily reach.

Tell us about your ranges.

BOLTZE’s collection is incredibly comprehensive.

We introduce more than 20 new ranges per year, made up of over 11,000 seasonal, home and gift products meeting most tastes - whether it’s a Nautical, Country, Scandi, Industrial or Boho theme. This makes life simple for some customers to use us as a one-stop-shop.

We are particularly strong with our seasonal ranges, which we launch a season ahead. For example, on June 1 we will be introducing our Spring/Summer 24 collections and inviting customers to our showrooms. We pay for their flights and hotel accommodation (subject to terms) to see our exciting new Home, Garden and Nautical themes.

There are also over 5,000 products in our everyday collections, most of which are available for immediate delivery.

Who is your core customer base?

Our core customer base is Gifts Today’s readership. BOLTZE caters for home accessory and gift retailers. We also do very well among garden centres, due to our excellent quality and competitive pricing.

What sets you apart from your competitors?

That’s easy: not a lot of suppliers have the depth of range that we are able to offer. One of the other great benefits of buying from us is that we trade on DDP tax free import terms, so our customers are not stung by those nasty customs and duty costs buying from Europe.

How can retailers order your products?

The UK is one of the strongest emerging markets for BOLTZE. For customers to buy from us is simple: all they need to do is contact us on 0121 275 5346 or email export@boltze.de to arrange a representative visit - or alternatively, visit our website at www.boltze.com.

Tailored to the green sector

BOLTZE

BOLTZE offers its customers the complete package: this starts with a huge range of products, which comprises around 11,000 articles per year, 70% of which are the company’s own designs, specially tailored to the needs of the green sector. From candles, trays and bowls to lanterns and flower pots, garden centres will find everything they need to perfectly complement their assortment.

Decorative items that can be given as gifts are particularly popular with end-users. A wide range of high-quality gift articles is correspondingly important. BOLTZE is the perfect company for this. Among best sellers are decorative figures in various sizes and shapes. Small gnome or animal figurines that embellish the garden are ideal gifts. Just as popular are vases made of glass or ceramic in a wide variety of shapes and colours. These are highly appreciated as gifts, together with BOLTZE’s flowers.

BOLTZE’s product range is constantly being expanded in a more and more sustainable way. For example, it is increasingly using recycled glass. In addition, disposable materials, and the use of plastic for products and packaging, are dispensed with. This means that decorations from BOLTZE can be given as gifts with a clear conscience.

Call: 0121 275 5346

Email export@boltze.de

Visit: www.boltze.com

Brightwallmetallic art

Joe Davies

Sticks to suit all tastes

Classic Canes

The products of walking stick specialist Classic Canes are a frequent sight in independent garden centres throughout the UK. The family-run company designs many of its products with its garden centre clientele in mind, including these new patterns featuring dragonflies, woodpeckers and hedgehogs among other flora and fauna.

Managing director Charlotte Gillan says: “Garden centres have the perfect customers for our products: plenty of walking stick users and also plenty of people who need to buy gifts for walking stick users. Often, someone buying a gift will choose something more unusual and at a higher price point than someone buying for themselves, so we offer garden centres a wide range of everyday, patterned, folding and country sticks to suit all tastes.”

Call: 01460 75686

Email: info@classicanes.co.uk

Visit: www.classicanes.co.uk

With the arrival of Spring, everyone starts to think about their gardens, and garden gifts and décor become very popular, especially with garden centre retailers. Joe Davies’ metal butterflies always sell well so, with this in mind, the company has launched a new range of natural looking butterflies and a new bumble bee range.

Both ranges have two sizes - small and medium - so will make a nice display to liven up any garden - and they make great art to brighten up a boring fence or wall, and can be enjoyed all year round.

Joe Davies has a reputation for award-winning customer service and a huge range of gifts. All its products are available in its trademark ‘little and often’ quantities, with a minimum order value of just £100 and free nationwide delivery.

Postcode: SK5 7GA

Call: 0161 975 6300

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

For fungi fans

Puckator

Spring is officially here, which means flowers are starting to bloom and people are flooding back to garden centres to plan for the warm weather ahead. Puckator has a selection of products perfect for any plant lovers out there.

The company now offers a range of Fairy Toadstool House products for these passionate garden growers. The designs range from home fragrance favourites such as oil burners to kitchen staples like the egg cup and shaped mug. The incense cone burner is one to look out for, as the smoke from the incense puffs out of a cute little chimney at the top.

If you’re not a fungi person, then Puckator has a wide range of planters to display your favourite plants in. The Florens cream stoneware pot is a great option as it has a very tasteful design sporting a dual textured ceramic floral pattern.

Call: 0800 011 6969

Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk

Visit: www.puckator.co.uk

A natural fit

Rachel Ellen Designs

There are a number of reasons why the gifting range from Rachel Ellen Designs has proved so successful with the many garden centres it supplies. It currently has 14 main design themes that include all its best-selling lines. This allows for striking coordinated displays that appeal to a wide age range.

Among the products are tabards, aprons, storage tins, umbrellas, water bottles, writing and colouring, stickers and an assortment of stationery, with pick-up lines for kids starting at just £2 and fabulous treats, presents and essentials for parents and grandparents.

Design themes such as Love our Planet, Little Gardener and Bee Happy are a natural fit for garden centres and sit seamlessly alongside dinosaurs, superheroes, ballerinas, magical unicorns and others.

Call: 0115 970 0321

Email: sales@rachelellen.co.uk

Visit: www.rachelellen.co.uk

Forever toys and gifts

Rainbow Designs

Rainbow Designs’ collection of award-winning soft toys and gifts is perfect for brightening up any garden centre display this Spring. There’s bunnies, bears and caterpillars aplenty, including timeless favourites Peter Rabbit, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, Guess How Much I Love You and The Very Hungry Caterpillar - all of which are very much at home in a garden centre environment.

Passionate about creating superior products designed for all ages, Rainbow Designs offers contemporary newborn gifts including comforters, rattles and baby gift sets, through to classic early years wooden toys, as well as premium plush soft toys of classic characters.

Peter Rabbit is a woodland character that brings to life any Spring garden centre display, and Rainbow Designs’ best-selling collection of toys and gifts featuring the mischievous Peter Rabbit and the adorable Flopsy Bunny, in an array of nursery toy formats, gift sets and wooden toys, make wonderful Springtime gifts.

Featuring the much-loved character from Eric Carle’s best-selling book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Rainbow’s colourful Very Hungry Caterpillar soft and wooden toy collection is designed to stimulate babies’ senses and encourage development through play. Strong primary colours, and a variety of textures and sounds, make these toys perfect for little visitors to garden centres.

With extensive ranges of joyful forever toys and gifts, garden centre visitors really will be spoilt for choice!

Call: 01329 227300 | Email: sales@rainbowdesigns.co.uk

Visit: www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

Wheat-filled wonders

The Wheat Bag Company

The Wheat Bag Company is a UK-based supplier that specialises in creating high-quality handmade wheat bags, home accessories, and gifts. The wheat bags are filled with 100% cleaned English wheat, and you can choose to add optional Lavender buds to enhance relaxation. The Lavender wheat bags are heavenly scented and perfect for soothing aching muscles and neck pain when heated in the microwave.

In addition to Lavender fragranced and unfragranced wheat bags, the company offers a range of other products, including door stops, lavender sachets, and accessory pouches. These items are available in various designs and fabrics, ranging from Bumblebees to Garden Ferns and 100% cotton to luxury velvet.

Excitingly, the company has recently released a new range of summer designs,

including Fancy Flamingos and Country Pheasants, which have received excellent feedback from customers.

The Wheat Bag Company prides itself on its exceptional craftsmanship, high-quality British wheat, and quality fabrics - and claims these features make its products stand out from other mass-produced wheat bags, accessories and homeware items.

Call: 01747 480499

Email: sales@thewheatbagcompany.co.uk

Visit: www.thewheatbagcompany.co.uk

Candle magic Ivyline

Already renowned as a supplier of planters and plant accessories, Ivyline is fast becoming a preferred supplier of design-led Christmas ranges, with curated collections that range in style from warm and traditional to cool and contemporary.

Alongside pieces to satisfy traditional festive tastes - with mistletoe, stars and owls, stag heads and snowflakes aplenty - are multi-functional home accents that will stand the test of time when Christmas has come and gone.

Stylish designs

Rex London

Rex London offers a variety of stylish designs, including botanical and nature-inspired prints such as Wild Flowers and Ladybird. Its recycled cotton apron from the Wild Flowers collection is perfect for customers shopping for presents at garden centres because not only is it made from recycled materials (ideal for those who like to be eco-friendly), but it also comes in a fully recyclable cardboard tube - perfect for gifting.

The newly launched Ladybird collection is a fresh addition to Rex London’s range and is already gaining popularity and recognition among customers, setting it on a clear path to become the next best seller.

The charming design is already available on the company’s 10 most popular products, including greeting cards, notebooks and storage bags, which can be used as practical gifts in their own right, or as thoughtful add-ons to a bigger present.

More exciting gifts for gardeners are coming later this year, so be sure to regularly visit Rex London’s trade website or subscribe to its newsletter to stay in the know with what’s new. Call: 020 8746 1700

Email: info@rexlondon.com

Visit: www.rexlondontrade.com

Candle stands and holders form a major part of Ivyline’s latest collection, with a wide choice of new designs for the coming seasons. From larger scale pieces designed to elevate tablescapes to new heights of opulence, to elegant taper candle stands, hurricane lanterns and recycled glass tealight holders, many of the pieces are versatile enough to work throughout the year on any occasion and can also double as vases, giving them dual functionality that will appeal to consumers looking to maximise their spend.

Call: 024 7633 9180

Email: sales@ivylinegb.co.uk

Visit: https://ivylinegb.co.uk/

Design-led gifts Designworks Collective

Designworks Collective’s portfolio of brands is a perfect one-stop-shop for its garden centre retail partners.

Designed in Bath and Nashville, USA, its design-led gifts cover every important category from candles & home fragrance, home décor and barware, through to stationery, puzzles & games and men’s gifts.

For plant lovers and candle lovers, Paddywax’s new Folio collection is the perfect gift for both enthusiasts, as a candle that has been designed to be repurposed as a self-watering planter!

Paddywax candles always make a great sustainable choice for gifts that will live on in the home long after burning. The matte speckled ceramic vessels of Folia are in two sizes (141g/35 hour and 326g/80 hour burn time) and six complementary fragrances that can be mixed and matched.

The Designworks Ink brand from Designworks Collective is a staple part of every garden centre gift assortment and for Spring/Summer 2023, popular new lines include an extended range of guided mini Gratitude Journals and a fun new collection of metal bookmarks and page tabs. These sturdy placeholders are made of stainless steel with a coated gold finish and make a beautiful gift for book lovers. Call: 01225 931322

Email: sales.uk@designworkscollective.co.uk

Visit: trade.designworkscollective.co.uk

Outdoor action

Gentlemen’s Hardware

Gentlemen’s Hardware has launched what it bills as ‘the ultimate Father’s Day gift’ for Spring ’23 - but it’s the unlikeliest of candidates in its portfolio of more than 250 men’s gifts. The Dig Deep Folding Shovel is a sturdy metal shovel that folds down for on-the-go ease and comes packaged in the brand’s signature kraft livery. It’s perfect for competitive dads, who will be the envy of everyone at the beach this summer!

To complement this outdoor, summer travel story for Father’s Day, the company has extended the Adventure Begins line with a portable, lightweight, Collapsible Fire-Pit that’s small enough to fit into a rucksack, and a set of two Telescopic Roasting Forks for campfire roasting without roasting your fingers!

Gentlemen’s Hardware is the go-to brand for men’s gifting. To complete your seasonal offer, check out its multi-tools and lifestyle gifts that span grooming & personal care, tech essentials, kitchen & barware, stationery and home décor.

Call: 01225 931322

Email: sales.uk@dw-collective.com

Visit: trade.designworkscollective.co.uk

Make his day…

Fragrances for fathers

Henry & Co

June 18

Collectable canes

Classic Canes

Walking sticks make very practical presents for men and are available from Classic Canes in a vast array of shapes, sizes and price points.

Managing director Charlotte Gillan suggests: “Trekking poles and hiking staffs are ideal for active fathers, formal dress canes for the more sartorially-minded ones, amusing canes such as the aviator duck cane [pictured] for the collectors, and seat sticks for those who enjoy outdoor sports. Men love presents they can actually use, whether an everyday walking stick or something that could be a family heirloom of the future.”

Gentlemen’s canes were traditionally sold in tobacconists and gentlemen’s outfitters but today are found in retailers of many kinds including gift shops, garden centres and department stores.

Displayed vertically in a stand, they take up very little shop floor in relation to their profitability and are also a great place to ‘park’ men for a browse while their female companions explore the rest of the store!

Call: 01460 75686

Email: info@classicanes.co.uk

Visit: www.classicanes.co.uk

Henry & Co has a number of fragrances that are great for fathers. For the ‘seaside days out’ dad, there’s Rock Salt & Driftwood. This crisp intoxicating fragrance will remind you of the fresh and salty coastal breeze. Fresh and natural notes of seaweed and water lily sit on an irresistible base of salt crusted driftwood, amber and patchouli.

For the ‘gardener’ dad, look no further than Herb Garden. This refreshing and timeless fragrance will transport you to a warm greenhouse in spring. With top notes of tomato leaves, Sicilian lemons and orange peel to lift your mood, and base notes of aromatic woods and a bouquet of fresh oregano, this scent is designed to take your senses to the blissful sun of the Mediterranean or long hazy days in the garden.

And for the ‘woodland walks’ dad, Woodland Retreat is a rich and earthy scent combining deep notes of sandalwood, amber and patchouli with the fresh bright notes of bergamot and orange. This fragrance will remind you of walking through beautiful woodlands on a fresh autumn morning at sunrise.

All the fragrances come in wax melts, reed diffusers, refills and candles - and new merchandising solutions are available.

Call: 0333 188 2006

Email: hello@henryandcompany.co.uk

Visit: www.henryandcofragrance.co.uk

Calling all stylefocused men

Joe Davies

With many influential men adorning more jewellery in recent years, it’s no surprise that men’s jewellery is one of the biggest trends for 2023. The trend is growing and changing to become an essential part of any style-focused man’s wardrobe.

The Equilibrium for Men Collection has a huge range of men’s genuine leather bracelets and necklaces from smaller, thinner pieces ideal for layering up and creating a unique look, to bolder, more chunky designs. There is something for men of all ages and tastes. What’s more, they make perfect Father’s Day gifts!

Ordering from Joe Davies couldn’t be easier with its signature ‘little and often’ ordering system, and low minimum order value of just £100 for a carriage-paid order.

Postcode: SK5 7GA

Call: 0161 975 6300

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

With Father’s Day on the horizon, we turn the spotlight on gifts for men, and presents just for dads to help them feel truly spoiled on Sunday

Don’t forget Dad!

Langs

No matter how much you try to stay ahead of the game, Father’s Day always finds a way to sneak up on you. This occasion, which is always celebrated on the third Sunday in June, originates from the U.S. and honours all the special male models in our lives.

Langs has covered Father’s Day for many years. Its extensive gift collection for men, which includes Dad, Grandad, brothers and sons, runs throughout the year with a bigger emphasis at the start of the year when the new collection is launched.

The company says: ‘Our customers like the mix of slate, wood and textiles. One of the firm favourites is The Grumpy Man collection - not wanting to say all men are grumpy, but it’s one of the best sellers for sure!

‘Lots of customers say it’s hard to buy things for men, so we tend to have more pick-up ideas and signs which can be used in the Man Shed or Man Cave or home office. We love the small tin hobby signs - we always love a little bit of humour!

‘Another firm favourite is the Man Tray. Again, it’s such a useful item as men are guilty of having pockets of loose change, so this is great to have by the bedside for this purpose. We’ve sold thousands over the years and it still continues to be a top-selling useful item!’

Call: 01332 340927

Email: sales@richardlang.co.uk

Visit: www.richardlang.co.uk

For

well-groomed

gents

Personalised Memento Company

This personalised beard kit from PMC is the perfect gift to tame facial hair. The collection of natural beard care products, presented in a personalised canvas bag, is sure to leave beards feeling soft and faces feeling moisturised. The shampoo, conditioner and beard oil have a subtle, contemporary masculine fragrance, without leaving a greasy feel. Check out PMC’s website to see its full range of personalised gifts.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

Visit: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Spoil your loved one Puckator

Father’s Day is coming up, and with it comes the opportunity to spoil your loved one. This means cooking his favourite meal, letting him snooze on the sofa in front of a film, and treating him to a wellearned present.

Be

prepared Kikkerland

Be prepared for anything with Kikkerland’s Survival Kit! It contains 10 essential items, each with 30 different functions. Enjoy your adventures whilst knowing you have all you need, from an emergency blanket to a 5-in-1 whistle; earplugs; a multi-function knife; wire hand saw; pencil; candle; flint & striker; razor blade; and fish hook, line & bait.

Call: 020 36089351

Email: europe@kikkerland.com

Visit: kikkerlandeu.com

The Cycle Works range is perfect for all those dads out there obsessed with cycling and the Tour de France. The designs take inspiration from old travel and retro Tour de France posters, simplified and modernised to create a new spin on a timeless style. It features on a range of products, from mugs and bottles, to wallets and even a doormat.

If dad is more of a car fan, then there’s the VW range, which has been refreshed with new colours and designs giving off a cool surfing vibe. The insulated bottle and cups in the range are great to have when he’s out and about and in need of that extra bit of caffeine! For more gift ideas for Father’s Day, head over to Puckator.co.uk for more products.

Call: 0800 011 6969

Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk

Visit: www.puckator.co.uk

Inspired by artworks Classic Canes

The walking stick specialist Classic Canes is enjoying great success with its range of patterned walking sticks and folding canes produced in association with the National Gallery in London.

The artworks reproduced on the canes include immediately-recognisable paintings such as Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Bosschaert’s Flowers in a Wan-Li Vase, and Stubbs’ Whistlejacket. All models are height-adjustable and therefore make excellent gifts as they can be easily adapted to suit the recipient’s height.

Managing director Charlotte Gillan says: “By working with the National Gallery, we have access to some of the greatest artwork of all time. These beautiful canes have great appeal to many people, and it’s lovely that each purchase benefits the National Gallery and helps it to conserve the nation’s favourite paintings.”

Call: 01460 75686

Email: info@classicanes.co.uk

Visit: www.classicanes.co.uk

Botanical prints Ivyline

A partnership between Ivyline and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew sees a fusion of botanical prints and Ivyline’s contemporary styling. Many products in the collection are ecofriendly, made with nature in mind.

This statement planter is from the Temperate House design collection, with copper tones, umber hues and midnight blue setting the mood. The items are packaged in patterned craft gift boxes.

Call: 024 7633 9180

Email: sales@ivylinegb.co.uk

Visit: https://ivylinegb.co.uk/

Coming to a galaxy near you…

Puckator

More Original Stormtrooper products are dropping from Puckator. Fully refreshed with brand new designs, these products will be a sure-fire hit in anyone’s arsenal.

Father’s Day is flying in quickly, so why not treat your BBQ master to a bold Stormtooper apron? Made from 100% cotton, he’ll find it comfortable, durable, and fun to wear on a Sunday afternoon.

One to look out for is the new shatterproof reusable cup with straw. The cup is double-walled which keeps drinks cool - perfect now that the weather is getting warmer. It also has glitter inside to add a bit of sparkle to his day. In addition, there is a thermal insulated cup if he’s more inclined to a hot drink. For more Stormtrooper products, blast off to Puckator.co.uk.

Call: 0800 011 6969

Email: customerservices@puckator.co.uk

Visit: www.puckator.co.uk

For football fans

Personalised Memento Company

Fully licensed and officially approved, these Personalised Football Mugs from PMC are great gifts for footie fans! Add your chosen name to create a personal present that can be used every day.

Perfect for the office or home, the mugs are available in a range of different teams including Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City.

Check out PMC’s website to see its full range of personalised football gifts. Simply get in touch with PMC or visit its website to discover more about how personalised gifts can work for your business.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

Visit: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Drive into Spring/Summer

Present Time has divided its Spring/Summer 2023 collection into two brand new themes: Summertime Sweetness, and Soothing Simplicity. As you can see, there is something for everyone from its brands Karlsson, Present Time Home Accessories, and Leitmotiv.

Summertime Sweetness

This is a fun, summery theme with pastels and bright colours. For Karlsson, there are Modern Cuckoo and LED clocks in summer shades. Present Time brings a new type of bird statue, made of glass. It has also used the bright colour palette on vases with a new finish: solid instead of its usual transparent treasures.

Leitmotiv has a couple of new lamps: the Bonnett in mini size, glass LED lamps, but also a first: a LED table lamp that can be used outdoors - perfect for those long summer nights (that still seem so far away at the moment).

Soothing Simplicity

Inspired by natural colours and materials, this theme will look good in any house, adding in the basics we all love. For Karlsson, the focus is on clocks with a metallic accent, based on watch designs. Looking for something completely different? You might want to try Present Time’s Glossy Galore range: vases, candle holders, trays and serving platters with a glossy finish.

Fitting this theme, Leitmotiv brings side tables that look glossy too. Present Time says: ‘If you ask us, we are a big fan of Leitmotiv’s new Tulip Chair that comes in a chic shape and beautiful colours - with our season favourite light blue as the ultimate eye-catcher.’

Karlsson Modern Cuckoo in new colours

Present Time says: ‘The original cuckoo clock has been around for over 300 years. At Karlsson we couldn’t help but create our own interpretation of the traditional clock design. The Karlsson Modern Cuckoo clock is a real best seller. For our new collection, we are introducing it in new fresh shades of light pink, yellow, orange and light blue.’

Present Time & Leitmotiv Mila series

Looking for something a little different? You might want to try Present Time’s Mila range: vases, candle holders, trays and serving platters with a glossy finish. Fitting this theme, Leitmotiv brings side tables that look glossy too. Rich materials, a glossy finish and gold details create a luxurious feeling for any home.

Karlsson Albatross Clock

Present Time says: ‘The Albatross wall clock by Karlsson gets its name from the seabird with

the same name. Of course we have thought this through: both are pretty spectacular! The classic round shape and magnificent hands make this anything but an average clock. The design is the work of designer Ewald Winkelbauer, who plays with cheeky minimalism.’ The Albatross wall clock by Karlsson is available in three colours: black, grey and moss green.

If you want to see the products in person, you are very welcome to visit the company’s showroom in Bourton-on-the-Water. Get in touch to make an appointment soon via uk@presenttime.com.

Call: 01451 700 024

Email: lf@presenttime.com

Visit: http://www.presenttime.com/

New summer flowers

Alexander Thurlow

We love this new Stargazer lily pendant and earring set from Alexander Thurlow. Also available now in orange - and the original white - the sets are part of the company’s evergrowing range of wonderful best-selling designs of uniquely designed flower jewellery.

The Love Flower range is proving to be a huge must-have product for gift shops. Visit Alexander Thurlow’s online shop for more great inspiration or call for more information.

Strut with style

Classic Canes

Thanks to the design talents of specialist Classic Canes, a simple walking stick to help with mobility and balance requirements is elevated to a fashion accessory.

“Stick users need not sacrifice their personal sense of style just because they need a little extra support,” says managing director Charlotte Gillan. “Whether it’s an elegant formal cane or a cheerful patterned one, an attractive walking stick can boost the morale of its user. Ladies in particular enjoy collecting different colours and patterns to match their outfits and can accumulate large wardrobes of canes over time.

“Whenever we launch new designs, such as this jolly strawberries and cream pattern, there is a surge of interest from retailers and their customers keen to have the latest styles.

“They add so much fun to a shop, and we always recommend displaying them beside a full length mirror so that potential customers can appreciate the canes’ effect on their overall appearance.”

Call: 01460 75686

Email: info@classicanes.co.uk

Visit: www.classicanes.co.uk

Chic treats

Joma Jewellery

Joma Jewellery’s new My Moments Collection is the perfect choice for your spring styling needs. This sparkling collection consists of matching bracelets and necklaces in a choice of silver or goldplating, which is ideal for mix-and-match gifting.

The delicate link chain design, captivating mother-of-pearl accents, and corresponding sentiment intricately engraved on the charm make these pieces the chicest treats for any gifting occasion.

From ‘Always and Forever Family’ to ‘Just For You Beautiful Friend’ and ‘Forever Friendship’, there is something for every occasion. So, whether your customers are celebrating a milestone moment, birthday, or self-gifting, this collection is sure to create a lasting impression.

Call: 01295 263430

Email: enquiries@jomajewellery.com

Visit: wholesale.jomajewellery.com

Pretty designs

Joe Davies

Summer is the best time for a jewellery refresh, as your jewellery doesn’t have to compete with winter’s heavy sweaters and warm coats.  Necklace scarves have been stylish for some time now, and their popularity continues this summer.

The Equilibrium Fashion Accessories Collection from Joe Davies embraces this trend with pretty silk-look monochrome designs, ‘crinkle look’ foiled designs, and even popular pastel bee styles - all with sparkly magnetic fasteners. If you’re looking for an opportunity to add a pop of colour to your look, then these playful, feminine necklace scarves are perfect for you. Free nationwide delivery, carriage-paid orders of just £100, and an easy to buy ‘little and often’ ordering system are all hallmarks of Joe Davies’ award-winning service. Add to this one of the largest gift, jewellery and fashion accessories ranges in the industry, and this is a website you will want to check out.

Postcode: SK5 7GA

Call: 0161 975 6300

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

Trendy accessories

Katie Loxton

Discover the new Katie Loxton styles for Spring/ Summer! The Isla Collection takes centre stage this season: a must-have for anyone looking to add trendy and co-ordinated accessories to their wardrobe.

The collection features a selection of practical small accessories, from the Isla Pouch and the Isla Purse to the Isla Coin Purse & Card Holder - all of which match the Isla Crossbody bag perfectly. In addition, the Isla Backpacks are available in both standard and larger sizes, making them a great choice for any occasion.

The latest colourways are sure to stand out in any store display, with soft tan and cloud blue being the stand-out options. With the ability to create full collections where accessories match the bags, the Isla Collection is sure to impress.

Call: 01295 250879

Email: enquiries@katieloxton.com

Visit: wholesale.katieloxton.com

New products

Moonstones and blooms

Joe Davies

Get folding

Exacompta Clairefontaine

Exacompta Clairefontaine has added a comprehensive selection of products to its range of origami papers and kits. The highlight is the Bird Origami Kit, which contains 60 brightly coloured patterned sheets of 70gsm paper in three sizes (10x10cm, 15x15cm and 20x20cm), ready to transform into beautiful birds by scanning the supplied QR code for step-by-step video instructions.

There are four different birds to create - a parrot, hummingbird, peacock and sparrow - across five different coloured designs and three sizes, making a total of 60 birds!

Spring and Autumn themed papers make up the latest releases within the multi-size packs range, which contains 60 patterned sheets of 70gsm paper across the same variation of three sizes.

The 15x15cm packs range has been extended with the addition of four themed packs, including a collection of seasonal designs supplied in Polar Christmas; a mix of delicate blue and white designs with Shibori Floral; subtle flower designs with Romantic; and Krafty Colour, which features simple coloured designs on a kraft background.

Call: 01553 696600 | Email: sales@exaclair.co.uk

Visit: www.exaclairlimited.com

Christmas scents

Henry & Co

Henry & Co has launched four new fragrances for its 2023 Christmas collection. The fragrances join the collection across the range along with a number of sets for this all-important gifting season.

Gingerbread: The fun and familiar aroma of warm and spicy gingerbread rich with nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar, will evoke childhood memories of making gingerbread men and gingerbread houses with the family at Christmas. This is the perfect scent for spreading that festive feeling throughout your home.

Spiced Citrus & Clove: Welcome the scent of Christmas into your home with Spiced Citrus & Clove. This aromatic and spicy fragrance opens with bright citrus notes of orange and lemon, followed by warming, rich notes of spiced cinnamon and clove. This fragrance really is the scent of the season.

Festive Cranberry: A bright and sparkling fruit cocktail of tangy red cranberries, fresh citrus orange and dried apples, blended with the warm and welcoming notes of musk and clove to get you into the party spirit.

White Christmas: Like snow on Christmas morning, this fresh, crisp fragrance will delight the senses. With notes of green pine trees, decorated with aromatic dried oranges and cloves, this classic Christmas fragrance will evoke strong memories of family time spent sitting around the Christmas tree.

Fragrances are available across the collection covering all price points, and new merchandising units offer maximum return on the floor space.

Call: 0333 188 2006 | Email: hello@henryandcompany.co.uk

Visit: www.henryandcofragrance.co.uk

Bring understated elegance to a casual outfit with the stylish Equilibrium Moonstone Collection. Moonstone Jewellery is the ultimate glow enhancer, thanks to its alluring shimmer, and is thought to increase peace, hope and happiness. Choose from an array of necklace, bracelet and earring designs, including the popular tree of life and sunshine as well as more contemporary styles.

Wild Blossom is a new range featuring decorated ceramic gifts. Best-selling shapes such as hanging heart plaques, heart tokens, tealights, mugs and coasters, combined with heartfelt sentiments for Friends, Family, Mum, and Nan, make this collection the perfect choice for home decor and gifts. The design is a colourful array of watercolour spring blooms, bees and butterflies, adorning a cream dimpled textured matt finish ceramic. This new addition to your shop is sure to get the spring season selling off to a great start.

Postcode: SK5 7GA

Call: 0161 975 6300

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk | Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

Lesser & Pavey

A charming way to celebrate the famous landmarks of our capital city, this new souvenir range designed by Lesser & Pavey’s in-house art department is called London Sketch, as the illustrations originate from sketches transformed into a collage of icons.The range includes fine mugs in different sizes and shapes, trays, and a brand new travel cup.

Call: 01322 279225

Email: sales@leonardo.co.uk | Visit: www.leonardo.co.uk

London’s calling Brighten the night

Lemon Salt

Illuminate your home and add a touch of uniqueness with the Neon Bird in a Cage Light. This beautiful self-contained lamp is powered by batteries or USB, making it convenient for any interior. Perfect for adding a white glow to any space, its design captures the spirit of pet birds in traditional neon lighting.

Call: 020 3093 8153

Email contact@lemonsalt.co.uk Visit: www.lemonsalt.co.uk

Focusing on growth

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira (British Independent Retailers Association) shares strategies to survive and thrive in challenging trading circumstances

Anyone involved with retail will say that they are having to deal with the toxic mix of rising business costs and lower sales income. Under these circumstances, it can be difficult to focus on anything other than survival and cutting costs. That would be entirely appropriate. Yet, we also need to look at the possibility of growth in a recession.

Firstly, I would say that business owners have to overcome the fear of a recession - we can all talk ourselves down. Interestingly, in recessions, history tells us that brands with perceived quality and those offering real value do well. Recent Christmas sales figures support this trend, and suggest that businesses caught ‘in the middle’ have done worse. So, focus on quality and value at the same time for a winning combination.

Also, accept instability. The past three years have shown us that change and instability have become the norm for high street businesses. I don’t think businesses can wait for a so-called ‘better time’ to make changes.

Now is the time to be curious and look for new opportunities, even if you don’t feel like it. A positive way is to become part of a like-minded community to share thoughts. The best high streets have all sorts of businesses working together to build something better, both now and for the future.

Next, I would urge indie retailers to try and find new income streams, through new products, new technology, and new markets. This is not easy as it involves risk, but this risk can be

mitigated by sharing ideas with customers, speaking to customers, and simply looking at what’s happening in the retail sector in general.

Technology cannot be ignored. Often technology can be daunting to smaller retailers, yet good use of simple technology can open up new markets and increase your customer base. Technology can also reduce costs and help us work a little bit more efficiently. Free training is available through programmes such as BT Skills for Tomorrow (business.bt.com/why-choose-bt/ skills-for-tomorrow/).

Finally, and I know I’ve said this before, sustainability is still an opportunity. All the research is telling us that shoppers want to spend money with retailers who have good sustainability credentials.

As small retailers, you can make small changes quickly and these will make a difference. Some changes will not be seen by consumers, such as changing to LED light bulbs. But consumers do need to know that you are moving towards a more sustainable business model.

We have been working with a concept called Green Street. It’s early days but the general idea is to create streets/areas that will be known for sustainability. We are continuing to develop this idea.

I genuinely believe that growth can be achieved, and at the very least, platforms can be laid that will make business better in the future. I’m also very aware of the immediate pressures faced by businesses. We continue to lobby the

government for more support to allow indie retailers to adapt and improve. Importantly, the government - like the high street - also has to focus on growth in a recession.

Call: 0800 028 0245

Visit: www.bira.co.uk

“Now is the time to be curious and look for new opportunities”

RETAILERS’ PANEL

Samantha Gibbs Owner Nest

Three stores in Leicestershire: Broughton Astley, Thurlaston, Stoneygate

Did you enjoy your visit to Spring Fair?

I absolutely loved it. I always do - it’s my favourite show of the year. There was some great energy and a buzz in the air. I placed more orders than normal; there was a clear influx of new designs and ideas around, and I would really like to pass them on to our customers.

Did you find what you were looking for?

I was particularly looking for an extra ladies’ accessories range - bags, scarves, and just new girly products that we could have in the stores preMother’s Day. I also wanted to theme some of our Spring ranges so that we have some lovely themed tables full of optimism and positivity. I also had one day when I focused on Christmas, which meant I had to concentrate and think ahead.

What was your stand-out product?

There was more than one, but if I had to pick a category, it would be books and related gifts. Hachette and Bookspeed had some lovely matching products like books and puzzles that tie themes together such as houseplants, female empowerment, meditation and self-care. This season we’ve been able to introduce some gorgeous items that have given us

Claire Hembrough Owner

Strawberry Blue & Collectable

Bradford on Avon Wiltshire

Did you enjoy your visit to Spring Fair?

I had a very enjoyable (but tiring) couple of days visiting stands and connecting with suppliers. I placed quite a few orders with existing suppliers as well as spotting new ones. I also had a chance to be a judge and vote for The Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year 2023 Awards in Hall 5.

Did you find what you were looking for?

I was seeking Spring/Summer product primarily, but I did find some lovely dresses in Moda which I ordered to sit alongside gorgeous kimonos from Powder UK.

amazing colours and trends: positive vibes wrapped up in great products.

Was there anything you didn’t find but would love to see on your shelves?

I would love to see even more bags and scarves, I think there are some huge gaps out there for a new contemporary take on designs. I ordered three new ranges and we are very happy with them and currently awaiting their arrival. However, to stay relevant and to keep up with trends, I think there is huge scope for new ideas.

Nicola Scarff Director

Noah Home & Gift Boutique

Two stores in Glasgow: Silverburn and Braehead

Did you enjoy your visit to Spring Fair?

Spring Fair didn’t disappoint. We had a great time chatting to existing suppliers and meeting new ones. We placed orders with one new supplier and ordered from new ranges of existing suppliers. But we have lots that we are still working through. We came away armed with ideas for future ranges.

Did you find what you were looking for?

We were looking for something new that could be our next best-selling range. The Rosie Made A Thing mugs from Mclaggan Smith could hopefully tick that box. We are looking forward to launching them instore very soon.

What was your stand-out product?

One of the shortlisted companies in the Gift of the Year Awards’ Beauty, Bath & Spa category was Sassy Shop Wax, which makes the most delicious Sassy Shop BathWhipped Soaps. They are also only a stone’s throw away from us in Bristol. I do love supporting local makers.

Was there anything you didn’t find but would love to see on your shelves?

I didn’t source an enormous amount of Christmas but I still put a large order in for September delivery from The Satchville Gift Company on the last day. I’ll top up at Autumn Fair in September… plenty of time yet!

What was your stand-out product?

It has to be the Rosie Made A Thing mugs. They made us giggle and cheered us up - and we’re sure our customers will love them too.

Was there anything you didn’t find but would love to see on your shelves?

No - there was so much on offer at Spring Fair that we were delighted with what we found.

“We came away armed with ideas for future ranges”

“There was some great energy and a buzz in the air”

Retailers share their Spring Fair experiences and reveal what caught their eye, from new suppliers and stand-out products to some surprise finds

“I do love supporting local makers”

Jean Grant Head of Product Management  Find Me a Gift website

Did you enjoy your visit to Spring Fair?

We had a great time. In fact, it was probably one of the best we’ve ever been to. Following the Covid 2021 year, and a quieter than usual event last year, the show was positively buzzing with atmosphere and renewed energy, and full of fresh product innovation and brand new suppliers.

Did you find what you were looking for?

We had quite a specific (and lengthy) ‘shopping list’ of range gaps that we were on the hunt for, as well as covering our core range review as normal. Just a few examples of range gaps that we found lots of inspiration for were Astrology/Horoscope Gifting, Modern Female Novelty Gifts, Pamper Sets, Aromatherapy and Self Gifting.

What was your stand-out product?

It’s very hard to pick just one but I really loved the modern typography Embroidery Kits from Hawthorn Handmade. Since lockdown we’ve seen the home hobbies trend, like craft kits, continue to grow - and these modern kits are the perfect pick-up price and format for our customers, whether buying for a loved one or a self-gift. I love the positive affirmations incorporated into the bold designs and the easy-to-follow instructions.

Was there anything you didn’t find but would love to see on your shelves?

The only gaps we struggled for inspiration on were within our more traditional categories, like Christening and Milestone Age. We have lots of current suppliers who specialise in these categories though, plus our own in-house design team, so where we can’t fill gaps with existing products at trade shows we move on to creating them ourselves. It’s always a fun part of the job, and ensures we can offer exactly what we know our customers want.

Bill Nettelfield & Sarah Charlton

Joint Owners

Bill & Bert’s Colchester

Essex

Did you enjoy your visit to Spring Fair?

Yes, the show was smaller than previous years, easy to get round, and most stands seemed busy.

Did you find what you were looking for?

On the back of a fabulous Christmas and January trading period, we approached Spring Fair with open minds and eyes. We placed several orders with both new and existing suppliers.

What was your stand-out product?

We found a stunning range of handmade skulls from The Blackened Teeth [a family business born in 2018, which designs and hand-makes unique gothic home decor in its South Wales workshop].

Was there anything you didn’t find but would love to see on your shelves?

I think the show covered everything we had been looking for and, having just done Top Drawer, we got off to a great start with orders for 2023.

Laura Cooper Owner

Handmade Design Ashbourne Derbyshire

Did you enjoy your visit to Spring Fair?

We really enjoyed it and found several new suppliers (as well as meeting many of our existing brands). We placed lots of orders for greeting cards as well as candles and wall art prints.

Did you find what you were looking for?

We were looking for new greeting card designers and found a few that are a good fit for our shop.

Was there anything you didn’t find but would love to see on your shelves?

We were on the lookout for guinea pig-themed gifts to add to our range, but this wasn’t something we found at Spring Fair.

Lindsey Scott-Walker Owner

Feather Robins

Duston, Northampton

Did you enjoy your visit to Spring Fair?

I absolutely loved Spring Fair - one day there was not enough. Lesson learned: I will go to Autumn Fair for a few days. I placed a number of orders: some with existing suppliers and a couple with new ones.

Did you find what you were looking for?

Yes, my customers have been asking for keepsake gifts for milestone birthdays. Compton & Clarke has a great range for all occasions, so I ordered pewter ‘age’ hearts and pocket token cards.

What was your stand-out product?

I’m excited to take delivery of an order I placed with Chic Antique. Its ceramic range was stunning and will add a new neutral range to the shop.

Was there anything you didn’t find but would love to see on your shelves?

I found everything and more! I’m looking forward to Autumn Fair, as the shop will have been trading for a year by then, so I will have a better understanding of my customers’ wants and needs.

“I found everything and more!”

“We found a stunning range of handmade skulls”

“The show was full of fresh product innovation and brand new suppliers”