Trade talk

Aylish Ellwood Trade Marketing Manager Enesco

What are your best selling products at the moment?

Experience tells us that when times are challenging, it’s the well known and trusted brands that continue to shine. 2023 is no exception, as Disney Traditions and Willow Tree are continuing to sell through strongly. Through the art of storytelling, both these household names continue to create gift-giving moments which are special and unforgettable. Since March, we have been distributing the Newell brands of Yankee Candle, Woodwick and Chesapeake Bay to the UK market. The reimagined look and feel of Yankee Candle, which is known as the Signature Collection, has been particularly successful for us - again, creating those affordable magic moments.

What lines do you expect to do well over the summer?

Hopefully we will all enjoy some great weather but, come rain or shine, we will certainly see more tourists - both domestic and international - looking to treat themselves with a memorable self-purchase or buying gifts for loved ones. Our great British brand Peter Rabbit is a firm favourite with tourists. Home entertaining is high on the list for many during the summer. With cocktails still a big trend, our new cocktail glasses from Lolita are sure to be a winner. 2023 sees 20th anniversary celebrations for Lolita, as she reintroduces some of her original stylish designs.

Are you exhibiting at any upcoming trade shows?

Yes, trade shows are so important. We’re delighted to be exhibiting once again at Home & Gift in Harrogate. It’s such a fantastic platform to showcase new launches, take Christmas orders, and build on new and existing relationships across the industry in a very relaxed, but productive atmosphere.

The North Yorkshire town is a wonderful setting and geographically perfect for us to meet and greet existing and new customers based in the North of England and Scotland. Harrogate is fun…exactly how giftware should be!

What’s next for your business?

We love nothing more than an event at Enesco. We are delighted to share that in September we will be welcoming back to the UK and Europe the awardwinning artist Jim Shore: the creator behind Disney Traditions, Heartwood Creek and many more much-loved collections.

Jim will be holding meet-and-greet signing events hosted by some of our key retailers. This is very exciting, as Jim has not visited us since 2019 due to the pandemic. Previous events have welcomed dedicated collectors queueing for up to eight hours just so they can share a few memorable moments with the artist behind the figurines they cherish.

Lauren Williams Trade Marketing and Online Manager House of Marbles

What is your bestselling product at the moment?

Rainbow Dancer Ribbon Wand is our best-selling toy, as it encourages imaginative play and creative expression while also promoting physical activity and co-ordination skills. Its vibrant and striking counter display unit comes with a free demonstration ribbon wand, making it perfect for in-store displays.

David Cree Sales Director

Joe Davies

What are your best-selling products at the moment?

Our Village Pottery range continues to go from strength to strength. With nearly 200 items in the collection, across many price points, there is something for every budget. Equilibrium jewellery also continues to perform extremely well with lots of wonderful pieces perfect for summer!

What lines do you expect to do well over summer?

People gravitate towards their gardens as the weather improves, and products that cater to that do well. So for summer, outdoor LED, tealights and planters are trending. Our collection of Suncatchers and fun Bright Metal Plaques of butterflies, dragonflies and other garden creatures are strong sellers. And gin glasses remain popular, with pre-sales of our exclusive licenced Jennifer McAteer going really well. Are you exhibiting at any upcoming trade shows?

We will be exhibiting at both Home & Gift in Harrogate (Stand B66) and Autumn Fair in Birmingham (Stand Hall 7 C30), where we will have around 2,500 new products and our current best sellers on our large stands. Harrogate in particular remains our favourite mix of business and pleasure, and the timing is perfect to secure stock for the busy back-end period.

What’s next for your business?

With China reopening for business, our buying team are looking forward to sourcing lots of exciting new product for our customers, old and new. There’s lots going on at Joe Davies, and we look forward to sharing it all with you over the coming months.

Paul Roberts

Commercial Director

Rachel Ellen Designs

What are your best-selling products at the moment?

Over the past 26 years, Rachel Ellen Designs has offered many wonderful products, but there are some that have stood the test of time and sell as well today as they did when launched many years ago.

Among these are the company’s two most successful children’s stationery lines: its writing set wallets and secret dairies. Other best-selling gifting lines include Rachel Ellen’s beautiful water bottles, colouring books, sticker books, money boxes, stacking tins and of course its wide selection of pens. Launched this year is a range of funky children’s umbrellas which are sure to join the list.

What lines do you expect to do well over summer?

The start of summer marks a noticeable increase in sales of our water bottles. Selling well throughout the year, the combination of warmer weather and more trips, picnics, holidays and activities - as well as back-toschool sales - are all reasons to buy these premium quality bottles featuring Rachel’s distinctive designs, which are always bright and fun. They are available in 23 stunning designs across two formats.

Vanessa Curry Managing Director Best Kept Secrets

What are your best-selling products at the moment?

We redesigned our Just Because range at the end of last year; we knew our customers would love them. However, we’ve been blown away with how well received the new designs have been. They are our best-selling products right now.

The reason for their success is that there is a phrase or saying that is perfect to help celebrate friends, family, and any special occasions. One of our favourite candles is ‘You are my Sunshine’ - such a simple phrase that is sure

Lawrence Savage

UK Marketing Manager

Exacompta Clairefontaine

What are your best-selling products at the moment? Alongside our Clairefontaine premium stationery collections, our luxury notebook brand Rhodia continues to grow. Recently, we’ve experienced an uptake in sales for the Rhodia pencil cases, as well as our Goalbooks, which are perfect for journalling enthusiasts.

Turquoise, sapphire, purple, coral and peacock green are among the most on-trend colours, although our new metallics range is also proving very fashionable, with the gold, bronze and titanium options selling particularly well.

What lines do you expect to do well over summer?

It’s a little-known fact that 70% of people use to-do lists when planning their daily work schedules. When combined with the fact that we are prone to doodle at least four times a week, it’s understandable to see why notepad planners are so popular.

Ideal for these activities, the Mini Planner from Clairefontaine’s Evanescence collection features a handy to-do tick box list and a grid for bullet journalling, plus a separately shaded area for doodling and sketching.

During lockdown, a reported 41% of UK adults declared that writing letters helped boost their mental health. With around two-thirds still stating that handwritten letters are the most meaningful method of receiving communications, we’ve seen a bit of a renaissance with increasing demand for our Pollen branded correspondence sets from Clairefontaine.

What’s next for your business?

Our Rhodia brand is continuing to expand further with a stunning new collection called Orange Botanique, which incorporates a mix of contemporary floral and fabric textured designs across a selection of stylish notebooks and desktop accessories.

Jed Kenrick CEO

Ashleigh & Burwood

What are your best-selling products at the moment?

Ever popular scents - Moroccan Spice and Fresh Linen - in The Scented Home Reed Diffusers continue to be in high demand. In Ashleigh & Burwood Lamp Fragrance, Moroccan Spice is the number one best seller.

to make the recipient feel warm, loved and very special.

As our customers know, colour, sparkles and incredible fragrances are what we do best at Best Kept Secrets.

What lines do you expect to do well over summer?

Surprisingly, sales of candles hold up well during the summer months. Although most people associate lighting candles in homes for the darker winter months, some fragrances work better during the summer.

One way to transform your home into a tropical paradise is through scent, which is why a summer candle is the perfect pick-me-up when the good old British weather is less than ideal. The best-selling fragrances during the summer period are fresh ocean scents or sweet smelling floral blooms.

Are you exhibiting at any upcoming trade shows?

Home & Gift in Harrogate is our favourite trade show. Perhaps because it takes place during the summer, there’s always a more relaxed feel to it. It could be because many visitors add on a few days to spend in this beautiful town. We also find buyers enjoy having time to browse the stands at the fair and to make considered choices before the chaos of autumn and Christmas buying begins. We love meeting new customers and existing ones, as well as being able to show them any new products we have.

What lines do you expect to do well over summer?

Our giant-sized Garden Incense that we reintroduced two years ago has always been a very popular product in the summer months. It’s great to use when enjoying outdoor space to help keep bugs at bay.

Are you exhibiting at any upcoming trade shows?

For Autumn/Winter we’re focusing on the Gift & Home in Dublin and Maison & Objet in Paris to support the export arm of the business.

What’s next for your business?

We’ve got a lot of significant developments planned for our key brands: The Scented Home and Ashleigh & Burwood core. The thought behind this is to create greater distinction between the two brands, ensuring that both will cater fully to a customer’s home fragrance needs.

Gifts For Women

On trend accessories

Joe Davies

The Equilibrium Collection from Joe Davies continues to grow in popularity with up-to-the-minute designs, great quality, luxury branded packaging, and affordable prices all being hallmarks of this successful brand. Add to that the fact that almost all pieces are plated with real gold or silver, and this is a collection not to be underestimated.

While gold-plated jewellery is still a strong choice, more and more models are accessorising with silver jewellery, which is right on trend for 2023. Whichever your preference, there are a multitude of stunning Equilibrium pieces to choose from and for those with a modern style, mixing silver and gold pieces is a great way to express yourself and add a bit of diversity to your outfit.

Talking of accessories, who wants to carry a heavy handbag when it’s hot outside? Phone bags are this summer’s hottest trend for holding your essentials. The Equilibrium Fashion Accessories Collection has a whole range of phone bags including pastel and natural-coloured options which are the perfect way to accessorise a summer look. These useful crossbody bags fit a phone, a credit card and little else… so, this summer, go ‘hands-free’ with a stylish Equilibrium crossbody phone bag!

Joe Davies has a reputation for award-winning customer service and a great range of gifts, jewellery and fashion accessories. It specialises in supplying independent retailers with its trademark ‘little and often’ quantities, with a minimum order value of just £100 and free nationwide delivery.

Call: 0161 975 6300

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

Strike a pose!

Classic Canes

Walking stick specialist Classic Canes is well-known for its fashionable and pretty walking sticks for women. Managing director Charlotte Gillan explains: “We think walking sticks should be fashion accessories just as much as they are mobility aids. An attractive cane can be a real morale booster to its owner and so naturally makes a practical and attractive present that the giver knows will be useful.”

Classic Canes’ patterned sticks and folding canes are height-adjustable, so it is easy to ensure they will fit the recipients. Available in a huge range of colours and patterns - from the discreet to the flamboyant - there is a cane to suit every outfit and every personality.

There is no age limit to using fashion accessories, and they certainly don’t need to be limited to the able-bodied either. Classic Canes knows that an elegant cane is a great finishing touch to an outfit.

“The right cane can really pull an ensemble together,” says Charlotte. “We are very selective about the colours used in our patterns so that they can harmonise with different clothes. For example, a simple floral pattern on a black background can be worn with black trousers and various different colours of top to pick out petal or leaf colours in the pattern. With the cane to provide the link between the black and the colour, the overall look is enhanced because of the use of the cane.

“They are also great for striking poses, adding authority, and elongating the line, which is why they are ideal for leading the eye around a window display: those strong diagonals are a window-dresser’s dream.”

Call: 01460 75686 | Email: info@classiccanes.co.uk

Visit: www.classiccanes.co.uk