Gifts Today October 2022

Christmas Bree Merr yn

Herb Garden Collection

Woolly Sheep

Message from the Editor

The nights are drawing in, and winter is on its way, which means the gift industry is gearing up for its busiest period. Halloween is coming soon, followed shortly by Bonfire Night, and ten days later it’s Black Friday and Cyber Weekend which, in recent years, have marked the peak of the Christmas shopping season.

But according to eBay Ads UK’s annual Christmas Spend Trends report, the impact of inflation means consumers are prioritising value for money this year and are planning to be more organised. The research, which surveyed 2,010 UK consumers, found that a third of them were aiming to start their Christmas shopping earlier than last year. Three in ten (30%) said they intend to buy functional gifts and almost a quarter (23%) will buy essential items for presents, suggesting a preference for gifts that are useful at a time when many Brits are struggling to afford everyday items.

Speaking to indies for our Retailers’ Panel, it certainly seems that shoppers have started their Christmas gift purchasing much sooner than usual. Another common theme is that in the face of cost-of-living pressures, consumers are being more cautious.

Corinne Taylor, director of Inside Paradise at Nantwich in Cheshire, has noticed that people are “definitely starting to think about Christmas and buying earlier to spread the cost. They are not as impulsive, and sometimes need time to think about products - and hopefully come back and buy! The key is to offer as much information as possible,” she says.

Jen Wells and Sarah Killick, directors of A Little Mooch at Allestree in Derby, also predict that this period of economic uncertainty may influence spending. They believe people will still want to buy gifts, “just maybe at not as high a price. Or they may even club together to buy one bigger gift with others. So we will continue to ensure that we have something for all budgets”.

Our columnist Elaine Hooper, co-founder and director of Retail Consulting100, agrees. More so than ever, shoppers will be very conscious of

budgets this Christmas, she says, so retailers need to find ways to ensure customers feel inspired and reassured that they have bought the perfect gifts that recipients will love.

In this issue, you will find plenty of tips and tactics to help you grow sales in the Golden Quarter. For example, Elaine suggests that with the increase in energy prices, people may be turning down the thermostat. So a theme of ‘Beat The Chill’ may be evident this winter. But, she stresses, such gifting doesn’t need to be boring. Think weighted blankets, beautiful knitted bed socks (or kits to knit your own), spa bath robes, and gorgeous cosy slippers.

Her view is confirmed by members of our Trade Talk panel. Joe Davies managing director Paul Hooker says there is already a huge demand for his company’s snoozies! super soft fleece lined slippers, which are selling well and are starting to repeat already, and he predicts Joe Davies’ Hoodzie oversized fleece blankets will sell out.

Meanwhile, Personalised Memento Company sales and marketing director Keren Dicken expects to see a rise in the firm’s personalised LED gifts such as lanterns, candles and glass jars “as these create a cosy atmosphere while not using any electricity, when the weather turns colder”.

Ashleigh & Burwood managing director Andrew Nettleton adds: “As we’re facing a winter that may feel more gloomy than usual, it seems likely that candles - as well as many other products that improve home ambience and provide cheer - will be among the strongest performers for retailers.”

So, how is trading for you with the current economic state-of-play - and how are you preparing to reap the benefits of the peak season? I’d love to hear your views. If you’d like to share your story, please get in touch at clare@ lemapublishing.co.uk or connect with me on LinkedIn. I look forward to hearing from you.

Clare Turner, Editor clare@lemapublishing.co.uk

The views of the contributors expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher. Comments, letters and criticism are welcome.

‘According to eBay Ads UK’s annual Christmas Spend Trends report, the impact of inflation means consumers are prioritising value for money this festive season and are planning to be more organised’

Harrogate Christmas & Gift

Autumn Fair ends on a high

Attracting thousands of visitors, Autumn Fair 2022 ended on a high, with a focus on collaboration, community, and conscious retailing.

The four-day show, which took place from September 4 to September 7 at NEC Birmingham, offered retailers a space to meet, reconnect, network and source, as well as learn about sustainability.

Buyers were able to view millions of new products, showcased by hundreds of exhibitors, including gifts, homeware, décor, greeting cards, stationery, Christmas, beauty and wellbeing, womenswear, fashion accessories, jewellery and footwear.

Attendees included representatives from John Lewis, Fenwick, Fishpools, Marks & Spencer, T.K. Maxx, Wayfair, Dunelm, Next, Pretty Little Thing, Paperchase, Hallmark, Rymans, Blue Diamond, Dobbies, Chester Zoo, The Science Museum, Kew

Gardens, The Works, The Hut Group, Homebase, Mint Velvet, The Dressing Room, Pamela Shiffer, and Between the Lines.

On the final day of the show, Autumn Fair portfolio director Nicola Meadows commented: “There has been so much to celebrate at Autumn Fair, and as the doors close today, I feel immensely humbled by the response from our community and the passion, drive, and enthusiasm to work together to refuel retail and work towards a better, more responsible and kinder way of doing business. I’m very excited to look ahead to Spring Fair and deliver another memorable show for the home, gift, fashion, and sourcing markets.”

Spring Fair takes place from February 5 to February 8 at NEC Birmingham. Visit https://www.springfair.com/ for more information.

Lesser & Pavey remembers Her Majesty

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is being remembered by Lesser & Pavey’s new range of quality items released through the brand name Royal Heritage.

Successful season boosts Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn

Tourism in Scotland has begun to bounce back strongly with foreign visitors returning this summer, bringing much needed business to shops and attractions.

Following this successful season, Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn provided a welcome chance for retailers to seek new products and network with suppliers. The show took place at the SEC in Glasgow from September 17 to September 18.

Having been brought forward by a day to accommodate the Queen’s funeral, the event still attracted attendees keen to re-stock and re-order. Although visitor numbers were below prepandemic levels, exhibitors said ordering was good and ahead of last year.

The Launch Gallery for new suppliers was as usual a mecca for buyers seeking new products and ideas. Companies such as Christine Gilbert Art, Fiona Matheson Studio, Lin Pin Crafts, Little Paper Soul cards, 1874 Works and Flow Glass exhibited for the first time.

Show Director Mark Saunders said: “Business was brisk following a good summer season and the autumn should follow suit. Despite the challenges facing the economy, there is still strong demand for good quality giftware, which we witnessed over the two days.”

Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring will be held at the SEC in Glasgow from January 22 to January 24.

The commemorative collection includes a fine cup and saucer, mugs, trays, plates, a keyring, place and coaster mats, a spoon rest and gift sets.  Each item is beautifully packaged to reflect the contents.

The company’s in-house design team put together the range in celebration of the Queen’s reign, depicting her from April 21 1926 to September 8 2022. Orders are being taken now. Limited stock will be available with delivery in November.

Selfridges launches biggest ever Christmas Shop

Selfridges launched its biggest Christmas Shop to date (20% larger than last year) on October 3, in a dedicated new destination on the fourth floor of the department store group’s Oxford Street flagship.

The Christmas Shop also opened on the same day at Selfridges’ Manchester and Birmingham stores. For 2022, it has been imagined as a ‘magical and immersive place’ where visitors are invited to spend time savouring the festive experience and choose ornaments that are special to them.

The Shop offers curated decorations, lighting, ornaments, advent calendars, gift wrap and cards, alongside personalisation services. Customers can explore more than 1,200 pick and mix baubles (35% more than in 2021). Half of the decorations are exclusive to Selfridges and can’t be found anywhere else in the UK - and 60% are ‘Project Earth’ labelled as being more planet-friendly options.

The retailer reported that Christmas related searches at Selfridges.com have significantly risen on 2021, with Christmas decorations up 60%, crackers +25%, Christmas tableware +30%, advent calendars +350%, lights and trees +138%, and Christmas wrapping paper +69%.

As well as offering more planet-friendly choices than ever before, the Christmas Shop has been built with sustainability in mind, reusing baubles from previous displays in-store both for bauble walls and recycled into tabletops, giving them gold, red and silver flecks.

Image is the design not the final product.

Photograph: courtesy of Selfridges

Hand poured indulgent luxury

Marmalade of London is a British brand that creates a little indulgent luxury for every home

Marmalade of London has a passion for fragrance and design, which is seen in its contemporary packaging. Fragrance is very personal, and different scents can remind us of a person, a place, or a moment in time, so Marmalade of London has created its fragrances to suit different tastes.

All the brand’s products are made in Britain. The candles are poured by hand and made of 100% soy wax with cotton wicks and essential oils, while the bath and body ranges contain natural ingredients including shea butter, vitamin E and aloe vera.

Founders Piers and Helen Flook, who are managing director and sales director respectively, said: “The nearest we get to animal testing is our family black labrador cross Pepper, who accompanies us to work and sniffs the occasional candle or reed diffuser. She seems to approve. Marmalade of London has an amazing team of staff who share our passion.”

A busy year 2022 has been another busy year for the team. UK sales have remained strong, with an increase in new customer account openings.

Marmalade has also opened two new permanent showrooms in North America. In January Las Vegas made its debut, followed by Toronto in August. These join existing U.S. showrooms in Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

During a transatlantic visit earlier this year, Piers and Helen attended the new showrooms - and worked trade shows including Las Vegas Market - alongside their 100-strong team of US and Canadian sales reps. The couple reported that “the showrooms were very busy and there was a sense that everything is opening back up after the years of Covid-enforced closures”.

After Las Vegas Market they tagged on a road trip through Nevada, Utah and Arizona, visiting The Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam and Zion National Park. They also managed to spend a couple of evenings with their reps enjoying the bustling casinos and restaurants along the Las Vegas Strip.

Marmalade’s exports have grown alongside UK sales this year, with more than 100 new stockists across North America including five in the Caribbean in January, and an additional 10 in the islands in the summer.

Next year, Piers and Helen are looking forward to spending more time out and

about in the UK and overseas, supporting existing and new customers.

Eco-friendly factory

Marmalade’s new eco-friendly factory and product development centre at Cheltenham in the heart of the Cotswolds is ready for solar panels to be installed on the roof. All the company’s forklifts, stacker trucks and cars are now running on electric power. The firm has also replaced plastic packing tape with new water-activated fully biodegradable gummed paper tape.

In terms of products, the new refillable glass

range of hand & body washes has expanded to include hand and body lotions. The current fragrance choices of Bergamot & Soft Rose, Pink Pepper & Plum, and Pacific Orchid & Sea Salt have increased to include Prosecco & Juniper. Plus, a range of room sprays is also now available.

Onwards and upwards

Moving forward, 2023 is already looking busy. There are new product launches planned for Spring Fair 2023 at NEC Birmingham, including a new Marmalade Ceramic Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser and a new range of glass votives.

In the UK, a range of new point-of-sale furniture and fixtures will be available for retailers to update their Marmalade displays.

2023 will also see the completion and fit-out of the Marmalade Fragrance Library & Studio, which will become the new home to the company’s extensive library of essential oils and fragrances.

Piers and Helen explained: “It will be a beautiful new fragrance design environment. There will be a complete fragrance library, alongside a fully stocked cocktail bar and wine room, creating the perfect environment for designing new fragrances and a more intimate space for greater engagement with visiting retail customers.”

The pair wanted to create a welcoming space that reflected their love and passion for their brand and products, and a place to meet customers in a more social setting and enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine. Cheltenham hosts festivals for literature, jazz, food, and of course the Gold Cup horse race. So the couple are looking forward to inviting customers to join them over the coming years for an equal mixture of business and pleasure.

Finally, 2023 will see the launch of Marmalade’s new lifestyle photoshoots and brand-new website. There will be a campaign with key social media influencers, targeted at helping Marmalade stockists get greater traffic into their stores and to their websites.

Call:

Email: hello@marmaladeoflondon.com

“2023 will see the completion and fitout of the Marmalade Fragrance Library & Studio”

Diary of a gift shop

As most small businesses approach the coming season with some trepidation and anxiety, we are going to have to dig even deeper into our creative pockets to create a little bit of theatre to cut through the dark clouds circling the high street.

One comment I’ve heard a lot over the past few years is that high streets need to become more experiential. I truly believe that most small businesses that have a front window already create a little bit of theatre with every window display they design. As budgets are squeezed and consumer confidence is shaken, the total experience we offerfrom the moment a customer spies our window until a purchase is made - will become even more important.

For high street businesses, this starts with a striking and engaging window (and a clean one!). When I started my retail journey many moons ago, I remember watching the BBC TV

series Mary, Queen of Shops, presented by retail consultant Mary Portas. In each programme, she parachuted into struggling high street shops in an attempt to help turn their fortunes around. I was always struck by how much emphasis was placed on the front window. It’s the window into your world, and your window cleaner should be your greatest ally!

So, what’s the plan for my window in the season ahead? Preparations started in January when I outlined the window themes for the year. This was only a guide, and it helped with the buying cycle. Inevitably there have been some changes to the plan, but unused ideas have been banked for another time; ideas are never wasted.

We launched our first seasonal window for autumn in the first week of September with a splash of colour, celebrating late summer flowers. Mindful of the cost of living, we showcased products that were relatively inexpensive such as cards, tea towels, and small vases. Our displays of fresh flowers were a talking point, giving ideas to

customers on how to display their own garden flowers more creatively. The window also featured a local artist and local flower grower. It was promoted on Instagram, and collaborating with other local businesses gave us a wider reach on social media.

Why not use your window to mark a milestone? Our businesses are as much about people as they are about products. I celebrate 15 years on the high street in November and we’re full steam ahead to mark the occasion, with a window featuring many of the local artists we stock in-store. We plan to include some specially commissioned products and host a series of events and giveaways, as a thank you to customers who have supported me over the years, through one recession, a pandemic and possibly another looming crisis! It will also make a good story for the local press and social media.

While Halloween is not a celebration I get involved with traditionally, it’s an opportunity to commemorate the season. And we will be showcasing autumnal, Hygge-related products to create an air of cosiness as we approach the darker colder months, with candles, socks and knitwear as the focal point in the window. We are going to try and use some real pumpkins as vases: a fun idea, combining ideas and products that customers can try at home - and another great talking point.

So, onto Christmas. Start planning early. Remember, this window may be one of the longest-serving and important of the year. The challenge is to make people smile. Have feel-good, affordable items, be inviting, create some nostalgia, and again, be a talking point. We’re aiming for a Scandi-themed forest

with lots of lights. Watch this space or at least Instagram @shoploveone.

Loveone is part of an active community of businesses: The Saints Ipswich Community Interest Company, which was set up a few years ago to deliver marketing and operate local street markets. This season, we’re planning a Festive Market and a Christmas window competition. We will be encouraging all our businesses to take part, to create a trail for the public and offer entry to a free prize draw. I believe this will encourage visitors to the area and help them discover great independent businesses along the way - and see an experiential high street in action.

I won’t deny this has the potential to be a challenging season. But, by creating a little bit of theatre, I believe we can maximise our chances of a good season ahead. So, get creative, deck those hallsand don’t forget the window cleaner!

Cathy Frost, owner of Loveone gift shop in Ipswich, is getting creative this season with some special shop window displays

“By creating a little bit of theatre, I believe we can maximise our chances of a good season ahead”

Let’s talk about… sustainable buying

Bryony Taylor-Edwards, head of brand and home, gift, food and toy buyer at Yarnton Home and Garden in Oxfordshire, is trying to seek eco alternatives to everyday products

Yes, I know it’s only October, but if you are anything like me, the Christmas shopping has started. Well, in truth only in my head but still, that’s a start. In gift buying, Christmas shopping started in January, when all our orders were placed. Buying nearly a year in advance is a tricky business, especially when consumer trends are often short and sweet, and the retail world continues to be volatile.

One thing I do know for certain is that the environment is, and will continue to remain, high on everyone’s agenda. How can it not? In fact, it must! I also know we are all waiting for someone to take the lead, to be the guiding star, to show us the way. Should it be the government? Should it be business? And if so, where in the supply chain? Should it come from consumer pressure? My take: let’s stop waiting, stop feeling gloomy, and start acting in our own lives and in our businesses too.

At Yarnton Home and Garden we are not perfect. In fact, we still have a long road to travel on the sustainability front. But where we can, we are trying to seek eco alternatives to everyday products - and that includes gifts. We want our customers to know they can have an ecoChristmas if they choose, and we will do all we can to enable that to happen.

So, I want to share with you gift ideas that consider the environment, but will still deliver colour and joy, as every good Christmas present should. Oh, and if you’re wondering what to get me, any of the following suggestions will do!

VENT for change

Everyone needs a nice notebook and pen, and these truly sustainable stationery products come with a colour pop to boot. All are made from recycled materials such as coffee beans, kiwi, and cherries (yes, really!), and FSC-certified paper. What’s more, this amazing company supports children’s educational projects worldwide.

Swole Panda

The dynamic duo that runs this business have made it their mission to have the smallest possible footprint on the environment and have a positive impact on the workers throughout their manufacturing process. There is so much information on their website regarding the sustainable journey; it’s a brilliant read. But more to the point, why are they fab gifts? Aside from their eco credentials, the belts and socks in this range are big on colour and even bigger on comfort. Our customers love them, and I’m sure you will too.

LIGA

Now, I must let you in on this little gem of a range from LIGA called Beach Clean. In it, you will find notepads, tealight holders, and placemats. These products are made from natural cork and recycled food-safe EVA plastics. They have been warmly received by our customers, so should be firmly on the Christmas list.

Ocean Plastic Pots

When gifting a pot, I insist on putting a plant in the pot. I believe a plant is one of the nicest gifts to give and receive.  And when it’s offered in an Ocean Plastic Pot, you are giving a gift back to our seas. Ocean Plastic Pots are made using recycled rope and fishing nets that would otherwise have been plastic pollution.

ROKA

A mini ROKA bag made from recycled plastic is just the ticket. Plus, there’s a colour option for everyone. I challenge you not to like these nifty little carriers. And it’s not a one-sizefits-all affair: they have mini bags, crossbody bags and larger typesall glorious.

Eco Wrap

VENT for change

That’s a wrap folks. Well actually, not quite. What’s the point of all those eco gifts if you let yourself down at the wrapping stage? This is where Eco

Wrap comes in. A fully sustainable gift-wrapping range, Eco Wrap even has eco tape. There are really no excuses. So, keep that gifting going, but do it with some thought.

Photos: Clive Rose

LIGA

ROKA

Ocean Plastic Pots

Eco Wrap

Challenges and opportunities

Bira first raised the issue of business rates in October 2021 and has been pushing the government to take action since. We have been listened to, and have put forward various proposals, and we’re hopeful that something positive will be done - especially with the new Prime Minister Liz Truss in post.

In a statement to parliament within the first week of taking office, she promised an energy support package for six months which would provide ‘equivalent support’ to businesses for gas and electricity bills, which  we finally got clarification on a few weeks later and which has been welcomed by all.

This time last year, we were all running our businesses with a degree of freedom, having left all the Covid restrictions behind us. While retail was still a challenge, we could look ahead with more optimism, believing the worst was behind us.

Three top tips

1. If you have not introduced energy saving measures, do so now. At the very least, move to LED lightbulbs.

2. There has been too much apathy on contract renewals. All too often small businesses don’t look at the contract renewal for energy or other business costs such as insurance and card processing. So opportunities to obtain better deals are missed. This is where Bira and our service providers can help, as we do the hard work for you - you simply need to tell us what you want to know.

3. Stock management is crucial.

One year on, and retailers are now facing their biggest challenge, which is even more daunting than the Covid period. The current economic crisis is a toxic mix of high inflation, rising costs, higher wages, diminished consumer confidence and, ultimately, reduced spending on the high street.

We are already starting to see the impact with reduced footfall and lower retail sales. I’m pleased to say the clothing sector (especially wedding attire and holiday outfits) has done better than most, but in general we’re seeing consumers start to be more selective with how and where they spend their money.

The differences for retailers between this economic crisis and Covid are the lack of demand (Covid may have closed your shop, but there was demand when you opened) and government support. During Covid the government was quick to respond - something we all appreciated. This time around, there’s no mention of finding ways of helping high street retailers through this.

Guidance since the announcement by the government has been frustratingly slow. For the past 18 months we have been warning ministers and government departments about supply chain inflation being much higher than consumer inflation.

Since last October we have been warning them about the impact of rising energy costs, as our members were telling us then that their energy bills were increasing by 300%. I’m afraid that both the government and the Bank of England have been too slow to respond, and now they run the risk of doing too little too late.

Last October, prior to the budget, we asked the Chancellor to not increase business rates, due to the rising energy costs faced by independent retailers. We were ignored at the time, and now we are pushing for the type of action taken during Covid by reversing the increase in rates announced last April. We shall continue pushing the Prime Minister about the problems faced by retailers, and the actions

that could help high streets.

However the guidance we have now received on energy bills, which has promised that businesses will have a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices, is welcome. This is to be applied to fixed contracts agreed on, or after, April 1 2022. It will also apply to energy usage from October 1 until March 31 2023 and will run for a period of six months. Savings will first be seen in October bills and will be automatically applied to bills.

We are still pushing for 100% relief on business rates for the current tax year, and fiscal stimulation to create demand by reducing VAT. And in the longer term, a complete overhaul of the tax system (including business rates) so that tax is truly proportionate to the affordability of the business.

As well as government support, retailers have to learn from this crisis. All contracts for business services need reviewing, from energy to insurance. Yes, time is short. But if you contact Bira we can do the hard work for you, as we already work with trusted service providers.

When I write about high streets and independent retailers, I try to be positive as there is much to be proud of. There are still the ongoing opportunities of local shopping, social media engagement and sustainability. Retailers are known for their resilience, creativity and determination.  They will need all these characteristics and more to survive this latest challenge.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira (British Independent Retailers Association), discusses the costs of being in business and highlights key issues that he believes need to be addressed

“Retailers are known for their resilience, creativity and determination”

Mary Portas on…

Retail consultant Mary Portas gives an insider’s guide to the future of shopping

built on respect and collaboration and built around communities.

On Covid

On The Kindness Economy

My belief system has always been: how can we create a better and more beautiful world? Back in my early days [as creative director] at Harvey Nichols, I never thought I was selling stuff. I just thought: how can I make this a place where people want to be and enjoy themselves - and then the by-product is that they buy.

I’ve changed my business completely so that I’m working with brands and businesses and saying: how can you be better? How can you make successful businesses that create social progress and give back, to create a symbiosis between people and your businesses?

The Kindness Economy is about understanding how we all want to live and creating a new power that’s

We’ve had two seismic changes in the world. First, we had the pandemic. Now we’re recovering from it, and suddenly we’ve been hit by the cost of living and energy crisis. I’m hoping we will start to see communities and businesses coming together to make change happen because we cannot rely on central government. What the pandemic gave us was a real insight of how that could work: we’ve seen a growth in ‘local’, and a growth in entrepreneurship and people starting their own businesses. We’re also seeing a growth in recycling and upcycling, and I think we’re going to see more collaborative business models like that.

On shop vacancies

I’m sad when I see [vacant] stores like little empty teeth in a mouth on the high street. But what memo did those businesses not get? How come Selfridges and Liberty knew how to succeed? Those days of ‘I’m just going to sell the same s**t as anyone else but maybe a bit lower, and then I’m making my own brand’ are gone, and those businesses were quite frankly boring. But here’s my hope:

what I’m seeing come out is better. It’s less retail but it’s better retail. It’s more creative and innovative - and it’s got soul at the heart of it because retailers are taking the risk because they believe in it.

On SMEs

Let’s get behind the SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises]. They are going to be the future and if we can get the government to open their eyes, and local governments putting in social infrastructures that save these places… That’s what came out of Covid. We said we want to go ‘local’. We need this, and the government needs to realise it, because everywhere else is looking at 15-minute cities and asking: how can we create places where you can cycle or walk to get all your needs?

On creating a retail destination

I think there’s a future for what I call concept shops or ‘micro little’ where it’s not just a shop, it’s a taste level that says: I’m going to share. This is my taste and I’m going to edit and curate for your home, your fashion and some lovely gifts. People can go online but they’ll want to come to your shop to hear your opinion, see what’s new, and connect with others. So, the more you can create

that ambience with some really lovely touch points - and do in-store what you can’t do online - the more you turn the volume up from that. If a lot of your customers have small children, perhaps put in a play area or have a small gift section for kids, so every time there’s a birthday party, mothers are going to run in - and oh, by the way, they’re going to pass that dress and pass that lovely gift which might stop them on the way.

On pricing

It depends on what your margins are like. My instinct would be to play it by ear and do little random acts of kindness. Chat to customers and if you think that their decision to buy is going to be ‘I can’t afford it, but if you drop 10-20% I could’ and you’re still making money, do it.

And here’s the thing: whenever new restaurants have a soft opening and say, ‘pay what you think it’s worth’, everybody at least pays 10% more, because we are just generous. So when you allow people to be generous, they become really generous, you know?

• Mary Portas was in conversation with Mark Faithfull, Editor of World Retail Congress, at Autumn Fair.

Gifting during times of economic uncertainty

This year, Black Friday will be hugely important, as customers will need to find ways to make their budget stretch further, so they may be more organised than usual. Make sure you are well set for this event with stock at a variety of price points which are called out clearly in-store and online, with savings made obvious.

Homemade

Homemade gifts are set to be really popular this Christmas and are very well received, as the recipients know that love and time have been spent on the presents. So ideas to support this theme should be displayed in early November, to inspire customers to get creative.

Obvious products are items that add a final flourish to the homemade gift. So cake tins, beautiful jars, ribbons, and frames to surround a family photograph or a child’s drawing.

These types of products can all be grouped under a theme of  ‘Creating the perfect Christmas gift to give’.

Customers will be sticking to budgets, so display products online and in-store with really obvious price points of £5, £10, and so on - and make it easy for them to shop

Hampers

People like to give a present that they feel is a lovely treat but is deemed

to be ‘useful’, so hampers of food, drinks, or candles, are historically real winners in times of recession.

Offering the option to ‘build your own hamper’ so customers can work to a budget and include an assortment of gifts is a great idea.

Encourage this with empty hampers and a selection of items that can be used to fill them.

Body Beautiful

Bath, body and beauty products are always popular gifts, especially if you know the brands that the recipient uses. So merchandise beauty coffrets together at varied price pointsthey really represent good value for money.

Beat the Chill

With the increase in energy prices, people may be turning down the

thermostat. So a theme of ‘Beat the Chill’ may be evident this winter. But gifting doesn’t need to be boring. Think weighted blankets, beautiful knitted bed socks (or kits to knit your own), spa bath robes, and gorgeous cosy slippers.

Charity

Charitable giving is important, especially now. So consider introducing a ‘buy a gift, give a gift’ initiative, where customers buy one item and then buy another to pass on to your business’ chosen charity.

Experiences

Gift experiences will be incredibly well received, as spending on ‘self treats’ will be compromised, so give the gift of afternoon tea, a beauty/spa experience, or a family day out. Ensure you publicise your gift experiences

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

in-store and promote the participating company that you have partnered with to offer this type of gift.

Wish list

Families may be reducing their individual Christmas gifting budgets and clubbing together with other family members and friends to buy a recipient one gift that they really desire. So ensure you offer a wishlist service/facilities online or in-store and share this idea with your customers. This will guarantee that gifts which are slightly more expensive are still considered.

While recipients may end up only opening one gift, if it’s something that might not be within their own budgets to buy for themselves, then it really will be a fantastic Christmas present.

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

More so than ever, customers will be very conscious of budgets this Christmas. So retailers need to find ways to ensure customers feel inspired and reassured that they have bought the perfect gifts that recipients will love, says Retail100 Consulting director and co-founder Elaine Hooper

Fragranced Gifts

Eau

Lovely…

Enesco

Eau Lovely is a collection built to encourage people to live their happiest, most positive lives possible. Designed by Rachel McCann in Dublin, the collection consists of a selection of fragrant candles and reed diffusers. An ambassador for positivity, Rachel is a trained perfumier, having learned her craft in Paris.

Presented in a beautiful glass container, candles in the new collection include Eau So Amazing Candle, Eau So Relaxed Candle, Eau So Loved Candle, Eau So Grateful Candle, Eau So Special Candle and Eau So Calm Candle. Each candle is made from natural soy wax and features a corresponding gemstone to strengthen the message of protection, relaxation, love, healing and strength.

To complement the candles, Rachel has also launched two glass-bottled reed diffusers using luxurious essential oils, including the Eau So Lovely Relaxed Reed Diffuser featuring scents of lavender and lemon zest, and the Eau So Lovely Loved Reed Diffuser, with sweet smells of wilted rose, lemon and fresh garden herbs.

Both the Eau So Lovely Candles and Eau So Lovely Reed Diffusers come in sustainable packaging with positive affirmations detailed on the front that anyone can relate to. Pieces in the Eau Lovely collection make wonderful gifts or self-purchases for those with a passion for wellness.

Call: 01228 404022 | Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk

Visit: www.enesco.co.uk

Home of the Natural Candle

Heaven Scent

Heaven Scent boasts not only a private label service, but a long heritage in producing sustainable candles. It created an alternative to the paraffin candle nearly 30 years ago in an attempt to sell a more sustainable product, using vegan ingredients and keeping packaging to a minimum. The company is proud to still be offering a product that stands up in today’s environment.

All the ingredients that Heaven Scent sources for its candles, reed diffusers, incense and body products are wholly transparent, and the firm updates its ingredients regularly in line with legal requirements.

Heaven Scent said: ‘We work hard to remove certain allergens or ingredients that are deemed

to be no longer fit to be burning in a candle or using in our body products. Our labelling system is robust, making sure that our customers know exactly what is in their candle.’

The firm offers this service free when working with private label clients. For more information, email the company at contact@heavenscent.co.uk or call 01225 868788.

Call: 01225 868788

Email: contact@heavenscent.co.uk

Visit: www.heavenscent.co.uk

From the ex perts in home fragrance, introducing:

mood boosting aromatherapy

Cand les and reed di users avai lable in seven essential life fragrances containing natural ingredients and essential oils, to restore emotional balance and enhance a sense of wellbeing.

Proudly designed and made in the UK by Wax Lyrical. For further information please contac t Wax Lyrical on 01229 461100

A trio of winter

warmers

Ashleigh & Burwood

Cuddle up this season with three beautifully evocative UK-made fragrances joining Ashleigh & Burwood’s signature Lamp Fragrances and The Scented Home collection.

The trio of new scents - Smoked Chilli, Cashmere Blankets and Cocoa Forest - can be found in Reed Diffusers and Refills from The Scented Home collection, as well as Ashleigh & Burwood Lamp Fragrance in 250ml and 500ml sizes. The new Lamp Fragrances can be used with Ashleigh & Burwood’s Fragrance Lamps: the popular, innovative home fragrance solution that the company is well known for, which purifies the air while fragrancing.

Customers know they can rely on the quality and value of Ashleigh & Burwood products and fragrances, and these redolent scents provide an affordable way to inject warmth into homes this winter. With comforting notes at their heart, Smoked Chilli, Cashmere Blankets and Cocoa Forest are perfect for keeping homes feeling cosy during

the colder seasons and beyond.

Smoked Chilli spices up the home with its fragrant, fiery blend. Warm smoked chilli gives an aromatic edge to notes of exotic pink pepper, uplifting incense and glowing amber.

Cashmere Blankets is as cosy and comforting as the softest of blankets. The soothing scents of light, floral bergamot and creamy coconut are warmed by base notes of sweet vanilla and powdery musk.

Lastly, Cocoa Forest indulges the senses with intriguing notes of luxury. Rich cocoa blends with subtle cinnamon spice and delicate soft woods to create a treat for the home.

Call: 01932 267060 | Email: COT@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

Visit: www.ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

Festive aromas

Love Country

Love Country has released a Luxury Winter Fragrance Collection including beautifully illustrated tin candles, mini 50ml room sprays, fragranced sachets and botanical-infused wax melts. The range is handpoured using the finest festive oils and fragrances to scent homes through the season. The products are very competitively priced and environmentallyfriendly with fully recyclable packaging

The company has also launched a collection of hand creams and lip balms featuring its popular il lustrations, making these ideal stocking fillers. The items are vegan-friendly, fully recyclable and made of all natural ingredients.

Call: 01502 507352

Email: support@lovecountryuk.co.uk

Visit: www.lovecountryuk.co.uk

Sparkling snowflakes

Trade talk

Paul Hooker Managing Director

Joe Davies

With household budgets under pressure, have you noticed a trend in demand for lower cost, better value for money items?

It’s not all about lower cost. There is demand for great quality, innovative products with that special X factor at the right price. Retailers also look to maintain stock control in a tougher trading environment, jumping on the winners and having the stock they need when they need it.

Our trademark ‘little and often’ order system has been perfect for our customers this year. We are all in it together, and our priority is to make sure we keep prices as low as possible and keep stock levels good as we go into the busy season.

With the soar in energy bills, do you predict a growth in demand for ‘winter warmer’ gifts?

There is already a huge demand. Our snoozies! range of super soft fleece lined slippers are selling well and are starting to repeat already. Our Nuzzles socks have had a brilliant year, and our Hoodzie oversized fleece blankets will sell out. One of our strongest areas of growth is in our boxed

Keith Edmondson Joint Managing Director Langs

With household budgets under pressure, have you noticed a trend in demand for lower cost, better value for money items?

This has been a much-discussed concern with our customers.

hats, gloves and scarves from our Equilibrium Collection. Beautifully packaged and on trend, they are the perfect winter warmer Christmas gift.

If retailers had room to stock only one product or range from your offering, what would you suggest?

For retail pounds per square foot you really can’t beat our snoozies! There is certainly a run on everything soft and cosy ahead of the cold weather. They repeat like crazy and are a super stocking filler.

What gift would you most like to see under the Christmas tree this year?

As long as I’m with my family, I’m happy. But a nice new wallet wouldn’t go amiss; my last one has never been the same since it went through the washer dryer!

Lawrence Savage UK Marketing Manager ExaClair

With household budgets under pressure, have you noticed a trend in demand for lower cost, better value for money items?

The feedback is that they are altering some of their buying due to being cautious. Luckily, our focus is on offering exclusive ‘Designed in Derbyshire’ ranges at great prices, which has been reflected in continued loyalty from our incredible customers.

With the soar in energy bills, do you predict a growth in demand for ‘winter warmer’ gifts?

I’m sure there will be an upturn in products that help customers reduce their outgoings as much as possible. While we don’t really offer products in this area, we fit the need for desirable gifts at more of an impulse purchase price point, which we are finding there certainly is demand for.

If retailers had room to stock only one product or range from your offering, what would you suggest?

Our Sweet Treats range has had a brilliant response since we launched it back in January at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair. It brings a sense of fun with our take on gingerbread, using many different materials to offer a varied and well-priced range.

To be honest, I would be doing our other ranges a disservice by just highlighting one. The fact that our own amazingly talented designers create these products bespoke to Langs makes us stand out and, satisfyingly, our customers recognise this.

What gift would you most like to see under the Christmas tree this year?

It sounds corny, but the greatest gift I have is my family, so watching my children with the excitement Christmas brings is enough for me.

The business will be closed over the festive period so all our staff can take time to relax and enjoy the time however they wish, ready for the January trade shows which will come around.

Recently released data from the British Retail Consortium [BRC] has revealed that sales slowed significantly during August, with online sales dipping by over 6%. Nevertheless, according to The Business Research Company, the premium stationery sector is still predicted to be boosted by a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 4.12% up until 2026. This will be primarily driven by the current emerging trends for personalised and sustainable stationery.

If retailers had room to stock only one product or range from your offering, what would you suggest?

With thousands of products across our brands, it’s hard to pick just one out. But our selection of bestselling Rhodia Italian leatherette cover notebooks and goalbooks are guaranteed to be a big hit for anyone who enjoys note-taking and journalling.

The latest additions to this premium range include a number of cool metallic colours. They are all filled with Clairefontaine’s signature PEFC-certified 90gsm ivory brushed-vellum paper that’s loved by pen fans globally.

What gift would you most like to see under the Christmas tree this year?

Considering we offer such a lovely range of Clairefontaine arts and crafting products, I’d love to be gifted with better artistic skills. Failing that, a relaxing Christmas break would be most welcome. However, I do have my fingers crossed for a new laptop bag and, as we offer a range of executive luggage through our Exacompta brand, this might be the most realistic wish!

With Christmas on the horizon, suppliers air their views on seasonal trading trends and share suggestions for must-have festive gifts

“We are all in it together, and our priority is to make sure we keep prices as low as possible and keep stock levels good as we go into the busy season”

Keren Dicken Sales and Marketing Director

Personalised Memento Company

With household budgets under pressure, have you noticed a trend in demand for lower cost, better value for money items?

We have noticed that overall customers are leaning towards a lower cost gift during the current climate. However, there still seems to be a higher budget for the leading gift-giving occasions such as special birthdays, christenings and weddings.

With the soar in energy bills, do you predict a growth in demand for ‘winter warmer’ gifts?

I believe we will see a rise in our personalised LED gifts such as lanterns, candles and glass jars as these create a cosy atmosphere while not using any electricity, when the weather turns colder.

If retailers had room to stock only one product or range from your offering, what would you suggest?

Our personalised photo upload bauble makes a unique gift. With the option to personalise with both a message and a photo, it can easily be adapted for a range of different occasions, from celebrating a baby’s first Christmas to remembering a special loved one at Christmas. This is where we are perfect, because you don’t need to stock anything as everything is made to order - so there is no risk.

What gift would you most like to see under the Christmas tree this year?   A surprise - something thoughtful. And it doesn’t have to be expensive, so a personalised gift is perfect.

Andrew Nettleton Managing Director

Ashleigh & Burwood

With household budgets under pressure, have you noticed a trend in demand for lower cost, better value for money items?

At Ashleigh & Burwood we’ve always maintained a focus on exceptional value, so our products are extremely affordable, yet the product quality and presentation is at the premium end of the spectrum.

Providing an excellent product experience at a very accessible price is part of our ethos and runs through everything under the Ashleigh & Burwood brand, so even in such tough times we don’t expect to see a shift in demand for our products at either end of our pricing structure.

With the soar in energy bills, do you predict a growth in demand for ‘winter warmer’ gifts?

Candles and their warming glow generate a positive and embracing feel-good factor and traditionally we see an uplift in sales as the days get darker and colder. As we’re facing a winter that may feel more gloomy than usual, it seems likely that candles - as well as many other products which improve home ambience and provide cheer - will be among the strongest performers for retailers.

If retailers had room to stock only one product or range from

“As we’re facing a winter that may feel more gloomy than usual, it seems likely that candles - as well as many other products which improve home ambience and provide cheer - will be among the strongest performers”

your offering, what would you suggest?

It would have to be The Scented Home collection. It’s such a broad range, both in fragrance and product format offering. The products are styled and packed to appeal to a wide demographic and it has a good range of price points. The collection, which has consistently strong sales, also fits beautifully within a wide variety of retail settings.

What gift would you most like to see under the Christmas tree this year?

Not something that would fit under any tree, but a decent and sensible government running the country, for all our sakes!

Sarah Watmore Owner

Miss Milly

With household budgets under pressure, have you noticed a trend in demand for lower cost, better value for money items?

Our products have always been, and will always continue to be, very reasonably priced and have a great value/price ratio. We have experienced growth since coming out of the pandemic, so maybe retailers are recognising Miss Milly for this. And perhaps rather than going for £50 RRP jewellery, retailers are targeting the £20-£30 price ticket, which is us to a tee.

“We have experienced growth since coming out of the pandemic… perhaps rather than going for £50 RRP jewellery, retailers are targeting the £20-£30 price ticket, which is us to a tee”

With the soar in energy bills, do you predict a growth in demand for ‘winter warmer’ gifts?

Undoubtedly! It’s not a market for us, apart from our cosy winter scarves, but I think most people will do what they can to minimise their heating bills.

If retailers had room to stock only one product or range from your offering, what would you suggest?

They’d be crazy not to stock our full jewellery collection. This season’s selection has been our most popular yet. But if I was to pick just one range, I’d go for the magnetic brooches as they are a perfect Christmas gift: great for gift and clothing stores, garden centres, and visitor attractions. They are excellent value for money and easy to display. What gift would you most like to see under the Christmas tree this year?  I’ve just turned 50 and had some wonderful gifts for that, so I’m not yet in the Christmas gift frame of mind. However, that said, I’m a huge fan of surprises and experiences, so a trip to somewhere lovely would be perfect.

“I believe we will see a rise in our personalised LED gifts as these create a cosy atmosphere while not using any electricity”

Maybugs

Flying high!

The award-winning East Sussex gift and homewares chain Maybugs launched its third store on July 1. Managing director Greg Rose and sales director John Dale share their story.

What’s your background?

I (Greg) have been in retail buying all my working life. I started with Selfridges as a merchandiser, and went on to be buyer for Jenners of Edinburgh’s cookshop department. Then Matalan, Ideal Shopping Direct, Index, and Robert Dyas.

I made the switch to gifts when I started working for Merlin Entertainments as head of buying in 2012. From there I moved to the supplier side, as head of buying for Transomnia, which really gave me an all-round perspective of the gift industry and sparked my interest in opening a gift shop.

When we opened our first store in 2018, I became an agent for a number of brands including Inis, Carrie Elspeth and Lola Designs, which gave me time to help run the shop as well as continuing to bring in an income while the store was finding its feet. In 2020, just before the pandemic hit, I decided the business was strong enough for me to go full-time at Maybugs.

John worked for 25 years managing a busy London post office, so his customer service background is second to none.

Why did you decide to open a gift shop?  It was something I always wanted to do, but never had the guts to do it. I think having worked in the industry for so long helped me get a fully rounded experience: I know it inside out, and ultimately this is what has helped us succeed and grow so quickly. I’ve seen a lot of gorgeous gift shops on my travels

(which we always aspire to be as good as) and a lot of not so good ones too. So John and I had a real idea of what we wanted Maybugs to be.

Tell us a bit about Maybugs.

There are three stores in East Sussex: Hailsham measures 600sq ft and opened in 2018, followed by Eastbourne (1,309sq ft) in 2021, and Maybugs in Bexhill (1,600sq ft) which opened on July 1. We also own Flowers by Maybugs: a 500sq ft contemporary

a fun thing to do. Plus, the name had never been registered as a business in any format, and the domain name was available too.

How did you feel when you heard the news that Maybugs had won the London, South, South East & East Anglia category of The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2022?

We were gobsmacked and absolutely astonished to win against such stiff and experienced competition.

What do you believe sets you apart from other gift retailers?

florist in Hailsham which opened in 2019.

What was the thinking behind the name of the business?

When John and I moved from London to Crowborough [a town in East Sussex] we were blighted by maybugs - also known as doodlebugs or cockchafers. These are stupid but super cute flying beetles that come out at night. John and I were terrified of them, but our dogs loved to play with them and would pick them up and bring them in the house, letting them go, and causing chaos!

When we were looking for a business name we wanted a one-word name. We thought that turning our least favourite thing about living in the countryside (maybugs) into our most favourite was

We present our stores and products beautifully; we try to make the most impactful displays while still ensuring they are shoppable.

In terms of merchandise, we cover a wide range of price points from £1 to £1,500 and pride ourselves on having something unique. I always say to John: “Oh, I’ve never seen that before - let’s buy it.”

But the most important thing is customer service. We work closely with all of our team, not only ensuring that they know the products inside out, but also that they make every customer feel wanted and special - even if they aren’t spending anything with us - as hopefully they will come back another day.

How would you describe your range?     Contemporary eclectic. Our core categories are

“The independent gift retail industry is just so special to work in”

home accessories, kids, stationery, bags, and cards. Our key suppliers are Transomnia, Jellycat, Wrendale Designs, and Inis.

How do you find products?

Mainly at trade shows such as Spring Fair and Harrogate. But we also do a lot of digging around online, and spend a lot of time in other gift shops too.

What’s your selection criteria?       If it makes us smile, then it’s a winner.

What’s proving popular at the moment?       Salt lamps, LED light up items, humorous signs.

that’s opening a new store or buying an existing one that fits with our five/10 year plan. Both Eastbourne and Bexhill are very large stores which we secured on a great deal, but they were very hard work to get open. I think we would look to open more smaller stores next, but who knows?

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Working for myself and working with John. I’ve never worked so hard and for such long hours since the birth of Maybugs, but I don’t think I could ever work for someone else again now. Just seeing the business grow, hearing such positive comments from customers, and ultimately hearing that till ringing gives me such a buzz.

And the most challenging?

What lines have you started stocking recently?

Beauty products from Marigold Charms, ceramic houses from Quay Traders, crystals from Wild Things, and Sophie Allport.

How is trading for you?

Trade is good: all stores are trading up on last year. Of course it’s not easy, but I don’t think it ever will be again (not like the old days, anyway). Every time there’s a setback - the pandemic, Ukraine, supply issues, price increases, the cost of living and so on - I think retailers just need to readjust and check if they need to do things differently. Have I noticed a change in purchasing patterns in light of the cost-of-living squeeze? No. I think people will always want a gift.

Are you looking to expand into new product categories?

We’ve just launched Wrendale clothing, which is our first move into that market. I’m not sure we would go further than that into fashion, but I’d never say never. We’re looking into more personalised items too.

What’s next for Maybugs?

We are always looking at expansion - whether

Letting go! When you have to make that decision to work ‘on the business’ rather than ‘in the business.’ I really want to be in the stores selling, merchandising, and talking to customers. However Maybugs will only grow by handing that over to our team which enables John and I to work on the bigger picture.

Finally, is there anything else you’d like to add?

The independent gift retail industry is just so special to work in. Of course, it has its challenges. But I remind myself every day that ultimately what we are doing is putting smiles on people’s faces.

“We are always looking at expansion”

John Dale and Greg Rose

‘At the heart of home textiles’

Alan Hamilton and Group Head of Retail Brian Wilkinson

Tell us about your company.

Swiscot has been right at the heart of home textiles since 1968. Its bed, bath, kitchen and table linens form the backdrop to a huge amount of life in the UK and Ireland. From homes and hotels to health clubs and hospitals, Swiscot’s products and brands are ever-present.

The business is based in Manchester. With state-of-theart design, logistics and quality-assurance infrastructure at our headquarters, Swiscot has access to well over 100,000sq ft of storage infrastructure from where it serves everything from direct-despatch through to full containersize orders. Since inception, the business has had a deep commitment to environmental and social governance and maintains some of the highest standards in the market.

Tell us about your ranges.

Swiscot’s range is split across its own intellectual property, white-label, and joint-venture ranges. The product range includes everything from bed, bath kitchen and table linens through to healthcare textiles and fabrics.

Charlotte Thomas is Swiscot’s retail textiles brand. Since 2007, the brand has been supplying beautiful, affordable and timeless home textile ranges to retailers around the country.

Linen Connect is Swiscot’s contract and commercial textiles brand, supplying many of the premier hotels, health and hospitality venues in the UK and Ireland. Swiscot also provides white-label home textiles, and a full range of wholesale products under a range of brands which serve customers across the nations.

What’s the inspiration for your products?

Across all our brands, we have a huge commitment to design, handle and aesthetic. It’s easy to forget that in any use-case, textiles are perhaps some of the most intimate products that end-users interact with. From bedding to towels, consumers touch, hold and drape themselves in textiles, and it’s important they feel great, every time they’re used.

Swiscot invests heavily in textiles technology, taking inspiration from textile research institutions, to make sure products are durable and affordable without compromising handle. Our design inspirations are global, like our business. We attend many of the world’s premier

design shows, and use market intelligence products to make sure our design team is producing ranges which are not only timeless, but fit current trends.

What sets you apart from your competitors?  Swiscot is deeply committed to service. Our ethos is that orders should be on time, every time. To achieve this, we operate one of the world’s most robust supply and logistics chains for home textiles, giving our customers resilience and predictability with product and price.

We are also deeply committed to building a team of experts and have an executive leadership team, and colleagues who have been assembled from across the industry with deep domain expertise in everything from design to product.

Whilst ESG [Environment, Social, and Governance] and Quality Assurance have been recent additions to most businesses, they have been part of our DNA since the firm was created back in 1968, and the company has proudly held ISO9001 quality accreditation for close to two decades.

Who is a typical Swiscot customer?

Our customers are diverse, ranging from independent ecommerce retailers who require direct despatch, through to multinationals requiring full container deliveries to multiple international sites.

What can we expect next from your business? We are investing heavily in design and product. Over the coming months, the business will be releasing a wide range of seasonal designs, and trends for S/S 23. We are also rolling-out a managed white-label supply chain service, allowing larger retailers to have access to Swiscot’s design and supply chain capability as an adjunct to their existing buying functions.

Swiscot Textiles has a huge commitment to design, handle and aesthetic, says National Sales Manager for the UK and Europe

Langs has got you covered!

Langs

Langs’ new wooden umbrella is perfect for adding a touch of style to your rainy-day look. These beauties have just been launched, with a great customer response. The company has taken a 23in canopy, which is made from waterproof fabric and features eight panels with all-over print, and used its hand-painted artwork to transform the look of the brolly.

The wooden handle and shaft are both smart and sturdy, while the fibreglass ribs ensure the umbrella can withstand strong winds. Whether you’re looking for a fashion statement or functional rain protection, this umbrella is the perfect choice.

Plant kindness

Another special project that Langs has been working on, which recently made its debut, is a collaboration with local Derbyshire based company Letterbox Love. Langs explains: ‘We are excited to launch our bracelet seed card collection. which makes a perfect gift for anyone. We have created eight designs with our most popular artwork.

‘Robins are such a popular gift choice to remember someone, so it’s a lovely concept to give this seed card where you can write a small message on the back. A string bracelet with either a heart or daisy is then something that can be worn - and the seed card has instructions on how to plant to grow wildflowers.’

Watch this space

In just a few weeks, Langs’ next collections will be launching in its Summer Edition 23. The company says: ‘We have found launching early is the key to growing our customer relations, with regular launches of new products to pre-order giving time for planning ahead for our retailers.

‘We would like to share details of a couple of our new ranges: Tractor Life and Fruit Punch. Tractor Life is designed in-house using hand-painted artwork that brings it to life, along with some humour - which is something that is at the heart of our business. We have a wide country base of customers that love the mix of products that make a great gift for a man or lady who loves a tractor!

‘Fruit Punch is a vibrant summer story of spending time outdoors with family and friends, along with a few cocktails and nice food. These pieces will add a burst of colour to your outdoor/indoor space.’

01332 340927

jane@richardlang.co.uk

www.richardlang.co.uk

Indoor fun

Enesco

Enesco is delighted to present a new range of decorative pieces and collectables designed for the home, from artisan brand Demdaco (pronounced Dem-day-koh).

Featuring everything from home accessories to hanging ornaments, the Demdaco collection features six sub-collections, one of which is the newly launched Together Time range: a collection which aims to bring families and friends together in fun ways through pieces such as playing cards, a dominos set, and Tic-Tac-Toe, as well as family activity and past, present, and future dice. Each piece is presented in muted tones of greens, blues, pinks and oranges, with game sets such as dominos and Tic-Tac-Toe featuring wooden pieces.

Sure to be a huge hit is the Family Conversation Starter Jumbo Dice, which encourages customers to strengthen their family bonds in a fun and engaging way. Simply roll the dice, see what question it lands on, and take part in the conversations that the piece helps to facilitate. With questions such as ‘What did you do today that made you proud?’ and ‘What are you thankful for today?’ the Dice is a great way to help family members - young and old - develop skills of mindfulness, gratitude and positivity.

Pieces in the Together Time collection are affordable as well as being small, compact and easily transportable. Each item can be neatly stowed away at home, easily brought out for a bit of enjoyment at parties, or taken on family road trips to entertain during the journey.

Call: 01228 404022 | Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk

Visit: www.enesco.co.uk

From Charlotte homas:-

ll made from high quality, 144 thread count polycotton with combed yarns.

Products available include: Duvet Cover Sets (Single to Super King Size), Housewife Pillowcase Pair, Single Oxford Pillowcase Pair, and readymade pencil pleat curtains.

For more information Visit: charlottethomas.co.uk

The personal touch

Personalised Memento Company

New to Personalised Memento Company [PMC] is this ‘Love you to the moon and back’ personalised photo upload cushion, which makes a unique gift for any loved one. Choose a photo to sit within the sentiment design to create the perfect present that is sure to put a smile on the recipient’s face. Check out PMC’s website to see its brand new photo upload gifts, and register for free and see the full product range.

Email: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

Visit: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

An owlish offering

Joe Davies

Joe Davies is excited to present its Rustic Wooden Family Owl collection, featuring a family of cute owls sitting on moons and hearts. This affordable range is finished in a distressed white, grey, and natural wood look, making it fit perfectly within any home décor trend.

The heartfelt captions have been carefully chosen to cover special relationships including Mum, Nan, Sister, Friends, Auntie and Home. Products include moon and heart-shaped table plaques, photo frames, tealight holders, coasters, and hanging hearts.

Free nationwide delivery, carriage-paid orders of just £100 and an easy to buy ‘little and often’ ordering system are all hallmarks of the award-winning Joe Davies service.

Showroom: Stockport SK5 7JF Call: 0161 975 6300

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Gifts Today RETAILERS’ PANEL

Jen Wells & Sarah Killick Directors

A little Mooch Allestree, Derby

We are a small independent gift shop run by two best friends. We started working together in retail 25 years ago and were made redundant a decade ago. Six months later, we started our own company: A Little Mooch. We opened in November 2012 at Park Farm Shopping Centre in Allestree.

We’re often told by customers that we are a “one-stop shop” with “something for everyone”. We are always on the lookout for exciting new products to keep our customers interested and coming back. We have a strong dedication to the job and we ‘quality control’ many of our product lines personally!

We love a visit to a trade show, which usually involves a slightly manic run around on a Sunday when we are closed - although we make an exception for Harrogate which is our favourite, as we turn it into a girls’ weekend.

Our key suppliers include Fancy Metal Goods/Alice Wheeler (a range we picked up earlier this year which is already proving to be a huge success), Rosie Made A Thing, Katie Loxton, Joma Jewellery, Jellycat, ROKA, Caroline Gardner, East of India and Pilgrim, to name but a few.

We recently returned to the lovely Wild Olive and have also taken on Divine Box: both local companies that create amazing bath and wellness products. It’s always great to support local and ‘Sparkle’, one of our best-selling card ranges, is from Mill Lane Cards - which is just a handful of streets away from the shop.

Trading over the summer was excellent, with some of our best ever month-tomonth comparisons. We’ve yet to notice a dip in spending patterns due to the cost-of-living crisis, but we predict this may influence Christmas spending. We think people will still want to buy gifts, just maybe at not as high a price. Or they may even club together to buy one bigger gift with others. So we will continue to ensure that we have something for all budgets.

Looking ahead, we’re extremely excited to be moving to bigger premises within Park Farm. After 10 years in our lovely little 570sq ft shop, we have simply outgrown it. We had a flood and had to move absolutely everything off the shop floor - including fixtures and fittings - to have the floor replaced. The large empty unit that we used as storage was available, and we just couldn’t resist the temptation to relocate there and grow our business. It measures 1,231sq ft, so it’s way bigger! We aim to open for our 10th birthday celebration at the beginning of December.

The most rewarding aspect of this job is working with your bestie, doing something we love. We laugh every day. So life is good. We also love the fact that over the past decade, many regular customers have become friends

The most challenging thing to date would have to be navigating our business and sanity through the pandemic. Being shut down on numerous occasions was very hard to deal with - financially and emotionally - and homeschooling was definitely the cherry on top of all that.

Reopening was amazing, but that also came with the challenges of implementing Covid measures, and managing our own and customers’ anxieties about it: having to tell customers they can’t come into your shop as you’re at your maximum capacity of five customers is not natural to shop owners! However, we made it through, which we are so grateful for - and now it’s onwards and upwards.

Four independent retailers reveal insights into their businesses, including plans and trading predictions for the all-important peak selling season

“We’re extremely excited to be moving to bigger premises”

L-R: Jen Wells and Sarah Killick

PHOTOS: PHIL WELLS

Corinne Taylor Director  Inside Paradise  Nantwich, Cheshire

Inside Paradise opened in 2002 as a furniture and interior shop in Shavington, a village three miles from Nantwich in Cheshire.  My husband and parents were involved, and we imported furniture from Indonesia and gifts from Bali. In 2007 we also opened a shop in the heart of Nantwich. We closed Shavington in 2010, as the recession caught up with us. During this three year overlap we started to change from interiors to gifts.

We now have a vast gift range including birthday, wedding, baby, men’s, and jewellery. Core categories are jewellery, sentiment gifts, and ladies’ accessoriesand proving popular at the moment are sentiment plaques and jewellery.

We visit trade events and have a great relationship with many of our suppliers, who give us a call when they have new products available. Key names include Richard Lang & Son (Langs constantly change their product and move it on), Best Kept Secrets, Miss Milly, Aromatize, Gingko, and Malini, who was my first supplier 20 years ago. And we recently started stocking Clementine Jewellery and - to keep everyone warm - Malini cosy throws and Warmies from Intelex Group (UK).

Trading over the summer was okay: at times it was a little bit of a roller-coaster. But we used Facebook Live to show stock in the shop, which worked very well. It’s been a great way to show our gift ideas to a much wider audience.

Now, it’s unbelievable how consumers are affected by the negative news that’s constantly being thrown at us. People are definitely starting to think about Christmas and buying earlier to spread the cost. They are not as impulsive, and sometimes need time to think about products - and hopefully come back and buy! The key is to offer as much information as possible.

We’re excited about the A/W season: we love creating new displays with that warm and cosy look. Our windows are key at Christmas, and we absolutely love creating something special to make people stop, look and venture in-store. And when customers come back to tell us how their friend or family loved the gift they bought from us, it’s truly rewarding. Also, when we’ve just finished one of our displays and, before we know it, we have to redress it again, as the display has sold the stock!

I love this shop and everything we do in it. Every day it’s a pleasure to walk in and work within these four walls. The most challenging aspect is keeping ahead of the game and not going stale. But my aim is to stay as a traditional gift shop and not dilute it in any way.

Tania Bosworth Director

Bosworth’s Garden Centre Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire

Our garden centre is near Kettering in Northamptonshire. We have a second site in Elton near Peterborough, in a beautiful walled garden that is part of the Elton Estate. Bosworth’s is a family business that has been going for nearly 60 years - originally starting as a market garden and developing into the garden centre and nursery a few years later. We also sell online via our website.

Our gift range is varied, and we try to have something a little bit different to the high street. We are always on the lookout for something new and exciting. We stock home décor; home gifts; home fragrance; children’s toys and games; baby gifts; ladies’ fashion, jewellery and scarves; and Christmas food.

Key suppliers include Fancy Metal Goods/Alice Wheeler, Zelly, Gisela Graham, Kaemingk, Wrendale Designs, House of Puzzles, Gibsons, Allsorted and The Great British Card Company. And we’ve just started with Emma Bridgewater and Scottish Fine Soaps.

We source products at trade shows and independent supplier showrooms and have a great mix of reps that support us. Our selection criteria is based on price, quality, and to a certain degree, ease of ordering. What’s popular? Always greeting cards, Gisela Graham ranges, Jellycat and scarves.

Trade over the summer months was quiet - it’s always quieter than the second half, but that allows us time to plan for Christmas and get on top of things before the festive rush. We haven’t noticed a change in purchasing patterns in light of the cost-of-living crisis, but it will be interesting to see how our customers react in the lead-up to Christmas. I certainly feel we have a few challenges coming our way over the next few months, with costs going up for the majority of our products, and the increases in fuel and heating bills. A lot of what will sell is not essential, so it could well have a downturn for a while.

The most challenging part is often the things that you cannot control - the stuff going on around you. But the most rewarding aspect is knowing we have done a good job, the feedback from customers - and planning new displays. We love Christmas - we have late night openings and offer special reward card discounts - and we are lucky to have a fantastic team that creates some amazing, incredible displays that we are well known for in the county. So what am I most excited about for the A/W season? Our Christmas displays - and the buzz from our customers!

Top 5 Best Sellers

products

LED wax melt burner

Secrets candles

Milly jewellery

Wheeler bags by Fancy Metal Goods

“People are definitely starting to think about Christmas and buying earlier to spread the cost”

Stride with style Classic Canes

Walking stick specialist Classic Canes has a wealth of new patterned canes available for Autumn and Christmas. Designed in-house and exclusive to the family-run firm, the products transform simple mobility aids into fashion accessories and talking points. The latest cheerful patterns include cats, hedgehogs, dragonflies and puffins, among many other eye-catching and colourful motifs. They are easily heightadjustable, making them straightforward to sell as gifts, because the purchaser can be reassured that the cane will fit the recipient.

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

Joyeux

jewellery

Alexander Thurlow

Back to fill your stockings for another year is Alexander Thurlow and its popular Love Nature, Love Flowers collection. Among an array of floral best-sellers are seasonal pieces such as the holly, mistletoe, and robin, which take centre stage at Christmas time.

These items are the perfect small gift to treat a loved one, or a fine excuse to accessorise yourself. What’s more, with depth in meaning behind many flower lines, each piece is as thoughtful as it is beautiful.

Whoever you’re buying for, you can be sure to fall in love with these delicate designs with intricate details, and the lifelike beauty of nature that is captured within each item. Get stocked up for Christmas today!

Call: 020 8766 6466

Email: sales@alexanderthurlow.com

Visit: www.alexanderthurlow.com

Autumn collection 2022

Celebrate the magic of Christmas

Discover the new festive collections from Katie Loxton and Joma Jewellery

Time to party

Inspired by the magic of Christmas, Katie Loxton’s thoughtfully curated festive collection boasts gold, plum and dusty pink hues, which will take your customers from this party season to the next. There is something for every gifting opportunity and price point, with gorgeous golden sentiments that make for the most eye-catching in-store display.

Discover the sumptuous Home Fragrances Collection, including Festive Mini Fragrance Sets and Sentiment Candles, each boasting an irresistible scent, from cinnamon to nutmeg chai. Or extend your beauty offering with sweetly scented Hand Creams, which are made in the UK, vegan-friendly and contain anti-ageing properties - the ultimate little stocking stuffer! Each piece from the Home Collection arrives beautifully boxed and ready to gift, with glittering star-print packaging for the most wow-worthy presentation.

Ensure your customers stay warm during the colder months with Katie Loxton’s snuggly selection of Blanket Scarves, in a choice of seasonal hues. Plus, your offering wouldn’t be complete without Katie Loxton’s bags and clutches selection, from everyday Crossbody Bags to the best-selling Weekend Bags and Christmas Pouches, designed with soft vegan leather and glimmering gold-tone hardware.

Tis the season to sparkle!

Bright, sparkly, and full of surprises, Joma Jewellery has created an unforgettable Christmas Collection which is bursting with shinebright styles, helping to make this season even more magical for your customers.

The best-selling Christmas Crackers Collection has been extended to include adorable Children’s versions - perfect for little hands - while the luxurious Christmas Celebration Set features additional sweet sentiments, with three silver-plated bracelets, nestled inside an elegant gift box, ready to make a lasting impression on the big day.

Your customers will fall in love with Joma Jewellery’s oh-so special Life’s A Charm Bracelets. Lovingly designed with a variety of twinkling charms, they are sure to be treasured from this year to the next.

For the most affordable yet meaningful stocking stuffer, look no further than the Christmas A Little Collection. Embellished with the sweetest festive-inspired sentiments from ‘Let It Snow’ to ‘Feeling Festive’ and ‘White Christmas’, the range comes complete with new star-printed cards which will add a magical look and feel to in-store displays. Filled with Christmas-themed charms and stocking-ready styles, there is truly something for everyone on your customers’ gift lists.

Bags of panache

Joe Davies

A good handbag is a wardrobe essential, but the design and style will differ by occasion and personal taste. The Equilibrium bag collection has something for everyone, from super-sized totes to mini cross-body bags.  Handbag trends for 2022 focus on wearability and texture and if you prefer the hands-free experience, then look no further than the Equilibrium collection of cross-body bags. There are plenty of styles and textures to choose from including faux fur bags, quilted bags, woven bags and much more. Plus, these modern bags won’t break the bank, so if you’re after a guilt-free carrying experience, look no further! Free nationwide delivery, carriage-paid orders of just £100 and an easy to

‘little and often’

Autumn musthaves

Alice Wheeler London

system are all hallmarks of the award-winning Joe

Celebrating 90 years of designing and manufacturing quality gifts and accessories within the UK, Fancy Metal Goods (FMG) is an established family business enjoying another very successful year with its fashion & beauty accessories brand Alice Wheeler London.

This quintessentially British brand was established in 2019, and all designs are created in-house at the company’s UK studio with one mission: ‘to deliver the finest quality without compromise, incorporating unique points of difference and luxury always’. This is paramount to the success of the business and is seen throughout all FMG’s brands and designs.

Autumn 22 is a curated collection of must-haves, including the Ascott Saddle shoulder bag (pictured above) in textured vegan leather available in four cool colourways and, from the all-new signature collection, the Pimlico boxed camera cross-body (pictured left). Crafted in textured Saffiano faux leather and available in five colours with co-ordinating designer straps, it’s the perfect accessory for any occasion - and finer details such as Alice’s signature honeybee insignia provide that something special and a quality synonymous with all Alice Wheeler designs.

With a wide range of accessories available this autumn, FMG looks forward to welcoming you on board! For further details and the Autumn 22 brochure, email or call the team.

Call: 0121 459 9777 | Email: orders@fmgsales.co.uk

Visit: www.alicewheelerlondon.co.uk

For the love of red

Miss Milly

Red. It’s a given that we’ll see this vibrant colour at Christmas. It’s in Santa’s suit and holly berries; it’s synonymous with the festive period. And Miss Milly has some gorgeous new jewellery to accommodate the love of red at this time of year. Rich resins with foil and marble style backings come in necklaces, earrings and a bangle, with co-ordination possible across the products.

All of this season’s hot new pieces are available online now, ready to wing their way to you and your customers. Miss Milly brings colour and style to your store at affordable prices. Try the brand out now with a low £100 minimum order and no MOQs.

Call: 01905 622509

Email: hello@missmilly.co.uk

Visit: www.missmilly.co.uk

Recycled readers

Opticaid

Brand new for A/W22 are Opticaid’s recycled Remaldi reading glasses. It’s the team’s first recycled range and so far it’s been very popular. Not only are the frames super stylishfrom on trend oversized Hockley, and bold unisex style Ealing, to the sorbet colours of Selsey - but they represent excellent value and include a slip in case.

The frames are made from modified polycarbonate and are 100% recycled from car headlight surrounds and large commercial water bottles. The range is also supplied in compostable bags rather than conventional recyclable plastic, to further reduce their environmental impact. They are lightweight and strong and can be recycled after use.

Opticaid’s range is suitable for a number of fashion and gift outlets and can be supplied with display stands, subject to qualifying quantities. The team also recently updated its branded optical stands, so the frames are now shown to their full advantage.

Call: 0113 239 1400

Email: sales@opticaid.net

Visit: www.opticaid.net

Focus On...

Alice Wheeler London

‘This is a hugely exciting time for us’

Alice Wheeler London sales director Oliver Woodyatt discusses the company’s best ever seasonal launch - and reveals plans to potentially expand

Tell us a bit about your company.

Alice Wheeler London was created in 2019 but is part of Fancy Metal Goods [FMG], which was established in 1932 and is celebrating its 90th birthday this year. We are a family-owned business. My dad Paul, who is managing director, has been here for 46 years and I joined the business in 2008.

Having serviced many department stores and large chains throughout the UK, we decided to put all of our experience together and create a brand-new range. From a humble and modest opening launch, Alice Wheeler London has now grown substantially with over 500 products already created, including an additional 125 brand new lines.

Tell us about your ranges.

We currently have beauty, accessories, and fashion ranges with Alice Wheeler London - with huge growth through our fashion designs and textures. After a successful launch in core colours earlier this year, we have extended our fashion boutique range to more than 150 skus and our customers are loving it. Our initial forecast projections have been smashed and we are excited for our retailers this Christmas season, as we have very healthy stocks in place to keep our customers supplied throughout Q4

What’s the inspiration for your products?

Well! It’s all about the bee and honeybee insignia we include on many of our designs. Inspiration comes from many influences, and most concepts begin with a conversation or colour palette someone has seen, and ideas become designs, and designs are created into the fabulous collections by Alice Wheeler London.

FMG has its roots in Birmingham, and we take pride in being a British brand. All designs are created in-house at our UK studio. My dad is the chief designer and curator of all Alice’s work, and we are excited for the future and where this brand will lead the business.

How are you finding the current trading climate in the UK?

There’s so much negative news around now, and although this naturally creates challenges within the retail sector, our business is experiencing huge growth. We are seeing an amazing increase in new customer accounts this season - the majority of which are listing Alice Wheeler 2022 designs - and with our best seasonal launch this autumn, this will hopefully continue and carry into 2023.

What can we expect next from your business?

Finally, we have started having discussions with companies about taking Alice Wheeler further afield than the UK shores. Whilst we have not yet reached our goal or potential here in the UK, our brand is getting recognised, and we are currently having preliminary discussions about expanding the name into new territories. We are flattered by the interest that the brand is receiving. This is a hugely exciting time for us here at Alice Wheeler London and we hope to share some news with you early next year about possible new ventures coming in 2023.

“We are seeing an amazing increase in new customer accounts”

Fill your store with festive joy

Scribe in style

Museums & Galleries

With the end of the year in view, our thoughts tend towards sourcing a new notebook for oneself, or to buy as a gift. The range of A5 Luxury Notebooks from Museum & Galleries (M&G), with its soft touch flexible covers, lay-flat binding, and 160 pages of lined paper, make comfortably usable and very handsome gifts or self purchases, especially given the lush artwork lavished on the covers (both inside and out) and loose leaf endpapers.

M&G’s beautiful A5 soft cover journals are a combination of usability and beauty of design and production. Artwork really shines on the sturdy yet flexible covers, many of which are embellished with foil. Foiled or coloured edging on the paperblocks adds distinction and sets off the cover design.

All of M&G’s licences feature in this collection, notably the V&A and Matthew Williamson - but there are also great pieces from the British Museum, Natural History Museum, and Tate Gallery. Expanded this year are mini ranges from three of M&G’s new designers: Sarah Campbell, Catherine Rowe and Helen Ahpornsiri for Wild Press.

New for 2022, by customer and agent request, are two beautiful password books. M&G hero designs feature on the covers - Hokusai’s iconic wave from the British Museum on one, and Liberty Open Call award-winning designer Catherine Rowe’s stunning Bee pattern on the other. The books have storage pockets, bookmark ribbons, and tabbed alphabet password sections. Call: 01373 461455 | Email: sales@mgml.co.uk  | Visit: www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

Vintage appeal

Joe Davies

Joe Davies presents its newly acquired licensed brand of giftable stationery designed in the UK by illustrator Siobhan Harrison. These charming notebooks showcase vintage style icons and the ‘Keep Calm’ motivational wording produced by the government during war time.

All the subjects are reminiscent of favourite British pastimes such as camping, going to the beach, drinking tea, baking, knitting, and sewing: activities that have become so much more important in recent years. Delicate watercolour artwork and pretty pastel colours make this range the perfect gift.

The stationery and more of the Siobhan Harrison Keep Calm gift collection is now available. 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. You can visit the company’s Manchester showroom or buy from its customer-friendly website - either way, you will be assured of a warm welcome.

Showroom: Stockport SK5 7JF Call: 0161 975 6300 | Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk

Get closer to nature

Exaclair

The new Animalis collection of notebooks from Clairefontaine is based on 20th century animal drawings. Available exclusively from ExaClair, the central theme of the range is being in touch with nature to help create a positive working environment. It also reminds us that we need to look after the planet to ensure the survival of these creatures for future generations to enjoy.

Clairefontaine, in partnership with the Deyrolle Institute for Natural Sciences in Paris, has recreated intricate drawings originally created for educational charts that have been adored by generations of French schoolchildren. The detailed illustrations against a cream background will look stylish in any environment.

The notebooks are available in a range of sizes including A4, A5, A6 and small shopping pads. Some feature sewn spines, while others are wirebound. There are also elasticated closure versions. All the notebooks contain PEFC-certified, super-smooth 90gsm Clairefontaine brushed vellum paper that is loved by pen fans globally.

Completing the stylish look, the collection includes desktop accessories such as letter holders, pen pots and magazine files. In addition, lever arch files, elasticated folders and storage boxes provide filing solutions for a tidy desk.

Creative journalling

Designed and created with artistic journallers in mind, these new Rhodia Goalbook Creation A5 journals are available in 11 on-trend colours and contain premium quality Clairefontaine black or white fine art papers, for ultra-creative journalling.

They feature Italian leatherette hard covers for durability with matching elasticated closure, plus an expanding pocket and two ribbon bookmarks.

The black 120gsm Maya paper is deep dyed and super smooth on both sides with a light dot grid, making it perfect for light or metallic colours. The white 200gsm pen and ink wash plain paper has a very light grain, and can be used for a wide variety of techniques.

For writing connoisseurs

ExaClair, the UK distributor of Jacques Herbin inks, has revealed the latest addition to its line-up of prestigious luxury 1670 inks.Violet Impérial is an intense and deep purple with bluish reflections, illuminated with tiny gold flecks for a shimmering effect. The exquisite drawing pictured here by ink artist Nick Stewart demonstrates the versatility of the ink, which is presented in an emblematic Jacques Herbin 50ml cube glass bottle. Each bottle is unique as the wax cap is traditionally dipped and sealed by hand within the Jacques Herbin workshops.

In times gone by, the colour purple was deemed a symbol of luxury due to the scarcity of dyes, and is often associated with royalty. It was a favoured colour of the French King Louis XIV, during whose reign Herbin was founded.

The 1670 collection commemorates the year that the Jacques Herbin company was launched in Paris and where, over 350 years later, it is still producing fine quality inks and waxes, which are adored by writing connoisseurs around the world.

The addition of Violet Impérial to the 1670 inks collection brings the total to six intense colours: Émeraude de Chivor (rich green), Bleu Océan (deep blue), Caroube de Chypre (deep golden brown), Rouge Hématite (rich scarlet) and Gris Orage (stormy grey). All these inks have undertones and the tiny gold flecks give an interesting shimmer to the dried ink.

Call: 01553 696600 | Email: sales@exaclair.co.uk Visit: www.exaclairlimited.com

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perspective with ds and brands that truly stand owd. Contact our sales team or visit our website to view

Christmas Gifts

Fragrances to scentthe season

Ashleigh & Burwood

Home fragrance expert Ashleigh & Burwood is supplying Christmas editions of some of its best-selling products this season. The offering includes a mix of tried and tested formats and scents, as well as a selection of new products and fragrances.

By popular demand, the company’s FSDU is making a return, with new graphics.The unit, which is 100% recyclable after use, displays 10 225g Scented Candles and 18 150ml Reed Diffusers, in each of the four Christmas scents: Christmas Spice, White Christmas, Frosted Holly - and the new Festive Fizz.

This new fragrance has effervescent Champagne notes and is available in The Scented Home collection’s popular Reed Diffusers and Scented Candles as well as giftable Scented Votives. Additionally, Festive Fizz is available in Lamp Fragrance (250ml & 500ml) and Fragrance Oil (12ml).

Making a return are Christmas Gift Sets, Fragrance Decorations and Scented Sachets in White Christmas and Christmas Spice fragrances, and newness has been added with Sentiment Reeds, which are the perfect add-on to accessorise Reed Diffusers.

Also new this season, building on the demand for the colourful vessels and lively fragrances of the Life In Bloom collection, Ashleigh & Burwood is presenting a special festive edition: Winter Jasmine & Green Leaves. Joining the existing vibrant range of Scented Candles, Fragrance Lamps and Floral Reed Diffusers (including real gypsophila stems) is a new shade of rich forest green, accompanied by a festive evergreen scent. Available across the range of Life In Bloom products, the new fragrance is a festive wreath of verdant, floral notes. For dramatic in-store displays, the Winter Jasmine & Green Leaves fragrance can be paired with the Winter Rose & Jasmine scent from the same collection, for a striking traditional red and green festive colourway.

The 2022 Christmas offering from Ashleigh & Burwood is its widest selection yet, but the team is not resting on its festive laurels! It has already begun work on exciting new festive products for 2023 and is looking forward to sharing these with retailers at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair at the start of next year.

Call: 01932 267060

Email: COT@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

Visit: www.ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

Celebrate with rustic candles

Bolsius

During the winter season, home ambience is more relevant than ever. Consumers want to enhance the mood in their homes. Rustic candles are decorative and create a warm ambience when lit: they are the ideal products to decorate your interior with.

Bolsius’ refreshingly new trend collection combines rustic candles in natural tones with a festive silhouette, tapping into the relevance of the winter months. They come in different sizes and designs based on the season and the latest trends, and are inspired by textures and colour tones from nature.

But Bolsius also offers more traditional Christmas colours. Its basic rustic candles are available in different sizes and come in an array of 23 shades made without palm oil, but with natural vegan wax.

A real finishing touch is the Bolsius Sunset candle. This has a gradient varnish, flowing from matte to metallic in different soft and festive colours. Combine this candle with natural colours or metallic candles to create an extra festive feeling.

Research shows that inspiration is key for shoppers to buy rustic candle sets. If they see a combination that would fit their interior, they are mostly willing to buy the whole set. So inspire them with a nice combination of candles.

Since 1870, Bolsius has been making quality products to create cosiness and a warm ambience in your home. The company does this with passion, skilled craftsmanship and a love for people and the planet. Bolsius inspires, connects and warms people with the magic of candlelight and fragrances that tickle the senses. It’s how you can make every moment a special one - for yourself and for everyone around you.

Christmas must-haves

House of Marbles

House of Marbles has an everexpanding collection of seasonal games and pocket-money novelties for the biggest trading season of the year.

The company’s new festive game Santa’s Snowball Ski-Jump is set to be hugely popular this Christmas. This family game will provide players with hours of entertainment, as they battle to win the highest score by flicking marbles around the ski jump into the numbered pegs. It will make a great addition to Christmas Eve boxes and is designed in-house by the House of Marbles team - making it perfect for independent gift retailers who want to stock seasonal games that are truly unique.

You’ll also find a selection of timeless stocking fillers with a modern twist, including a charming Winter Wonderland Kaleidoscope and Happy Families Festive Card Game, along with some new Christmas titles that are sure to be must-have gifts during the Christmas period.

If you’re looking for masses of seasonal products, quick deliveries and a customer service that is second to none, make sure you get in touch with the sales team to see what they have to offer!

Call: 01626 835358

Email: uk@houseofmarbles.com

Visit: www.houseofmarbles.com/tradeuk

The perfect presents

Wax Lyrical

Wax Lyrical has been creating fragranced candles and reed diffusers for more than 40 years and again, this Christmas, a mix of sparkle, style and sophistication is sure to bring festive cheer to the season.

The highly anticipated JustBe Botanicals range of mood boosting aromatherapy blends has arrived and is set to make its mark as both an essential self-care choice for home fragrance and a thoughtful gift. The stylish box design unveils beautiful Italian glass vessels containing essential oils to feel relaxed after activities, cleansed from detox, happy, energised, inspired, pure, and tranquil. JustBe Botanicals is consciously developed to restore emotional balance and enhance a sense of wellbeing.

The countdown to Christmas lights up with beautifully fragranced tea-light advent calendars. Wax Lyrical has three new designs and fragrances. The stylish Yvonne Ellen Advent calendar boasts a seasonal special of velvet peach and juicy pear resting on soft vanilla, tonka bean and soothing white musk. The Wrendale Designs advent calendar also has a mixture of fragrances including Vanilla & Cranberry, Gingerbread, Orange & Clove; and then there’s the bestselling Wax Lyrical signature scent of Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh.

Introducing 25 days of fragranced beauty, a new candle advent calendar from Sara Miller London makes its debut. The elegant Frosted Pines design comes with four exotic fragrances including a seasonal special of Mistletoe, Pine & Amber. Subtle notes of aromatic clove and sweet, spicy cinnamon are layered with the crisp, fresh scent of frosted pine forests and leafy green mistletoe, resting on a base of aromatic moss, soft vanilla bean and warming amber. The festive fragrance and Frosted Pines design is also available as a mug and candle gift set, in a luxurious gift box.

Also available from October is the new Sara Miller London home fragrance collection, with the highly celebrated Chelsea range and beautiful ceramic candles, reed diffusers and refills in four travel-inspired fragrances of: Geranium, Patchouli & Vetivert; Mandarin, Tuberose & Wild Musk; Sandalwood, Cardamom & Oudwood; and Amber, Orchid & Lotus Blossom. The alcohol-free reed diffuser blend is renewable and sustainable with long-lasting fragrance containing specific essential oils and with a new premium reed diffuser shape. The candles are 100% fragranced, containing fragrance-specific essential oils, and are made with a new coconut wax blend, which is renewable and sustainable. A votive gift set containing one of each fragranced candle is also available in a beautiful gift box, as is a gift set of Chelsea mug and candle in the Mandarin, Tuberose & Wild Musk fragrance.

Wax Lyrical Head of R&D Dr Will Locke said: “We are always excited and proud to unveil several Christmas collections to decorate and fragrance the home and make the perfect presents. Our new or timeless favourites are all made with the same care and quality, with expert science and fragrance blended throughout and, of course, proudly made in the UK, creating moments to wax lyrical about.”

Call: 01229 461100

Email: customerservice@wax-lyrical.com

Visit: waxlyricaltrade.com

That’s a wrap!

Museums & Galleries

Every Christmas gift needs and deserves exquisite packaging and Museums & Galleries produces a superb collection of papers, with designs sourced from prestigious museums and contemporary artists and designers alike.

Over the past few years, the company has steadfastly increased the variety of packaging products it produces, and for Christmas 2022 it offers ranges of sheet wraps, roll wraps, gift tags, gift bags, and gift tissue, with the majority of the designs co-ordinating across formats.

As part of its programme to cut plastics usage, M&G is transitioning to plastics-free packaging for the hang-tag gift tissue packs and 3m roll wraps. Brand new this year are the co-ordinating Christmas Gift Tag sets, also in card hang-tag outers.

The strength of the range is rooted in its provenance, with many designs sourced from the Christmas archives of the V&A, a museum whose founding director Henry Cole invented the Christmas card and to this day holds a world-leading collection of Christmas ephemera. Star of the show for M&G is its Pudding Boy wrap, based on a mid-Victorian card. Its gentle humour has been a massive seller for many years.

Elsewhere in the range, Robins and other wildlife are a notable theme. M&G has a light, bright and festive contemporary Robin and Holly design by illustrator Tracey English, and a contrasting darker and richer work, Christmas Garden, by the Liberty Open Call awardwinning designer Catherine Rowe. Christmas ice and snow are represented by Cressida Bell’s forest design Christmas Trees and some icy blue penguins from the V&A (originally a furnishing fabric).

Classic early twentieth-century designer Margaret Tempest contributes a festive rabbit with Bringing Home the Christmas Tree. Another unusual but festive design is contemporary illustrator Louise Cunningham’s Winter Walkies: a festive tapestry of Christmassy dogs in the snow. Louise also contributes Christmas Gnome and Christmas Crackers designs to the line-up.

Call: 01373 461455

Email: sales@mgml.co.uk

Visit: www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

Affordable festive gifts for everyone

Rex London

Rex London is ready for the festive season with an extensive range of beautiful and affordable gifts for her, him and the kids.

For customers shopping for creative Christmas gifts for children aged three-plus, the company recommends its Fingerprint Activity Set, and its Woodland Friends Wooden Doctor’s Play Set. Both give children an opportunity to use their imagination in a creative way, helping them to grow intellectually and emotionally. The toys are primarily made from card, paper and wood, which will surely grab the attention of those who are looking to be kinder to the planet.

For older children aged eight-plus, Rex London offers a range of construction and DIY kits such as Make Your Own Motorised Dinosaur and the Robot and Dune Buggy 2 in 1 Construction Set. These toys boost children’s problemsolving skills and critical thinking, and are gifts that deliver learning through fun.

If customers are looking for gifts for adults, Rex London’s Wild Flowers and Spirit of Adventure collections are two go-to picks when shopping for her and him. With their fun and colourful pattern, Wild Flowers mini storage tins are a great choice to brighten someone’s home interior, while a mini travel case or weekend bag are excellent to enhance the travelling experience by making it easy to pack and organise in an orderly manner. For more adventurous types, the retro-inspired design of the Spirit of Adventure collection brings together handy tools and space-saving accessories, such as a folding wooden ruler, fish-shaped corkscrew or coffee scoop, which are perfect gifts for those who appreciate vintage style and useful presents.

To bring the Christmas spirit to life, Rex London recently added a new collection to its product range, Winter Walk, dedicated to the beautiful snowy season. The company has also expanded its Christmas decorations range by adding new honeycomb Christmas tree decorations made of recycled paper.

Make sure to visit Rex London’s trade website to stay up to date with new arrivals so you can offer your customers the latest products when they launch.

‘I love everything about this industry’

Gifts Today talks to Samantha Gibbs, owner of the award-winning boutique gift shop chain Nest in Leicestershire, about products and plans to expand her business

How did you feel when you heard the news that you had won the Midlands & Wales category of The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2022?

I was beyond thrilled. It felt like we’d just had a huge boost from within the industry - an industry I’m totally passionate about. Imagine anyone even knowing our name?! I felt so overwhelmed, and I knew my team would be beaming from ear to ear when they heard the news. We put our heart and soul into creating Nest, and for them alone it feels so richly deserved.

What sets you apart from other gift retailers?

I think it’s our absolute desire to bring the best products to our customers, as soon as they are available, which really drives us. We add new products to our ranges monthly - if not weekly - and nothing stands still. We have wonderful relationships with our customers and because we really do listen to what they want, we can react accordingly: we are very responsive.

I’m a strong advocate of keeping our little local high streets open, and us human beings are tactile creatures - we want our senses to be fulfilled. Nest really is the perfect place to spend 10 lovely calm, inspiring, friendly minutes out of a busy day.

What’s your background?

I graduated with a first class degree in ceramic design from Loughborough University and made products for national galleries and international collectors for three years from a studio in

London, before deciding to open a contemporary arts gallery which today, 20 years later, is Nest: it is very much a boutique gift shop these days!

Why did you decide to open a gift shop?     Nest organically became a gift shop over the years, although there is still (where possible) a very clear support of handmade and design-led gifts which is very feasible within the jewellery ranges we stock. I love this industry and wouldn’t change Nest or our place in the market

traditional styles and tastes. We also trade online at www.nestgifts.co.uk.

How would you describe your range?    Very contemporary with an emphasis on fashion accessories and jewellery. We stock a vast range of cards and at Christmas, decorations, candles, home accessories, soft toys, board games and puzzles are certainly the key to a busy quarter. We also have new ranges at least monthly, so it’s a very fast turnaround on purchases. We never have the same ranges from one month to the next in certain categories. In other categories, we have committed to the same company since we opened.

What are your key categories?  Jewellery is consistently our strongest category - yet these days the average purchase price is getting lower. Consequently, scarves and bags is our fastest-growing new category and again, the emphasis is on affordability.

at all. I can still appreciate design and craft, but the fast pace of retail certainly suits me.

Tell us a bit about Nest.

Based in Leicestershire, we have two standalone shops, and a concession in a garden centre. Stoneygate has been open for 20 years and is in a leafy suburb of Leicester city. It has a metropolitan and forward-thinking customer base. Broughton Astley is our second shop, which is in the heart of a large village. The customer base is loyal and very local. Thurlaston is a very small rural village with a large independent garden centre. The customer demographic is mixed, with an emphasis on

How do you find products?

I’m a devout trade show user. I find them absolutely imperative to see the latest ranges and to feel the changes in fashions and trends. Home & Gift, Spring Fair, Autumn Fair and Top Drawer are my go-tos. I spend all day everyday there and would take more time if it was given! I wouldn’t be able to find the depth of product without them.

What’s your selection criteria?      Quality comes first every time and, these days, affordability swiftly behind that. Heritage of the brand is important, and sometimes I will watch a company and its ranges grow for years

“I’m a devout trade show user. I find them absolutely imperative to see the latest ranges and to feel the changes in fashions and trends”

before seeing the designs become right for Nest. Once we commit, we tend to commit for years though and support the brand, working closely with it.

What’s proving popular?

Scarves and bags. We can never have enough at the moment. And it’s a great category, because there’s always a huge number of colour ranges and styles to offer customers, and they’re never shy of buying!

What are your perennial performers?

Jellycat, any and all of it! The Amuseable range is always a favourite, but it can also surprise you as to what sells.

Next is Nest’s exclusive solid silver and rose gold robin pendant. This is a piece that I designed. It’s handmade for us, sells all year round, and is also available as a personalised bracelet and bangle. Then there’s the Long & Son crossbody camera bag, which is available in a huge range of colours. If I had to pick the best seller it would probably be light grey. Finally, Pure Fashion scarves (anything leopard with an accent colour) and Miss Sparrow bamboo socks: the dog and hedgehogs are by far the best sellers. What lines have you started stocking recently?

With Father’s Day in mind, I recently took on a brand I absolutely love: Brass Monkey. It has an amazing range of innovative products that are just perfect. The quality is there, the price is great, and the design is contemporary. For example, the Sudoku With Some Balls game set is a great take on a classic and it’s sure to be a fab purchase for men, which is always a really tough category for us to find the right products (with no gimmicks). This ticks a massive box and I can’t wait to see the range grow further.

How is trading for you?     Really strong. 2021 was our biggest year in

our 20 years of trading and 2022 is already overtaking last year’s figures. We are confidently buying with the objective of going into our strongest Q4 yet to finish the year.

Are you looking to expand into new product categories?

We are looking to expand full stop! At the moment, we are finalising details to expand warehousing at our current location. I would love to be able to offer more men’s ranges, as it’s still a small category for us, and we are always looking to bring more jewellery onboard. That said, I’m always open to ideas. I never stop looking.

What’s next for Nest?

Apart from the warehouse expansion, I’m always looking for another premises. I am, wholeheartedly, a bricksand-mortar retailer and always seeking new opportunities. I will start to cast my net wider soon to find the correct new venture.

We also manufacture our own jewellery and have a new laser engraver we are starting to practise with. So our own ranges are those that we will be focusing on over the next 24 months, I suspect. I’m currently liaising with Leicester University to offer design students the opportunity to work with us on a freelance basis and bring new products in Nest’s name to the market exclusively for us. It’s really exciting that we can give students a unique chance to immerse themselves in designing directly for a real-time marketplace. It’s great first-hand experience, which isn’t always available.

What’s the best aspect of your job?         I love everything about this industry, and I think seeing products that required a huge amount of consideration become successful is rewarding. However, the customer feedback we receive is always very touching and trumps everything. When we are able to make a difference to

someone’s day, I think that’s a very important human experience. We aren’t groundbreaking or lifesaving, but small things matter more than ever, and every step in life that can be a positive one can’t hurt, can it?

And the most challenging?       I’m a single parent and balance is always at the forefront of my mind. I have a wonderful yet incredibly challenging life and making sure my children are happy is my biggest (huge!) priority and responsibility. Nothing matches the need to get it right for them.

Owning and running a business is lifechanging for everyone around you, and that cannot be underestimated. But it’s also an amazing opportunity. Life is a challenge, but let’s crack on with it!

“2021 was our biggest year in our 20 years of trading and 2022 is already overtaking last year’s figures”

New products

For little ones

Enesco

Following its hugely successful, multi-awarding-winning Peter Rabbit Baby Collection, created under licence from Penguin Ventures, Enesco is hopping with glee to announce the launch of a sub-collection, featuring everyone’s favourite bob-tailed bunny’s little sister, Flopsy.

The Flopsy Baby Collection (which launches during the 120th birthday celebrations of Peter Rabbit this year), takes inspiration from the original illustrations of Beatrix Potter’s classic tales, featuring the little rabbit with her red cape and wicker basket. Following the same ‘Come Rain or Shine’ pattern print as seen across the Peter Rabbit Baby Collection, this iteration has been given a slight update to include splashes of blushes, peach tones and shades of green, off-set against a cool grey background and trimmings of rosy pinks, to help make the colour of Flopsy’s cape really pop.

Available to buy within the Flopsy Baby Collection are a Baby Blanket, Soother Holder, Hooded Towel, Insulated Bottle Bag, Changing Mat, Pram Organiser, Muslin Squares (set of three), and Bibs (set of three). These pieces make a lovely gift for expectant parents or as a self-purchase for mummies and daddies-to-be who love the classic timelessness of the Beatrix Potter brand.

While all items co-ordinate together for a baby girl, they contrast equally well with the cool blue tones of the original Peter Rabbit Baby Collection, helping to add to the buildability of the range for your customers.

Dinner time

Enesco has also unveiled a new development for its best-selling range of The World of Peter Rabbit children’s dinner sets under licence from Penguin Ventures. Previously made from bamboo because of its eco-friendly credentials, Enesco has further developed the range to be manufactured from a fully recyclable material: polypropylene.

The move sees the new dinner sets and other accessories become more environmentally friendly, while also being extra durable, meaning all items in the collection are now dishwasher and microwave-safe, while still meeting UK and EU Food Contact Material (FCM) Regulations.

The update to materials has also provided an opportunity to update the look and feel of the collection. The Peter Rabbit dinner set now features a bunny-shaped head plate with the ears divided into sections to help keep little one’s food and snacks separate, a side plate, beaker, and co-ordinating cutlery set including a fork and spoon. It features artwork of the bunny wearing his blue jacket, with food such as carrots and

radishes, no doubt taken from Mr McGregor’s garden.

As well as the Peter Rabbit dinner set, there is also an alternative Flopsy dinner set available, featuring Peter’s younger sister. Other items in the new-and-improved collection include plates, bowls, beakers, mugs, egg cup sets, fork and spoon sets and snack boxes. All items are available using the Peter Rabbit or Flopsy colourways and artworks. Presented in Kraft boxes that are also fully recyclable, the collection is not only practical but looks lovely too.

Baby essentials

Scion Living is bringing its fun-loving designs to a range of baby essentials with Enesco, from bibs, pram organisers, nappy caddies, changing squares and blankets to toys and bunting. There’s even a little something to save for their futures, with loose change money boxes decorated with animal characters.

Scion’s Animal Magic and Tikku designs make a lively appearance across this range and Scion legend Mr. Fox makes his debut on wipe-clean and bandana bibs, nursery bunting, blankets, muslins, changing squares, pram organisers and nappy caddies.

The range’s affordability makes perfect gifts for any gender tot, and a loving way to welcome a little one into the world.

Call: 01228 404022

Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk

Visit: www.enesco.co.uk

Lovable Gonks

Joe Davies

Gonks continue to be hugely popular this season, and Joe Davies has this covered with its new Lovable Gonk range. These adorable little figurines feature a family of gonks finished in appealing pastel colours that would fit with any home decor.

Sentiment is at the centre of this range and each gonk holds a sweet little plaque, heart, or flowerpot (to name but a few) with a sweet message that is sure to melt the heart of a loved one including Mum, Nan, Dad, and Friends.They are covered in cute little icons such as flowers, hearts, ladybirds, bees, and butterflies, adding that extra special little touch.

Joe Davies has a reputation for award-winning service and a great range of gifts dedicated to the independent retailer. All of its products are available in the company’s trademark ‘little and often’ quantities with a minimum order value of just £100 and free nationwide delivery.

Showroom: Stockport SK5 7JF

Call: 0161 975 6300

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Visit: www.joedavies.co.uk