23 minute read
News
Greats To Be Back With A Live Event
The Winners To Be Revealed Shortly
Excitement is building for The Greats Awards 2021 event which takes place on September 23 at London’s Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), where the winners of this year’s competition will be announced.
“It’s wonderful to be back with a live event this year, and very exciting to be recognising and rewarding the fabulous winners who have been so resilient during the past year,” comments PG&H/GiftandHome.net’s editor Sue Marks.
As always, the lunch and afternoon event, compered by stand-up comedian Stuart Goldmsith, will be a glittering occasion, with prelunch drinks to be served on the lawn, and a specially prepared lunch by the HAC’s chef, followed by the Awards ceremony. Guests will then be able to continue to party and network at the venue at the end of the afternoon.
Below: The Honourable Artillery Club (HAC). Below left: Guests enjoying lunch at The Greats Awards in 2019.
To date, the impressive line-up of Greats sponsors include (in alphabetical order): Candlelight; Carte Blanche Greetings (CBG); Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift; Joe Davies; Life Charms: Progressive Gifts & Home; Premier Decorations; Progressive Greetings Live; Spring Fair and Autumn Fair; Wrendale Designs and The Giftware Association.
For remaining sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ian Hyder on ianh@maxpublishing.co.uk and Rob Willis on robw@maxpublishing.co.uk.
For all other Greats enquiries, please contact Sue Marks on 020 8361 2055 or e: suem@max-publishing.co.uk. For more details, visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk See Countdown To The Greats on pages 20-21.
Industry NEWS
Josie’s Wins Muddy Stiletto Award
James Webster, owner of Josie’s Interiors on Coopers Street in Bideford - a finalist in The Greats Awards 2021 Best Lifestyle or Homewares Retailer of Gifts category - was delighted to hear that his shop had won the Best Interiors Store in Devon Muddy Stilettos Award 2021.
“I have actually won every year since 2017, with the exception of 2020, when the Muddy Stilettos were cancelled due to Covid,” said James. “I have worked seven days a week for the past six years, building up Josie’s from working all by myself to now having a team of 14 incredible people around me. Knowing I have built this up from nothing, off my own back, and that people love it is incredibly humbling and makes it all worthwhile!”
More exciting new is that on July 23, James opened a new Josie’s outlet concept store in the Affinity Devon Outlet Shopping Centre, offering exclusive interiors at up to 60% off RRP. “It has been a huge success,” James confirmed.
Above: Josie’s Interiors won a Muddy Stilettos Award for being the Best Interiors Store in Devon.
Lifestyle Pop-Up Shop
Lifestyle and fashion accessories company A Gift From The Gods (AGFG) has returned to bricks and mortar retail with a unit in The Broadway Shopping Centre in Bexleyheath. The brand has opened a 12 month pop-up, taking advantage of the discounted business rates. “We opened with a soft launch on July1, and the addition of a café area this month will see the implementation of a full marketing campaign,” confirmed founder Jane Reucroft.
The 1,800 sq ft ground floor unit, situated adjacent to M&S and River Island, offers AGFG’s full product portfolio – bags, stationery, keyrings, jewellery, home, sleepwear and chocolates - and is complemented by a range of ‘Guest Gifts’ from other brands including greetings cards, accessories and homewares.
The inclusion of a small café area with a capsule collection of hot and cold beverages, and branded A Gift From The Gods cakes, will build on the success of AGFG’S chocolate bar range that launched in 2020 and adds an experiential element to the retail setting.
Prior to opening in Bexleyheath, the brand previously had retail shops at The Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley, Kent and Canary Wharf from 2007 - 2010. A Gift From The Gods also had a very successful retail merchandising unit in The Broadway Shopping Centre, Bexleyheath (formerly The Mall) in 2006.
Left: A Gift From The Gods new pop up shop in Bexleyheath.
Maybugs Opens To Great Acclaim
A brand new gift superstore, Maybugs - located in a former Laura Ashley building - opened its doors in Eastbourne at the end of July, with dignitaries Caroline Ansell MP and His Worshipful The Mayor of Eastbourne, Cllr Pat Rodohan, cutting the yellow ribbon.
“It's so nice to see an independent retailer flourishing after the past 18 months. I wish the Maybugs team the very best of luck,” enthused Caroline, with the Mayor stating: “there's nothing like this in Eastbourne. It gives locals another reason to come back to the town and shop locally, rather than defaulting to online shopping. It's such a beautiful shop, and such a pleasurable experience."
With customers queuing around the block an hour before the store officially opened, co-owner John Dale added: "It makes me so proud that all our hard work has paid off. We set out to create something unique - the future of gift retailing - creating an experience as well as an exciting shopping environment."
It's a second gift shop for Greg and John who opened their first branch in Hailsham's Vicarage Field in 2018, followed by Flowers by Maybugs, a contemporary florist and floral design studio, last year.
Above: Big smiles from happy customers at the opening of Maybugs in Eastbourne.
Autumn Fair Readies For September
Discover New Products And Exciting Launches
Home, gift and fashion will be back at the NEC at Autumn Fair, which takes place from September 5-8, co-located with fashion and footwear show Moda. Gifts will be located in Halls 6, 7 and 20. (See Stepping Into Autumn on page 15).
“For the first time in 18 months, the best in home, gift, fashion, design and sustainability will fill the halls of the NEC,” said event director Jessica Dawnay. “With four Home, Gift, Fashion and Design & Source sectors, the show will deliver a platform for discovering new product and doing business, as well as a host of exciting launches including the Online Marketplace, hosted curated meetings, product trails enabling visitors to search for sustainable and Made In Britain products and brands, and the Autumn Fair app.”
Plus, the integration of Moda will offer thousands of trend-forward collections. “Footwear, fashion and apparel have spearheaded the strong growth seen in UK retail so we’re delighted that Moda will form part of a wider fashion destination offering access to exclusive brands and the latest collections, as well as a greater variety of products, inspiring trends and cross-over buying opportunities,” said Jessica.
Returning to the show will be retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Pavilion in Hall 20, showcasing new and unique products from start-ups and small businesses.
The show has introduced Covid-19 status checks for all attendees on arrival at the show. l Autumn Fair will also be welcoming the Shandong Pavilion, showcasing products from 30 suppliers from China’s Shandong Province. Visitors will be able to see, touch and experience products in person, while virtual sales meetings will allow buyers to speak directly to the suppliers.
Visit www.autumnfair.com
Above: Visitors at Autumn Fair in 2019.
Retail Trust Partnership Launches At Autumn Fair
The Retail Trust has been selected by the Hyve Group as the charity partner for Spring and Autumn Fair over the next two years.
Launching at Autumn Fair (September 5-8, NEC), it will incorporate offsite volunteer days, team challenges and onsite activity.
Prior to Autumn Fair, a host of onsite wellbeing initiatives will be announced, which are likely to include a Wellbeing lounge.
The charity will also be the Wellbeing Partner across all Hyve Group’s retail shows in the UK - Spring Fair, Autumn Fair, Pure, Glee and Scoop - providing dedicated support, awareness and fundraising for the retail sector. A dedicated Wellbeing section will launch on each of the event websites featuring. informative and supportive articles alongside videos that support the wellbeing of both retailers and wholesalers.
Visit www.autumnfair.com
Above: The Retail Trust creates hope, health and happiness for everyone working in retail.
A Strain On Small Businesses
Gift and home retailers are among the 65% of small UK businesses that have been put off taking orders from EU customers, according to a recent poll by the online magazine Shop Small, Love Local. At the beginning of July, the EU introduced new rules on how VAT is accounted for on cross-border trade. As a result, businesses selling good valued at €150/£135 or below to customers in the EU need to charge import VAT.
Some 56% of small businesses said they did not fully understand the changed rules. A further 22% were worried about the cost implications for their business. According to Shop Small, Love Local the main area of confusion for small business owners is how to calculate, collect and pay the VAT due on sales.
Poll respondents included small businesses from across the UK selling goods including giftware and homewares. A third of respondents stated that they would regularly have received orders from EU customers.
The online poll was conducted though the Support UK Small Business network on Instagram for the Shop Small, Love Local campaign.
Bira and the FSB are among organisations offering advice to independent retailers that are selling to EU customers.
Left: New EU VAT rules have confused many gift retailers.
Industry NEWS
Female Founders Initiative
The Retail Trust will be supporting the Spring Fair Female Founders initiative, launching at Autumn Fair 2021. The programme has been created to champion and celebrate inspiring female entrepreneurs.
The initiative will support the growth of female founded retail businesses by offering six businesses a free stand at Spring Fair 2021, followed by 12 months of business mentoring with leading female entrepreneurs.
Four Day Spring Fair
Following overwhelming industry support, Spring Fair (which normally takes place over five days), will become a four day show in 2022, opening its doors to visitors from Sunday February 6 until Wednesday February 9 at the NEC Birmingham, with the addition of late night openings - until 7.30pm - on Sunday February 6 and Monday February 7.
“After extensive research, analysis, and collaboration with over 3,500 exhibitors, buyers and partners, we have taken the decision, which reflects industry opinion and buying behaviours, that Spring Fair will become a four day show,” explains Spring Fair’s event director Simon Lau. “We have listened to our customers who had overwhelming feedback that the show was a day too long.”
Simon continued: “Buying behaviours have changed in recent years. Visitors have communicated that they welcome a four day show and that a more condensed few days, with the same number of talks, demonstrations, and meetings, would make it a more dynamic and action-packed event. We are also really pleased to introduce two late night openings. A trend common in retail already, the additional opportunities to trade will greatly benefit visitors attending for one day only.”
Visit www.springfair.com
Above: Spring Fair 2022 will be a four day, action packed show.
Top Drawer Returns To Olympia
Trends Lead The Way
Top Drawer will be bringing together a curated edit of top brands and new names across the design and lifestyle spectrum from September 12-14 at London’s Olympia.
Nine sectors feature Gift ((contemporary brands); Home (interiors, accessories, kitchen and dining, furniture, lighting and outdoor living); Fashion (accessories and jewellery from established brands and rising stars); Wellbeing (home fragrancing and beauty products); Craft (designer-makers); Greetings & Stationery; Play (gifts, toys, fashion and home accessories for children) and Food Emporium (giftable food and drink from artistans).
The line-up of brands includes: 1973, Aery, Also Home, Beyond Living, Caroline Gardner, CHALK, Clockwork Soldier, CRWST, Designed in Colour, Forma House, House of Disaster, Hyggen Agency, Kikkerland, Lisa Angel, Lorna Syson, Mother, My Doris, Ohh Deer, Plantophile, PR Home, Roka London, S-C Brands, SEVIN London, Spice Kitchen, Swole Panda, T2, Teddo Play,The Candle Brand, The Creative Ox and The Workbench. Over 1500 brands will be showcased. Returning to the show will be expert speakers at both RetailFest and Design Talk.
Left: Top Drawer will bring together design-led gifts and homewares.
Thumbs Up For Home & Gift
Home & Gift, exhibitors reported an excellent show in July, with retailers there to place orders. “It was brilliant to be back,” enthused Steve Davies, managing director of Joe Davies. “Within five minutes of the doors opening we knew that we had made the right decision. It felt like we turned the corner, and over the next four days we saw a huge number of customers.”
Neil Gaukwin, general manager of House of Disaster, concurred. “We were very, very busy. From the moment the doors opened at 9am on Sunday morning we had people on the stand and we were taking orders.”
On the Best Kept Secrets stand, managing director Vanessa Curry commented: “It was a great show, and so good to be back.”
Gallery Direct also reported an excellent show. “We had non-stop customers on the stand who were serious buyers and were here to place orders,” confirmed the company’s PR and marketing manager Judith Bell.
Ceramics designer and renowned potter Keith Brymer-Jones, a judge on BBC 2’s The Great Pottery Throw Down, was a familiar face, chatting to visitors on the Forma House stand, and displaying his expert skills at the potter’s wheel.
Above: Visitors to Home & Gift are shown relaxing at the Gin on the Lawn event.
25th Anniversary Celebrations
Despite Covid-19 restrictions, Best Kept Secrets managed to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary during the summer with the afternoon off, a glass or two of bubbly and lots of birthday cake. “We laid on some fantastic food too, and thankfully the day was glorious so we were able to enjoy the sunshine,” recalled managing director Vanessa Curry.
Vanessa took over the helm from her father Alan Edwards and his wife Denise in 2018, who started the company in 1996. Together with her husband Paul, they have rebranded the business, introduced new products and steered the company through the pandemic.
“Reaching 25 years in business is a real achievement, especially after the past year. I’m so proud to be running this company,” stated Vanessa.
Left: Best Kept Secrets recently celebrated 25 years.
Industry NEWS
Celebrating The Big 4-O
This month (August) sees Rex London celebrating 40 years. The company started with a market stall on the Portobello Road in 1981 and has gone on to become a very successful online retailer and wholesaler of ‘gifts of random kindness’, winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise along the way for outstanding continuing growth in overseas sales.
“We are now completely customer-focused in what we buy, with everything conceived, designed and sourced from our London HQ,” confirmed ceo Nigel Biggs.
If he could bring back any product from the archives, Nigel says it would have to be inflatables. “We originally sold them in the 1980s and they were such a fabulous, fun product,” he recalls. “Bananas at football grounds became a massive thing and were all supplied by us.”
As for challenges along the way, Nigel says Brexit and Covid are two of the toughest. “Fortunately, we are starting to come through to the other side, so there’s light at the end of the (Channel) tunnel!”
Above: Rex London’s ceo Nigel Biggs.
Record Year For Potters Crouch
With sales of home fragrancing products soaring during the pandemic, David Brown, director of Potters Crouch, confirmed that the company has had a record year, seeing growth of around 30%, with the company looking to a further 30% growth in the coming 2021/2022 year.
“Our growth has also seen us need to strengthen our management team and streamline our processes, with Matt Elvidge joining us as chief operating office in a new role to drive things forward in the office which is a new development for the company.” (See People on page 13).
All Potters Crouch candles are handmade in the UK using natural ingredients.
Below: New from Potters Crouch: gift bags and gift cards.
PG Live Deemed A Triumph
Fantastic Turnout For Dedicated Card Show
The return of PG Live 2021 at the end of July finally brought together the UK greeting card community at London’s Business Design Centre, with independents and multiples sharing their joy at being back together again.
Buyers from leading multiples including Oliver Bonas, John Lewis & Partners, Tesco, Cardzone, TK Maxx, Morleys, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason hot footed it to the show, along with independent retailers across the length and breadth of the UK, who were all there to discover the thousands of brand new launches.
Among the first visitors through the door was Aga Gabrysiak (now Marsden), coowner of gift shop Highworth Emporium in Highworth. “I arrived in time for the opening ribbon cutting ceremony,” said Aga, “and placed my first order with Five Dollar Shake soon after!”
Andrea Pinder, owner of gift shop Presentation in Barrowford declared: “What a show! So much better than I expected. I placed my first order within 10 minutes. The laughter and banter was brilliant. I’m so glad I saved my buying for PG Live.”
Davina Parkhouse, owner of gift shop The Bean Hive in Kettering, and The Bean House By the Sea in Falmouth, enthused: “PG Live is my favourite trade show, I love it and spent a fortune!” At Lovely Libby’s gift and clothing boutique in Rayleigh, owner Libby Holden commented, “I saw a lot of brand new companies, and placed orders. In fact, I held off placing card orders prior to the show as I knew that I would be buying here.” Having travelled up to London from Tiverton in South Devon, husband and wife Jo and Mike Webber, co-owners of Jo Amor, said: “It was great to see the new brands, while also catching up with publishers, designers and the people in the industry that we know and love and have missed so much.”
PG Live 2022 will take place June 7-8, 2022, at the Business Design Centre, London.
Hey, Retail Buddy
Having formed the Retail Buddies’ WhatsApp group two years ago at PG&H’s Retailer Round Table at Home & Gift in Harrogate, gift shops, to include Jo Amor In Tiverton, Mooch in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, Love Libby’s in Rayleigh, Papilio in Thornbury and Highworth Emporium in Highworth, enjoyed the opportunity to meet up and compare notes in person at PG Live at the end of July.
Industry NEWS
Mickey & Friends In The Finals
Mad Beauty’s Mickey & Friends collection is among the finalists in the Licensing Awards 2021 Best Licensed Giftware Range, Home Décor, Tableware or Housewares category.
All winners will be announced at a physical evening awards event on Tuesday 14 September, held in The Great Room at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Tickets and tables can be reserved online by visiting Max-Tickets.net or by contacting Clare Hollick at Create Events: clare@createvents.co.uk or +44 (0)1183 340085.
Exclusively Gift-Led
Gift-led products will be showcased at the live Exclusively Show which takes place at London’s Business Design Centre from August 24-25. The show will include foodie gifts and baking kits, alongside baking, cookware, kitchen and small electrical appliances.
A bonus for retailers attending the show is that independent retailers, to include gift retailers, can not only claim back up to £50 worth of travel expenses, but could also potentially benefit from an extra bonus - the Exclusively £100 Gift Voucher - if they are members of the British Independent Retail Association (Bira).
All independent retailers who are members of Bira will receive the voucher when they register. Once validated at the Bira stand, the voucher can be used towards any single order with a minimum value of £300 minimum (net VAT), placed at Exclusively. The voucher will be accepted by all Exclusively exhibitors.
Safety for exhibitors and visitors will be paramount with show organisers BHETA confirming that they will be following the guidelines to the letter.
The event will host over 130 exhibitors and feature some 200 brands.
Visit www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk
Above: London’s Business Design Centre, the home of Exclusively. Left: PG Live’s official ribbon cutting ceremony. Below: Retail Round Tablers: Jo Webber, front (Jo Amor), Richard and Aga Marsden (Highworth Emporium), Paul and Rachel Roberts (Mooch), Mike Webber (Jo Amor), Tabi Marsh (Papilio at Heritage) and Libby Holden (Lovely Libby’s).
A Trio Of Trends
Three of the biggest trends to influence our homes over the next three to five years, will be showcased at the live Exclusively Show, taking place from August 24-25 at London’s Business Design Centre.
Revealed as Neo Luxe (punk, sophistication and dark romance from earlier centuries); Reset (preserve, conserve and protect), and Togetherness (positivity and wellbeing) each one will be highlighted with products from the show, backed up with a series of seminars Some 250 press, bloggers and influencers will be attending Exclusively in August, sharing the trends with their readers and followers. Visit www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk.
Left: Togetherness reveals happy, colourful, vintage inspired patterns, giving out a positive feelgood factor.
Gift Of The Year Competition Is Open For Entries
Could Your Products Be A Winner?
Home & Gift, Harrogate, was the launchpad for the 44th Gift Of The Year (GOTY) competition, organised by The Giftware Association.
As the Association’s Chris Workman explains: “we’re excited to see which products and designs will be entered this year, as well as discovering what the creative industries have been hard at work at during the past year.”
He continues: “This year is all about seeing those gifts in real life and meeting the people behind the brands. We will also be celebrating the winners from the previous year, as it was a fully digital competition. Additionally, we have made a few tweaks to the back end of our website - giftoftheyear.co.uk - to make the user journey even smoother and to ensure that products can be seen in their best light.”
This year’s competition will again feature 20 categories as well as the People’s Choice Award which made its debut last year. The judging was opened up to the end consumer and general public, giving products extra exposure to a buying audience. Building on last year’s success, this year, all shortlisted companies will have entry to the People’s Choice award.
The Giftware Association has also released an online Gift of the Year 2020 winners’ brochure featuring the winners and highly commended products from last year’s competition, as well as the shortlisted companies to enable extra exposure. Visit giftoftheyear.co.uk
Worth Taking Note
The London Stationery Show, the UK’s only trade show dedicated to writing and paper products, is returning, taking place at London’s Business Design Centre from 56 October 2021. “We’re very much looking forward to bringing new and existing customers together to do business face-toface” confirms event director Alex Butler. “It’s been a challenging time for everyone, and as much as we’ve all adapted to a new digital world, the pandemic really has highlighted the importance of experiencing products in person before buying.”
Alex continues: “We know our audience has missed those chance findings - stumbling across an amazing product that you didn’t know you were looking for - that only happen at exhibitions. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the Business Design Centre this Autumn.”
Registration is now open via stationeryshow.co.uk.
Above: Visitors making their mind up at the London Stationery Show two years ago.
Smelling Sweet
Long established card and gift retailer Penmark has diversified, launching a new home fragrancing business Henry & Co. It made its debut at Harrogate Home & Gift with two ranges of reed diffusers, wax melts and candles. “We are very much aiming at independent gift and card retailers as well as garden centres, giving them new quality brands,” explains Mark Rees, managing director of Penmark, which also owns Love Aroma retail outlets.
The inaugural collection features two brands, Henry & Co and Echo Fragrances. While the Henry & Co collection offers 16 popular scents, ranging from fresh linens to red raspberries, the Echo Fragrances collection features 12 fragrances that are inspired by the most popular perfume brands. “The launch of our home fragranced ranges is part of a major transformation across the whole business, including the plans and ambitions for our retail side, the company structure, appointment of key personnel, investment in the infrastructure and installation of an EPOS system,” confirmed Mark. “Retail most definitely has a positive future. That said, it is ever more location-driven and proposition-driven. We will therefore be looking at expanding through acquisition, and through organic growth if the right deals are to be had with landlords.” Plans include refurbishing Penmark’s Ashbourne and Trentham based stores to the new Henry & Co concept. The Love Aroma shops will become Henry & Co Home Fragrance stores, and the Allenton store will be converted to another We Are Cards outlet.
Above and leftt: Henry & Co and Echo.
Industry NEWS
Puckator Teams Up With Pusheen
Tubby tabby Pusheen the Cat is the latest addition to Puckator’s licensed collection. The company has partnered with the social media star to launch a new range of giftware for ‘lovers of all things cute and feline’.
The range includes beauty accessories, drinkware and bags, with all products featuring Pusheen in various poses and costumes, to include the popular Pusheenicorn.
Below: Pusheen beauty giftware from Puckator.
PEOPLE
l Following a head office restructuring at John Lewis & Partners, the buyer for gifts and candleshop, Sara Allbright (right) - who joined the department store as a graduate trainee 18 years ago - left at the beginning of August, handing over the gift reins to Kerry Nicholls. Also leaving the business was head of buying for gifts, cook & dine Anna Berry. In a farewell message, Anna commented: “I am so blessed to have worked with the most fantastic team.”
l Potters Crouch has appointed Matt Elvidge (right) in the newly created position of chief operating officer. His remit includes moving paper processes into paperless and automated, giving customers a portal to place orders directly onto the system which will go directly to picking and packing and then to invoicing.
David Brown will continue to look after the company’s sales and marketing functions with Jo Martin continuing to cover creative and technical director functions.
l Congratulations to Aga Gabrysiak and Richard Marsden, co-owners of gift shop Highworth Emporium in Highworth, who married earlier this month. The couple met on the History & Heraldry stand at Spring Fair in 2007 and married exactly 13½ years later. In addition to gift retail, Richard is also managing director of gift company Eco Chic/Scentiment.
