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Last Chance To Enter The Greats Awards!
Closing Date For Entries Is 31 January
With a closing date of 31January 2022, entries have been arriving thick and fast for The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2022 which set out to recognise and reward the crème de la crème of the UK’s amazing gift shops and gift departments. “With the competition now in its 20th milestone year, we want retailers to tell us why their shop could be a winner!” says Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net which organises the awards.
A downloadable entry form is available from www.thegreatsawards.co.uk. Alternatively, entries can be emailed direct to suem@maxpublishing.co.uk.
Uniting the gift industry, The Greats gift retailer awards have joined forces with The Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year (GOTY) awards, with all winners - both The Greats and the GOTY - revealed at a fabulous black tie awards event, to be held at the glamorous Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Thursday May 12.
“Winning a Greats Gift Retailer award has become the pinnacle for gift retailers both large and small - a prestigious, coveted retail trophy that recognises excellence, initiative, innovation and professionalism at the highest level,” continues Sue.
“Therefore, once again, we’re on the lookout for those extra special gift retailers, gift departments, lifestyle stores, garden centres and visitor attractions that, despite a challenging, changing retail climate, are nevertheless managing to stay at the top of their game. The Greats are a fantastic opportunity for gift retailers right across the board - from the tiniest village shop to the largest multiple - to bang the drum about their achievements over the past year. We know that there are some incredible retailers out there, and we want to hear from them!”
Tickets to the awards can be booked quickly and securely by visiting www.maxsubscriptions.net/tickets/or by contacting awards organiser Clare Hollick at clare@createvents.co.uk (tel: 01183 340085).
Tickets cost £208 (+VAT) and tables of 10 and 12 are available. Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk or www.thegiftawards.com
First launched in 2003, The Greats Gift Retailer Awards are owned and organised by Max Publishing and Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide.
Above left: London’s Royal Lancaster hotel. Below: Last year’s Greats winners are shown with their
Industry NEWS
Gift Retailer ‘An Inspiration’
Jenny Blyth, who founded bespoke gift subscription service Storm in a Teacup Gifts in 2014, has been named as one of the UK’s most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs by the f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ campaign.
“Although we are predominately online we do pop up shops and all the events we can,” confirmed Jenny. “We love to be visible in the community.”
Jenny is being profiled alongside 100 female entrepreneurs from across the country as part of the campaign to celebrate the multiachievements of women running businesses in the UK today. Now in its fifth year, the growing campaign attracted a record number of applications for this year’s ‘#ialso100’ line-up.
“I’m thrilled and honoured to be included in this list alongside all these phenomenal women,” enthused Jenny. “My hope is to use this campaign to further our work in the community and, in particular, better mental health care.”
Jenny was also singled out for her online community group, her commitment to work with other small businesses and her campaign for better mental health care for those both in and out of the small business sector.
Below: Jenny Blyth, founder of Storm In A Teacup Gifts.
The Greats Awards 2022: Sponsors
This year, the impressive line-up of Greats and GOTY sponsors include so far (in alphabetical order): Brand Licensing Europe (BLE); British Allied Trades
Federation (BATF); Cardzone; Candlelight; Carte Blanche Greetings (CBG); Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; Gisela Graham; Joe Davies; Lesser & Pavey; Life Charms; Progressive Gifts & Home; Progressive Greetings Live, Spring Fair (headline sponsor), Talking Tables and
Widdop & Co., with more sponsors in the pipeline.
To find out more about sponsorship opportunities for The Greats and The Gift Of The Year Awards, contact Ali Farrell (e: alisonf@max-publishing.co.uk; mob: 07872 113635); Ian Hyder (e: ianh@max-publishing.co.uk mob: 07525 634 306); Rob Willis (robw@max-publishing.co.uk mob: 07792 016832); Warren Lomax (e: warren@max-publishing.co.uk; mob: 07977 572086). Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk or www.thegiftawards.com
Dunelm’s Christmas Cracker
The tills were certainly ringing on high at Dunelm in the run up to Christmas, with the retailer enjoying a record festive quarter, with sales of £407m between October and December, and homewares among the winning product sectors.
“Our performance demonstrates the growing appeal of our homewares offer and includes some standout contributions from our furniture and seasonal categories,” commented Dunelm’s ceo Nick Wilkinson.
He highlighted that integrated physical and digital shopping experience has transformed since the company launched a new digital platform in October 2019, enabling Dunelm to reach more customers with its brand and specialist homewares product range, while also providing a much improved customer experience. “Our digital platform and capabilities also give us more confidence and ambition for the future,” he stated.
Right: Dunelm enjoyed a record Christmas.
Showstopping Spring Fair
Safety Is Paramount Say Organisers
With the industry gearing up for the first in person Spring Fair in two years, (6-9 February, NEC, Birmingham), the organisers are looking forward to safely welcoming visitors.
“What 2021 has highlighted is the importance of reliability and retailers being able to see and touch what they are buying. Spring Fair has been a vital cog in the retail supply chain for sourcing products and reinforcing those face-to-face relationships for many years and in 2022 it is vitally important for our industry that Spring Fair opens its doors to allow retailers to restock and buy for the year ahead,” states Hyve Group’s Julie Driscoll, divisional managing director for Retail, Engineering and Manufacturing.
The Giftware Association’s ceo Sarah Ward concurs. “The entire retail industry has learned so much from the pandemic, particularly the need and desire for in-person business and buying. Spring Fair is crucial for the future of the giftware industry, not just to source products but also to facilitate and build relationships, to forge new partnerships, and to discover and drive innovation and inspiration.”
Meanwhile, health & safety at the show is being taken very seriously. Anyone entering the NEC venue at Spring Fair - including those during build-up and breakdown - will need to show their valid Covid-19 pass, or a negative result to a lateral flow test taken within 48 hours. In addition, aligned to Government guidelines, all attendees will have to wear a face covering during the show.
Visit www.springfair.com for exhibitor information and the latest Safe & Secure guidelines. (For more about Spring Fair, see pages 25, 27 and 29).
Left: Hyve Group’s Julie Driscoll. Above: Spring Fair takes place with Moda for the first time.
Top Drawer Postponed
Postponed by just over a month, (due to the uncertainty of the Omicron variant before Christmas), Top Drawer Spring is going ahead on 20-22 February 2022.
“We are committed to bringing visitors Top Drawer SS22 in a safe environment that they can feel comfortable attending,” states show director Russell Rule of Clarion Retail, which owns and organises Top Drawer.
“With this in mind, we felt it was the right decision to postpone to a later date in the same buying season, and we believe that a safe and successful event can be run in late February 2022.”
Two other January shows have also been postponed. The January Furniture Show, due to take place from 24-27 January, has been moved to 24-27 April, with all visitor registration automatically transferred to the new dates. In addition, following the introduction of new Scottish restrictions for events, Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring/Scotland’s Speciality Food Show has been postponed until 27-29 March, with the majority of exhibitors expected to participate as usual. While disappointing for both suppliers and retailers, organisers Springboard say it is the sensible and safe route to take, still allowing retailers enough time to source new products for the 2022 season. Explains Mark Saunders, director, Scotland’s Trade Fair: “as Q1 buying patterns are going to be uncertain we feel a postponement is helpful to the trade, not least in providing a better trading environment but also a much safer one giving buyers confidence to attend.” Visit www.topdrawer.co.uk; www.januaryfurnitureshow.com; www.spring.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk
Left: Top Drawer’s show director Russell Rule.
Industry NEWS
Ambiente Is Cancelled
Messe Frankfurt, organisers of Ambiente, Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld, has confirmed that due to the pandemic situation worldwide, and tightened travel and contact regulations, the shows, that were due to take place in January and February, have been cancelled. "This decision was anything but easy for us,” confirmed Detlef Braun, member of the executive board of Messe Frankfurt.
However, the shows have not been postponed to a later a later date in 2022,
with Detlef explaining: “since the trendoriented order cycles of the international consumer goods industry require an annual event at the beginning of the year, a shift to the second half of the year would not meet the needs of the exhibiting companies and visitors." Plans for 2023 will be announced at the beginning of February.
Meanwhile, Messe Frankfurt has been actively helping retailers with Nextrade and Conzoom Solutions, an information platform for the global consumer goods sector.
Above: Ambiente has been postponed until 2023.
Date Change For Delhi Gift Show
Due to Omicron, the Spring edition of IHGF Delhi Fair has been rescheduled and will now take place from 30 March - 3 April at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Delhi NCR.
Over 2,000 exhibitors will be showcasing product in 14 halls and 900 mart showrooms, running alongside theme pavilions, artisanal fare, live craft making, ramp presentations, workshops and seminars.
The show’s key sectors include gift, home, lifestyle, fashion and fashion accessories, jewellery, housewares, garden, outdoor and festive.
IHGF Delhi Fair, which takes place in Spring and Autumn, is organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), representing handicraft manufacturers & exporters in India.
Visit www.ihgfdelhifair.in
Above: Lifestyle is among the key product sectors at the Delhi Gift Fair.
GOTY Shortlist Announced
Judges Faced With Some Tough Decisions
The shortlist for this year’s Gift of the Year (GOTY) competition, organised by The Giftware Association, has been announced and can be viewed on the Gift of the Year website. Visit www.giftoftheyear.co.uk
“The aim was to always grow the competition and really show off some of the fantastic products that have been created during lockdown,” explained the GA’s marketing & PR manager Chris Workman.
Continued Chris: “this year’s shortlist reflected all the hard work and innovativeness from our industry, work that has been going on behind closed doors, with staff shortages and lockdowns. With so many great entries, the judges had a tough time in choosing the finalists.” Chris highlighted that the shortlist, as in previous years, is larger to allow for more celebration of the judges’ favourite products, as well as reflecting some larger than usual categories, with extra judges asked to tie break.
A second round live judging will be taking place at Spring Fair on February 9, with the winners announced at The Gift Awards taking place on May 12 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, alongside The Greats Awards. This year’s Gift of the Year judging panel once again included Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net
Left: Among the GOTY judges is PG&H’s editor Sue Marks.
June Date For Sustainability Conference
The first in person Sustainability in Licensing Conference (SILC) will be taking place at the Royal Geographical Society on 22 June, with the event open to companies across all sectors, to include gifts and home suppliers.
With more and more gift and home companies putting sustainability high on the agenda in 2022, insightful research from The Insights Family has found that ‘purpose first’ is becoming a key factor for parents when buying products for their children, which could see companies switch their marketing strategies to better convey their sustainability credentials. (See Child’s Play on pages 61-63).
Sustainable Easter Gifts
With seeded paper currently a huge trend, Easter gifting is very much a focus for Plant A Bloomer. Last year, the company’s Spring Plantable Tokens letterbox gifts, featuring seed paper Easter eggs, bunnies and butterflies, became an instant hit after being recommended on This Morning’s Easter gift guide, leading them to sell out within minutes, with the range available to purchase again this year. “For each unit sold, we will be donating £1 to the Adopt an Acre Appeal, to raise £500 to adopt a protected wildflower meadow, in partnership with charity Plantlife,” confirms Plant A Bloomer’s founder Rani Deshpande. “We hope to reach our target by the summer.” The company will also be launching a brand new addition to the range this Spring, the Grown Your Own Veg Plantable Tokens sack. “Building on the lockdown craze for gardening, and encouraging healthy eating, this product features carrot, lettuce and radish shaped seed paper tokens, presented in a mini hessian sack with a gingham label.”
Explains Rani: “Little ones can plant their tokens to grow their own salad patch, and even for those without a garden, they can be grown indoors in a plant pot placed on a windowsill, making this a suitable gift for all children.” (See Child’s Play on pages 61-63).
Above: Plant A Bloomer chick planting.
Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2022
Back in its usual Spring slot for 2022, this year’s Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards (B&LLA’s) will take place on Wednesday 27 April at the Hilton, Park Lane. The closing date for entries is Tuesday 8 March. Visit www.brandlicensing.eu
Industry NEWS
Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature
Opening on 12 February, and tying in with Peter Rabbit’s 120th birthday year, Beatrix Potter: Drawn To Nature is a new exhibition opening at London’s V&A.
Celebrating the life and work of one of the best-loved children’s authors of the 20th century, and in collaboration with the National Trust, the exhibition will be taking visitors on a journey to discover Beatrix’s life as a scientist and conservationist, exploring the places and animals that inspired her most loved characters. (See Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit on pages 52-53).
Above: An exciting Beatrix Potter exhibition will be opening its doors at the V&A in February.
Countdown To Christmas
For gift shops that sell Advents, brand new from Longton Designs are nativity Advent candle dinner and pillar size candles by Alison Gardiner. “New for 2022, Alison has created another great design which is available as either dinner or pillar size,” says Longton Designs’ ceo Alastair Gregory.
“They are made at Longton’s factory in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, and for retailers who haven’t tried Advent candles its worth trialling as it’s a great pick-up line for a wide variety of shops selling gifts and cards.”
Above: Advent candle dinner and pillars from Longton Designs.
NEWS IN BRIEF
l Celebrating 50 years in 2022, Candlelight, is proud to be re-launching the company’s iconic, amber kitchen storage jars to commemorate the special milestone. (See Back To The Future on pages 34-35).
l Contemporary womenswear show Scoop x Pure is taking place at the Truman Brewery London from 8-10 February. Visit www.scoopinternational.com
Bira Launches Neartoo Trading Platform
Gift Indies Love One and Papyrus Sign Up Allen Designs Joins Enesco Family
February will see the launch of Neartoo, a new online trading platform exclusively for independent retailers, to include gift retailers, created by Bira (the British Independent Retailers’ Association).
Using Neartoo, shop owners are able to sync their existing online sales platform or create an ecommerce presence for the first time, with gift retailers Love One in Ipswich and Papyrus in Glasgow among those that have signed up.
“The pandemic has accelerated shopping behaviours, with more use of the internet and people also shopping more locally,” commented Bira’s ceo Andrew Goodacre. "This platform, owned by independents, addresses both of those societal changes, and will allow these retailers to open up new ways of selling to customers, and more profitably.”
He explained: "This is a really exciting opportunity for indies throughout the UK to be able to start selling online or increase their own visibility. It will get their products out to a wider audience and is the answer for thousands of indie stores across the UK to still maintain a bricks and mortar presence on the high street, while also allowing them to sell online but at a lower cost.”
The Association is urging all independent retailers to sign up, regardless of whether they are Bira members, with Neartoo complementing physical stores, helping independent retailers to move forward with a ‘hybrid’ model of retailing. For Bira members, the use of the platform is free for 12 months, while nonBira members can get five months free when they sign up. The UK-wide platform will operate at a significantly lower sales commission than its competitors, with time-saving benefits such as one-click product uploads. Visit Neartoo.co.uk
Joe Davies Distributes Xpressions 4 U
Big name brands, to include Pots of Dreams, Boofle, Nordic Lights, Feather & Grace, Only Fools & Horses, Dad’s Army and Minecraft, are now available from Joe Davies, following the appointment of the company as distributor of popular Xpressions 4 U ranges to independent retailers.
As a part of the launch, Joe Davies and Xpressions are offering a 10% discount on the first Xpressions order placed with Joe Davies between 7 January-1 March 2022.
“We are looking forward to supplying Xpressions customers, many of which we already serve,” comments Joe Davies’ commercial director Paul Hooker. “The brands are a perfect match to our existing ranges and the tie up will really benefit both companies’ customers.” Adds Xpressions’ managing director Kishor Shah: “we have been working on new strategies to evolve the Xpressions business to meet the changing marketplace and to ensure we keep on track for our long-term plans for growth. As part of this strategy, we are moving to new offices and changing to third party warehousing. To ensure our independent customers receive the same level of support and service they have always enjoyed we wanted a distribution partner to supply Xpressions direct to independent retail. Joe Davies is a perfect fit for the Xpressions range and our customers.”
The collection will be on display on the Joe Davies stand (Hall 4; Stand 4C20-D21) at Spring Fair (6-9 February at the NEC, Birmingham). Prices remain unchanged for customers.
Above: Pots of Dreams is one of the popular Xpressions 4 U ranges and is now distributed by Joe Davies.
NEWS IN BRIEF
l Stuffed cows, monkeys, cats, dogs and pigs are among the most highly ranked soft toys according to a national survey of 2,000 parents, carried out by eco-friendly toy brand Living Nature.
Right: The Highland cow is Living Nature’s best selling toy.
l After a successful return to London’s ExCeL last year, plans for Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) are already underway, with the show running from 20-22 September. Visit www.brandlicensing.eu
Industry NEWS
Following the acquisition of Allen Designs by Enesco LLC, creator and designer Michelle Allen will be leading the continued development and execution of the brand. “We are very excited to have Michelle Allen, her designs, and her product line become a part of the Enesco family of international brands,” states Enesco’s ceo Todd Mavis.
“Our Enesco European operations have been a successful distributor of Allen Designs for over 15 years, and we are looking forward to teaming up with Michelle as she continues to focus on the creative development of her brand while Enesco, with our successful sales team and distribution expertise, helps to expand her geographic audience and target markets worldwide.”
Adds Michelle: “This partnership will allow me the opportunity to focus on what I love and what I do best, which is to create art, and design fun, functional, and awesome products.” Visit www.AllenDesignsStudio.com
Above: A quirky, functional clock from Allen Designs.
New Spring Catalogue, New Designs
Rex London has launched a digital trade catalogue for Spring 2022, featuring some130 completely brand new products alongside existing bestsellers, awardwinning products, and favourite design collections. The catalogue also features top-performing categories to include baby, toys and games, stationery, baby and recycled bags.
New designs include Wild Flowers, inspired by vintage botanical illustrations that can be found in some of Britain’s wildflower meadow species, and Sharks, featuring lesser-known species, as well as the great white, hammerhead and leopard sharks.
In addition, several collections have been expanded to include Fairies in the Garden; Cheetah; Butterfly Garden; Top Banana; Home & Garden as well as giftwrap.
