Progressive Gifts & Home February 2023

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Dive into the colourful world of designer Jessi Raulet with our latest lifestyle brand.

celebrate with us

The Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration collection is here! Be part of the magic with new, time-limited products honouring Disney’s anniversary.

Editor’s Insight

As PG&H went to press in mid-January, some good news had just been released, notably, that the UK economy - okay, only by 0.1% - was at last heading in the right direction, which was better than anticipated.

With Christmas undeniably the most crucial period for retailers, especially gift retailers, snow and postal strikes didn’t bode well in December, especially coupled with a slow festive start for many and, as expected, a lower consumer spend. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. In fact, for some retailers, it was actually an excellent Christmas, although sadly, not for all of course. We asked a selection of gift retailers for the full lowdown, so turn to pages 1921 to discover the highs and the lows that was Christmas 2022.

Meanwhile, amid all the uncertainty that continues to permeate our everyday lives - the cost of living, strikes and much else besides - one thing we are very happy to confirm is that The Greats Awards 2023 are well and truly underway. The cream of gift retail will be recognised and rewarded at The Gift Awards, which take place at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on May 11, where the winners of the Gift of the Year Awards will also be revealed in a joint awards ceremony.

The closing date for Greats entries/self-nominations is 21 February - nominations need to be with us by 31 January - with a downloadable entry form available on www.thegreatsawards.co.uk. Alternatively, entries can be emailed directly to me at suem@maxpublishing.co.uk. We know that there are lots of exceptional gift retailers out there and we want to hear from you! Turn to page 9.

Elsewhere in this issue, we take a look at some of the exciting new launches at Spring Fair (February 5-8, NEC), and have a face-to-face chat with the sourcing director of brand new show Source Home & Gift which is colocating with Spring Fair. Turn to pages 33-35.

We also catch up with the entrepreneurial Oliver Tress, founder and hands-on managing director of Oliver Bonas,

The

Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk

Left: Sue is shown enjoying a glass of fizz with Enesco’s licensing manager Wendy Addison on the company’s stand at Spring Fair 2022. (See Approach to Spring Fair on pages 37-39).

Below: PG&H’s ad manager Ali Farrell (centre) recently met up with Jules Vahrman, managing director of Wild Things, and his wife Vicky. (See Approach to Spring Fair on pages 37-39).

which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year (turn to pages 48-49), and talk to Katie Loxton, co-founder and creative supremo of her eponymous company and Joma Jewellery on pages 52-53.

Suppliers meanwhile, discuss how societal changes are impacting on products and product choices (turn to pages 85-87), plus, we take a look at what’s trending in the home fragrancing marketplace (turn to pages 77-79), and in the jewellery and fashion accessories sector (turn to pages 67-71). In addition, the winner and finalists in last year’s Greats Best Display category reveal where their inspiration comes from. Turn to pages 57-59.

Elsewhere, wise words come from Sarah Ward, ceo of The Giftware Association, (turn to page 25), who, along with six leading gift companies, highlights the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the industry. Turn to pages 29-31. But first, catch up with all the latest news and views on pages 9-15, and see what our columnists Rob Hutchins, editor and community manager of Products of Change, and Libby Holden, owner of Lovely Libby’s in Rayleigh, have to say on pages 23 and 89 respectively.

As the countdown to Spring Fair begins, the PG&H team are packed and ready to head off to Birmingham, so looking forward to seeing you all there!

Sue Marks, Editor

Publishers: Jacqueline Brown, Warren Lomax, Ian Hyder and Rob Willis

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UK gift and home industry is dynamic, innovative and vibrant and The Greats Awards reflect all of this and much more. Be a part of it!

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Last Chance To Enter The Greats Awards!

Closing Date For Entries Is February 21

With a closing date of 21 February 2023, entries and nominations (closing date 31 January 2023) have been arriving thick and fast for The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2023 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 21st 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.

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 boardfrom 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!”

An Audience With The King

A very special honour was recently bestowed on David Austin, owner of Austins department store in Newton Abbot - winner of The Greats Awards 2022 Best Department Store Retailer of Gifts category. He was recently invited to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace in the presence of King Charles, in recognition of the store’s contribution to the UK economy as a small business.

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, all winners - both The Greats and the Gift of the Year 2023 - will be revealed at The Gift Awards, a fabulous black tie awards event, to be held at the glamorous Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Thursday 11 May.

“Winning a Greats Gift Retailer award has become the

Tickets to the awards can be booked quickly and securely by visiting www.max-subscriptions.net/tickets/or by contacting awards organiser Clare Hollick at clare@createvents.co.uk (tel: 01183 340085).

Tickets cost £215 (+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.

Gift Of The Year Shortlist Announced

After a nail-biting few months, the shortlist for this year’s Gift of the Year competition, organised by The Giftware Association, was announced at the beginning of January, with entries judged by over 100 judges that included ‘Dragon’ Sara Davies MBE.

“We had some standout products and received record votes in each category,” confirmed the GA’s PR and marketing manager Chris Workman. “The shortlist reflects all the hard work and innovation from our industry, despite the challenges. We have grown the competition, attracted brand new companies to the awards, and refined our categories. Many of the products entered are very exciting, with this year’s competition the biggest yet.”

Following demand from the judging panel, the shortlist has been expanded, reflecting the scale of some of the most popular categories, such as the Ethical and Sustainable Gift category. (See Industry Ambition Amplified on page 23).

The live judging takes place during Spring Fair (5-8 February, NEC). To view the GOTY shortlist visit www.giftoftheyear.co.uk

“We were in a group of only four retailers and were able to talk to the King who was extraordinarily personable, interested and engaging,” highlights David. “It was such a privilege. Everyone at Austins has been excited and thrilled that this recognition and honour was extended to us.”

From humble beginnings, four Austins stores dominate the market town’s landmark ‘clock tower’ square, making the retailer the largest independent, familyowned department store in the South West.

“My dream was always to create a mini John Lewis for the West country,” David told PG&H.

Above: The flagship Austins department store in Newton Abbot.

Honour For ‘Inspirational’ Gift Indie

Following a record number of entries, Jo Williams, founder and owner of Joco in Nuneaton, has been selected as a 2023 top 100 Female Entrepreneur.

Jo has been invited to celebrate with other winners at the House of Lords on International Women's Day, 8 March.

The f:Entrepreneur #ialso100 campaign highlights, champions and celebrates 100 inspirational female entrepreneurs across the UK who are wearing many hats and doing many inter-connecting roles, with a specific focus on community and sustainability. The prestigious list features women with impactful stories and inspiring businesses.

re-located Nuneaton store.

Left: ‘Dragon’ and GOTY judge Sara Davies MBE.

Above left: Last year’s Greats winners are shown with their trophies. Left: The Greats trophy standing proud.

Above: Joco’s owner Jo Williams at her newly

NEW FOR

Introducing our New Spring Summer Accessory Collections for 2023. Our specialist designers have worked hard with our global sourcing teams to create and develop this comprehensive collection, which offers products to cover all budgets, without compromising quality or style.

Whatever look you want to create, our extensive range offers products to suit all interiors. There’s a style for every preference, whether that’s a fully coordinated range or simply an accent piece to complete your room.

Inspiring Retail Stage At Spring Fair

Theo Paphitis Heads Impressive Speaker Line-Up

Retail entrepreneur and former ‘Dragon’ Theo Paphitis - chairman and owner of Ryman, Robert Dyas, Boux Avenue and London Graphic Centre - will be the keynote speaker at Spring Fair, (5-8 February, NEC), taking to the Inspiring Retail Stage on 7 February at 2.30pm.

In conversation with The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong, he will be addressing the current challenges facing businesses across the UK - as well as the opportunities that can arise out of tougher trading conditions.

The Inspiring Retail Stage content programme will again deliver a packed schedule

of speakers offering inspiring, informative insights, to include home and gift trends for 2024. Championing retail, the full schedule of live content kicks off on Sunday 5 February at 11am with ‘Do you know which key numbers will help you grow your business? by Forbes.com contributor and small business retail expert Catherine Erdly. Also, among those sharing informative insights on the Inspiring Retail stage will be Products of Change’s ceo Helen MansellStopher, who will lead a panel discussion at 3.45pm on 7 February on new packaging legislation, how it impacts the retail sector, and how to embrace the new wide-ranging packing requirement challenges.

On the trends front, TrendBible will be delivering Trend Update: 2024 Home and Lifestyle Trends on 6 February, followed by Trend Update: Celebration and Gifting Trends on 7 February. To see the full line up of speakers visit www.springfair.com/seminars.

Dedicated #SBS Village

Following a successful four year partnership with Autumn Fair, in a new collaboration with Spring Fair, the show will be hosting Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Small Business Sunday (#SBS) winners with a free stand worth thousands of £pounds in the dedicated #SBS Village situated in Hall 4.

“I’m delighted that we have extended the partnership to Spring Fair, where this year’s exhibition winners will have an even more valuable opportunity in the early part of 2023,” states Theo. “This is an exciting development for #SBS, one of the UK’s leading small business initiatives, and I’m looking forward to visiting the show and meeting all our brilliant and deserving winners.”

Adds Nicola Meadows, portfolio director at Spring Fair: “Our shared values and vision with #SBS and Theo enable us to provide an incredible opportunity for start-up businesses. Taking centre stage in the #SBS Village, the winners across the gift, beauty and toy sectors, will gain access to thousands of buyers ready to order products.”

Twelve new winners and two past winners, who had been unable to exhibit previously, will present their designs. Visit www.springfair.com

A New Baby Brand For Wrendale

Wrendale Designs will be unveiling two big launches at Spring Fair (5-8 February, NEC) - sub-brand Little Wren, a baby products collection - as well as a new range of kitchen textiles featuring the company’s much-loved designs.

“Driven by customer demand we’ve been wanting to develop a baby range for several years,” explains founder and creative maestro Hannah Dale.

There are three different ranges in the collection - Little Forest, Little Paws and Little Savannah - with Hannah thrilled to be teaming up with Eden Reforestation Projects. “For every babygrow purchased, we will fund the planting of a tree,” she confirms. “We’ve included a gift tag with each one so that the recipient knows that a tree has been planted in their baby’s name.”

Meanwhile, the new kitchen textile collection introduces six new everyday patterns and two new Christmas designs across tea towels, aprons and oven gloves, with more products in the pipeline.

Above: Little Wren by Wrendale Designs will be unveiled at Spring Fair.

Spotlight On Pets

With owners allegedly spending more on gifts for their pets than ever before, Spring Fair (5-8 February, NEC), will be unveiling an exciting line-up of exhibitors putting the spotlight on products and gifting for pets.

“As a continuing growth sector which looks to be relatively unaffected by the cost-of-living crisis, we are seeing more and more brands focusing on products and gifting for pets or introducing pet ranges to their collections. We’re excited to showcase some brilliant new, innovative products to the marketplace,” states Spring Fair’s event director Daniel Mayhew.

Pet-related exhibitors include Widdop & Co., Gift Republic, Rex London, The Little Dog Laughed, Chalk UK, The Bottle Baking Company, Kikkerland Wag & Wool, Denzels, Twiggy Tags and W’zis. Visit www.springfair.com

Above: Rex London’s colourful pet mat.

Reporting On Christmas Trends 2023

For retailers sourcing product for Christmas 2023 at Spring Fair (5-8 February, NEC), the show’s trend agency partner, TrendBible, will be presenting the trends live on the Inspiring Retail Stage on 6 February, based on an insightful new report that looks at the deep, long-ranging implications of the pandemic, with celebrating and being together with loved ones a top priority for the 2023 festive season.

In addition, international responsibly sourcing show Source Home & Gift (see A Global Vision on pages 33-35), co-locating with Spring Fair, has also partnered with trend agency TrendBible on an informative sustainability report which delves into what sustainable product development will look like in 2024. Sections include Creative with Waste; Community to Consumer and Regenerative Futures.

Above: TrendBible speakers Kate Usher (top) and Wendy Lowe.

Below: All Is Bright will be a key trend for Christmas 2023.

Below: Spring Fair’s keynote speaker Theo Paphitis.

Below left: Products of Change’s Helena MansellStopher and Rob Hutchins.

Right: Glosters Pottery is among the companies showcasing products at the dedicated #SBS Village.

St. Eval ‘Most Sustainable Organisation’

Company Triumphs At Cornwall Sustainability Awards

St. Eval has added yet another accolade to its trophy cabinet. The company has once again been recognised for its excellence in sustainability, winning the Most Sustainable Organisation category at the annual Cornwall Sustainability Awards, hosted by Cornwall Council and business support enterprise Tevi.

A new category for 2022, the award is aimed at celebrating businesses that are achieving excellence in all areas of sustainability and not just focused on one.

“Winning the Most Sustainable Organisation category crowned an amazing year for us, from being in Downing Street representing Cornwall in the ‘Best of British’ event in late Spring, to receiving our Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development in June, and, of course, one of our proudest moments being awarded our B Corp

certification in the Autumn,” stated St. Eval’s ceo Ian Greaves.

“It’s lovely that the St. Eval team’s hard work to keep putting people and planet at the heart of all we do is recognised in this way.”

The awards celebrate enterprises in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for their contribution towards sustainability, environmental growth, the circular economy and carbon neutrality.

Initiatives such as eliminating single-use plastic, renewable energy expansion and a roadmap to net zero led St. Eval’s excellence in sustainability to be recognised with a 2021 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, as did recently becoming a certified B Corporation.

New Owner For Dragonfly Cards & Gifts

Cardzone has added multi-award winning Dragonfly Cards & Gifts in Knaresborough to its retail portfolio, following the decision by owner Rachael Barnes to go into teaching.

“For my mum, Rita Knibbs, who came on board as a temp 17 years ago, it’s time to retire at last. She was only supposed to be helping me out for a short time!” reveals Rachael, who, together with Rita, enjoyed a last day working in the shop on Christmas Eve. “It’s been wonderful to work in an industry that I love for so long, and with my mum by my side.”

“Our lease was almost due for renewal so the timing was right,” Rachael explains. “Cardzone have had the shop since September and our customers know it’s still as great as ever.”

Peter Rabbit Plush Fund Raises For GOSH

Enesco has unveiled brand new, special edition Peter Rabbit plush in collaboration with Penguin Ventures on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co. (owner of The World Of Peter Rabbit brand and part of Penguin Random House).

The new Peter Rabbit GOSH plush will raise vital funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH), to help to give seriously ill children, treated at the hospital, the best chance to fulfil their potential.

Part of the new reimagined Beatrix Potter soft toy collection, featuring brandnew patterns and fabrics, as well as high-quality super soft stuffings, calls on classic designs, character illustrations and original artwork from Beatrix Potter’s best-loved tales.

With each sale, £1.00 plus VAT of the small plushes and £1.66 + VAT of the large plushes will be donated to GOSH charity by Enesco and Penguin Random House Children’s. The money raised will help fund the hospital’s most urgent needs, to include child and family support services, pioneering research into rare conditions, the essential rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital and state-of-the-art medical equipment. Enesco ended 2022 on a high, with several of its products picking up prestigious awards.

FYG Partners With Anthropologie UK

Luxury homeware fragrance brand FYG (Find Your Glow) - winner of last year’s Gift of the Year Best Home Fragrance category, and shortlisted in the 2023 competitionhas agreed a new partnership with Anthropologie UK.

The retailer, renowned for its unique, creative mix of products, will initially carry FYG’s Back to Basics and Memories Collections

in its top UK stores and online. Other product lines and collections are planned for delivery in the next couple of months.

“From the moment I launched FYG, a partnership with Anthropologie was the goal,” states founder Demi Pendakis. “We share the same ethos when it comes to design-led, sustainable and affordable luxury, and I’m excited to see how their customers respond to the brand.” All FYG products are 100% natural and recyclable. Visit www.fyghome.com

Above: Part of FYG’S Memories collection.

NEWS IN BRIEF

l Argos performed ‘exceptionally well’ over the key Christmas week, with Sainsbury’s saying that customers turned to its stores in supermarkets for value and reliable last minute Christmas gifting

l Compared to December 2021, which saw an increase of 2.1%, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showed that sales for December increased by 6.9%, up on the three-month average of 4.4%, and the 12-month average of 3.1%.

l Blueprint Collections will be launching a wide range of licensed Snowtap social stationery and gifts including mugs, pencil cases, notebooks, pens, sunglasses cases and drinks bottles.

Right: The new Snowtap collection from Blueprint.

l The International Housewares Association’s 2023 At Home Entertaining survey found that 82% of consumers expect to entertain at home at the same, or increased frequency, in 2023.

l Laura Ashley is celebrating its platinum 70th anniversary, following a bumper year that saw its UK retail value increase by 27%, helped by continued expansion into new retail outlets such as John Lewis and Marks & Spencer.

Above: Dragonfly’s Rachael Barnes and mum Rita Knibbs.

Below: Special edition Peter Rabbit plush from Enesco will be fund raising for GOSH.

Left: St. Eval Christmas pillars and multi-wicks fragranced with Orange & Cinnamon.

PG Live Registration Is Open

Put The Dates In Your Diary, Say Organisers

Registration for dedicated greeting card show Progressive Greetings Live 2023 is open, with the show back in all its glory at London’s Business Design Centre in London’s Islington on Tuesday and Wednesday 6-7 June.

Comments show director Warren Lomax: “It’s always such an enjoyable event, and we know that buyers and overseas distributors want to get the date fixed in their diaries so they can get together for the best the greeting card industry has to offer. We therefore want to give everyone the chance to plan their year as early as possible.”

Over 150 exhibitors are already signed up, with lots more in the pipeline. They currently include established names such as Alljoy

Designs, Belly Button Designs, Caroline Gardner, Rosie Made a Thing and Wendy JonesBlackett, alongside fast-growing publishers including Raspberry Blossom, Stormy Knight and The Seed Card Company.

With a free lunch on both days of the show, complimentary teas and coffees, a great opening night party, and the newest launches from the greeting card industry, the show has become a ‘must attend’ for retailers. Visit www.progressivegreetingslive.com

Above: PG Live returns to the Business Design Centre in June.

Ambiente Will Reflect The Market

Below: Ambiente’s Future of Work area.

The first physical Ambiente show since the pandemic is getting ready to open its doors from 3-7 February, with organisers Messe Frankfurt looking forward to welcoming visitors both international as well as domestic buyers.

From 2023, Dining, Living and Giving will be complemented by a Working area, which focuses on the desk and office. In addition, there will be over 70 exhibitors from Scandinavia presenting their upcoming bestsellers in Scandinavian design in the Interior Design hall.

Events and special presentations include Ambiente Trends 23+, along with the Conzoom Solutions Academy, which will deliver lectures on key topics, with expert tips tailored to the retail trade.

For the first time, Ambiente will be colocated with Christmasworld and Creativeworld. Visit www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com

New Zone Launches At JATC

Just Around The Corner (JATC), among the UK’s fastest growing B2B fashion and lifestyle trade events, will be unveiling a new zone to provide a curated accessible platform for independent, emerging, niche brands in the gifting, home, lifestyle, jewellery, accessories, beauty, skincare and grooming arena. The event takes place at London’s Truman Brewery, Brick Lane London E1, on Wednesday 8 - Thursday 9 February 2023.

“The brands have wanted to have a ‘voice’ to speak with buyers but could not find a suitable platform to open dialogues with UK retailers and beyond, spanning the premium department stores sector as well as independent retailers and e-commerce platforms,” explains the zone’s creator Karen Berman.

Visitors to the show will be able to enjoy complimentary food, coffee, pastries and beverages from an eclectic mix of street vendors. Visit www.justaroundthecorner.co.uk; E: karen@justagroup.co.uk; Mobile: 07725 543142.

Celebrities Head To INDX Homewares

The Style Sisters and Keith Brymer Jones of Channel 4’s The Great British Pottery Throwdown, will be heading to INDX Homewares (formerly INDX Housewares & Linens), which takes place at the Cranmore Park Conference & Event Centre in Solihull on 21-22 February.

The show, organised by Associated Independent Stores (AIS), covers gifts, fragrance, tabletop and soft furnishings, as well as cookshop, small electricals and bedding, with the INDX umbrella brand of trade shows celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. Visit www.indxshows.co.uk

Pure London Champions Sustainable Fashion

At Pure London (12-14 February, Olympia), sustainability will remain at the fore. This year sees the launch of Purely Sustainable, a dedicated destination showcasing a curated selection of conscious exhibitors, leading the way in addressing their environmental and social impact.

The new Purely Sustainable destination will continue to raise the profile of ethical and sustainable fashion across the event.

Making its debut, Source Fashion will be co-locating alongside Pure London, Visit www.purelondon.com

Above: Fika will be among the exhibitors.

PEOPLE

l Jed Henrick, formerly coo at Ashleigh & Burwood, took over the role of ceo at the end of January. Managing director and co-founder of the business, Andrew Nettleton, becomes a non-executive director

Above: Andrew Nettleton (right) and Jed Henrick.

l Moda event director

Alejandra Campos (right) who joined Hyve Group last July, has been promoted to event director of Spring and Autumn Fair. With a focus on Autumn Fair and Moda, Alejandra will work alongside Spring and Autumn Fair, event director Daniel Mayhew whose focus is Spring Fair.

Left: Jewellery will be among the gift-led product sectors in the new zone at Just Around The Corner.

Left: PG&H’s editor Sue Marks (right) is shown with Andrea Pinder, owner of Presentation Cards & Gifts in Barrowford, and Miles Robinson, co-owner of multiple House of Cards, at last year’s show.

Feed back

Christmas 2022

‘Twas The Week Before Christmas...

For many gifts retailers, it was a slow run up to Christmas, not helped by the weather - rain in November, snow in December, postal and rail strikes and, of course, the cost-of-living crisis which, predictably saw consumers spend less than many gift stores would have liked.

So, did it all come together in the final week?

A ‘Wow’ Christmas

A Christmas cracker or a Christmas turkey? “We had the best Christmas ever here which has really surprised me!” enthused Caroline Ranwell, owner of Hugs & Kisses, Tettenhall. “I expected to be considerably down this year, firstly because of the dreadful postal strikes, and secondly, the fact that having opened my new clothing boutique, we now don't have as many clothes or handbags in the shop as we did in 2021. It is absolutely amazing that, despite these two factors, our sales were considerably up on the previous year. After all the recent doom and gloom in the news, it feels great to have had such a good Christmas, especially as we did really well with all our gifts this year.”

Postal woes: “Nevertheless, even though we had a brilliant Christmas, the Royal Mail strikes really affected my online sales, but I do think that, in another way, it also drove customers to ‘shop local’, thereby helping to counter gift and card sales in the shop.”

Festive Best Sellers: “Our scarves sold particularly well, in fact, better than ever, as did our jewellery. Crumble & Core boxed earring cards sold well for the second year running, making the perfect stocking filler or small gift. As always, scented candles and diffusers were really popular. Janie Wilson’s Christmas candles sold extremely well, with the tiny ones selling out completely.”

Lessons learned:

“For Christmas 2023 I will be buying fewer larger Christmas decorations as well as baubles, as we seem to sell less every year and end up putting more in the sale.”

Crazy Last Week

A Christmas cracker or a Christmas turkey? “I was starting to feel twitchy about the level of stock we’d ordered for Christmas, and although I felt I’d chosen well, the media was delivering a lot of gloom, almost telling people not to shop, but thankfully they did,” states Jo Barber, owner of No. 14 Ampthill, in Ampthill. “We had a much better December than I’d anticipated, which made up the shortfall from October and November. For us, Christmas started early but cautiously, and it was very much a case of little and often.”

Festive best sellers: “We had several best sellers to include the Air Fryer cookbook. We truly couldn’t get enough of these. As soon as they arrived they were snapped up, a bit like the appliance itself! Microwavable slippers, neck wraps and hot water bottles from Warmies were another great find. Plus, Christmas decorations sold well too.”

Christmas highlights: “The last week leading up to the big day went crazy. We beat previous years’ daily targets, which must have been the result of the postal strikes and panic buying. In fact, our best gift this Christmas was the postal strike! We’d moved to using a courier for our web orders some time ago, and everything we posted arrived on time!”

Above: No.14 Ampthill, Ampthill.

Inset: Christmas 2022 was a mixed festive Santa sack for the majority of gift retailers.

Above: Hugs & Kisses’ Christmas window.

Right: Janie Wilson candles were among the shop’s best selling gifts.

Drop in Spend

A Christmas cracker or a Christmas turkey?

“Christmas arrived incredibly early this year - which, thank goodness, we had expectedwith us asking suppliers for the earliest possible drop dates for Christmas stock,” comments Samantha Gibbs, owner of three Nest gift stores in Stoneygate, Broughton Astley and Thurlaston Garden Centre

“Even prior to that, we were accepting orders online for stock we had kept live from Christmas 2021. Nevertheless, there was a drop in spend, with customers certainly looking for good value. We had to work hard to increase the volume of sales to recoup the difference but that certainly worked.”

Festive best sellers: “We did particularly well with women’s accessories and usable gifts such as scarves, socks and bags. Unique games, and anything that brought people together as a family, did really well too. There was certainly a huge draw to inclusiveness.”

Postal strike woes: “While the weather didn’t affect sales, Royal Mail was a huge issue and the most debilitating issue in Q4. It impacted on sales more than I can say. I am going into 2023 with sourcing new logistic options at the top of my to do list. Sales dropped like a stone, and to have something so out of your immediate control impinge on so many small businesses is way beyond frustrating.”

Lessons learned: “Source more courier options and be ready to walk away from Royal Mail!”

Cheers To Gift Food & Drink

A Christmas cracker or a Christmas turkey? “The last two weeks of trade were very strong across the business, with growth on last year and 2019 for the same period,” confirms Amanda Bell, buying director - home, Morleys Group of eight department stores, to include Elys in Wimbledon and Camp Hopson in Newbury.

Festive best sellers: “Gifting was very much driven by food and drink and trading up into more premium confectionery brands.”

Feed back Christmas 2022

Best Ever Christmas

Christmas cracker or Christmas turkey? “Christmas for us this year was really delayed, as the festive mood kicked in much later than normal,” explains Priya Aurora-Crowe, co-owner of Lark, which has 11 shops in South and West London. “However, this was our best Christmas ever, despite the consistent issues we faced - the recession, cost of living increase, train strikes and postal strikes.”

Average spend: “The average spend was roughly 5-10% lower. However, this was counterbalanced by more people shopping locally.”

Travel woes: “For us the train strikes were a bigger problem due to Lark stores being based in London villages which are also considered as shopping destinations.”

Festive best sellers: “Self-care product categories, along with cosy giftware, were a huge hit for us at Lark.”

Lessons learned: “We didn’t order enough warm scarves or socks!”

Left: A cosy tree decoration.

Footfall Significantly Down

A Christmas cracker or a Christmas turkey? “There’s no doubt that Christmas was impossibly difficult, the toughest festive trade in the last four years,” comments Greg Rose, co-owner, Maybugs in Bexhill-onSea, Eastbourne and Hailsham. “We were very much helped by over 500 people taking up our parking promotion, but Christmas only kicked off in the very last week where we saw unprecedented sales. However, at that point, we had already stared to heavily discount, and we didn’t quite make up what we had lost in the previous seven weeks.”

Weather woes: “The relentless rain in November followed by snow and ice in December, was the biggest factor. Customers weren’t going out, and the town centres were extremely quiet. While the strikes and cost of living crisis were hitting the headlines, I’m less convinced that this impacted us as much as the media would like to say. I think it became ‘white-noise’ to most customers and the weather was the main factor.”

Festive best sellers: “As always, we did very well with light-up product and gifts under the £10 mark, such as candles and home fragrancing. We also did extremely well with light up gonks this year. Plus, personalised Toblerones did amazingly - our No. 1 and 2 best sellers. Our average, customer spend held up and even increased in the last week, but footfall was significantly down during November and December.”

Lessons learned: “In 2023 we will be having a major review of the type of Christmas-specific gifts and decorations we stock. I expect it will see us reducing our spend and investing instead in more personalised items and pick-up gifts.”

Top: A Shoeless Joe Christmas ornament from Nest.

Above: Part of Nest’s in store Christmas display.

Above: The Christmas window at Maybugs in Bexhill-On-Sea.

Above: Elys in London’s Wimbledon.

Industry Ambition Amplified

Products of Change’s editor and community manager, Rob Hutchins, champions the innovation and amplified ambitions of the shortlisted companies in the Gift of the Year’s Ethical and Sustainable Gift category, as the industry begins to embrace the fundamentals of the circular economy.

“A reusable water bottle made from recycled single-use plastics, a seasonal candle that becomes a plant pot, and a school backpack made from rubbishit could only be the companies shortlisted in the Ethical and Sustainable Gift category in the 2023 Gift of the Year Awards.

And what a line-up of contenders there are in the running. Sustainable ambitions have been amplified, and industry understanding of some key circular economic principles appears to be deepening, with the focus beginning to turn to waste reduction and regeneration.

Over 100 judges, including Products of Change’s own ceo and founder, Helena Mansell-Stopher, have been busy whittling down this year’s long list of entrants across 19 categories. And it’s hugely encouraging to see the level of innovation and reflection that has gone into those products, especially those that make up the Ethical and Sustainable Gift of the Year category.

Letterbox Love, for instance, is encouraging regenerative practices through its Seeded Pet Loss Sympathy gift – a heartfelt poem printed on a seeded cardwhich can be planted to ‘bloom a living memory’ of a pet no longer with us. Meanwhile, the Seasons Collection candle from FYG is not only a long-lasting candle that burns six months from one season to another but is made from 100% vegetable wax and delivered in a pot alongside its own seed card that can be planted in the vessel once the candle is burned. For each, it is the process of extending the life of the product after its initial use that hold true to the

founding principles of the circular economy.

Honest Bottle, another company on the shortlist, is the only reusable bottle made from locally-sourced recycled single-use bottles. Turning singleuse quite literally into reuse, Honest Bottle is also fronting a campaign to increase free public access to water fountains for reuse and refill. They are joined by Trashy Bags Africa and its Trashy School Bag.

Based out of Accra, Trashy Bags Africa is a social enterprise on a mission to make upcycled bags from the discarded drinking water sachets that litter its streets. Each month, nearly 200,000 plastic sachets are collected and brought to the team by a network of people who each obtain an income from their efforts. Leading the way in sustainable development in the country, Trashy Bags Africa has, to date, collected and recycled over 30m plastic sachets since its operations began in 2007.

Also shortlisted is Love Coco and its Love Coco Coconut Bowls, produced from upcycled, hand-crafted coconut shells; Elite and its Emma Bridgewater Rice Husk Picnicware;

Auteur’s Tru Earth range of ultraconcentrated, eco-friendly washing powder; Thinking Gifts Company’s Flexilight Rechargeable Collection of booklights; and a new-to-the-UK range of wooden, LEGOcompatible toy blocks called FabBrix, distributed by Products of Change member Inside Out Toys. The shortlisted range is a WWF officially licensed collection of endangered animals.

And that’s not all. The Silicone Straw Company has seen its Reusable Silicone Straw in Handy Travel Tins make the shortlist this year, as has Just Trade’s Tagua Town collectable animals, all of which are individually hand-carved by artisan makers in Ecuador from a single tagua seed, harvested from the tagua palm tree which grows wild in South American rainforests. The line-up is completed by Go La La’s Filthy Gorgeous bath and beauty collection, and Wrapuccino’s Reusable Fabric Gift WrapFuroshiki, the reusable alternative to singleuse wrapping. Each is an example of a shifting mind-set centred around the principles of end-of-life and reuse.

“It’s wonderful to see companies advancing their sustainability requirements by embracing circular economy thinking and looking at ways to reduce waste,” said Helena Mansell-Stopher. “The level of ambition has definitely exceeded previous years. To me, all nominees are already winners as they are pushing boundaries of what is possible in business to create the new normal.”

The next round of judging will be held live at Spring Fair (5-8 February, NEC) and we can’t wait to see all shortlisted products on display in a dedicated Gift of the Year zone!”

To join the Products of Change community contact Robert Hutchins on Rob@Productsofchange.com

Above: PoC member Inside Out Toys’ Fabrix WWF collection.

Right: Wrappuccino’s Reusable Fabric Gift WrapFuroshiki.

Looking Forward

Below:

“Overall, I think 2023 is going to be a very interesting and exciting year for us. The prediction comes from the back end of 2022, and, my conversations, as an industry body leader, with numerous companies, both big and small, who were, almost apologetically, telling me that, “yes it's tough out there, but actually, we’re doing really well.” I think the pandemic period actually helped many companies, as it gave them time to revaluate their business and, going forward, to learn not to take things for granted.

The reality is that our industry is very Christmas and Christmas order book heavy, with companies sometimes finding themselves strapped for cash during the year. However, the pandemic made them realise that they needed to be more prudent - to save for a rainy day instead of continuing to follow the same pattern of behaviour. Adopting that attitude has made them stronger in terms of financial stability, enabling them to not only make better business decisions, but also to make the right ones. We have all become conscious of everything that surrounds us, and I feel that, as an industry, we’re taking a more optimistic view this year. Businesses seem more confident and less unsure. They are more mindful too, something that’s been highlighted to us at The GA by the numerous entries that we received for this year’s Gift of the Year competition.

In terms of sourcing, unsurprisingly, there is definitely an increased pressure to be less reliant on China. Businesses continue to find it difficult to source reliably and affordably from UK and European manufacturers. In turn, retailers continue to

search for the suppliers that can offer this option. I therefore think the challenge in 2023 will be about the industry trying to move things along.

Meanwhile, based on my talks with suppliers, retailers and trade show organisers, another challenge seems to be recruiting middle management to help businesses to grow. The difficulty appears to be finding the right people, at the right salary, to move across or change their job, with loyalty, or should I say a lack of it, another bugbear for the industry. It’s cropped up as a conversational topic in many different situations recently, with support, that could once be relied upon, no longer there. The challenge therefore, is to win that loyalty back.

As for opportunities in 2023, the most important one has to be innovation. Once again, taking this year’s Gift of the Year competition as an example, it was there for all to see, with new companies bringing out exciting new designs, throwing down a challenge for other companies to be braver. None of us know what consumers will want in

2023. But we do know that they have been brainwashed negatively by the media not to spend, and that includes not buying new things for the home. Innovation has got to take on a new guise - to make people want things they didn’t know they needed. To sustain growth, it comes down to changing the status quo, with inspiration coming from trade shows, magazines - both trade and consumer - and retailers, as well as our peers of course.

Lastly, I think there is a big opportunity to provide exceptional customer service, something I feel our industry doesn’t concentrate on enough. Service is what people remember, bad as well as good. All too often, when times are tough, it’s customer service that suffers. I know that many companies and retailers provide excellent service and staff training programmes, but unfortunately, not all. It’s something I feel we all need to work harder at.

The new year, like all years, is sure to have its challenges, but my hope is that, as an industry, we can look forward with more optimism and confidence than we have for some time.”

Sarah Ward, ceo of The Giftware Association, addresses some of the challenges and opportunities for the gift industry in 2023.

Above: Sarah Ward, ceo of The Giftware Association.

Left: Happy Birthday In A Match from Marvling Bros., shortlisted in the Gift of the Year’s Cards, Wraps & Stationery category.

Home County Co. was shortlisted in the Gift of the Year’s Beauty, Bath & Spa category.

Challenges & Opportunities

Few would deny that 2022 was a challenging year, both in terms of the UK’s political situation, and most, importantly, the economy. Factor in the cost-of-living crisis, increased energy prices, high inflation, higher interest rates, lower disposable income, strikes and 17,000 shops closing their doors, coupled with a weak (although strengthening) £pound and supply chain disruption, and the year overall was something of a perfect storm.

So, what do some of the leading companies in the industry have to say about 2023, and the challenges and opportunities the year presents.

Businesses Have To Adapt

Challenges: “Every business has to adapt to changing circumstances and deal with them. With some 17,000 shops closing, both retailers, and suppliers to retailers, have had to re-invent themselves,” says Mike Winch, founder, Candlelight “There are always challenges for businesses, and longevity is about standing up to them. We started to re-invent and restructure ourselves as a company last summer, and I’m proud to say that we have managed to secure very significant orders from major Blue Chip accounts. We worked on the principle that ‘less is more’, and the results have already paid dividends. Another big plus is that the cost of freight has come down and that the £pound has strengthened.”

Opportunities: “There are always opportunities, even in the deepest recession. We started out in 1972 when the country was being held to ransom by strikes, to include the miner’s strike, and with cuts in electricity consumption people went out and bought candles, which is how Candlelight started. Ironically, buying candles now is what a lot of people are doing based on the current energy crisis. In the ensuing 51 years, I’ve lived through countless recessions and different variants of flu, and my answer is always to sensibly react to every challenge and find a solution. The challenges are the same for every business in the country. However, I’m pleased to say that, fortunately for us, the future is looking very bright.”

Feeling Confident

Challenges: “We’ve certainly been faced with many challenges over the past three years and coped extremely well with overcoming these,” confirms Julian Hunt, managing director, Lesser & Pavey. “No doubt there will be more new challenges as 2023 unfolds, and quite what these will be, like everyone else, we’re yet to find out. However, we are confident that we are well positioned to deal with them by continuing to innovate and supply new quality, value for money products.”

Opportunities: “We are very optimistic for the coming year, particularly as feedback from our customers is that our products have sold extremely well and that they are eager to see the new products for 2023, at a time when some other suppliers are apparently being very cautious. We see this as a huge opportunity to fill the gap that this will create.”

Above: Julian Hunt, managing director, Lesser & Pavey.

Above: Mike Winch, founder, Candlelight.

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A Challenging First Quarter

Challenges: We are expecting the first quarter of 2023 to be challenging as consumers tighten their belts to recover from their Christmas spend and higher energy bills,” comments Alan Pimm, managing director, SIL. “We then expect inflation to come down and the economy and retail sales to pick up. As Covid and staffing issues in Asia may cause some production delays, we have placed our orders early on factories to minimise disruptions and ensure good continuity of stock.”

Opportunities: “I’m pleased to say we that have already had some very good orders and feedback from customers in our showrooms, and have good forward appointments for the upcoming trade shows. With many new ranges on offer, and good core products, we fully expect the year overall to be a successful one.”

Above: Alan Pimm, managing director, SIL.

Looking Forward With Optimism

Challenges: "2023 will bring many challenges, such as rising business costs and supply chain disruption,” states Scott Clarke, head of sales and operations at Rex London.

“Continuing strike action may affect some deliveries and, particularly with us being based in London, transport strikes make it difficult for staff to get into work. We have to look forward with optimism thoughit’s the only way!”

Opportunities: “There are signs that some of the existing challenges are easing. We have moved towards life where we function alongside Covid, and 2023 looks to be the first time in a while where we’ll enjoy a full and uninterrupted trade show schedule. This is a valuable stage on which to show off our new ranges to new and existing customers. A new year is also the perfect opportunity to try new things and branch out. We’re looking forward to displaying our new homeware collection for the first time at Spring Fair and are working on a number of exciting projects for later in the year. We also hope that as the economy starts to stabilise from the various shocks of last year, and we adjust to the higher inflation levels, consumer confidence will return."

Above: Scott Clarke, head of sales and operations, Rex London.

Prices Have Had To Increase

Challenges: “We can report an excellent 2022. We’re still busy post pandemic, with a healthy order book into 2023,” states Peter Smith, sales director, Dunoon. “Our new 2023 catalogue, recently issued, has gone down very well and customers are ordering strongly. On the downside, we’ve been hit with massive increases in gas and electricity costs and being a high energy user, manufacturing in the UK, have had to increase our prices more than we wanted. However, demand remains strong, with most customers understanding our situation and continuing to order, with the caveat ‘we want Dunoon but will have to increase retail prices accordingly and ultimately the consumer will decide.’ We’ll see the impact over the next few months.”

Opportunities: “Fortunately we have a loyal following and a very broad market both here in the UK and overseas with sales split 30/70% respectively. Most importantly, we’ve continued to invest in new designs as the market always wants something new.”

Above: Peter Smith, sales director, Dunoon.

We’ve Dropped Our Prices

Challenges: “With some concerns about business in 2023, we took a decision over Christmas to drop all of our prices in line with the current lower shipping rates from Asia, even though most of the stock we hold in the UK at the moment was imported before the shipping rates went down,” explains Dan Unsworth, founder and managing director of Makasi Imports

“With shipping rates pretty much back to where they were in 2019, before they exploded upwards during Covid etc., we decided to get the ball rolling in 2023 by passing these shipping savings onto our customers in the hope that these lower prices will help them generate much needed sales during a tough year. Sales before Christmas were not as bad as we thought they would be, so with all of the current doom mongering in the national press, this was encouraging. We can only hope that this continues into 2023.”

Opportunities: “For our 150 brand new products coming in during 2023, we have concentrated on bringing in many more smaller new products with a lower price tag. We hope this will help fill the gap for our customers in terms of sales, due to the bigger price tag items slowing down at the moment.”

Above: Dan Unsworth, founder and managing director of Makasi Imports.

Vision A GLOBAL

A brand new responsible sourcing show, Source Home & Gift, will be co-locating with Spring Fair in February, bringing 200 accredited, audited, quality manufacturers from around the world to the NEC to help those buyers and buying teams who source internationally.

Creating a new vision for responsible sourcing, PG&H asked Source Home & Gift’s sourcing director, Suzanne Ellingham, to reveal the thinking behind the new show, as well as what type of gift and home products buyers can expect to find.

February’s Spring Fair will be unveiling a new vision for sustainable, ethical and inspirational sourcing when the doors open from 5-8 February at the NEC. A brand new show - Source Home & Giftwill be setting out to unite some 200 accredited, audited, quality manufacturers, from key sourcing regions around the world, with high-profile retailers, brands and designers who are looking to responsibly and sustainably source new products. Categories include gifts, homewares, textiles and toys, as well as handcrafted artisan products, many with an interesting back story.

“The aim is to become the UK and Europe’s newest responsible home and gift sourcing exhibition, the gateway to retail for manufacturers and suppliers from across the world,” states the show’s sourcing director Suzanne Ellingham. “We will be welcoming producers and manufacturers from over 20 countries, with four dedicated country pavilions including China (showcasing 70 quality manufacturers), two Indian Pavilions -

Source Home & Gift: At A Glance

DATES: 5-8 February 2023

VENUE: NEC, Birmingham

WEB: www.springfair.com

Above:

Below

Bottom:

organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) and the Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) - as well as an Egyptian Pavilion. Other countries showcasing product include Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Peru, Bulgaria and Senegal, as well as the US, with handicrafts from around the world showcased alongside gift-led items, tableware, soft furnishings and furniture.”

As Suzanne explains: “It’s important to us that we build a show full of manufacturers and makers that become trusted partners for their customers. We want to challenge buyers to source better, and to show them some of the best manufacturers in the world, who can take their ideas and ranging requirements and turn them into fantastic products that will sell in their store or showroom. We want to help everyone find a better manufacturer to work with, so that ‘not knowing who to work with’ is no longer a viable reason to not have better products.”

She emphasises that buyers will have the opportunity to connect with global manufacturers and to co-create new

Top: Some 200 accredited, audited manufactures from around the world will be exhibiting at new responsible sourcing show, Source Home & Gift.

Suzanne Ellingham, sourcing director, Source Home & Gift.

left: Among the jewellery items from India’s Asha Handicrafts.

Also from India are textiles from Soma.

products and ranges, thereby introducing ethical and sustainable manufacturers to the UK market. “We are working with international governments and agencies to bring in the ‘best in class’ manufacturers and artisan producers to share their capabilities with the UK market, balancing scale and quality across key buying categories, with a range of minimum order values and range of finishes. This puts the entire supply chain at the fingertips of giftware and homewares buyers.”

From a buyer’s perspective, Suzanne stresses that Source Home & Gift is a trusted platform. “Every manufacturer or maker that exhibits are able to work in the UK and comfortably supply to Europe. We

getting that product from A to B, plus many, many other considerations. Even the word ‘sustainable’ means a million different things to different people. There is nothing stopping anyone from sourcing sustainably, but the reality is that finding manufacturers that not only have great products, but consider their carbon footprint, and their working policies, and can still deliver a well-made product at a good price point, on time, is the holy grail. For us it is about championing responsible manufacturing with people who are doing things in the right way.

“Buying teams and brands have told us that they are actively looking for responsible manufacturers, those that are not just producing sustainable products, but those that pay fair wages and are fundamentally operating in the right way. The challenge for them has always been in finding those manufacturers. With Source Home & Gift, we have done the work for them. The days when buyers would spend six months in China travelling around factories have gone. They no longer want to go back to that way of living and working, so we’ve made it easier for them to find

Sustainability Leads The Way

According to research carried out by the Source Home & Gift team, consumers have become far more aware of the responsible nature of the products that they want to buy.

“For example, our research revealed that those that are aged 35 and under care the most about where their products come from, and how they are made, willing to pay up to 1.5 times more for a product that meets their criteria,” explains Suzanne.

“People may be financially stressed at the moment, but the reality is that they will delay their buying, especially with some of the bigger ticket items.”

those manufacturers, especially sustainable manufacturers, to ensure that they can trust the people that they’re working with. Every single person coming through our doors will have good working practices and work in a responsible way.”

are bringing the best responsible manufacturers to the show, finding the best exporters with good working practices. Buyers, sourcing and procurement professionals can have the confidence that if they find someone they want to work with, then that exhibitor will not fail in their internal audits. The accreditation process of sourcing new suppliers is time consuming and often fraught with issues. But by ensuring all our exhibitors have already achieved the necessary accreditations and audits, we can make the sourcing process more efficient.”

As Suzanne points out, sourcing sustainable materials and products is not as easy as it sounds. “It’s always challenging because good products and sustainability are not only about what a product is made of, it’s about the carbon footprint, it’s about the labour processes, it’s about the supply chain of

As Suzanne points out, post pandemic, life has changed for retailers and wholesalers. “Global supply chains are still up in the air, with many manufacturers that UK and European retailers have been used to working with under stress. In addition, China is still going through various types of lockdown which is significant when you consider that a very large proportion of consumer goods imports coming into the UK come from China.

“We are therefore taking the pain out of global sourcing, saving buyers flights around the world by bringing manufacturers to them. The proposition of a trade show of fully audited manufacturers that at least have a Sedex audit has proven exceptionally popular with major retailers and wholesalers, making Source Home & Gift a ‘must attend’ event.”

The second edition of Source Home & Gift will be taking place in September at Autumn Fair. Visit www.sourcehomeandgift.com

Left and below: Products showcased at Source Home & Gift range from glassware to storage baskets, and much more besides.

APPROACH TO

Spring Fair

Comfy shoes and a bottle of water at the ready, it's Spring Fair next month, with exhibitors and buyers getting ready to make the most of this year’s show, which takes place from February 5-8 at the NEC, Birmingham.

PG&H asked companies to reveal their showstoppers.

New, New, New

Approach: “Plans for our 2023 Spring Fair stand are in full swing” confirms Enesco’s marketing and product director Helen Cottrill. “Each year we like to make the space as new, interesting and inviting as we can for our customers, both old and new. Disney is, of course, a huge part of our product portfolio and we have dedicated a huge 74m2 just to our Disney collections. We will also be unveiling our Disney 100 collection.”

Personal appearances: “Additionally, we’re looking forward to welcoming both Michelle Allen, the artist behind our Allen Designs Collection andhaving had to cancel due to Covid in 2022 - we once again hope to have Lolita meet and greet.

Customers can expect to see our Scion Living, Etta Vee and Disney English Ladies collections too. As always, we are delighted to be at Spring Fair - the Enesco team love a good trade show!”

Top visitor tips: “Just enjoy the show. Don’t be overwhelmed, spend time with your suppliers, take notes and, of course, never turn down a glass of prosecco!”

(Hall 4; stand: 4C61,4C60-D61).

Home Sweet Home

Approach: “Over the last few months we’ve really expanded our homeware collection, with even more new lines coming in early 2023,” confirms Rex London’s head of buying Candy Smith. “We want to showcase these at the show, so we have created a sub room off our stand. The room will feature a fireplace and armoire, and will be dressed with our range of cushions, throws, candle holders and rugs to give the feel of a home.

“We’ve also merchandised the rest of the stand slightly differently this year. Traditionally we have grouped our products by design. For example, all of our Prehistoric Land range will be on one table and all of our Fairies in the Garden range on another. This year we are going to group by product types, so all of our wooden toys will be together, as well as all of our puzzles and all of our tableware etc. We hope this will make it much easier for the buyer to see how all our products sit together enabling them to better visualise a stylish display in their own stores."

Top visitor tips: “Buyers should be clear about what they want to get from Spring Fair and plan accordingly. Maybe they are visiting with a detailed shopping list, or maybe they just want to meet new suppliers or simply get inspiration. Whatever the goal they need to make sure they plan a good route through the halls and allow plenty of time as the days do fly by!” (Hall 4; stand 4H60-J61).

Spring Fair: At A Glance

DATES: 5-8 February 2023

VENUE: NEC, Birmingham

WEB: www.springfair.com

Above: Artist Michelle Allen, founder of the Allen Designs Collection, is looking forward to meeting visitors on the Enesco stand at Spring Fair.

Below: The NEC is getting ready to welcome both exhibitors and visitors to Spring Fair 2023.

Right: Home will be a major focus for Rex London.

50th Anniversary

Approach: “2023 is Gallery’s 50th anniversary, with the stand designed to showcase our extensive range of products, focusing on our Christmas 23 range and our SS23 collection of over 500 new products, especially accessories, soft furnishings and outdoor living,” highlights Gallery’s marketing director Bruce Bell .

Showstoppers: “It’s the first time we have launched our new Christmas lines at the show, so it is really exciting for us. There are around 150 items, taking inspiration from the natural world, featuring acorns, fir cones and woodland animals. The look focuses on black, white and gold, with amber glass warm tones.”

Adds Bruce: “SS23 includes over 250 new home accessories lines. The collection features a new category, Fragrance, which offers six different scents and four product types for each, including reed diffusers and wax filled votives. Our faux florals will focus on ready-made solutions, with elegant bouquets in white and green using classic flower stems such as roses and hydrangeas, and simple ‘drop in’ bunches in soft neutral tones with a trend-driven feathered look. We also have a new breakfast range in ivory and biscuit glaze with a simple bee motif. For outdoors, we have concentrated on planters and pots with a grey rustic charm and have some new outdoor sculpture.”

For SS23 interiors, the company has focused on two key looks. “The first is calming, contemporary easy living, with shades of muted neutral earthy tones, in curved soft shapes and wavy shaped details,” explains Bruce. “The lines include handmade ceramic vases and reactive glaze mugs, with simple clean lines and symmetry. The second look is more craft driven and artisan, with chunky unfinished raw edges, and earthy tones mixed with black and green. Products that are high quality, timeless and designed to last as modern heirlooms for future generations.”

Cheers!: “As 2023 is Gallery’s 50th anniversary, we will, of course, be celebrating at the show, with buyers invited to visit the stand and join us for a celebratory drink!”

Top visitor tips: “Times are getting tough, so buy well. Don’t rush. Think hard before you spend your hard-earned £pounds. Often the best buyers walk the show once, without buying, and then return to us saying they know exactly what offers the best value for money, so let’s get down to business.”

(Halls 7 & 8; stands 8F30-7A31 and 7A30-B31).

Top: One of two new ‘looks’ for Gallery’s 2023 range of home accessories.

Our Biggest Expansion

Approach: “This is the ‘big one’ for Wild Things Gifts,” highlights Wild Things’ founder and managing director Jules Vahrman . “We have been focused on the show since last June. It’s the biggest product expansion we’ve ever undertaken and by far the largest stand we have ever had.”

Showstoppers: “We have broadened our decorative glass offering in addition to reconfiguring our crystal suncatchers into a sentiment/inspirations range which we are calling Crystal Dreams. The show feels like a definitive statement of a ‘return to normality’ though what with everything going on these are hardly ‘normal’ times. With so much to organise we will be working right up until the last minute.”

Top visitor tips: Come by train if possible, as getting out of the car parks at the end of the day can be difficult. Take some breath fresheners, eg chewing gum. Do your research prior to your visit and plan a route around the show as otherwise, it can be a very tiring experience.”

(Hall 4; stand B22-C23).

All Things Sustainability

Products of Change will be returning to Spring Fair to anchor the show’s sustainability initiative, Power of One, centred around education, collaboration and networking across its community of members.

“In partnership with the show’s organisers, Hyve Group, Products of Change has delivered a raft of educational White Papers to drive education across gifting, home, toys and beyond,” highlights PoC’s editor and community manager Rob Hutchins

Approach: “As thought leaders within sustainable development in the consumer products sector, we will be at the show from Sunday 5 February to Wednesday 8 February hosting drop-in sessions to talk all things sustainability. The team will also be on the lookout for the latest in sustainable development across the show’s attendees.”

Contact Rob Hutchins or Helena Mansell-Stopher via Rob@productsofchange.com or Helena@productsofchange.com to arrange a meeting.

Top visitor tip: “Sustainability is on everyone’s agenda so drop a line to the Products of Change team to book in for a ’sustainability clinic’ during the show. We want to help companies put their best foot forward on their sustainability journey.”

(Hall 4; stand 4G10 H11).

Below: Power Of One will be a focus on the Products of Change stand.

Above: Crystal Dreams from Wild Things.

1: Stylish Tiffany Lamp

Standing 20 inches high with a 12 inch diameter shade this beautiful lamp is one of the many additions to our Tiffany Style lighting range. The base is die-cast metal with an aged patina finish. The shade itself is made from over 100 pieces of hand-cut iridescent stained glass with additional red glass cabochons and eyes that are soldered together with intricately cut metal wings. Such lamps have high perceived value, decorate your shop, and are proven impulse purchases.

JJ Vaillant Ltd

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 5, Stand 5A23

T: 0121 667 3629

E: info@jjvaillant.com

W: www.jjvaillant.co.uk

2: Fun For Everyone

This year marks the 50th anniversary of House of Marbles being a leading supplier of toys and games in the gift industry. Its latest collection includes a unique selection of their greatest games from the last half century in celebratory packaging. Customers can choose from old classics, including Toppling Tower, a deluxe chess set and an eye-catching display containing a mini Noughts and Crosses, Nine Man’s Morris, Knights and Triangle Solitaire. House of Marbles

T: 01626 835358

E: uk@houseofmarbles.com

W: www.houseofmarbles.com

3: Dine In or Out - In Style

Green House is the new collection that takes inspiration from the botanical world and offers a luxurious indoor or outdoor dining experience. Retailers can choose to stock from acacia wood serving, sharing and dining pieces, sustainable cork table mats and coasters as well as textured ceramics. Set the Summer table and enjoy the glorious Green House dining range.

T & G Woodware

T: 01275 841841

E: sales@tg-woodware.com

4: Breathtaking Sculptures

It has been three years since Edge Sculpture has attended a tradeshow and it is both incredibly excited and motivated by the prospect of meeting potentially new and established customers alike. The company says it will also be utterly fantastic to touch base with fellow exhibitors once more after having had such a long period away from all the hustle and bustle. It will be an absolute pleasure to put on a show with all of the new additions to the range being on physical display with many of them up to this point having only actually ever been seen through online marketing. Designger Matt has also been busy sculpting three entirely new pieces which will be launched at this year’s Spring Fair and is looking forward to gauging your opinions on them.

Edge Sculpture

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 6, Stand G30

T: 01952 884804

E: sales@edgesculpture.com

W: www.edgesculpture.com

5: Natural Selection

Gallery Direct’s SS23 collection offers over 500 new products, including a vast array of accessories and textiles, along with furniture, wall décor and outdoor living. It will be exhibiting at the January Furniture Show in hall 2 on stands E20 and E22 and at Spring Fair on stands 8F30-7A31 and 7A30-B31, where retailers can view its exciting new collection. Amongst the new textiles is this beautiful assortment of cushions, including the eyecatching Koroneiki cushion cover, with its bold textured design with asymmetric fringe detailing to add the finishing touch.

Gallery Direct

T: 01795 439159

E: sales@gallerydirect.co.uk

W: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

6: A Splash Of Spring Colours

‘Lemon Grove’ is the brand new homewares range from the Lesser and Pavey. Designed by the inhouse art department it is of fine quality with each item perfectly gift boxed. The range is very comprehensive with fine mugs, jugs, coasters, placemats, trays, kitchen textiles, teaspoon, and fork rest. This lovely, bright coloured range is perfect for any summer setting and throughout the year.

Lesser & Pavey

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 5, Stand D10-E11.

T: 01322 279225

E: sales@leonardo.co.uk

W: www.leonardo.co.uk

1: Wild Things’ Dreams Evolve

Wild Things Gifts has now gone one step further with its Crystal Dreams. The range of full colour designs embellished with finest Crystal has been considerably extended and is now available in beautiful packaging. Brand new moveable rotating floor and counter spinners offer a massive return on a small footprint. Illustrated here is their new romantic rainbow cat.

Wild Things Gifts

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, stand B22  - C23.

T: 01392 211268

E: sales@wildthingsgifts.com

W: wildthingsgifts.com

2: All Things Bright And Beautiful

Bright and soft pom pom cushions have recently been added to Rex London’s new collection of home furnishing and accessories. The outer covers of the cushions are made from 100% cotton and can be easily removed for cleaning. The colourful colours complement other Rex London home decor, such as throws and candle holders, making it easy for your customers to make their dream home a reality.

Rex London

T: 0208 746 1700

E: info@rexlondon.com

W: www.rexlondontrade.com

3: Have A Wild Time

We’re going on a lion hunt… but what else might we see along the way? A gorilla, a crocodile, maybe even a cheeky monkey! In this latest Jumini collection, the designer has incorporated friendly safari animal characters into a range of wooden toys, using a combination of vibrant colours and natural wood. All manufactured using sustainably sourced FSC certified wood, while plastic has been removed from packaging wherever possible.

Inside Out Toys

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 5, Stand 5H30

T: 01908 969969

E: info@insideouttoys.co.uk

W: www.insideouttoys.co.uk

4: A Touch Of Gold

Contemporary gift retailer, Enesco, has unveiled brand-new presentations of figurines inspired by Disney’s best-loved characters, into its ever-popular Britto collection. This unique collection pairs one of the world’s best-loved family brand with highly sought-after contemporary artist - Romero Britto. An international pop art sensation, he has interpreted some of the world’s favourite Disney characters in figurines through his signature style. Now, for the first time, Britto is bringing splashes of gold to his bold pop-art designs, inspired by the ‘Midas Touch’ and so the namesake for this new subcollection. Pieces in Disney’s Midas Collection by Britto include figurines of Mickey Mouse, Sorcerer Apprentice Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Stitch, as well as fun and funky mugs featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and another showcasing everyone’s favourite little blue alien – Stitch.

Enesco

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, Stand C61 & C60/D61

T: 01228 404022

E: uksales@enesco.co.uk

W: www.enesco.co.uk

5: Personalised King Charles III Coronation Mug

Celebrate the coronation of King Charles III with this fantastic commemorative mug from PMC. Featuring the date of the historical event within a stylish design this gold handled mug makes the perfect memento for the occasion. Available both personalised and non-personalised. Visit PMC’s website to see its full range of personalised commemorative gifts.

PMC

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, Stand 4J10,

E: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

W: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

6: A Perfect Posy Framed

Lesser and Pavey are proud to present a new collection to the home décor section of products that will be on show this February at the Spring Fair. The collection the making walls full of bouquets and the home with never expiring sentiment and floral display. 3D Flower Art Plaques feature hand tied dried mini flower bouquets presented in a glass fronted box frame with messages of love and warmth - Mr & Mrs, Home, Love, Mum, Daughter, Sister, Auntie and Fabulous Friend. Each frame can be hung on the wall or free standing anywhere in the home.

Lesser & Pavey

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 5, Stand D10-E11.

T: 01322 279225

E: sales@leonardo.co.uk

W: www.leonardo.co.uk

1: Amazing Stone Notebooks

Coming to this year's Spring Fair, Puckator is bringing a whole host of amazing items for retailers to browse at leisure. The big headliner is the selection of brand new eco products starting with the amazing stone notebooks which are made up of a combination of limestone and HDPE. This material has a carbon footprint of nearly 60% less than traditional paper, as the manufacturing is not as intensive. But not only that, it's 100% recyclable, as well as being waterproof and resistant to tearing, meaning that the paper should last a good while.

Puckator

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 4, Stand B10-C11

T: 0800 0116969

E: customerservices@puckator.co.uk

W: www.puckator.co.uk

2: Create Your Own Magic Tricks

Zero-plastic, minimal waste kits to entertain all ages. These MakeYour-Own Magic Tricks are developed in partnership with Magic Lab. Bridging the gap between craft, magic and science. These easy-to-build kits delve into the psychology behind the magic. Your shoppers will amaze friends with an original performance, created by professional magicians.

Clockwork Soldier Ltd

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 4, Stand G28

T: 07936 434894

E: info@clockworksoldier.com

W: www.clockworksoldier.co.uk

3: Equilibrium Moonstone Collection

Moonstones are the witchy wardrobe accessory that’s been steadily trending and it’s easy to see why as they are the ultimate glow enhancer.  The brand new Equilibrium Moonstone collection from Joe Davies is the perfect addition to any jewellery box and offers an ideal way to inject a splash of colour into the Summer wardrobe.  Each piece has a beautiful iridescence and magical capacity capable of elevating even the most low-key of outfits.  There are many new necklace, bracelet and earrings designs, including the popular tree of life, owls and sunshine as well as more contemporary designs to suit all tastes.

Joe Davies

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, Stand C10-D11

T: 0161 975 6300

E: sales@joedavies.co.uk

W: www.joedavies.co.uk

4: Exquisite Hand Painted Glassware

The beauty of nature has been magically captured in an extensive new collection of vases and gift items. Butterfly And Bee is just one of the many new ranges for the beginning of 2023. Each and every detail has been individually hand-decorated onto Nobile Glassware’s well-established, high quality mouth blown glass.

Nobile Glassware

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 4, Stand A25

T: 0118 973 2033

E: info@nobileglassware.co.uk

W: www.nobileglassware.co.uk

5:

Wise Words

Due to customer demand Coulson Macleod have introduced a print bundle containing 140 different designs from its best-selling Wise Words range. Supplied with two wooden display crates, each unframed print measures 23cm x 23cm and is printed on heavy-weight textured Italian card stock. With subject matters covering the obvious to the obscure, there’s something for everyone. Plus, there’s a £100-off special offer running until 15.02.23, so be quick.

Coulson Macleod

T: 01536 419944

E: hello@coulsonmacleod.com

W: coulsonmacleod-trade.com

6: Christmas 2023

Lesser and Pavey bring quality tabletop items to the home this Christmas 2023. Festive fragrances, traditional illustration of historical Christmas scenes, and quality festive gifts that can be enjoyed every year; for more than just one Christmas. Spring Fair will see the launch of so many new Christmas themed products, from homewares to festive candles and diffusers, and decorations. Quality tabletop not only serves an important role at Christmas time, but also makes the table and the home look very festive. The Christmas ranges feature nostalgic scenes, a major role in bringing festive theme to practical items to be used throughout the festive period. Other items include fine mugs, gift sets, placemats and coasters, melamine trays and accessories, laptray, doorstop and cushion.

Lesser & Pavey

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 5, Stand D10-E11.

T: 01322 279225

E: sales@leonardo.co.uk

W: www.leonardo.co.uk

1: Lovely Ewe

Sheep gifting and home décor items have always been a favourite for its customers - over many years now, particularly those in rural areas where sheep are so iconic to the countryside. The new woolly wonder, a fabulous mix of black and white, using hand painted artwork brings out the realistic character of this four-legged friend.

This collection will be on show at the Spring Fair along with all its full collections for spring, summer, autumn and Christmas. Let’s go shopping.

LANGS

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, Stand 4C22-D23

T: 01332 340927

E: sales@richardlang.co.uk

E: jane@richardlang.co.uk

W: www.richardlang.co.uk

2: Relax And Unwind

Fantastic handmade eye pillows filled with flaxseed. A brilliant way to soothe tired eyes, enhance relaxation and take a moment to unwind. They are available in unscented or with the addition of calming natural lavender and come in a range of the most popular fabric designs. They can be heated in the microwave for soothing warmth or chilled in a fridge or freezer for use as a cold compress.

The Wheat Bag Company

T: 01747 480499

E: sales@thewheatbagcompany.co.uk

W: www.thewheatbagcompany.co.uk

3: Feisty And Fun Fairy Folk

Hand-crafted gifts and all new home décor pieces made in England – new this season from Bead&Button Blooms are feisty and fun Fairy Folk, exquisitely boxed wreaths in a rainbow of colours and long, drape-able floral garlands to brighten and bring cheer to living spaces. The collectible Boxes of Beaded Bugs are equally charming! Each product is handmade and comes with the oftenadmired gift boxes.

Bead&Button Blooms

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 4, Stand 4G76

T: 0116 2793715

E: info@onebuttonuk.com

4: Magic Beans For Everyone

A gift from nature as truly as magical as it sounds. Children and adults alike will get so much joy and entertainment watching in amazement as their name starts to appear on these mysteriously enchanting plants. Simply water the beans and let the magic begin.

Global Journey Gifts

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, Stand A41

T: 0161 872 0333

E: isamuels@global-journey.com

W: www.global-journey.com

5: Great New Products For Pet Owners

A clean home is a Beldray home, even with furry friends! Having pets doesn’t have to mean muddy paw prints and mess. The Pet Plus+ range makes it easy for pet owners to keep homes clean and fur-free. Use the handy, reusable Gel Lint Roller or Hair Lifter Cube to easily lift and remove pet hair from fabric and upholstery or choose the clever rubber head brush to lift and trap hair and fur with ease.

Beldray

Visit: Spring Fair - Halls 8,7,6 Stand: 8B50-D51

E: sales@upgs.com

W: www.beldray.com

6: Make House Cleaning A Breeze

Celebrating 100 years of delivering innovative products to your store, Kleeneze is launching a range of handy cleaning and laundry products which deliver on style as well as functionality.

From a soft bristle broom, to a 2-in-1 flathead mop and bucket, Kleeneze’s vast range makes those daily household tasks feel less like a chore.

Kleeneze

Visit: Spring Fair - Halls 8,7,6 Stand: 8B50-D51

E: sales@upgs.com

W: www.kleeneze.com

Progressive Gifts & Home highlight products at this year’s Spring Fair

Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind

Having started out with a small fashion accessories shop in Fulham, South West London, in 1993, the name Oliver Bonas has gone from strength to strength over the past three decades, becoming a hugely respected, award winning, inspirational and aspirational retail brand and omnichannel multiple. Celebrating 30 years in 2023, there are now over 80 stores (and counting) across the UK and Ireland, with more in the pipeline for 2023.

Oliver Tress, entrepreneur, founder and hands-on managing director, tells PG&H how a shared culture is key in underpinning the business’ success.

Oliver Bonas has become a byword for cool, cutting edge fashion and homewares, a lifestyle store and then some. It’s the independent retailer that others respect and admire, a retail multiple that has grown over the past 30 years to attract, among other demographics, millennials who are interested in ideas and creativity, and who are looking for that extra special something. Having always gone with his gut feeling, founder Oliver Tress started out selling

imported watches and fashion accessories brought back from trips to Hong Kong. Today he presides over an omnichannel retail empire selling fashion to furniture, alongside gift-led homewares, jewellery, scarves, bags, home fragrancing products, gift books, stationery, lighting, soft furnishings and greeting cards. Everything is very aspirational, reflecting the original concept of selling ‘interesting gifts for interesting people’, with an expanding in house design studio creating exclusive own brand product. Although not a designer himself, Oliver’s creative upbringing, culturally influenced by the many countries he lived in growing up, instilled a love of design and an exploratory spirit from an early age. At university, while studying Anthropology, he began to bring back gifts for friends from his travels abroad, which eventually led to the first tiny Oliver Bonas store opening its doors in London’s Fulham in 1993. (Thirty years on, there are stores across the UK and Ireland, with new designs landing in store and online every week).

“I could have stayed with a single store but we kept growing because

there have always been things we wanted to do and to do better, and opportunities to pursue that seemed exciting and challenging,” he explains. “I believe that unless you have expertise in one particular field - which I don’t - having a bigger company allows you to bring in people who are good at specific things. It’s one of the reasons why I believe that there are a lot more things that, as a company, we can do moving forward. For me success is always about believing that there are things that you could do better, and that you want to do better.”

Top: Oliver Tress, founder and managing director of Oliver Bonas, is shown at the brand new Chichester store.

Above: The Frank velvet chair launched in January.

Above: The first Oliver Bonas shop was opened in London’s Fulham in 1993.

He adds that equally as important to the success of the business is having a shared culture. To explain the OB philosophy, he highlights a quote by Hans Christian Andersen: ‘There is more to life than living. You need sunshine, freedom and a little flower. “Our job is to be the ’little flower’ in customers’ lives, which means doing our bit to make living a joyful experience and giving cause for optimism. We are inspired by the alchemy of great design and fresh thinking and the belief that design has the power to positively affect how we feel. We have fun as a company too, and what started out as a piece of original wall art in the store, ‘Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind’, has evolved into our company values, a shared vision, a shared culture and our goal. These two combine to form the lens through which we make decisions, and how we recruit and train our staff.”

On the product front, looking back to 1993, Oliver recalls best sellers including handbags, with sun and moon designs all the rage across fashion accessories. Thirty years on, we’ve seen trends inspired by social media such as Instagram’s tablescaping, which is about the home and home entertaining, with people wanting to dress their tables beautifully when friends come over, showing they’ve made an effort.

“During the pandemic, with people having to spend so much time at home, it became the focus - we saw customers switching from buying fashion to buying homeware. It’s clear customer behaviour changed during lockdowns and then evolved as people spent more time working from home.

He continues: “Post pandemic, I think fashion has become a mix of fun, casual pieces, with people wanting to really glam up

Oliver Tress: The Lowdown

l Having launched Oliver Bonas in1993, after graduating, Oliver Tress has received a clutch of prestigious awards over the past 30 years to include The Greats Honorary Achievement Award in 2012 as well as Retail Week’s Rising Star award.

l He has been listed in the London Evening Standard as among the top 1000 most influential Londoners, and has appeared on the panel of BBC TV’s The Apprentice You’re Fired.

Left: Fashion forward into 2023: a pink abstract check pleated midi skirt.

Below: Also brand new for 2023, Hazel candlestick holders.

Bottom: The home and home entertaining continue to be big trends.

lot of people are still choosing to work from home, so it’s more of a practical decisionflexible time availability - rather than one taken to directly support local retailers,” he reflects. “Our stores in locations such as Clapham and Reigate have certainly been beneficiaries, whereas some of our city centre stores have performed less well or been casualties. Nevertheless, the neighbourhood stores have certainly picked up the slack, and we’re now getting close to where we were pre-pandemic.”

when they go out, and jewellery always a popular category for us. Fortunately, our business can pivot according to the trends allowing us to slightly change the emphasis as and when we need to.”

With a big push for people to ‘shop local’ have the OB stores benefitted from that? “I think a

Going forward in 2023, what does he see as the key challenges? “The biggest challenge by far is the current economic environment. On top of already soaring food prices, there are increased household energy bills and higher interest rates affecting mortgages, all impacting on people having less disposable income, and consequently how they are spending. When you add all of that up it’s a daunting range of headwinds.

“For us as a business, there is also the extreme volatility in exchange rates. We buy a lot in US$dollars, and after a difficult time, it’s finally a relief to see things stabilising. Also, the cost of freight has thankfully come down from where it was a couple of years ago. In addition, the property market has slightly loosened up a bit, with occupation costs becoming more sensible now, which has helped us in opening new stores, among them Chichester, Stamford and Harrogate, with Beverley, near Hull, next in line. Nevertheless, as always, business rates remain the bugbear.”

So what else in the pipeline for the rest of the year? “We continue to focus on ways we can be a more responsible employer that plays our part in the push for a more ethical way of doing business. And this year will be our 30th anniversary, so as well as planning steady growth - online as well as physical stores - we are planning some fun around celebrating our journey so far.”

Retailer Face To Face: Oliver Bonas

Daring To Dream

A visit to a market in China 15 years ago was a lightbulb moment for a young Katie Loxton, who spotted a gap in the market for carded, sentiment jewellery.

Fast forward to 2023, and Joma Jewellery and her eponymous brand, Katie Loxton, are renowned on a global stage. So how did happen and what’s in the pipeline?

Katie Loxton tells PG&H why the coming year could not be a more exciting one, with the company setting its sights on the US market.

The music world’s loss is the gift industry’s gain. If things had worked out differently, Katie Loxton, the co-founder and creative supremo of her eponymous women’s bag and fashion accessories company, alongside her first brand, Joma Jewellery, might well be an acclaimed country singer/songwriter by now, with a Grammy or two standing proudly on her mantlepiece. Instead, her name is globally renowned as a brand - Katie Loxton - while Joma Jewellery’s ‘A Littles’ sentiment bracelets and necklaces are the ‘must haves’ for gift shops the length and breadth of the UK as well as on an international stage, with sales especially strong both in the UK - the company’s main market - and Europe.

“I never thought I would be a designer - I always thought music would be my career,” reflects Katie, who originally trained as a classical musician.

So, who and what changed her career path? “It started when my now husband, Geoff, and I went

travelling after he had finished uni. We were both 21 and looking for an opportunity and a bit of inspiration. It happened when we were in China, at a market. I found some really beautiful semi-precious stones and we spent the rest of the week discussing how we could build a brand around them. We subsequently found ourselves creating a collection of jewellery which we popped into our backpacks and brought home. We then held a very small house party, selling beautiful one-off pieces to friends and family and it kicked off from there. We wasted no time building on that first collection, designing more pieces and our ‘A Littles’, which started very, very quickly.”

The lightbulb moment for the range came to her while she and Geoff were in China. “I remember thinking that nobody

was putting sentiments on a card or creating a bracelet with a charm that had a meaning, so we literally created the first six to nine pieces there and then, some of which are still going strong to this day, and it feels incredible. We had a vision to create something that felt very high quality, very considered, very sentimental, and genuinely had a quality that would stand the test of time.”

Recalls Katie: “I remember that moment so clearly, sitting there in China creating the bracelet, the card from an A4 piece of paper, and the poem that just came to me. From that moment we could see how it could scale up and become something amazing. I love that the sentiments continue to expand, to celebrate every moment for every single customer, with our focus - and challenge - to cover every sentiment and every occasion.”

Today, the couple are also growing the Katie Loxton brand alongside Joma Jewellery. “They’re very different in terms of

Left: Katie Loxton.

Below: A still from the 2022 Joma Jewellery Christmas TV ad.

Right: ‘A Little’ Birthflower jewellery that’s new for 2023.

strategy, but we’re focusing on handbags as well as encapsulating many other beautiful product lines. The Katie Loxton brand goes on more of a fashion journey, working with new designs, new trends and new colour palettes every season, whereas Joma Jewellery has more of a core range that we continually build on.”

It was Katie who spotted a huge opportunity to introduce women's accessories. “By this point, Joma Jewellery was really well established,” explains Katie. “We had incredible teams and sale agents, and we started to expand with a very strong wholesale model. We then started designing handbags and accessories, with candles and scarves as our first products. Obviously, they had to sit under another brand, which became Katie Loxton.

“The gap in the market at that point was not being able to find great handbags that had the design detail in them, at the price point we sit at. So, we began rolling out our bags and also started developing more and more categories under the Katie Loxton brand, leading us to where we are now. It has evolved to become a timeless brand that not only helps women to accessorise but also features beautiful products that can be gifted to anyone. To create the true gifting experience, each one is wrapped with beautiful packaging - something that has been a key pillar in our brand identity from the very beginning, with customers recognising and remembering us because of it. It also differentiates us from our competitors in this space, where we recently made a step change online with personalised gift bags.”

As she points out: “We’ve also grown into a brand that also has an incredibly strong online presence too, with Covid definitely speeding up this part of our journey.”

While Katie wears the creative crown, responsible for both brands, the entrepreneurial Geoff runs the business side of things. “He’s phenomenal at making things happen,” she states. “We seem to have a little bit of magic between us to be able to divide and conquer as a team.”

With both brands, they’ve clearly carved out the sweet spot that allows them to create their own space in the market. “It was something we did at the beginning and something we look for in new product development - to own our space and do something new,” Katie concurs.

A pinch me moment for Katie and Geoff last year was seeing their first TV ad go live in May. “It was such a huge success and wonderful to see it on the screen and to hear friends and family

experience it as they were watching,” Katie enthuses. So, what’s next? “There’s a series of TV adverts to tie up the Joma Jewellery storytelling. And with Kate Loxton, we’ve got some big brand elevating activations in the pipeline. There will also be a huge focus on consumer press in 2023 to generate more noise around both brands on the wholesale side and the customer facing side.”

Meanwhile, global expansion is very much the name of the game this year. “We have huge growth goals set for the US market in 2023, even though we know there will be challenges, not least the cost-of-living crisis. In the UK, there’s a huge launch for Katie Loxton that I can’t reveal yet, but that will be happening in AW23. It’s very exciting as it’s something we’ve been working on for a very long time. We also want to continue with our key categories, which is super important, particularly in handbags, with the goal for the company increasing our personalisation offering, and to grow in all areas, both wholesale and retail.

“As a brand, Katie Loxton has a lot of opportunity for other products and categories to come in as we continue to expandleading with handbags sitting at the coreso it’s exciting to see where that will take us this year.”

What does she see as the secret to her and Geoff’s unstoppable success? “The vision, and daring to dream, has been key, with Geoff dreaming as big as I do. We don’t set our sights low - we aim to smash the ceiling - and we both feel like there’s so much left for us to achieve globally across both brands. Plus, we both love a challenge!”

Katie Loxton: The Lowdown

l Three words that best describe you: “Creative, kind and (ridiculously) determined!”

l What was the best business advice you’ve received? “Ensuring that every part of our offering was really thought through and delivered perfectly, from product, to point of sale, to packagingthat real 360 view of everything.”

l What do you love most about working in the jewellery/fashion accessories sector? “How fast paced it is. It’s never ending, constantly moving, and changing.”

l How do you like to relax? As a mum of three - a six-month-old, a two year old and a four year old - life is very noisy, very busy, so to read a book, go for a swim or to simply chat with Geoff, is always lovely. I love the quiet simple moments.”

Above: The Katie Loxton Isla crossbody bag in off-white. Left and below: Packaging adds to the gifting experience.

ADVERTORIAL: INDX HOMEWARES

INDX Homewares

By

Buyers, For Buyers

INDX Homewares is preparing to return to its West Midlands event venue, Cranmore Park, on 21 – 22 February.

and innovations from a commercially edited selection of exhibitors.

The team have revealed some very exciting plans, to include new product categories, so attendees can expect a trend-driven product showcase, focusing on sustainability and energy saving, and bringing together the best names in the business across Home, Gift & Fragrance, Soft Furnishing, Tabletop, Cookware, Small Electricals, Bedding, and new for 2023, Pet Accessories.

All Things Pet

In an exciting product expansion, and to meet accelerated consumer and retailer demand, the February 2023 INDX Homewares show will also be opening an additional showroom space dedicated to all things Pet.

Launching with a daily dog walk, visitors can look forward to an exciting product offer, including clothing, accessories, grooming, toys and treats. Suppliers confirmed to attend the show include Scruffs, Trespaws, Long Paws, Denzels and Danish Design.

Alongside product launches and demos, INDX Homewares will feature special celebrity guest appearances that include ceramics designer Keith Brymer Jones, who will be live throwing and supporting his collection of designs with Forma House

Celebrity styling duo Style Sisters will also be at the show to ‘meet and greet’ visitors, as well as to promote the launch of their stunning new bed linen range with Turner Bianca

With the brand strapline ‘by Buyers, for Buyers’, and unique to the market, INDX Homewares is thoughtfully curated by a team of retail experts based at AIS, whose plethora of product knowledge and retail sector experience combine to ensure visitors to the show enjoy the latest ranges

“We’ve been busy working with our key suppliers to select the best ranges for the upcoming show and the team has also been busy sourcing new suppliers, whose ranges have been chosen to strengthen and broaden our existing product offer,” comments Rachel Breen, head of home, AIS

“Our members and visiting retailers can look forward to discovering an inspiring, trend-led, and commercially sound product showcase with lots of onsite events, demos, and special guest appearances.”

New Brands and Supplier Highlights

Newcomers to the February show will include Liga, with their design-led eco homewares; candle and home fragrance brand Potters Crouch; Georg Jensen’s timeless Sandi silverware; leading home furnishings specialists Riva Home, and D.A.D with their portfolio of domestic appliance brands. In addition, returning supplier Denby will be launching a new collection of porcelain, cookware extensions and stoneware.

Within the bedding section, Turner Bianca will be presenting new Style Sisters and Bridgerton ranges, and J Rosenthal will be launching their new Appletree Heritage bedlinen collection.

Proud to announce that their parent company Trendsetter is now a Certified B Corporation, The Fine Bedding Company will be showcasing their sustainable Return to Nature range.

As part of the INDX umbrella brand of trade shows, which is celebrates its 10-year anniversary in 2023, INDX Homewares is brought to market by Associated Independent Stores (AIS), the UK’s leading buying and services group for Fashion, Home and Leisure.

Show Information & Useful Links

INDX Homewares Opening Times:

Tuesday 21 February 2023

8.30am – 6pm

Wednesday 22 February 2023

8.30am – 4pm

INDX Shows website: www.indxshows.co.uk

INDX Homewares info page: www.indxshows.co.uk/indxhome/homewares/homewares

INDX Homewares registration link: www.indxshows.co.uk/indxhome/homewares/registration

Follow @INDXHome on social media:

Inset: Riva Home navy bedding.

Inset: Timeless design from Georg Jensen.

Above: A dog bed from Scruffs.

Windows With The

The Greats 2022 Display category

Winner: Mooch Gifts & Home, Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn

For its Halloween and Christmas windows

What’s your approach to display? “Our windows are the gateway to our stores. Our Stourport store in particular sits on the busiest junction on the high street, with our three storey Georgian store a major landmark in the town. Therefore, our windows have to hit the mark as everyone notices them.”

What gives your windows their creative edge? “We always like to create a little bit of magic when creating our windows. We refresh them on a monthly basis or to suit major occasions such as Valentine’s, Mother's Day, Easter etc. For these key dates, we add window graphics, identifying the day or date, so that customers are aware of the occasion that we are promoting.”

How far ahead do you plan? “With most of the windows we create we plan at least three months ahead, especially when window graphics need to be produced. However, it has been known that a whole year’s window themes are decided following attending Spring Fair.”

What’s your favourite display of the year? “Creating our Christmas windows has to be our favourite. Following our supplier showroom visits, planning for this normally begins in January each year. However, across 2022, we really upped the bar with regard to our displays. We wanted to create windows that wouldn't look out of place on London’s Oxford Street. After many weeks spent sourcing the props, and six hours dressing, we were very proud of what we had created and the response on social media blew us away.

“Our circus-themed windows featured characters and decorations from Gisela Graham, as well as decorations from Talking Tables, and products from a range of our suppliers to include Quail Ceramics, Wilberry, St Eval and Shoeless Joe. We worked with a local company to create circus style graphics, and we also brought the theme to the outside of our stores with festoon lighting that you would see at an actual circus. Both stores' windows were dressed identically. Customers actually thought we had a professional team in to create them, but both were created by Luke and myself - with our dog Winston assisting of course!”

Visual

is

of the game for all retailers - a chance to grab customers’ attention in just a few seconds as they wander past and stop to admire a front window.

With the hunt currently on to discover the ‘greatest of the great’ in The Greats’ Awards 2023 Best Display category, we asked last year’s winning retailer, along with three of the finalists, to reveal what continues to make their windows - and instore displays - stand out head and shoulders on the high street.

The Greats 2022 Display category

Finalist: MiMi, Hartley Wintney

For its Christmas windows

What’s your approach to display? “Both stores use period furniture to display from. Gorgeous old amours, tables and bookshelves are mixed with jewellery, accessories and homeware to create an eclectic mix of old and new. All items are for sale, even the furniture. Scarves are displayed from curtain poles instead of slat walls. Old boxes with script are used to add height to a display - again, all for sale. Clothes are displayed from ornate free-standing rails in cream metal to complement the look.

Below: MiMi’s Snowman window.

impact and first impressions

the name

Above: Roll up, roll up for Christmas 2022 at Mooch Gifts & Home.

The team at Zippy & George Design and Manufacture bespoke and customised signs and plaques for the giftware market. The products help retailers celebrate great locations across the UK and further afield. A huge range of tailor-made artwork available including licenses from Aardman and Betty Boyns.

T: 01503 261491 E: sales@zippyandgeorge.co.uk www.zippyandgeorge.co.uk

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“All members of the MiMi teams are able to put windows together overseen by myself. We are definitely not frightened of colour or trying new things. We even had live mannequins in our windows one year!”

How often do you change your windows? “We understand that our windows are so important to our success. Therefore, we change all displays three times a week.”

What gives your windows their creative edge? “The windows are full of mannequins to showcase our clothing and each change is carefully curated to include new or up-to-date seasonal styles. They are usually colour blocked too. Homeware and accessories are added to complement the clothing in matching tones. Again, all items used in the window are for sale within the stores.”

What’s your favourite display of the year? “Each year we commission Tom at Show Windows to create themed windows. These bring customers to our door to see Tom’s art, but they also increase our footfall and sales. Tom is incredibly talented and humble and it’s fabulous to see his success. (This year he also decorated windows at The Shard and was privileged to decorate the Odeon at Leicester Square for the celebrations of The Snowman!).”

The Greats 2022 Display category

Finalist: Etcetera, Hitchin

For its Christmas window (which won the Best Windows in Hitchin award in 2021)

What’s your approach to display? “As two sides of our shop are windows, our displays need to look as good from inside as outside and give our customers the ability to pick up products easily.”

What gives your windows their creative edge? “We pride ourselves on creating a ‘lifestyle’ with our displays, both in the windows and on the shop floor, to demonstrate how our products can be mixed together across the price points. Creating a beautiful display, and selling items from it straightaway, gives us a real buzz so we know we’re doing it right. When we are ordering new stock from either new or existing suppliers we always bear in mind making a story to show stock off to its best.”

How often do you change the windows? “Our windows are constantly evolving. When new products arrive we tend to slot them in, so our displays change all the time.”

What’s your favourite display of the year? “Christmas. It is such fun to display. To see our customers’ faces when it starts to appear is just lovely.”

Right: Etcetera’s Christmas window.

The Greats 2022 Display category

Finalist: Highworth Emporium, Highworth

For its Christmas room

What’s your approach to display? “The most important thing for me is that the display tells a story. It can’t be just a selection of random products thrown together. Everything needs to work perfectly, and there has to be an obvious theme. They also have to appeal to everyone passing by, even to those who are not necessarily our customers. They need to be eye catching and intriguing enough for people to stop, look at them and pop in to see us, or to take a picture and post it on social media, tagging us in.”

What gives your windows their creative edge? “I picked up a lot of display tips from the balloon industry, but also from displays at trade shows and showrooms. I follow the basic ‘triangle’ rule - good lighting and balancing the products correctly. The biggest job when it comes to display, especially window display, is creating the ambience, and that’s done through the background and lights. That part always takes the most time. I use different types of fabrics or wallpaper for my backgrounds, as well as floral decorations, including garlands, spays and floral picks, etc. I feature natural products from woods or my garden, such as branches, conkers and leaves. I suspend a lot of things from the ceiling using fishing wire. It gives the display that special edge.”

How often do you change the windows? “I don’t change the window displays as often as I should sadly, only because of time. On average it’s every eight to ten weeks. However, when I do change them, the number of positive comments we have from customers is incredible. Sometimes they just pop their head in to say ‘I love your display’, and off they go, walking their dog or whatever. It’s the nicest thing about our displays, the fact that I can make people smile.”

What’s your favourite display of the year? “My absolute favourites are our Christmas windows, I plan them well in advance, when placing Christmas orders in February. Christmas brings such a variety of themes, colours, textures and lights. This year, our main theme was Gingerbread, so I created a gingerbread village in one of the windows, using the products previously mentioned.

“Our Christmas room is another favourite of mine. It takes me a full week to transform it into festive grotto but I do love the final effect, and customers faces, when they walk in there. Again, preparation, lighting and background are the biggest jobs. Every single shelf is dedicated to a special theme and is not a ‘supermarket like’ row of products. Everything is displayed in a way that makes customer want it all.”

Top: Highworth Emporium’s gingerbread village.

The categories within The Gift Awards 2023 see an amalgamation of retail awards as offered by The Greats Awards, and the product category awards as championed by The Giftware Association

“The feelgood factor of giving and receiving is such a boost to our sense of well-being, the effects of which won’t diminish while we ride out these tough times. In fact, arguably, we need it more now than ever,” says Hot Tomato’s managing director Alex Machin.

“Inevitably, spends will be re-directed towards more affordable gifting options and fashion accessories, with jewellery easily one such category that can fulfill this demand - be it a cheer-yourself-up piece or a present for a friend. The major challenge is to keep the £10-£20 price bracket alive, allowing customers to affordably reinvent old favourites with new colours and the latest trends.”

She says that a desire for colour will be driving

Shades

Of Spring

affordable ‘go to’ products as gifts, and as a self-purchases, with people looking to add pizzazz to their clothes this season without breaking the bank.

PG&H asked suppliers for the design trends and colours that will be trending for Spring/Summer.

Top: Hot Tomato’s earrings embrace some of the colour trends for 2023.

Left: Equilibrium from Joe Davies necklace scarves.

Below left: Part of Miss Milly’s Floria Collection for SS23.

Below: Recycled beads are a first for Carrie Elspeth. Shown is the Meadow bracelet.

that makes them feel/look good without breaking the bank. Our Equilibrium collection from Joe Davies features necklaces that retail from around £10, and earrings from around £8. All are plated with real silver and gold and packaged in luxury, branded gift boxes.”

the new season, reflecting change and hope going forward.

“Accent colours include our growing love of green - in all its shades - accented by lilacs and pinks. However, the cooler palette stalwarts of blues, greys and neutrals are still around, making great bedfellows for the latest warmer, summer-beckoning, lighter hues.”

Also, fanfaring plenty of colour for the coming season is Sarah Watmore, managing director of Miss Milly. “Our Spring/Summer collection features colourful impact and new designs featuring resin pieces using bold colour, with turquoise, fuchsia and purple

ruling the roost,” states Sarah. “Our intricately handpainted jewellery focuses on ice cream pastels and pretty colour combinations, with green continuing into 2023, featuring shades from pale lime to dark verdigris, a very unusual colour for Spring/Summer, but blended with orange and turquoise or tones of purple, it works brilliantly. For us, wearable jewellery with longevity and impact is key.”

“With the cost-of-living crisis, affordability without compromising quality is now more important than ever,” states Joe Davies’ buyer Mary Caputo. “When it comes to the purchase of jewellery or fashion accessories as a gift, people are looking for value - and where jewellery is concerned, something that has the look of precious jewellery but without the price tag. As for self purchases, when times are tough, people look for something

Adds Mary: “In addition, with Oceanic, beachy vibes, and the revival of 1970’s fashion dominating the catwalks for Spring/Summer 2023, we will be launching a brand new Equilibrium from Joe Davies paua shell collection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings, a combination of blues, greens, violet and black - the colours of our oceans - which reflect the trend. And although necklace scarves have been on trend for several seasons their popularity continues for

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Spring/Summer 2023. They add a shot of colour to an outfit and are a trendy alternative to a necklace,” points out Mary.

“Any pressures on the disposable income of jewellery buyers are always unwelcome, but it’s not always bad news,” says Carrie Shapiro, founder and creative director of Carrie Elspeth. “We have survived two to three recessions since we started making jewellery back in 1999 and although each one has been different, they have all presented opportunities. People are more selective with their purchases opting for quality and locally produced goods to try and keep their money within the local economy.”

Adds Carrie, “They are also looking for affordability. As our jewellery is produced

Beads Lead The Way

At Bead&Button Blooms, a sub brand of One Button, founder and designer Amanda Angless has been busy growing the brand’s home accessories collection.

“The designs use wire, beads and buttons inspired by all that is whimsical, flora and fauna, with everything gift packaged too,” highlights Amanda. “The products are individually designed, current, collectable and very cute!” she adds.

Right: Beads are a focus for Bead&Button Blooms home accessories designs.

locally in Wales and sells for £12.50 to around £40, it sits in a niche between an impulse buy and an affordable gift, so traditionally, we have done well in downturns. Self-purchases are usually under more pressure than gifts, but it always seems to balance itself out in the end. In fact, we are seeing the pendulum swing back from experiences to purchases lately, as consumers want to buy something they can keep and treasure. As usual our Spring

Stepping Out In Style

Walking sticks too, are getting trendier. Explains Classic Canes’ managing director and designer Charlotte Gillan: “The market for women’s walking sticks continues to grow and grow as ladies embrace using their canes as fashion accessories,” with the company promoting pastel colours for Spring.

“It’s a wonderful time for fresh colours and a new start after the rigours of winter, and we always encourage stockists to refresh their stick displays with cheerful Spring colours to mark the new season,” comments Charlotte. “Our new models celebrate British birds and animals, such as bees, dragonflies, hares and garden birds, and all are heightadjustable, making them ideal presents and Mother’s Day gifts.”

Left: Classic Cane’s pastel walking canes are new for Spring.

collection is full of colorful, affordable and wearable jewellery. We are also thrilled to launch our first ever range using recycled glass beads, making this our most sustainable collection yet.” “Many people will have less disposable income, with inflation putting real pressure on low and even middle earners,” concurs Lash Marash, director of Shrieking Violet. “And when people are faced with huge rises in living

costs, non-essential items are the first things they sacrifice. It’s therefore really crucial for our industry to offer value for money,” emphasises Lash. “We have held back increasing our trade prices, deciding to have a lower margin so that we can continue to sell our jewellery at an affordable price. Keeping our overheads low enables us to keep our prices low.”

For Spring/Summer 2023, Shrieking Violet is offering a collection of real flower

Continued on page 71

Far left: New real flower jewellery from Shrieking Violet.

Left: Reeves & Reeves’ new birthstone pendants.

Below left: Pet themed jewellery from Talbot Fashions includes a dog pendant.

Below: New from Sea Gems for Spring/Summer.

Over

Field Sales Vacancy

HOW

and birthstone jewellery, with the company’s Leela collection a contender in the Gift of the Year 2023 competition. “The new collection features six designs across earrings and necklaces, handmade with real flowers, and supplied in sustainable glass and cork display packaging that also includes an inspirational message,” highlights Lash.

Meanwhile, Talbot Fashions’ gift buyer, Ginny Bryant, says that the company is excited about their new designs in the Tide and Wish collections. “They will enhance our current ranges of pendants, earrings, studs, brooches, trinket/pill boxes and pin badges, with designs including poppies, lily of the valley, forget-me-nots, daffodils, cow parsley, daisies and unusual floral designs.”

Adds Ginny: “Geometrics feature a crescent moon, sun studs, and a moon and star which have been added to our fast selling celestial collection. In addition, for animal/pet lovers, new introductions include a cat, spaniel, labrador, hedgehog, boxing hare, foxes, sheep, donkey, pig and a rabbit.”

Silver jewellery meanwhile, continues to ring up sales for many companies, with Caroline Reeves, director of Reeves & Reeves, highlighting that the company has updated its birthstone collection. “We have also added a few lovely pieces to our farm animals including ducks and sheep,” she confirms.

Sea Gems too, is launching brand new collections across silver jewellery. Designed in Cornwall, the jewellery captures the essence of the iconic landscape, nature, wildlife and heritage.

At Crumble & Core, King Charles III’s ascension to the throne has inspired a United Kingdom Coronation range, which includes earring cards as well as candles and greeting cards. “We love the bright, bold colour scheme of red, white and blue,” says director Louise Pike. “Retailers tell us that although the average budget for a gift is down, our jewellery cards, which retail at under £15, are still selling well.”

It’s In The Bag

At Katie Loxton, small crossbody bags will be new for the coming season, as handbags change.

“Women are wearing more micro, functional styles which are easy to wear everyday so we’re building out this category to make it wider,” says Katie. The company has also increased its scarf collection, with printed and blanket scarves introduced for transitional seasonal dressing.

“We’re also excited to see our sunglasses category grow as we find our own space in that arena,” Katie continues. “We’ve added brand new trend-led profiles to sit alongside our classic styles, making them the perfect accessory to sit alongside our handbags.”

“Spring/Summer is actually one of my favourite seasons to design because it’s beautiful to bring in that influx of colour and fresh, new focuses,” says Katie Loxton, founder of her eponymous company and Joma Jewellery. “Joma has a new Birthflower collection launching this season, which taps into celebrating birthdays in a really unique way. It sits alongside our core bestselling collections such as our ‘A Littles’ and Birthstone, and is a collection that will run throughout the year. We’ve also got a Mother’s Day collection that features duck egg blue, pink and floral themes, where we celebrate all of those wonderful relationships from mum to step mum, to like a mum to me, with unique sayings that customers can explore.”

For gift retailers looking to expand their jewellery ranges, it seems that there’s more choice than ever this season.

Galentine’s Gathers Pace

If romance is the name of the game for Valentine’s Day, then friendship defines Galentine’s Day which is growing in importance, especially for sentiment jewellery companies such as Life Charms. It’s about friends buying a gift for each other.

“This year it's all about the girls,” confirms graphic designer Agata Werycha at Life Charms. “It’s why we’ve launched something new especially for the day before Valentine's Day. Galentine's Day is celebrated on February 13 and is the perfect time for girlfriends to get together, pour themselves a glass of wine and celebrate their one true love - each other. So why not get each other small gifts? Our cute ‘Love ya x’ on silver foiled card is a great excuse to tell friends how much you love them.”

Other new bracelets for the company this year feature detachable charms. “We used them for Christmas and they became very popular so we decided to introduce more charms designs for every occasion,” continues Agata. “There are ready made bracelet sets, to include a chunky chain bracelet with three charms, or people can create their own charms collection.”

says it all.

Right: Porto, among the newest sunglasses designs from Katie Loxton.

Above: Life Charms’ Galentine’s Day bracelet

Left: Crumble and Core’s Coronation earrings and greeting card. Below left: Part of Joma Jewellery’s Mother’s Day collection.

1: Luxurious Leather Accessories

Saddler is a quintessentially British leather goods brand that traces its heritage back more than 30 years. Born out of a passion for leather, every Saddler piece combines the finest leathers hand- crafted by artisans employing traditional leather skills with creative design and eye-catching colour that makes any Saddler piece an ideal gift. To learn more about Saddler, its product ranges or how you can become a stockist, please make contact by email.

Saddler Accessories

T: 0141 354 8907

E: sales@saddler-accessories.com

2: Spoilt For Choice

All the colour from Miss Milly. From ice cream pastels to dazzling fuchsia and turquoise, you’ll find gorgeous new designs in the SS23 jewellery collection alongside fresh colourways on best-selling pieces. Choose from classic heart and butterfly jewellery to contemporary asymmetric and geometric styles. Plus, lots more fantastic new designs in the popular magnetic brooch collection. Prices are very reasonable and minimum order is £100 with no MOQs. Branded displays, FSC certified and recyclable packaging, and POS available.

Miss Milly

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 3, Stand F11

T: 01905 622509

E: hello@missmilly.co.uk

W: www.missmilly.co.uk

3: Beautiful Abstract

Floral Print Bags

Gift retailers will surely love these Jute bags from Hot Tomato with their beautiful abstract ‘floral’ print. This classic, artisan tote has been hand crafted in timehonoured fashion and is a super useful size (49x37x30cm) with a handy shoulder strap. It’s the kind of bag that only gets better with age and reminds us all of long, lazy summer days – they’re on their way folks.

Hot Tomato

Visit: Spring Fair - Summerhouse Hall 7, Stand A71

T: 01225 422188

E: sales@hot-tom.com

W: www.hot-tom.com

4: New And Exclusive Designs

Talbot Fashions is excited about its new and exclusive designs that will enhance current collections of pendants, earrings, studs, brooches, trinket/pill boxes and pin badges. These include stunning poppies, lily of the valley, forget me not, daffodils, cow parsley, daisies, floral designs and geometrics. A crescent moon, sun studs & moon and star pendant are additions to its popular celestial collection. Animal and pet lovers will adore the curious cats, spaniel, labrador, hedgehog, boxing hare, leaping fox and fox in the moon light.

Talbot Fashions

T: 01273 776415

E: Info@talbotfashions.com

W: www.talbotfashions.com

5: Fabulous And Fun

Hot Tomato’s ‘Genuinely Not Leather’ purse offering continues to lift spirits with some wonderful colour combinations, contrasting zippers and general usefulness. Shown here is the full purse (19x10cm) complete with eight card slots + five extra sections and a central zip-up pocket - there is also a handy credit card only version in the same palette –gorgeous.

Hot Tomato

Visit: Spring Fair - Summerhouse Hall 7, Stand A71

T: 01225 422188

E: sales@hot-tom.com

W: www.hot-tom.com

6: New Nature Inspired Jewellery

Coral and Mint has expanded its signature stripes jewellery collection adding new nature inspired pieces featuring their trade mark enamel pops of colour. Each comes presented within a foiled gift box and POS packages are available for stand out display options.

Affordable jewellery at just RRP £12.99 for the earrings and £14.99 for the necklaces. No minimum order quantity and quibble free returns on opening orders if you or your customers aren’t satisfied.

Coral & Mint

T: 07739 580975

E: kate@coralandmint.com

W: www.coralandmint.com/tradelogin

New What s ,

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest jewellery and fashion products to be showcased this month

These magnetic eco & non-eco scarves, which are offered in a variety of colours & patterns, provide the ideal accessory to compliment the neckline. They are so easy to put on – no over the hair and neck, just click them on with our Magnito Clasps.

Best wholesale prices for eco & non-eco. All carded, priced and barcoded if required.

Display on slat walling as a space saver, or on our stands. Prices for eco & non-eco are £3.99 each, retail £8.99/£9.99. Considering that some are eco these are fantastic prices.

1: Making A Difference

Looking for a new product for the increasing number of environmentally conscious customers this summer? Look no further than Thriving Earth’s colourful bamboo socks. Made from organically grown bamboo, these socks not only feel great on your feet but make the world a better place with each step taken, as for every pair sold a free pair is donated to a homeless charity.

Thriving Earth

T: 01738 718719

E: info@thrivingearth.com

W: www.ThrivingEarth.com

2: Tribal EARTH Collection

Midhaven has launched its new range of Men’s recycled leather bracelets with 316L stainless steel. Made from genuine sustainable leather offcuts and scraps which are shredded and processed into strong, recycled leather. Choose from over 20 styles in assorted colours and sizes. RRP £19.95£35.00. Prices are extremely keen, quality is high with attention to design, comfort and durability –and the Tribal Earth range is guaranteed for 12 months. All bracelets come in natural jute Tribal Steel pouches.

POS available for orders over £250

Midhaven

Visit: Spring Fair – Stand 2K51

T: 01299 851513

E: info@midhaven.co.uk

W: www.midhaven.co.uk

3: My Moments Collection

Say hello to Joma Jewellery’s brand-new My Moments Collection. Just landed this season, this sweet and sentimental collection boasts both silver and gold-plated designs, a range of sentiments for every gifting moment, and matching bracelets and necklaces that make for the prettiest present. This collection has both Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day covered with its styles for every mum and love story.

Joma Jewellery

T: 01295 263430

E: enquiries@jomajewellery.com

W: www.wholesale.jomajewellery.com

4: Stunning Birthstone Collection

Katie Loxton has updated its bestselling Birthstone Collection for the new season. Featuring gorgeous real semi-precious stones, these styles have been refreshed with a pastel colour palette which makes this collection more giftable than ever. Consisting of Pouches, Jewellery Rolls and boxed Keyrings, if you buy the Birthstone Collection Pack, you’ll receive complimentary ‘Happy Birthday’ Gold Bow Gift Bags.

Katie Loxton

T: 01295 250879

E: enquiries@katieloxton.com

W: www.wholesale.katieloxton.com

5: Styles To Compliment Any Outfit

These magnetic eco and non-eco scarves, which are offered in a variety of colours and patterns, provide the ideal accessory to compliment the neckline. They are so easy to put on, no over the hair and neck, just click them on with our Magnito clasps. Best wholesale prices for eco and non-eco. All carded, priced and barcoded if required. Display on slat walling as a space saver, or on our stands. Prices for eco and non-eco are £3.99 each, retail £8.99/£9.99. Considering that some are eco these are fantastic prices.

Scarves International

E: magneticscarves.uk@gmail.com

W: www.scarvesinternational.co.uk

6: New Stylish Watch Collection

For Glen Ogal’s new watch collection, the Astronomer series, the skies offer a magnificent source of inspiration. The range of high-quality affordable watches makes a wonderful addition to any gift or jewellery store.

Glen Ogal

T: 0131 503 0004

E: info@glenogal.com

W: www.GlenOgalTrade.com

New What s ,

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest jewellery and fashion products to be showcased this month

Home

Scents

“As we enter a new season, people will be looking for a fresh, vibrant, long-lasting scent for their home that is recognisable as soon as people walk in through the door,” says Enesco’s Sophie Ferguson, “with our Eau Lovely candles and diffusers made from natural soy wax, featuring 8% essence oil comparable to a normal 3%. The collection has been created to encourage people to live their happiest, most positive life possible, especially as many have turned to hosting at home and focusing their efforts into making their houses cosy and comfortable. Different holistic crystals reflect the sentiment of the candle, with the crystals left in the bottom to keep once the candle has burned out,” Sophie highlights.

“The home interior is definitely something we take into account when developing new ranges,” confirms Lesser & Pavey’s managing director Julian Hunt. “We want our diffusers and candles to sit well in a home setting - for example,

sparkles at Christmas time and floral for Spring. Fragranced melts are highly popular and we see this area of the market place growing further for us. As such, we have numerous fragrances on offer as part of our Desire ranges.”

The company’s new 2023 fragrances are very much about Springtime - the return of floral displays in the garden and in the home - with the company’s diffusers featuring Hydrangea and Hyacinth; Lily and Black Orchid; Eucalyptus and Pomegranate; Poppy and Dark Amber; Daffodil and Jasmine, and Daffodils.

“We want our new ranges to remove the darkness of the winter months

with attractiveness, colour and fragrances reflecting the positiveness of a new Springtime and the warmth and colour it brings,” says Julian.

Following a successful 2022 for the relaunched Julie Dodsworth home fragrance collection from Broughton & Beech, 2023 will see more newness added to the range, confirms Broughton & Beech’s managing director Richard Wood. “Hand poured melts, hand dipped incense and reed diffuser refills will be added, along with a new fragrance called Honeysuckle.”

A glass 200ml reed diffuser refill complements the range for Spring 23 and will be available in all fragrances and designs. “Everything is made in England with plant-based ingredients and essential oils,” confirms Richard. “We have also worked hard to move the range away from plastic and the 200ml refill, in a glass bottle, keeps to this plan. We believe there are enough vessels in consumers’ homes that can be filled using a refill which supports Julie’s ethos of reuse and upcycle” Richard underlines.

“There is a definite trend in home entertaining, with reed diffusers and room sprays helping to keep the home

With a big focus on the home in 2023, as staying in becomes the new going out, and home entertaining increasing in popularity, how are suppliers addressing the trend when it comes to home fragrancing to chime with the current zeitgeist?

Above: Glass candlestick holders from Rex London reflect the growing trend for dinner candles.

Left: Lesser & Pavey’s floral diffusers.

Below left: Eau Lovely’s Loved candle, from Enesco.

continuously fresh,” says Aromatize’s Sophie Aldred. “With this in mind, we’ve introduced the Woodbridge Signature collection, 12 new light, clean, fresh fragrances across reed and crystal diffusers, candles, wax melts and more, allowing people to have an inviting signature fragrance throughout their home. This is the first time we have seen a crystal diffuser in an Aromatize collection with the pretty stones sitting in an apothecary style jar with a bell jar lid.”

But it’s not only about the home. “Wellbeing is at the forefront for 2023,” states Demi Pendakis, founder and

candle gives a joyful bang of essential oil fragrance once the three wicks have been lit, making it a lovely centre piece for the home or the dining table.”

Ashleigh & Burwood meanwhile, will be launching a new collection featuring four distinct aromatherapy blends designed to be used at different points of the day, centred around natural ingredients and essential oils -Ashleigh & Burwood Naturals. “They have been selected and blended for their wellness and moodenhancing benefits,” emphasises managing director Andrew Nettleton.

The collection includes scented candles, reed diffusers, essential oils, an ultrasonic diffuser and Mini Mood Boost, a set of four fun mini fragrance pots designed to be kept in a handbag or desk drawer.

“Each product in the collection has been created to provide an affordable boost to wellbeing, ideal for use during the colder months, but also throughout the year, with a strong focus on mood enhancement which is particularly resonant in the current economic and geopolitical climate” states Andrew.

“People will be looking for ways to make their homes smell amazing without spending a fortune and wax melts continue to grow in popularity” says Sassy Shop Wax’s head of sales, Gordon McLaughlin. “As always, our aim is to connect people and memories through their love of fragrance,

with a new season meaning new fragrances. We’re therefore delighted to be launching our new collection for Spring/SummerNeon Unicorn, Watermelon Wanderlust, Key Lime & Cherry - along with classics such as English Pear and Freesia, White Woods & Amaryllis, Vanilla & Coconut and Rose Wonderland.”

Adds Gordon: “We will also be relaunching our electric wax warmers that provide hours of home fragrance with ambient lighting for those nights in, as well as a brand new tealight burners range.”

At Henry & Co., creative director Jo Stubbs says that indulgence and value are the key for 2023. “Value is now more necessary than ever due to the current climate. Consumers will still want to feel a sense of indulgent experiences within the home, and home fragrance is great way to do that.”

managing director of FYG. “Many people are going through a relatively difficult time, and there will be moments where we will need to pause and reflect. Our candles are about putting someone in a place and time,” he explains. “Emotion and fragrance are entwined, so much so that we are launching something totally new to the market at the shows in January and February - our very own fragranced Affirmation journal, sitting back with our award winning Memories candle range. It will really help the individual take stock, diarise and own 2023. Meanwhile, our layered, elegant Seasons

Continues Jo: “Our fragrance products are affordable luxuries, especially the wax melts. They have a great entry level price for consumers to begin to experience Henry & Co and the quality of the fragrances. With this in mind, we have developed a new line for 2023 offering value for money, with a 10-wax melt box for £10 making each item just £1. More affordable gifting lines are on their way which are ideal for birthdays, teachers gifts, Secret Santas and Mother’s Day, reflecting each occasion’s average spend. We are also excited about our Spring fragrance launch which will be unveiled at Spring Fair. Our fragrance blends are designed to keep shoppers engaged with the brand while creating emotive memories.”

Adds Jo, “Looking forward to 2024, we are working on wellbeing products. Self-care is so

Left: Broughton & Beech’s Julie Dodsworth collection has new additions to the range. Below left: FYG’s layered Seasons candle. Below right: Among the new Spring launches from Sassy Shop Wax. Bottom: Ashleigh & Burwood Naturals sleep collection.

important, and we are on a mission to bring the best essential oil based products to our range in a new small collection that supports the Mind, Body & Spirit.”

Wax Lyrical’s marketing director Gemma Copping concurs that as we head in to 2023, there will be an increased importance on mood-based products. “Having spent vast periods at home during the pandemic, consumers experienced the benefits that home fragrance products can have on mood, with aromatherapy based home fragrance seeing significant growth year on year.”

Having acquired natural wellness brand AromaWorks in 2022, and launched a collaboration with Justbe, founded by

Scottish aromatherapist Gail Bryden, in the final quarter, both brands have wellbeing and aromatherapy at their heart, with Gemma continuing: “both are well placed to support consumers in their wellbeing quest in 2023 and beyond.”

She also highlights the new Sara Miller London for Portmeirion collection of candles, reed diffusers and gift sets which launched in winter 2022. “The collection captures the essence of home fragrance and interior design through the brand’s signature florals and bright colourways, with the range ideal for elevating spaces and helping to support a sense of wellbeing,” adds Diane.

Colour too, is a key sales driver in home fragrancing. Lesley Aaronson, co-founder

Planet Friendly

At Best Kept Secrets, managing director Vanessa Curry is putting the spotlight on the company’s brand new eco range, Our Fragrant World (a joint collaboration with Nicky Dawson at Turtley Creative, a former Price’s Candles designer, who designed and developed the range), featuring eight fragrances: Smoked Embers & Amber; Cafe Rose & Warm Velvet; Ocean Spritz & Sea Salt; Green Tea & Vetiver; Patchouli & Vanilla; Sweet Pineapple Crush; Mediterranean Citrus and Black Pepper & Birch.

“With sustainability and the future of our planet at the forefront of people’s minds, our new eco friendly range features recyclable components, reusable jars and biodegradable sparkles,” highlights Vanessa. “We hope the reusable glass jar will be repurposed in different ways around the home, with the new range highlighting the changing world we live in.”

Fund Raising Candles

Last summer, St. Eval unveiled a new fund-raising candle collection - Love, Hope & Freedom - which was created in collaboration with Falmouth University (BA Hons) Illustration students and UK anti-slavery charity Unseen.

Backed by support from customers and stockists, the company donated £6,251 to Unseen last November. This amount was subsequently match-funded by The Big Give campaign to £12,502.

The candles were inspired by the positive changes that Unseen brings to the lives of those affected by modern day slavery, with the illustrated labels embodying the nature-connected essence of B Corp certified St. Eval, symbolising important charity and social messages in their themes.

and creative supremo at Heathcote & Ivory, says that accents of colour bring energy to a space. “We have therefore designed our new William Morris At Home Friendly Welcome scented candles using coloured glass tumblers and a decoupage effect Morris design,” she explains.

“They add a brilliant pop of colour to the mantlepiece or table setting, and, when they’re lit, the candles add a jewel like glow which brings warmth as well as fragrance. The tumblers are perfect to upcycle as posy vases filled with flowers picked from the garden to finish a table setting, while matching room mists bring in the idea of fragrance layering allowing people to light the candle a little later, which means it lasts that bit longer.”

With the home fragrancing sector continuing to grow and innovate this year, and working from home and home entertaining driving demand, there’s more choice than ever for retailers as we transition from winter into Spring.

Right: Ocean Spritz is one of eight fragrances in Best Kept Secrets’ new eco friendly, vegan Our Fragrant World range.

Above: Among the melt burners from Henry & Co. Right: Heathcote & Ivory’s William Morris At Home candle.

Left: Wax Lyrical’s new Sarah Miller London collection.

Below: Hope, Bergamot & Nettle from St. Eval’s Love, Hope & Freedom Collection.

IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT EMOTION AND SCENT ARE ENTWINED. SCENT CAN TRANSPORT YOU TO ANY PLACE ON EARTH BUT MORE THAN THAT, IT CAN EVOKE FEELINGS OF PLACE AND TIME.

1: Special Edition Fragrance Launch

To celebrate three decades of fragrancing homes, scent experts Ashleigh & Burwood is sharing two special edition home scenting gifts featuring a brand new scent designed to encapsulate the essence of Ashleigh & Burwood at 30 years -the scent is Pearl Magnolia and Neroli. New fragrance lamp gift sets pair the scent with the Pearl Fragrance Lamp, whilst the Scented Candle in the same fragrance is adorned with a golden magnolia illustration. The illustration is carried over to the luxurious packaging for both products.

Ashleigh & Burwood

T: 01932 267060

E: COT@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

W: www.ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

2: A Perfect And Thoughtful Gift

Eau Lovely is a collection built to encourage people to live the happiest, most positive life possible and became part of the Enesco portfolio in August 2022. These natural soy wax candles are hand poured in Dublin. With a 40 hour burn time and packaged in beautiful sustainable packaging these candles each have semi-precious stones infused in the wax with unique healing properties and positive affirmations. A truly gorgeous and thoughtful gift.

Enesco

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, Stand C61 & C60/D61

T: 01228 404022

E: uksales@enesco.co.uk

W: www.enesco.co.uk

3: New Scottish-Inspired Candles

Introducing The Scotland Collection… discover the new range of bonny Scottish-inspired candles and reed diffusers, bringing the scents of Scotland's most beautiful places to life so gift retailer’s customers can rekindle precious memories of the wild Scottish Highlands and islands through fragrances of Heather and Gorse, Scotch Whisky and Seaweed & Samphire.

Home County Co

T: 01442 502221

E: info@homecountyco.com

W: www.homecountyco.com

4: Fragrant World Candle Collection

Designed and developed by Nicky Dawson of Turtley Creative and the show stopping Best kept Secrets @bkscandles. Best Kept Secrets is proud and excited to launch a beautiful collaboration of eight natural coconut plant wax and beautifully fragranced candles with a 50 hour burn time. The development of this range has been fuelled with months of passion and excitement working together to not only encompass the four main families of the fragrance wheel to invigorate the senses, but also to build a brand which concentrates on looking after the world by trying to make it a better, cleaner and more thoughtful world to live in for the next generation. Offering recyclable components, reusable jars, biodegradable sparkles, vegan friendly with no palm or soy. Launching at Spring Fair 2023

Best Kept Secrets

Visit: Spring Fair - Stand 4B36

T: 01670 512222

E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

W: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

5:

The Gift Of Time

Cotton & Grey is launching a new A Little Box Of collection that includes 16 great titles. All pure beeswax, these relaxation candles come wrapped in a life affirming message to lift the spirits and enhance mental health. Each candle burns for twenty minutes, allowing a period of calm in the beautiful flickering light, enabling recipients to reflect on the words that have been gifted.

Cotton & Grey

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, Stand E81

T: 07931 373756

E: info@cottonandgrey.com

W: www.cottonandgrey.com

New What s ,

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest home fragrance products to be showcased this month

1: Fabulous New Fragrances

Best Kept Secrets is hitting the ground running as it enters the new year with ten gorgeous new fragrances. It was asked and has listened to its retailers who were asking for something new to offer customers for spring 2023. The new scents are inspired by current, designer fragrance trends, and as always, they are Seriously Scented. Here is a few of the new candles - Silver Fern & Willow, Fireside & Cypress, Green Tea & Vetiver, White Flowers & Cashmere, Black Rose & Amber, and Rainbow Falls.

Best Kept Secrets

Visit: Spring Fair - Stand 4B36

T: 01670 512222

E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

W: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

2: Fruity, Fresh And Floral Collections

Henry & Co, the UK’s new home fragrance manufacturer is showing at Spring Fair for the very first time launching three wonderful new fragrances adding to the fruity, fresh and floral collections. Herb Garden, Bramble and Forever & Always. Now boasting 23 fragrances in the range, the new fragrance manufacturer, Henry & Co was born out of lockdown. The family with many years of gift retail experience and more specifically 10 years of retailing home fragrance, took the decision to establish a new own brand home fragrance business hand made in the UK. Surrounded by experienced and passionate fragrance experts and a Master Chandler, the dream became a reality, and with a small but perfectly formed team, Henry & Co was born.

Henry & Co

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, stand F72

T: 0333 1882006

E: hello@henryandcompany.co.uk

W: www.henryandcofragrance.co.uk

3: Wax Melts For The Scented Home

Ashleigh & Burwood expand The Scented Home collection into a new product format for Spring/Summer 2023. The collection, which already encompasses Reed Diffusers, Scented Candles, Interior & Linen Sprays and Scented Sachets, is adding a new range of ten Wax Melts in its best-selling scents, including favourites Fresh Linen, Moroccan Spice and Peony. Coming in boxes of eight individual Wax Melts shaped into adorable hearts, the Wax Melts are crafted from brightly coloured wax to match each beautiful fragrance.

Ashleigh & Burwood

T: +44 (0) 1932 267060

E: COT@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

W: www.ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

4: Beautiful Handmade Glass Reed Diffusers

Nobile is delighted to further showcase its collection of quality handmade glass fragrance reed diffusers, with an ever-growing and best-selling range that now exceeds over sixty options in a kaleidoscope of colours and textures that coordinate perfectly with a breadth of interior decors. All beautifully and simply gift packaged for mix and matching with a favourite fragrance.

Nobile Glassware

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 4, Stand A25

T: 0118 973 2033

E: info@nobileglassware.co.uk

W: www.nobileglassware.co.uk

5: Scents Of The Seasons

FYG's new Seasons range has been shortlisted in two categories in this year’s Gift of the Year, including the previously won Home Fragrance category. The Seasons range is available in as two x 1kg double-layered candles that change fragrance as they burn over 120 hours from Spring to Summer and separately Autumn to Winter. The hand-poured candles are finished off with a seeded dust card so you can reuse the container to grow your own meadow flowers.  All the candles are 100% natural, vegan friendly and use essential oils. By using sustainable, re-usable, recyclable, and high-quality metal, it proudly demonstrates its commitment to sustainability. Sustainability, quality and beauty at the heart of everything it does.

FYG

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 4, Stand E84

T: +44 208 914 7974

E: demi@fyghome.com

W: www.fyghome.com

New What s

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest home fragrance products to be showcased this month

Times They Are A Changing

There are numerous societal changes that are becoming part of our lifestyle, changing the way we think and feel about things. Naturally, suppliers have been quick to respond.

With consumers making conscious choices to embrace wellness, it remains one of the biggest trending sectors for the gift industry, with Alistair Brook, content creator at Puckator, explaining: “Societal changes have impacted on how our products sell, leading us to adapt and develop new ranges. A key example is our mental health and wellbeing products, which started out as a very limited range. Due to their success, we expanded the range to cover several different areas, the main one being our aromatherapy range, where we developed and expanded our range of oil burners and backflow burners, as well as essential oils, hand creams, and bath bombs. We have also started to develop products for pets such as food bowls and cat houses, as people have turned to pets as a focus for

wellbeing. There has been a massive increase in the demand for these types of products from pre to post lockdown.”

The company also offers a rainbow based Somewhere range, inspired by LGBTQ+, Pride and the NHS over lockdown. “Not only have these aspects helped to drive sales, but the development of these products has helped us understand the diversity and breadth in our customer base, which in turn helps us to grow our product ranges in more positive ways.”

Alistair adds that one of Puckator’s biggest endeavours recently has been to be more eco-friendly in terms of the company’s products and packaging. “We already offer a wide range of sustainable and environmentally friendly products, such as our rPET shopping bags and cool bags, but 2023 will be a big one for us with the launch of several different eco-friendly stationery options, such as stone paper notebooks and pens made from recycled materials. We are also launching our eco tableware range made from rPET, including travel cups,

plates and bowls. We have seen a very noticeable demand for environmentally friendly products as more and more people become conscious of its importance.”

PMC’s marketing director, Keren Dicken, concurs that societal changes are a big influence within the gift sector. “We have kept this in mind when developing our new product ranges, from our personalised Mindfulness journal, which promotes self-care and mental wellbeing, to our new gaming products such as our LED controller holder,” she explains.

“When we were creating our brand new gaming products, we kept them gender neutral so that they could be used by all gamers. And as first names can be so diverse, personalised gifts are, of course, inclusive for everyone. Plus, we have also recently launched a range of products for religious festivals, including Eid and Diwali, in response to customer demand, with more products due to be added to the collection in 2023.”

Phil Verrills, sales director at Gift Republic, points out that the company prides itself on putting meaning behind its products, meeting the needs of customers in an everchanging society.

How are today’s hot topics such as wellness, mindfulness, LGBTQ+, multi-cultural diversity, rainbow families, gender neutral, climate change, gaming and much more besides, impacting on gifting, in terms of products that reflect today’s pop culture?

PG&H takes a look at how gift-led products are continuing to evolve in 2023 to embrace societal trends.

Right: Puckator’s rainbow Somewhere range. Left: Part of Gift Republic’s weekly wellnesss card range. Below left: PMC’s personalised, gender neutral gaming controller. Below right: Widdop & Co’s salt lamps.

“We have included a range of weekly wellness cards in our new SS23 mindfulness collection, each of which is designed for the user to complete and log a weekly challenge, with the aim being to help them improve their overall wellbeing. There are three different versionsmindfulness, happiness and calming yogaall printed on FSC paper.”

Adds Phil: “We are fully committed to pushing for a better environment and developing more sustainable products, and if we can couple this with products that can help with people’s wellness too, then for us this can only be a really positive thing.”

Concurs Catherine Paul, head of marketing, eCommerce and content at Widdop & Co.: “We have found huge success within wellbeing, most especially with our Himalayan salt lamps. While people like the way they look and enjoy the ambience the pink light creates in their homes, the rocks also have various health

game that celebrates LGBTQ+ icons for the work they’ve done in promoting and furthering the cause for gender and sexuality equality. A decade or so ago, products like these probably wouldn’t have enjoyed mainstream appeal. But the people buying Loud & Proud now come from a broad demographic.”

Katie Loxton, founder of her eponymous company and Joma Jewellery, comments: “With so many sentiments, Joma celebrates everyone and is incredibly inclusive, across product and content, celebrating every person, every relationship, mental health, gender neutral, multi-cultural diversity etc. It was lovely to develop our Colours Of You collection, that launched alongside Pride, pulling this out into product and talking about those different relationships. With Katie Loxton, the bags are designed for everyone and it’s been really exciting to see that step change which I'm very proud of. To be able to continue that throughout this year is therefore really important. We’re incredibly diverse and inclusive as a brand, internally as well as externally and it’s great to be celebrating that and representing every single person.”

At The Music Gifts Company, managing director David Gee explains: “During the summer, we thought about which products to launch in the run up to Christmas and realised that none of our gifts were specifically related to LGBTQ+. What resulted was a great pair of cotton socks,

but we weren’t sure how the market would react. We were very mindful that the socks are not just geared towards the LGBTQ+ community, but to everyone. As such, the socks are branded as Multi-Coloured Treble Clefs, and we have since been working on other new products in this vein which will be launching at Spring Fair.”

Of course, protecting the environment is one of the biggest and most important step changes of recent years, with Eco Chic among the companies proud to endorse that with their Save The Earth/Save The Planet bags which shout out the message as part of the design. “Over the las few years we have seen a major change in what most people shop with,” states Eco Chic’s Richard Marsden. “The eco bag or ‘bag for life’ has

benefits that range from cleaning the air to soothing allergies, boosting people’s mood and helping them to sleep.”

At Bubblegum Stuff, game designer and copywriter Matt Ludlow points to a seismic shift in recent years around the way we look at and understand gender and sexuality. “What’s emerging is the commonly accepted idea that both gender and sexuality exist on coalescing spectrums. This change in attitudes has helped empower those that identify with this idea on a personal level giving them the confidence to express themselves.”

Continues Matt: “This can be seen in their consumer choices, with the popularity of products such as Loud & Proud, our card

become a major part of what we do as people, and it has also become part of our business, which has been to lead this trend in a newer direction.”

Highlights Richard: “In 2020 we decided to change all our bags to use rPET material recycled plastic bottles, and to date, we have recycled more than 2.5m plastic bottles in our collections.”

“We’ve seen a huge increase in the demand for FSC approved products due to recent extreme weather events, making climate change a regular headline in news stories,” says Lauren Williams at House of Marbles. “We now have an ever growing range of sustainably sourced toys and games that are FSC approved, which contribute to mitigating climate change by promoting sustainable forest management and the recycling of wood materials.”

With new ways of thinking and a new year unfolding, one thing is for certain. When it comes to reflecting changes in the way we live, the gift industry is out in front.

Top: LGBTQ + socks from The Music Gifts Company. Above right: Wooden Marbles Run, part of House of Marbles’ Sustainably Sourced range.

Left: Joma Jewellery’s Friendship bracelets. Below: One of Eco Chic’s Help Save The Earth/Help Save The Planet bags.

LIBBY ’ S LINES

Looking Backwards, Looking Forwards

PG&H columnist Libby Holden, owner of Lovely Libby’s in Rayleigh, reveals that, all things considered, she had a cracker of a Christmas, with her sights now firmly set on Christmas 2023, as well as Valentine’s/Galentine’s and Mother’s Day. So, what’s in the pipeline?

“It might be almost February, but we’ve well and truly only just got out of the swing of Christmas here at Lovely Libby’s! With a fresh awareness of what sold well (and, of course, what not so much!), we headed to the Harrogate Christmas & Gift show in mid-January to do the bulk of our seasonal buying for 2023.

Therefore, writing this article seems like the perfect way to conclude the festivities for the foreseeable!

With the media focusing on the rising cost of living in the weeks before the big day, so did my apprehensions about how Christmas would pan out? When I think about that last week, the first word that comes to mind is ‘whirlwind’ - but in a good way. The girls and I almost joked that we reverted to our ‘lockdown days’, utilising all possible means to keep our little business in the forefront of customers’ minds, mainly through social media.

We did a live stream every single day during the final week, focusing on different aspects of gifting, as well posting lots of comedic reels on Instagram to bring a little bit of joy to our customers’ feed among all the negativity out there.

I have to give an honourable mention to a gentleman who, after watching a live, came in to buy his wife a present, specifically, as he called it, some perfume from a brand called ‘Innit’. Thinking back to what we had shown in that video, we soon realised he meant Inis Fragrances. Not only

did we have a good giggle, we realised just how much influence social media presence can have on in-store sales, and that’s definitely something we are carrying into the new year!

Meanwhile, the postal strikes proved to be something of a double-edged sword. Yes, it was an absolute pain, but we had so many people come in last minute to buy presents after the ones they had ordered online hadn’t shown up. That was a great little win for small businesses, and hopefully, with little touches such as free giftwrapping, provided the perfect opportunity to show the perks of shopping local.

Interestingly, this was the first year we’ve opened the shop in the ‘Twixmas’ period, with the previous two years having been affected by Covid restrictions. We weren’t sure what to expect, but, in fact, we were pleasantly surprised! We still had people popping in to buy gifts for those forgotten January birthdays (my birthday being one of them!), to spend their Christmas money, and, of course, to grab a few bargains in the sale. That definitely gave me a little boost of hope going into the new year!

Last year, having gone big on Easter and Autumn decorations, we realised that our customers are seeking to celebrate seasonal occasions much more than in

previous years. We’ve therefore created our first ever Valentine’s Day window as part of our ambition to make these occasions more of an ‘event’.

Taking the huge popularity of our lockdown curated Valentine’s/Galentine’s gift boxes on board, we curated Mother’s Day gift boxes last year which were also a big success for us. This desire among our customers to see an emphasised acknowledgement of these seasonal occasions has therefore become something we are championing in 2023, with Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day being the first of many. We’re seeking to combine this into our social media strategy too.

Meanwhile, with the countdown underway, I’m really excited about visiting Spring Fair! After clearing away our Christmas stock, the shop is feeling a bit empty, so this is going to be a HUGE show for us to restock right to the brim. Not only will we be on the lookout for new and exciting products, but as a proud judge of the Gift of the Year awards, I’ll certainly be stopping by to see all the shortlisted products! Nothing compares to seeing new products in person - that’s why we are such advocates for going to the shows. Here’s to a very busy and exciting quarter ahead!”

Left: A curated Galentine’s box.

Below: Lovely Libby’s Valentine’s Day window.

1: Rhodia Webnotepad

Rhodia has launched a new range of stylish Webnotepads, which are available in a choice of sizes (A5 or 9x14cm) across 32 attractive colours, including a striking selection of metallic shades.

Each Webnotepad features 96 microperforated sheets of lined 90gsm Clairefontaine ivory brushed vellum paper that’s PEFC certified, alongside an expanding inner pocket and elasticated closure. They are ideal for note-taking, journaling and jotting down daily tasks.

Exaclair

T: 01553 696600

E: sales@exaclair.co.uk

W: www.exaclairlimited.com

2: Queasy Squeezies

Looking to stock the perfect gift for young children, or consumers looking to deck out nurseries with some cool interactive toys? Puckator has a wonderful line-up of fidget and sensory toys for children to squeeze, pull, and bounce to their heart's content. Whether it be a stretchy banana or a squishy jellyfish. The Queasy Squeezies range is one to take a look at.

Puckator

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 4, Stand B10-C11

T: 0800 0116969

E: customerservices@puckator.co.uk

W: www.puckator.co.uk

3: A Gift To Treasure

This personalised floral photo album from Personalised Memento Company is a special way to store precious photos. This album contains 30 pages, holding up to 120 6x4 photos along with a space for text beside each one. Check out its website to see the full range of personalised photo albums available. Be sure to visit them at Spring Fair to see the fantastic selection of brand new products and designs it has for 2023.

PMC

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, Stand 4J10,

E: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk

W: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

4: A Perfect Gift

Offer buyers the change to give their home the attention it deserves with the brand new, unique Pebble Lane collection from Joe Davies. Charming little houses perched on softly coloured pebbles and featuring messages for friends and family.  These captivating houses make ideal gifts or simply treats for that add that finishing to uch to home décor. A visit to the Joe Davies stand at Spring Fair shouldn’t be missed as this is an ideal opportunity to see its extensive gift, jewellery and fashion accessories collections.  Everything will be available in its trademark little-and-often quantities with a minimum order value of just £100 for a carriage paid order.

Joe Davies

Visit: Spring Fair: - Hall 4 Stand C10-D11

T: 0161 975 6300

E: sales@joedavies.co.uk

W: www.joedavies.co.uk

5: Exclusive Yoga Bunnies

Makasi likes to keep things fresh with regular new products and here are some of its latest additions. Its exclusive Yoga Bunnies are hand-carved from hardwood and available in four poses; the root with glass fruit bowl is the latest addition to their fabulous molten glass sculpture range of functional artwork; and their best-selling drunken duck bottle holder injects a bit of fun into any dinner party.

Makasi Imports Ltd

T: 01932 910533

E: info@makasiimports.co.uk

W: www.makasiimports.co.uk

6: New For Mother’s Day

‘I Love You Mum’ range by the Lesser and Pavey British artist Jennifer Rose features on a fine china mug, ceramic coaster, mug and coaster gift set, stemless wine glass and tumbler, attractive glass vase for floral arrangements, 3-dimensional heart plaque, fragranced diffuser, and candle.The very popular Madelaine range saw new Mother’s Day items added ready for March 2023. This enhancing the range with fine china mugs, wine glass, fragranced candle and diffuser.

Lesser & Pavey

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 5, Stand D10-E11.

T: 01322 279225

E: sales@leonardo.co.uk

W: www.leonardo.co.uk

New What s

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest gift products and ranges available to retailers now

1: Beautiful Chinese Landscape Lamp

The Chinese landscape design on this lamp has echoes of the willow pattern chinoiserie popular in Europe in the eighteenth century. A willow branch is planted in the ground and eventually a new tree grows from it. This carries a topical message for our troubled world: that we can thrive even when conditions are challenging.  The overall height is 72cm and the lined lampshade is made of pale gold faux silk.

Mandarin Arts Ltd

T: 01873 812255

E: info@mandarinarts.co.uk

W: www.mandarinarts.co.uk

2: Luxury Mickey Mouse Collection

2023 will see Disney mark 100 Years of Wonder, and to celebrate, Rainbow Designs is launching two dedicated nursery collections; the Mickey and Friends range and the luxury Mickey Mouse Memories collection. Adding a new dimension to the Rainbow portfolio, is the exciting new strategic distribution agreement with Animal Adventure, which features a carefully curated range of everyday softs for baby and the cutest and most adorable line up of animal soft toys for kids of all ages.

Rainbow Designs

Visit: Spring Fair – Hall 3, Stand M10-N11

T: 01329 227300

W: www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

3: Brighten Up Your Walls

The team at Zippy & George design and manufacture bespoke and customised signs and plaques for the giftware market. The products help retailers celebrate great locations across the UK and further afield. A huge range of tailor-made artwork available including licenses from Aardman and Betty Boyns.

Zippy & George

T: 01503 261491

E: sales@zippyandgeorge.co.uk

W: www.zippyandgeorge.co.uk

4: Contemporary Designs With A Historic Twist

Based in her studio in the far west of Cornwall, Paula Nicholls works under her family name of Betty Boyns. Over the years her contemporary digital illustrations have been used on a wide range of products, including giftware, prints and cards. Betty Boyns Designs can be found in many of the UK’s foremost heritage outlets with her bespoke artwork printed on a wide range of products and proving extremely popular with buyers. For more information about bespoke services for business, please visit the dedicated wholesale website.

Betty Boyns Designs

T: 01736 438426

E: bettyboyns@gmail.com

W: www.bettyboynsdesigns.co.uk

5: Irresistible Handmade Jewellery

Fashion shouldn’t cost the Earth and Carrie Elspeth is committed to maintaining a small environmental footprint starting with locally crafted handmade jewellery. This year it has gone further and developed a range using fully recycled glass beads which are not only sustainably made but look amazing and have the most irresistible finish. The subtle mix of colours are in perfect harmony and Carrie thinks this is her strongest collection yet.

Carrie Elspeth

T: 01446 771271

E: sales@carrieelspeth.com

W: www.carrieelspeth.com

New What s

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest gift products and ranges available to retailers now

Best Sellers

CATEGORY SUPPLIERS/RANGES COMMENT

Home Accessories

Home Fragrancing

Highland Stoneware: Landscape and Seascape; Artyfarty Pottery: mugs

Shearer Candles: across the board; Wild Olive: across the board

Jewellery

Miss Milly: across the board;

Sheila Fleet: across the board

Beautiful hand painted pottery, inspired by the sea and mountains of Scotland. Original blue and white Polish pottery. A consistently good seller of mixed designs.

Orange Pomander has been flying out.

Bath melts, tea bags and shower pods have all been big hits.

Statement pieces feature colourful, reasonably priced fashion jewellery. Stunning jewellery designed, made and finished in Orkney.

Fashion

Fashion Accessories

Greeting Cards

Giftwrap

Other Hot Hits

Chalk: clothing

Lua: across the board; Toasted Crumpet

Glick

Emily Victoria: soap sponges

Easy to wear. The best selling designs feature script.

Hats, gloves and scarves have flown out. Purses have also been a big hit.

Great all round seller. Beautiful designs and great quality.

Fabulous range of wrap, tissue and gift bags.

Gorgeously fragranced leaving the skin silky soft.

CATEGORY SUPPLIERS/RANGES COMMENT

Home Accessories

Home Fragrancing

Jewellery

Fashion Accessories

Greeting Cards

Giftwrap

Other Hot Hits

Walton & Co: cushions and throws; Gallery Direct: decorative home accessories

Warmies: slippers, neck wraps, hot water bottles;

Big Metal London: across the board

Pure White London: leather bags; changeable straps; Joya: socks

Caroline Gardner; Molly Mae

Unique Paper Co

Ryland Peters & Small: Air Fryer cookbook; Danielle Creations: Skincare and vitamin masks

Well made products. Great price point.

Lovely decorative and occasional pieces of furniture.

Scrumptiously soft. A practical, thoughtful gift, especially during the cold months.

Something a bit different that appeals to our younger shoppers.

Very on trend and a quick turnaround.

Super soft, practical and at a good price point.

We buy cards across the board from both suppliers.

A great company for eco and fully recyclable wrap rolls.

We couldn’t get enough of these over Christmas.

Great pick-up items for under £10. They are usually purchased alongside a gift.

Janet Hartree, owner, Ewe and Me (and Ewe Too), Grantown on Spey. A large village high street gift and lifestyle store.

Jo Barber, owner, No. 14, Ampthill, Bedfordshire. A medium sized gift shop in a Georgian market town.

Top: Shearer Candles’ Orange Pomander tin. Above: A butterfly necklace from Miss Milly.

Top: New for 2023: home accessories from Gallery Direct. Above: Joya super soft socks.

Olivia Reilly, owner, Little Boat Gifts, Brightlingsea. A popular coastal gift shop.

CATEGORY SUPPLIERS/RANGES COMMENT

Home Accessories

Batela: across the board;

Sass & Belle: across the board

Home Fragrancing

Fashion Accessories

Greeting Cards

Giftwrap

Other Hot Hits

The English Soap Company: Kew Garden; The Country Candle Company: Polka Dot; Superstars

Miss Sparrow: bamboo socks;

Alljoy Designs pop up cards

Unique Paper Company; Cinnamon Aitch

Shoeless Joe: mango wood

Our customers love the coastal-inspired home accessories ranging from soft furnishings to dining ware. The company has really worked on their sustainable products.

These have become a firm favourite. Amazing quality and beautifully wrapped. These tin candles are very popular with customers. Candles are vegan and made in the UK.

Fun, colourful designs for women and men. The socks were a hit over Christmas.

A best seller is Message In The Bottle.

We love the different colour combinations and being able to choose a craft finish or slightly more glamorous glitter design. Gift bags feature beautiful contemporary designs.

The bowls and tableware, with stunning coastal designs, are very popular, especially during the summer.

Jenni Taylor, buyer/manager, Alligator Pear, Tadworth. A village department store with a focus on gifts and lifestyle.

CATEGORY SUPPLIERS/RANGES COMMENT

Home Accessories

Home Fragrancing

Jewellery Fashion Accessories

Greeting Cards

Giftwrap

Other Hot Hits

Walton & Co: throws;

KitchenCraft: Artesa

St. Eval: Winter Thyme;

Peppermint Grove: across the board

Charlotte’s Web: silver spinning bangles and rings; Ingrid Rossi: across the board

Accessories By Park Lane: faux fur tippets; Miss Sparrow: bamboo socks

Rosie Made A Thing

Glick

Chalk: clothing

Pom pom throws outsold all other designs.

With fewer people eating out, customers are looking for Instagram worthy home entertaining serveware.

We did exceptionally well with this fragrance. Fantastic value for money. Beautiful packaging.

Customers seem happy to spend a bit more on quality jewellery. Very affordable, beautiful jewellery, with a hint of sophisticated sparkle.

Premium quality, competitively priced.

We sold over 700 units in the run up to Christmas!

A really good Christmas for this ever-popular card range.

Customers love the great designs and sustainable packaging.

We do particularly well with weekend loungewear and slogan tops. At Christmas, the robin design was a winner.

Top: St. Eval’s Winter Thyme. Above: Charlotte’s Web spinning bangle.

Top: Coastal inspired home accessories from Batela. Above: Kew Gardens’ Iris, from The English Soap Company.

1: Playtime

Bachmann Europe is delighted to announce that it has been appointed as sole distributor for the UK and Ireland of PepPlay, a new children’s art and craft range aimed at ages 3-6. PepPlay is a premium, aspirational, eco-conscious brand which focuses on stimulating imaginations, incorporating real life skills and building motor skills in children. With a passion for quality and safety the brand aims to bring the best quality art experience products for children that are eco-friendly yet cost-effective and meet the strictest of international standards.

Bachmann Europe

Contact: Pauline Hinkley

E: sales@toyway.co.uk

W: www.toyway.co.uk

2: Let’s Go For A Walk

Walking sticks specialists Classic Canes has a wealth of new designs perfect for the spring and summer season ahead.  Designed in-house, the company’s fresh, modern patterns include this puffin adjustable walking stick among many others that celebrate British flora and fauna.  Models range from the traditional to the avant garde, ensuring there is a walking stick to suit every user’s personal sense of style.

Classic Canes

T: 01460 75686

E: info@classiccanes.co.uk

W: www.classiccanes.co.uk

3: Zhuzh Up The Home

Alongside the pom pom cushions, three new 100% cotton throws have also joined Rex London’s homeware collection. They are very soft, yet relatively lightweight, making them easy to move for airing or washing. The throws come in three different coloursaqua, blue and coral - and so they can be easily mixed and matched with other homeware decorations to brighten the interior of your customers’ homes.

Rex London

Visit: Spring Fair - Stand 4H60 - J61

T: 0208 746 1700

E: info@rexlondon.com

W: www.rexlondontrade.com

4: Too Sweet For Words

New for tween, teen and adult gifting, Posh Paws Swizzels Love Hearts plush gifts like the Level Up game controller, Blooming Amazing flowerpot, I Love You A Latte coffee cup, Greatest of All Time football, Born in 2023 bear, Somebunny Loves You bunny rabbit many more high-quality plush characters. The Love Hearts range includes a variety of fun, trending fun and sentimental products for seasonal and personal gifting opportunities all year round.

Posh Paws International

T: 01268 567317

E: sales@poshpawsinternational.co.uk

W: www.poshpawsinternational.co.uk

5: A Figurine Fit For A Princess

Contemporary gift retailer Enesco is excited to unveil a brand-new licensed collectable Disney Traditions by Jim Shore figurine, featuring a new grouping of iconic characters, as never seen before.

For the first time, Jim Shore is bringing together six iconic Disney Princesses in one standalone figurine, that is sure to have fans of the different film franchises queuing up to get their hands on this one-of-a-kind piece. The Princess Group Castle figurine stands at stands about 25 cm tall and sees Tiana, Belle, Jasmine, Cinderella, Mulan and Aurora come together in a darling group pose, as they huddle together as if posing for a photograph in front of a Disney castle.

Enesco

Visit: Spring Fair - Hall 4, Stand C61 & C60/D61

T: 01228 404022

E: uksales@enesco.co.uk

W: www.enesco.co.uk

6: Commemorative Coronation Collections

Victoria Eggs is excited to announce that their new Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative and King Charles III Coronation collections have both been Shortlisted for Gift of the Year. Their hand-drawn homeware is lovingly made in the UK, and the designs are snapshots of special moments in time we wish to cherish forever and gift to those we love most.

Victoria Eggs

T: +44 (0)2080133284

E: info@victoriaeggs.com

W: www.victoriaeggs.com

New What s ,

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest gift products and ranges available to retailers now

Best Sellers

What better testimonial for products than those of your fellow retailers. Here's all the information you need to get in touch and start stocking!

MISS MILLY

T: 01905 622509

E: hello@missmilly.co.uk

W: www.missmilly.co.uk

GALLERY DIRECT

T: 01795 439159

E: sales@gallerydirect.co.uk

W: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

SHEARER CANDLES

T: 0141 375 2643

E: sales@shearer-candles.com

W: www.shearer-candles.com

LUA LTD

T: 01926 614178

E: info@luawholesale.co.uk

W: www.luawholesale.co.uk

WALTON & CO

T: 01423 326332

E: sales@waltonsofyorkshire.co.uk

W: www.waltonsofyorkshire.co.uk

BIG METAL

T: 0207 701 0005

E: info@bigmetal.net

W: www.bigmetallondon.com

EMILY VICTORIA CANDLES

T: 01925 818792

E: emilyvictoriacandles@yahoo.co.uk

W: www.emilyvictoriacandles.co.uk

UPPER CANADA UK LTD

T: 0203 735 9500

E: info@uppercanadauk.co.uk

W: www.uppercanadauk.co.uk

CHALK

E: info@chalkuk.com

W: www.chalkuk.com