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In Profile: Puckator
Global Vision Having started out as a tiny importer of Balinese wood carvings in 1990, Puckator, a leading giftware and licensed gifts company, has gone from strength to strength globally, with Europe a key part of the company’s success and development. With UK premises in Liskeard and Sheffield, along with offices in China, Italy, Spain and Poland, as well as a brand new European Distribution Centre (EDC) in Poland too, the company is looking forward to unveiling a host of new product launches at Spring Fair. PG&H caught up with founder and managing director Mark Howard to hear more about the plans that will be taking the company forward in 2022. There is always a turning point in a successful business’ trajectory, and for Puckator, it was founder and managing director Mark Howard’s first trip to China’s Canton Fair in 1997. “It was starting the cooperation with China that saw the company embark on a path of fast growth,” he explains. “Over the next 12 months our product range was completely transformed. From supplying ethnic handicrafts, we became a supplier of mainstream gift and home items with broad appeal, and have never looked back.” Mark continues: “In the UK, we operate from a modern, purpose-built head office, warehousing, and distribution facility in Liskeard, Cornwall, as well as from an inhouse design studio in Sheffield, where part of our European customer services and sales team is also located. In addition, we have branch offices in China, Spain and Italy, as well as our new EDC in Poland, which
opened in September 2021. There are also European wholesale websites dedicated to France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal and Poland, as well as a site serving the Chinese domestic market, all of which reflects our phenomenal growth.” Over the last ten years or so, conceptually, the business has changed from being an importer of ‘off the shelf’ products, to a design-led company with a key focus on
Mark’s Words Of Wisdom l Three words that best describe you? “Fair, determined, workaholic.” l Best piece of business advice that you were given? “Cashflow is King. Also, never fall
into the trap of over-trading.” l Best piece of business advice that you would give to someone else today? “Value your
staff because they are your best asset. Be fair to staff, be fair to customers and be fair to suppliers. At the end of the day, it has to be win-win.” l What was your career plan B? “To continue to work in the shipping industry.”
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Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
Left: Puckator’s founder and managing director Mark Howard. Middle: The company’s newly opened European Distribution Centre in Poland. Bottom: New for Spring 2022 is a floral giftware range from Julie Dodsworth.
the marketing of an extensive portfolio of products featuring in-house and licensed designs. “Product design and development is key to Puckator, based on our strong belief that ultimately it’s good product that drives sales, which is why investment in product research and design has become core to the company,” states Mark. Aside from Puckator’s licensed and inhouse designs, product and market diversification has been central to the company, both in terms of customer type and geographic spread. “A strong diversification of product ensures that there is ‘something for everyone’, diminishing risk by not being too reliant on one product area,” comments Mark. “Similarly, with our broad geographic reach, especially in Europe, it ensures that we are not too exposed to the vagaries on any one particular country or region. Nevertheless, while this usually holds good, this year, trade with Europe post-Brexit, even with our market diversification, has resulted in a
