As we say goodbye to 2024, it was, by anyone’s standards, a rollercoaster year both in the UK and on the world stage. October’s Budget, with its tax hikes, higher National Insurance for employers, minimum wage increases, and the doubling of business rates, fuelled the flames for both businesses and retailers. With some tough decisions to take for businesses, we asked suppliers for their views on both the challenges going into 2025, and also the opportunities. Turn to pages 17-19 to see what they said. While comments are realistic, they’re far from doom and gloom.
On the retail front, we put Danish multiple lifestyle and gift store Søstrene Grene into the spotlight. Turn to pages 28-29. Since its arrival in the UK in 2016, it has been gradually building its retail empire, aiming for a total of 100 stores in the UK before 2027.
In fact, the roll out of store openings chime with a tranche of multiple and independent gift retailers who also opened new stores in 2024 – Oliver Bonas, Brocante, Utility, Prezzybox and Maybugs among them - all of whom are continuing to put their faith in the high street, despite the current challenges.
With Jellycat Amuseables a hit with John Lewis customers in the past year, and a new concept store in Selfridges in Birmingham, (turn to page 9), we turned our thoughts to the plush marketplace in this issue, fanfaring what’s trending. Turn to pages 36-37.
We also spotlight bath, body and wellness, with self-care taking centre stage as people look for ways to relax and unwind. Turn to pages 44-45 to discover some of the newest launches for Spring/Summer.
Plus, Cotton & Grey’s co-owners, Claire Sowden and Paul Banyard, look back at a whirlwind year for their wellness brand, while also looking forward to building on their global
business in 2025. Turn to pages 32-33. And with a new year on the horizon, we also hear from three retailers about the products to watch as we go into 2025. Turn to page 31.
Meanwhile, with nostalgia something of a buzzword now, turn to our trends article on page 35 for some blasts from the past. Elsewhere, our columnist Bill Nettelfield, owner of Bill & Bert’s in Colchester, shares his festive cheer in the runup to Christmas - turn to page 27 – while Sarah Ward, ceo of The Giftware Association, highlights the key trends reflected in the Gift of the Year 2025 entries. Turn to page 25.
On the show front, with Harrogate Christmas & Gift proudly celebrating 75 years in 2025, we take a peek behind the scenes. Turn to pages 40-41 for the full
LEADER
lowdown. For more news about the Spring trade shows – Top Drawer, Giving & Living, Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring, Spring Fair and Source Home & Gift - turn to page 15. For all the latest industry news and views turn to pages 7-13.
And finally, a reminder that The Greats gift retailer awards 2025 are in full swing now. Turn to news on page 7 and to pages 22-23 where some of our 2024 winners reveal how they made the most of winning an award last May. The competition closes on 11 February, with an entry form enclosed with this issue, so don’t delay if you’d like to enter or if you’d like to nominate an outstanding retailer. Entries and nominations can be emailed to me direct at suem@max-publishing.co.uk. Enjoy reading the issue, and wishing you all the happiest of holidays and most successful of New Years! Ali and I can’t wait to see you all at the January trade shows!
Sue Marks Editor
The home of market leading trade magazines
Left & below left: PG&H’s Sue and Ali in the festive spirit.
Portland Living is a British gift and interiors brand brought to you by Gainsborough Giftware. We offer exclusive seasonal collections for Christmas, Halloween, and Spring. Known for rustic, timeless designs full of character and charm, Portland Living brings curated products for the home and garden. Visit us at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair (Hall B, Stands B8 and B21) and the Spring Fair NEC (Hall 5, Stand 5D51)
Calling All Gift Retailers
The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2025 Are Open
For those gift retailers who think their shop is a cut above the rest, now is the time to enter The Greats Awards 2025!
Celebrating its 23rd great and glorious year, the competition is once again setting out to recognise and reward the UK’s outstanding gift shops and gift departments. The closing date for entries is 11 February 2025.
“Winning a Greats Gift Retailer award has become the pinnacle for gift retailers both large and small – a prestigious, coveted retail trophy that recognises excellence, initiative, innovation and professionalism at the highest level,” says Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net which organises and owns The Greats.
Continues Sue: “Therefore once again, we’re on the lookout for the ‘greatest of the great’, those extra special gift and lifestyle retailers, department stores and garden centres that, despite the challenges, are nevertheless managing to stay at the top of their game. The Greats are a fantastic opportunity for gift retailers right across the board - from the tiniest village shop to the largest multiple – to bang the drum about their achievements over the past year. We know that there are some incredible retailers out there, and we want to hear from them!”
Uniting the gift industry,
The Greats gift retailer
The Gift Awards Sponsors 2025
5
awards winners, along with The Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year (GOTY) awards winners, 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 15 May.
Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk; www.thegiftawards.com to download an entry form.
Alternatively, entries can also be emailed direct to suem@max-publishing.co.uk.
Tickets to the awards can be booked quickly and securely by visiting www.maxsubscriptions.net/tickets/ or by contacting awards organiser Clare Hollick at clare@createvents.co.uk (tel: 01183 340085).
The ownership and running of the Gift of the Year awards remains under the stewardship of The Giftware Association while The Greats gift retailer awards are wholly owned and run by Max Publishing (publishers of Progressive Gifts & Home magazine/GiftsandHome.net).
Sponsorship Opportunities
For companies interested in finding out more about sponsorship of The Greats and The Gift Of The Year Awards categories, contact Ali Farrell (e: alisonf@max-publishing.co.uk; mob: 07872 113635); Ian Hyder (e: ianh@max-publishing.co.uk mob: 07525 634 306); Rob Willis (robw@maxpublishing.co.uk mob: 07792 016832) or Warren Lomax (e: warren@max-publishing.co.uk; mob: 07977 572086). Sponsorship of all the award categories in GOTY and The Greats is managed by Max Publishing.
Once again, the Gift Awards 2025 have been enthusiastically supported by a strong roster of sponsors, with more to be announced shortly. While Spring Fair and Autumn Fair are once again the headline supporter other sponsors include (in alphabetical order): Allsorted, BATF, Candlelight, Cardgains, Carte Blanche Greetings DKB Toys & Distribution, Gift Republic, Gisela Graham, Good Results, Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair, Life Charms, London Stationery Show, Messe Frankfurt, Progressive Greetings Live, Source Show, Talking Tables and Trade Counter Distribution.
Pingo Pongo Wins Preschool Gift Retailer Award
London toy shop Pingo Pongo - which stocks a wide range of gift ideas, wooden toys, educational and creative games, dress up and books - was revealed as the winner of the Best Independent Gift Retailer category at the Progressive Preschool Awards 2024 in November.
The Light Fund Greenlights £92,000 For Good Causes
Industry charity The Light Fund has raised £92,000 in 2024 – which includes monies raised at The Gift Awards in May - which is to be put to good use funding 19 different charity projects in 2025, helping men, women and children across the world.
“Thanks to the ongoing and brilliant support of the gift, licensing, greeting card and housewares community we are able to donate over £92,000 to 19 charities whose projects will make a difference to thousands of people,” stated Trevor Jones, chairman of The Light Fund, which was cofounded by Max Publishing directors Jakki Brown and Ian Hyder together with some likeminded folk from the greeting card and licensing industries back in 2004.
Added Jakki: “What a wonderful way to end The Light Fund’s 20th anniversary. The impressive sum from this year’s fundraising means that The Light Fund has given well over £2.3 million to 174 different charities, since it started. All the monies raised by the raffles at The Gift Awards, The Retas, The Henries and the Licensing Awards, generous donations from those in the industry as well as many other events over the years have all added up.”
Funding various helplines, support resources and workshops for cancer sufferers, providing equipment in Great Ormond Street Hospital, running a roadshow to raise awareness of prostate cancer, installing a drinking water facility in a school in rural Nepal, an incubator for premature babies in a UK hospital, a hospice home care and providing free meals to young people in deprived areas, are just some of the ways the charity’s 2024 total will be used.
The beneficiary charities from the 2024 funds are: Bone Cancer Research Trust, Bowel Cancer UK, The Brain Tumour Charity, Brain Tumour Support, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), Child Bereavement UK, Child Rescue Nepal, Crohn’s & Colitis UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, Inspire Youth Zone Chorley, Maggie’s, Motor Neurone Disease Association, New Life Special Care Babies, Orchid Cancer Appeal, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Papyrus, Princess Alice Hospice, ShelterBox and Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
Above: Among The Light Fund committee members and supporters.
Left: Pingo Pongo’s Nikki Agravat with her Progressive Preschool trophy.
Above: Greats 2025 trophy.
How Christmas Is Shaping Up
Gift Indies Report That People Are Spending
At the time of going press in mid-December, the good news is that the all-important run-up to Christmas is shaping up to be a cracker for many gift retailers.
“Most Lark stores have been trading better than last year which is amazing,” confirmed Priya Aurora-Crowe, co-owner of 19 Lark stores in London and Surrey. “The shoplifters have been incredibly persistent, but our customers have been as loyal as ever.”
customers popping in for a 'mooch', attracted to our stores being lit up.”
Continued Jon: “We have also been overwhelmed with online orders, with Pet Hates Donald Trump selling like hot cakes. We sold nine in just one day to separate people all over the UK. Fingers crossed this spending frenzy continues until Christmas and that the weather remains kind!”
At Nest stores in Leicester, owner Samantha Gibbs added: “as predicted, Christmas has turned out to be very late, only gaining momentum after Black Friday.
Dobbies Confirms 12 Store Closures
Dobbies’ restructuring plan has been approved by the Court of Session in Scotland, with the garden centre chain hoping the changes to the business will help it to return to sustainable profitability and access future investment.
Dobbies will exit the leases of 12 of its loss making sites, while an additional two sites in Morpeth and Stapleton will move to other garden centre operators.
Added Jon May, co-owner of Mooch Gifts & Home in Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn:
“The second week of December was crazy! Realisation that Christmas was just over a week away dawned on a lot of people with many leaving with bags loaded with goodies. This year, our Christmas windows have certainly made a huge impact, with many new
Jellycat A Winner For John Lewis
Customers have been really enjoying shopping in our shops though, and they are as busy as online is which is really lovely and always warms my heart! Because it’s such a late Christmas, repeat ordering is late, and while we will continue to re-order stock, it’s a shame that we won’t get as many re-orders to the stockists in as usual, but that’s the effect of such a drawn out preChristmas sales period.”
The latest John Lewis annual trend report, ‘How We Shop, Live and Look’, has, once again, looked back at the products and trends that defined the past year.
The report revealed that Jellycat’s Amuseables saw sales increase by 43%, with products appealing to adults as well as children. This Christmas, sales of seasonal Jellycat’s plush Christmas pudding, mince pies, gingerbread men and candy canes have risen by 1,411% over the past 12 months. The brand’s Kawaii, and faces-in-food plush also attracted Gen Z customers who often feature them as handbag accessories. (To see what’s trending in plush, turn to pages 36-37).
Staying with bags, the report highlighted that small handbags were given the cold shoulder, with shoppers preferring large, tote style bags. Plus, due to the wet weather in 2024, umbrella sales rocketed by 94%.
New Concept Store Opens At Selfridges
November saw interest from Jellycat fans and collectors as Selfridges’ Birmingham Bullring store unveiled a brand new, never before seen concept fanfared as the ‘largest Jellycat space in the UK.’ It features eight dedicated areas across a wide range of plush, books and accessories.
As for trends going into 2025, pistachio is John Lewis’ colour of the year, while in Home, the report predicts that floral tableware will be trending, with trayscaping the new tablescaping.
Utility Opens A Second Store In Manchester
Design-led gift retailer Utility, currently celebrating its 25th birthday, opened the doors of its newest gift store in Manchester at the beginning of December, a sister gift shop to the company’s store on Manchester’s Oxford Road.
The latest addition marks a milestone for Utility as it continues to expand across the North West, with other gift shops located in Liverpool and Altrincham.
“The new shop showcases the best of our gifts, greetings cards, homeware and fashion accessories,” says Utility co-founder and director
The business was bought last year by Ares Management investment company. The group fell to a £105.2m pre-tax loss in the year ending March 2023, compared to a £7m loss the previous year.
Below: Dobbies Garden Centres.
Brocante’s Christmas Extravagana Fundraiser
Mid-November saw gift and lifestyle store Brocante hold a Christmas extravaganza in the multiple’s Charlestown store in St Austell, formerly an old chapel. The event helped to raise funds for 18-year-old Gracie Mae - Brocante’s visual merchandiser Katy Warne’s cousin - who has a brain tumour.
Explained Brocante’s co-owners David Lorimer and Kieron Cockley: “In just over a week, we raised over £4,000 for Gracie Mae. It was particularly poignant on the day as she had an operation that morning to remove some of the tumour, which is all they can do at the moment. The turnout on the night was incredible. For the first hour we had people queuing to get into the shop, buying raffle tickets and grabbing a glass of fizz.”
Adds Keiron: “An incredible choir brought out the festive spirit, with plenty of Christmas shopping happening at the same time.”
Below: Christmas shoppers were out in force at Brocante’s fundraising Christmas extravaganza.
Below: Jellycat’s new General Store at Birmingham’s Selfridges.
Above: Jellycat’s Amuseables Christmas pudding.
Below: Utility’s new Manchester store.
THE WALLED GARDEN
A new collection for 2025 of six atmospheric scents, reminiscent of the blooming British countryside. Inspired by floral aromas drifting through a quintessential country garden.
This range consists of six floral fragrances, presented in vegan friendly Soy Candles each one in a soft muted palette with reed diffusers in matching fragrances.
Bira is among the organisations set to play a key role in the Treasury’s business rates reform discussions, marking a significant step forward in the Association’s campaign to reduce the rates burden on indies.
The invitation follows the government’s recently published discussion paper on reforming business rates, released in the wake of the Autumn Statement.
The consultation process, running until March 2025, will help shape reforms set to be announced in the 2025 Autumn Statement and implemented from April 2026.
The talks come at a critical time for independent retailers, following October’s Autumn Statement which announced a reduction in business rates relief from 75% to 40% (capped at £110k) from April 2024, adding further pressure to an already challenging trading environment.
Bira’s ceo Andrew Goodacre commented: “We have been lobbying for meaningful business rates reform for many years, with the ultimate aim of permanently reducing the rates burden on independent retailers. It is extremely positive that Bira will play a prominent role in these discussions, ensuring our members’ voices are heard at the highest level. This is a real chance to shape a rates system that better serves independent retailers and our high streets.”
Paladone WeCool Expands Globally
AAA Merchandise Acquires Groovy
Herdy Goes to Scotland
The Herdy Company, known for its Herdwick sheep, inspired by the Lake District, has unveiled a brand new collection that brings a Scottish twist to the range.
The McHerdy Collection features Herdy, a new character to the Herdy family, that’s dressed in full Scottish attire - a kilt, a tam o’ shanter, a sporran, and a set of bagpipes - capturing the spirit of Scotland.
Paladone WeCool recently held a grand opening of its latest showroom in Hong Kong. The new facility further solidifies Paladone WeCool’s presence in the AsiaPacific market, offering a dedicated space for retailers, agents, and distributors to explore the company’s extensive range of trenddriven licensed and non-licensed toys, games, gifts and branded merchandise.
In addition to the Hong Kong showroom, Paladone WeCool is in the process of expanding its Los Angeles display capabilities and is set to open a new space in Atlanta shortly, reinforcing its commitment to a global showroom network. These new spaces join the company’s existing showrooms in Shoreham-by-Sea (UK), New Jersey and Paris.
Candlelight Partners With Amefa GB
Licensed merchandise distributor AAA Merchandise has expanded its range to include Groovy’s bathrobes, slippers and rugs. After acquiring Groovy’s brand rights and stock, AAA now offers additional licensed soft-line products alongside its popular Christmas jumpers and collectables.
“This acquisition allows us to broaden our reach and introduce a fantastic range of soft-line products that complement our existing portfolio,” says Simon Ward, director of AAA Merchandise. “We’re bringing back all the previous best sellers and developing new ones, featuring brands such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Superman, Batman and others."
The expanded range includes items for gifting, such as bathrobes and rugs, as well as additional home decor and apparel.
Candlelight has forged a collaboration with Amefa in the UK, which distributes market leading brands, Amefa and Richardson Sheffield, to the catering and retail sector. The partnership represents a significant milestone for both companies as they come together to bring an “exceptional range of products” to a wider audience.
The partnership combines the strengths of both Candlelight and Amefa GB to meet growing consumer demand for quality home décor, tabletop and kitchenware under one trusted umbrella.
As part of this joint venture, Amefa GB’s entire portfolio of products will now be available for purchase on the Candlelight website.
Candlelight and Amefa in the UK will also share space at key industry events, with the two brands also showcasing their products together in Amefa’s showroom at the Business Design Centre in London. The collaboration will also extend to exhibitions at Ambiente in Frankfurt, and Spring Fair and Autumn Fair at the NEC, as well as other leading UK exhibitions, providing a unique opportunity for buyers to explore complementary product lines from both companies.
Comments Sally Proctor, comms manager at The Herdy Company: “The McHerdy Collection is our way of celebrating Scottish culture. It’s our first step towards expanding Herdy beyond the Lake District and into the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.”
The special edition collection features a selection of popular items that include a fine bone china mug; a coaster; a tea towel, a set of A5 notebooks, as well as a keyring and a pin badge.
Sustainability Strides For Talking Tables
Talking Tables is continuing its sustainability journey with its Spring/Summer collection, Bon Appetit, featuring significant strides into reusability and recycled materials.
Some 70% of packaging is made from recycled materials as are all paper napkins, excluding a small number of die-cut styles. This coming season also sees the introduction of recycled plastic bunting and oversized tote bags.
“Only 9% of plastic ever produced has been recycled,” states Talking Tables’ founder Clare Harris. “Talking Tables intends to do our part to help turn this around.”
The Bon Appetit collection centres around enamel plates, bowls and candle holders alongside cotton gingham tablecloths and dual purpose napkins-come-tea towels.
Below: Talking Tables’ Bon Appetit collection
Below: Bira’s ceo Andrew Goodacre.
Above: McHerdy from The Herdy Company.
Above: The Paladone WeCool showroom in Hong Kong.
Above: AAA’S Merchandise director Simon Ward.
Below: Candlelight has partnered with Amefa GB.
Autumn Budget Backlash
Major Retailers Send Letter To The Chancellor
Oliver Tress, founder and owner of Oliver Bonas, was one of over 80 of the UK’s leading retailers who wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the end of November, in a letter organised by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Other signatories included John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Next and Boots. The Bank of England’s governor, Andrew Bailey, also gave his backing to the letter.
The letter, which also expressed concerns about the introduction of packaging levies, warned the Chancellor that retail jobs will be lost, stores will shut, and prices will have to rise due to the triple blow of the increases in National Insurance for employers, higher national minimum wage costs, and the doubling of business rates, announced in October’s Budget, which was widely condemned.
The BRC letter stated: “For any retailer, large or small, it will not be possible to absorb such significant cost increases over such a short timescale. The effect will be to increase inflation, slow pay growth, cause shop closures
Soap With Hope
and reduce jobs, especially at the entry level.
“This will impact high streets and customers right across the country. We are already starting to take difficult decisions in our businesses and this will be true across the whole industry and our supply chain.”
“We appreciate the government’s focus on improving the fiscal situation and investing in public services; we also recognise the role businesses have in supporting this, but the sheer scale of new costs and the speed with which they occur create a cumulative burden that will make job losses inevitable, and higher prices a certainty.”
October’s Budget saw the rate of employers’ national insurance increased by 1.2% to 15% from April, and a lowered threshold from £9,100 a year to £5,000.
In an initiative set up by The Somerset Toiletry Company in support of BillyChip, the social enterprise scheme supporting rough sleepers, Bristol graffiti artist Inkie designed a limitededition soap to help fundraise during the Christmas period.
The Somerset Toiletry Company, currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, has been a long-term supporter of BillyChip and is marking the occasion by carrying out 25 acts of kindness.
A thousand Soap with Hope bars have been produced based on Inkie’s design, with ten containing a golden ticket which can be exchanged for a signed Inkie print worth £100. All proceeds go to BillyChip, and for every soap sold, a BillyChip will be donated to a local outreach service to hand out in Bristol over Christmas.
Gift Cards Championing Local Businesses
Gift cards are presenting an avenue for independent retailers, to include gift retailers, to foster stronger customer relationships and boost their local presence, attracting new customers and driving incremental spend, according to the Gift Card & Voucher Association (GCVA) and Global Data’s state of the nation report.
Around 20% of shoppers purchasing gift cards for themselves cited the desire to support local enterprises as a key motivator.
Brands participating in multistore gift card schemes, or offering their own gift cards, are said to be reaping the rewards, particularly from younger demographics such as millennials, who are embracing gift cards for their convenience and flexibility.
Gift cards also encourage shoppers to spend more, says the report. The data showed that 61% of shoppers redeeming gift cards spend beyond the card's value, with many exceeding their balance by an additional £10-£20. Consumers also use a gift card to ‘upgrade’ their purchase, going for a higher value item than they might have done previously.
NEWS IN BRIEF
l Gisela Graham has announced the launch of a brand new collection for Christmas 2025 called The Gruffalo & Friends (See Harrogate Christmas & Gift on pages 40-41).
l Lulu Guinness and Waitrose partnered for a Christmas gifting range featuring a new tote bag made from recycled plastic bottles, a re-usable coffee cup and a drinks bottle all adorned with Lulu’s signature lips.
l The Pantone Colour Institute has named Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse as its Colour of the Year.
Omnichannel Shopping Reigns Supreme
Shoppers are increasingly relying on user-generated content (UGC) for product discovery and purchase decisions, with personalised offers becoming key drivers of sales across multiple product categories, says the annual Shopper Experience Index from Bazaarvoice. Webrooming, (researching products online before buying them in physical stores), showrooming and social media are among the core elements, with consumers relying on user generated content.
“This year’s study reinforces that to succeed today, brands and retailers must meet their customers wherever they shop - especially on social platforms, where consumer engagement and comfort with purchasing are on the rise,” said Zarina Lam Stanford, chief marketing officer at Bazaarvoice.
l Morleys Department Stores has appointed Allan Winstanley as its new chief executive. He starts in January 2025, taking over from Nigel Blow who has been ceo for the last eight years.
l Flemming Knudsen has joined the Bloomingville family as sales director.
Right: Flemming Knusden.
Left: Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Above: Inkie (centre) with Jack Gascoigne of BillyChip (left) and Zantore Buoy from The Somerset Toiletry Company (right).
Left: Gift cards are on the up for indies.
Above: Gisela Graham’s The Gruffalo and child glass book decoration.
Above: Demand for usergenerated content is increasing says a new consumer report.
Above: Allan Winstanley
Top Drawer Fanfares ‘Destination Design’
An Expanded Showfloor Will Showcase Over 600 Brands
Top Drawer Spring/Summer will be back at London’s Olympia from 12-14 January 2025, unveiling an expanded show floor which increased by 10% last season to accommodate 35% of new brands joining the show. There will be over 600 design-led brands showcased, featuring more than 25,000 products.
This year’s theme is Destination Design, which will feature across eight curated sectors: Gift, Home, Wellbeing, Fashion, Greetings, Play, Food Emporium and Launchpad.
Show highlights will include the Spotlight
Designed & Made in Britain
Awards which will be celebrating the best products at the show; the RetailReavealed Stage, offering insightful keynote presentations, masterclasses and panel discussions; Product Pitch, a live Dragons’ Den style product pitch in partnership with IND!E Pop-up, and Hub of Design Innovation. There will also be exclusive trend insights in collaboration with The Better Trends Company.
“We are delighted to welcome so many new and returning brands to our expanded show floor,” stated Top Drawer’s event director David Westbrooke.
To register, visit topdrawer.co.uk
The 60th anniversary edition of Giving & Living, which takes place from 12-14 January at Westpoint in Exeter, will include its strongest ever Designed & Made in Britain showcase, featuring a host of artisan makers from around the British Isles.
Organisers Hale Events highlight that for buyers whose ethos is focused on supporting the heritage of the UK, and local, more sustainable producers, the sector is sure to be a main attraction.
It will offer new products across a wide cross-section of categories, ranging from candles, jewellery, skincare, fine art prints, greetings cards and home textiles to glasswork and pewter.
“Nurturing brands, companies and products that are Designed & Made in Britain is an essential component of our work as a trade show,” comments Mike Anderson managing director of show organiser, Hale Events. “Not only is supporting more sustainable homegrown brands desirable from an ethical perspective, and in terms of preserving circular local economies, it is also what retail buyers and their customers are crying out for. We are proud to offer them an effective, affordable platform where they can reach a strong and diverse audience of independent retailers and important leisure and heritage destinations. Visit givingliving.co.uk
What’s On At Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring
Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring, taking place from 19-21 January at the SEC Glasgow, has unveiled a programme of talks and panel discussions exploring different aspects of retail.
Included will be a keynote discussion on What’s On Scotland’s 2025 Horizon; a panel discussion on Sustainability - Shaping the Future of Supply Chains; a 1-to-1 keynote interview on the success of farm shop Loch Leven’s Larder; a panel discussion on trends insights for 2025; presentations on Understanding Your Customer and AI In Retail – The Future Of Shopping; practical
retailing tips, and a panel discussion on Made in Scotland – What Does This Mean?
In addition, on 20 January and 21 January, there will be Nessie’s Den sessions across gifts, plus food and drink respectively.
The show’s Best Product Awards will display winners products at the centre of the show, with each winner receiving free stand space for 2026. The exhibition will be showcasing established and new exhibitors across the gift, homeware, jewellery, textiles and craft sectors.
Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring is colocated with the Specialty Food & Drink Show. Visit www.scotlandstradefairs.com
A Sneak Peek At Spring Fair
Spring Fair 2025, which will be celebrating the show’s 75th anniversary at the NEC from 2-5 February, will be an immersive experience packed with events and special features.
Over 1,200 exhibitors have been confirmed, with over 90% of the show sold. A dozen buying destinations will be dedicated to Home, Gift, Fashion, and Everyday categories, showcasing over a million products, more than 400 new brands and 100+ international brands.
Visitors will be able to browse five special product pavilions, as well as curated collaborations with partners including The Giftware Association, the Greeting Card Association and Llewellyn-Bowen Design. There will be catwalk shows across three content stages to include the new Licensing Lab in partnership with Fabacus. Activations include happy hours and ambience clinics, sampling sessions, giant birthday cards, awards ceremonies, and a time capsule experience taking visitors back in time to key events, people and products in the show’s history. Plus, there will be a dedicated Cultural Enterprise Day on 4 February.
Spring Fair is co-located with Source Home & Gift.
To register to attend visit www.springfair.com
Moda x Pure At Spring Fair
Fashion show Pure will transition to Spring Fair in February to sit alongside Moda, creating Moda x Pure. Pure’s catwalk will continue to showcase the latest collections and trends, with Moda x Pure collaborating with a trends partner to offer expert insights. Visit www.springfair.com.
New Markets At Source Home & Gift
Source Home & Gift’s February 2025 show, which runs alongside Spring Fair, is once again, on course to deliver newness, manufacturers, craftspeople and social enterprises from around the world, with new markets including Egypt, as well as a large contingent from India and pavilions from China, Taiwan, Peru, Nepal, Pakistan, Hong Kong and the UK.
Also launching at the show will be a 1-2-1 meeting platform, Source Clinic. Visit www.sourcehomeandgift.com
Left: Insightful panel discussions will be part of Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring.
Above: Fragrance Heritage 75 will be commemorating Spring Fair’s milestone 75th anniversary.
Above: Giving & Living will be welcoming visitors in January.
Above: The Pure catwalk.
Above: Visitors browsing the aisles.
As we go into the New Year, external factors will continue to challenge suppliers to include sourcing issues, the supply chain, shipping times, shipping costs, international regulations – most notably President-Elect Donald Trump’s proposed 20% tariff on all imports to the US - plus increases in employer’s National Insurance contributions.
Gift industry suppliers give their views on the challenges they face, but also the opportunities, in 2025.
Growth Potential Overseas
Challenges: “In 2025, we expect a mix of challenges and opportunities as we navigate the evolving marketplace, but overall, we are feeling positive about the year to come,” says Anthony David, commercial director at Something Different Wholesale.
“Managing production and shipping times remain a challenge. However, we have built in additional time into our purchasing process to allow for the increased shipping times, especially with containers avoiding the Suez Canal route. We’ll also need to stay on top of international trade regulations to make sure our products comply with international standards. Additionally, fluctuating container prices and rising employer National Insurance contributions will put pressure on our profit margins. To address these challenges, we are streamlining our supply chain processes and keeping a close eye on regulatory changes to adjust our plans accordingly.”
Opportunities: “On the other hand, there are many potential opportunities. We are expanding our product range, to include a new Tshirt line, which is set to launch in spring 2025, and which should help us appeal to an even wider audience. We’ve seen increasing demand from international customers, and we will continue to focus on our growth potential in overseas markets. We will also continue to drive mutual growth by strengthening our relationships with our key accounts
Investing In Great Products
Challenges: “This year, as always, there are many challenges for both retailers and suppliers, particularly around squeezed consumer spending,” comments Ste Smith, founder and creative director of Pikkii, and creative director of WITH Creative. “It's during tough times when some brands struggle, but other really thrive.”
Opportunities: “Pikkii offers planet-friendly gifts and games and doubled sales in 2024, and we are looking to do the same in 2025. We invest a huge amount of time and money in consumer research as well as great product development. We work tirelessly to innovate and develop award-winning products that stand out on the shelf, resonate with the customer and offer true value, ensuring that they're always priced to sell through quickly. So, when some are tightening budgets, we believe that investing in great products is the way to not only survive, but to thrive.”
through collaboration on new product development opportunities. Finally, we will continue to listen to customer feedback through surveys and other channels, which helps us stay responsive and innovative. Initiatives like our no minimum order policy for UK orders, inspired by customer input, continue to set us apart.”
Inset: The shipping crisis shows no signs of abating.
Below left: Anthony David, commercial director, Something Different Wholesale
Right: Pikkii and WITH Creative’s creative director Ste Smith.
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Diversifying Our Supply Chain
Challenges: “The election of Donald Trump in the US, and his commitment to tariffs, highlights the increasing need for suppliers to have an agile and diverse sourcing strategy that can adapt to any change in circumstances,” says Talking Tables’ director of supply chain, Daniel Fagan.
Need To Adapt Quickly Challenges:
“It’s simply too much risk to put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to sourcing.
“At Talking Tables we’ve been diversifying our supply chain, not simply in response to the US political situation -there was much talk of tariffs on certain Far East sourced products well before the election – but, more importantly, general global uncertainty. This ranges from the political – for example, the recent disruption of shipping routes – and even weather events exacerbated by climate change. Layered on top of this is our focus on sourcing closer to home, part of our commitment to sustainability. Today, around 44% of our product is sourced from Europe and we are exploring new sourcing markets such as India. At the same time, having a more adaptable sourcing landscape supports our global sales strategy as we move into new markets like Australia.”
Opportunities: “We also see great opportunity for us in product diversification. While we remain committed to recyclable single use paper products, this coming spring/summer sees us launch a collection of predominately reusable tabletop items called Bon Appetit. We feel it’s a natural extension as it reflects our brand proposition - bringing people together around a table and having a brightly coloured and playful handwriting. Again, it fits with our sustainability journey and follows a growing shift in consumer opinion towards valuing reusability we witnessed in a survey we carried out earlier this year.”
Tough Times Ahead
“As in recent years, we will be keeping a close eye on shipping prices which remain volatile and have the potential to continue their steep upward trajectory,” states Gisela Graham’s commercial director Mark Jones
“If this occurs, we will again face the difficult decision, faced by many in our position, as to how to handle the financial hit. Wherever possible, we always endeavour to absorb these costs ourselves rather than passing them onto our customers, but clearly there are limits to this.
“Aside from price challenges, shipping also presents issues in the length of time everything now takes to arrive, and we predict that these lead times will remain lengthy. Our business model has adapted over recent years to enable us to place our orders much earlier so, to some extent, we are fortunate enough to have been able to alleviate the issues created by lengthy shipping times. However, it does, of course, mean that we have to handle a large amount of stock in a shorter window when it arrives at our warehouse.
A further challenge for 2025, which no doubt will also present some opportunities too, is the amount of political change both domestically and overseas and a continued pressure on the spending power of individual households.”
Opportunities: “Like all UK-based suppliers, we must adapt quickly and efficiently to demands made of our business at home but with these changes will also inevitably come new possibilities. 2025 promises to be a fast-moving year of continued vigilance within a challenging yet exciting trading landscape.”
Challenges: “For us, the year ahead is likely to pose probably even more issues than 2024,” predicts Nick Ronald, managing partner of lifestyle brand Casa Verde. “We will continue to face longer shipping times and higher container prices as the Middle East crisis shows no signs of being resolved, and the horrid implications of Brexit rumble on unaddressed, continuing to impact our ability to export to the EU and Northern Ireland, and indeed, have just got even more complicated with the arrival of the new GPSR regulations. I take some tiny comfort in the fact that the new administration is at least a little more pro-EU but still not anywhere strong enough to restore and repair the huge damage that Brexit did to our industry. I still find it scandalous that our own government agreed a deal that made supplying one of our own countries, Northern Ireland, so very difficult. Also, so very few people are aware that Brits who were already working or living in the EU were not able to vote - so it is completely invalid in my book.”
Opportunities: “I have a small glimmer of hope that our customers will remain calm and carry on just as they have been of late, and that, through trade shows we continue to meet new customers. This should lead to some small growth in 2025. That's my hope anyway.”
Inset: Talking Tables’ director of supply chain, Daniel Fagan.
Above: Mark Jones, commercial director, Gisela Graham.
Below: Casa Verde’s managing partner Nick Ronald.
Tuesday 3 June and Wednesday 4 June 2025 London’s Business Design Centre
An upbeat vibe, newness galore – and free refreshments, lunch and opening night party, PG Live 2025 is not to be missed!
Over 180 fabulous companies have already booked their stands… and there are plenty more in the pipeline. PG Live has lots of great retailer fans…
“It’s such a great show, full of such wonderful products and not just from the established publishers. So good to see so many ‘newer’ publishers flourishing.”
Mark Janson-Smith,
managing director of Postmark
“What’s not to like about seeing the best publishers this industry has to offer along with new talent just starting out? There were so many exhibitors that caught my eye; there really was something there for every retailer.”
Andrea Pinder, owner Presentation Cards & Gifts, Barrowford
Don’t Miss Out… Book Your Free Tickets
Registration is now live at: www.progressivegreetingslive.com
Register now and be a part of it!
Call us on: (0) 7734 111633 or email: jimb@max-publishing.co.uk Follow us @PGLiveLondon
#pglive2023
“There was a real air of excitement and a great buzz to PG Live. As we continue to open more stores and cards are doing so well, it is a great opportunity to catch up with current suppliers and to be on the hunt for new.”
Kate Salmon, head of home and gift buying for Oliver Bonas
Want to know about exhibiting at PG Live 2025?
We have stand options available to suit all shapes and sizes, contact: Tracey Arnaud on 07957 212062
traceya@max-publishing.co.uk Warren Lomax on 07977 572086 warrenl@max-publishing.co.uk www.progressivegreetingslive.com
A ‘Greats’ Opportunity
multiple, if you think your shop or store deserves to see its name on a prestigious Greats gift retailer award trophy in May 2025 then we want to hear from you!
Organised by Progressive Gifts & Home, the competition, now in its 23rd year, is once again setting out to find the gift retailers who are a cut above the rest. With a closing date of 11 February, 2025, we want retailers to tell us why their shop could be a winner!
Once again, Progressive Gifts & Home, organisers of The Greats Awards, is excited to be on the lookout for those extra special gift and lifestyle retailers, department stores, garden centres and newcomers to gift retail, that, despite the challenges of the past year, are nevertheless managing to stay at the top of their game.
Setting out to recognise excellence, initiative, innovation and professionalism at the highest level, this year’s competition is now underway, with the winners announced at a glittering black-tie event at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on 15 May, 2025, alongside the Gift of the Year winners.
“For award winners, hearing their shop’s name called out is a very special moment
Progressive Gifts & Home’s editor Sue Marks. Among The Greats 2024 winners was Nicola Hibon Jackson, owner of The Voewood in Blackheath Standard, SE London. When she heard category sponsor Clare Harris, founder of Talking Tables, reveal that her gift shop had won The Greats’ Best Non-Specialist Retailer category at The Gift Awards in May she can still remember the tingly feeling. “It meant everything, we were so thrilled, particularly as we are an independent,” she states. “Winning a Greats’ trophy in 2024 was recognition that we have created something special.”
For Samantha Rose and Soni Ahmed, coowners of Maia Gifts in Glasgow, winning The Greats Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Scotland category was an incredible feeling that left them on a high for days. “We were genuinely speechless when we heard Maia’s name called out on the night,” recalls Soni. “It was amazing to be recognised for the hard work that goes into a business like ours. We posted the news on all our social media channels and the response was unbelievably touching. It showed us that we have a very loyal
Continued Nicola: “Customers came into the shop to congratulate us, and there was such a sense of pride, not only at The Voewood itself, but in the local area as well. Our local neighbourhood newspaper, the Westcombe News, did a page spread on our success, which helped to drive footfall into the shop which was an added bonus!”
Above: Nicola Hibon Jackson, owner of The Voewood, received her Greats trophy from Clare Harris, founder of Talking Tables, category sponsor. On stage with Nicola is her husband, Bastien Hibon.
following and that so many people love what we do!”
At Mooch, winner of the Best Display category, co-owner Jon May reveals: “We were in total shock as all the finalists in our category were worthy winners. We took to our socials as soon as we won and had so many lovely comments from both customers, suppliers and fellow gift shop owners. We celebrated with a special window, displaying the four Greats awards that we have won over the years, plus we had graphics made that are still proudly displayed in our stores.”
Hugs & Kisses’ owner Caroline Ranwell, too, was equally amazed to hear her shop’s name announced as the winner of the Independent Gift Retailer of the year - Midlands & Wales category. “I honestly never expected to win. I was blown away to be a finalist again, so winning was a dream come true. It meant the absolute world to me and it’s definitely helped to get our shop noticed and talked about! We
The Greats 2025: Categories
l Independent Gift Retailer of The Year - London, South, South East + East Anglia
l Independent Gift Retailer of The Year - Midlands & Wales
l Independent Gift Retailer of The Year - North & Northern Ireland
l Independent Gift Retailer of The Year - West & South West
l Independent Gift Retailer of The Year - Scotland
l Best Newcomer Gift Retailer
l Best Specialist Multiple Retailer Of Gifts (4 or more shops)
l Best Department Store Retailer Of Gifts
l Best Non-Specialist Retailer Of Gifts
l Best Garden Centre Retailer Of Gifts (multiple: 5+ centres)
l Best Garden Centre Retailer Of Gifts (independent: 1-4 centres)
l Best In Store/Window Display
l Best Retailer Initiative
received so many good luck and congratulations cards, and displayed them all, which meant that we didn’t even need a poster!”
Meanwhile, another Greats winner making the most of her success has been Cesca Haskins, owner of Attico in Westborne. “Since winning a Greats award in 2024 – for Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – South Westwe've proudly showcased the trophy in our eye-catching window displays, making it a focal point that sparks curiosity and conversation. Plus, we've included the ‘winner’ graphic in our email sign-offs, and created a dedicated blog post on our website, sharing the win. Social media has also played a key role, with multiple posts across platforms generating a great
Nominate Those Special Gift Retailers
In addition to gift retailers being invited to self-nominate their shops for The Greats 2025, suppliers, reps and agents also have a fabulous opportunity to bang the drum by nominating the retailers that they feel are a cut above the rest.
Visit the Nominate tab on www.thegreatsaward.co.uk that gives the industry at large a chance to say why they think specific gift shops and gift departments, both regionally and nationally, deserve to have their name on a Greats trophy in 2025.
Nominations should be sent direct to: Sue Marks at suem@max-publishing.co.uk.
The closing date for nominations 11 February, 2025.
deal of positive attention.”
Could your shop be a winner in 2025? An entry form is enclosed with this issue of Progressive Gifts & Home. Alternatively, visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk or www.thegiftawards.com which feature details on how to enter The Greats, together with a downloadable entry form. Entries can also be emailed direct to Sue Marks at suem@max-publishing.co.uk.
The closing date for self-nomination entries, and gift industry nominations, is 11 February, 2025. For more about The Greats 2025 turn to news on page 7.
Inset: Mark Saunders, director of Springboard Events, category sponsor, presented winners Soni Ahmed and Samantha Rose, founders of Maia Gifts, with their Greats trophy in May.
Inset: The Greats and the Gift of the Year 2024 winners are shown on stage with their trophies. Below centre: Mooch Gifts & Home’s co-owners, Jon May and Luke Jacks were presented with their Greats’ trophy by Mark Jones, commercial director at Gisela Graham, category sponsor.
Inset: Greats finalist Olivia Reilly, co-owner of Little Boat Gifts in Brightlingsea, is shown at PG Live 2024 spending her £50 Greats bonus with Meg Hawkins on her stand.
As the Gift Of The Year competition moves towards the final live judging at February’s Spring Fair, The Giftware Association’s ceo Sarah Ward reflects on four key trends that have emerged from this year’s entries.
TIN CONVERSATION WITH...
Sar Ward
he Gift of the Year competition 2025 has been our biggest entry yet, with some 950 entries submitted, and an amazing array of diverse products entered across all 20 categories. There’s been more innovation and newness to the market too, as Gift of the Year judges have discovered.
It’s been interesting to see that four categories have really stood out this year, having seen noticeable growth. The first two are: Affordable Gifts (previously titled Under £15), where economic and political change directly affects an industry such as ours, and Festive & Occasions, where seasonal, Autumn, Halloween and Easter have all become much bigger events. There is a greater interest in ethnic products too, with cultural occasions becoming increasingly important at retail, to include Diwali and Eid.
A third category that has really expanded is Home & Kitchen, with people especially valuing their homes and being with family since Covid hit in 2020. Consequently, they are showing a keen interest in home décor items, to include recycled products, and also investing in lovely accessories, such as cashmere throws. A strong desire for tabletop is also on the rise, with china, in particular, standing out this year.
And lastly, the Games & Puzzles category has grown exponentially. First introduced to the Gift of the Year competition in 2024, it’s been a phenomenal success this year. Many established businesses have introduced games and puzzles into their portfolios, with newer brands also entering the competition for the first time.
As for designs, we have seen florals, an
What’s Trending
emerging trend last year, very much in vogue across all categories now, and new licensing brands coming on board, most notably Netflix. In the Crafts & Design category, an array of kits are very much leading the way.
Were there any surprises this year? Given that wellness is such a strong category, it was surprising to see fewer entries in the Bath, Body & Spa category, although it still remains strong, with some new names too; and there were less entries in the Novelty, Tech & Gadgets category which we weren’t expecting at all.
What’s been clear though, is that while there are similar behaviour patterns to previous years, Gift of the Year 2025 has also been very different. For one thing, we launched the competition a lot earlier in 2024. Activity was strong right from the start, and the extra time has meant we have seen a growth curve. Traditionally, the competition spikes right at the beginning, and this year was no different; however, we had an increase of almost 100 entries compared to the same period the year before. Additionally, companies who could, invested in larger entry bundles by comparison to last year, and product
photography too, was of an exceptionally high standard – a bonus for our judges. Plus, in the last five to six years especially, the competition has seen dramatic growth, notably in the number of new brands that are entering. The numbers have partly escalated due to the Gift of the Year stands we have taken, not only at Spring Fair, where the judging of the 2024 competition took place in February 2024, but also at Top Drawer and Giving & Living.
Showcasing winners’ and finalists’ products has attracted the attention of a range of exhibitors – many of them smaller suppliers – as well as retailers who walk past and want to know more about the products. Interestingly, they often get involved as a judge the following year, enabling them to see the products that are launching prior to Top Drawer and Spring Fair, thereby helping them to use their time more effectively when they’re at the shows. Jumping ahead to 2026, I’m proud to say that the Gift of the Year competition will be celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary and I, for one, can’t wait! Will we make it 1,000 entries that year? Judging by how the competition has gained traction year on year, I’d put money on it!
Inset: Stoneglow is among the entrants in the Home Fragrance category.
GiftThe
Well, Christmas is well and truly underway, and at the time of writing (early December), we have had the stock in, filled the shelves and now the sound of the tills filling up is what we’re after.
The season got off to a great start, with the run up of September, October and November well up on last year.
Black Friday doesn’t happen at Bill & Berts. Instead, we do Happy Friday weekend. This year, 48 bottles of Prosecco were opened and enjoyed by customers over the three days. Nothing like a free drink to getting people spending more! Here’s hoping the big month of December turns out to be just as good.
The Budget however, did its best to put a dampener on most high street shops with National Insurance increases, but I’m sure that for most independent gift shops, the huge increase in business rates next April is a big kick in the you know where’s. It would be lovely to ask why the Chancellor feels the need to hit shops like all of ours as hard as she did. A five figure increase on my rates bill is a tough pill to swallow.
This year we are finding our customers, and at Bill and Bert’s more than ever, looking at having a fun experience - so much better than shopping online. Bertie was my little Schnauzer, so calling the shop after my dog means we are a dog-friendly shop. Customers love this, and several of their dogs come in once a week. The dogs are as important in the shop as their owners are to us.
I staff the shop heavily at this time of the year – seven to eight during the week and eight to 19 - at the weekends, so every customer gets served and they can have a chat if they need to.
We are finding sales on some of our old favourites are selling very well. Wrendale, Roka, and all food gifting is flying. One of the best new lines is the range of Bubble teas from the Tea Shed. In addition, Jellycat, Miffy, Funtime Gifts and Green and Wild’s pet food and toys always sell brilliantly at this time of year.
Gingko sells very well all year round too, with their whole collection one of the best lines in the shop. Its range of Amber lights are our top sellers. Last year, there were only five designs while this year nearly 20 are available. It’s no wonder this line has won a Gift of The Year award!
All clothing lines too, have performed well, and, as usual,
The festive tills have been jingling at Bill & Bert’s in Colchester, with food gifts, plush, fashion accessories and clothing, plus much more besides, all ringing up sales, says owner Bill Nettelfield
we’ve found that you can never have enough socks, scarves and woolly hats. Christmas tights from Pamela Mann are popular both now and around Halloween time. Gonks again continue to ring up sales, selling well but possibly not as strongly as they did over the last couple of years. However, our new Christmas range of hanging decorations from Shoeless Joe have been really popular. In fact, I wish we had stocked them in previous years. For me, it's great seeing customers pick up a couple of items, get handed a basket, and before you know it, a dozen or so items are being brought up to the till. We hear over and over again: “We come to Bill and Bert’s as we know we can get something great for everyone in the family.”
Anyway, by the time you all read this the tills will hopefully be/or have been jingling, and we at Bill and Bert’s won’t be the only ones with the drinks flowing. So, I wish you all a fabulous last few days trading, a cracking new year and here’s to a great 2025. I can’t believe we’re only a few weeks away from Spring Fair when everything starts all over again! New Year resolutions? Mine is more of the same please. And a promotion for Leeds United, obviously.
TILLS ARE JINGLING
Below right: In the Christmas spirit: Bill Nettelfield (second right) and Sarah Charlton (right) with team Bill & Bert’s. Below: Popular products in the run- up to Christmas.
Entering a Søstrene Grene store is like being enveloped in a great big hug (hygge). Warm, inviting and bursting with innovative products, it is a fascinating meander across a labyrinth of product categories for gifting and the home, plus much more besides.
The vibe is minimalistic Scandinavian designs across gifts, homewares, housewares, kitchen, greeting cards, giftwrap, hobby crafts, toys, accessories and ‘mini’ home items for children.
There are also products according to the seasons and occasions. Pricing is very competitive too, making it tempting for people to fill up their baskets. In fact, according to the retailer, hundreds of customers queue outside the doors during UK store launch events, a recent example being in Uxbridge in November. Stores receive new products every week, attracting a huge audience who follow the brand on social media for their daily dose of minimalistic, Scandinavian inspired items.
The arrival of the new Uxbridge store has broadened Søstrene Grene’s presence in London to a total of seven outlets, with other London stores located in King’s Cross, Bromley, Richmond, Kingston-upon-
First introduced to the UK in 2016, Søstrene Grene has quickly gained recognition for its budget friendly, Scandinavian-inspired homewares.
With over 300 stores across 17 countries and online shops in 14 markets, the Danish brand has established a strong international presence and is setting ambitious goals for the UK – where it currently has 45 stores – aiming for a total of 100 stores before 2027.
PG&H set off to find out more about the retailer, as well as sisters Anna and Clara, who are at the heart of the brand.
Thames, Wandsworth, and Tottenham Court Road (Sostrene Grene’s UK’s flagship store). In total, the company has 45 stores across the UK, with locations stretching from Cardiff to Glasgow.
Founded in 1973 by the Grene family, Søstrene Grene, (which means Grene sisters), remains a family-led business under the leadership of Mikkel Grene, who became group ceo and co-owner in 2011. The concept of the brand revolves around the story of two fictious sisters, Anna and Clara Grene, who
“create small, bright differences” to everyday life, with the inspiration for the sisters taken from the Grene family itself. As Mikkel explains, Anna and Clara are the ‘hosts’ and have been since the opening of the first Søstrene Grene store in the Danish city of Aarhus in 1973.
How would he define Anna and Clara? “Anna is creative, appreciative of art and beauty, while Clara is practical and organised,” explains Mikkel. “Together they represent all that Søstrene Grene stands for, sharing their recommendations on how people can bring more creative joy and aesthetics into their daily life.” For over 50 years, the concept has been a winner, with the sisters featuring in most written narratives about the company, spreading the message about the creativity, aesthetics and joy which are at the heart of the brand.
“Having a strong presence in some of the largest countries in Europe, such as France, with 35+ stores, and Germany, with 80+ stores, gives us great confidence to continue expanding in the UK,” says
Inset: The opening of the new Uxbridge store.
Right: Mikkel Grene, group ceo and co-owner of Søstrene Grene.
Mikkel. “Additionally, we have our own real estate, legal, and store design departments, enabling us to move swiftly when it comes to new store openings.” (Stores can be found in many of the major European cities, to include Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Hamburg, Munich, Oslo, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna and Zurich).
Currently, the Danish retail brand is actively seeking to occupy vacant retail space across the UK with a view to helping to revitalise high streets and shopping centres by attracting footfall. "We have already received a warm welcome from customers in the UK and are excited to expand Anna and Clara's world to even more cities and people across the country," states Mikkel. With an ever-changing product mix, he says, “prices are never higher than they need be.”
As with most retail chains, Søstrene Grene stores come in many shapes and sizes. “We have over 300 stores in 17 different markets. There are several concept criteria that need to be met before final location approval, but I believe some of our strengths in expansion lie in our creative approach to finding solutions that offer our customers a unique shopping experience," says Mikkel.
Record Breaking Year
This year (2024), saw Søstrene Grene achieve its most successful financial year on record, showing significant growth despite a challenging retail environment.
For the year ending 30 April 2024, the company reported a 22% increase in turnover, from £203 million to £247 million, alongside a 15% rise in profit before tax, reaching £24 million from £21 million. Gross profit also saw substantial growth, improving from £76 million to £99 million.
“We are proud of the strongest financial result in Søstrene Grene’s history,” stated Mikkel. “Our performance validates the strategic decisions we have made to innovate and expand our business. The results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of our investments. Our customers continue to seek quality, sustainability, and stylish designs at accessible prices. This has reinforced our position in the market, even amid broader economic challenges. Our ability to meet their needs during uncertain times has been a key driver of our success.”
everything on the same floor. However, one of Søstrene Grene's strengths in expansion lies in the retail chain's creative approach to finding solutions that ultimately provide customers with a unique shopping experience.
system implementation, warehouse automation through robotics, and enhancing digital and marketing capabilities. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to expand the brand’s presence, with some 60 new stores having opened in the past 12 months and an ambitious goal of reaching 500 global stores by 2027.
Commented Mikkel: “We are not only expanding our physical presence but also investing in technology to enhance efficiency and the customer experience. These investments are crucial as we position ourselves for sustained growth in the coming years.”
The stores are designed to have
Sustainably Speaking
The company’s financial success (see ‘Record Breaking Year’ above), provides a strong foundation for its ambitious future plans. The retailer is allocating £11 million to important business projects, including SAP
In addition to its financial success, Søstrene Grene remains committed to sustainable growth. The company’s carbon reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), reinforcing its commitment to reducing environmental impact.
“We are making meaningful progress in lowering emissions across our supply chain,” confirms Mikkel. “With our targets validated by SBTi, we are on a clear, path to reducing our environmental impact while continuing to grow.”
Despite rising freight costs, the company has prioritised maintaining affordability for its customers by absorbing these expenses rather than passing them on. Mikkel acknowledges the pressure on margins, but reaffirms the company’s commitment, explaining: “While increased freight costs are a challenge, we remain focused on keeping our products affordable. We expect some impact on margins this year, but we are confident in achieving even stronger results next year.”
Inset: A Søstrene Grene store interior.
Inset: A study display area.
Which gift products will be the winners as we head into 2025?
PG&H asked three retailers for their predictions as to the brands to watch out for.
Ones To Watch
Gift-Led Confectionery
“A brand that is really doing well for us, and one that is developing too, is the confectionery brand The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Company, which offers gift-led products made from Belgian chocolate,” confirms Mark Rees, owner of nine Henry & Co gift shops in Derbyshire, Lancashire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. “Confectionery is a substantial category, a strong area for us, and definitely one to watch.”
Adds Mark: “We’re also doing extremely well with Legami erasable pens, which appeal to both tweens and adults alike, but especially fans of Tik Tok. We have customers who regularly come into our shops and buy 20 to 30 pens at a time.”
As for consumer buying trends, Mark points to gift givers looking to buy giftware that they know the recipient will use or consume. “They are looking for gifts that people will enjoy eating, such as confectionery, or enjoy drinking from, such as a mug, or using, such as gift-led stationery. People today don’t want to buy products that have no purpose or use.”
Useful And Usable Gifts
“New to us, and definitely one to watch, is the fair trade, Nepalese brand Pachamama Knitwear,” highlights Trudy Tebbitt, owner of Marmalade Meringue in Hinckley. “We stock the company’s headbands, fingerless gloves and hats, with products handmade and traditional, made from 100% wool. These fashion accessories are really something different and have been a massive hit with our customers.”
Also ringing up sales for Marmalade Meringue are Freckleface’s handmade mix’n’match soya wax melts, which the shop introduced earlier this year. “The melts smell divine, and customers constantly come in to repeat purchase. Also successful for us are Heathcote & Ivory’s Cath Kidston and William Morris hand creams,” says Trudy. “Our customers are always looking for good value as well as something usable and useful.”
Let’s Get Personal
“Having purchased a Metallic Elephant monogramming machine for our new gift shop, Little Red, which opened in October, I spotted an article in the latest edition of House & Garden magazine confirming that personalisation is indeed very popular at the moment,” highlights Sally Matson, owner of Red Card and Little Red, Petworth. “People love the idea of giving something that’s bespoke to a friend or family member. Leather goods, particularly smaller items, such as luggage labels and keyrings, have been popular, as have lovely notebooks and diaries.” Additionally, the Bruder toy range has been one of the biggest sellers at Red Card this year - quality toys with brands on them that the kids know - Massey Ferguson, Land Rover, John Deere etc. We have also had a very successful Autumn/Winter in both stores with Talking Tables.”
Below: A chocolate pizza from The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Company.
Left: Colourful fashion accessories from Pachamama Knitwear.
Above: Little Red offers customers personalisation on items such as small leather goods and stationery.
A Global Vision
It’s been a whirlwind year for Cotton & Grey’s co-founders Claire Sowden and Paul Banyard, who have seen their wellness Twenty Minute Candles and affirmations go from strength to strength, not just in the UK but internationally too. With the Spring shows beckoning, Claire and Paul will be unveiling a host of new productsto include Remembrance, Wedding and affirmation stickers – as well as continuing to build their global business in 2025, as PG&H discovered.
When Claire Sowden and Paul Banyard created a gift for a friend during the pandemic –Twenty Minute Candles – to help her to take time out to relax, little did they think that four years on, the range would have grown exponentially, reaching the finals of the Gift of the Year competition in 2022, 2023 and 2024, as well as taking the company onto a global stage. “Our fingers are tightly crossed for 2025 too,” states Claire. “The candles are 100% pure beeswax and have a subtle,
honey aroma. We don’t add fragrance as the candle is essentially a timer, so we use a natural beeswax for its simplicity and the mesmerising quality of its clean burning flame,” Claire highlights.
Naturally, the UK’s key trade shows are at the top of the agenda for 2025, where the company will be unveiling a host of brand new Spring/Summer products at January’s Top Drawer S/S25 (stand J89) and
Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring (stand H38), as well as at February’s Spring Fair (Spring Fair hall 4, stand 4E81).
“Having had a busy year expanding into new overseas markets in 2024 – more of which later - we did miss some of the key UK trade shows, including Harrogate Home & Gift and the Autumn trade fairs,” points out Claire. “It was difficult to sit those out, especially since these shows are such an integral part of our yearly calendar. But we will be back attending all of them in 2025 to catch up with everyone and to unveil our new ranges.”
Among the new product lines is a full range of Remembrance titles. “We believe these will resonate deeply with our customers as a kind gift at times of loss,” explains
Inset: Taking 20 minutes out to relax with a Cotton & Grey Serenity candle. Below: Cotton & Grey’s co-owners Paul Banyard and Claire Sowden. Below: Mixed ranges for the coming season.
Claire. “We are also introducing a Wedding range covering thank you gifts, as well as celebrations of the special day. These new ranges will expand on our existing offerings, blending thoughtful design with meaningful messaging.”
In addition, the company is introducing a brand new product line: affirmation stickers. “The stickers are designed to complement our popular Twenty Minute Candle sets and offer a boost of positivity, encouragement and self-care in everyday life,” she continues. “With themes centred around wellbeing and mindfulness, the affirmation stickers will provide gentle reminders to focus on positive thoughts and mantras during moments of reflection.”
Much like the Twenty Minute Candles, the stickers have been designed to inspire a moment of calm amid the business of daily life: a simple message of self-love, a motivational phrase, or a thoughtprovoking mantra.
“They nurture the mind and soul in just a few moments,” confirms Claire.
overseas, Claire concurs that 2024 was a challenging year for many businesses, including Cotton & Grey. “The economic climate, rising costs and cautious consumer spending required creative handling,” she admits.
However, one of the most significant developments for Cotton & Grey in 2024 has been the company’s expansion into overseas markets. “We were fortunate to exhibit at major international trade shows in Atlanta, New York and Paris, with the events providing invaluable opportunities to introduce our products to new audiences and build relationships with customers in regions where we previously had a limited presence.”
She continues: “By tapping into these new markets, we were able to gain brand recognition in countries where our products were not yet widely available. It was a strategic move that allowed us to weather some of the economic challenges faced by businesses in the UK this year, and despite missing out on several UK shows, the decision to explore new territories was ultimately the right one for us. That being said, we’ve learned a valuable lesson – that striking the right balance between domestic and international trade shows is essential. Therefore, in 2025, we plan to be more selective and ensure we maintain a strong presence both at home and abroad.”
Nevertheless, despite forging strong ties
With so much uncertainty, both domestically and globally, what were retailers looking for when buying wellness products for their customers? “The simplicity of the concept of our Twenty Minute Candles - a candle that offers a brief but meaningful moment of reflection, combined with its affordability - has made it an ideal gift choice during a time when consumers are more mindful of their spending. Despite tighter budgets, our candles remain a thoughtful and budget-friendly option, offering a message of self-care and wellbeing in a beautifully packaged box.
“Nevertheless, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and rising business expenses have affected both our retail and trade customers. Many of our partners are navigating stretched budgets and increased operational costs, which inevitably has a ripple effect on our business as well. Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate that these challenges will continue. However, we are optimistic about the future and are committed to supporting our customers and partners through these difficult times.”
Claire confirms that one of the company’s key strategies will be to continue developing international relationships and expanding its distribution networks. “By reaching new markets and establishing partnerships in regions that are harder to service directly, we can diversify our customer base and mitigate some of the challenges posed by the domestic economic landscape,” she explains. “The conversations and connections we made at the international trade shows this year have
already opened-up exciting new possibilities and we’re eager to build on these opportunities in the coming year. Despite the challenges we’ve faced, we remain incredibly optimistic about the future.”
She continues: “We believe that every challenge presents an opportunity for growth and we’re excited to embrace the new year with open minds. We also remain hugely grateful to our customers, partners and supporters. Their trust and enthusiasm in our products inspire us every day and we can’t wait to continue this journey in the new year when the fun starts all over again. So, here’s to a year filled with creativity, positivity and the joy of sharing thoughtful gifts with the world. With new products, new market sectors to tap into and new experiences on the horizon, we’re confident that 2025 will be another year of growth, connection and success for Cotton & Grey.”
Inset: Mind Body Soul Breathe candles. Below left: Affirmation stickers from Cotton & Grey are brand new for 2025. Below: A stack of ‘A Little Box Of’ candles.
what’s trending in retro gifting, highlighting which companies are putting a twist on products
With the release of a third Paddington movie at the end of 2025, there’s a definite nod to childhood nostalgia with Rainbow
For those whose beauty routine is stuck in a time warp, Mad Beauty’s Rocky Horror Show inspired lotions and potions include the Rocky
Left: New for Christmas 2025, a 1950’s novelty LED Santa TV spinner from Straits Trading. A working dial adjusts the volume of Christmas tunes and glitter swirls around a festive scene.
Below: A tinplate metal serving tray from Rex London. The ‘cool and refreshing’ Spanish beer branding is inspired by vintage Spanish beer packaging.
Left:
Horror Show – Give Yourself Over To Absolute Pleasure Glitter Lip Balm in a cherry fragrance.
Below: Woodsage and Seasalt, and Cabin in the Woods from the Jeff Banks range for Candlelight, which launched in the Autumn, features two colourways, Ether Blush and Ether (shown). Pretty packaging and crafted ceramic wax filled pots are reminiscent of 50’s sweetie jars and grandma’s dressing table pots.
Right:
Designs’ classic Paddington.
Above: Funky Fungi mushroom jewellery from Something Different Wholesale blends the carefree spirit of the 1970’s with a trendy fashion-forward update. The range includes necklaces, earrings and bracelets featuring orange mushroom charms and colourful beads.
Left: Half Moon Bay’s Gromit tea pot is part of a wider gift collection featuring Wallace & Gromit, with the brand inspired by Aardman creator Nick Park’s own family, especially his dad.
Above: Garden Game, featuring vintage-style packaging, is among the brand new 2025 launches from House of Marbles.
Cute & Cuddly
As Toy Fair gets ready to open its doors at London’s Olympia from 21-23 January, PG&H cuddled up with some of the latest plush launches for Spring/Summer 2025, with Kawaii, kidult and noveltythemed plush continuing to trend.
If there’s one product sector in the gift industry that’s ageless and timeless it has to be plush, with gift givers unable to resist cute faces, super-soft fur and nostalgic memories. It’s an eco-friendly, all-year-round gift too, with many products now proudly fanfaring their sustainability credentials.
“The plush market has seen an explosion of trends in 2024,” states Leynah Potter, global head of marketing for Charlie Bears, whose collectable bears are all handmade, each with their own personality. “We’ve seen plush ranges developed specifically for pets, as well as producers using technology to deliver enhanced sensory experiences that are inclusive and diverse within their plush products.”
Leynah says that plush now is very much seen as a collectable item. “However, that wasn’t always the case, and we’re proud that
Charlie Bears was one of the founders in creating affordable plush collectable bears and characters, both in the UK and globally,” she continues, adding: “The trend that will remain true in 2025 is nostalgia, from enhancing the classic teddy bear to bringing the stories and magic of childhood memories to life. Trends such as nostalgia don’t come and go, they grow, and in Charlie Bears’ 20th year we will be launching more mystical and mythical characters than ever before that align to that.”
Zara Grindrod, sales and brand director for Rainbow Designs, says that high quality soft toys, featuring renowned timeless characters, are very much evergreens in the plush sector and are continuously on trend. “Many of these classic characters, with nostalgic appeal, such as Paddington, Peter Rabbit and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, are the foundations of our Rainbow family and continue to form an important part of many childhoods across multiple generations, making them constantly in high demand.”
A modern day classic joining these brands is the Wizarding World, featuring a new Harry Potter Wizarding World collection of infant plush toys featuring Harry Potter, Harry’s Owl, Hedwig and house elf Dobby.
Along with many other plush suppliers, Zara also highlights that another trend is for eco-
friendly plush. “New parents in particular want to give their baby the best possible start to life. In support of this, we have joined forces with Sri Lankan ethical nursery toy company Tikiri to offer an eco-friendly range of infant toys and nursery essentials, that will be available in Spring 2025,” confirms Zara.
“In terms of trends, we’re seeing continued demand for high-quality, character-driven
Below: A large bunny from Wilberry Eco Classics. Left: Puckator’s Squidglys plush toy range. Bottom: Classic Paddington from Rainbow Designs.
Inset: Sheppy the sheepdog from The Herdy Company.
plush toys,” says The Herdy Company’s comms manager Sally Proctor. “There’s also a growing interest in collectable ranges. We expanded our plush range last year with the introduction of Sheppy the sheepdog, who has had a fantastic first year. Our customers have loved being able to add to their ‘flock’ and it’s been great to see such a positive response. Building on this success, we plan to expand our plush collection in 2025 with several new, thoughtfully designed soft toys that are currently in development.”
Keeping It Personal
PMC will be expanding the company’s plush offering over the coming year, with new releases due out in 2025.
Katy Rugman, product and marketing director at The Puppet Company/Wilberry, highlights that plush has limitless options for gifting, ranging across impulse and ‘just because’ gifts, while being ideally suited to seasonal and extra-special gifts.
“Personalisation adds a heartfelt touch, uplifting a traditional gift and creating a memento the recipient will treasure,” says PMC’s marketing director Keren Dicken. “Our licensed Me To You plush is a customer favourite - especially for Mother’s Day – with plush gifts a large part of any gift giving occasion, whether celebrating a new baby, wishing someone a happy Birthday or just as a gift to say ‘Thinking of you’.”
highlighted by the company’s Snackies. “This is an eco-friendly culinary themed collection of characters that include Franco Fries, Pablo Pizza, Dottie Donut and Harry Hot Sauce. Additionally, our bestselling Plant Bobballs, an all year round gift, have been a huge favourite with buyers and customers alike, where we have a new addition, Flower Bobballs.”
As for trends, she says that the ‘kidult’ trend is continuing to grow, with no signs of slowing down, alongside continued demand for environmentally conscious products. “We’re also seeing an increased trend for older generations with more classic gifts,” she highlights. “Our new Wilberry Eco Classics collection combines traditional, timeless toys with sustainability - plush items which are suitable from birth and loved by children, but which also appeal to the older age bracket with their nostalgic traditional designs.”
At Keel Toys, Patrick Downs, head of design, says that current trends in the soft toy market are for the continued growth of novelty-themed collectable items,
Puckator’s graphic designer, Ellie Wheeler, adds that currently, the plush market is increasingly embracing Kawaii, with characters inspired by consumers favourite animals. “We’ve tapped into this shift with collections such as Squidglys, which feature colourful, durable plush toys made from super-soft fabrics such as Velboa,” she confirms. The range includes the popular Adoramals characters, a series of collectable characters who each have their own unique name and personality, appealing to collectors and gift givers alike. “They are not only huggable but are also designed to withstand daily play with tough, resilient construction,” says Ellie. Also highlighting the Kawaii trend is Posh Paws’ marketing manager Steven Russell. “The demand and growth of Kawaii/Japanese-inspired plush toys and gifts has been one of the biggest stand-outs we have seen, and we have invested heavily in our Kawaii Kuties plush collection,” he confirms. “Seeing demand from young kids through to tweens/teens and adults, we have built a range that focuses on popular animals from Japanese culture - trending animals ranging from axolotls and sea sheep/bunnies to foodie friend combinations. Plus, the Kawaii Kuties are available across various formats, from traditional squishy plush, to bag clips, pocket money gifts and more.”
At Wrendale Designs, founder and creative director, Hannah Dale, says the company has received an
“incredible reaction” to its plush range, where the detail and quality have made the difference. “We take over a year to develop each character, selecting the perfect fabrics and adding detail to make each one really capture the artwork.”
Pointing to a strong trend towards timeless, eco-conscious, character-driven designs that resonate with people of all ages, Hannah highlights some new additions:
“We’ve added two new characters to our plush collection for the Spring/Summer 2025 season – Oliver the mouse and Rosie rabbit - as well as three plush comforters to our Little Wren range.”
Such is the love for plush, that it often becomes a lifelong friend, with everyone from Royalty (rumour has it that King Charles travels with a childhood teddy bear), to babies forming an emotional attachment to a soft toy. For gift givers, plush is the ideal gift for baby showers, or to welcome a new arrival into the world, and, of course, for birthday presents, not just for children, but for kidults too!
Inset: Posh Paws Kawaii Kuties and Swizzels Love Hearts plush collections.
Above: Oliver the mouse is one of two new plush additions from Wrendale.
Below: Keeleco Snackies from Keel Toys.
Below: Dazzle from Charlie Bears.
1: For Animal Lovers Of All Ages
Designed in collaboration with global conservation charity ZSL, The Puppet Company is introducing the new Animal Backpacks collection for animal lovers of all ages to help support ZSL’s vital wildlife conservation work. Combining realistic plush design with practical functionality, the lifelike bags can be worn on the front or ‘cuddled’ on your back.
The Puppet Company
Visit: Spring Fair, Stand 5F10 - G11
T: 01462 446040
E: info@thepuppetcompany.com
W: www.thepuppetcompany.com
2: Cuddle Cubs by Charlie Bears
These affordable, pocket-sized, plush characters are perfect for cuddles on-the-go and make a good addition to retailers’ soft toy offerings. From snuggly dragons to huggable elephants, each cuddly character is safe from birth. At Top Drawer, you’ll be able to see the full 2025 Cuddle Cubs offering.
Charlie Bears
Visit: Top Drawer, Stand L33
T: 01566 777092
E: uk-sales@charliebears.com
W: www.charliebears.co.uk
3: Give This Dog A Home
The soft and cuddly Sheppy character plush soft toy is the latest addition to Herdy's cute and colourful range of products and is suitable from 12 months plus.
Herdy
T: 01539 739202
E: sales@herdy.co.uk
W: www.herdy.co.uk
4: Snuggle Up
The new My Puppet Comforter Collection of Finger Puppet Comforters are made from highend soft snuggly plush, with the added interactive benefit of being a charming finger puppet. Soft, safe and cute, they can be used for interaction between adult and baby, while encouraging fine motor development as the child gets older.
The Puppet Company
Visit: Spring Fair, Stand 5F10 - G11
T: 01462 446040
E: info@thepuppetcompany.com
W: www.thepuppetcompany.com
5: Peter Rabbit
Signature Collection
The Peter Rabbit Signature Collection is a beautiful range of forever toys, created to be shared across generations. The collection includes soft toys, comforters and ring rattles. New additions
Signature Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny Gift Sets include a baby soft plush toy and knitted blanket, featuring a white bunny silhouette with a cute bobble tail, beautifully packaged in illustrated keepsake box. There will also be a new Muslin Comforter joining the range this year.
Rainbow Designs
T: 01329 227300
E: sales@rainbowdesigns.co.uk
W: www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk
New What s , Progressive
Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest gift products and ranges for Plush products
Harrogate Christmas & Gift 2025, taking place at the Harrogate Convention Centre from 12-15 January, will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, with the event larger than ever, confirms show organiser
Harrogate Christmas & Gift, one of the UK’s longest running trade shows, first opened its doors in 1950. “It was primarily toy focused, with suppliers filling the Harrogate hotels with all the latest new products to present to toy shops and retailers,” explains show organiser Simon Anslow. “Over the decades, the show has evolved, with the toy industry moving to a London show, while the Christmas sector remained in Harrogate, with the exhibition continuing to evolve, primarily to cater to demand.”
and pet grottos, the festive season spreads from September to January bringing months of joy and happiness to British consumers and, of course, to retailers in the industry.”
As Simon points out: “Christmas in the 1950s and 1960s were simple affairs with a handful of traditions for the majority of families: Christmas trees, paper chains, Santa and stockings, which have been around for decades. Now Christmas is a much more lavish affair, with new American and European traditions added to the UK’s own. From Elves on Shelves, Christmas Eve boxes
As Christmas has continued to evolve, demand for exhibition space at Harrogate Christmas & Gift has continued to grow year-on-year, with the show extending to eight halls this January. Each one will be packed with gifts and decorations for Christmas, as well as products for year round gifting. “For 2025, we have opened an additional hall – Hall G - the new home for Netherlands-based Kaemingk, (stand G10), who will be showcasing Christmas trees, lights and decorations across original, inspiring ranges,” continues Simon. Also taking advantage of the new space in Hall G is Widdop & Co, (hall G, stand G13), with the company unveiling nine ranges for 2025 - Bellini, Country Christmas, Frosted Haven, Whimsical, Santas & Friends, Nordic Nights, Regal Tidings, The Toy Shop and Turtle Dove – to include two brand new, exclusive collections curated by the company’s in-house design and production team. “Once again, we’re delighted to
be exhibiting at Harrogate Christmas & Gift, especially as it’s the show’s 75 year milestone edition,” enthuses Widdop’s ceo Stephen Illingworth. “Our Christmas 2025 ranges are our largest, most exciting collections to date - whimsical woodland meet cosy country charm - featuring timeless elegance reimagined with a contemporary twist."
On the Gisela Graham stand, (hall M, stand 14-16), the main focus will feature the company’s Christmas 2025 offering. Key collections for the show will include The Gruffalo & Friends Collection. “We’ve wanted to recreate the magic of The Gruffalo at Christmas for some time now, and are delighted to be launching the new range at the show,” states Mark Jones, Gisela Graham’s commercial director. “There will be upwards of 30 individual items in the collection, including resin figures, glass baubles, wooden decorations and garlands,” he highlights.
Also being showcased by the company will be Nostalgia, which follows on from the success of 2024’s Nostalgia collection, with the new range seeing the introduction of a mix & match selection of tableware, including plates, a cup and saucer set, shaped dishes, mugs, bowls and jugs, plus coasters, place mats, glassware and storage tins.
“The new Nostalgia tableware range is our largest to date,” confirms Mark. “The trend for nostalgia remains strong, and alongside the new tableware, we will also be showing new glassware and a new selection of tree decorations.”
Inset: Whimsical is one of nine new ranges from Widdop & Co for Christmas 2025. Below left: A cup and saucer from Gislela Graham’s new Nostalgia collection.
Below: Gisela Graham’s
The Gruffalo resin decoration from the company’s The Gruffalo & Friends Collection which is making its debut at the show.
Inset: Aromatize’s aroma character melters will be unveiled at the show.
More newness from the company comes from The Holly & The Ivy collection which has taken a new look at all things rustic, and includes new crackers, wooden decorations, new candles and baubles. Plus, a hint of gingerbread, and a red and white colour palette feature in the company’s A Nordic Christmas collection where old favourites have been reimagined. New additions include Scandi patterned mugs, plates and bowls alongside shaped resin tree decorations and new glass baubles.
A further stalwart at the show is Lesser & Pavey which will be unveiling new additions to the company’s tabletop Christmas range for 2025 featuring many of the traditional festive scenes (hall A, stand A4). Featuring the new designs from MacNeil they cover festive scenes ranging from Santa delivering presents under the Christmas tree to robins in a festive setting, as well as three snowmen at play. All are new for 2025 and appear on fine china mugs, a jug, tea for one, matching coasters, placemats and trays. Plus, Lesser & Pavey’s exclusive illustrator, Jennifer Rose, features robins and highland cows for Christmas 2025. The illustrations also appear on fine china mugs, jugs, tea for one with matching coasters, placemats and trays.
launching a brand new fragrance range for Spring/Summer 2025 which includes festive scents, 990g 5-wick candle bowls, tumbler
Harrogate Christmas & Gift also sees Joe Davies returning to the show (hall M, stand M25). “To be back for the 75th anniversary makes it all the more special,” says Joe Davies’ managing director Paul Hooker. “The timing is perfect, as Christmas is still fresh in the minds of most retailers and, to mark our return, we have taken a bigger stand and have expanded our Christmas collection, with more new seasonal products than ever making their debut. We’ll also have plenty of new additions to existing best selling ranges, including Village Pottery, Equilibrium Christmas and Christmas themed Nuzzles. In addition, we will also be taking a selection of great seasonal sellers such as Sock Society, Snoozies and a Christmas range of Madd Capp puzzles.”
While many exhibitors will be returning to the show, among the companies exhibiting at Harrogate Christmas & Gift for the first time will be Aromatize, (hall C, stand C14), with the company showcasing product alongside the Straits stand. For the 2025 festive season, the company is adding to its silhouette collection with new LED wax melters, as well as character tealight melters and tealight holders. Aromatize will also be
candles, apothecary candles, wax melts, tealights and reed diffuser liquid.
On the Straits Trading stand, buyers will find a new range of products, alongside sparkling trees, glitter water spinners and light-up ornaments. “We’ve always done well with light-up houses, and this year we have a range of wooden houses that have more detail and will capture the imagination,” says
sales director Steve Webb, who also highlights the company’s new infinity ornaments. “They are a smaller, more practical size, with coloured edging, looking festive when switched off, and magical when lit.” He adds that Halloween too, is going to be a key event for Straits in ’25. The collection has been expanded to include spooky decorations, water spinners filled with swirling bats and smoke, plus, light-up lustre decorations. (hall C, stand C4: Christmas; hall C, stand C14: Halloween).
l The organisers of Harrogate Christmas & Gift will be marking the show’s 75th anniversary with a party for exhibitors and visitors from 6-9pm in Royal Hall on Ripon Road.
Visit www.harrogatefair.com.
Inset: Straits new festive light-up wooden houses. Above left: New designs for Nuzzles, from Joe Davies, for Christmas 2025.
Inset: The new MacNeil range of tabletop from Lesser & Pavey for 2025 (hall A, stand A4).
Inset: Buyers browsing the stands at January 2024’s show.
1: Equilibrium Raindrops Collection
If you are looking to add a touch of intrigue to your jewellery collection, look no further than the Equilibrium Raindrops Collection from Joe Davies (Spring Fair Hall 4, Stand C10/D11). The collection is perfect for adding a little sparkle to a rainy day and includes necklaces, bracelets and earrings, all weather inspired to offer a blend of timeless elegance and contemporary chic. Ordering from Joe Davies’ extensive gift and jewellery collections is both easy and cost effective thanks to its ‘little and often’ ordering system, low minimum order value of just £100 and free nationwide delivery.
Joe Davies
Visit: Harrogate Christmas & Gift, Hall M, Stand M25 & Spring Fair, Hall 4, Stand C10-D11
T: 0161 975 6300
E: sales@joedavies.co.uk
W: www.joedavies.co.uk
2: You Will Go Wild For These
Namaste’s jungle print has been so popular that the range has been expanded, meaning consumers can transform any space with a vibrant jungle print storage bag, available in pink, jade or blue. Crafted from cotton with two carry handles and a flexible interlined structure, it combines style and practicality. Pair it with more from Namaste’s Jungle range, including a kantha bed throw, stylish cushions, a cosy dressing gown, or a chic wash bag for a joyful, wild vibe.
Namaste-UK Ltd
Visit: Harrogate Christmas & Gift, Hall D, Stand D5 T: 01756 700790
E: sales@namaste-uk.com
W: www.namaste-uk.com
3: New Tabletop Christmas Range
A number of tabletop new additions featuring traditional festive scenes have been added by Lesser & Pavey. Using the new designs from MacNeil they cover festive scenes from Santa delivering the present under the Christmas tree, to robins in a festive setting and three Snowmen at play. These are all new for 2025 and feature on fine china mugs, jug, tea for one, matching coasters, placemats and trays. Jennifer Rose, the exclusive illustrator for Lesser and Pavey, has worked her magic again with robins and highland cows for Christmas 2025. The illustrations also feature on fine china mugs, jugs, tea for one with matching coasters, placemats and trays. See these ranges on the Lesser and Pavey stands at Harrogate Christmas & Gift and Spring Fair.
Lesser & Pavey
Visit: Harrogate Christmas & Gift, Hall A, Stand A4 & Spring Fair, Hall 5, Stand D10, D21 and E21
T: 01322 279225
E: sales@leonardo.co.uk
W: www.leonardo.co.uk
4: Kindred Cottages
The Kindred Cottages collection by Joe Davies aims to capture the charm of quaint wooden cottages, featuring tin roofs in warm shades of red and rust. Each cottage is delicately painted in soft tones of white, pale grey or gentle blue, exuding a sense of timeless simplicity. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, the pieces are perfect for creating a miniature village display on a windowsill or shelf. With retail prices ranging from £3.50 to £7.00, they make for an enchanting yet affordable gift option. Joe Davies recently became 100% employee owned, with ownership now in the hands of the dedicated team.
Joe Davies
Visit: Harrogate Christmas & Gift, Hall M, Stand M25 & Spring Fair, Hall 4, Stand C10-D11
T: 0161 975 6300
E: sales@joedavies.co.uk
W: www.joedavies.co.uk
5: Bear Hug For Christmas
Lesser and Pavey will welcome a family of bears for Christmas 2025.
Resin based, the range consists of charming, crafted characters with bear and child, standing ear, sitting bear and sitting bear with sack. The tallest is 26cm in height. These make a delightful addition to the range being offered for 2025 with red scarves, floppy Santa hats, trees, presents and smart waistcoats.
Lesser & Pavey
Visit: Harrogate Christmas & Gift, Hall A, Stand A4 & Spring Fair, Hall 5, Stand D10, D21 and E21
T: 01322 279225
E: sales@leonardo.co.uk
W: www.leonardo.co.uk
New What s
1: Have A Very Furry
Christmas
Introducing Global Journey's new Wood Christmas Pet Decorations Collection, pitched as the perfect way to celebrate the festive season with your furry friends. Whether you’re a dog lover, a cat cuddler, a horse enthusiast or a guinea pig parent, the company is promising something special for every pet owner. Bring a touch of rustic elegance to your celebrations and create memories that last a lifetime with Global Journey's Wood Christmas Pet Decorations – because pets are family too.
Global Journey
Visit: Harrogate Christmas & Gift, Hall A, Stand A31
T: 0161 872 0333
E: isamuels@global-journey.com
W: www.global-journey.com
2: Lighting Up for Christmas 2025
Lesser and Pavey is inviting customers to light the lights for Christmas 2025. The Nutcracker range comes in two colourways – silver and grey – and in two sizes 37cm and 51cm in height. The Angel is available in four sizes from 21cm to 46cm in height, while there is also a heart bearing (25cm height) angel that lights up. The Christmas Tree comes in 23 and 28cm tall. These additions to the company’s already extensive Christmas ranges will be on show Harrogate Christmas & Gift and Spring Fair. Lesser & Pavey
Visit: Harrogate Christmas & Gift, Hall A, Stand A4 & Spring Fair, Hall 5, Stand D10, D21 and E21
T: 01322 279225
E: sales@leonardo.co.uk
W: www.leonardo.co.uk
3: Gifts To Moo About
This new Christmas Cow range captured the hearts of thousands when it went viral on TikTok last November, and it’s easy to see why. The collection is charming, versatile and on-trend, offering something for everyone. From planters and chopping boards to ornaments and jugs, the company has thought of every detail to make the range truly special. And the excitement doesn’t stop there - keep an eye out for exclusive festive editions, launching in time for Christmas 2025.
Portland Living
Visit: Harrogate Christmas & Gift, Hall B, Stand B8, B21 & Spring Fair, Hall 5, Stand 5D51
T: 0333 335 5360
E: sales@portlandliving.co.uk
W: www.portlandliving.co.uk
4: Something For Everyone
Want to delight your customers? The H&H Group is a key UK supplier of prepersonalised impulse gifts, featuring retail tested spinner ranges for Christmas and everyday gifting. Loved by the whole family and trusted by thousands of retailers, the products are proven sellers. In addition, the Heart & Home and Bamboo collections deliver sustainable home fragrances sure to be popular with customers.
History & Heraldry
Visit: Harrogate Christmas & Gift, Hall B, Stand B6
The Pilgrim - Lavender, Lemon & Cedarwood Luxury Soy Wax Candle is infused with natural botanicals. Take time to ‘heal’ with the aromatic scent from Shifa Aromas. Shifa Aromas
Since the pandemic, wellness has become a growth sector, with suppliers offering an array of products from skincare and essential oil blends to candles and incense, to help people to relax and unwind, as well as to boost energy. A growing sector at the Spring trade shows, PG&H took time out to discover some of the newest launches for 2025, as well as what’s trending in the bath and body sector.
For many people struggling with mental health issues, being able to take a deep breath and switch off mentally when they close their front door is becoming increasingly important to their everyday lives. In today’s turbulent, uncertain world, both domestically and globally, it can
be important to make time for self-care - to calm the mind, and to help to promote a feelgood factor.
“In 2024, mental wellness became increasingly mainstream, with efforts to destigmatise mental health issues,” comments Claire Sowden, co-founder of Cotton & Grey. “This mainstreaming reflects a significant cultural shift towards normalising conversations about it and encouraging us all to embed wellness practices into everyday life.
“Because of this there has been a heightened focus on self-care and mental wellbeing gifts that promote relaxation, health and mindfulness. Wellness gifts are perceived as indulgent yet health-focused, making them an attractive option for those looking to treat loved ones in a way that also supports their wellbeing. We continue to be delighted by the enthusiastic response to our Twenty Minute relaxation candle gift sets, which seem to fulfil a growing need for thoughtful, soothing gifts. With this in mind, we are
expanding our positivity and affirmation offerings in 2025 to run alongside our candles,” confirms Claire.
“As life stresses abound, our unisex The Fragrance of the Seas scent is an everyday way to help people feel brighter and happier,” states Inis’ UK and Australian sales manager Elaine Nolan. “We put a huge emphasis on the quality of our ingredients to nourish and rejuvenate the skin. They include sea minerals and our signature seaweed extracts, harvested from the pristine waters of the North Atlantic ocean.”
With more people continuing to work in a hybrid environment, Elaine says it’s impacted positively on sales, particularly in relation to sales of the company’s diffuser. “The diffuser’s mood boosting qualities are key to its success, making it easy for people to indulge in the scent while they’re working,” she points out.
Looking to the start of 2025, the company’s first new launch is in honour of its customers
Inset: Stillness from Cotton & Grey’s Mind Body Soul range.
Right: Wellness from The Fragrance House.
Inset: Seven chakra wide wooden incense holder from Temple of Incense.
and small shop partners around the world.
“Our new Seascapes scented sachets feature the scent of Inis, with images of beautiful beaches in some of the countries where we have become a brand favourite,” says Elaine. “It makes people feel close to the sea no matter where they are.” A long-awaited hair care range, made from quality ingredients, will be launching later in 2025. “With sustainability in mind it will not include silicones,” Elaine confirms.
David Brown, chief executive of The Fragrance House, concurs that wellness and wellbeing is a key trend for 2025.
“Consumers continue to be health-conscious and fine quality aromatherapy and wellbeing products are unlikely to slow down for the foreseeable future. This year we’ve added to our Wellness range with a candle in glass, with the therapeutic benefits of Calm, Energise, Uplift and so on. The success of these ranges will certainly continue in the year ahead,” he predicts.
the company’s foaming hand soaps. New for SS25 are nine new foaming soap scents, with three joined by a matching hand and body lotion, room spray, and bath soap bar. Highlights include The Brunch Collection and L’Orange collection.
Temple of Incense meanwhile, highlights that the ancient art of burning incense has been associated with meditation and spiritual practices for centuries and is now finding renewed relevance in today’s homes and workspaces. Points out the company’s cofounder, Simi Aydee: “Lighting incense comes with added ritualistic appeal for meditation, yoga, or simply chilling out.”
Freckleface’s co-founder and managing director, Tara Carlile-Swift, believes that in a hectic world that’s constantly trying to get our attention, the customer needs to take charge of their wellbeing. “We have therefore created a range of essential oil blends that support and aid day to day wellbeing. We will also be running a marketing campaign giving tips, advice and support to those wanting to find some calm in their lives,” highlights Tara.
The range will be relaunched at Spring Fair with each blend – Calm + Unwind, Happy, Rebalance and Revive - having a purpose, along with with messages of inspiration and tips on how to factor wellbeing into busy lives.
As for bath and body and skincare, Michel Design Works, a leading US brand in the personal health and fragrance sector, exclusively distributed by Aromatize in the UK, enjoys a cult following, particularly for
Jolene Roberts, founder of Oir soaps, winner of the Gift of the Year’s Best Beauty, Bath & Spa category, adds: “People are becoming more and more aware of what they're using on their skin, the packaging that products come in, and the impact ingredients have on them, as well as the environment. We use all natural ingredients that are not only kind to the skin, but also to the planet, and never use plastic in our packaging.”
At Mad Beauty, the company’s bath and body products also continue to celebrate the importance of wellness. “Our recent launches – to include a Disney Princess range and the Made Beauty London collection - align with the sector’s emphasis on wellness as an integral part of daily routines by turning everyday moments into joyful, memorable experiences,” says Mad Beauty’s creative director Julia Cash.
It seems that self-care is no longer an option but a must for many people, with an ever-increasing array of products not only suited to self-purchase, but also to give as a welcome gift for those who need to relax both their mind and their body.
Pamper Time
A brand new range of fragranced bath and body gift sets has been launched by Lesser & Pavey for 2025, created to help people to relax and unwind from their busy lives. The sets include hand and lip care; soap and hand cream; bath fizzers; hand wash and cream; a bath and shower set with a foaming sponge, and a five piece pamper set with a complementary sponge.
Illustrations come from the company’s William Morris collection, with complementary fragrances featuring Willow Bough Fresh Linen, Fruits Lemon And Pomegranate, Lodden Fresh Linen, and Redoute Rose Velvet Rose, with bold pinks for a Mother’s Day range featuring Cherry Blossom And Vanilla.
Inset: Inis’ California Seascape scented sachet.
Right: Michel Design Works L’Orange collection.
Inset: Award winning luxury Oir hand and body soap.
Below: Pampering gift sets are brand new from Lesser & Pavey.
1: Have A Perfect Night’s Sleep
Create a peaceful bedtime routine for a restful night’s sleep with this Night Owl Sleep Mask and Essential Oil Gift Set. The soft, satin sleep mask effectively blocks out light, while the calming lavender blended essential oil promotes relaxation and stress relief. Dab the essential oil on pulse points or add a few drops in an oil burner or diffuser. A perfect gift for anyone in need of a little self care. Something Different Wholesale
T: 01792 940288
E: customercare@somethingdifferentwholesale.co.uk
W: www.somethingdifferentwholesale.co.uk
2: Wellbeing Gifts With Sentiment
Cotton & Grey’s collections of 20-minute relaxation candle gift sets encourage 20 minutes of focused time each day, to promote mindfulness and restore inner calm. For 2025, the company is introducing a new product range of affirmation stickers which will sit alongside the 20-minute candle ranges and cover wellbeing and self-care titles to boost, nurture and encourage positivity in everyday life. Thoughts and mantras that can be focused upon in 20 minutes of reflection. See all the designs across the collections at www.cottonandgrey.com/brochure.pdf
Cotton & Grey Ltd
Visit: Top Drawer, Stand J89 – Scotland’s Trade Fair, Stand H38 –Spring Fair, Stand 4E81
T: Claire on 07876763774
E: info@cottonandgrey.com
W: www.cottonandgrey.com
3: FYG Himalayan Bath Salts
After much anticipation, UK Gift of the Year winner FYG has launched its new Himalayan Bath Salts to accompany the bestselling fragrance across the Back to Basics collection. Whether you want to feel relaxed, invigorated, embraced by decadence or enlivened with the zing of citrus, FYG has a fragrance to meet any wellbeing mood.
FYG
Visit: Top Drawer, Stand L60 & Spring Fair, Stand 4H28
T: 0208 914 7974
E: contact@fyghome.com
W: www.fyghome.com
4:
Uplifting Fragrance
The new Seascapes Scented Sachets feature the sparkling scent of Inis and images of coastlines in countries around the world where Inis is sold. Place the sachets in a drawer, closet, suitcase or car to enjoy uplifting fragrance, and to celebrate and dream of beaches near and far – all to make you feel close to the sea, no matter where you are. Pre-pack assortment includes a free display. Individual sachets available separately.
Inis
T: +3531 286 7125
E: hello@inis.com
W: www.inis.com
5: Tuscan Dreams
Di Palomo, the Italian-inspired bath, body and home fragrance collection is celebrating 21 years in 2025, a true milestone for any brand. To mark the birthday, Xystos will be launching new look Fig & Grape and Orange Blossom collections with new items and a fresh look at Spring Fair. Tuscan Dreams, Di Palomo’s wellbeing range, will also be expanded with new gift collections for 2025. The full collection can be viewed at Scotland’s Trade Fair and Spring Fair, Birmingham. Xystos
Visit: Scotland’s Trade Fair, Stand F10 & Spring Fair, Hall 4, Stand E62
T: Sales - 0191 499 1570
E: sales@xystos.co.uk
W: www.xystostrade.co.uk
New What s ,
Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest gift products and ranges in the Bath, Body and Wellness sector
1: New Citrus And Floral
Scented Shower Steamers
Following on from the success of the awardwinning Shower Steamers, Bramblewood has launched a new, smaller sized box. The Shower Steamers are handmade using the finest essential oils and decorated with an array of dried botanicals to transform an ordinary shower into a luxurious, spa-like experience through the power of aromatherapy.
Bramblewood Soap
Visit: Top Drawer, Stand M87
E: bramblewoodsoap@outlook.com
W: www.bramblewoodsoap.co.uk
2: Bespoke Fine Bone China
Ceramic Design Heritage specialises in producing an expansive range of bespoke fine china with a focus on the heritage sector. It also produces for independent artists, working with them to develop their own brands and designs, while it can also supply a comprehensive off the shelf range where you can supply your own logo/backstamp free of charge. Victorian Garden is one of many new tableware and giftware ranges available from stock. You can talk to the company about your project at Top Drawer.
Ceramic Design Heritage
Visit: Top Drawer, Home Hall, Stand A27
T: 07909 539574
E: paul@cdheritage.com
W: www.cdheritage.com
3: Bon Appetit!
Add flavour to your store with the new Talking Tables Bon Appetit collection. The versatile collection channels the current trends for relaxed hosting and food icons and works equally well for al fresco dining and informal dining at home. With enamel pieces dipped five times to pop with colour, food shaped ceramics and glorious gingham, there’s nothing like Bon Appetit and nothing it won’t go with.
Talking Tables
Visit: Top Drawer, Stand G61
T: 020 7627 6767
E: info@talkingtables.co.uk
W: https://trade.talkingtables.co.uk
@talkingtables_tt
4: New 6 x Wax Melt Gift
Box
From FYG
From the success of FYG Candles and its Pick n’ Mix Wax Melts, FYG has launched the Six Melt Gift Set for £7.50. Customers can now experience the award-winning fragrances at a fraction of the cost of a candle. These have already proved to be popular and look striking across the colours and botanicals.
FYG
Visit: Top Drawer, Stand L60 & Spring Fair, Stand 4H28
T: 0208 914 7974
E: contact@fyghome.com
W: www.fyghome.com
5: Bearhouse by Charlie Bears
Bring in a new generation of collectors with Bearhouse by Charlie Bears. Reimagined for 2025, Bearhouse by Charlie Bears will delight with luxury plush, and tons of personality. Machine washable and suitable for 18 months and up, the colourful characters are great for going on daily adventures with and for soothing the inner child.
Charlie Bears
Visit: Top Drawer, Stand L33
T: 01566 777092
E: uk-sales@charliebears.com
W: www.charliebears.co.uk
6: Unique And FUN-ctional Gifts
Giftwishes is bringing a bit of Californian sunshine to the UK marketplace with ranges from Capabunga. The range of unique yet ‘fun’-ctional products includes wine stoppers, witty wine glass identifiers and stylish market tote bags.
Giftwishes
Visit: Top Drawer, Stand G16
T: 020 8998 1781
E: frank@gaeltag.com
New What s
1: Beach Huts
And Bunting
Tea-drinking, quirky artists, creating vibrant colourful art in both glass and paints with dynamic, unexpected energy. Internationally known as fused glass artists, new for 2025, wildly beautiful prints and cards are emerging from Berserks Glass Works’ Devon studio. The music is loud and the paint splashes, brush strokes and glass cutters dance with the absolute joy of creative expression.
Berserks Glass Works
Visit: Giving + Living, Stand 839
E: info@berserks.co.uk
W: www.berserks.co.uk
2: Pretty Little Kitties
Following on from the success of Pretty Little Birds, Wild Things is introducing the new Pretty Little Kitties. Handmade, hand painted and available in six different colourways, each Kittie wears a sparkly crystal heart necklace.
Wild Things Gifts
Visit: Giving + Living, Stand 205/304 & Spring Fair, Hall 4, Stand B22-C23
T: Lisa on 01392 211268
E: sales@wildthingsgifts.com
W: www.wildthingsgifts.com
3: Stunning New Ranges
New from Miss Milly is a range of colourful handbags and purses handmade from recycled leather, helping the environment while providing unique, useful accessories. A huge refresh of the company’s jewellery collection has also taken place, with numerous new designs and a fashion-led colour palette in both resin and painted ranges. There is a spotlight on beautiful yellow tones. As well as new magnetic brooch designs, there are scarves to complement the jewellery in fresh, seasonal colourways, featuring florals and abstracts. Minimum order £100, carriage paid order £300. Miss Milly
Visit: Giving + Living, Stand 618
T: 01905 622509
E: hello@missmilly.co.uk
W: www.missmilly.co.uk
4: The Emerald Bird
A new Pretty Little Bird has just joined the Wild Things flock. The latest addition to the successful range, the product shows off vibrant emerald hues and aquamarine accents, embellished with a top quality crystal heart. See them in all their glory at the shows.
Wild Things Gifts
Visit: Giving + Living, Stand 205/304 & Spring Fair, Hall 4, Stand B22-C23
T: Lisa on 01392 211268
E: sales@wildthingsgifts.com
W: www.wildthingsgifts.com
5: CAHM Wax
Welt Boxes
CAHM is a luxury fragrance and wellbeing brand based in Yorkshire. Spreading a positive mental health message through consciously crafted products, CAHM aims to be more than just your average fragrance brand. Vegan friendly, sustainably sourced, cruelty-free, female-founded and handmade in Yorkshire.
CAHM
Visit: Giving + Living, Stand 850
T: 07487 264762
E: trade@thecahmcollective.com
W: www.thecahmcollective.com
New What s
1: New Scottish Collections
Waxham Candle Company, from D & J Glassware, is excited to be taking its Scottish collections to Scotland’s Spring Trade Show. The collection includes two fragrances - Wild Heather and Whisky - in colourful packaging designed to raise a smile and based on D & J Glassware’s popular fused glass animals. Choose from four Scottish-inspired sayings. The hand poured candles and melts are made in small batches using British made soy wax, which is 100% vegan, biodegradable and is plant-based from a renewable and sustainable source. No ingredients are tested on animals and the candles come in recyclable tins.
D & J Glassware
Visit: Scotland’s Trade Fair, Stand G22
T: 01953 450280
E: dandj.glassware@btinternet.com
W: www.dandjglassware.co.uk
2: Walkies!
The Little Dog Laughed wouldn't be the original dog people if it didn't offer some perfectly priced, practical dog accessories. Its new walking bags are washable, functional with a heroic USP. The strap has been designed to double up as an emergency lead for those 'found a stray dog, will definitely keep it if it doesn't have an owner' moments.
The Little Dog Laughed
Visit: Scotland’s Trade Fair, Stand K37
T: 01332 290605
E: gavin@thelittledog.co.uk
W: www.thelittledog.co.uk
3:
New Affirmation Stickers
Cotton & Grey’s collections of 20-minute relaxation candle gift sets, encourage 20 minutes of focused time each day, to promote mindfulness and restore inner calm. For 2025, the company is introducing a new product range of affirmation stickers which will sit alongside the 20-minute candle ranges. Covering wellbeing and self-care titles to boost, nurture and encourage positivity in everyday life. Thoughts and mantras that can be focused upon in 20 minutes of reflection. See all the designs across the collections at www.cottonandgrey.com/brochure.pdf
Cotton & Grey Ltd
Visit: Top Drawer, Stand J89 Scotland’s Trade Fair, Stand H38 Spring Fair, Stand 4E81
T: Claire on 07876763774
E: info@cottonandgrey.com
W: www.cottonandgrey.com
4:
Practical And Stylish Thermos Cups
Brand new for spring 2025, The Little Dog Laughed has chosen four bestselling designs to grace the practical and stylish thermos cups.
Complete with a metal straw and cleaning pipe, the company is excited to add the gift line to its dog loving card and gift collections.
The Little Dog Laughed
Visit: Scotland’s Trade Fair, Stand K37
T: 01332 290605
E: gavin@thelittledog.co.uk
W: www.thelittledog.co.uk
5: House Of Dalziel
Introducing new styles for 2025. During the company’s longest buying trip ever, the team was lucky enough to spend time in Mongolia, spending time in the factory and working with the small team of skilled craftsmen to develop new shapes and colours for its 2025 cashmere collection.
Launching at Spring Fair is a beautiful Indigo Blue shade, available in a new triangle scarf shape and the most requested classic glove. The company will also be introducing a new ‘Docker’ shape beanie – very cool and a perfect menswear fit. The full range is available now with new options ready for delivery in May. House of Dalziel is a luxury capsule brand from Eurostick.
Eurostick
Visit: Scotland’s Trade Fair, Stand C36
T: +44 141 411 8228
E: chris@eurostick.biz
W: www.eurostick.biz
19-21 January 2025
1: Fabulous New Fragrances
Following the successful launch of the Luminescence Collection in the spring, the award winning Best Kept Secrets has introduced five new fragrances: Marshmallow and Green Pistachio, Sugared Violets and Vanilla, Soft Linen and Eucalyptus, Madagascan Vanilla and Salted Caramel, and Something Rouge. The additions further enhance the vibrant and affordable home fragrance range.
Best Kept Secrets
Visit: Spring Fair, Stand 4B36
T: 01670 512222
E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
W: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
2: Sensational Sparkle Brooches
Hot Tomato’s brooches never fail to make us smile and this seasons latest offering is no exception. Their new sweetheart pin is wonderfully romantic and beautifully thought through and as for the vintage race car….oh my word - it literally transports us with a warm glow of nostagia. We can’t fail to love what this company does with this category – it’s so much fun!
Hot Tomato
Visit: Spring Fair, The Summerhouse, Hall 7, Stand A71
T: 01225 422188
E: sales@hot-tom.com
W: www.hot-tom.com
3: New Just Because Wax Melt Cards
After winning Gift of the Year in Home Fragrance in May 2024, Best Kept Secrets is also expanding its popular Just Because collection with new products for special occasion gifting. The brand has launched new Just Because wax melt cards, featuring eight large or 16 small wax melt cubes in all range scents. The wax melts are ideal for celebrating friends, family and special occasions and can be personalised like the popular tins, adding extra sentimental value. Responding to retailer feedback, Best Kept Secrets has also created personalised options for the award winning Just Because Three Lites Boxes. Customers can now add their own text to the boxes, making gifts more personal. This move underscores the brand’s commitment to quality, affordability and sustainability, ensuring each product brings joy and beauty, which is the essence of Best Kept Secrets.
Best Kept Secrets
Visit: Spring Fair, Stand 4B36
T: 01670 512222
E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
W: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
4:
Tidy Up Those Tresses
What better way to tidy up those tresses than with these fab frosted bobble hair clamps from Hot Tomato. The soft sorbet palette fills our hearts with glorious, warming summer vibes – it’s on its way! Hot Tomato
Visit: Spring Fair, The Summerhouse, Hall 7, Stand A71
T: 01225 422188
E: sales@hot-tom.com
W: www.hot-tom.com
5: See The World Clearly
Design inspiration at The Little Dog is very often triggered by the team’s own personal needs. The new Lens Cloth beauties popped into existence while the team was deciding on the new 2025 design additions for the glasses case collection. Displayed in coaster sized packaging, they are described as a perfect little pick up gift for those who love to see the world clearly.
The Little Dog Laughed
Visit: Scotland’s Trade Fair, Stand K37
T: 01332 290605
E: gavin@thelittledog.co.uk
W: www.thelittledog.co.uk
New What s
Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest gift products and ranges available to retailers now
1: Adorable Personalised Me To You Led Glass Jar.
This personalised Me To You LED glass jar from PMC creates a cosy atmosphere in any room. With an ambient warm glow, the versatile gift can be used for all occasions from celebrating a birthday, Valentine’s Day or as a one-ofa-kind keepsake for a special friend.
PMC
Visit: Spring Fair, Hall 4, Stand 4J10
E: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk
W: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk
2: The Walled Garden
Stoneglow brings captivating scents to its collections. The Walled Garden features six floral fragrances reminiscent of blooming British gardens; the Sol Collection embraces joy with vegan soy candles and reed diffusers, delivering sun-kissed, gourmand aromas that transport your senses to faraway shores; while the Modern Classic Collection offers chic, modern simplicity with three new scents for springMoroccan Rose & Bay, Fresh Linen & Citrus and Sweet Orange & Oud.
Stoneglow
Visit: Spring Fair, Hall 8, Stand B72
T: 0208 595 8878
E: trade@Stoneglowcandles.co.uk
W: www.stoneglowcandles.co.uk
3: Crocodile Coffee Table
Introducing the latest addition to the collection of animal-themed side tables, coffee tables and plant stands. The crocodile coffee table measures 52 x 36 cm and is crafted from polystone. The hand-painted reptile statue features intricate details and comes in 22 models. Some are available in a smaller size of 36 x 25cm, with prices starting at £23.95.
JJ Vaillant
T: 0121 667 3629
E: info@jjvaillant.co.uk
W: www.jjvaillant.co.uk
4: Endless
Entertainment For All Ages
House of Marbles is delighted to launch its new 2025 range. The collection features new ranges such as Animals Altogether and PonsWorthy Farm, as well as innovative additions to existing collections, providing endless entertainment. Additionally, it has a wide selection of new books covering various topics, from bedtime stories to sticker books and even books for grown-ups. The team is looking forward to sharing its latest products with customers at Spring Fair.
Treat a loved one to a thoughtful gift from Personalised Memento Company. The personalised floral photo upload glass token is the perfect gift for any occasion, whether as a gift of appreciation this Mother’s Day or as special birthday gift for a friend. It is presented in a silk lined black gift box and is part of a large range of gifts, including candles, home décor and more. Visit the trade website to find out how to add drop ship personalised gifts to your range.
PMC
Visit: Spring Fair, Hall 4, Stand 4J10
E: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk
W: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk
New What s ,
Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest gift products and ranges available to retailers now
HEIDI HOPKINSON, OWNER, SERENDIPITY, KIRKHAM A medium gift shop on a high street..
CATEGORYSUPPLIERS/RANGES COMMENT
Fragranced Giftware
Toasted Crumpet: soaps;
History & Heraldry: Bamboo
Jewellery
Greeting Cards
Other Hot Hits
Joma Jewellery: Christmas ‘A Littles’;
D&X: across the board
Pigment
Jellycat: across the board
A great take-away at under £10. Customers love the soaps.
Lovely seasonal fragrances. We do very well with the candles and reed diffusers.
The Christmas crackers have been really popular.
The jewellery makes a lovely gift, customers love it, especially those looking for gifts at under £10 and under £20.
A constant seller. The designs are lovely. Fabulous!
OLIVIA REILLY, OWNER, LITTLE BOAT GIFTS, BRIGHTLINGSEA A coastal
gift shop on a small high street.
CATEGORY SUPPLIERS/RANGES COMMENT
House of Disaster: costal home accessories;
Sass & Belle: sustainable giftware;
Straits Trading: Christmas:
Fragranced
Greeting
Giftwrap
Other
The English Soap Company: Kew Gardens;
Inis: The Energy of the Sea
Miss Sparrow: bamboo socks;
Alljoy Design
The Unique Paper Company
The Art File
Orange Tree Toys: wooden toys
Being on the coast, customers love the coastal-inspired home accessories, particularly the mugs with hidden details inside.
Customers are looking for sustainability, and Sass & Belle has really worked on their sustainable products.
We always have a great selection of their Christmas range and this year added lots of the company’s garden furniture to our summer collection.
Amazing quality and beautifully wrapped, we have continued to expand our display.
We now stock various pieces from Inis with the reed diffusers and travel sets especially popular.
With fun, colourful designs, these were an ideal gift in the run up to Christmas for both women and men.
Keepsake cards. We love how they keep developing the Message in a Bottle range.
Lots of different colour combinations with a choice of a craft finish or a slightly more glamorous glitter design.
We really extended our selection for Christmas to include charity packs and gift bags.
We particularly love the new mini puzzles in drawstring bags.
Below: Tree gift water spinners from Straits Trading’s Christmas 2024 collection.
Above: Inis: The Energy of the Sea’s reed diffuser.
AGA MARSDEN, OWNER, HIGHWORTH EMPORIUM, HIGHWORTH
A medium sized shop on a high street in a market town.
CATEGORY
Decorative Home Accessories
SUPPLIERS/RANGES
Straits Trading: light up decorations;
Gisela Graham: mini mugs and mini jugs
Fragranced Giftware
Jewellery
Fashion & Fashion Accessories
Greeting Cards
Giftwrap
Other Hot Hits
The Fragrance House: Wellness;
Heathcote & Ivory: across the board
Joe Davies: Equilibrium;
PoM: earrings
Alice Wheeler: handbags;
Park Lane: across the board
Paper Shed
Glick
Legami: erasable pens;
Jellycat: across the board
COMMENT
These are very popular at this time of year.
Affordable, easy gifts featuring lovely designs.
Both candles and reed diffusers sell really well for us.
Lots of pick ups, and beautifully packaged. Easy, inexpensive gifts.
Lovely packaging, sensibly priced. Sentiment items are among the most popular.
Popular with customer is sterling silver jewellery from PoM.
When it comes to handbags, this brand is a definite winner.
Beautiful scarves, gloves and other fashion accessories. Quality and affordably priced.
A cute range of animal-oriented cards, with dogs and cats selling especially well.
Glick has always been No. 1 for us. Beautiful designs, lovely quality and lots of options.
We can’t keep up! The pens appeal to all ages and are loved by stationery fans.
Our top seller. They keep on selling, with the new characters increasingly popular.
SONI AHMED, CO-OWNER, MAIA GIFTS,
GLASGOW
A large gift and lifestyle store on a secondary site.
CATEGORY SUPPLIERS/RANGES COMMENT
Sass & Belle: Christmas baubles;
East of India: sentiment
Best Kept Secrets: across the board;
Gold Trip: across the board;
Lisa Angel: bracelets, earrings, necklaces;
PoM: across the board
Jolly Awesome
The Art File
Aroma Home: Highland cow slippers
Contemporary quirky and fun. Eg Santa sitting on a dinosaur.
Very good for heartfelt messages on porcelain hearts and coasters.
The company has been a stalwart for many years. People love their ranges.
A new company for us with lovely alternative designs, such as a twisted snake bracelet.
Strong on new trends, with products very popular with customers.
We offer a huge selection of headbands, gloves, wrist warmers, hats and scarves.
A fun, quirky range that makes people laugh when they’re reading the cards in the shop.
Thicker paper, and a sophisticated look to the designs.
Very popular with both locals and tourists.
Above: Best Kept Secrets’ Cosy Nights candle.
Below: Aga Marsden models a scarf from Park Lane. Below centre: Erasable pens from Legami.
Above: Aroma Home’s Highland cow slippers.
1: The Beatles – All You Need is Love Collection
Introducing the All You Need Is Love collection - an exclusive range inspired by The Beatles' timeless anthem. Featuring stylish accessories, the collection looks to celebrate love, unity and the iconic spirit of the Fab Four. Spread peace and good vibes with every piece.
Half Moon Bay
Visit: Spring Fair, Stand 4H20 – J21
E: sales@halfmoonbay.co.uk
W: www.halfmoonbay.co.uk
2: Arts & Crafts Society
The Arts & Crafts Society homewares collection just got an upgrade with a vast array of new patterns. From vibrant textiles to beautifully crafted accents, the fresh designs add a touch of creativity and style to any space. Come and get a preview of the new additions at Spring Fair.
Half Moon Bay
Visit: Spring Fair, Stand 4H20 – J21
E: sales@halfmoonbay.co.uk
W: www.halfmoonbay.co.uk
3:
Just Sport
Claire Louise’s unique illustrations of popular sports - including horse racing, ballet and motor racing - have been printed on a variety of decorative cushions and are meticulously sewn in England. This exquisite artwork is guaranteed to elevate the ambiance of any room. The cushions have already received some great publicity and have been featured in LIFE Magazine. Claire Louise
T: 07715 373344
E: sales@claire-louise.co.uk
W: www.claire-louise.co.uk
4: The Woodland
Introducing The Woodland, a classic new Pheasant watercolour design, now available in homewares, home fragrances, stationery, and more, this cute collection is quintessentially British and ideal gifting for all. Available Now.
Meg Hawkins
Visit: Scotland’s Trade Fair, Stand G23 & Spring Fair, Stand 4H01 T: 01746 787 783
E: hello@meghawkinsart.co.uk
W: www.meghawkinsltd.com
5: Fun Gifts For
Valentine’s Day
Four fabulous new soap designs have landed at Go La La HQ and, with Valentine’s in mind, the quartet from the Filthy Gorgeous range are bound to titillate, thrill and delight. Sexy Time, Love Truncheon, Hot Stuff and Sweet Cheeks make something of an irresistible offering for 14 February – the natural soap bars are laden with fragrant essential oils such as lemon, ylang ylang, peppermint and rose geranium. Vegan, cruelty free and made without any chemical nasties. Perfect for all the (soap) lovers out there. Go La La
E: info@golala.co.uk
W: www.golala.co.uk
Whatsapp: 07943365717
6: Spoilt For Choice
Choose from hundreds of silver earrings with RRP’s of £4.50 to £35.00. Midhaven offer great quality and value, good margins and great customer service. Point of sale available.
Midhaven
Visit: Spring Fair, Stand 2L10
T: 01299 851513
E: info@midhaven.co.uk
W: www.midhaven.co.uk
New What s
Progressive
Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest gift products and ranges available to retailers now
